USA Today bestselling author Charis Michaels enchants with her Awakened by a Kiss series, taking our favorite fairy tales’ forgotten characters and making them the hero of their own story.An heiress with a plan… even run away. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle. But Helena has another idea: find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day.
A bodyguard with a job to do…
Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women. But the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancé, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.
A most unexpected alliance…
When their worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her. Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire.
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Lady Helena Lark, an heiress with a plan, has spent years trying to escape her betrothal and pending wedding to the drunk and dull Duke of Lusk, Bradley Gridleston. She’s evaded, refused, and even ran away—more than a handful of times. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle but Helena has another idea—find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day (which later to be revealed as a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs reference) that prompts an unlikely alliance with Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” who is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman, Knightly Snow, to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women but the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancé, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.
When their polar opposite worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her while Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire, leaving readers with a strong lasting impression.
Embarking on this read, I am shook. This was waaaaaay better than I had originally expected and to think I wasn’t going to request this ARC on Netgalley but thank goodness I ignored my stupid thoughts and took the plunge.
Helena was hands down one of the best heroines I have read in a historical romance in a very long long time! She oozes confidence, was playful and forward with Declan, and remained true to herself throughout the novel. Declan and Helena had a great balance in their romance. There wasn’t any winey, woe me moments and they took a realistic approach to their bubbling relationship (pros/cons) and made it work. They complimented each other so well despite their backgrounds and I instantly fell in love with these characters and that also included the sides Knightly (she’s a riot!) and Lusk (more so after Knightly resurfaces).
I sincerely hope the next installment to the series, ‘When You Wish Upon a Duke’, features Knightly and Lusk. He did a complete 180 when she came out of hiding. He was no longer, dull, boring, drunk and a pushover when it came to his uncle. I really need more of this couple now and I would be utterly devastated if we don’t get to see more of them in the future. My fingers are crossed!
A Duchess a Day is the first book by Charis Michaels that I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it! Lady Helena has spent the past five years avoiding her wedding to the Duke of Lusk, but her evasion tactics have finally failed. Declan Shaw, the Huntsman, is a mercenary accused of murdering his last client. The Duke of Lusk’s steward gets Declan out of jail in order to guard Helena and make sure the wedding goes through. Helena, however, has other plans. She will track down eligible potential duchesses and throw them at the Duke until he finds one worth breaking their engagement for. In order to find these women, Helena needs Declan’s help.
The book was a fun historical romance with a lot of “Snow White” elements thrown in, which added a lot of flavor. I really enjoyed Michaels’ character building and plotting, and a lot of the side characters were very interesting (I’m really hoping Helena’s sister gets her own book!). I will be going back and reading more of Charis Michaels’ work for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this book. A Duchess a Day is available November 10.
A Duchess a Day by Charis Michaels is an excellent historical romance that is the first book in a new series: Awakened By a Kiss. If the rest of the series is as good as this novel, then I am sure it will be a memorable and popular series. I truly enjoyed this entire story. There seems to be an overall theme that will tie each book loosely with enchanting fairy tales. This did not mirror the fairy tale of Snow White specifically, however the author creatively infused names, themes, locations, and small nods and acknowledgements to that story. I have to say it was beyond impressive and ingenious.
This book takes place around 1816 London, England. We get to meet our main characters: Declan Shaw, a mercenary that has been framed, wronged, and employed to make sure that his subject is “delivered” to the Duke of Lusk for a marriage of conveniences and finances for both families. The unwilling participant in this union is Lady Helena Lark. Every bit his opposite, she is violently opposed to losing her land, cottage, apple orchard and forest, and the livelihood of its inhabitants to this marriage and a stone transport operation that would destroy all she holds dear. Besides, the Duke leaves little to desire. He is usually drunk, indifferent, not monogamous, and just distasteful altogether. She plans to thwart the Duke’s uncle’s plans, and Declan’s job is make sure she is delivered or else all that he holds dear in his life could be destroyed. What neither of them expect is that by force of nature and circumstances, they find that the love and companionship that has always eluded them both, exists, and with one another.
I loved the plot. It was creative, light, romantic, realistic, and engaging. The pacing was perfect. The obstacles realistic and the outcome fit just right. I loved the character cast, and I truly loved both Helena and Declan. They were likeable, realistic, both had their own complex pasts/problems, had personalities with hopes and dreams, seemed to compliment each other well, and boy did they have chemistry.
I have to admit that this is the first book that I have read by this author, however she has truly made a fan out of this reader. This book was quick, fun, romantic, creative, interesting, and everything that a historical romance should be. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Michaels has in store for the next book is this excellent series.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Avon Books/HarperCollins for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.