After five long years trapped in the country, newly widowed Nina Granville, Duchess of Exeter, has returned to town to start over. But it was here she committed an indiscretion—one stolen night of pleasure—that would threaten all she holds dear if revealed.Byron always loved Nina from afar—until the house party that turned his world upside down. Guilt saw him flee England’s shores, and Nina wed … Nina wed to a man old enough to be her grandfather, but now the handsome rogue is back…and ready to claim what is his.
Yet Nina has kept a secret from Byron, one that could threaten their sizzling attraction and sever their longstanding friendship forever. With Byron’s brother determined to reveal the truth, Nina must use her power in the ton to ensure her secret is kept safe. Even at the expense of love…
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I really enjoyed this historical romance. It checked off all the must haves for me (hot romance, happily ever after, keeps you entertained from page one to the end and of course the historical setting.) Tamara Gill really knows how to write a great historical romance and I highly recommend this book to all historical romance fans as well as anyone who just loves a hot romantic story.
3.25 STARS
Well, the h caused all her own problems and didn’t accept her part until the end. I felt sorry for the H because he has loved her, but he didn’t do anything because she loved his twin.
I dislike secrets kept with a passion and this story had secrets in spades. Two by the h and one by the H. The blow up at the end was upsetting, because again she played the victim. She is the one who entered the bedroom hoping to lose her virginity to the man she loved. Not all goes as planned!
There is lovemaking outside of marriage, heat level 4 out of 5. I didn’t feel a connection to them so it was just lust. Can’t have a connection, if holding secrets.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, little on romance and some spice. (ljb)
Enjoyed it throughly!
After five long years tapped in the country, newly widowed Nina Granville, Duchess of Exeter, returned to town to start over. It was there that she committed an indiscretion, one night of pleasure, that would threaten all she holds dear if revealed. Byron always loved Nina from afar until the house party that turned his world upside down. Guilt saw him flee England and Nina wed to a man old enough to be her grandfather. Now the handsome rogue is back and ready to claim what is his. Nina has kept a secret from Byron, one that could threaten their sizzling attraction and sever their longstanding friendship. Byron’s brother is determined to reveal the truth. Nina must use her power in the ton to ensure her secret remains safe, even at the expense of love. – Nina was bitter about her past. Byron was surprised and delighted to see Nina, and their friendship was renewed. This is a decent read.
Secrets long hidden rise to the surface in this Regency romance that touches the heart. Nina Granville returns to London for the season, knowing that she may well meet her nemesis, little realising that there is far more to the situation than she thought. Byron Hill is torn between protecting Nina and doing the right thing. With his manipulative brother insinuating himself into the situation, Byron realises that telling Nina the truth may destroy their new-found love for one another, but before he can do anything about it, his brother takes great pleasure in once more destroying the happiness that could be his. One man’s destructive ploys have done enough damage in their lives and it is up to Nina and Byron to move beyond his ability to hurt them. This romance is well written, and whilst painful in many ways, it does come to a happy and satisfying close.
Yes Edwina needed to grow up to see the error of her ways. I just wished Tamara had kept her children’s identity a secret or wrote it further into the Story. It gave away the Story from the beginning. Other than that, it was a Good short Novella.
After five long years trapped in the country, newly widowed Nina Granville, Duchess of Exeter, has returned to town to start over. But it was here she committed an indiscretion—one stolen night of pleasure—that would threaten all she holds dear if revealed.
Byron always loved Nina from afar—until the house party that turned his world upside down. Guilt saw him flee England’s shores, and Nina wed to a man old enough to be her grandfather, but now the handsome rogue is back…and ready to claim what is his.
Yet Nina has kept a secret from Byron, one that could threaten their sizzling attraction and sever their longstanding friendship forever. With Byron’s brother determined to reveal the truth, Nina must use her power in the ton to ensure her secret is kept safe. Even at the expense of love…’
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3.5 stars, round up to 4 stars.
To Dare a Duchess is the fifth book in Tamara Gill’s Lords of London series. Edwina/Nina and Byron are related to characters that we met earlier in the series, but it is not necessary to read them in order. Each book in this series could easily serve as a stand-alone book.
This has been my least favorite in the series. I thought the premise was a little far-fetched but quite intruiging and was excited to read it. But they all behaved so foolishly that I just couldn’t respect them enough to enjoy the story more. Especially Nina, it felt like she was constantly flipping back and forth in her emotions and reception of others. I know we were supposed to sympathize with her character the most, but I sympathized with her least.
I didn’t quite come off well for me that Andrew was so vilified here in an attempt to make this plot work. His only real crime was fibbing in order to keep away from a delusional young woman who was determined to make something between them that wasn’t there. All he really wanted was to be free to marry the woman he loved. Had Nina come to his room that night to throw herself at him it would have ruined the likelihood of his happy marriage. Besides manuvering Byron and Nina into the same room that night, he had no culpability here. He can’t be held resonsible for their actions that night. And certainly not their actions after, when Nina reacted so immaturely. I understand being hurt because she believed it to have been him, but how is impulsively marrying an old man going to prove or fix anything.
Although this book ws a miss for me, I will be finishing the series and recommend the series as a whole to fans of historical fiction and Tamara Gill.
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I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Really entertaining story of love overcoming misconceptions and deceit. Well written with great atmosphere. Love the story
To Dare A Duchess is an outstanding historical romance by Tamara Gill. This is a fairly quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. Ms. Gill has provided readers with a well-written book populated with an outstanding cast of characters. Byron is in London with his fiance to enjoy the last few months of the Season. Edwina returns to London to enjoy the season, but knows she’ll run into Andrew, the man that broke her heart. She is excited when she finds her best friend Byron also in London. Byron and Edwina’s story is packed with drama, humor, spice and mistaken identities. I enjoyed reading To Dare A Duchess and look forward to reading more from Tamara Gill in the future. To Dare A Duchess is book 5 of the Lords Of London Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Good reading
Actions have life-long consequences
Young and foolish, Edwina Fox never conceived of how her actions would change her life forever.
From the first paragraph of To Dare a Duchess I was drawn into Edwina’s story. I liked the way Tamara Gill fleshed out the characters and told their story through thoughts and dialogue. I also appreciated the pace of Ms. Gill’s descriptive writing. For me, the ending and extended epilogue moved this from a 3 stars to 4 stars.
All in all this is a quick and entertaining read.
Content alert: In addition to vulgarities, this book also contains very descriptive sexual content.
Have never read a Tamara Gill book I didn’t like.
I enjoyed the story of Nina and two brothers, Andrew and Byron. As a young girl she fancied herself in love with Andrew and looked upon Byron as a childhood friend. Giving in to her feelings starts her life on an unexpected path to the one she had imagined. Five years later after her husbands death she is determined to return to society and be an independent woman and a good role model for her twins.
Ehhhh
This is not a compelling romance or story. It is a story about two flawed people who get together. For me, there was no intensity or anything to capture my imagination.
I had a hard time getting into this book at first but then I was enthralled. It turned out to be the sweetest of love stories once they cleared up all the lies. This was a book about had decisions and misconceptions and finding a way to be happy together.
Oh What a Tangled Web!
Because of her actions 5 years previously, Nina finds herself married to a man of high rank but advancing years and one that she doesn’t love. Returning to London after the death of her husband, accompanied by her twin daughters she finds herself in the company of the Hill brothers; one who wronged and scorned her, the other who used to be her best friend. She holds secrets but so do the brothers. An interesting web of deception and lies but it is true to say that none of it would have happened if Nina had not thrown herself at Andrew. Nina comes across as far stronger character than Byron and though I could understand his actions in the past, I took issue with his keeping the truth from Nina when he met her again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book won in a FB competition. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Five years ago Nina, believing Andrew Hill ruined and abandoned her, impulsively agreed to marry the elderly Duke of Exeter. She is now a widow with twin daughters comes to Town to reenter Society and seek funds for her charity. At the first ball she attends, she sees Andrew and his twin Byron. Byron has always loved Nina and hopes Fate will grant him a second chance with Nina. It won’t be easy. Everyone in this story has secrets. There are some sticky situations. What will happen when they finally come to light?
To Dare a Duchess is a puzzle and a delicious second chance romance. The storyline is a little different from the usual Regency tale. There is betrayal, heartbreak, regret, misunderstanding, and forgiveness. The characters are great. They pull the reader right into the story with them. Nina and Byron, who have always been friends, truly have a wonderful chemistry. Molly and Lora were absolutely charming, little Ladies to the hilt. Andrew started the story as a selfish cad and did not change. To Dare a Duchess is another winner for Tamara Gill. I really enjoyed this story. I recommend it and the Lords of London series.
This read left me with a mitigated feeling, I do loved Byron but really disliked Edwina/Dina.
That she was infatuated with her twin’s friend, but she voluntarily threw herself in his arms and bed, he did not promised her anything, even if she was played and tricked, she was also responsible of her own predicament, she did not sit me for a rational person.
Then to react so dumbly just to believe she get her revenge, even more stupid.
Byron was the one really betrayed, she never gave him a single chance, nor a second glance then years later as he aged better than his brother, she finally notices him.
He suffered in silence, then ran away when she married another to spike his brother. So when he decides it is time to let the past go and settle, he discovers she is now a widow. He will do all in his power to get a second chance with her, even break his own engagement.
Andrew, his twin is really an awful man, never relenting to use even his brother to get what he wants and not minding the hurt he can cause.
I began to warm for Edwina when she stood up against her daughter-in-law and by the end when she reviewed her past actions and accepted to see her own faults.
A 3.5 stars.
Tamra Gill does it again!! To Dare a Duchess is book 5 in the Lords of London series. Tamara’s books never disappoint me and I take such joy escaping into another time and place through her stories. Her writing is amazing and her characters are truly wonderful and To Dare a Duchess is no exception. Though this original regency story is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. This story has many secrets, deception, twin brothers, heartache, a loveless marriage, a very nasty sister-in-law, kindness, a best friend, scandal, death, unrequited love, infatuation and yes eventually love. I highly recommend this book for the pure enjoyment of it!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.