Girls Who Dare – The exciting new series from Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning, Amazon Top 10 romance writer behind the Rogues & Gentlemen series. Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can … change their lives, anything can happen.
Ten girls – Ten dares in a hat. Who will dare to risk it all?
To Dare a Duke
Dreams of true love and happy ever afters
Dreams of love are all well and good, but all Prunella Chuffington-Smythe wants is to publish her novel. Marriage at the price of her independence is something she will not consider. Having tasted success writing under a false name in The Lady’s Weekly Review, her alter ego is attaining notoriety and fame and Prue rather likes it.
A Duty that must be endured
Robert Adolphus, The Duke of Bedwin, is in no hurry to marry, he’s done it once and repeating that disaster is the last thing he desires. Yet, an heir is a necessary evil for a duke and one he cannot shirk. A dark reputation precedes him though, his first wife may have died young, but the scandals the beautiful, vivacious and spiteful creature supplied the ton have not. A wife must be found. A wife who is neither beautiful or vivacious but sweet and dull, and certain to stay out of trouble.
Dared to do something drastic
The sudden interest of a certain dastardly duke is as bewildering as it is unwelcome. She’ll not throw her ambitions aside to marry a scoundrel just as her plans for self-sufficiency and freedom are coming to fruition. Surely showing the man she’s not actually the meek little wallflower he is looking for should be enough to put paid to his intentions? When Prue is dared by her friends to do something drastic, it seems the perfect opportunity to kill two birds.
However, Prue cannot help being intrigued by the rogue who has inspired so many of her romances. Ordinarily, he plays the part of handsome rake, set on destroying her plucky heroine. But is he really the villain of the piece this time, or could he be the hero?
Finding out will be dangerous, but it just might inspire her greatest story yet.
Happy reading! And please do leave a review if you can – it would mean the world to hear what you enjoyed most about the book.
**** Warning: This book contains a careful selection of quiet determination, resolute tight-lipped-ness and (almost) insurmountable levels of tension. Although coupled with the presence of occasionally descriptive sexual encounters, we are very pleased to highlight that this book – and series – is in no way verging on erotica. ****
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This story is scary because one woman who saw what her mother endured in her marriage, has chosen to vilify the Duke of Bedminster because of rumors of how he abused his wife and drove her to ride her horse so hard she broke her neck. She wrote a novel that in those days was published by a magazine in chapter segments. When the Duke of Bedminster goes looking for another wife, because of his duty to produce an heir, he goes to his uncle to help him find a woman who is practical and intelligent. His uncle chooses his favorite wallflower, Prudence. What Prudence learns devastates her, and changes the ending of her book to the surprise of herself and her editor. I found the Duke quick to forgive Prudence after she changes the ending. He knew enough about Prudence when courting her that she was not marriage minded and why. It should not have shocked him that she found her independence in writing. The clues were all there; ink on her hands, her wit and intelligence, her no nonsense way of things. The dare that this series is based on is really secondary, the only thing that the dare provides is a way for these wallflowers to step out of their comfort zones. Like Prudence’s dare to dance at midnight, she didn’t have to dance with the Duke. She could have danced alone, but she wanted the rest of her club to take their dares just as seriously. The characters are charming and well-developed, even with horrible faults. It actually makes me like them more.
This was such a fun book! I love the tension between the hero and heroine. It kept me turning pages!
NOT THE VILLAIN
Prue is finding success writing stories for The Ladies Weekly Review. A new chapter is printed every week about a villainous Duke. Her villain is based on Robert, the Duke of Bedwin. Robert wants to remarry, someone plain and self sufficient. No love, no scandals. His life was destroyed by his first wife’s infidelities and damaging rumors before and after her death. Robert’s been very hurt and withdrawn. These stories in the rag make him really angry. On his uncle’s advice he pursues Prue as his wife. After their introduction, he repeatedly proposes , but Prue always says “NO.” Hmmm. The question is why? A young lady who wants to be independent, Robert has to change her mind. He’s not giving up until she says “Yes.” A Duke, not a villain, can surely come up with a very clever way of persuading her to change her mind…or does he really need it? Robert is a hero to remember.
The comment that the hero’s sister delivers in the scene at the end of Chapter 2 is graceful and sets the whole story up: will he, as well as the heroine, have what it takes to grow and to love? Well constructed beginning!
This was a great page-turner with likeable characters and a plot that moved along. Definitely one for readers who like historical reads with strong, ambitious women who are open to romance!
First time I’ve read anything by Emma V Leech. Loved her writing style. The characters were great. The storyline was great. I was hooked almost immediately. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Having read previous books by this author I was excited to jump into this book.
This book had me from page one.
Pru is a woman who is fun and feisty. I love that she doesn’t care what people think about her and that she lives her truth. I like that she is independent.
The Duke is brood and dark but as we learn not all is what it seems. Sometimes what we see and hear isn’t always the truth.
This story is full of mischief and mayhem and I was drawn in from the beginning. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
There is a club for wallflowers. The women all have an issue that makes them unmarriageable. An issue could be temperament, or maybe they were perceived to be ruined, etc. They decide to choose a dare from a hat. This story is about Prunella, who takes a dare and finds love
This series is so much fun. Each of the Peculiar Ladies are originals in their own right. Prunella is the first to dare and she is not interested in being rescued via marriage at all and is very refreshing. The Duke is also not the typical stuffed shirt. Lots of great back and forth. I plan to read the entire series!
Good story
I loved all the books in this series and am looking forward to her next book
Pretty Decent Romance–Emma Leech creates likable characters,and has good plot pacing and development
Loved this story! Really caught by surprise in a wonderful way! Definite page turner and still a “feel good” novel.
I enjoyed it! It was funny and lighthearted just what I needed!
Out loud moments and entertaining characters make this a very enjoyable story.
Love this writer also, try to read everything she writes!!!
Women with an agenda of not letting men use, abuse or steal their thunder hence this story. Funny witty, romantic and poignant. Love the main and supporting characters. Great depiction of the period. The author makes the reader feel the stare, feel the kiss and the touch. Curl up and enjoy this story.
I’m going to read at least the next in the series. I want to know what happens to the wallflowers.
I couldn’t put this down. thoroughly enjoyed the antics of the ladies and the unusual storyline. Well developed characters with interesting actions going on all the time. I have enjoyed regency romances for many years in the pat, and have recently started reading them again. This is one author that does a very good job of capturing the era as well as writing unusual stories that are very enjoyable.
Excellent great