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The Duke and the Dressmaker
Over the past six months, Lady Sara Downey lost her husband to another woman, found herself destitute, then discovered she was a widow. Fighting to survive, she opens a dress shop in London only to become the victim of a vicious blackmailer.
Ever since his wife ran off with another man, Philip St. James, the sixth Duke of Brentwood, vows never to fall prey to the conniving female gender again. Imagine his surprise when a chance meeting finds him staring into the beautiful eyes of the widow of his ex-wife’s lover. While he’s able to fight the immediate attraction, his conscience and honor won’t allow him to ignore the fact she is being tormented by an unknown assailant.
He promises to protect Lady Downey, but can he guard his heart from the sweet widow?
Ever since his wife ran off with another man, Philip St. James, the sixth Duke of Brentwood, vows never to fall prey to the conniving female gender again. Imagine his surprise when a chance meeting finds him staring into the beautiful eyes of the widow of his ex-wife’s lover. While he’s able to fight the immediate attraction, his conscience and honor won’t allow him to ignore the fact she is being tormented by an unknown assailant.
He promises to protect Lady Downey, but can he guard his heart from the sweet widow?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
161 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Keira Montclair
80 books524 followersKeira Montclair is the pen name of an author who lives in South Carolina with her husband. She writes fast-paced historical romance, often with children as secondary characters.
If she’s not writing, she prefers to spend time with her grandchildren. She’s worked as a high school math teacher, a registered nurse, and an office manager. She loves ballet, mathematics, puzzles, learning anything new, and creating new characters for her readers to fall in love with.
She considers her work done well when her readers shed tears over her stories, but there’s always a happy ending! Her bestselling series is a family saga that follows two medieval Scottish clans through three generations and now numbers over fifty books.
Contact her through her website, www.keiramontclair.com.
If she’s not writing, she prefers to spend time with her grandchildren. She’s worked as a high school math teacher, a registered nurse, and an office manager. She loves ballet, mathematics, puzzles, learning anything new, and creating new characters for her readers to fall in love with.
She considers her work done well when her readers shed tears over her stories, but there’s always a happy ending! Her bestselling series is a family saga that follows two medieval Scottish clans through three generations and now numbers over fifty books.
Contact her through her website, www.keiramontclair.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 24, 2014
Boy, oh boy, was this one a mistake. Very amateur writing. Stilted, unrealistic dialogue, purple prose, a shaky plot, bad pacing, and TSTL characters. It's also one of those annoying books that keeps asking the readers questions. On one page, I counted 11 questions posed to the reader. Yes, 11. I don't know why so many authors do this, if it's something they learned in some defunct writing class, but I really, really wish it would stop. The reader doesn't know the answer to any of these questions, dear author. If they did, they wouldn't be reading your hastily slapped together mishmash of language that has somehow passed for a story.
November 6, 2013
I thought this was a very good book. I enjoyed it!!!
February 27, 2014
I really did enjoy this book. It was a breath of fresh air from the predictable plot of many books place in this time period. A bit of romance, violence, and the drive. By drive--I mean that I read this book in literally one day and night. I wish it was part of a series! The main woman character is not some stupid little female from a good family and the main male is not a idiot ruled by his other head. It was a breath of fresh air, like I said, considering historical romance novels; I loved this book, honestly. If one is looking for an introduction to historical romance novels PICK THIS BOOK, it will ease your way into other books and you will understand (after reading this novel) better what you look for in a historical novel. Cheers.
February 15, 2015
Perils of Pauline
The only thing the heroine didn't have done to her was a villain tying her to the railroad tracks.....Come on! Enough is enough with the traumatic experiences in just over a few weeks period of time. I just couldnt buy into the continuous mindless attacks on the poor free-market whose last life was tragic and now a neverending crisis. Could have been a good book if the writer hadn't have gone so overboard with the drama!
The only thing the heroine didn't have done to her was a villain tying her to the railroad tracks.....Come on! Enough is enough with the traumatic experiences in just over a few weeks period of time. I just couldnt buy into the continuous mindless attacks on the poor free-market whose last life was tragic and now a neverending crisis. Could have been a good book if the writer hadn't have gone so overboard with the drama!
October 5, 2015
I'm absolutely certain I would have never survived the 1800's...I am way too outspoken. However, this book shows the backbone of a woman who lost her 'standing' among the upper class when her husband left her for another woman. Since he wasn't much to brag about, she really didn't miss him. It was, however, another story for how she was to support herself! She loved too design dresses...and was an excellent seamstress....so her dress shop came to be. The 'ton' could look down on her if they wanted to, but they still liked her dresses!
Of course, there has to be a gentleman involved - and a Duke, at that. His mother and sister are happy to buy dresses from her, but he is intrigued by her - and tries to protect her from some nasty bad guys.
You know how it goes...romance, intrigue, danger. But, best of all, this author knows how to grab you and keep you...she develops characters that you love and situations that, although common for this style of book, still contain surprises.
I absolutely love Keira Montclair and her books - and this one was no exception!
Of course, there has to be a gentleman involved - and a Duke, at that. His mother and sister are happy to buy dresses from her, but he is intrigued by her - and tries to protect her from some nasty bad guys.
You know how it goes...romance, intrigue, danger. But, best of all, this author knows how to grab you and keep you...she develops characters that you love and situations that, although common for this style of book, still contain surprises.
I absolutely love Keira Montclair and her books - and this one was no exception!
March 25, 2015
This is the third book I've read by Keira Montclair and I loved it. She has a way of starting her books off right from the beginning. Phillip, who is the hero, is a wronged husband and Sara(heroin) is a widow and wronged wife. Their spouses have ran off together. Sara's husband is found out to be dead but Phillip's wife doesn't show up until later in the story.
I liked how the story just plunged right along and some feel it is kinda dramatic but I liked that about the book and I liked the couple together. If you've read KM books before this one is sure to delight.
I liked how the story just plunged right along and some feel it is kinda dramatic but I liked that about the book and I liked the couple together. If you've read KM books before this one is sure to delight.
July 23, 2016
I really like this story alot! It had all the elements i enjoy in a story- it had romance, it had lots of beautiful descriptions and it had life lessons alot of people have had to learn and ones more should!
I love how strong Sara was and yet quiet and ladylike as well. I also enjoyed how she put the duke in his place when he thought he was so much better and deserved so much more. this was a great womens story!
I love how strong Sara was and yet quiet and ladylike as well. I also enjoyed how she put the duke in his place when he thought he was so much better and deserved so much more. this was a great womens story!
August 24, 2016
Awesome Read!!!
So much tragedy has befallen Sara and when she meets Philip, The Duke whose wife fled with her husband more tragedy strikes. She has to overcome her husbands deception, blackmail, being harmed and kidnapped. But with the love and help from the Duke is her only way. A wonderful read with a great ending!!
So much tragedy has befallen Sara and when she meets Philip, The Duke whose wife fled with her husband more tragedy strikes. She has to overcome her husbands deception, blackmail, being harmed and kidnapped. But with the love and help from the Duke is her only way. A wonderful read with a great ending!!
January 19, 2017
Wonderful love story
Wonderful love story of love and hardship. She is a dressmaker and he is a duke. They together lost their spouses to each other's spouses. And when they met for first time sparks flew. Read on for more.
Wonderful love story of love and hardship. She is a dressmaker and he is a duke. They together lost their spouses to each other's spouses. And when they met for first time sparks flew. Read on for more.
January 16, 2018
Great book love the time period was a little shaky at first poor sat had so many problems but the duke came through for her can’t wait to see what will happen in the next book with graham would highly recommend reading
March 23, 2018
3.5 stars.
May 27, 2018
I love this author. She gave great insight to the time period. The characters came to life for me. I can't wait for the next one in the series.
December 12, 2019
I loved this book but I knew I would because I read the first edition of this "The Duke and the Dressmaker" several years ago. The new one is even better - I loved the secondary characters like the duke's mother, Mary St. James, Dowager Duchess of Brentwood & his 14 year old sister - they both added a lot to the story!
The handsome & rich, Philip St. James, the Duke of Brentwood, has sworn to never form an attachment to a woman again where his heart would become engaged after his wife ran away with a married baron. He, after spending a lot of money, was granted a divorce - so he was single & planned to stay that way much to the chagrin of the husband hunting young ladies & their matchmaking mamas. But, when he meets the wife, of the man his wife ran off with, something about her entrances him & he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
Sara Downey has had a tough time, her husband abandoned her 6 months ago & took all the money with him & sold all their assets. Only because of her father's wise choices for her before he died was she left with an inheritance that her husband could not touch. Leaving her homeless & destitute, Sara decides to use the money left by her father to open a dress shop. She loves designing dresses, is an excellent seamstress & she is making enough money to get by on without worry, especially when she decides to save money & secretly live above her shop. And then her world turned upside down when a horrible man threatens & carries through with some of the threats when he demands payment for her, now dead, husband's gambling debts.
After Sara & Philip were introduced by a mutual friend, the dangerous, blackmail, physical abuse of Sara begins & Philip know he must find a way to protect her. The more they are thrown together with the events that take place, the stronger the bond grows between them. I highly recommend this read to all historical romance readers as it has everything you look for in a romantic HEA.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
The handsome & rich, Philip St. James, the Duke of Brentwood, has sworn to never form an attachment to a woman again where his heart would become engaged after his wife ran away with a married baron. He, after spending a lot of money, was granted a divorce - so he was single & planned to stay that way much to the chagrin of the husband hunting young ladies & their matchmaking mamas. But, when he meets the wife, of the man his wife ran off with, something about her entrances him & he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
Sara Downey has had a tough time, her husband abandoned her 6 months ago & took all the money with him & sold all their assets. Only because of her father's wise choices for her before he died was she left with an inheritance that her husband could not touch. Leaving her homeless & destitute, Sara decides to use the money left by her father to open a dress shop. She loves designing dresses, is an excellent seamstress & she is making enough money to get by on without worry, especially when she decides to save money & secretly live above her shop. And then her world turned upside down when a horrible man threatens & carries through with some of the threats when he demands payment for her, now dead, husband's gambling debts.
After Sara & Philip were introduced by a mutual friend, the dangerous, blackmail, physical abuse of Sara begins & Philip know he must find a way to protect her. The more they are thrown together with the events that take place, the stronger the bond grows between them. I highly recommend this read to all historical romance readers as it has everything you look for in a romantic HEA.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
December 29, 2019
Love this book
This is a great story about women who had to deal with humiliation and the loss of her marriage and title. She is strong and picks herself up and never loses her dignity. She runs in to the man that has also been humiliated by his wife running of with her husband. He is a Duke and by reputation and from what her husband has done should want nothing to do with her. But he is struck by her drive and dignity and beauty and his family helps her as much as she will let them. She endured during a time when women didn’t have many choices and as much as he fights it the Duke is attracted to her. Her husbands past comes back to haunt her and she is determined to fix it on her own, but will the Duke help her anyway?
This author can’t write a bad book. To my understanding there will not be any more
books for this story line, but I think that is a shame. She created great characters, an interesting and thrilling story line and I feel some character still have a story to tell. Either way, this is a book you will want to read and you will love the characters.
This is a great story about women who had to deal with humiliation and the loss of her marriage and title. She is strong and picks herself up and never loses her dignity. She runs in to the man that has also been humiliated by his wife running of with her husband. He is a Duke and by reputation and from what her husband has done should want nothing to do with her. But he is struck by her drive and dignity and beauty and his family helps her as much as she will let them. She endured during a time when women didn’t have many choices and as much as he fights it the Duke is attracted to her. Her husbands past comes back to haunt her and she is determined to fix it on her own, but will the Duke help her anyway?
This author can’t write a bad book. To my understanding there will not be any more
books for this story line, but I think that is a shame. She created great characters, an interesting and thrilling story line and I feel some character still have a story to tell. Either way, this is a book you will want to read and you will love the characters.
May 16, 2022
Excellent!
I loved everything about this book. Philip is a Duke who divorced his wife when she left him for another man. Sara is the wife of that man. Her husband left with Philip’s wife and took all their money with him leaving Sara to make her own way. Her father had hidden enough money for her before he died that she was able to buy a building and open a dress shop, her dream. She is now working class and not part of the ton. She meets Philip in front of a church before a wedding when his mistress was yelling at her. He came to her rescue. Even though he is sworn to never love again and she is of a lower station, they are brought together over and over. She is being blackmailed by someone who says her husband owes a gambling debt that she must pay off. Phillip wants to help her. Their journey is full of excitement and drama and passion and love. My heart was racing many times throughout the book. What a great story.
I loved everything about this book. Philip is a Duke who divorced his wife when she left him for another man. Sara is the wife of that man. Her husband left with Philip’s wife and took all their money with him leaving Sara to make her own way. Her father had hidden enough money for her before he died that she was able to buy a building and open a dress shop, her dream. She is now working class and not part of the ton. She meets Philip in front of a church before a wedding when his mistress was yelling at her. He came to her rescue. Even though he is sworn to never love again and she is of a lower station, they are brought together over and over. She is being blackmailed by someone who says her husband owes a gambling debt that she must pay off. Phillip wants to help her. Their journey is full of excitement and drama and passion and love. My heart was racing many times throughout the book. What a great story.
September 8, 2024
TW : OW. His mistress Miranda
I wish hero would stop wondering why the FMC beguiled him like none other women, as other heroes would in many other HR books. He only just met her few times in a span of days!
Wish he would also stop comparing her to his bitch of a mistress. He tried meeting his mistress to break off the arrangement but the mistress refused so she kneeled in front of him to give him a blowjob. Lo and behold, his prick didn’t get stiff. After all the months she had managed to arouse him and all of a sudden he had gotten soft just because the woman was’t FMC? So he wondered how that happened🥴 Typical love bug eh?
I wish hero would stop wondering why the FMC beguiled him like none other women, as other heroes would in many other HR books. He only just met her few times in a span of days!
Wish he would also stop comparing her to his bitch of a mistress. He tried meeting his mistress to break off the arrangement but the mistress refused so she kneeled in front of him to give him a blowjob. Lo and behold, his prick didn’t get stiff. After all the months she had managed to arouse him and all of a sudden he had gotten soft just because the woman was’t FMC? So he wondered how that happened🥴 Typical love bug eh?
May 30, 2020
This Guy!
This guy really ticked me off through most of the book, but I really liked the heroine - hence the four stars. The duke’s main goal through most of their “romance” was getting Sara to agree to be his mistress. He promised her time and again to keep her safe and yet she kept getting attacked. Usually because he was somewhere pouting and throwing temper tantrums. He simply couldn’t believe she had the audacity to tell him no. I was so disgusted by him it made it hard to enjoy the book. Of course we do get an HEA, so there’s that.
This guy really ticked me off through most of the book, but I really liked the heroine - hence the four stars. The duke’s main goal through most of their “romance” was getting Sara to agree to be his mistress. He promised her time and again to keep her safe and yet she kept getting attacked. Usually because he was somewhere pouting and throwing temper tantrums. He simply couldn’t believe she had the audacity to tell him no. I was so disgusted by him it made it hard to enjoy the book. Of course we do get an HEA, so there’s that.
December 19, 2019
After divorcing his runaway wife, Phillips heart harden and he would never marry again. Sara was married a short time when her husband ran off with her dowery and Phillips wife. When he comes to her rescue time and time again it is inevitable that their love would grow. But someone wants Sara for another reason and time is running out for Phillip to find his love! Another great story by Kiera Montclair!
January 29, 2020
Wonderful story
I read everything and anything written by Keira Montclair. The whole Grant Clan series down through generations. They are great reading. This story is different. Not in Scottish Highlands or 12th century but every bit as moving and exciting and romantic. You can't help but keep reading. Enjoy
I read everything and anything written by Keira Montclair. The whole Grant Clan series down through generations. They are great reading. This story is different. Not in Scottish Highlands or 12th century but every bit as moving and exciting and romantic. You can't help but keep reading. Enjoy
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January 18, 2023Great Book!!
This makes the third time I have read this book and it is as good as it was the first time. My only draw back are the sex scenes not something I read so I skip pages to get back to the story. I don’t need all of sex for a great love story. I just like a great love story.
This makes the third time I have read this book and it is as good as it was the first time. My only draw back are the sex scenes not something I read so I skip pages to get back to the story. I don’t need all of sex for a great love story. I just like a great love story.
June 3, 2025
A wonderful love city
This starts as a typical love story does, boy marries girl, married girl runs off with a different married man. Now there are two broken marriages and even though 1 husband is with a different wife, there is so much misery and distrust! How on earth will true love be found? Read this tale and find out!
This starts as a typical love story does, boy marries girl, married girl runs off with a different married man. Now there are two broken marriages and even though 1 husband is with a different wife, there is so much misery and distrust! How on earth will true love be found? Read this tale and find out!
January 4, 2019
Unexpected twist and turns romance.
I cried laughed hurt. This is an excellent read. So much crazy drama. Totally unexpected twists and turns. Reading this story I never thought. I'm reading everything I can from this author. I know I will no be disappointed.
I cried laughed hurt. This is an excellent read. So much crazy drama. Totally unexpected twists and turns. Reading this story I never thought. I'm reading everything I can from this author. I know I will no be disappointed.
January 13, 2019
Philip and Sara were destined to be together
Starting with the fact that their spouses left them for each other. They were misused and misunderstood. They both turned out to have Noble blood.
Starting with the fact that their spouses left them for each other. They were misused and misunderstood. They both turned out to have Noble blood.
December 15, 2019
Ivey Eyes & Heart
Loved this exciting book. Broken hearts, jilted spouses, blackmail, kidnapping and a lady’s honor all rolled into this wonderful story. A lowly seamstress melted the Duke’s ice heart and turned his icy eyes blue.
Loved this exciting book. Broken hearts, jilted spouses, blackmail, kidnapping and a lady’s honor all rolled into this wonderful story. A lowly seamstress melted the Duke’s ice heart and turned his icy eyes blue.
January 4, 2019
Loved it!
Omg! Wow! Talk about a storyline that was so devastating and heart wrenching. But the passion and love between Sara and Philip was so perfect.you will love this story.
Omg! Wow! Talk about a storyline that was so devastating and heart wrenching. But the passion and love between Sara and Philip was so perfect.you will love this story.
December 14, 2019
Loved it! Engaging characters and a good story line. I’ve read and loved this authors scottish romances but this change of genre was a nice change of pace.
October 13, 2021
Exciting love story
This book was as good as your other books, I haven’t read the modern version but I will soon. I just like to imagine the past.
This book was as good as your other books, I haven’t read the modern version but I will soon. I just like to imagine the past.
January 25, 2020
There are several characters, some secondary but all are noteworthy. Mary St. James, Dowager Duchess of Brentwood is mother to the Duke of Brentwood. Mary did not like Miranda Montrose, who is the mistress of Phillip. She was screaming at a young lady in front of the church.
Phillip's wife ran off with another man also married. Sounds interesting, he gets a divorce from her and swears to never marry again or give his heart away. As you can see it starts to get very interesting. They are going to one of his friend's wedding and it seems to be quite an affair. All the ton is turning out for it.
Lady Sara Downey was glad her husband was gone. He took all their money and sold their property, actually, I should say hers. Her father had put away a small fortune for Sara alone. So she took it bought a building and opened a modiste shop. She didn't know if she was going to make but she would try. She thought the duke was handsome but his ice-blue eyes turned her off. A strange and smelly man showed up at her shop demanding money. Apparently, Lord Downey was a gambler and owed a lot of money and the smelly man wanted it now.
I enjoyed this story but was heartbreaking for what she had to go through. The tale was entertaining, brought the emotions out to the fore and watching their feelings change was amazing. There was fear, death and definitely a lot of terror. All while she tries to conduct business to feed herself. The characters were wonderful and some very protective, they seemed very realistic. There were a lot of turns and surprises in the book. It must have been hard to keep track of it. The author did a wondrous job of keeping it all straight. I definitely recommend this for the over eighteen bunch.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you.
Phillip's wife ran off with another man also married. Sounds interesting, he gets a divorce from her and swears to never marry again or give his heart away. As you can see it starts to get very interesting. They are going to one of his friend's wedding and it seems to be quite an affair. All the ton is turning out for it.
Lady Sara Downey was glad her husband was gone. He took all their money and sold their property, actually, I should say hers. Her father had put away a small fortune for Sara alone. So she took it bought a building and opened a modiste shop. She didn't know if she was going to make but she would try. She thought the duke was handsome but his ice-blue eyes turned her off. A strange and smelly man showed up at her shop demanding money. Apparently, Lord Downey was a gambler and owed a lot of money and the smelly man wanted it now.
I enjoyed this story but was heartbreaking for what she had to go through. The tale was entertaining, brought the emotions out to the fore and watching their feelings change was amazing. There was fear, death and definitely a lot of terror. All while she tries to conduct business to feed herself. The characters were wonderful and some very protective, they seemed very realistic. There were a lot of turns and surprises in the book. It must have been hard to keep track of it. The author did a wondrous job of keeping it all straight. I definitely recommend this for the over eighteen bunch.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you.
April 12, 2022
MILD SPOILERS
I can't say it's a terrible book, since there are a lot of elements that i enjoyed, but there are also some details that really bugged me. The first one, not that important to the story, was nevertheless extremely irritating. The h named the main villain Stinky for obvious reasons, but i found this so ridiculous and juvenile! It's difficult to be terrified of a Stinky! What about Putrid, Skunk, Rotten, just from the top of my head? Another negative mark for me was the fact that the H gets a c**kstand at every occasion - I believe a light breeze would have been enough - and for any woman, even his ex wife, who he hates. Other behaviors of the H that I found unpalatable were his unjustified rages, how ineffective he was in protecting the h after saying a hundred times she was safe with him, his callousness in asking her to become his mistress after a night of passion, and then giving her expensive jewelry to overcome her scruples, and a few more.
There are also some loose ends like who was the loanshark Stinky was working for, and what happened to him? How can the H and h get married when there is no proof her husband is really dead? Why would Alyssa turn out to be an amazing seamstress after saying she was a very good baker? How did the Bow Street Runners manage to lose two people they arrested?
Actually, just writing this review I realized that three stars are too many, more ⭐⭐ 1/2
I can't say it's a terrible book, since there are a lot of elements that i enjoyed, but there are also some details that really bugged me. The first one, not that important to the story, was nevertheless extremely irritating. The h named the main villain Stinky for obvious reasons, but i found this so ridiculous and juvenile! It's difficult to be terrified of a Stinky! What about Putrid, Skunk, Rotten, just from the top of my head? Another negative mark for me was the fact that the H gets a c**kstand at every occasion - I believe a light breeze would have been enough - and for any woman, even his ex wife, who he hates. Other behaviors of the H that I found unpalatable were his unjustified rages, how ineffective he was in protecting the h after saying a hundred times she was safe with him, his callousness in asking her to become his mistress after a night of passion, and then giving her expensive jewelry to overcome her scruples, and a few more.
There are also some loose ends like who was the loanshark Stinky was working for, and what happened to him? How can the H and h get married when there is no proof her husband is really dead? Why would Alyssa turn out to be an amazing seamstress after saying she was a very good baker? How did the Bow Street Runners manage to lose two people they arrested?
Actually, just writing this review I realized that three stars are too many, more ⭐⭐ 1/2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2017
I didn't really enjoy this book though I usually love this kind of theme. I think it was because of the writing. There was quite a lot of unnecessary talking or description, it made the sequence kind of awkward. Oh! And the language was so modern, it was weird!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews