To Dance with a Duke

Dollar Princess #2

by Gabrielle Meyer

For those who love The Gilded Age and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

In 1884, Ames Welby, the Duke of Severton, is desperate. His ancestral home is falling apart, his tenant farmers are starving, and his family name is tainted by a mysterious scandal that keeps people away. With no fortune and no time, he does the unthinkable—marries for money. But Lily Parker, the American heiress he weds in haste, is no pampered socialite. She’s practical, passionate, and has a plan to restore Pickering Castle—and the reputation of the five reclusive Welby brothers.

Inspired by her love of matchmaking and her longing for connection, Lily invites four eligible young women to a summer house party, hoping to spark romance and rebuild the family’s future. What follows is a whirlwind of mischief, mismatched couples, and unexpected love. But when Lily’s belief in true love clashes with Ames’s fear of family curses and social ruin, their fragile marriage is put to the ultimate test.

As storms rage and secrets unravel, Ames must will he fight for legacy—or for the woman who’s taught him that love is the most daring risk of all?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical, Marriage Of Convenience, Christian

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Gabrielle Meyer grew up above a carriage house on a historic estate near the banks of the Mississippi River, imagining real and make-believe stories about the occupants who had lived there. She went on to work for the Minnesota Historical Society and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from where she grew up, with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and non-fiction filled with hope. Learn more about Gabrielle and her writing by visiting www.gabriellemeyer.com.

Reviews

[Sabrina Maddox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed. I adored the first book in this series and was really hoping to like this one just as much. The FMC, Lily, ruined all of that for me. Squashed my hope like a bug.

She’s stupid, that’s all. She makes horrendous decisions and is considerate to everyone who isn’t her husband. She broke his trust so many times, at least five, and did absolutely nothing to build rapport between them.

Somehow Ames was always the one apologizing for her deception and their eventual falling out????? Like I’m a girls girl but I’m first and foremost a HUSBAND GIRL.

My marriage would be in SHAMBLES if I acted even remotely similar to this woman.

[Joanna Bair · Rating 5 out of 5]

All fans of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers needs to read this clever retelling of the story set in the Gilded Age of the UK in a castle on the North Sea rather than the mountains of Montana. And don’t worry there’s no Sobbin Women but the brothers are definitely the unruly brothers you know.
It’s a sequel but you don’t need to read the first, however if you did this is Lily’s story.
The book is sweet, clean, and I’d let any teenager read it. A nice solid romance with a bit of suspense and action.

[Rachelle Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

How refreshing to read a novel that starts with the marriage (and a semi-arranged one, at that)! I did struggle to like Ames who was so distant at first, and Lily doesn't seem to quite learn her lesson about not keeping things from him, but the wrap-up was intriguing and makes me eager to read the next novel in this series.

[Nangah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who hates misunderstandings as a trope, this was my first hate read of the year. The writing, world building and characters were great! Apart from the misunderstandings I really enjoyed reading it.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I surprisingly didn't love this one. The writing was solid, the story was promising, but the romance seemed too fast. I also didn't like the main character at all. She kept on making the same stupid mistakes, and I almost stopped reading at 88%.

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I want to create a life with you that we both want. One of our own making. More than anything, I want you to be happy, Lily.”

To Dance with a Duke by Gabrielle Meyer

Ahhhh! I loved this second book in the Dollar Princess series! Full of romance, mystery, suspense, and it has Seven Brides for Seven Brothers vibes!
I love Gabrielle’s connection to that musical, so I think it is so special she wrote it into a book.

The Duke she wrote makes for such a great grumpy Duke, and he has every reason to be grumpy because of things that happened in the past. I felt horrifed for him! And his brothers too. If you love Seeking Persephone and want a book with a comparable grumpy Duke, then definitely check out “To Dance with a Duke.”

I really loved Lily’s character and her fortitude, grit, and determination to make things work in her marriage and to try to make the best of her situation.

As always, Gabrielle weaves beautiful Christian messages into her stories. I loved the discussions of free will and making our own choices, of God leading them to each other and about the importance and sacredness of marriage.

The romance is sweet and delectable while staying behind closed doors. I laughed, swooned, and ate up every ounce of this delightful new story from the author of the Timeless series!

I highly recommend this book! And can be read as a standalone, though I definitely recommend book 1 as well! And book 3 will release this fall!

Favorite Parts:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers vibes
Marriage of Convenience
“My Wife”
His brothers
The view
Mystery and suspense
The secret passageway
Loved the whole book

Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Kissing, implied sexual intimacy (between married couple), scandal mentioned
Violence/gore: Mild -kidnapping, man gets wounded, murder (happens in past, discussed in present),
Substance Use: Mild-social drinking
Prejudices: Social classes
Religious Content: Christian themes
Other: death (past)


Book Info:
Series: Dollar Princesses book 2
Genre: Historical Romance; Gilded Age
Romance Level: Closed-door
Release Date: Available now
Publisher: Indie
POV: Single First person

Thank you to the Author and publisher for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Elizabeth Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️/5

This was a fun read to be sure, but it just didn’t land for me the way I was hoping it would. Looking forward to reading the next one!

[Sylvia Kinney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book was so good, there was a lot of potential for this to be another amazing book by Gabrielle Meyer. My problem with it is that it felt similar to several other books I’ve read based off this era and I was so annoyed with the miscommunication trope (it just kept happening, over and over). Now marriage of convenience is easily one of my top five favorite tropes, this one just fell flat for me. It was a good story but nothing special.

[Finding Faith in Fiction (Chrissy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dollar Princess Series is shaping up to become a favorite series for me. Book 1 was great...Book 2 was excellent. Not only do I love the Regency/Gilded Age settings across the series, but the inclusion of the various classical musicals–genius!

To Dance with a Duke was a loose Seven Brides for Seven Brothers retelling. It doesn't fully follow the plot, but it inspires its own unique story based on some of the more significant events. I read the book, and watched the original musical afterwards. As usual, I should have done that in the reverse order, but such is my style. I did really enjoy following up the book with the musical is was inspired by!

I do have to mention one small issue I had with the first portion of the story...it felt VERY similar to the beginning of Seeking Persephone. I do love that book, so I didn't mind it, but it just seemed a bit too close to the other story. After the first portion, this story veered off in a different direction, and then all was good.

Lily, an American heiress, makes a lovely FMC, who travels to England to marry an aristocrat. Ames, Duke of Severton, likewise makes a delightful MMC, who needs a wealthy American heiress to support his crumbling estate. Lily and Ames quickly agree to a marriage of convenience, and while Lily understands this isn't a love match, she eventually realizes she wants and needs love in a marriage. Ames is not so sure about that, but as most Regency heroes eventually realize, they do in fact love the girl, and become very protective. While trying to woo her husband, Lily is also determined to make the most of the her new home and new brothers, and invites her fellow American heiress friends to the castle in hopes of making a match for her brother-in-laws. Add in jealous brothers, confused heiresses, legends of a family curse, and a gang of underground smugglers, and you've got quite the interesting plot! It's actually quite a miracle that we get a happy ending with this one.

The faith content is light, with themes being focused on forgiveness and honesty. Lily struggles with honesty and transparency and is prone to poor decisions, and Ames is required to lean into forgiveness many times. There is some character growth late in the game, and faith elements tucked in here and there. I was a bit worried that the family curse storyline might get darker than I prefer, but it stayed pretty mild.

While some reviewers didn't care for Lily & Ames relationship, I can appreciate that two broken people coming together have to learn to navigate marriage, and making huge mistakes is often part of that. Stubborn people take time to unlearn the tendency to rely on yourself, and learn to rely on God and your husband to lead. Not every wife is automatically a good one, and as someone who has a hard time letting others lead, I can see the value of showing the reality of that process. Not to mention the situations she's dealing with aren't exactly lending themselves to transparency and trust building. Forget the psychology of the situation, from a writing perspective Lily's poor decisions were needed to set up some of the plot points 😉

What I enjoyed:
🏰 Regency/Gilded Age era setting
🏰 The ill-mannered brothers
🏰 Lily basically demanding a prenup of sorts
🏰 The tunnels
🏰 The forbidden romance side plot

⚠️ Content Warnings:
- American heiress marriage trade
-"Swapping" boyfriends
- Dishonesty of a spouse
- Abduction
- Murders/death (off page, mildly described)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5 Stars
Writing: 5.0
Characters & Plot: 4.5
Faith & Content: 4.0
Enjoyability: 5.0

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book, especially for lovers of the Regency/Gilded Age era. The added elements from Seven Brides gave it a really unique spin.

[Jeanine Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is all the ladies who love the Gilded Age, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, or swoony marriage of convenience!

We met our main characters in the first book of the American Dollar Princess, To Love a Lady. Lily Parker, an American heiress braves London society to snag a titled husband and the chance of a rise in station for her sister back in America. When Ames’s first choice, Clara, rejects him, she kindly puts a worm in his ear to seeking out Lily.

Quite desperate for funds for his estate and a womanly influence for his reclusive brothers, he offers the first chance he gets and Lily, seeking an escape from unwanted suitors, quickly agrees.

Lily is determined to bring Pickering back to its former glory but rumored curses and reluctant brothers-in-law prove a difficult task. She soon finds herself in the midst of more trouble and danger than she bargained for.

I loved this story! Lily’s determination and commitment. Ames and his brothers, who are stubborn but lovable. Sweet Aunt Eliza. With so many brothers, there are plenty of love stories with lots of drama. I enjoyed all the similarities between this book and the movie.

And I am so excited for the next story which is a Sound of Music retelling!!

Thank you Gabrielle for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Historical Fiction
Musical Retelling
Clean Romance
Closed Door Romance

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been dying to get my eyes on the Duke of Severton’s story and to have a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers retelling set in the Gilded Age included? Yes, please!

Ames has to get married asap to save his crumbling castle and those relying on him. American heiress, Lily, is practical and has secrets, but jumps into this marriage of convenience wholeheartedly. And the result is highly entertaining.

Gabrielle Meyer never fails to quickly engage her readers into a delightful story, and this Dollar Princess series is charming and amusing. With hints of attraction, whiffs of chemistry, and elements of a gothic tale, the twists captivated me, giving this one an original feel to a beloved favorite musical.

I’m already eager for what’s next in this series!

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this is Gabrielle Meyer, people. She is sooooo good. Truthfully, I think she ranks way up there in my top three favorite Christian authors. And this series? Fabulous!

An American heiress meets an English duke and agrees to marry him in the same evening, actually in the same dance! Her reasoning is sound and selfless.

His reasoning for wanting to marry her? Money. A business agreement to pay debts he inherited, to restore his estate and to help the tenant farmers. He was sure she just wanted to marry into his title, but he knew who she was first and liked what he heard. (Which isn’t revealed until much later.)

What happened after that was one terrific story, and not exactly what is typical.

I loved this book and will definitely read it again.

[Esther Shingler · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite musical is seven brides for seven brothers. Although there were similarities, I struggled with loving the characters. I enjoy Meyer's books, but this was not my favorite.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by my favorite author. Inspired by my favorite movie. Has my favorite trope. How could I not have loved it?!

[Reanne - (Faith, Fiction, Fact and Fluff) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a marriage of convenience, and this one sounded cute.

Unfortunately, I found the story dragged and the main conflicts could've been handled with a few good conversations. Wasn't terrible, just not a personal favorite.

Content: Very clean. Would give to a YA reader (who would probably enjoy it a lot more than me)

[Marlene Protzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure how to put into words just how much I loved this book, but I’m going to give it my best effort. Somehow Gabrielle Meyer managed to top the first book in the series for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Lily and Ames completely stole my heart. Their romance was equal parts beautiful and frustrating in the best possible way. The longing, the misunderstandings, the emotional tension… it all worked so well. There aren’t many books where the angst genuinely settles in my chest, but this one absolutely did. Every time Ames pulled away from Lily, my heart hurt right along with hers. I even wrote that exact thought on one of my tabs while reading. 🥹

The entire story is incredibly clever. As a lifelong musical theater fan, I had so much fun catching all the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers inspirations alluded to throughout the novel. They added another layer of enjoyment as I recognized familiar moments being reimagined in such a fresh and creative way.

If I had one personal wish for the book, it would simply be a little more romance between Lily and Ames. This isn’t really a criticism so much as my own preference because I adored Ames. He was exactly the kind of hero I love reading about: handsome, brooding, fiercely protective, stubborn, deeply devoted to God, and quietly carrying the weight of a painful childhood. His character had so much emotional depth that I found myself wanting even more tender, swoony moments between him and Lily.

There were also a couple of plot points that felt a little underdeveloped to me. The smugglers storyline wrapped up a bit too quickly, almost as though it was eager to clear the way for the ending. I would have loved to see that conflict linger just a little longer.

I also kept thinking about Lily’s painful history with the American man who shattered her confidence by making her feel undesirable and unattractive. That experience seemed to shape so much of her insecurity and influenced many of the decisions she made throughout the story, especially the secrets she kept from Ames. I found myself wishing there had been a heartfelt conversation where she finally shared that wound with him. Not to excuse her choices, but to allow Ames to fully understand the fears and insecurities she had been carrying all along. I think that conversation could have made their relationship even stronger.

That said, these are very small observations in what was otherwise an outstanding novel. None of them took away from my enjoyment of the story, and they certainly didn’t lessen how invested I became in Lily and Ames’s journey.

Now I am counting down the days until the next installment. If Gabrielle Meyer’s retelling of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was this wonderful, I cannot wait to see what she does with The Sound of Music.

[readcleancatmomtanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars, round up to 2, and it's 2 stars because I finished it even though i wanted to DNF at about 25%.... I'm going to be in the minority here, whatever, though. Let's start with one word for this entire story: Miscommunication. If you love that troupe and that's your jam, this is your book. If you don't like that, steer on away from this book.

Let the rant begin... I'll try to keep it at a small rant... Lily the FMC.... she's dumb and she could be smarter, but she makes stupid decisions the whole book!! Even at 89%, she's still being dumb. No joke! When you keep not telling your husband things the ENTIRE book, then wonder why he gets mad, well duh.... he should get upset. You're keeping important stuff from him, then she apologizes, and then it starts all over again. She's annoying. It's like a soap opera. Ugh.

Me to Lily: girlfriend, blab to your man, tell him everything, unload it all girl. Lily: Nope, I'll just keep this to myself and not tell him and not make him mad, but I want him to love me and us to have a good marriage.
😠

Then Ames, the MMC, he is apologizing all the time because he gets mad all the time. But some of that is understandable because of Lily and her dumb choices.

Can a marriage really survive when one of the spouses keeps important information to themselves and then it blows up in their face when it's found out?????

Small rant over.... it's questionable whether I'll continue this series....

I'll end on a good note... the passageways in the castle were cool.

[Shellie Louanglath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! It’s a retailing of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! Gabrielle Meyer never disappoints, but this series has quickly become one of my favorites. As someone who loves stories set during the Gilded Age, I was immediately drawn in by the English setting, grand estates, and family dynamics. I especially enjoyed the addition of Lily, the American heiress, whose practical nature and determination brought a refreshing contrast to the traditions and expectations of English society.
The Welby family was fascinating, and I loved watching the relationships develop throughout the story. The mystery surrounding the family name added a bit of intrigue, while the matchmaking storyline with all the brothers brought plenty of humor and a bit of frustration. Meyer does such a wonderful job creating characters you genuinely care about and root for them as they navigate challenges, faith, and romance.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the theme of restoration not just of a castle and a family reputation, but of relationships, hope, and purpose. The story felt both comforting and engaging, with a perfect balance of romance, family, and historical detail. If you enjoy historical fiction, strong family bonds, and sweet romance, this book is a must-read. I highly recommend it and am already looking forward to spending more time with ……. Ah I don’t want to spoil the end of the book 😉😉. ❤️📚

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In that moment, I was quite certain of two things. I was in love with my husband and I would find a way to make him love me in return.”

I loved every page of To Dance With a Duke, the second book in Gabrielle Meyer’s Dollar Princess series. I have not ever seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but this retelling has me determined to fix that very soon! Lily had such a sweet, spunky spirit and I loved how her relationship with Ames progressed. The brothers were fun and I loved how quickly they accepted Lily into their home. I felt so bad for Ames and everything his family went through and that he was still so determined to take care of his brothers and all of the people who depended on his family. Gabrielle brought so many sweet, Christian messages throughout the story and that really made me enjoy it even more. This story was full of fun side characters and I truly hope we get to see more of them in the upcoming books. There was some really interesting side plots that were full of mystery and suspense. Truly between this series and the Timeless series, Gabrielle is quickly becoming a must read author for me.

I’d like to thank Gabrielle Meyer for giving me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. The content of my review was not affected by this in any way.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a A Seven Brides for Seven Brothers retelling...and Oh, how I loved it!

Lily and Ames find sweet love despite a "business arrangement" marriage. With secrets, mysteries, trust, and marriages for the brothers, there are tender moments and real obstacles as each is hesitant to give their heart fully.
I mean, it's understandable.
Yet through it all, they come out stronger, and learn forgiveness, and grace. This story sent me on a roller coaster of emotions. But in the end, when Lily's safety is jeopardized and Ames's true feelings win out...he would move heaven and earth to see her safe...he realizes thar everything else is inconsequential.

A happily ever after retelling. Kisses only romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Stephanie Thoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. They are sweet and easy to read and fun to see the connections to the musicals that inspired the story.

[Brittany Gillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Dollar Princess series. I love Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and I loved all the little references throughout the story. However, I also really loved how different it is from the original story. Lots of intrigue. Lots of action. Great characters.

Looking forward to reading the next one!

[Michelle Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book and this series! Can’t wait for the next one!

[Melinda | bookswithmelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Read book 1 first!!**
I made the mistake of reading book 2 before book 1, not knowing they were loosely connected, so I accidentally read spoilers to the first book.

This was a great story full of entertaining drama involving the 5 brothers! I loved getting to watch Ames and Lily figure each other out and work on their marriage.

[Rosh (on a medical break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A historical romance that is not just a historical romance. Retelling of the classic Hollywood musical ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’. Interesting characters, great historical feel, wonderful setting. Christian fiction. Slightly slow and repetitive in the second half. A nice option for fans of the genre and of the movie. The second book in the Dollar Princess series but can be read as a standalone.

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Plot Preview:

1884, England. Twenty-year-old American heiress Lily Parker is taken by surprise when the reclusive Duke of Severton, Ames Welby, proposes to her almost as soon as they meet. She knows that he is in desperate need of money to repair his ancestral home, and as she has wealth as well as an interest in leaving the crazy chaos of London, she accepts. What she doesn’t know is that life at Pickering Castle will be just as chaotic. Ames’ four brothers, though charming, don’t know how to behave in upper-class society. Practical-minded Lily soon hatches a plan to train them in the necessary etiquette and then invite four wealthy American girls and their chaperones to Pickering Castle, hoping for suitable matches. But the constant clash of love vs. money makes Lily’s task tougher than she anticipated. Adding to her troubles are the howls of the “Wailing Duchess” that make locals suspect Pickering Castle is haunted.
The story comes to us in Lily’s first-person perspective.

By now, my friends surely know of my fondness for this author’s writing. I don’t read many romances these days, but when they are from the pen of Gabrielle Meyer, I sign up before even reading the blurb.

The Dollar Princess series is a planned set of five books, each a Gilded Age retelling of a Hollywood musical. Each book shares the theme and some characters. There is also a continuity in the timeline though not in the plot. Hence this book can be read as a standalone.

This second novel is based on the excellent romantic + comic musical, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’. (There is a Bollywood copy of this movie as well titled ‘Satte Pe Satta’, starring then-superstar Amitabh Bachchan as the Indian “Adam”. It is also fairly entertaining for its time and has some hummable songs, but the original is the original for a reason.) If you enjoyed the movie, you will love this book version of it!


Bookish Yays:
💰 The novelisation of the musical – wow! This book takes some essentials from the movie but as always, the author gives it her own twist. I love that she eliminates the more problematic elements from the source material. In this case, that infamous kidnapping scene has been chucked out in favour of something more traditional and acceptable. No Sobbin’ Ladies in this one! I also appreciated the reduction in the number of brothers. Seven would have been too many to remember! 😅

💰 The novelty of the plot despite being a retelling. There are several new elements added to make the story more well-rounded. The Gothic mystery angle was unexpected! 👀

💰 The historical research. As always, mindblowing! Many authors would have been content to wing the historical elements as the romance should get greater focus in a romance novel. But Meyer’s books always contain a strong element of history that actually transports us to the era.

💰 Lily as the lead character. Loved her strength of character and her conviction to follow her duties as the duchess without compromising on her faith as well as personal goals. As she has the advantage of wealth that Jane in the movie didn’t, her approach towards training the Welby boys is quite different: not so comical, but equally endearing. (It helps to hum “Goin’ Courtin’” during this scene! 😁)

💰 Molly, Lily’s maid and a strong character despite her relatively small role.

💰 The four younger Welby brothers. (‘Younger’ being a relative word because they are all older than Lily!) Though each had a relatively limited page space because of the numerous characters, their complexities and emotions came out well. I didn’t like all of them equally but did like how they made their presence felt and how each had a different personality.

💰 The romance. As Lily and Ames start with a marriage of convenience, their love story takes a more slowburn and subtle route. Those looking for a more passionate romance story might not enjoy this, but I found it more realistic than an insta-attraction.

💰 The use of the Dollar Princess concept, which I didn’t realise so much in Book One but comes out strongly in this second novel. The detailing of the mentality of the Gilded Age rich ladies feels spot on.

💰 The setting. Not the USA nor the richer areas of London. The majestic Pickering Castle is set on the coastal moors by the North Sea, and this remote location is explored very well in several scenes.

💰 The depiction of the contrast between the American and British attitudes towards certain topics. The book is obviously a bit biased towards the USA, but I appreciate that there are a few lines in favour of a few UK tendencies too.

💰 The Christian content. Slightly diluted in this one, but still as meaningful. No needless preachiness; just a depiction of trusting in God’s plan and working towards your marriage in harmony with His plan.

💰 The cover art – so pretty! 😍


Bookish Okays:
💵 Ames. He is modelled on Adam from the movie (who is not exactly a woman’s dream man with his obnoxious misogyny towards Jane.) To be fair, Ames is a much better version of Adam. But in some scenes, I could see glimpses of the same closemindedness as Adam. This made me quite annoyed with the Duke. This is more a shortcoming of the original material than of the book, and a part of it can be excused by his title privilege.

💵 The numerous characters: five couples and their chaperones, phew! 😅 At one point, I was muddling all the pairs, but things soon became easier. Just go with the flow.

💵 There is a fair amount of secret-keeping between Ames and Lily, just as in the movie. Some secrets are justified; some just feel like needless miscommunication.


Bookish Nays:
💸 The repetitive conflict-and-instant-resolution scenes between Ames and Lily in the second half. The cyclical arguments and quick settlement got a teeny bit boring.


Overall, this turned out to be a lovely story, going much deeper than the movie and covering several more themes. I loved Book One: ‘To Love a Lady’ more because of adorable leads and stronger storyline, but I still had a lot of fun reading this novel and enjoyed making comparisons between it and the movie.

The lead pair of the next book has already been introduced in this story. Unless you've been living under a rock, you too will easily guess the movie inspiring the next adaptation as soon as you read that scene. I'm so excited for it! It's one of my all-time favourite musicals, even though it butchered reality despite claiming to be based on real events. (Is this much information sufficient for you to take a guess at what musical is next?)

Definitely recommended to anyone who likes historical fiction with slowburn romance and Christian values. You don’t need to know the movie to enjoy the book, but you will certainly appreciate the Easter Eggs better if you are familiar with it.

4 stars.


My thanks to author Gabrielle Meyer for providing me with a complimentary copy of “To Dance With a Duke” at my request. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.


The digital version of this book is available on Kindle Unlimited.


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I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.

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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||

[RhodaJane Olmstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun story. I loved Lily’s spunk and desire to make her husband proud of her. However, Lily’s continual keeping of secrets from Ames and Ames’ continual apologizing for his responses to feeling betrayed and misled, even when he really wasn’t the one at fault, was a little predictable and slightly frustrating. The same conflict seemed to repeat itself, and by the end I found myself wishing for a steady pattern of growth from both characters.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to author Gabrielle Meyer for an ARC of this delightful novel!

First, I have been looking forward to getting the Duke of Severton's story since we first met him in To Love a Lady, the first book in this series! I really loved his character in that book and was intrigued by his backstory, so I was so excited to read this. However, while part of a series, this book could absolutely be read as a standalone.

Set in 1884 during the Gilded Age and loosely inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, this novel tells the story of Lily Parker, an American heiress who travels to London to find an aristocratic husband. Lily agrees to marry Ames Welby, Duke of Severton, who is eager to find a wealthy wife to help him restore his crumbling ancestral home, Pickering Castle, on the coastal moors of England. Upon arriving at the remote castle, Lily learns that her new husband's five younger brothers are in dire need of some manners and training on how to behave in society. With time, Lily increasingly feels like she wants more than a business arrangement from her marriage and also hopes to find future matches for her brothers-in-law and invites her eligible friends to stay for a house party.

This was such a romantic story! I really love a marriage of convenience story, so I loved watching Lily and Ames grow to care for each other with time. It was clear they liked and admired each other when they make the business-like decision to marry, but watching their interest in each other bloom throughout the book was so lovely. I appreciated that neither of them is perfect, but they continue to try to communicate and repair when they make mistakes.

Pickering Castle was an absolutely fantastic setting for this story, with its endless secret passageways, dark history, and eerie howling. I would give anything to take a tour! These dark and hidden passages are a major part of the plot and there were some very dramatic scenes involving people sneaking around the castle through them!

I think fans of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will be pleased with this novel. This has a different time period and setting, but the uncouth, unpolished brothers remain intact (albeit only five of them in this version!). I loved seeing Lily whip them into shape and then see all the drama and excitement as the brothers begin to court.

One of my favorite aspects of Lily's character is that she is a writer! I love to see writers write about reading and writing, because I know it is born out of personal experience. I love that Lily has aspirations and purpose beyond her fortune and in addition to her husband and is very successful at it. While this causes tension in her marriage at one point, I really appreciated how it was resolved and Ames' final opinion on the matter. I also loved the way the book concludes for Ames and Lily and their choices regarding Pickering Castle and their future. It felt like it ended on such a positive note for them both as a couple but for the sustainability of their livelihood moving forward.

This book also sets us up so well for the next book! I regret it isn't already out because I'm already anxious to read it.

Another well-written historical romance from Gabrielle Meyer! I love all of Gabrielle Meyer's novels, but the strong and independent female lead, historic & haunted mansion setting, and five handsome Welby brothers really made this one top-notch.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Dance with a Duke is a delightful reimagining of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers set in the Gilded Age. As much as I enjoyed To Love a Lady, which was inspired by My Fair Lady, I thought To Dance with a Duke was an even stronger and more compelling story. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is one of the author’s favorite movies, and her love for the musical really shined through.

Lily is beautiful and wealthy, though she is looked down upon as “new money” by the New York society. That’s where the concept of the Dollar Princesses comes in, a class of wealthy young ladies of which Lily finds herself a reluctant part. Her mother is desperate to marry her off to a British aristocrat for status, as a way to gain the societal acceptance for which she longs so fervently. Lily agrees, largely for the benefit of her younger sisters.

Enter Ames Welby, Duke Everton. He is master of a crumbling estate, with four younger (but grown) brothers in his care after the scandalous crime that ripped both parents from them in a single night. He needs to secure a wealthy heiress for the good of his estate, his tenant farmers, and his brothers. He’s very up-front about his needs. And Lily, to her own surprise, agrees to marry him almost immediately after meeting him. But this is a business deal, not the love match Lily has longed for since her childhood. Can anything deeper blossom from it, especially when both parties harbor secrets?

I love a good marriage of convenience, and the union between Ames and Lily definitely fit the bill. The two had a lot to overcome, especially in regards to their lack of trust in each other, but I was rooting for them both the entire time. Lily is a very strong heroine, following in the footsteps of her cinematic inspiration. The decision to make her a secret novelist was a really fun addition. Ames was also a great—if sometimes incredibly frustrating—character who felt true to his movie counterpart, as well. Gabrielle did a great job with the brothers, five here instead of seven, and I really appreciated that she kept their odd, alphabetical naming conventions. I also really enjoyed the added lightly Gothic air she wove into the Pickering Castle setting.

I’ve had a wonderful time with both of Gabrielle’s Dollar Princesses books so far, and I can’t wait to continue with the series. I especially appreciate To Dance with a Duke, as it compelled me to watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers for the very first time. And I absolutely loved it. The third installment, To Educate an Earl, inspired by The Sound of Music, is slated for publication October 6th!

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this amazing Gilded Age twist on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! I’ve long been a fan of the musical & reading Gabrielle Meyer’s clever nod to this favorite was fantastic. After To Love A Lady, I couldn’t wait to read the mysterious Duke of Severton’s story & it was everything I’d hoped & more. All the humor & touching moments inspired by the musical were there along with an achingly lovely strangers to more romance & gripping gothic mystery. Set on the Yorkshire Coast in a crumbling castle with rumors of hauntings & smuggling, this story grabbed hold & didn’t let go!

I loved Lily Parker, the American Heiress who’s searching for love & purpose. She finds it in the handsome, scarred English Duke, Ames Welsby who needs her money to save Pickering Castle & provide for his four younger brothers. Though they barely know each another, there’s a connection between them & Lily hopes there might be the possibility of love. But, his tragic past & the spooky happenings at the castle make her question her decision, especially when her husband seems determined to keep her at arms length. His lovable brothers though desperately need her guidance & lessons in societal manners. I loved the lessons she deftly provides especially with regard to dinner.

Ames is that wounded, gruff hero you can’t help but adore. He’s afraid of letting down his guard when it seems he’s doomed to the Duke of Severton’s curse. I enjoyed watching Lily get under his skin & help him realize he can have both her money & love. I loved his late night piano serenades & exploring the castle with him & Lily. They’re secret passageways & a spooky gothic feel that I loved.

When Lily hosts a house party & invites her American heiress friends, I couldn’t wait to see what chaos would ensue. Ames’ brothers are a bit uncouth & Lily definitely has her work cut out for her. I loved seeing these wrestling brothers learn to dance & come up to snuff. Their love stories are as whirlwind as their brother’s, especially Brant’s forbidden romance with Lily’s maid Molly.

Loved the romance, mystery, humor & faith beautifully woven in. Can’t wait for the next book! Highly recommend to historical romance & musical fans. I received an advanced copy but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily.