What do you think?
Dollar Princess #2
To Dance with a Duke
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?
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?
347 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Gabrielle Meyer
83 books3,607 followersGabrielle 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 12, 2026
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.
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.
June 19, 2026
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%.
May 31, 2026
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.
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.
June 16, 2026
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.
June 16, 2026
“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.
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.
June 17, 2026
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.
June 20, 2026
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.
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.
June 19, 2026
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.
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.
June 17, 2026
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!
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!
June 26, 2026
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.
June 11, 2026
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
June 20, 2026
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.*
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.*
July 31, 2026
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.
August 13, 2026
Solid 4 ⭐️
I loved the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers vibe this book gave. Ames and Lily’s love was sweet and it’s nice to be able to recommend these two books to my daughter! No spice.
I loved the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers vibe this book gave. Ames and Lily’s love was sweet and it’s nice to be able to recommend these two books to my daughter! No spice.
June 12, 2026
Written by my favorite author. Inspired by my favorite movie. Has my favorite trope. How could I not have loved it?!
July 15, 2026
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)
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)
August 21, 2026
Another incredible book by Gabrielle Meyer!! Fantastic from beginning to end!!
July 26, 2026
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.
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.
July 1, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2026
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 😉😉. ❤️📚
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 😉😉. ❤️📚
June 19, 2026
“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.
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.
June 11, 2026
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.
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.
June 20, 2026
I love this series. They are sweet and easy to read and fun to see the connections to the musicals that inspired the story.
June 20, 2026
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!
Looking forward to reading the next one!
July 18, 2026
Loved, loved, loved this book and this series! Can’t wait for the next one!
August 8, 2026
Gabrielle Meyer never misses. I love me a wholesome regency book so much, this was so sweet!
September 11, 2026
I liked the concept of it but there was just too much drama for me, like it was unrealistic. However I am extremely excited for the next one and was disappointed that it’s not out yet 😅
September 4, 2026
To Dance With a Duke is an entertaining story set in 1884 England. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 19, 2026
**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.
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.
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