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The Macalisters #1
The Perfect Duchess
Andrew Macalister, oft regarded as the Stone Duke of Bradstone, hates his annual birthday ball tradition. He dislikes facing those around him who only see him for his title, and has given up on a chance to live a normal life. That is, until he spots Lady Clara Masson across the ballroom. Clara's twin sister is the woman who infamously jilted Andrew at the altar five years ago, but little does Clara know, Andrew had been smitten with her since childhood, and he finds her presence a ray of sunshine in a dreary dukedom.
When Clara's life is threatened by her evil brother, Johnathan, Andrew must do the only thing he can think of to save propose marriage. Between Clara's trust issues and Andrew's battle with societal norms, two find romance under dangerous circumstances.
When Clara's life is threatened by her evil brother, Johnathan, Andrew must do the only thing he can think of to save propose marriage. Between Clara's trust issues and Andrew's battle with societal norms, two find romance under dangerous circumstances.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2018
106 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Erica Taylor
15 books153 followersErica Taylor is a mother of two and military wife married to her high school sweetheart. Raised in the mountains of Colorado, she holds a BA in History from the University of Colorado. Erica has been writing stories since she can remember, picked up her first romance novel while on a beach vacation as a teenager, and fell in love with falling in love, with sexy heroes and the feisty women who challenge their lives.
www.EricaTaylorAuthor.com
Twitter: @EricaTayor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
March 7, 2024
Read: 7/1/16
A very good Regency romance! Well written with clever dialogue. I loved both H and h .... hell, I loved all the characters! It was nice to have such strong leads. Though Clare did have an annoying martyr complex. She did not want the Duke marrying her for pity or for protection since she has loved him for so long. These feelings don't destroy the story at all, possibly bc she doesn't make a stupid move like most female characters irritating do in romance.
I wish the explanation of the villain to the ton was explained.
A very good Regency romance! Well written with clever dialogue. I loved both H and h .... hell, I loved all the characters! It was nice to have such strong leads. Though Clare did have an annoying martyr complex. She did not want the Duke marrying her for pity or for protection since she has loved him for so long. These feelings don't destroy the story at all, possibly bc she doesn't make a stupid move like most female characters irritating do in romance.
I wish the explanation of the villain to the ton was explained.
April 9, 2018
The only thing you need to know about this book is that the villain turns out to be gay. Not only that, he turns out to be the villain BECAUSE he is gay. He disposes of one sister and tries to kill off the other (the heroine) because the hero admired THEM and not HIM.
I seriously cannot believe this got past an editor. You cannot, in this day and age, have the villain of your story turn out to be a member of a persecuted minority unless you want to get righteously slapped down for it by readers who don’t share your prejudices. Making the character the villain BECAUSE of their sexuality is 10 times worse.
People were horribly persecuted in the Regency era because of their sexuality; demonising them because of it in fiction is seriously beyond the pale. It’s not a clever plot twist. It’s demonstrating your homophobia.
You might enjoy this if you’re homophobic. Otherwise, you should run very, very far away.
No stars. Just horrified screaming.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
I seriously cannot believe this got past an editor. You cannot, in this day and age, have the villain of your story turn out to be a member of a persecuted minority unless you want to get righteously slapped down for it by readers who don’t share your prejudices. Making the character the villain BECAUSE of their sexuality is 10 times worse.
People were horribly persecuted in the Regency era because of their sexuality; demonising them because of it in fiction is seriously beyond the pale. It’s not a clever plot twist. It’s demonstrating your homophobia.
You might enjoy this if you’re homophobic. Otherwise, you should run very, very far away.
No stars. Just horrified screaming.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
I liked the heroine... initially, but after seeing what her feelings for her twin were I was befuddled... The only fault her twin had was being vain and liking the attention she received, but, she gave everything up and went away to a life of misery to safe our heroine's sorry ass... And her reaction was to... being happy that her sister disappeared and didn't marry her childhood crush... like... HOW???
No, I just couldn't with her and her over dramatic reactions... yes, she suffered, but her twin definitely had it worse and she still played the victim.
It just seems I'm in a bad loop of awful reads lately.
No, I just couldn't with her and her over dramatic reactions... yes, she suffered, but her twin definitely had it worse and she still played the victim.
It just seems I'm in a bad loop of awful reads lately.
June 14, 2018
This is my first book by the Erica Taylor. The writing was pleasant with no jarring anachronisms. My issues with this book were the blandness of the main characters, their wildly fluctuating mood swings and a couple of holes in the plotline. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great.
This was a free copy provided by NetGalley.
This was a free copy provided by NetGalley.
November 17, 2017
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.
Andrew, the Duke of Bradstone, rescues his childhood friend Lady Clara, as she is being insulted publicly at his birthday ball. He was once engaged to her twin sister Christina, but she eloped with a footman rather than marry him. Andrew proceeds to dance with Lady Clara twice and takes her to supper, which leads to gossip and to Clara's brother disowning her.
DNF at 17% (after skimming from 11%). I try very hard not to give up on novels I receive to review, but I just couldn't keep going any further on this one. I had problems with the anachronistic language and sometime plainly misused language - jilting some one at the altar is not "abdication", Andrew's study has "deep depths" etc.
While perhaps this will be revealed later on it the plot, I was confused as to why Lady Clara was so ostracized by society simply because she had spent two years mourning the deaths of her father and sister. Surely she would be more likely to be chastised for not mourning them sufficiently, and also far more likely to face gossip for having a twin married to a footman... If no one in society will give her the time of day, why does she bother sneaking into society balls anyway? How can Lady Clara have expected her Great Aunt Bridgette to chaperone her at the birthday ball when she arrived without her and doesn't even know where she lives?
Clara's brother's treatment of her (and again maybe the plot goes on to explain this) was so extreme and so outside acceptable behaviour for a gentleman that it was the final straw for me.
Andrew, the Duke of Bradstone, rescues his childhood friend Lady Clara, as she is being insulted publicly at his birthday ball. He was once engaged to her twin sister Christina, but she eloped with a footman rather than marry him. Andrew proceeds to dance with Lady Clara twice and takes her to supper, which leads to gossip and to Clara's brother disowning her.
DNF at 17% (after skimming from 11%). I try very hard not to give up on novels I receive to review, but I just couldn't keep going any further on this one. I had problems with the anachronistic language and sometime plainly misused language - jilting some one at the altar is not "abdication", Andrew's study has "deep depths" etc.
While perhaps this will be revealed later on it the plot, I was confused as to why Lady Clara was so ostracized by society simply because she had spent two years mourning the deaths of her father and sister. Surely she would be more likely to be chastised for not mourning them sufficiently, and also far more likely to face gossip for having a twin married to a footman... If no one in society will give her the time of day, why does she bother sneaking into society balls anyway? How can Lady Clara have expected her Great Aunt Bridgette to chaperone her at the birthday ball when she arrived without her and doesn't even know where she lives?
Clara's brother's treatment of her (and again maybe the plot goes on to explain this) was so extreme and so outside acceptable behaviour for a gentleman that it was the final straw for me.
March 31, 2018
The Perfect Duchess was a delightful romance with charming characters and a romance I couldn't help but root for.
When Lady Clara Masson sneaks out to attend the annual Macalister birthday ball, she knew her brother would be upset but she never imagined how far he would go to punish her. The one bright spot of the ordeal was that Clara was able to reconnect with Andrew Macalister, a friend from childhood and the man her twin sister abandoned at the altar five years ago to elope with a footman. After Clara's life is threatened, Andrew does the honorable thing and proposes marriage to protect her. As Clara and Andrew get to know one another again it becomes clear that someone is willing to do anything to stop their marriage.
The past few years have been quite difficult for Clara after her twin sister abandoned a duke on their wedding day. Her father died soon after with news of her sister's death coming a year later leaving Clara in the care of her brother the Earl of Morton. While Clara was mourning in the country, her brother was spreading lies about her throughout the ton which made her re-entry into society quite difficult. Despite society snubbing her, Clara was determined to finally have some fun and attended society events where she would simply ignore the whispers about her. Clara is quite resilient and I admired her courage to face the people who despised her.
Andrew spent the first seventeen years of his life living as a second son before his father and older brother were unexpectedly killed leaving Andrew to inherit the dukedom. Having the title thrust on him so unexpectedly at first caused him to react poorly, shunning all of his duties. Over time Andrew realized he needed to change his ways and he became a respectable member of the ton. Andrew has a very close relationship with his siblings and he has a tendency to spoil them. I enjoyed watching Andrew interact with his siblings and seeing how much they all relied on one another.
In the eyes of society, Clara and Andrew are an unlikely pairing with most believing their match will never last. Both Clara and Andrew harbored crushes on each other when they were younger, but a series of misunderstandings kept them apart. When they finally reunite, they fall back into their friendship fairly easily but they struggle a bit with fully trusting each other. Most of the issues they end up having could have easily been solved with more communication and trust. While some of their disagreements did get repetitive, I did ultimately like their relationship. The physical side to their relationship is quite sexy with some great scenes throughout the book.
The plot line that focuses on Clara's brother and his coming after her was interesting if a bit drawn out. I was surprised by how long it took for him to show back up but that may be because the book was longer than I realized. The inclusion of Andrew's friends in the search for the Earl was a good one and I'm curious about the backstories of each of them.
Overall I really enjoyed The Perfect Duchess and I'm looking forward to reading more books about the Macalisters in the future.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
When Lady Clara Masson sneaks out to attend the annual Macalister birthday ball, she knew her brother would be upset but she never imagined how far he would go to punish her. The one bright spot of the ordeal was that Clara was able to reconnect with Andrew Macalister, a friend from childhood and the man her twin sister abandoned at the altar five years ago to elope with a footman. After Clara's life is threatened, Andrew does the honorable thing and proposes marriage to protect her. As Clara and Andrew get to know one another again it becomes clear that someone is willing to do anything to stop their marriage.
The past few years have been quite difficult for Clara after her twin sister abandoned a duke on their wedding day. Her father died soon after with news of her sister's death coming a year later leaving Clara in the care of her brother the Earl of Morton. While Clara was mourning in the country, her brother was spreading lies about her throughout the ton which made her re-entry into society quite difficult. Despite society snubbing her, Clara was determined to finally have some fun and attended society events where she would simply ignore the whispers about her. Clara is quite resilient and I admired her courage to face the people who despised her.
Andrew spent the first seventeen years of his life living as a second son before his father and older brother were unexpectedly killed leaving Andrew to inherit the dukedom. Having the title thrust on him so unexpectedly at first caused him to react poorly, shunning all of his duties. Over time Andrew realized he needed to change his ways and he became a respectable member of the ton. Andrew has a very close relationship with his siblings and he has a tendency to spoil them. I enjoyed watching Andrew interact with his siblings and seeing how much they all relied on one another.
In the eyes of society, Clara and Andrew are an unlikely pairing with most believing their match will never last. Both Clara and Andrew harbored crushes on each other when they were younger, but a series of misunderstandings kept them apart. When they finally reunite, they fall back into their friendship fairly easily but they struggle a bit with fully trusting each other. Most of the issues they end up having could have easily been solved with more communication and trust. While some of their disagreements did get repetitive, I did ultimately like their relationship. The physical side to their relationship is quite sexy with some great scenes throughout the book.
The plot line that focuses on Clara's brother and his coming after her was interesting if a bit drawn out. I was surprised by how long it took for him to show back up but that may be because the book was longer than I realized. The inclusion of Andrew's friends in the search for the Earl was a good one and I'm curious about the backstories of each of them.
Overall I really enjoyed The Perfect Duchess and I'm looking forward to reading more books about the Macalisters in the future.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
December 5, 2017
Ooh what a saucy Duke!
I always like it when you get romance books where the female isn't a complete wet blanket, unable to act without a man to prop her up. True, in the Regency period women probably were rather reliant on men (boo), but that's no reason for authors not to create the occasional feisty female, eh?
Clara, the protagonist in this book, is certainly strong and fierce, and I liked her from the start. Shunned from polite society, she takes matters into her own hands, attending an event hosted by the oh-so-handsome but somewhat stony Duke of Bradstone (Andrew), even though she really shouldn't have.
She clearly fancies the pants off of him and vice versa... there's only one issue, he used to be engaged to her sister. Eep!
What follows is an impromptu engagement, not to mention some complex emotional issues to work through, and some rather heated moments throughout; as you might expect. Cracking stuff, an enjoyable, entertaining romp through Regency times. I like! :-)
I always like it when you get romance books where the female isn't a complete wet blanket, unable to act without a man to prop her up. True, in the Regency period women probably were rather reliant on men (boo), but that's no reason for authors not to create the occasional feisty female, eh?
Clara, the protagonist in this book, is certainly strong and fierce, and I liked her from the start. Shunned from polite society, she takes matters into her own hands, attending an event hosted by the oh-so-handsome but somewhat stony Duke of Bradstone (Andrew), even though she really shouldn't have.
She clearly fancies the pants off of him and vice versa... there's only one issue, he used to be engaged to her sister. Eep!
What follows is an impromptu engagement, not to mention some complex emotional issues to work through, and some rather heated moments throughout; as you might expect. Cracking stuff, an enjoyable, entertaining romp through Regency times. I like! :-)
April 18, 2018
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” –Ann Landers
This is book 2 in The Macalisters series and follows book 1: A Suitable Affair: [Lady Susanna Mccalister’s story]. Book two is a stand-a-lone and although I had not read book 1 [something I will correct] I was able to enjoy book 2 with no problems. I only had a slight feeling that these guys really knew each other and I didn’t know the background of the friendships. The author was really good about giving me clues and information and it also refreshed the memories of those who had read the first book.
Rating: MA: Mature Audience, adult themes, language, explicit sex, and graphic violence.
This is the story of Andrew Macalister [the Stone Duke of Bradstone] and Lady Clara Masson [whose twin sister Lady Christina had infamously jilted and left him at the alter five years earlier]. Andrew had gone to school with Clara’s brother Jonathan and had known her since she was a child in pigtails. After Lady Christina jilted Andrew, Clara was sent to the country and remained there for the next five years.
When Clara returned to town and society, after a mourning period for her father, she was shocked by her reception. The ton was full of gossip of the vilest kind and her name was dragged through the mud in all the salons and drawing rooms. None of the stories matched and they even had her on the continent when she had never left England.
Talk about your brother from the depts of hell… poor Lady Clara found herself in a situation that she just might not survive. What do you do when your brother is trying to kill you for an inheritance you don’t even know you have. Slowly as our story unfolded… dark secrets were revealed from five-years before when her twin sister jilted the Stone Duke Bradstone and left him at the alter? Now, it looked like history was about to repeat itself.
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”—Vince Lombardi
I loved this story. I especially loved the cast of characters to the point that I really want to read their stories. These guys, friends to the Stone Duke, are the type of stories and adventures I would willingly read. The sisters and brothers to the Duke are just as interesting and I feel they would have a good story in their quest for love and their own HEA.
This was a story full of adventure, fast-paced angst, high drama and sexy steamy scenes between our characters. There were so many hints at a spy network… but nothing was confirmed. Man… I love these guys. They worked so well together and the loyalty and comradery were spot on between these friends. In fact, I enjoyed their interacting so much that I didn’t enjoy our couple as I should. I became a bit bored with Clara’s trust issues. I mean… we went to nearly the end of the story and I nearly had a coronary thinking she was going to screw it up by doing something stupid. However, there was a HEA so, when you read this, hand on.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC [advanced reader copy] of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Projected publication date April 17, 2018. For those Jane Austen enthusiasts, there were several references to two of her books: Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I thought that was cute.
This is book 2 in The Macalisters series and follows book 1: A Suitable Affair: [Lady Susanna Mccalister’s story]. Book two is a stand-a-lone and although I had not read book 1 [something I will correct] I was able to enjoy book 2 with no problems. I only had a slight feeling that these guys really knew each other and I didn’t know the background of the friendships. The author was really good about giving me clues and information and it also refreshed the memories of those who had read the first book.
Rating: MA: Mature Audience, adult themes, language, explicit sex, and graphic violence.
This is the story of Andrew Macalister [the Stone Duke of Bradstone] and Lady Clara Masson [whose twin sister Lady Christina had infamously jilted and left him at the alter five years earlier]. Andrew had gone to school with Clara’s brother Jonathan and had known her since she was a child in pigtails. After Lady Christina jilted Andrew, Clara was sent to the country and remained there for the next five years.
When Clara returned to town and society, after a mourning period for her father, she was shocked by her reception. The ton was full of gossip of the vilest kind and her name was dragged through the mud in all the salons and drawing rooms. None of the stories matched and they even had her on the continent when she had never left England.
Talk about your brother from the depts of hell… poor Lady Clara found herself in a situation that she just might not survive. What do you do when your brother is trying to kill you for an inheritance you don’t even know you have. Slowly as our story unfolded… dark secrets were revealed from five-years before when her twin sister jilted the Stone Duke Bradstone and left him at the alter? Now, it looked like history was about to repeat itself.
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”—Vince Lombardi
I loved this story. I especially loved the cast of characters to the point that I really want to read their stories. These guys, friends to the Stone Duke, are the type of stories and adventures I would willingly read. The sisters and brothers to the Duke are just as interesting and I feel they would have a good story in their quest for love and their own HEA.
This was a story full of adventure, fast-paced angst, high drama and sexy steamy scenes between our characters. There were so many hints at a spy network… but nothing was confirmed. Man… I love these guys. They worked so well together and the loyalty and comradery were spot on between these friends. In fact, I enjoyed their interacting so much that I didn’t enjoy our couple as I should. I became a bit bored with Clara’s trust issues. I mean… we went to nearly the end of the story and I nearly had a coronary thinking she was going to screw it up by doing something stupid. However, there was a HEA so, when you read this, hand on.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC [advanced reader copy] of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Projected publication date April 17, 2018. For those Jane Austen enthusiasts, there were several references to two of her books: Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I thought that was cute.
April 8, 2020
Series: The MacAlisters #2
Publication Date: 4/17/18
This author has certainly gotten off to an impressive start as a writer. This is her second book and both have been excellent. While it is part of a series, you could certainly read it as a stand-alone. Frankly, I would recommend reading this as the first book in the series and then go back and read the first one. I have no idea what makes authors and publishers decide on the order of books in a series, but, in my humble opinion, this should have been the first book in this series. *** UPDATE 4/8/20: I think they must have switched the order of the books in the series as this is now book #1. ***
At one time Andrew MacAlister and Jonathan Masson were best friends. Andrew often went home with Jonathan on school breaks and was intrigued by Jonathan’s younger sister Clare because she was so intrepid. When she was ten years old and Andrew was about sixteen, she told him she was going to marry him someday. On the day Andrew’s father and older brother were killed and he inherited the title, Jonathan developed an abiding hatred for Andrew. Andrew never knew why – but he never saw Clare after that. At least, not until she and her twin sister had their debut – and then shortly after that Andrew became engaged to Christina, Clara’s twin. You’ll learn all about that in the story, so I won’t tell you about it – but, to me, it makes Andrew look very, very weak-willed!
Everyone who was ever supposed to love Clare Masson left her, except her older brother Jonathan, and he hated her with every breath in his body. Things got really bad after her father died and Jonathan inherited. Wild, untrue rumors about her were floating throughout the ton and she was forbidden from attending any entertainments. Then, on the night of the annual MacAlister birthday ball, she decided to sneak out and attend. That set off a chain of events that almost caused her death – until Andrew saved her.
Andrew brings Clare into his home and places her under his protection by becoming betrothed to her. While he fully intends to go through with the marriage, she doesn’t because she has such trust issues and she wants him to love her, not just feel protective of her. They both have trust issues, but he works through his much quicker than she does and becomes truly committed to the relationship.
Clare is in constant danger until her brother can be found and dealt with – but – where is he? Nobody can find him. Then there are more attempts on Clare’s life. Will they finally get their HEA – you’ll just have to read the book to see. Oh, and at the end -- there is quite a twist.
I read an ARC of this book and it was very unpolished at the time. I do truly hope that many of the errors I saw are fixed prior to publication. There is a lot of more modern phraseology as well as some incorrect word choices, etc.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 4/17/18
This author has certainly gotten off to an impressive start as a writer. This is her second book and both have been excellent. While it is part of a series, you could certainly read it as a stand-alone. Frankly, I would recommend reading this as the first book in the series and then go back and read the first one. I have no idea what makes authors and publishers decide on the order of books in a series, but, in my humble opinion, this should have been the first book in this series. *** UPDATE 4/8/20: I think they must have switched the order of the books in the series as this is now book #1. ***
At one time Andrew MacAlister and Jonathan Masson were best friends. Andrew often went home with Jonathan on school breaks and was intrigued by Jonathan’s younger sister Clare because she was so intrepid. When she was ten years old and Andrew was about sixteen, she told him she was going to marry him someday. On the day Andrew’s father and older brother were killed and he inherited the title, Jonathan developed an abiding hatred for Andrew. Andrew never knew why – but he never saw Clare after that. At least, not until she and her twin sister had their debut – and then shortly after that Andrew became engaged to Christina, Clara’s twin. You’ll learn all about that in the story, so I won’t tell you about it – but, to me, it makes Andrew look very, very weak-willed!
Everyone who was ever supposed to love Clare Masson left her, except her older brother Jonathan, and he hated her with every breath in his body. Things got really bad after her father died and Jonathan inherited. Wild, untrue rumors about her were floating throughout the ton and she was forbidden from attending any entertainments. Then, on the night of the annual MacAlister birthday ball, she decided to sneak out and attend. That set off a chain of events that almost caused her death – until Andrew saved her.
Andrew brings Clare into his home and places her under his protection by becoming betrothed to her. While he fully intends to go through with the marriage, she doesn’t because she has such trust issues and she wants him to love her, not just feel protective of her. They both have trust issues, but he works through his much quicker than she does and becomes truly committed to the relationship.
Clare is in constant danger until her brother can be found and dealt with – but – where is he? Nobody can find him. Then there are more attempts on Clare’s life. Will they finally get their HEA – you’ll just have to read the book to see. Oh, and at the end -- there is quite a twist.
I read an ARC of this book and it was very unpolished at the time. I do truly hope that many of the errors I saw are fixed prior to publication. There is a lot of more modern phraseology as well as some incorrect word choices, etc.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
January 29, 2018
I received a free ARC from Netgalley.
Yay, a new historical romance! Or not...
This story is overly dramatic enough to cause multiple eye rolls. There is shocking domestic violence. I finished this but have no desire to read it again. I had high expectations from the cover.
I thought that there was a confusing amount of characters. The treatment of the heroine wasn't consistent.
She sneaks to a ball (no details as to how she arrived), dances, yet is given the cut direct by most. Then she is verbally attacked by a young lady by being called a prostitute to her face (why wasn't it harlot or whore instead?). The duke comes over and backs her up. I had issues with that whole scene and it goes similarly through the story. Drama ensues and I just wanted it to end. Then the villain's motives are revealed and I was done.
Yay, a new historical romance! Or not...
This story is overly dramatic enough to cause multiple eye rolls. There is shocking domestic violence. I finished this but have no desire to read it again. I had high expectations from the cover.
I thought that there was a confusing amount of characters. The treatment of the heroine wasn't consistent.
She sneaks to a ball (no details as to how she arrived), dances, yet is given the cut direct by most. Then she is verbally attacked by a young lady by being called a prostitute to her face (why wasn't it harlot or whore instead?). The duke comes over and backs her up. I had issues with that whole scene and it goes similarly through the story. Drama ensues and I just wanted it to end. Then the villain's motives are revealed and I was done.
January 14, 2018
*I received this book for free through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
The Perfect Duchess follows the story of Andrew, a Duke who dislikes anything that has to do with social gatherings, especially the ball that is organized every year for his birthday. Nobody sees him for who he truly is and he must do what is expected of him, in order to keep up appearances. So, when he is seen courting Clara, a social pariah, rumors start circulating about their history. Because, ladies and gentlemen, Clara's twin sister left Andrew waiting at the altar five years ago and of course, never showed up to marry him. When Clara's life is obviously in danger because of her psycho brother who used to be friends with Andrew, he makes a proposition that Clara cannot resist. Because it's everything she'd been dreaming of since the first time she saw him. And it's the only thing that can help them both and keep her safe.
I'm a sucker for Historical Romance and I genuinely expected to love The Perfect Duchess. Don't get me wrong. The premise had a lot of potential and I immensely enjoyed the beginning and ending of the novel. The middle part though felt a bit all over the place and the characters went along with it, as did their development. The first couple of chapters promised a lot, which was not met by the rest, even halfway through. (Way of thinking in Greek, fingers crossed it'll actually make sense translated)Which basically means that, after being introduced to the story, I had relatively high expectation for what would follow.
One of my biggest problems with the book was Andrew's behavior. His hot and cold moments with Clara were extremely tiring and confusing. Add frustrating to the list and there you have it! Clara was a bit better at handling her feelings but, her way of thinking left me completely speechless at times. Also, there were a lot of inconsistencies throughout the book and the plot itself felt very rushed. It was like the author wanted to include a number of topics and somehow, cram them into three hundred and something pages without explanations that made complete sense.
I really liked the plot twists and the fact that they existed in the first place, because they're not really common in Historical Romance novels but, I feel like they were ''quantity over quality''. They were not developed well enough to be considered part of the actual plot and consistent with how it progressed. Too much information is such a small amount of chapters is overwhelming, to say the least and losing sight of the story is inevitable. I really think that if the author had handled them differently and not rushed through them in order to get it done and over it, this book would've been so much more enjoyable than it ended up being. Because they were extremely unpredictable and mind blowing, I just think their poor development ruined the excitement of their existence in the book. As for the action, the majority of it took place towards the last couple of chapters that felt very rushed and underdeveloped as well.
Something that I did enjoy was the representation of society in the book itself, because it gave us a glimpse at how petty people behaved back then. Having Clara upsetting them with the way she stood up for herself and held her head high throughout the book, was truly satisfying! I would've done the same thing myself! Add her happily ever after added to their scorn, which was quite delightful, let's be real. I love the portrayal of strong willed heroines at such setting and this one was definitely no exception!
Overall, the development of the book in general didn't really sit well with me because of how underdeveloped it clearly was. The writing wasn't great either and the romance aspect frustrated me after it started getting inconsistent and confusing. It had a lot of potential as a story but, it wasn't taken advantage of.
The Perfect Duchess follows the story of Andrew, a Duke who dislikes anything that has to do with social gatherings, especially the ball that is organized every year for his birthday. Nobody sees him for who he truly is and he must do what is expected of him, in order to keep up appearances. So, when he is seen courting Clara, a social pariah, rumors start circulating about their history. Because, ladies and gentlemen, Clara's twin sister left Andrew waiting at the altar five years ago and of course, never showed up to marry him. When Clara's life is obviously in danger because of her psycho brother who used to be friends with Andrew, he makes a proposition that Clara cannot resist. Because it's everything she'd been dreaming of since the first time she saw him. And it's the only thing that can help them both and keep her safe.
I'm a sucker for Historical Romance and I genuinely expected to love The Perfect Duchess. Don't get me wrong. The premise had a lot of potential and I immensely enjoyed the beginning and ending of the novel. The middle part though felt a bit all over the place and the characters went along with it, as did their development. The first couple of chapters promised a lot, which was not met by the rest, even halfway through. (Way of thinking in Greek, fingers crossed it'll actually make sense translated)Which basically means that, after being introduced to the story, I had relatively high expectation for what would follow.
One of my biggest problems with the book was Andrew's behavior. His hot and cold moments with Clara were extremely tiring and confusing. Add frustrating to the list and there you have it! Clara was a bit better at handling her feelings but, her way of thinking left me completely speechless at times. Also, there were a lot of inconsistencies throughout the book and the plot itself felt very rushed. It was like the author wanted to include a number of topics and somehow, cram them into three hundred and something pages without explanations that made complete sense.
I really liked the plot twists and the fact that they existed in the first place, because they're not really common in Historical Romance novels but, I feel like they were ''quantity over quality''. They were not developed well enough to be considered part of the actual plot and consistent with how it progressed. Too much information is such a small amount of chapters is overwhelming, to say the least and losing sight of the story is inevitable. I really think that if the author had handled them differently and not rushed through them in order to get it done and over it, this book would've been so much more enjoyable than it ended up being. Because they were extremely unpredictable and mind blowing, I just think their poor development ruined the excitement of their existence in the book. As for the action, the majority of it took place towards the last couple of chapters that felt very rushed and underdeveloped as well.
Something that I did enjoy was the representation of society in the book itself, because it gave us a glimpse at how petty people behaved back then. Having Clara upsetting them with the way she stood up for herself and held her head high throughout the book, was truly satisfying! I would've done the same thing myself! Add her happily ever after added to their scorn, which was quite delightful, let's be real. I love the portrayal of strong willed heroines at such setting and this one was definitely no exception!
Overall, the development of the book in general didn't really sit well with me because of how underdeveloped it clearly was. The writing wasn't great either and the romance aspect frustrated me after it started getting inconsistent and confusing. It had a lot of potential as a story but, it wasn't taken advantage of.
November 29, 2017
This is a solid Regency romance. At times, the writing reminded me of some of my favorite historical romance novels with the constant intertwining of the gossip rags within the narrative.
Lady Clara has been in love with the Duke of Bradstone since she was a girl. Through a cruel twist of fate, he mistakes her twin sister for her and ends up being coerced into a courtship and an ill-fated engagement with Clara's sister. After a couple of tragic events, Clara and Andrew are reunited at his birthday ball. Their path to the altar is strewn with obstacles. Abuse, treacherous plots, and lies must all be exposed before these two can enjoy a peaceful happily ever after.
Good cast of minor characters! I liked Andrew's siblings and his prestigious gang of resourceful friends.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Lady Clara has been in love with the Duke of Bradstone since she was a girl. Through a cruel twist of fate, he mistakes her twin sister for her and ends up being coerced into a courtship and an ill-fated engagement with Clara's sister. After a couple of tragic events, Clara and Andrew are reunited at his birthday ball. Their path to the altar is strewn with obstacles. Abuse, treacherous plots, and lies must all be exposed before these two can enjoy a peaceful happily ever after.
Good cast of minor characters! I liked Andrew's siblings and his prestigious gang of resourceful friends.
ARC provided by NetGalley
April 17, 2018
Absolutely charmed...
... by this story of love, angst, betrayals and murder!
Lady Clara Masson has been emotionally abused by her brother for far too long. Ever since her twin sister eloped rather than marry the Duke of Bradstone, Andrew Macalister.
Deciding to attend the Duke's masked ball some years later, Clara finds herself shunned by polite society, banned from Almanac's and generally looked down upon. The rumors spread about her are diabolical.
Andrew has been half in love with Clara since he was a child. Her sudden appearance at the ball, her treatment by society has him exercising his ducal rights, scandalizing the gossipy ladies of the ton by not only dancing with Clara but leading her into supper.
It's when he visits the next morning that he finds the house in disarray and Clara unconscious on the floor, bleeding from a head wound.
Well events get even stranger and Andrew finds himself in quite a quandary. As the situation unfolds, a plethora of wonderful characters come into play.
An oft times fun and definitely mysterious read!
A NetGalley ARC
... by this story of love, angst, betrayals and murder!
Lady Clara Masson has been emotionally abused by her brother for far too long. Ever since her twin sister eloped rather than marry the Duke of Bradstone, Andrew Macalister.
Deciding to attend the Duke's masked ball some years later, Clara finds herself shunned by polite society, banned from Almanac's and generally looked down upon. The rumors spread about her are diabolical.
Andrew has been half in love with Clara since he was a child. Her sudden appearance at the ball, her treatment by society has him exercising his ducal rights, scandalizing the gossipy ladies of the ton by not only dancing with Clara but leading her into supper.
It's when he visits the next morning that he finds the house in disarray and Clara unconscious on the floor, bleeding from a head wound.
Well events get even stranger and Andrew finds himself in quite a quandary. As the situation unfolds, a plethora of wonderful characters come into play.
An oft times fun and definitely mysterious read!
A NetGalley ARC
January 8, 2019
" The Perfect Duchess " is the first book of Erica which i ve read .. it was good . i liked it .. i am passionate about d reading Historical romances & particularly stories set in Regency era so dis book worked for me...
The book introduces Andrew - the Duke of Bradstone & his childhood friend Lady Clara who is abused by her brother for her money ... Andrew was engaged to Clara"s twin sister Christina who had jilted him at d altar ... bcoz of Clara's evil, cruel brother's false gossip about Clara , society ridicules & doesnt accept her amidst dem..
Andrew rescues her from the insults & abuse ...from here d actual story starts . The story was well written & scripted , the plot well developed ...all d right elements there is suspense, romance, action ,sex ,sizzling chemistry...The secondary characters in d story r well synched with d story line... i would definitely like to read there stories specially of Hardcourt ...
Only hangup was story was lengthy , it could ve been cut short . I always like strong women characters & this book had many such bold, sensible women characters ...its refreshing to read about such women characters in Regency Period wen women didn't ve any say, opinions or independence in a male dominated society ...
I would definitely recommend it... Keep it up Erica ...a very good start...
The book introduces Andrew - the Duke of Bradstone & his childhood friend Lady Clara who is abused by her brother for her money ... Andrew was engaged to Clara"s twin sister Christina who had jilted him at d altar ... bcoz of Clara's evil, cruel brother's false gossip about Clara , society ridicules & doesnt accept her amidst dem..
Andrew rescues her from the insults & abuse ...from here d actual story starts . The story was well written & scripted , the plot well developed ...all d right elements there is suspense, romance, action ,sex ,sizzling chemistry...The secondary characters in d story r well synched with d story line... i would definitely like to read there stories specially of Hardcourt ...
Only hangup was story was lengthy , it could ve been cut short . I always like strong women characters & this book had many such bold, sensible women characters ...its refreshing to read about such women characters in Regency Period wen women didn't ve any say, opinions or independence in a male dominated society ...
I would definitely recommend it... Keep it up Erica ...a very good start...
March 21, 2018
I love historical romances and was very intrigued by the premises of The Perfect Duchess. what I found when I opened the book was an enjoyable read interwoven with a interesting mystery.
One of my favorite things about the book is the Macalister family. From the Duke, to his siblings and their extended family, this is one formidable family that you would want on your side. This family has been through some very difficult times in their life, but no matter there differences they love each other and will do anything to protect their family.
I also loved the journey of Andrew and Clara. These are two people who have had to carry a very heavy burden in their lives. Their worlds have often collided through the years, but each meeting seemed to lead further into heartbreak then a happily every after. There is a lot of a hurt and pain between the two, that coming together will not be easy. there is a lot of push pull between the two a they fight there feelings and there own fears of rejection.
I did feel like the book did suffer some pacing issues and the drama and angsty was a little over the top for my taste, but I like it the story overall and did find it quite enjoyable.
*********Received an ARC from Netgalley*********
One of my favorite things about the book is the Macalister family. From the Duke, to his siblings and their extended family, this is one formidable family that you would want on your side. This family has been through some very difficult times in their life, but no matter there differences they love each other and will do anything to protect their family.
I also loved the journey of Andrew and Clara. These are two people who have had to carry a very heavy burden in their lives. Their worlds have often collided through the years, but each meeting seemed to lead further into heartbreak then a happily every after. There is a lot of a hurt and pain between the two, that coming together will not be easy. there is a lot of push pull between the two a they fight there feelings and there own fears of rejection.
I did feel like the book did suffer some pacing issues and the drama and angsty was a little over the top for my taste, but I like it the story overall and did find it quite enjoyable.
*********Received an ARC from Netgalley*********
November 8, 2017
How many tries does it take to get Duke of Bradstone married? 3
Andrew was the second son, but after his father and older brother pass on, he inherits the dukedom. He stonewalls himself after this happens. He goes from being the second son to being flocked by people that only want the power and prestige that comes with being associated with a duke. Andrew was fond of Clara, so I don’t understand why he would let himself be arm twisted into proposing to her twin sister instead of Clara.
I have to say, I really liked Clara... at the beginning, not so much during the middle. No one of the ton liked her because of the lies her own brother spread and the scandal of her own twin sister but she was brave in defying them anyways and, I liked the way she handled Lady Laura. I would have punched that girl. I also liked the little snippets of gossip at the beginning of each chapter. Sort of like Julia Quinn novel of the Bridgertons with Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, There was even a Lady Danbury in this book but not like Julia Quinn’s Lady Danbury.
I’m not sure this is a historical romance because the way Andrew communicates so quickly about things that are going on in the story it almost seems like the have cell phones or internet. I seriously wanted to slap her a couple of times, she finally got Andrew to admit his love for her and she says she’s the one who is not sure anymore.
Other than that, this was a really great read. All the assassination attempts were getting annoying.
** ARC provided by the author for an honest review **
Andrew was the second son, but after his father and older brother pass on, he inherits the dukedom. He stonewalls himself after this happens. He goes from being the second son to being flocked by people that only want the power and prestige that comes with being associated with a duke. Andrew was fond of Clara, so I don’t understand why he would let himself be arm twisted into proposing to her twin sister instead of Clara.
I have to say, I really liked Clara... at the beginning, not so much during the middle. No one of the ton liked her because of the lies her own brother spread and the scandal of her own twin sister but she was brave in defying them anyways and, I liked the way she handled Lady Laura. I would have punched that girl. I also liked the little snippets of gossip at the beginning of each chapter. Sort of like Julia Quinn novel of the Bridgertons with Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, There was even a Lady Danbury in this book but not like Julia Quinn’s Lady Danbury.
I’m not sure this is a historical romance because the way Andrew communicates so quickly about things that are going on in the story it almost seems like the have cell phones or internet. I seriously wanted to slap her a couple of times, she finally got Andrew to admit his love for her and she says she’s the one who is not sure anymore.
Other than that, this was a really great read. All the assassination attempts were getting annoying.
** ARC provided by the author for an honest review **
April 18, 2018
2.5 rounded up
I liked the "idea" of this book, but it just didn't really work for me in the end.
Lady Clara and Andrew Macalister, Duke of Bradstone have a history, once upon a time Andrew was friends with her brother Jonathan, Earl of Morton and he was engaged to her twin sister Christina. But when Christina jilts him and Clara is sent to the country to let the scandal die down, they lost touch. Now five years later, Clara is back - but she is no longer welcomed by the ton.
Rumors abound about her and she is barely tolerated, but that doesn't stop Andrew from wanting her. When he rescues her from her brother's rage, he informs her they will marry. Clara has no intention of marrying him, but goes along with the ruse.
These two will have a long, rough road ahead of them, they will endure rumors, scandal, evil relations, attempted murder, shocking revelations, kidnapping and their own doubts and insecurities before they finally achieve their HEA.
I thought the writing was good, but the story just had so many elements, too many in my opinion, and a lot of them just didn't seem believable, I don't want to ruin anything, but his reason for marrying her sister just didn't seem reasonable and her brother's shocking revelation at the end was just out of the blue and over the top. I wanted to like the book, but in the end, I felt dissatisfied.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
I liked the "idea" of this book, but it just didn't really work for me in the end.
Lady Clara and Andrew Macalister, Duke of Bradstone have a history, once upon a time Andrew was friends with her brother Jonathan, Earl of Morton and he was engaged to her twin sister Christina. But when Christina jilts him and Clara is sent to the country to let the scandal die down, they lost touch. Now five years later, Clara is back - but she is no longer welcomed by the ton.
Rumors abound about her and she is barely tolerated, but that doesn't stop Andrew from wanting her. When he rescues her from her brother's rage, he informs her they will marry. Clara has no intention of marrying him, but goes along with the ruse.
These two will have a long, rough road ahead of them, they will endure rumors, scandal, evil relations, attempted murder, shocking revelations, kidnapping and their own doubts and insecurities before they finally achieve their HEA.
I thought the writing was good, but the story just had so many elements, too many in my opinion, and a lot of them just didn't seem believable, I don't want to ruin anything, but his reason for marrying her sister just didn't seem reasonable and her brother's shocking revelation at the end was just out of the blue and over the top. I wanted to like the book, but in the end, I felt dissatisfied.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
November 18, 2017
This novel was a good read. The novel continues with another Macalister trying to get down the isle. Lady Clara Masson has loved Andrew Macalister, Duke of Bradstone, since she was a girl. When he was engaged to marry her sister, it broken her heart. But, her sister left Andrew at the alter. Rumors began to spread about Clara, mainly due to her brother's influence. Clara has hated by her brother and felt abandoned by her family. One night, she disobeys her brother to attend Andrew's birthday celebration and does not expect to dance with him. Andrew sees Clara again after 5 years and he desires her. He likes that she is strong in the face of cruelty. Andrew was not supposed to be the duke and harbors strong feelings about that. When Clara's life becomes endangered, Andrew tells everyone they are betrothed to protect her. However, he realizes he needs her in his life and wants the marriage. He is nicknamed the "stone duke", but Clara is able to break thru his barriers. Clara though knows Andrew does not love her and plans to break the engagement, but knows she cannot leave since her brother will come after her. As Clara and Andrew spend more time together, truths are reveled, which impacts their relationship. Still, someone is out to harm Clara and will stop at nothing to do so. Will Andrew be able to keep Clara face and can both accept their love for the other?
November 17, 2017
I love reading Regency romance and when I saw that this was set in 1811, I couldn't help but wish for it.
This book brings the heat. It has the scandal, drama, mystery, fashion, gossip, love and most of all it has the Bradstones! Well, what do you get when you have a handsome, rich and titled man who goes after a lady that is the talk of ton? The Duke, Andrew Bradstone, sees Lady Clara across the hall at his birthday ball and he approaches her and the way he showers her with his attention gets every tongue wagging. Lady Clara returns home to the vengeful and spiteful brother, Jonathan Morston, and in a rage he hits her, insults her and kicks her out of their home but not before The Duke swoops in and takes her to his home. This marks the beginning of the story behind Lady Clara's misfortunes and also intensifies the attraction between them.
I loved their different personalities because Clara's honesty and ability to speak her mind balances Andrew's caution.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley after the publisher granted my wish and it's been worth every minute!
This book brings the heat. It has the scandal, drama, mystery, fashion, gossip, love and most of all it has the Bradstones! Well, what do you get when you have a handsome, rich and titled man who goes after a lady that is the talk of ton? The Duke, Andrew Bradstone, sees Lady Clara across the hall at his birthday ball and he approaches her and the way he showers her with his attention gets every tongue wagging. Lady Clara returns home to the vengeful and spiteful brother, Jonathan Morston, and in a rage he hits her, insults her and kicks her out of their home but not before The Duke swoops in and takes her to his home. This marks the beginning of the story behind Lady Clara's misfortunes and also intensifies the attraction between them.
I loved their different personalities because Clara's honesty and ability to speak her mind balances Andrew's caution.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley after the publisher granted my wish and it's been worth every minute!
January 30, 2018
First, I would like to say I love the Macalister family and the way each of them stand out in their own way. I can't tell you how many times I thought I would love to read so and so's story (Luke!). Andrew and Clara's relationship was a bit whiplash like. I understand she had issues with trust but she really seemed strong one second and then wimpy the next over it. The book received a three rating from me because of the length. It could have been a bit shorter and it would have helped with the flow of the story. The pace would be going very steady and then we get a bit of narrative that just seemed drawn out. I received an ebook at no charge for which I voluntarily provided an honest review.
January 8, 2018
I read the first few chapters then skimmed a few. I read to finish just to see how everything and everyone fare in the end.
The vitriol of the despicable secondary character, Jonathan, is staggering. He became the be-all and end-all of the story!
Conflict and resolution are the components of my fictional romance. I appreciate the suspense/mystery element. But utterly loathsome characters which became the focus of the narrative is disconcerting. They exist in other genres but should not be in my romance reads.
This is my honest opinion of the eGalley copy from the publisher.
The vitriol of the despicable secondary character, Jonathan, is staggering. He became the be-all and end-all of the story!
Conflict and resolution are the components of my fictional romance. I appreciate the suspense/mystery element. But utterly loathsome characters which became the focus of the narrative is disconcerting. They exist in other genres but should not be in my romance reads.
This is my honest opinion of the eGalley copy from the publisher.
January 9, 2018
I was excited to read this book and was very intrigued by the summary. The story was well written and I loved seeing the Macalister siblings interact. Unfortunately I did not finish the book completely, as the romance did not stay clean. I just couldn't force myself to finish, although the story had my attention.
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2018
The Perfect Duchess is the second book in the Macalisters series by Erica Taylor. It can easily be read as a standalone story.
Lady Clara Masson hasn't had an easy time of it for the last 5 years since her twin sister jilted a Duke at the altar to run off with a footman. Thanks to that scandal and the lies spread about her by her brother Jonathon, aided by the fact she stayed in the country so long, Clara is looked down upon by society. Being a Lady she is still entitled to attend social functions even though a lot of people shun her there. Despite that, she is determined to try her best and sneaks out of her brother's house to attend the annual Macalister birthday ball.
Andrew Macalister is the Duke that Clara's sister jilted. He and his brothers all celebrate their birthdays in May, hence the birthday ball. Clara has been in love with Andrew since she was a young girl who used to chase around after him and her brother who used to be firm friends. Andrew became the Duke after losing both his father and eldest brother. He rebelled at the responsibilities at first but when it became apparent that his family relied on him he changed his ways becoming the very best brother and Duke that he could be. It earned him the name the Stone Duke of Bradstone.
At the ball, Clara is being treated badly by the sniping gossiping women. Andrew comes to her aid, very happy to reconnect with her after her being away for so long. So happy that he throws caution to the window and decides to call on her the next day to ask her to go for a carriage ride with him in the park. A good job too because he turns up in time to find Clara's brother attacking her! Andrew is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero, he punches Jonathon, swoops Clara up into his arms and takes her home with him.
He decides that the only way to keep Clara safe from her brother and to look after her is to marry her!! She agrees but in the meantime, they both have time to question his offer. She worries that he will resent her, and she doesn't want to marry unless he loves her. He worries that she will jilt him at the altar just as her sister did. Whether they end up marrying soon takes second place to Clara's safety. Her brother is trying to have her killed and seems capable of infiltrating all the safeguards put in place to keep her safe from him. Why on Earth does he want her killed, and was he behind her sister running off with the footman? As the story unfolds the book just keeps getting better and better!
As I read an advanced readers' copy of this book there were a few errors, but I am hoping they will have been caught and edited before the proper release. Forgetting those errors I found the story beautiful and fascinating. There were twists and turns, especially when we find out just what Clara's brother's problem was! I loved the slow-burning romance between Clara and Alex and how unrequited love soon blossomed into the real thing. It was so lovely to read how Clara could see him and bring out the real Andrew Macalister rather than his persona of the stone Duke.
I couldn't read this book quickly enough and am very much looking forward to reading any other books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed and advanced readers' copy of this book.
Lady Clara Masson hasn't had an easy time of it for the last 5 years since her twin sister jilted a Duke at the altar to run off with a footman. Thanks to that scandal and the lies spread about her by her brother Jonathon, aided by the fact she stayed in the country so long, Clara is looked down upon by society. Being a Lady she is still entitled to attend social functions even though a lot of people shun her there. Despite that, she is determined to try her best and sneaks out of her brother's house to attend the annual Macalister birthday ball.
Andrew Macalister is the Duke that Clara's sister jilted. He and his brothers all celebrate their birthdays in May, hence the birthday ball. Clara has been in love with Andrew since she was a young girl who used to chase around after him and her brother who used to be firm friends. Andrew became the Duke after losing both his father and eldest brother. He rebelled at the responsibilities at first but when it became apparent that his family relied on him he changed his ways becoming the very best brother and Duke that he could be. It earned him the name the Stone Duke of Bradstone.
At the ball, Clara is being treated badly by the sniping gossiping women. Andrew comes to her aid, very happy to reconnect with her after her being away for so long. So happy that he throws caution to the window and decides to call on her the next day to ask her to go for a carriage ride with him in the park. A good job too because he turns up in time to find Clara's brother attacking her! Andrew is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero, he punches Jonathon, swoops Clara up into his arms and takes her home with him.
He decides that the only way to keep Clara safe from her brother and to look after her is to marry her!! She agrees but in the meantime, they both have time to question his offer. She worries that he will resent her, and she doesn't want to marry unless he loves her. He worries that she will jilt him at the altar just as her sister did. Whether they end up marrying soon takes second place to Clara's safety. Her brother is trying to have her killed and seems capable of infiltrating all the safeguards put in place to keep her safe from him. Why on Earth does he want her killed, and was he behind her sister running off with the footman? As the story unfolds the book just keeps getting better and better!
As I read an advanced readers' copy of this book there were a few errors, but I am hoping they will have been caught and edited before the proper release. Forgetting those errors I found the story beautiful and fascinating. There were twists and turns, especially when we find out just what Clara's brother's problem was! I loved the slow-burning romance between Clara and Alex and how unrequited love soon blossomed into the real thing. It was so lovely to read how Clara could see him and bring out the real Andrew Macalister rather than his persona of the stone Duke.
I couldn't read this book quickly enough and am very much looking forward to reading any other books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed and advanced readers' copy of this book.
April 19, 2018
The Perfect Duchess by Erica Taylor is book Two in The Macalisters Series. This is the story of Andrew Macalister and Lady Clara Masson. I have read the previous book but feel this can be a standalone book.
Andrew and Clara knew each other since they were young and Andrew had been on track to marry her twin sister but that sister ended up walking away to marry the footman. Later her sister died along with her father leaving her under her awful brother's control. Andrew and Clara reconnected with Clara slipped out to attend his Birthday ball. Andrews had always had feelings for Clara and goes forward to offer his name to keep her safe.
Really enjoyed reading their story.
Andrew and Clara knew each other since they were young and Andrew had been on track to marry her twin sister but that sister ended up walking away to marry the footman. Later her sister died along with her father leaving her under her awful brother's control. Andrew and Clara reconnected with Clara slipped out to attend his Birthday ball. Andrews had always had feelings for Clara and goes forward to offer his name to keep her safe.
Really enjoyed reading their story.
July 17, 2018
Erica Taylor weaves a completely mesmerizing story. I couldn’t put this book down. There is an abundance of characters and it wasn’t confusing in the least. It was easy to follow and they were all very captivating. Lady Clara is a strong and likeable heroine. Andrew is exactly what I love in a hero. The story flowed nicely and it only had one small hole at the end. The hole did not detract from the story at all though. It was all very well done. What I really loved is how completely unpredictable this story was, it completely shocked me in some places. This was a very charming and romantic read that was easy to get lost in. I’m dying to hear about the rest of the Macalister’s.
April 7, 2018
This is the first book by Erica Taylor that I have read. I really enjoyed The Perfect Duchess and look forward to reading future books from this author. This book has kidnapping, attempted murder, blackmail, abuse, second chance at love, family loyalty, romance and much more. I am happy I am given an advance reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book!
March 22, 2018
So I was given this in exchange for an honest review and I just cannot read it. I was actually really disappointed. I just finished A suitable Affair which is listed as book 1 in this series but really it shouldn’t be. I couldn’t figure out some parts of the story because it seemed like we were missing a story before this one and I was right. The author for some reason made book 2 set before book 1. I just don’t like reading books out of timeline order. So I won’t be reading this one. I definitely recommend reading this one before A Suitable Affair.
January 15, 2018
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
About: Andrew Macalister, oft regarded as the Stone Duke of Bradstone, hates his annual birthday ball tradition. He dislikes facing those around him who only see him for his title, and has given up on a chance to live a normal life. That is, until he spots Lady Clara Masson across the ballroom. Clara's twin sister is the woman who infamously jilted Andrew at the altar five years ago, but little does Clara know, Andrew had been smitten with her since childhood, and he finds her presence a ray of sunshine in a dreary dukedom.
When Clara's life is threatened by her evil brother, Johnathan, Andrew must do the only thing he can think of to save her: propose marriage. Between Clara's trust issues and Andrew's battle with societal norms, two find romance under dangerous circumstances.
Review: At the beginning of this book, I thought to myself "Wow this is a fast paced book I love it!!" then once I read more it slowed down a lot. I liked that the book started out quickly, but I didn't like how much it slowed down, I almost lost interest a couple of times. In the end the book was a treat to read.
I loved both main characters, Clara seemed like a very strong independent woman that had been hurt all through her life. The way she dealt with people and their hurtful remarks surprised me, most people would have crumbled but she stayed as strong as ever. Andrew irritated me at the beginning, he acted like he would marry Clara no matter what she wanted. The farther I read into the book the more I started to realize Andrew had just had a hard time in his life, that is why he was "The Stone Duke". I loved all of Andrew's siblings however Norah did irritate me just a little, I know she was raised to be in polite society but her attitude was still terrible.
The story line itself was really good, I loved the plot and how everything worked into the story. Like I said at the beginning the only thing that I hated was how the book went fast in the beginning and then slowed down so much I almost couldn't finish it. I think the author did great with this story, I didn't really notice any grammar or spelling errors. I would recommend this book to friends for sure.
I gave the book 4 stars due to the reasons posted above.
About: Andrew Macalister, oft regarded as the Stone Duke of Bradstone, hates his annual birthday ball tradition. He dislikes facing those around him who only see him for his title, and has given up on a chance to live a normal life. That is, until he spots Lady Clara Masson across the ballroom. Clara's twin sister is the woman who infamously jilted Andrew at the altar five years ago, but little does Clara know, Andrew had been smitten with her since childhood, and he finds her presence a ray of sunshine in a dreary dukedom.
When Clara's life is threatened by her evil brother, Johnathan, Andrew must do the only thing he can think of to save her: propose marriage. Between Clara's trust issues and Andrew's battle with societal norms, two find romance under dangerous circumstances.
Review: At the beginning of this book, I thought to myself "Wow this is a fast paced book I love it!!" then once I read more it slowed down a lot. I liked that the book started out quickly, but I didn't like how much it slowed down, I almost lost interest a couple of times. In the end the book was a treat to read.
I loved both main characters, Clara seemed like a very strong independent woman that had been hurt all through her life. The way she dealt with people and their hurtful remarks surprised me, most people would have crumbled but she stayed as strong as ever. Andrew irritated me at the beginning, he acted like he would marry Clara no matter what she wanted. The farther I read into the book the more I started to realize Andrew had just had a hard time in his life, that is why he was "The Stone Duke". I loved all of Andrew's siblings however Norah did irritate me just a little, I know she was raised to be in polite society but her attitude was still terrible.
The story line itself was really good, I loved the plot and how everything worked into the story. Like I said at the beginning the only thing that I hated was how the book went fast in the beginning and then slowed down so much I almost couldn't finish it. I think the author did great with this story, I didn't really notice any grammar or spelling errors. I would recommend this book to friends for sure.
I gave the book 4 stars due to the reasons posted above.
November 27, 2017
“The Perfect Duchess,” by Erica Taylor was a very lovely story, with likable main characters and interesting side characters to boot. Andrew, the Duke of Bradstone, is calm, cold and steady – and also known as the Stone Duke. It is pretty much a ruse, he was a second son who should never have inherited the dukedom and he sometimes doesn’t feel up to the task of being a duke.
Lady Clara had known Andrew since she was a young child, he was a friend of her older brother, and had a childish crush on him for years. But, he was once engaged to her twin sister who ran off and left him at the altar. She doesn’t have a chance with him much to her dismay, and her reputation has been ruined by her twin sister’s eloping with a footman and some very nasty rumors that have run amuck.
Clara and Andrew meet again after a long separation at his annual birthday ball, they dance and they are once again drawn to each other. Clara’s circumstances were really awful and force the couple into an engagement of convenience. Clara believes she will break off the engagement as soon as she can, not believing that Andrew can truly come to care for her.
Andrew has to decide if he can open his heart again and fall in love with the sister of the woman who jilted him at the altar. Clara, already half in love, has to decide if she can forgive him for choosing her sister and not choosing her. There are rumors to battle, villains to fight and a mystery to solve.
Recommended read, I hope the author writes stories for some of Andrew’s siblings and his friends. Not too many passionate scenes, which were pretty tame. But a very good read nonetheless.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Clara had known Andrew since she was a young child, he was a friend of her older brother, and had a childish crush on him for years. But, he was once engaged to her twin sister who ran off and left him at the altar. She doesn’t have a chance with him much to her dismay, and her reputation has been ruined by her twin sister’s eloping with a footman and some very nasty rumors that have run amuck.
Clara and Andrew meet again after a long separation at his annual birthday ball, they dance and they are once again drawn to each other. Clara’s circumstances were really awful and force the couple into an engagement of convenience. Clara believes she will break off the engagement as soon as she can, not believing that Andrew can truly come to care for her.
Andrew has to decide if he can open his heart again and fall in love with the sister of the woman who jilted him at the altar. Clara, already half in love, has to decide if she can forgive him for choosing her sister and not choosing her. There are rumors to battle, villains to fight and a mystery to solve.
Recommended read, I hope the author writes stories for some of Andrew’s siblings and his friends. Not too many passionate scenes, which were pretty tame. But a very good read nonetheless.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2017
Once again, Erica Taylor has managed to pack so much into one story. Lady Clara Masson has always loved Andrew, the Duke of Bradstone and has done since his childhood friendship with her brother Johnathan. However, several years have passed and Clara’s sister has vanished, her younger brother away at sea for several years and she has become a pariah in society, largely due to the rumours circulated by Johnathan. This becomes apparent to Andrew, when at ball held by his family that he finds himself defending Clara. He decides to court her and arrives at her home, only to find her being attacked by Johnathan. Andrew saves Clara and decides that to protect her, he must marry her.
Both Clara and Andrew struggle with their feelings, particularly Clara who finds it difficult to believe Andrew’s sincerity given that he was one engaged to her twin sister, only to have been rejected on the day of his wedding. Whilst their personalities differ, there was never a moment when I believed that these two were meant to be together. The detail given to this story and each of the secondary characters certainly adds to the novels charm. Each of Andrew’s family members and his friends are explored yet this never takes away from the romance between Clara and Andrew. Both characters are well developed and their interactions so very enjoyable.
I certainly hope to read more about the Andrew’s family and friends.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Both Clara and Andrew struggle with their feelings, particularly Clara who finds it difficult to believe Andrew’s sincerity given that he was one engaged to her twin sister, only to have been rejected on the day of his wedding. Whilst their personalities differ, there was never a moment when I believed that these two were meant to be together. The detail given to this story and each of the secondary characters certainly adds to the novels charm. Each of Andrew’s family members and his friends are explored yet this never takes away from the romance between Clara and Andrew. Both characters are well developed and their interactions so very enjoyable.
I certainly hope to read more about the Andrew’s family and friends.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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