Review

The first in Dare’s Castles Ever After series blends Historical settings with a whimsical fairy-tale.

Realistic Historical readers won’t enjoy this one. Dare sparkles in her element with plenty of laughs and an unconventional resolution to the outlaying conflicts.

Characters, Ransom and Ellie, are larger than life. Ellie is the Darling of England, thanks to her Father’s published stories. Ransom is the injured beast, transformed by an unfortunate duel. He’s taciturn, terse, and in want of peace and quiet. Ellie’s arrival brings anything but. With a rounded out cast of knights, fair maidens, a valet, a preacher’s daughter, and a haunted castle—this book is a wild ride of fantasy come to life… something our dear heroine has sworn off.

I admit to Lol-ing multiple times at names, the crazy situations and the sheer bad luck Ransom has at getting rid of Ellie or getting her off. There were also several twists and turns I never saw coming, right up to the very end. Other readers may claim the twists were predictable, but I was too caught up in enjoying the story to bother trying to figure out where the author was leading me.

While the reality of a female inheriting a castle in England, during the Regency, seemed a bit thin, Dare doesn’t leave room for holes. She covers off on all bases. Some of the private moments between our heroine and the Duke were a bit far-fetched. Yet, I seem to recall my own reckless, youthful moments of “almost getting caught” as some of the most ridiculous and the best.

The main part I enjoyed about the book is Ransom’s ability to embrace the heroine’s talents, even if she’s set out to bother him endlessly. He’s also the only one who wants to treat her like a person instead of the little girl from her father’s stories. I respected the hell out of that. For me, Ransom is a true hero, self-less and a duke to boot. That’s the cincher for me. I love my duke’s and Ransom has definitely made my list.

Overall, this story is quick paced, witty, hilarious, and historical with plenty to keep you giggling through an evening. If you love stories that border believability and fantasy Romancing The Duke is it.

Reviewed by Landra