Monday, November 16, 2020

Review & Giveaway - - A Duchess a Day

A Duchess a Day
by Charis Michaels
Awakened by a Kiss - Book 1
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Reviewed by PJ




An heiress with a plan…

Lady Helena Lark has spent years trying to escape her wedding to the vain and boring Duke of Lusk. She’s evaded, refused, even run away. When her family’s patience runs out, they pack her off to London to walk down the aisle. But Helena has another idea: find a more suitable bride to take her place, even if she must look for a replacement duchess every day.

 

A bodyguard with a job to do…

Declan Shaw, better known as “The Huntsman,” is a mercenary who can pick and choose his clientele. After his last job, escorting a young noblewoman to France, landed him in jail under false accusations, he wants nothing to do with aristocrats or women. But the law isn’t done with him, and if he agrees to babysit a duke’s errant fiancĂ©, the payout could make his legal troubles go away.

 

A most unexpected alliance…

When their worlds collide, Declan realizes that containing his new client is only slightly harder than keeping his hands off her. Helena senses an ally in her handsome new bodyguard and solicits his help. Together they must escape the forces that oppose them and fight for the fairy-tale love they desire.



PJ's Thoughts:

I adored this book! It's smart, witty, endearing, adventurous, sensual, heart-tugging, funny, feel-good, and all those other adjectives that check my happy reader boxes. Once I began reading I couldn't put it down; I didn't want to put it down. 

Helena is one of my favorite romance heroines this year. I admired her determination, reveled in her deliciously devious mind, cheered her on as she continued to fight against the miserable fate everyone else thought she should be delighted to accept, and melted with her as her heart recognized its mate in the least acceptable person possible. 

And that brings us to Declan. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. His struggle was real and had my heart aching for him, even as I couldn't help but laugh at the predicaments Helena landed them in, sigh at the growing passion between them, and wonder how in the world they were going to find a way out of the entanglement in which they were caught. He was a perfect "Huntsman" who tickled my fancy and captured my heart.

The pace never slowed in this addictive, grown-up fairy tale that had me laughing, sighing, and shedding a few tears for good measure. I love romances inspired by fairy tales and using a secondary character who never got a happy ending as the hero of a new story is such an intriguing premise. Add in the cast of supporting characters, the very clever duchesses-a-day, a loathsome, string-pulling villain, and a surprising savior, and you have a top-notch historical romance that filled me with joy and has me eagerly anticipating more Awakened by a Kiss stories from Charis Michaels.

~~~~~~~~~

What's your favorite fairy tale?

Do you have a favorite romance inspired by a fairy tale?

Have you read Charis Michaels yet? (If not, A Duchess a Day is a great place to begin!)

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, November 18 will receive a print copy of A Duchess a Day

*Must be 18
*U.S. addresses only



25 comments:

  1. Sounds like something I would really enjoy - thanks!

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  2. Replies
    1. It's such a fun, feel-good book!

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    2. Oops, I forgot to say that "Yes I've got a couple of Charis's books and enjoyed them. I love Beauty and the Beast".

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  3. My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast.

    I like Eloisa James’ series especially When Beauty aTamed the. Easy and The Ugly Duchess.

    I have not been introduced to Charis Michaels’ work.until your 5 * review!

    The cover is one of the best I’ve ever seen!

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    Replies
    1. Oops When the Beauty Tamed the Beast

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    2. I enjoyed When Beauty Tamed the Beast too.

      If you enjoy Lenora Bell, I think you'll definitely like Charis Michaels.

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  4. The vixen and the vet by Katy Regnery

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    Replies
    1. Other people have recommended that book to me too. I need to add it to my list.

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  5. Well if I had known you were going to review this book and put it up for giveaway, I would have waited to buy it...which I did Saturday. Saw it in Shana Galen's newsletter and decided to buy it right then. I have faith in her recs too! Anyway, I'm reading it now and loving it. Can't wait to see where this ride will take me. Should be fun. BTW, exclude me from the giveaway.

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  6. I haven't read anything by Charis Michaels yet, but this book does seem like a good place to start. One of my favorite fairy tales is Beauty and the Beast. I like the premise of seeing beneath the surface and loving someone who feels unworthy of love.

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  7. I haven't read this author. I enjoyed the TV show, Once Upon a Time, which revolved around fairy tales characters.

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  8. Beauty and the Beast...hands down!
    I haven't read Charis Michaels, but I've been meaning to!

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  9. What a great review--sounds like a fun "give as good as you get" romance. I would love to read this book! My favorite fairy tales are "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast". I haven't read any of Charis Michaels' work yet, but I look forward to it!

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  10. AHHHH - another new to me author. And I love fairy tales - my favorite is Snow White.

    I love the sound of this story. I believe that any heroine who is devious is my kind of girl.

    Thanks for the review. I hope that everyone is taking care and staying well.

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  11. She is a new to me author, I love finding them and their books! This one looks like an awesome read that I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win it.

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  12. I haven't read this author's stories yet, but this sounds like a lovely one. Thanks for the review and the giveaway opportunity!

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  13. Oh my goodness, but this book sounds wonderful!! I have not read Charis Michaels yet but now I very much want to. I think, like many readers, the Beauty and the Beast motif is my favorite, and I, too, loved The Vixen and the Vet.

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  14. For some reason, Sleeping Beauty has always been my favorite fairy tale. It might have to do with it being my first book - a large golden version. I've heard about this book elsewhere and it sounds like one I need to read. This is also a new author to me. Thanks for chance and the wonderful review PJ.

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  15. I love Snow White.

    I have not read Charis Michaels.

    denise

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  16. Your description and recommendation of this book is all I need to put it on my Wish List. It sounds like an interesting and enjoyable read. My favorite fairy tales are Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. I have not yet read Charis Michaels' books. I have read many with those two themes. one I can think of off hand is When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James.

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  17. Hi, I am a newbie! My favorites are Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast!

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  18. I like romance novels based on Beauty and the Beast, both contemporary and historical, with my most recent read Love Is a Rogue by Lenora Bell.

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  19. The first paragraph of your review really made me sit up and pay attention. That is quite the recommendation. My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella, something about the hardworking, kindhearted, overlooked heroine getting her guy has always appealed mightily with me. I don't have a favorite book with this theme. I haven't read Charis Michaels yet.

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