Customer Reviews

Daring a Duke (The Courtesan Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Courtesan series continues and we get a big pay off with this one! I'm sorry that others picked this up expecting something else. I blame the packaging, which makes this seem like a typical Regency romance. Dain's Courtesan series is another animal altogether and it would have been so great if that was made apparent. The series is one long romp, with biting humor, tons of banter and a fascinating central character. This romance in this book is light and fun--I'll never look at the Declaration of Independence the same way! But the best part comes at the end, when we finally discover a huge chunk of Sophia Dalby's harrowing past. I thought the end of this book marked a new beginning for Sophia--one of my favorite characters ever--and I can't wait to discover more!

I do recommend that you start this series at the beginning--the cast of characters is large and threads of many stories flow through the series.

I don't understand the contrary reviews for this book unless it is because it takes place in one day at one party. I once started watching a movie and realized that it was going to be about 5 particular people on a subway car for the entire feature. I almost turned it off because I didn't think I was going to like it...I gave it a chance and I loved it. It is the same for all of Claudia Dain PB's I have read and enjoyed.

Though this was not my favorite read, I took my time and read it slowly as not to miss any of the clever prose. My only problem with this book is that I was left bereft not knowing what happened to the other characters. This book is hysterically funny but you REALLY MUST READ ALL 5 BOOKS in the series to know all the characters(IT IS NOT A STAND ALONE!)and cannot be reviewed properly as such. The sadist part is that Ms Dain seemed to somehow finish the series with this book and I will be devastated if this is the case.

Sophia has her retribution but what of Ruan, Katherine and many other characters I fell in love with? If this is the last book then I also say it was not what I wanted or expected...but it is worth the read.

I have read all the Courtesan books and adored every one. Handsome lords, spunky ladies, incredibly witty dialogue. These are some of my favorite historicals, kept high on my keeper shelf. This book was as wonderful as all the previous entries.

Having read all of Dain's previous courtesan books, I can honestly say this is one of my favorites! I loved seeing more of Sophia and her story, and I loved the witty repartee that is Dain's trademark. Jane is a delightful character, and watching how she takes the duke down a peg is great fun. It's not a typical romance, by any means, but that's exactly what I loved about it.

Daring A Duke by Claudia Dain

Historical Romance - July 6, 2010

3 Stars

Daring A Duke is the most recent installment of Claudia Dain's well known Courtesan Chronicles series. This series features a former Courtesan turned Countess Sophia Dalby who amuses herself by playing matchmaker and getting couples together.

This current installment tells the story of Miss Jane Elliot of New York City. Jane has come to London to visit some distant relative. She is excited and desperate to have an adventure in London. However, Jane's plans are often foiled because of her older brothers are keeping a watchful eye on her and have plans to stop her from getting into any mischief! Things become even more complicated when Jane meet the Duke of Edenham. He is immediately drawn to Jane. And his interest in Jane and makes it very difficult for Jane to have any fun. But soon Jane is saved by the dashing Sophia Dalby. Sophia attempts to help Jane and the Duke and that is when the real escapades begin!

Claudia Dain does a wonderful job creating characters that are always real and ones you are able to relate to. Her story is both fascinating and exciting to read as the story progresses. The only problem that I found with this novel is that the author had too many characters and too much going on at once. This complexity made it difficult to get too invested in the main characters because you have to wait to get back to their part of the story.

This was a fun, light book. If you are looking for a romance with lots of characters in out of the ordinary situations this will be an appealing book to try.

Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Book Group

In 1802 American Jane Elliot leaves New York for the London upper crust swinging adventure scene. Her problems are her two sea captain brothers and her aristocratic British cousins are a flock of hawks watching her every move; one day in town and already she feels like a prisoner in a gilded cage. They want her to get married, but Jane came to England for fun not a husband.

She is attracted to the Duke of Edenham and he apparently reciprocates her regard. Courtesan matchmaker Sophia Dalby notices the Yank who is the daughter of a former friend and the Duke seems perfect for each other and obviously wants each other. Yet they dance apart especially after the visitor makes it clear she has no plans to get married while enjoying her first season. Sophia likes the challenge posed by the reluctant American but also stays alert as the Duke of Ruan is sniffing around her.

Though somewhat similar in tone, the latest Courtesan Chronicles (see The Courtesan's Wager, The Courtesan's Daughter and The Courtesan's Secret) once again, though a secondary player, Dalby steals the show in this well written amusing Regency romance. Fast-paced from the moment a desperate Jane tries to elude her handlers and never slowing down, fans will appreciate the shameless Dalby as she matches the lead couple up while also handling a personal matter.

Harriet Klausner

Jane Elliot has come from New York to London with her two older brothers, Joel and Jed. Jane hopes for an adventure of a lifetime, but unfortunately, her brothers won't let her out of their sight. When she attends her cousin, the Marquis of Iveston's wedding, she may just have her chance for some excitement when she meets the dazzling Lady Sophia Dalby. What Jane doesn't expect is to catch the eye of the older, dashing, three times a widower, the Duke of Edenham.

The moment Edenham spots Jane, he's smitten. He decides in minutes that he will marry Jane. Edenham has quite the reputation as a cold and stoic man who has buried three wives. He's been thinking of marrying a forth time and believes Jane will suit him perfectly. But Jane is unlike any woman he has met before. She is not star struck because of his title.

Among the wedding guests, there are many other assignations being planned, as well as bets being placed among the lords and ladies counting on Edenham to bring Jane to heel and carry her off as his Duchess. But Jane has another plan up her sleeve, and that is to put Edenham in his place and bring him down a notch. She longs to show the stuffy British lord that an American woman is as much an equal as a Duke.

There is never a dull moment in a Claudia Dain's novel, and Daring a Duke is proof positive of this. This fifth book in the Courtesan Chronicles is full of wit, charm and good cheer. The dialogue and action keeps you turning each page. The setting of Daring a Duke occurs over the course of one afternoon where many of the ton's elite play games with one another through words and subtle actions.

Edenham and Jane come across as adversaries, but soon have a mutual respect for one another. It may seem a bit implausible that Edenham could fall so fast for a woman he has just met, but the fun in reading is watching him play to Jane's tune. These two are delightful and you can't help but smile knowing they will have a wonderful marriage between them. That is if Jane allows Edenham to romance her the way he wants to.

There are some other secret intrigues that have been shown in the past Courtesan books. The reader is also given even more insight on Lady Darby and her own romance with Lord Ruan, who wants to know the true woman behind the smile. If you're looking for a few hot love scenes, you may be disappointed, although there is a great deal of tension.

Daring a Duke allows the reader into the minds of so many characters without being confused and lost. This is one lovely historical romance that will leave you wishing for more.

Katiebabs

I made a huge mistake buying this authors books thinking that they would be good. Boy was I wrong! Never have I been so disappointed by 4 books by the same author. Wish I could return.

I thought many of the one star reviews were unfair, because the readers did not finish the book. Now that I have finished reading Daring a Duke, I agree wholeheartedly with the 1 Star reviews.

Jane Elliot sees the Duke of Edenham at a cousin's wedding. The duke immediately "falls in love with her." Her Aunt delays the wedding breakfast until they can iron out their differences, fall in love and resolve all of their differences. Oh please, their banter, as with much of the banter of the other characters of the book, is offensive and how this verbal sparring could result in love is beyond me. Other readers found it witty and smart. I found it to be dreadful.

The year is 1802 and Jane Elliot has left New York to go to London for adventure, and to stay with a distant relative, of course. Unfortunately for her, she's not having any adventure. Not yet anyway. And the reason she's not having any fun and adventure comes in the form of her two brothers: Jed and Joel. But what Jane, Jed and Joel don't know is with a bit of help from a match-making courtesan at a wedding reception, Jane is about to have that very adventure she craves.

Thrice widowed and a single father, the Duke of Edenham, takes one look at Jane knows instantly he'd like to make her his fourth and final duchess. The only problem now is, she seems to have no interest in him and it shows. But with the help of Sophia Dalby--the matchmaking courtesan--the duke just may get his chance to persuade this American beauty that her place is in England, with him.

This book is a lot of fun to read with witty dialogue, including some very scandalous verbal exchanges, humorous subplots which include betting on the duke's ability to win Miss Elliot's favor, and a handful of other antics that will not fail to amuse.

This book was a lot of fun for me because I'm a huge fan of the "uncultured" American snagging the attention of a titled gentleman though she couldn't give one whit about his title. I also liked the battle of the wills between the two as he was determined to win her and she was determined to put him in his place. Another thing I found unique about this book is it all takes place within one afternoon. While that seems like a short amount of time, it really wasn't for these two. The chemistry and tension shared between them made this unusual plot setting work very well.