“Eliza and Harry are just right for one another—their interactions sparkle and sizzle with wit and desire. This story gets a solid A and ranks up there with the very best of Ms. Dare’s work.”
“With a funny and witty plot, this story will have readers cheering for the main characters. The dialogue is incredibly well written, which makes it very easy to picture Eliza and Harry as they banter and fall in love.”
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Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.
Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.
But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?
Yes, it’s true. The Duke of Halford made a brief-yet-scandalous appearance in A Week to be Wicked as Colin’s debauched libertine friend. But more than a year has passed, and Halford’s life has changed.
As to whether the man himself has changed, you’ll have to read the book to find out. 😉… Read More »
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Afraid I can’t offer much of an excerpt yet. Please check back!
In the meantime, here is a true story.
Strangely enough, my books’ cover art is often finished before I’m even done writing the book! So I always try to make sure the heroine is wearing the dress on the cover at some point during the story. I made certain Susanna wore purple, and that Kate wore a gown of dark blue. (Minerva and her white sheets were easy!)
When I got the beautiful cover for Any Duchess Will Do, I was instantly in love with it – it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve had – but that gorgeous dress Pauline wears is a rather interesting pinkish-lavender shade. Attempts to name it resulted in interesting debate among my friends. Pink, lavender, mauve, fuschia, berry…all these and more were suggested. When I went to write that dress into the story, I still wasn’t sure what to call it.
So instead, I wrote the color-naming dilemma into the book. Here is your first excerpt from Any Duchess Will Do, short as it is.
… Read More »“The color isn’t too awful?” She twisted a fold of the skirt. “The draper called it ‘dewy petal,’ but your mother said the shade was more of a ‘frosted berry.’ What do you say?”
“I’m a man, Simms. Unless we’re discussing nipples, I don’t see the value in these distinctions.”
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A “beguiling blend of sparkling wit and simmering sensuality that is guaranteed to captivate fans of clever, sexy historical romances.”
~Starred Review, Booklist
“Dare’s smart, funny, sensual tale is brimming with marvelous characters … A love story that’s so happy, your heart will be touched.”
~Top Pick!, RT Book Reviews
“Moments of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional intensity and sensual passion woven through an engaging plot and endearing characters make this a great read for romance fans.”
~Kirkus Reviews
“Rapier wit, clever dialogue and charming characters mixed into an enticing plot are exactly what readers expect from Dare. ANY DUCHESS WILL DO possesses all this and more!”
~Annie Tegelan, Fresh Fiction
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“Charming, smart and sexy, BEAUTY AND THE BLACKSMITH made me fall in love instantly.”
Fresh Fiction
“This classic story of love across the social divide matches two characters who are strong and compassionate in their love for each other. A great title for Regency romance readers.”
Library Journal
“…What a clever, hilarious tender and sexy romance! I devoured it and was so disappointed when it was over!”
Rogues Under the Covers
“Heartwarming with realistically portrayed characters, BEAUTY AND THE BLACKSMITH is another great read from Tessa Dare.”
The Romance Reviews… Read More »
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Goodness. Just look at it. Thick as my ankle.
Diana Highwood took her glove and worked it like a fan, chasing the flush from her throat. She was a gentlewoman, born and raised in genteel comfort, if not opulent luxury. From an early age, she’d been marked as the hope of the family. Destined, her mother vowed, to catch a nobleman’s eye.
But here, in the smithy with Aaron Dawes, all her delicate breeding disintegrated.
How could she help staring? The man had wrists as thick as her ankle.
As always, he wore his sleeves rolled to the elbow, exposing forearms roped with muscle. He pumped the bellows, commanding the flames to dance.
Broad shoulders stretched his homespun shirt, and a leather apron hung low on his hips. As he removed the glowing bit of metal from the fire and placed it on his anvil, his open collar gaped.
Diana averted her gaze—but not fast enough. She caught a moment’s glimpse of pure, superheated virility. Sculpted chest muscles, bronzed skin, dark hair…
“Behave yourself,” he said.
The words startled her breathless.
He knows. He knows. He’s realized that refined, perfect, gently bred Miss Highwood comes to the smithy to gawp at his brute manliness. Behave yourself, indeed.
She felt ridiculous. Ashamed. Exposed.
And then—suddenly—relieved.
He wasn’t speaking to her. He was speaking to his work.
“That’s it.” Perspiration glistened on his brow. With a steady hand and a low, rich baritone, he finessed the broken clasp. “Be good for me … Read More »
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Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that’s what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.
But Diana’s not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn’t be more wrong for each other…but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right.
Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?… Read More »
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Dear readers, I have such exciting news. Many of you have written to me over the past few years, asking if there would be a Spindle Cove story for Diana Highwood. At last, I am able and delighted to answer with a definitive yes! There will be a story for Diana, and you will be able to read it on April 30th. The title of her novella is (spoiler alert!) Beauty and the Blacksmith. (And if you are surprised by that pairing, just think how Mrs. Highwood will feel!) I loved writing Aaron and Diana’s story, and I can’t wait until I can tell you more about it and post excerpts, the cover, and all that goodness. But in the meantime, just know that it exists and is coming your way soon.
I have a few events coming up. On Saturday March 9th, I’m speaking and signing at my local RWA chapter, OCC/RWA, and on March 15-17, I’m part of the California Dreamin’ conference in Santa Ana, CA. As part of the conference, there will be a multi-author book signing open to the public on Sunday, March 17, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Other authors signing include Julia Quinn, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Elizabeth Boyle, and many more–so if you’re in the area, don’t miss it!
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4-1/2 stars and Top Pick!, RT Book Reviews
“Dare’s second novel cements her place as a “not to be missed” author. Her gift is for creating stories that are filled with adventure, three-dimensional characters and exciting plots, yet she maintains the purest form of romance.”
All About Romance
B+ . “…A layered character-driven novel, with a fine supporting cast and excellent writing.”
Publishers Weekly‘s “Beyond Her Book” blog
“I had a rousing good time reading Surrender of a Siren… I could almost feel the wind in my hair and taste the sea salt in my mouth. Gray and Sophia are two people who were lost, adrift in their lives until they found one another.” (Reviewed by Kate)
Rakehell.com
“Dare’s prose is polished and refined, her descriptions superb, and her characters stunningly realistic…Goddess of the Hunt taught me to expect a lot of Dare, and Surrender of a Siren raised my expectations of her even more.”
The Romance Reader
“A delightful and entertaining story… Tessa Dare has an elegant writing style. Her descriptions of the sea voyage, of the seaman who serve on the ship, of the feelings of her characters are almost lyrical. She is perhaps the most promising new historical romance author I have encountered in quite a while.”
The Romance Readers Connection
“The passion between the two protagonists is H-O-T, and the unique characteristics of each individual keep the reader hoping for a happy outcome. Overall, SURRENDER OF A SIREN is a delightful follow-up to … Read More »
