A Duke for Diana: A Witty and Entertaining Historical Regency Romance

This was a perfect “take me out of the real world” read! Diana was such a strong, independent, fun and at times a bit quirky, heroine. I loved that she was able to step away from society’s conventions even as she made a place for herself among the ton. Her engagements with Geoffrey were so much fun. Geoffrey was a big, burly, hero with a bit of grumpiness to round him out into the type of hero I adore. Especially when it’s apparent he is attracted to Diana. The moments when she was correcting him for his boorish ways, especially reading it from his point of view, were so cute. The chemistry between Geoffrey and Diana sizzled from the first moment they met and things between them continued to sizzle even as their relationship grew. The conflict felt real and added some angst but nothing too heavy. There were several scenes where this author showed her knowledge of what certain events and situations required. While this can sometimes bog the story down, that was not the case here. It was all included in a way that kept me intrigued and happily following along. I loved it all.

Civil engineer Geoffrey is hiding a secret. When he unexpectedly inherits a dukedom, he's determined to marry off his sister before the family is ruined. He hires Diana, an earl's daughter who's fallen from grace, to train his sister to make her debut. Despite Geoffrey's lack of polish, Diana can't resist her growing attraction to him. What will she do when she learns the dark truth? Sabrina Jeffries' books are clever, witty, and innovative, and this one is no exception. I love Diana. She's a mix of pragmatism and idealism, navigating a sometimes ruthless society and making a place for herself in it. Geoffrey is similarly on the edge, learning how to walk the tightrope between outsider and insider. His frankness is refreshing, and I love how unrepentant he is about swearing in front of ladies. He knows he'll have to regulate himself better if he wants to fit in, yet he also recognizes the rules for the nonsense they are. This is a fun, satisfying read from one of the best in the business. Can't wait for the next book in the series! Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Shunned by Society due to parental misbehavior, Lady Diana Harper and her sisters, Eliza and Verity establish Elegant Occasions. Their business is helping with debutante debuts and other social events. Geoffrey Brookhouse, the new Duke of Grenwood, is a civil engineer, among other business interests. He never expected to be a duke. He comes to Elegant Occasions for help with his sister’s debut. The duke is anything but sophisticated or subtle. Diana decides he needs as much help as his sister. Can she and Elegant Occasions succeed with Duke Grumpy? Geoffrey and Diana are alike is so many ways. They are perfect for each other. They will have to get past some weighty obstacles is they are to have an HEA. They both suffer from parental embarrassment, and both have painful secrets. There are some problems to solve, soul-searching, secrets to share, bickering, and snarky banter. The characters are quite engaging and likeable. This is a very nice beginning for a new series. It is an enjoyable story, typical Sabina Jeffries, full of romance and humor. I look forward to the next story. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.