Spotlight: Designing His Duchess by Gabrielle Carr (review+giveaway)

Designing his Duchess
by Gabrielle Carr

Publication Date: January 21, 2022
Brown Lady Publishing, LLC

Series: Regency in Color, #3
Genre: Historical Romance

Marry or find herself penniless and ousted from her aunt and uncle’s home. Those are Miss Juliana Drake’s current options. Having never felt the need to know how long she could survive without basic provisions, she chooses the latter. Only she knows as much about charming a suitor as she does about charming a snake.

Nothing.

The solution? Colin Lewis Francis Latham, Duke of Herstshire. The man who offered her marriage years ago, then vanished without as much as a by your leave. When he returns to London and offers to instruct her in the art of husband hunting, Juliana is both insulted and desperate enough to accept his offer.

She’s no longer the gullible young woman of her youth. She can handle being near him without losing her head. Although, it would be much easier if she could finally expel him from her heart.

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About the Author

Gabrielle Carr is the author of Regency Romances featuring casts of diverse characters, that are full of heart, hope, and happily ever after. She has always enjoyed indulging in her imagination. At a very young age she had a thirst for reading and the many possibilities it helped bring to life in her mind’s eye. Ms. Carr can normally be found locked away with a good book in her home in Charlotte, NC or traveling the globe to places like India, Bali, Tokyo, or London.

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Review

Julianna has the odds stacked against her in the marriage mart, her half Jamaican heritage being part of the difficulty of making a match among the elite of Regency society. But circumstances make finding her match an imperative for the beautiful bluestocking. Colin, the man who broke her heart years ago, has become a bit dissolute since inheriting a dukedom and hatches a plan to help Julianna. Deep in his cups, he decides that as he is no longer worthy of her, he will be the one to teach her to attract other men. Perhaps not the best of plans, as Colin realizes once he sobers up, but what fun it adds to the story!

I enjoyed the relationship, as constrained as it was, between Julianna and her aunt. I loved the inclusion of sign language and Julianna’s hearing issues and that, in the end, Colin finally shows himself to be a man deserving of Julianna’s love – including his actions in an epilogue that is (ahem) surprising and adorable. And I must say, any story with the hero saying “As you wish” with sincerity and follow through gets bonus points from me. 

The version of Gabrielle Carr’s novella Designing His Duchess that I read is the “sweet/closed door” version (that epilogue, though…) rather than the steamier version. If you enjoy an adorable second chance historical, this novella is a quick read that will delight readers with a cross-class, diverse Regency romance. 

Designing His Duchess is a general market regency romance. This review refers to an uncorrected digital copy that I voluntarily received from the author. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 28
Feature at Books & Benches
Review at Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Tuesday, March 1
Excerpt at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, March 2
Review at Novels Alive
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, March 4
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Saturday, March 5
Review at Book Reviews and More

Monday, March 7
Review at Bookworlder

Tuesday, March 8
Review at Tammy Reads

Wednesday, March 9
Review at Booking With Janelle

Thursday, March 10
Review at A Girl Reads Bookss

Giveaway

Enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 10th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Designing His Duchess
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