Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After #1) by Tessa Dare

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
SUMMARY 

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

MY REVIEW 

To be honest I am not an expert in historical romance. But I know what I like and I know what I don't like. 
And this book, I liked it. I liked it a lot.
When I finished it, I had a huge smile on my face, tears in my eyes and I had difficulties landing back to reality.

...the name Isolde Ophelia Goodnight also suggested romance. Swooning, star-crossed, legendary romance. And for as long as she could remember, Izzy had been waiting—with dwindling faith and increasing impatience—for that part of her life to begin. 

I loved Isolde Ophelia Goodnight aka Izzy. I want to be her. I wish I could be her. I could actually be her if my father was a writer and I was living in a fantasy world all my life. And if I inherited a huge castle that it was already occupied by a brute, bitter, rude devirly handsome, almost blind duke.

Stories with scarred heroes who hate the whole world and then they are soften up when they meet the right girl are my favourites. Ransom Vane, Duke of Rothbury, feels sorry for himself and never liked anybody. Izzy will never treat him like a handicapped. She will be like fresh air, like sunshine. She will be the best thing that ever happened to him -although it will take him a lot of time to realise it.

No, the book is NOT sad. I was laughing loudly most of the time. There are so many over the top crazy moments with:
-The Moranglians, the most devoted admirers of Izzy' father stories
“It is an invasion,” she said, “but a friendly one. We’re getting a visit from the Moranglian Army. 

-Izzy's pet
“What the devil is in this thing?” He opened the valise’s latch.
“No, don’t,” Izzy said, jumping forward. “Be careful. She’s sleeping. If you startle her, you’ll—”
Too late.
With a primal howl of pain, he jerked his hand from the valise. “Mother of—”

-Lord Peregrine and his strange questions
Would you rather fight one hundred rat-sized elephants or one elephant-sized rat?” 


And of course Ranson and Izzy have their funny moments
“Ransom,” she whispered. “I’ve fallen just a little bit in love with you. You needn’t be worried. I won’t expect you to return the emotion, and I know that this can’t last. But I’ve been waiting so long for somebody to care for, and I . . . I can’t help it.”
She waited, heart pounding in her chest, for his reaction.
And when it finally came, it was this:
A faint, reverberating snore. 


Both Ranson and Izzy were not lucky in terms of fathers. Ranson never had affection and love when was a kid, Izzy almost starved to death when her father died.
Ranson always felt like he was a killer because of his father.
Izzy always felt ugly because of her father.

But if all these misfortunes in their lives did not happen, they would have never met. And Ranson would never learn what it feels to be caressed and loved. And Izzy would always feel ugly and unworthy.

Highly recommend if
-you love romance 
-if you love fairy tales
-if you love stories with star-crossed lovers

“Look at him. The man’s not delusional. He’s in love.”