Tessa Dare: One Dance with a Duke

In One Dance with a Duke–the first novel in Tessa Dare’s delightful new trilogy–secrets and scandals tempt the irresistible rogues of the Stud Club to gamble everything for love.

A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members–yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing “Duke of Midnight.” Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke–until Lady Amelia d’Orsay tries her luck.

In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke’s dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother’s debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club’s founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?

Oh man, I loved so much about this book. The plump, smart and daring heroine. Amelia is a spinster, raised with several brothers, who loves entertaining, planning menus and in general, being in charge.

I loved the wounded, issue having Duke hero (I don’t want to spoil that reveal). The teasing of his backstory, raised in the wild in Canada (I wanted to know more!), and the reluctant but competent acceptance of his role and duty as Duke. He also comes off, at times, like a jerkface or cold fish, but behind this veneer of Duke-ishness, is a very relatable struggle that some readers will identify with and adore, like I did, Dare for introducing this vulnerability in a real way. I love the way she cloaks him in mystery, and that he is super sexy, wealthy, and Duke like. Duke’s are in, and this one is a doozy!

I loved The abrupt “marriage of convenience” that stems more from desire and feelings. The consummation by steps (very hot!).

There is also an underlying mystery to the plot, which doesn’t get solved in this book but continues to the next (and yes, I am finally reading a whole series, in order, all at once!) That gives the plot a bit more drive or purpose, and I think offers some exciting elements to increase the romantic tension.

The Stud Club revolves around a very special horse, breeding privileges and a sort of gentleman’s code. Its a clever way to bring together three very different men for their romantic journeys to finding true love. Their interactions, often stilted and combative, are interesting and I thought very insightful into how some men relate amongst themselves. The Stud Club makes up the central storyline, but its by no means the heart. The heart really is the love, and how it goes from desire, to friendship, to something more.

I know some readers will just not connect with Spencer or Amelia. It does take some patience to let them learn their respective lessons. But that is part of what makes it such a page turner.

There is some violence, or talk of violence, mentions of prostitutes, affairs, etc. And lots of steamy (albeit of the fairly vanilla variety) sex scenes.

Expect upcoming reviews for the other books in the series.

I will definitely read this one again. I just loved the love story so much, and the characters, I am interested to see what I pick up the next go round.

5 out of 6 A rush to the altar, a mysterious Duke, and an atypical heroine