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To Dance With a Duke (Dollar Princess #2) by Gabrielle Meyer

 

Summary (from the publisher): For those who love The Gilded Age and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

In 1884, Ames Welby, the Duke of Severton, is desperate. His ancestral home is falling apart, his tenant farmers are starving, and his family name is tainted by a mysterious scandal that keeps people away. With no fortune and no time, he does the unthinkable—marries for money. But Lily Parker, the American heiress he weds in haste, is no pampered socialite. She’s practical, passionate, and has a plan to restore Pickering Castle—and the reputation of the five reclusive Welby brothers.

Inspired by her love of matchmaking and her longing for connection, Lily invites four eligible young women to a summer house party, hoping to spark romance and rebuild the family’s future. What follows is a whirlwind of mischief, mismatched couples, and unexpected love. But when Lily’s belief in true love clashes with Ames’s fear of family curses and social ruin, their fragile marriage is put to the ultimate test.

As storms rage and secrets unravel, Ames must will he fight for legacy—or for the woman who’s taught him that love is the most daring risk of all?

Review: Thank you to author Gabrielle Meyer for an ARC of this delightful novel!

First, I have been looking forward to getting the Duke of Severton's story since we first met him in To Love a Lady, the first book in this series! I really loved his character in that book and was intrigued by his backstory, so I was so excited to read this. However, while part of a series, this book could absolutely be read as a standalone. 

Set in 1884 during the Gilded Age and loosely inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, this novel tells the story of Lily Parker, an American heiress who travels to London to find an aristocratic husband. Lily agrees to marry Ames Welby, Duke of Severton, who is eager to find a wealthy wife to help him restore his crumbling ancestral home, Pickering Castle, on the coastal moors of England. Upon arriving at the remote castle, Lily learns that her new husband's five younger brothers are in dire need of some manners and training on how to behave in society. With time, Lily increasingly feels like she wants more than a business arrangement from her marriage and also hopes to find future matches for her brothers-in-law and invites her eligible friends to stay for a house party. 

This was such a romantic story! I really love a marriage of convenience story, so I loved watching Lily and Ames grow to care for each other with time. It was clear they liked and admired each other when they make the business-like decision to marry, but watching their interest in each other bloom throughout the book was so lovely. I appreciated that neither of them is perfect, but they continue to try to communicate and repair when they make mistakes. 

Pickering Castle was an absolutely fanstastic setting for this story, with its endless secret passageways, dark history, and eerie howling. I would give anything to take a tour! These dark and hidden passages are a major part of the plot and there were some very dramatic scenes involving people sneaking around the castle through them!

I think fans of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will be pleased with this novel. This has a different time period and setting, but the uncouth, unpolished brothers remain intact (albeit only five of them in this version!). I loved seeing Lily whip them into shape and then see all the drama and excitement as the brothers begin to court. 

One of my favorite aspects of Lily's character is that she is a writer! I love to see writers write about reading and writing, because I know it is born out of personal experience. I love that Lily has aspirations and purpose beyond her fortune and in addition to her husband and is very successful at it. While this causes tension in her marriage at one point, I really appreciated how it was resolved and Ames' final opinion on the matter. I also loved the way the book concludes for Ames and Lily and their choices regarding Pickering Castle and their future. It felt like it ended on such a positive note for them both as a couple but for the sustainability of their livelihood moving forward. 

This book also sets us up so well for the next book! I regret it isn't already out because I'm already anxious to read it. 

Another well-written historical romance from Gabrielle Meyer! I love all of Gabrielle Meyer's novels, but the strong and independent female lead, historic & haunted mansion setting, and five handsome Welby brothers really made this one top-notch.  

Stars: 5

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