The Duke and the Wallflower

Written by Jessie Clever

Narrated by Bridget Thomas

Shunned by a society that puts attractiveness above all else, Lady Eliza Darby’s wallflower status keeps her from getting the one thing she wants most, namely, to be a mother. But when her scorned older sister returns home to see all of her sisters wed in happy matches, it may be Eliza’s only chance to secure a husband and have the children she so desires.

Jilted in a publicly humiliating display, Dax Kane, the Duke of Ashbourne, has sworn off love forever and has no wish to wed. But when the title demands it, he selects the most perfect candidate for the position: Lady Eliza Darby, a wallflower so unattractive he won’t be in danger of falling in love with her. But the Jilted Duke will soon discover looks have nothing to do with love.

The Duke and the Wallflower is the first book in the steamy, heart-stopping historical romance series, The Unwanted Dukes. If you love sexy, spellbinding romance and heartwarming humor, don’t miss this captivating series from bestselling author Jessie Clever. Discover adventure and romance when you download The Duke and the Wallflower today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Someday Lady Publishing LLC
• Release date: Oct 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737212041

[Crys Lee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Her description of what it feels like to feel unlovable or not beautiful because of other’s constant abuse felt so real. I actually cried. Not what I expected from a romance novel at all. That part was so heart wrenching. The rest of the story was pleasant, but slow and fairly uneventful until the end. The story focuses more on character growth versus plot.

[Jo Gina Mwaka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story...though it would have been nice to have added more depth and grovelling.

[sheila · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Charming love story with delightful hero and heroine. Well worth reading.

[preeti · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narrator is horrible at imitating male voices. When she does so it feels like the voice of an old women.

[Sam Mccorriston · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A slow paced character development kind of book with the excitement in the last little bit. It wrapped up pretty quick. Which felt rushed. But the characters had depth and the change built throughout the book.

[libstaff2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.75 Stars
A slow-burn historical romance that starts off the series, this novel has a great premise, a beautiful seaside setting (when not in London), and some dynamic characters. The MC takes most of the book for her gradual change from wallflower to strong duchess, and the likeable but gullible male lead takes that long to help make both of them feel secure. The supporting characters are interesting and well-written and the story flows quickly and consistently. I'll try the next book to see what happens with the bestie. A good read for a rainy day.

GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dax wants an ugly wife so he won't fall in love, having been jilted by his first love. He picks Eliza Darby, a wallflower who loves dogs. Of course, the marriage doesn't go the way he planned.
I loved Eliza. She's intelligent and acknowledges the real faults in her appearance. My initial good opinion on Dax gradually decreased as the story goes on and I would have thought more of Eliza at the end if she'd not kept letting him get away with stuff with the ex. The villains were pasteboard caricatures, and I hated the confrontation scene on the beach.
It's a quick read but not a book I'd recommend.