Contrary to the popular goals of her peers, American heiress August Crenshaw aspires to further her position in the family business, Crenshaw Iron Works, rather than to further her social standing through marriage. With her decidedly unladylike pursuits, August’s parents use the London Season to attempt to make a titled match for her younger sister, Violet, instead. August is appalled and determined to save her sister from a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the rather reluctant Duke of Rothschild, has been saddled with his late father’s crippling debts and with hundreds of tenants, and his own family, dependent on him for support, he has little choice but to marry an heiress. But after meeting the Crenshaws, it’s August he wants, and he’s determined to have his own way in this one thing at least.

August has no intention of bowing to her parents’ demands and decides to increase her outrageous behavior in the hope that Evan will cry off, but every bit of unconventionality she displays only makes him like her more.

This was a new to me author and I enjoyed her writing style and this unique plot. August toed the line for me of being hostile and easily offended just for the sake of being difficult, but she managed to never actually cross that line. Given the betrayal perpetrated by her family in the whole scheme and the way it rocked her entire world, I was inclined to give her some leniency. Evan started off a bit cocky, but he was on the cusp of having to swallow nearly all his pride and through no real fault of his own, plus his façade was hiding a lot of pain, so I could forgive him as well. Perhaps the best thing about both characters was their development. Both Evan and August did a lot of growing in a short time and learned to forgive and apologize and I loved that, especially from August since she had been so determined to see Evan as a villain and not give him even a slight chance. I did get a bit bogged down towards the middle of the book as it seemed like Evan and August took two steps forward and one back without actually making any progress, but thankfully this was overcome. The ending here wasn’t exactly what I wanted, and I wasn’t a huge fan of a couple of the plot devices used, but it was satisfying. I do, however, wish that we’d had an epilogue just to tie everything up but perhaps Violet’s book will take care of that and pick up right where this one left off. Either way, I’m looking forward to reading about her turning Leigh’s world upside down.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

August Crenshaw has a brilliant mind and loves her work in the family business and her independence. Wow, that does not sound like a female character in a historical romance novel. Her parents want a marriage with ties to the ton.

The Duke of Rothschild, Evan Sterling, is in need of an heiress to fill his coffers. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and so many depending on him. This marriage needs to happen.

Evan respects and admires everything about August. He wants more than just her money. He wants a life with August. He wants it all with August and he wants her to have it all too. This is a refreshing take on the needs an heiress storyline.

3.5 stars, rounded up!

An American railroad heiress, an English duke in need of funds, and an arranged marriage with a lot angst and chemistry than anyone is expecting.

Plot/Pacing: ★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Drama: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★

August Crenshaw is the oldest daughter of an American railroad tycoon. She's got a head for figures and enough ambition to hold her own... and yet. When her parents give her and her younger sister, Violet, the ultimatum that one of them must marry a duke in England... August can't believe it. Will she have to compromise on her autonomy and freedom sooner than she planned?

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, is up to his ears debt thanks to his father. Evan never planned on being the duke of the family and he certainly never planned on having to save his family from ruin, but here he is. When the Crenshaw family shows up in England in need of a title, Evan sees a way out. But then he meets August in an underground brawl in Whitechapel and one fated kiss will forever change the outcome...

As August and Evan navigate the tangled landscape of England's Society, her parents expectations, and Evan's desire to win August on his own merit and not for his title, they find they might be in for more than they bargained for.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut. It had some refreshing twists on some old tropes and I LOVED how August's fierce need for independence shown through as both a positive trait AND a negative one. I know how bizarre that sounds, but hear me out—she's stubborn to the point of ignoring her own desires and the facts around her, and to be honest that bites her in the butt. I liked the realism of that, and how it made her character more human and less "perfect protagonist."

There's also the perfect set up for the next novel, of course, with August's younger sister Violet in need of a duke of her own...

Looking forward to reading that one too!

Thank you to Berkley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface this review by saying that I tend to give white cishet histrom a wide berth these days with the exception of less than a handful of reliable authors. I find the subgenre to be somewhat repetitive and boring - honestly, how many hot young dukes must we believe existed in Regency England?

That being said, I did make an exception for this book based on the cover alone. I'm not typically one to pick up a book just based on the cover but the second this cover floated through my twitter TL, I had immediately plunked it down on my 2021 TBR without so much as glancing at the blurb. But once I did glance at the blurb, I was hooked.

If you've ever watched Downton Abbey and wondered how Lord Grantham and Lady Cora came to be married, this might be the book for you. The premise of the book is simple: an impoverished Duke trying to save his properties/family needs money and lots of it. In order to get the funds, he needs to marry an heiress, specifically a rich, American heiress. He gets money, she gets a title, and in this particular case, her family gets access to business opportunities previously unavailable to them.

August Crenshaw is the oldest daughter of a wealthy New York family. Since they are "new money", they are still on the fringes of upper crust society...a situation that is subject to change if they can land a titled British aristocrat for one of their daughters.

Enter Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild. He is in desperate need of funds to help save the family and their vast holdings. While his mother initially suggests the youngest Crenshaw daughter as a prospective bride for him, he finds himself drawn to outspoken, headstrong, willful August.

I really enjoyed this story for a variety of reasons, the first being the upfront honest conversations these two had over the course of this book. There was very little game playing aside from Evan initially trying to obtain August's hand in marriage. But once he realizes who she really is and sees her for herself, all the games go out the window and I really appreciate the earnest intention with which these two went at their cross purposes - him trying to convince her to marry him and her steadfast refusal to do so and give up her freedom.

If there is one thing I didn't love about this book, it's the "dark" moment, if one can even call it that; the moment at which the author has to make the reader believe all is lost before somehow bringing the characters back together in the end. In this book, given August and Evan's propensities for direct, frank honesty, the moment rings hollow and false and does not rise to the occasion or to either of their true natures. It felt a little bit like the author had written herself into a corner and needed a way to briefly separate the two main characters before giving them their HEA.

All in all though, I really did enjoy this book and I am already looking forward to the next one in the series, which I hope will feature the younger Crenshaw and the Earl of Leigh. The author has done a stellar job of setting these two up for their own book and I would be most disappointed if that didn't come to fruition. In fact, this whole book is littered with a number of side characters I would be interested in meeting again in future books of their own.

I have been loving historical romances lately and was excited to start The Heiress Gets a Duke after reading the blurb. This was an entertaining historical romance with a bit of a twist. I really loved the banter and back and forth between August and Evan and their chemistry was wonderful. For better or for worse, they never backed down and they challenged each other throughout the book. August was a force to be reckoned with and I loved that she stayed true to herself and her own dreams. Yes, there were communication issues and misunderstandings along the way, but for the most part there wasn't a ton of angst in this one. The overall pacing was slow however, and it made the novel feel a bit too long. Things picked up in the last third or so of the book, but I wasn't a fan of the OW drama that arose late in the story. The final resolution felt rushed and left me wanting more.

The secondary characters were great and played their roles perfectly, especially Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw. I don't think I could have despised them more! I'm curious to see how Violet and Leigh's story unfolds and even Max has piqued my interest. Overall, this was an entertaining novel that historical romance fans will enjoy.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

For someone who did not enjoy Historical Romances, I have been on a Historical Romance kick lately. I really enjoyed this book.

August was not your traditional old age women, she dreamed of more than just marrying and starting a family. She was very progressive in her thinking and she even held a job with her family company. Because of this she was considered the "mannish" Crenshaw. Until her status of being an "American Heiress" becomes all that is important about her.

The Duke of Rothschild inherited a crumbling dukedom from his late father, and he has less than a couple of months to turn it around or risk losing everything. Evan must take a wealthy bride to be able to say his dukedom. He turns his eye on the Crenshaw family, many think he will marry the younger sister, but Evan falls in love with August.

This book gives you everything from enemies to lovers, sexual tension, a feisty sister, to strong female lead.

I am very thankful to Berkley and Netgalley for providing me with the ARC of this book, I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

3.5 stars, rounded up

August Crenshaw is not your average young woman; she is smart, savvy, and deeply involved in her father’s business ventures and has no plans to stop working or change her ways to please a man. She plans to marry someday, but on her own terms. So, after watching her friend Camille forced into marriage with the Duke of Hereford, August thanked her lucky stars that her parents would never do such a thing to her or her sister Violet. But when they travel to London to visit Camille, August is horrified to learn that her parents are planning to marry Violet off to the penniless Duke of Rothschild. She is still reeling when later, she sneaks out with Camille to watch a prizefight and ends up kissing one of the fighters.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild has inherited a mountain of debt and a failing estate, he has tried over the last year to sort things out, but it is clear that he is in over his head and must marry an heiress to save his tenants and his family from ruin. When his mother has suggested he marry Miss Crenshaw, he recalls the kiss he coaxed out of her at his fight and agrees to meet her. But to his dismay, she is not the Miss Crenshaw he wants. A thought that is further cemented when August takes him to task and warns him away from Violet by threatening to expose his fighting to society – he decides then and there – August is the one that he wants!

August is shocked to learn that her parents expect her to marry him and make it clear that if she doesn’t, she will no longer have a job in the business. But sadly, her father also makes it clear that if she marries Evan, she will not have a job either – so August is understandably angry and tries to thwart Evan at every turn – but her efforts only make him more determined to marry her! They finally make an agreement and he promised to release her from the betrothal if she will come to his estate and let him court her for a week. A HEA seems like it might be possible, but a shocking twist and some misunderstanding make things much, much harder.

I loved this book right up to the 90% mark and then it came very close to being a wall-banger for me. I thought the book was well written and paced nicely, I liked the storyline and even though I found August a bit abrasive and at times annoying, I felt her pain and anger, likewise, I felt Evan’s desperation and feelings of failure and loss. They were both great characters and I loved the banter between them, and the undeniable chemistry – this book was a five-star read until the end ruined it for me – the ending sucked – the book that had been nicely paced up until this point went into hyperdrive with TWO misunderstandings, followed by a quick resolution and then BOOM! it was over – not even an epilogue to let the reader get a little taste of their HEA – it was disappointing. This is the first book in a new series and despite my disappointment with this book’s ending – I did enjoy most of the book and will certainly be looking forward to the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *

This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. The writing is excellent, the plot and delivery are perfectly timed, and the main characters are both relatable and likable. Usually, we see some rake of a titled bachelor happily dodging matchmaking mamas and their daughters – or we see a lovely innocent young woman being sold off to the highest bidder in the marriage mart. In this story, we see the marriage mart from the male side as well as the female. Both are made to feel like bits of horseflesh up for sale at Tattersals.

American Griswold Crenshaw, owner of Crenshaw Iron Works, is rich as Croesus, and he has brought his wife and two daughters, Violet and August, to London to enjoy the season while he makes some business deals. Things are going along swimmingly until he and his wife learn of a pockets-to-let duke who could be persuaded to marry his daughter Violet. It would take a bit of collusion with the duke’s mother to get him to do it, but Violet wouldn’t have a choice. The green-eyed-monster has struck at the Crenshaw home, so why not buy themselves a duke.

Viewed by society as “mannish”, August Crenshaw is a bluestocking who loves working with her father. She loves seeing that contracts are correct, that the books are balanced, and well … just everything about business. She cannot believe that her father would sell off her younger sister just to gain an English title in the family. She is incensed and wastes no time in telling both of her parents and the duke exactly what she thinks about the whole transaction. She’ll do whatever she can to save her sister from that fate. However, her success comes at a cost when the duke ignores her sister and focuses on her. Uh Oh!

Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild, wasn’t meant to be the duke – nor did he want to be – yet, here he is. After the death of his much-loved brother, he became the heir – and then the duke. After his father’s death a year ago, it was a shock to learn that the estate was totally insolvent. Not a farthing to be had. Evan has done all he can to keep things afloat – he has even been bare-knuckle brawling to earn money. Things are critical with his twin sisters needing a come-out next year and his entailed estates falling down around his ears. He doesn’t want a bride at all right now, but he definitely doesn’t want one simply for her fortune. However, he is a man of his time, and agrees to marry the Crenshaw heiress. He has seen – and maybe admired – the older Crenshaw sister and assumes that is who his mother has chosen. Except – when he is introduced, he discovers that isn’t the case. Oh! My!

I loved Evan and Autumn and I loved that they both spoke openly and honestly with each other. There wasn’t any of the angsty holding back of what they really wanted to say while thinking he/she must have meant this or that. They said what they had to say frankly and openly. I loved that. But then, at a critical point, “The Great Misunderstanding” point, they both chose NOT say what they meant. That wasn’t my favorite part of the book. However, once they came to their senses they made up for lost time.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope you will give it a try and enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A romantic jaunt into he world of the Dollar Princesses of the Gilded Age!

The story opens with a dark insight into the world where American heiresses are sold to the British aristocracy all in the name of a title and social prestige.

After August Crenshaw witnesses the devastating match of her childhood friend to a Duke, she heeds her call a few months into the marriage to come visit her in England…

August feels terrible for her friend, knowing that her family has the type of relationship where they would never dream of selling their daughters for titles. She is a respected and important part of her father’s iron business.

All this is true until a destitute duke sets his sights on the Crenshaw heiresses. August will de anything to save her sister from a loveless future and in turn she catches the dukes attention for herself. August’s family all but hands her over to him with a sack of money!

All the while, Evan Stirling, our erstwhile duke, decides that he can and will change August’s mind and make her want to choose him. A kiss a day doesn’t hurt his odds!

I was worried when I started this book, that it would be less romance and more 19th century reality. I was pleasantly surprised when our heroine gets to London England and the hijinks begin! This enemies to lovers romance was a pure delight.

A bonus to this story, were the quirky supporting characters of Evan’s best friend, the Earl of Leigh and August’s sister… I can’t wait for these two advisories to have their own story!

This was a great glitter and grit romance!

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George is scheduled to release January 26th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheHeiressGetsaDuke #HarperStGeorge #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

"Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can't buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society - for that you need a marriage of convenience.

American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn't some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger - it's Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it's clear that August's outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitable for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He's recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can't walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn't the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants.

But August won't go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she's no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more."

First in the new "Gilded Age Heiresses" this a series I'm sure to devour!

If I’m being completely honest it was the cover for this book that caught my eye and had me requesting for review. I didn’t know who the author was or what the book was about, but I wanted to read it. So kudos to the art department at Berkley.

AFTER hitting the request button, I did read the blurb. LOL. The Heiress Gets a Duke features a trope that fans of the genre will be familiar with… forced betrothal and marriage. But as I mentioned to a friend the other day, it was very, very well done.

This book introduces an American heiress heroine, August Crenshaw, who is deeply entrenched in her family’s iron business and has basically less than zero desire to wed at this time in her life. When her family heads to London at the request of a family friend who has married into the aristocracy, it doesn’t take long before her mother has the idea that she can marry one of her daughters into London society as well.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, is desperately in need of a wife to save his estates. He’s tried everything else, including prizefighting, to bring in funds, but it just isn’t enough to even make a dent in the debt his father left after his death. His mother has put forth the name of a young American heiress who she thinks will make a wonderful duchess, but it’s really her older sister who Evan has set his sights on.

Despite having read tons of historical romances with this very same premise, The Heiress Gets a Duke felt like a breath of fresh air. I think the main thing that I loved was that there wasn’t any pretense between this couple. Evan wants August and never for a minute entertains the idea of going the easy way and courting her sister, who is basically offered up on a platter by her parents. August doesn’t want to marry and lets him know immediately that no matter how excited her parents are at the idea, she isn’t on board and isn’t likely to be on board in the future, either. I really, really liked the honesty between them. I liked that in order to win her over Evan has to get to know August, and quickly realizes how progressive and intelligent she is and wants her all the more for it. And I loved that August held her ground and stayed true to herself until the end.

August is everything I love in a heroine. Competent and resourceful, interested in politics and business, and who understands the world around her. She is determined, yet not foolhardy. She gives as good as she gets and even after being let down by her parents, uses her ability to negotiate to ultimately get what she wants.

Starting the book out with a scene of the hero participating in a prizefight for money may lend to the idea that Evan is some alpha asshole, but he really isn’t. I was pleasantly surprised at his more laid back, teasing demeanor. Yes, he has issues. Yes, he has some shit that haunts him after the deaths of his brother and father. But, he doesn’t let that make him an angry, person. He’s actually the perfect partner for August.

And their chemistry is off the charts hot.

Their relationship builds quite nicely while in London, but it isn’t until after they get to Evan’s country estate that it really shines. I like a tender hero who is able to be vulnerable in his heroine’s arms and I love a heroine who handles that openness with care. The way this couple was able to open up and finally get to a place of understanding after being so at odds was delightful.

This couple worked for me in almost every way. Their bickering and back and forth, their flirting and chemistry, the acceptance of each other’s true selves, and even the HEA they chose. The Heiress Gets a Duke is such a great historical romance read and I highly recommend.

American heiress August Crenshaw is clever, gorgeous, and rich. Very, very rich. She doesn't care that her money is "new", rolls her eyes when people call her "mannish" for working at Crenshaw Iron Works, and most definitely does not want to marry. When she and her family go to London for a season, August wholeheartedly believes it is just for the fun of it. That a marriage--especially a marriage in the British peerage--would be the very last thing on her parents' minds. That is, until her mother announces that she's marrying August's sister off to a Duke.

Evan Sterling, the brand new Duke of Rothschild, has a title and not much else. The second son, he was never supposed to inherit, but everything changed when his perfect older brother died, soon followed by their hard father, who did very little to improve the status of his funds and estates. Now broke and desperate, with a mother and two younger sisters to support, as well as hundreds of families on his estates, Evan searches for any and every solution to fill his coffers. Yes, so maybe that includes prizefighting that is, perhaps, not the most legal of means, but money is money, right? His mother has a better idea for solving their problems: Evan will marry a rich American heiress.

August is determined to spare her sister the fate of a loveless marriage across an ocean, but is surprised when Rothschild sets his eye on her instead of sweeter, more malleable Violet. To be fair, Evan wasn't expecting to fall head over heels in love with the older Crenshaw daughter the moment he met her when she snuck in to a championship prizefight. He loves her spunk, her sense for business, and the fact that she is beautiful too is just icing on the cake.

Evan won't let her go without at least fighting for her to choose him. August refuses marriage.... but can't refuse the feelings and attraction she has for Evan leading her to wonder: would it truly be a marriage of convenience if they were to wed?

A brilliant beginning to a new series by Harper St. George, the Gilded Age comes to life, highlighting two very different but yet very similiar high society scenes on both sides of the Atlantic. August and Evan are fascinating and multi-faceted characters who understand each other better than either assumes, making for a sweet, wonderful, yet still fiery slow-burn. Readers everywhere will hardly be able to put this book down--it's quite addictive!

August Crenshaw works for her father's company Crenshaw Iron Works and she is content. She has been working hard and is showing her father how dedicated she is in furthering the family company.

Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild is in debt. His father recently passed and left all of the debt for Evan to sort out. Evan never thought he would be the one shouldering the burden, but he has to find a way to save the estate. When a marriage proposal comes from the wealthy American Crenshaw family, Evan is told that this will be the best way to help the failing estate. A marriage with the wealthy family will help to relieve Evan of his debts. Evan is also intrigued in getting to know August Crenshaw better after a brief interaction with her.

Evan is under the assumption that the heiress he would be marrying would be August. Turns out the heiress everyone had planned for Evan to marry was Violet - the younger Crenshaw sister. Evan makes it plain that it is August he wants to marry. But August isn't so quick to marry Evan. What will happen of her position at Crenshaw Iron Works. How could she keep working if she is a duchess. And more importantly - her choice in the marriage is taken away from her. She has no plans to marry the arrogant Duke of Rothschild. Will Evan be able to sway August?

I enjoyed The Heiress Gets a Duke! I really liked the chemistry between Evan and August - it was sizzling from the get go. I LOVED their meet cute and their constant bantering was so perfect! August challenges Evan and it was so apparent how much Evan cared for August and her feelings.

I absolutely loved the scenes between August and Evan. I do feel that there was a lot of inner monologue as well as a lot of situations that kept Evan and August apart. I wish that there were more scenes with the two of them together.

Overall I really enjoyed this debut by Harper St. George! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

There are many things American Heiress August Crenshaw dreams of but an arranged marriage with a penniless title-carrying, blue-blood stranger is not among them. August is no fading wallflower and has no need of a man . . . title or not. What she is is an intelligent, witty, progressive woman with an uncanny ability to analyze numbers and future investments and make profitable decisions for her family's company Crenshaw Iron Works. Her decisions and expertise have served to greatly increase her family's wealth, and August has aspirations of taking over management of the company when her father steps down. Her brazen boldness is only tolerated because of the income she generates. Of course, this is all unheard of in Victorian England - a woman running a business? Making decisions? Surely they jest! As a result of "not playing by the rules", August is labeled "mannish" and totally unsuitable for a respectable marriage by cultural standards. And so, her family looks to marry off her younger sister Violet instead. What? Not on August's watch!

Evan Sterling recently inherited the title of Duke of Rothschild, along with a stack of bills, empty coffers, and eviction notices. A lot of people depend on him, and it appears a marriage of convenience is the only thing that can save him now. While he hates the idea, his only hope is to marry into a wealthy family - his name and title for their financial support. He cringes at the thought of being shackled to a silly, witless girl for life, but it's time he stood up and did what must be done. However, when he's introduced to American Heiress Violet Crenshaw as a possible match, it's her fiery, outrageous, stubborn sister August that catches his eye and heats his blood. It just might be easier to tolerate being married if he can catch this intriguing creature. But first, he'll have to convince August that it's a match made in heaven. Best of luck!

The Heiress Gets A Duke is a fantastic representation of everything I love about historical romance. The clash of wills, culture, social status, and gender expectations all woven into a delightful story I couldn't put down. The chemistry between Evan and August is fire and gasoline as flames ignite every time they get close. All in spite of the fact they loathe one another . . . they do, don't they? I was hoping from the beginning that this wouldn't be "just another love/hate romance" and believe me, it's not. Harper St. George has pinned an intriguing, seductive, heartwarming historical romance featuring complex characters who refuse to play the role they were born into. The Heiress Gets A Duke is a page-burner in more ways than one! It sizzles while evoking passion, fire and finally love. Highly recommended to fans of great romance no matter the time period.
4.5 Stars

This is the story of August, a progressive heiress from New York, and Evan, a Duke from England who finds his inheritance floundering after his father left the estates in financial ruin. Soon, Evan's mother encourages a marriage between August's younger sister, Violet, and Evan with the hope that the marriage will alleviate the debt. The issue is Evan falls for August.

This is a love story, an easy read, and a lovely tale of two independent people who find themselves in a less-than-ideal situation, but who determine how to fix it so that both parties are happy. August, for her part, is hardworking, intelligent, stubborn, and witty. Evan is caring, humorous, and works to make the best of a very bad hand. August's stubbornness seemed extreme at times, but it often reveals her immaturity around men and relationships.

I would've liked to see a bit more of August's friendship with Camille. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of historical romance and Netflix's Bridgerton.

Steam level -- two

I really enjoyed this one. If you are a fan of strong female characters, sexy romance and historical fiction I definitely recommend it.

{A huge thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for my e-ARC!}

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George is a fabulous debut gilded era romance which pairs an American heiress with a titled but impoverished duke. But the heiress, August Crenshaw, is an intelligent bluestocking with a mind and career of her own, and she isn’t going into the match willingly. If the Duke of Rothschild wants her for his duchess, he’ll have to fight to win her—heart, mind, and body.

I love a regency romance as much as the next girl, but there’s just something so captivating about the gilded age—the beginnings of modernity, the fashions, the evolving politics and social expectations.

But beyond that, the characters completely won me over. August and Evan (your Grace!), while faced with a marriage of convenience, managed to find friendship, love, and tenderness with each other, bringing out the best in each other despite their differences. I loved watching the respect and admiration grow between them, even while they were both still fighting their obvious attraction.

And knowing they have a guaranteed happily ever after made their relational ups and downs easier to weather. His grand gesture left me smiling as I finished the book, leaving them to sail away into their happy ending. And now I’m hoping for another book from St. George, maybe about the other Crenshaw daughter, and if we’re lucky, we’ll hear more about August and Evan in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, as well as to Ms. St. George, for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I'm excited to welcome Ms. St. George to the group of talented historical romance authors whose novels I autobuy and devour at top speed. Her writing was smooth, the characters well-fleshed out and the dialogue was terrific.

Evan, Lord Sterling, was a great character. Definitely beta male to August's decided alpha female, but it works. What really surprised me was that the juxtaposition of authentic historical detail alongside modern feelings and values worked. A less talented author would not have been able to tie all the elements together so seamlessly. I did stop and think a couple times, uh, that would NEVER happen (e.g., August's continued "employment" with the company, let alone a position of directorship, or August's negotiation of her marriage contract), but the characters were so endearing together that I just didn't care.

Frankly, I'm very much looking forward to Violet's story. I loved Violet, and I loved her close supportive relationship with August. I think despite her more "biddable" appearance she has more than enough fire to take on the Earl of Leith (and she'll need it). In the meantime, I see Ms. St. George has some Viking stories that I'm about to splurge on. ;)

Duke Evan Sterling is utterly and devastatingly.. broke. He needs a LOT of money and very soon. August Crenshaw is an American heiress and she will do anything to not have her sister marry the arrogant Duke. Both of their problems get solved as August realizes that Evan wants her and not her sister.

The Heiress Gets a Duke felt like a breath of fresh air. It felt modern in spite of the era it was set in. I loved Evan's show of vulnerability, his reluctance to talk about his marriage to August before consulting her, his encouragement for August's to keep working after marriage. Overall, I loved it and would love to read more from the author!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, inherited a bankrupt dukedom from his spendthrift father. When he finally realizes he has no choice to save the title except to marry an heiress, he's not keen on the idea until he meets heiress August Crenshaw. August has come to London with her parents and sister to experience a Season and she has no idea her parents have agreed to marry her off to Rothschild. August rejects Rothschild's proposal fearing that her hard won independence will be taken away from her. Can Rothschild convince her that he wants her and not her money?

This is the first book I've read by Harper St. George and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Miss St. George teases out details throughout the book about both August and Evan and it kept me turning the pages until the end. I loved that August was a strong independent woman and it was Rothschild who had to do the groveling in this relationship. Evan was a very likeable hero who finally realized that money doesn't solve all his problems. I'm looking forward to the next story in this series.