This was an enjoyable read that will make you think of the Bachelorette only set in Gilded Age New York high society. There were moments of tension, and I really hope to see some of the bachelors and one best friend get their own books. There may be a sister who needs one as well. But the focus of this book is on Willow Dupre and the artificial pressure placed on her to find and marry a groom and the elaborate competition her parents set up. If you love Jen Turano's books, then you will enjoy this one too.

About this book:

“Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father's unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan--find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire.
Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society's elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn't expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets Cullen Dempsey, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.”


Series: Book #1 in the “American Royalty” series.


Spiritual Content- Psalm 40:3 at the beginning; Scriptures are mentioned, read, & referenced; Prayers; Talks about God & dreams; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Cullen says he ignored God for a while, but starts praying again soon after meeting Willow; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; A few mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; A few mentions of churches & Sunday school;
*Note: A mention of Cullen having a “physique of a Greek god”.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stinking’, a form of ‘stupid’, two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘shut up’; Cullen holds back from saying a curse; Some eye rolling; Being attacked & kidnapped (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (semi-detailed); Throwing up; Mentions of murders & how they happened (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of accidents, injuries, & blood/bleeding; Mentions of fighting (including boxing), injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of illegal activities, criminals, thieves, stealing, stolen goods, & prison; Mentions of threats & blackmail; Mentions of gambling & debts; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of cheating; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of cigars; A couple mentions of alcohol; A mention of a casino.


Sexual Content- Many hand kisses (as greetings), five cheek kisses, two almost kisses (up to semi-detailed), two not-detailed kisses, an accidental barely-above-not-detailed kiss, three semi-detailed kisses, and a border-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss; Staring at lips & Wanting to kiss; Touches & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes, Flirting, & Winks; Noticing (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of a woman giving into a man before they were married, being caught, & a possible child out-of-wedlock; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of reputations, chaperones, women being ruined, & compromising situations; A few mentions of Cullen’s father having mistresses; A few mentions of a man entertaining and conquering women (this includes his comments about having a woman prove her devotion (physically) before proposing to her); A mention of a man not taking advantage of a woman; A mention of a man loving his wife as they have many little ones; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of a woman’s form-fitting bathing suit & her ankles; A mention of a man being willing to help a woman button her dress; A mention of women showing off their assets.

-Willow Dupre, age 24
-Cullen Dempsey
P.O.V. switches between them & Teddy
Set in 1882-1883
364 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars

This book was one I was anticipating due to it having all my favorite parts of a historical novel—the right time period (1880-1914 is my preferred time period to read about), set in a big city, and because of it being Christian fiction, faith content. These three elements were great in “My Dear Miss Dupré” and I enjoyed those elements, but especially the faith content tremendously. The faiths shown from Willow and Cullen made this book for me and I wish I could have given it a four-star rating because of the prayers and Scriptures highlighted in this story.

As you can tell, this book only received a three-star rating, though, let me explain on why.

I struggled at the beginning to keep tract of who-was-who. (Thankful for reading an e-book copy with a search feature in books like this.) Along with lots of descriptions of what Willow was wearing and the surroundings, it took me a bit longer than I expected to get into this story. I did find the plot of a competition for Willow’s hand to be outlandish, but entertaining.

There was certain comments from others about mistresses, a man using multiple women in a physical way, and other lewd suggestions. While this may go over younger readers heads at times and while it wasn’t strongly directed, I was a little disappointed by these suggestive comments.

I went back and forth liking and… tolerating Willow and Cullen. I would enjoy their faith scenes, but then Willow would seem a little fickle at times (which I can understand because she wasn’t used to being around men that are flirting) and Cullen would start fighting with someone to protect Willow. Which, some readers might find romantic, but I don’t personally find that attractive (especially the scene of him knocking someone’s tooth out and hanging from a thread of gum and also “enjoying the crush of bone beneath his knuckles”).

Another note: This didn’t bother me, but some readers might not like the love triangle in this novel. We see Willow’s point of view, but also Cullen and Teddy, who are both after her hand. Ahh, love triangles. There’s always someone who gets hurt.

All of that said, this book had good potential and I’m willing to try out the rest of the series. It might not be one I squee and fangirl about, but I’m glad I tried it and will be looking out for the next book.



Link to review:
Coming soon.


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.

I really enjoyed this book by Grace Hitchcock. I liked how it was “the Bachelorette” but set in the late 1800s. I really enjoyed seeing the different men try to win her heart. I also liked how we weren’t entirely sure who she would end up with until the end. I also really like Cullen and how he wouldn’t give up trying to be with Willow. I like the romance in this book and I also like seeing some of the historical aspects in it as well. Overall, a great book and I would love to read more by her.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

While I have never watched the Bachelor, I do enjoy some reality shows and was intrigued by the premise of this book. Willow Dupre’s dad is unable to continue running his sugar empire. While Willow is fully capable of doing so, the board doesn’t trust a woman at the helm. Willow’s parents come up with a plan to get her married within six months.

“I wonder if my parents could have fashioned a more uncomfortable means of finding the love of my life” (location 217). No, I don’t think so. Willow’s parents invite 30 hand-selected men to their mansion to court their daughter. She is to converse and go on outings with them and decide which of them will be cut or remain in the competition.

It was a bit predictable. The favorites were quickly apparent. It had some similiarities to the Princess Diaries 2 movie with the questionable motives, betrayal, portfolios, guiding friend, etc. Still, I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have been seeing this around and eas excited to read it. I really enjoyed the humor and the fun journey Miss Dupré finds her self lart of in the Golden era Bachelorette style attempt to find a husband!

I enjoyed the process and seeing who stayed and who left early, and loved getting to know the characters!

Welcome to the Gilded Age’s version of the Bachelorette. Willow Dupre has six months to choose a husband from the thirty men her parents have picked out for her. Otherwise, she may not get to run her father’s sugar company. Willow feels she should be allowed to run the company without the aid of a husband; however, the board members think differently.

So begins Willow’s search for a husband. I was glad to see some of these dudes eliminated and pull for my choice. I also enjoyed the bits of humor inserted within the story. Sweet story.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is my own.

Set up similar to the Bachelorette, Miss Dupre’s parents send invitations to the most eligible, upper class, bachelors to complete for the hand of their daughter in marriage. But instead of a rose, she sets a wreath of laurel upon their heads. The hook for the bachelors is by marriage to Miss Dupre, they are promised to run her father’s prestigious sugar refinery . And for Ms Dupre it is the only way to save her father’s company from being bought up by their competition as the board refuses to let a women run the company.
“He lifted his hand, staying her argument. “You and I both know that you are as capable if not more than any gentleman. But businessmen wed all the time to secure their footing in the world. If you wish to be treated as a businessman, er, businesswoman, you must make certain sacrifices for the good of the company. So, I must ask you, are you truly ready to wed someone in order to reign?” Willow had longed to be treated as an equal since she was a young girl, and her father, forward-thinking as he was, had made certain to educate and train her to take over as he would have any son. And any son of his would have had to marry for the betterment of the business. She was no exception. “Yes,” she answered.” And so the competition begins.

All her life, Willow Dupré has longed to help her father in his sugar refining business. And despite the naysayers, Willow has taken business classes at the university and worked alongside her father. Her mother has ensured Willow learned the social graces necessary to take part in New York Society.

When her parents surprise her with a crazy scheme to find a king to reign with her as the sugar queen, Willow balks at the idea. But when they explain the stockholders of the sugar company won’t let Willow take over for her ailing father without the support of a man, Willow realizes she must submit to their plan.

Her parents invite 30 eligible bachelors from society to spend time courting Willow—at the same time. She has just six months to fall in love and accept a proposal.

The list of bachelors includes a dear childhood friend, a hero from her youth, and a mysterious man who intrigues her. Will any of them turn out to be the perfect match—both in business and in love?

Why I Love This Book

Hitchcock marries The Bachelorette with America’s Gilded Age (1870s-1900s)—a time when many wealthy women married the man of their parents’ dreams for business purposes and few men considered women intelligent enough to make simple decisions, much less run a business.

With intrigue, suspense, action, romance, and historical detail, this book will tickle the romance fancy of lovers of inspirational historical fiction. Fans of Jen Turano and Sarah E. Ladd, and Jocelyn Green will enjoy My Dear Miss Dupré.

Don’t judge a book by its cover, this is one entertaining and delightful adventure with so many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Miss Depre’s parents are in a bind and need to have their daughter marry to save the family business. This took Miss Dupre by surprise, but she quickly accepted her parents wishes to proceed with her choosing a man that would be her husband in the next several months.

I adored this book which reminded me of our modern-day Bartlett Show. I enjoyed walking in Miss Dupre’s shoes as she takes on an impossible task of getting to know sixteen of these men in the hopes of finding not only a husband but a love match. Can she do that in such a short period of time? Her parents seem to think so.

I enjoyed how this author helps you know all the men up for grabs and strings readers along as the author reveals a mysterious plot to obtain the key role of husband to Miss Dupre. Readers hope she finds the rat before it’s too late. This book was pure joy and so much fun to read and would work well for your next book club meeting. I highly recommend it. This is the first book I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

So this was my first foray into reading Grace Hitchcok. The story was a premise that intrigued me, because who doesn’t like to imagine living as a princes in the early years of America? Miss Dupré is heir to the sugar empire and unfortunately her father must step down, leaving her in control. However, the board doesn’t like a woman in control and demands that she marry before she can lead. The reasons for such are explained in the book.

For me this book read to me like a modern day Bachelorette story, but set in the 1880’s in New York. Her parents get together and create a competition for 30 eligible bachelors for Willow to choose from. Much like the modern day show, there are challenges and certain men receive a special item to signify their continuation in the competition.

Honestly, I don’t even like watching the bachelor on tv, so reading of this 1880s version was making me grit my teeth. I wanted to love it, and I did enjoy parts and bits of it, but equally other sections I quickly paged past. While I did appreciate the individuals each perspective, including the men, I found myself lacking in spots. First off, 30 men for a woman in that time period is a lot and makes me question the mental stability of her supposedly loving parents.

The ending I did enjoy although the bit of drama towards the end was I suppose a reason to eliminate the third option and help her choose the one I thought she should have chosen. But alas, no spoilers will be given.

Bethany House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Grace Hitchcock brings readers the start of a new series entitled American Royalty - a start that kicks the series off with a Gilded Age "Bachelorette" styled romance that is spiced with excellent characters, snappy wit and just a bit of intrigue to keep things interesting.

This is one of those really delightful stories that pulls you in from page one and keeps you smiling after you finish the last page. Willow Dupre is the heiress to Dupre Sucre Company and has all the necessary qualifications to run the company with one exception - she is not a man. In an effort to appease the Board of Directors and allow her the opportunity to run things as she would like, her parents create an opportunity for Willow to find a husband of her choice. They have invited thirty of The Four Hundreds' most eligible bachelors to participate in a courting contest for Willow's hand taking place at their home. Shocked by this seemingly outlandish idea, Willow balks at the contest but soon comes to see the merit of such a plan. She is determined to find someone that she can not only depend on to allow her the freedom she desires but also someone she can love. So begins the contest and her introduction to some wonderful, and not so wonderful, gentlemen. Included in the gentlemen vying for her hand is an old friend, convinced she will fall in love with him, a mysterious Irishman, a childhood crush, a botanist and a host of other varied individuals. There is plenty of personality crashing around and lots of bravado coming from the most amorous of candidates. But alongside this incredible decision, Grace must discover how an vicious competitor of her company is keeping his hand in her business. Can she manage both? Will she find love? Is anyone not who they present themselves to be? These questions and others must be answered before Willow can finally become the leader she has always dreamed of being and finding the love she has secretly longed for. I loved the styling of this story and the development of the plot. Everything was so engaging and creative that I found myself smiling hugely at the careful crafting of scenes and the characters. Details of each situation were laid out so as to give only the information necessary while keeping the air of mystery intact. I loved the oddities of some of Willow's suitors and their hilarious attempts to gain her attention. One of my favorite odd characters was Mr. Harolds - his scene with Willow and the examination of her head was hysterical. Cullen was a marvelous "hero" and I loved reading of his struggle to do the right thing. Teddy was somewhat annoying in his arrogance towards Willow but I really felt like he did love Willow as much as he said. I also really liked Willow's friend, Flora, who seemed to be very excited to help Willow sort through the suitors. She was honest in her opinions and did make Willow think through her decisions about whether to keep a suitor or no. I could easily see her having her own story and it being a very good one. I will certainly be recommending this story to others in the hope that they will enjoy this fantastic story as I did. I will also be purchasing a copy of this book for my shelves as I know I will want to read it again. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

The Bachelorette meets the gilded age. While I am not a fan of the modern-day series, it seems back in the days of the New York 400, the elite would pull any number of stunts to gain a favorable match for their daughters, so why not a contest with 30 of the most eligible & desirable bachelors? I did think the contest stretched along farther than realistic for some of the poor besotted chaps. Of course, the final 2 were both favorites and the winner was obvious from the get-go, who I liked and was pulling for. The bad guy, in this case, was intriguing because he did not receive a lot of face time in the story, but his ominous presence lingered throughout. I enjoyed how Cullen grew closer to God as he sought to correct his ways and rely less on himself. Teddy was such a sweet, dear friend, but I found his ending to be rather unbelievable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the reading of something "different" and new compared to other historical, fiction novels I have read & I recommend it.

4 Stars= Very Good

I won this book in a Christmas drawing the author kindly held without further expectations. All opinions are mine alone.

What a creative idea for a book! Willow Dupre is an heiress who spent years preparing to run her family company and has no interest in marrying, however the company's board of directors won't let her take over without a husband at her side. Willow's parents devise a competition between thirty carefully selected bachelors to win Willow's hand in marriage. Willow has a set number of months to select a husband from this group that she gets to know through various dates and outings.

I found it challenging to keep track of the men in the beginning, but as some were eliminated from the competition and the group became smaller, this was not a problem at all. I would have liked the author to have used the opportunity to make some of the men even more eccentric and humorous, however she did a good job giving them each their own, very unique, personalities.

I liked Willow because she is an independent yet soft-hearted woman. I appreciated her passion for the family business and her drive to want to take over. Willow's head and heart battled during the competition and I wasn't sure which was going to win in the end.

While the main focus of the book is on the competition and Willow being forced to select a husband, there are some suspense and intrigue woven in as well. There were twists at the end that I never saw coming which I thought were excellent! I also really liked Willow's best friend Flora for her support of Willow and her spunkiness.

I found it inspiring that one of the competitors with a nefarious past, comes back to his relationship with the Lord through the events of the competition.

If you like stories set in the Gilded Age or are just looking for a unique read, I think you'll like this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this 1880’s version of The Bachelorette, sugar heiress Willow Dupré is reluctantly thrust into a competition arranged by her parents to secure a husband in time to appease the board members threatening to sell their shares to a ruthless competitor. Deciding a husband from 30 of New York’s most eligible bachelors in such a public way is the last thing Willow wants to do, but she has little choice with less than 6 months to marry if she wants to take over her father’s company.

Among the suitors is Cullen Dempsey, who was planted by Willow’s nefarious competitor as a spy in order to appease a debt. But upon meeting Willow, Cullen quickly finds himself unable to follow through as she begins to capture his heart. He turns instead to the Pinkertons, in hopes of turning the tables on the competitor and freeing himself from his clutches.

The nods in this story to The Bachelorette are overwhelming, from the crowning ceremonies to the drama and everything in between. A lot of what goes on is a little unrealistic for the time. Willow’s reputation would have suffered irreparable damage and there’s no way her parents would have set her up for such a thing. However, I chose to let it go and enjoy the story for what it was. It WAS a fun story to read. There were funny moments and serious moments and dramatic moments. Willow made plenty of mistakes, over and over again. But her heart was in the right place, and I’m glad she was able to forgive and follow her heart. The happy ending was hard fought and not without casualties along the way.

Definitely recommended for those who enjoy the Bachelorette, less so, maybe, if the show drives you crazy. I think Jen Turano fans will enjoy this, and while Grace Hitchcock doesn’t have Jen’s signature humor that leaves me actually laughing out loud, this story had its moments.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story. My opinions are my own.

Willow Dupre is a delightful early twentieth-century American. Her family's money makes her American royalty. I enjoy reading about British dukes, duchesses, lords, and ladies. My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock offers the reader an American version. Willow is a delightful character and the cast surrounding her are believable. This is fun and gets quite exciting as it nears the conclusion.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a gifted copy of My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock. All opinions are my own.

Willow Dupre is very surprised when her parents set up a game similar to a modern day "Bachelorette". There are thirty suitors and six months for her to find a husband. If she fails or refuses to play along she will lose her father's sugar business. The men on the board want her to have a husband by her side.

I found this to be a very interesting concept for a historical fiction storyline. Willow must remain prim and proper while being courted by numerous men. She is also very independent and reminds me a lot of Jo March. It's definitely not your typical historical fiction. It was a fun and enjoyable read.

Christian
Historical Fiction
Romance
Release Date: March 2, 2021

This book was preposterous in its premise - yet I couldn't put it down! The bachelorette set in history - it was fun! Eye-rolling humor and a somewhat predictable ending, but a light, enjoyable read for fans of the TV series!

I liked the original, if implausible, idea behind the plot: a Gilded Age Bachelorette-style competition for marriage to Willow Dupre, the sugar heiress of New York. Getting into the book however, it didn’t hold up as well. Willow is basically forced into her parents’ competition to keep control of the family business. Instead of doing a Season and selecting a husband, she agrees to the contest and then is surprised by the negative publicity she gets. The book tries to be a few things at the same time and never sets on anything for long. Too many things get crammed in and so the plot becomes a bit tangled in some spots, drags terribly in others, and bogs down in heavily Christian themes at the end that come rather out of nowhere. The characters weren’t especially likable, even Willow is constantly making mistakes, promising to do better, then not following through. A less convoluted plot and more character development might have made this a better book, but it was one I ended up dragging through and was happy to finish.

I received an Arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a simple case of reader-book mismatch...for the most part. I am probably one of the few women in the US who can't stand The Bachelor or the Bachelorette. I find it an awful showcase of what's wrong with love today, and I would be embarrassed to participate in something like that. When I read the synopsis for the book, I'm not sure why it didn't click that this would be The Bachelorette - Late 19th Century Edition. Had it occurred to me, I wouldn't have requested it.

However, I will say that I got through a good portion of the book before giving up. My main reason wasn't even the Bachelorette thing, even though it's horrible in modern day and even more ridiculous a notion in the 1880s. Instead, I found that the heroine wasn't really consistent in her behavior. On the one hand, she was very mature and professional, able to hold her own in a room full of men who looked down on her for her gender and age. I respected that a lot, and it's what initially made me think maybe she can redeem this whole notion of a love competition. Unfortunately, once she actually began to participate in the ridiculous thing, I slowly began to lose my interest in her. She was very naive and couldn't seem to focus on one man, but instead had feelings for multiple at once. She let one kiss her at one point, and when her mother, rightly so, tells her how inappropriate it was, she doesn't really think it's a big deal. I felt like I was reading about a teenager rather a well-educated businesswoman in her 20s.

Ultimately, not my cup of tea. Maybe the next book, as long as the premise is not based on a modern-day reality tv show.

Having read Hitchcock's The Gray Chamber and The White City, the style and plot of My Dear Miss Dupré were quite unexpected. The mystery elements of Hitchcock's latest book are what kept me engaged. The romantic elements were not. The book reads like an 1882 version of The Bachelorette, but that said, the whimsical nature of the plot and the opportunities to piece together clues did lead me to give this book four stars. The theme of returning to a trusting relationship with our sovereign Lord was also a strong and endearing element of My Dear Miss Dupré.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this, the first book in Grace Hitchcock's new American Royalty series, from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.