My Dear Miss Dupré, Book 1 of the American Royalty series, started out as a rather fun, frivolous high society story set in the Gilded Age; however, it turned out to be so much more! A unique, steadily moving plot that keeps you guessing; an intriguing subplot; delightful, diverse characters including a strong-willed female protagonist; an outlandish romantic competition; bits of humor; and an inspiring faith element combine to make an enjoyable, captivating read. I was drawn in from the beginning and stayed invested to the end. This well-written tale by an extraordinary storyteller is sure to delight and entertain, and I highly recommend it! I look forward to Book 2 in the series.
I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My Dear Miss Dupre is a fascinating story of Willow, a business minded woman who, decided by her parents, must find a husband. Quickly. So they set up a competition with thirty men from their area to wed her and help assist her in the family sugar business. Beginning on New Year's eve, she must decide on one husband by June. She gets it narrowed down to eight, and eventually three, all the while, one man she really is interested in is working with her business adversary. Cullen, however, has become a changed man since meeting her. He is no longer working with the adversary, but rather working with Pinkerton agents to arrest the man. On the last day of this competition she has to decide between him and one other man, and it is a difficult decision for her. Great story I really enjoyed!

I loved everything about this book! It hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. This is the first book I've read about dating competitions and it was wonderful. It will keep you guessing until the end who she will choose. It was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in this series. Thank you Bethany House and Grace Hitchcock via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

As several other reviewers have put it, My Dear Miss Dupre is a spin on perhaps what the Bachelorette would look like if it look place during the Gilded Age. Willow Dupre is more than capable of taking her father’s place as head of their family sugar company; however, the board of the company has demanded that she be married before she can assume the position. Her parents then take to creating an elaborate competition for one suitor to win her hand.
At first, when I started reading, I was intrigued. However, I found that the characters were not endearing and the romance aspect lacked any believable chemistry. Willow becomes rather annoying as she flits from one suitor to the next, trying to find a spark. None of the suitors are particularly likable, and I found myself skimming in the middle of the book just trying to make it to the finish. The ending has several surprises which adds to the suspenseful line throughout, but the ending wasn’t ultimately satisfying to me.

The self-assured and enterprising Willow Dupre has been preparing for years for the day when she will step into her father's role as head of the Dupre Sucre sugar business. When Mr. Dupre falls ill, the capable Willow is ready to take the reins. But the board objects. In this Gilded Age, unmarried women do not run companies. Mr. and Mrs. Dupre hatch a plan: 30 potential suitors receive coveted invitations to court the dear Miss Dupre. As Willow learns to entrust her future to God, yielding her hopes and dreams to Him, she narrows the field. Ultimately only one man will remain. But who will it be?

Grace Hitchcock has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers and this book did not disappoint. The closer I got to the end, the faster I had to turn the pages. This book kept me guessing until the end!

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

I should have paid more attention to the description and what it implied before choosing to read this book. I found Willow interesting and her dilemma compelling. I was even intrigued by the men to whom she was introduced. But the Bachelorette themed trope used to propel the story was cheap and tawdry and unbecoming of a Christian historical romance. I refused to read past the third chapter. If the author had been a bit more creative instead of trying to appeal to popular culture (which is what Christians are supposed to avoid), this could have been a cute story.

I have to admit that I have watched a few seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, and I still don't understand how someone can meet the love of his or her life through such a convoluted method.

Willow Dupre has been running her father's sugar empire since he had a heart attack, but she has been thwarted at every turn by the board of directors who believe a woman can't have a good business mind. So her parents put together a New Year's Eve party different from any other they've ever thrown before. They have invited thirty-one bachelors from the New York Four Hundred families setting up a Bachelorette season to end all seasons. Instead of a rose, Willow gives out laurel crowns to the contestants she wants to know better. She has to winnow out the ones who are just in the "game" for her money and not for her. There are a few keepers in the group.

Willow's parents have set it up so that the men she chooses stay in their mansion until the list is pared down to the final two. While there are too many similarities to The Bachelorette to ignore, there are some compelling reasons to read the book. One of the contestants, Cullen Dempsey, has connections to a man who is for all intents and purposes a mob boss, Heathcliff Wellington. Wellington wants the sugar company and will go to any lengths to insure the cooperation of his "man inside." In a fit of conscience, Cullen goes to the Pinkerton detective agency to let them know what he knew about Wellington's practices and feeds the Pinkertons information about Wellington, but at the same time he feeds Wellington information about Dupre Sucre. When Willow finds out, she feels betrayed, but it takes several people to help her figure out what the truth is.

This is my first Grace Hitchcock book to read, and while My Dear Miss Dupre has its moments, it's not one I truly enjoyed. Three stars.

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

Have you ever wondered what a season of "The Bachelorette" would look like set in 1883? My Dear Miss Dupre will show you! Spinster Willow Dupre is cast in the role of the bachelorette, her mother takes on the role of "Chris Harrison" and her best friend Flora is the conscientious confidant who helps Willow sort out how she really feels.
An interesting concept, but I was happy for the intriguing sub plot running throughout. If the story had just been centered on the competition for her hand, I think I would have felt it was just a "knock off" of the television show.

This is the first book I have read by Grace Hitchcock and I enjoyed her writing. Her characters were beautifully written and with 30 bachelors vying for her hand they were diverse and unique. Mystery, danger and of course romance were plentiful in this book. I was happy to read that this is the first in a series...there were many characters I would love to read more about as they search for their one true love. My Dear Miss Dupre is Christian Fiction, themes of trusting God, forgiveness and waiting patiently for Him to move instead of seeking our own desires were plentiful throughout.

Thank you, Bethany House and Net Galley for the free DRC of My Dear Miss Dupre. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a fun twisty version of The Bachelorette, but set in the Gilded Age. Willow Dupré is forced to choose a man in six months to be her husband and to help run her family’s sugar refinery business. She’s to pick a mate from 30 of New York’s elite families. The process is so fun as it unfolds and you’re never quite certain which guy she’ll choose. A delight, especially for lovers of romance and strong female characters.

4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 02 Mar 2021
#MyDearMissDupré #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Bethany House, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock! I'm a huge fan of books with a strong female lead. Willow is strong willed, brave, hardworking and caring. Poor Willow is being forced into a competition that will help her choose a husband, bachelorette style. Strait away Cullen was mysterious and Teddy was sweet and loving. I liked the 3 POV and honesty had no clue who she was going to choose in the end as I was inside cheering them each for different reasons! Twist and turns throughout the book had me wanting to scream "NO, don't do it!" and "Just do it!". The different personalities of the suitors were fun and unique, making me laugh and squirm at times. If you love dating competitions, you'll love this fun take on it!

I wasn’t sure what to do expect from this book since I’d never read Grace Hitchcock before but at the recommendation of my bestie I dove in. And it was an absolute delight! As an huge fan of the Bachelor franchise I loved that this was basically The Bachelorette set in the Gilded Age and all the little nods to the show had me cracking up. It was like getting a bonus season, but it was also unique in its own right with a fresh writing style that had me completely enraptured. It was light-hearted and fun without going to over the top ploys for hilarities sake.
Willow was a fun heroine, and I liked that she was the strong can-do-whatever-she-sets-her-mind-to type without being abrasive and refusing to accept help. She had a hard job before her not only finding someone she could have as a husband but also one she could trust to be her partner in business. I thought she handled things admirably and I enjoyed the circumstances that led to some of the eliminations.
I feel like the author did a great job of not making it abundantly clear which of the front runners she would choose while also not making it feel like a love triangle.
I enjoyed the entirety of this book though I wasn’t as completely sucked in for the second half as I was for the first! This was a strong start to the series though and I’m looking forward to what else the author has in store for us!

My Dear Miss Dupree by Grace Hitchcock is a mixture of The Bachelorette versus the Gilded Age American Royalties in New York City. While the concept is original, the ending is completely predictable. At times, I had a hard time not comparing it to Princess Dairies 2 with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Must pick a spouse in order to run the company by her side. While the father kept saying that he supporter her and even raised her to take over the company, but he was listening to the board and trying to find a husband for her anyways. At time, I also had a hard time staying focused. The story line kept getting more unrealistic and more unrealistic. I didn't want to see her pick anyone. It was really hard for her to fall in love with anyone in six months, and her parents kept coming back with a shorter time frame, then a shorter time frame over and over. Tightening the noose on her neck again and again. Did I favor a hero over any of the others? Not really. I didn't know any of them long enough. She had to spend time evenly with all the possible suitors that I don't think she even found one that she liked. Overall, the story was unique, but I really didn't find it that interesting.

I received a complimentary copy of My Dear Miss Dupree by Grace Hitchcock from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

MY DEAR MISS DUPRE by GRACE HITCHCOCK is a delightful Gilded Age novel. The story starts on new year's eve 1882 in New York with Willow Dupré being drawn into a competition where thirty well vetted gentlemen will court her. With her father's deteriorating health and imminent retirement she needs a husband by her side as she runs the family sugar business, Dupré Sucré. Although she is quite capable of running the company, being well educated and having worked with her father for four years, she is looked down upon by the men on the board.
Her family are very rich, which is definitely a draw card for her suitors, but she wants to find a man she can love and who loves her for herself.
This competition, which was thought up by her mother and backed by her father, causes quite a stir,
The story is full of action and fun until secrets are brought to light which could lead to disqualification and even danger.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing that I knew I wanted to read it. Think “”The Bachelorette”, but an 1880s version. To maintain control of her father’s sugar business Willow Dupré needed to marry by a certain date, so her parents set up a competition in which their daughter would be introduced to thirty potential suitors and whittle down the list until she found one suitable for marriage. This book reeled me in from the first page and kept my interest going throughout the entire book. At times I found myself laughing out loud at the varied interactions Willow had with the many bachelors, as well as the antics of her younger twin sisters. There are also some plot twists which do not revolve around humor but lend an air of mystery to the story. I can see great possibilities for this series based on the variety of characters to which readers have already been introduced. Although this is the first book I have read by Grace Hitchcock, I intend to read much more from this author!

I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This book was a delightful romp into the Gilded age! The unique plot and romantic competition kept me on my toes and invested in this story. I am a huge Bachelor tv show junkie and this book was like putting the show into a time travel machine to the Gilded
Age! A house full of gentleman vying for the attentions of Willow Dupre’ an American heiress! What could go wrong? The outings and dates were fun and adventurous and reflected the time period perfectly! I enjoyed how the plot progressed and watching some relationships grow and others wither. I can’t say too much without giving spoilers, but the end has a few twists and some unforeseen conflicts! I enjoyed this book and found it to be delightfully light and fun! I have not read a historical romance with this particular plot before and I was a fan!