2.5/5 stars ⭐️

<i> Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this advanced, review copy of <b> Dare to be a Duchess </b>. All opinions are my own! </i>

<b>Dare to be a Duchess</b> follows the story of Lara Ramsey, a mixed-race Indian heroine struggling to find her way in British society, and her unlikely love story with Tristan "Wolf" Wentworth, the Duke of Wolverton. That's what drew me to this story. Granted I don't read a lot of historical romance, but I had never seen one with an Indian protagonist! I really enjoyed Bhog's exploration of what it meant for Lara to be a mixed-race lady in society and the discrimination she faced as a result.

While I ultimately <i> enjoyed </i> <b>Dare to be a Duchess</b>, I found myself wanting *more*. More depth, more feeling, more EVERYTHING in general. This story suffered greatly from doing a lot of telling and not much showing. which, ultimately, led to a majority of my issues with it and frustrated me to no end. I made multiple notes on Kindle about the numerous info-dumping scenes, ESPECIALLY with clothing descriptions and scenery.

There was also a lot of "telling" about the character's feelings. For example, in one section, Lara is talking about Camille and Leo's tenuous relationship and she just says "everyone knows both of you can't stand the site of one another." (location 621) While I normally really love this trope, we wouldn't have known they don't get along unless we were given this line because they have no chemistry at all. Even the chemistry and tension between Wolf and Lara is fabricated - I never really felt that they cared about each other. The pacing was also all over the place. It was less than 300 pages, but felt like 600. It could have used a lot of editing, especially in the middle where it dragged a lot.

Some of the language was just...bizarre. There was a lot of really modern language mixed in the historical context that just didn't make sense. For example, Lara said "whatever" several times and it just took me out of the story. I don't mind modern language being incorporated in historical settings, but it needs to be consistently done or intentional. It didn't feel like either in this story. Also, the descriptions in the sex scenes were....something, haha. Maybe this is common in historical fiction, but I had a hard time keeping my composure when she referred to "pleasure [spiraling} to her <b> secret feminine place </b>".

Lastly, I'm a huge fan of unlikeable, asshole characters, but Wolf was just irredeemable in my opinion. <spoiler> He literally calls her a half-breed and destroyed her reputation in society and she just *forgives* him because "he was doing it because he loved her so much." No, absolutely not. Even when he "changed," he was still extremely unlikeable and just a bully. </spoiler>

I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't like this as much as I wanted to - unfortunately, it just wasn't the story for me. I could definitely see myself picking up more from this author though!

This book didn't engage me like I thought it would. I wanted a little more of everything. More characterization, more plot, more humor, more intensity, more romance. Lara is an orphan of Indian heritage on her mother's side and British on her father's. The reader is told that the ton treats her badly and will never accept her, yet that's really not what's shown. I wanted more conflict instead of waiting for the very end for the action.

I liked the verbal sparring at the beginning, but that fizzled. Wolf (and, boy are we constantly reminded of his name and how Wolf-like he is, and his friends basically round out the animal kingdom predators as lions and hawks) does some really horrible things to Lara in the middle of the story. I can't stand the "I've got to hurt you in order to save you," trope. I did like the group of friends that surrounded both Lara and Tristan, the Wolf.

Very modern language that at times threw me out of the story a little bit. I kept hearing episodes of Friends or characters from Mean Girls in my head.

Beautiful cover though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ohhh Lara and Wolf's story if full of antagonism and I love it! This book also brings home how diversity was seen in the 1800's. Which is not a common topic in most Historical Romances. It was a treat to get to see Lara's quest to find acceptance. Wolf may seem like an unlikely candidate to help her, they fit perfectly together! The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is some of the language doesn't fit the time period, but still worth reading!

This was a really cute story! I'd never read a book by Sapna Bhog before and I look forward to reading more from her in the future as this was quite good! I liked that this book dealt with how racist the ton was at the time! Very steamy for historical romance and a decent love story!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me an arc for an honest review.

This book follows the typical historical romance pattern. The hero and heroine have known each other for years and have an adversarial relationship, but one moment changes everything; the only difference is our heroine is of mixed heritage. Her father met her mother while stationed in India and married her despite his family's objections. This book does not shy away from the racial issues that would certainly have been huge barriers at the time; in fact, they are central to the difficulties our main characters face.

This book feels like a cookie cutter historical romance; it follows the well-known formula, but it is well-written, the characters are entertaining, and I can't wait to follow the secondary characters in their own novels. If you're looking for something slightly different that still has all the elements that are central to historical romance, then this is a book for you.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I freely admit that I solely picked up this book when I read the blurb. I was completely sucked in by the idea of a half-Indian lady trying to navigate the rough waters of English Society and ultimately winning the heart of a duke. I’m so glad I gave this book a try.

Honestly, this book was pretty much a run-of-the-mill historical romance with a typical alpha male aristocrat and a strong-minded heroine who drives him nuts in more ways than one. The twist of her heritage is the bright spot and what made this book stand out as not quite your average historical romance. Ms. Bhog tackles racism and interracial relationships in Dare to Be a Duchess. In doing so, she really tugged at my heartstrings.

The plot itself had me turning the pages. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers tug of war between Wolf and Lara. I think the only downside was a small twist at the end that really should have been explored a little more as it was over way too quickly.

If you’re looking for a historical romance with an interracial twist, this might be the book for you. I laughed, I cried and I was cheering Wolf and Lara on… and what more can you ask for in a romance novel?

Lara has been raised a lady, but London society doesn't see her as anything but a half-Indian upstart. She decides to look for a match in the demimonde instead, but her best friend's ducal brother Tristan is not thrilled to have her courting scandal. He issues an ultimatum: she will marry respectably in the next six months, or he'll choose a match for her. When the two share a passionate kiss, Tristan realizes maybe he wants to be her match himself.

I always appreciate a historical romance with diverse characters. I could have used more of Lara's upbringing and Indian heritage, though. I found Tristan to be somewhat condescending, as the classic man who thinks an angry woman is adorable, instead of taking her seriously. Neither character was especially well-rounded, and I didn't *feel* their chemistry as much as being told that they were scorching together. It just didn't quite live up to the premise, but I'm interested to see where Bhog goes with her next book.

Finally, I don't mind some anachronistic language in a historical novel, but the women in particular spoke like they were Americans in the 21st century. One said that something "bugged" her, another used "like" in its post-Valley Girl context, and Lara referred to her father as "Dad". (This may be just me--I stopped watching Dickinson after one episode because the modern slang was so jarring.)

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Dare to Be a Duchess is the story of a young, half Indian woman, Lara Ramsay, who struggles to find acceptance within the biased community of the ton. As she searches for acceptance and a man who will love her for who she is, she finds herself falling for the one man she's always been at odds with, her childhood friend's brother, Wolf.

First things first, I'm really surprised this was categorized as a historical romance given all the modern language. Strip away the brief descriptions of the outfits the characters were wearing and mentions of castle this and manor that, you'd think the book took place in modern times. It's usually something that doesn't bother me because in all the historical romances I've read over the years, I've always come across one or two words that just don't seem to fit. In Dare to be Duchess, words like "whatever", "something was up", "learned the ropes", you get the gist. Just...how? I paused so many times while reading because I was so surprised. I wonder if the editor caught onto this because I'm genuinely surprised.

I will say that I absolutely loved that Lara was Indian. About damn time! I get so tired of seeing the same 'ol white characters in historical romances so it was nice to have a POC main character for once. I really wish the author would've expanded on Lara's Indian background. She lived in India until she was fourteen (I was surprised to learn that since it seemed she'd left at a young age). With Lara, I wanted that part of her heritage to shine through. She had one conversation with Wolf where she told him about her time in India and it was very vague. I wanted to see how her time in India affected her life in England and coloured the way she lived her life. Honestly, the book just lacked nuance. I wanted to see some passive-aggressive racism in the book. Something more subtle and varied instances. The interactions were cartoony almost. Lara would be in the ball and people would be loudly whispering "How dare that Indian girl want to be like us". I don't know, let me not slip my own black experiences into it but let's be real, it gets more subtle than that. I wanted to see how life was different (and even more difficult for her) as an Indian member of the ton.

Also, the names! I've seen other reviewers mention it and...my God the names. Listen, I usually don't judge. The Duke of Wolverton aka Wolf was one thing. But then his best friend is named Hawk too?? Did their fathers have a pact? I'm sorry, I couldn't take it seriously. It was probably made worse by the fact that Wolf was always growling whenever expressing any sort of emotion whether it be anger, jealousy, or sexual interest and then Hawk was annoying. At least Leo was the voice of reason.

Speaking of Wolf...

I must be getting old...er, because I'm getting tired of the overly-macho-I-lack-communication-skills-and-cannot-adult-properly male love interests. Like with most romance novels, a lot of the issues would've been solved with simple communication. Wolf decides he cannot in good conscience marry a "half-breed" woman since it would destroy his reputation so he (view spoiler). Dumbass. I got so annoyed when he was actually shocked his actions had repercussions and affected Lara. I don't even know what Wolf actually saw in Lara. It was a case of the not-like-other-girls problem. Oh, she's opinionated, she stands up to me, she's interested in politics, etc. The funny thing is, we never saw any of it. The only times Lara and Wolf fought was when she was trying to get into some kind of mischief or she didn't want him following him. There was just so much explaining. Whole paragraphs dedicated to what someone was wearing or their personality traits when we could be shown this. We're told how kind and charitable Wolf is (quite later) but never shown. We're told Lara's political beliefs but never shown. Even their relationship isn't that deep, especially since they couldn't have a conversation without wanting to jump each other's bones.

Let me wrap this up.

Everything wrapped up in too neat of a bow but hey, I don't mind much. Wolf pissed Lara off, then apologized, then they got back together, got engaged, and the people trying to break them up in the end were easily taken care off. In the end, it was a good enough romance story but very very rough. It was still an easy read and I enjoyed Wolf (when he wasn't being annoying, aggravating, you get the point) and Lara.

I liked Leo so I'll see if his book is out or is coming out.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Since her parents died, and she was brought to England in the care of a family friend, Miss Lara Ramsay has always known that her heritage, and her skin colour, sets her apart from the rest of the ton. Only her friends Anne and Camille, as well as Anne's brother, Tristan, Duke of Wolverton, and his friends, are there to support her from the hatred of the rest of the ton. When Lara and Anne head to a scandalous masquerade for Anne to meet her beau, Lara ends up kissing Wolf in order to distract him, and sets off a whole series of events which leads them both to not be able to stop thinking about one another. But, Lara isn't suited to being a duchess, and even if she was, would the ton allow it? Tristan has had to be polished and perfect his entire life, but even more so one his father died and he inherited the title. His father's reputation for being a rake and adulterer was well known to society, and Wolf wants to be nothing like him, but it's hard to stay away from Lara. Will they both be able to take on the ton together, and be happy, or will the opinions of society pull them apart?

I was hooked on this book from the first few pages, and couldn't put it down until I had finished it. Lara is the daughter of an English Colonel, the second son of the Duke of Calder, and the friend of an Indian Princess. She spent 14 happy years in India, after her father was disowned by his own, but when both her parents died of fever, she was brought to England in the care of a family friend, Uncle Robert. Robert also happened to be the uncle of Anne and Wolf, so she was in the care of the Wolverton family too, and became fast friends with them. However, the very proper Duchess doesn't like having the daughter of an Indian woman around her own, but allowed the connection while Lara was in Wolf's good graces. When it became clear that there was an attraction between Wolf and Lara following the masquerade, and their continued interactions, the duchess sets out to separate the two, in any way possible. I felt so sorry for Lara for all of the racist remarks and ridicule she faced in society, and especially when Wolf hurt her, trying to push her away. She was a strong and vibrant young woman, but could be hurt, especially by those she loves. However, Wolf more than makes up for it, even if it calls his own reputation into line. He's realised he's in love, and can't be apart from Lara, and will stop at nothing to be with her - even exiling his own mother if he has too. Because of their friendship and history, the relationship between Lara and Tristan, though fast, seemed to be natural and progress normally. It was such a joy to see them happy. I think this book is supposed to be a standalone, but there's so much of a story between Camille and Leo, that I do hope there's a companion sequel focusing on them two. I'm dying to know more!

I love the older brother/sister's best friend trope and Bhog makes good use of it here, although I couldn't help but feel our heroine forgave our hero's transgressions a little too quickly.

Overall: 2.5 rounded to ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖 3 books
Romance: 💞💞 2 hearts
Feels: 🦋🦋 2 butterflies
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 3 fires
Emotional Depth: 💔💔 2 broken hearts
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ 3 lightnings
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 3 peaches
Number of Sex Scenes: 🍆🍆🍆 3 eggplants
Lara is an orphan and is used to the people of the ton judging her unfairly. Her darker skin and raven hair she’s inherited from her Indian mother, but her blue eyes from her British colonial father. She’s been called a savage, a half breed and worse. Her guardian indulges her, but his nephew sure doesn’t. Tristan knows when she’s up to mischief and calls her out on her behavior. He gives her an ultimatum to marry within 6 months or he will find her a husband to call her to heel.
Give this book a try if you want:
- Masquerade fun! The beginning scene is the hero and heroine at a masquerade
- Best friend’s sibling trope – she is very good friends with Anne, who is Tristan’s sister
- Diverse main characters! The heroine is half Indian
- Enemies to lovers trope
- A bit of a jerk hero – there’s two instances in the book the hero makes some bad choices
- Moderately steamy – while I count only 2 sex scenes towards the end, there are lots and lots and lots of kisses.
- Late Georgian period in London (1823) with plenty of balls and parties
- You really enjoy/read a lot of contemporary work. This author’s writing style and some of the words used you can definitely tell she’s used to contemporary.

(Note: There is a small mention of the colonization of India being problematic. It’s not glamorized at all and it’s not a major plot point (or even minor) of the book.)

Sadly this book was not for me. There was something about the writing that just did not pull me in, and then it was compounded with a number of issues that are purely personal. For me, I didn’t feel the character depth of either character. I didn’t like Lara, I thought she rather acted like a spoiled brat and I sadly never grew to love her or get to know her better as the story continued. Wolf had his ups and downs, but about halfway he just went down, down, down to me. His behavior wasn’t logical. I didn’t see the emotional drive of his actions or meaning behind his changes of opinion in the book.

This was all just personal and I'm so sad I didn't love this book.

This was the first time reading a book by this author and it won't be last. While the storyline ran the typical course of this genre, the characters were unique and we'll written. Lara Ramsey was a jewel and Tristan, the Duke of Wolverton figured it out in just the nick of time. I would have like for Wolf to do some more groveling to win back Lara's heart but that was my only gripe story. I can't wait for the next in the series.

This was a fun read! Lara is half Indian (her father was the son of a Duke and a British soldier, met her mother in India) who was orphaned when young and now exists on the fringes of polite society. Wolf is a stuffy and hypocritical Duke. Of course the fall for each other (but they’re angry about it!) and have to show society that their live is above the Ton’s censure.

I’m excited to see more books come from Sapna Bhog. I think that what was missing for me in this one is a well developed writing style and confidence. As the author finds their voice and masters the craft of dialogue and showing rather than telling, the bc writing will match the strength of the plots.

There is a fine line between love and hate and for Lara d Wolf they have bickered and fought since the moment they met. He’s a Duke, she’s his uncles ward and his sisters best friend. Where mischief is to be had his sister, Lara, and their other friend Camille is usually near.

When one night changes how he sees her, things heat up between them, but she has a secret. Society doesn’t really accept her but that’s never mattered before. She’s strong and caring and the rest well it doesn’t matter.

Someone is trying to hurt her and Wolf isn’t having it. With his two friends Hawk and Leo by his side they will find the culprit but will it be in time ? I enjoyed this book a lot and when I could sit to read enjoyed it a lot!

I could not put down this book! Not only do I love a good regency romance, this one had action, heat, suspense and danger! I was holding my breath through most of the book! I highly recommend it. Book provided by NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and in no way influenced by the publisher, author, or any third party.

Lately, I’ve been deeply enjoying period-themed pieces, especially those set in the 19th century England. When I saw a book that, at first glance, seemed to combine all my favourite tropes (regency era setting, enemies-to-lovers trope and promise of a good scandal combined with Indian representation—something I feel is definitely not as common as it should have been in this type of novels), well, you can bet I was not going to let it pass.

Dare to Be a Duchess is a historical romance centering around Lara Ramsay, the daughter of a British colonel and an Indian woman, who walks the precarious line at the edge of the ton, balancing between her own wish to be free and loved for who she is and the crushing expectations and prejudice of the ton. Enter Wolf, her adoptive uncle’s nephew (just to make it clear, they are not actually related in any way) whom she passionately hates—or doesn’t she? All that was needed was one chance encounter at a masquerade ball (which may or may not have included a certain alcove) and suddenly neither can stop pining over the other—which could present a problem, considering their relationship wouldn’t exactly be seen as appropriate in the eyes of the ton.

What made this book really stand out to me at first was the ‘own voices’ aspect of it. Considering Britain’s colonial history, it’s highly unlikely stories like that of Lara’s parents were that uncommon in real life, yet this is only the second book I came across that actually features it. I feel like that it leaves room for a nice little social discussion to be held, which is something I’ve been loving in books lately. Bhog didn’t delve too deep into it, but still I think it only added to the story.

My main problem with this book, though, was that I simply couldn’t connect with the characters enough to care about them, much less truly ship them and root for them to be together. The thing is, this book starts pretty much in medias res. No preamble whatsoever. There is this ball and the first big kiss happens pretty much immediately. No secret pining, no building tension. We are told that Lara and Wolf didn’t used to get along and that they used to always get on each other’s nerves—but we don’t see any of it. It’s like all those feelings came out of nowhere; which, sure, could happen. However, more often than not those feelings tend to build up over time, with both parties denying them so vehemently that when it comes to the last straw they feel equally surprised (and appalled). What happened here, though, was that we didn’t get to see the built-up tension—if there even was one in the first place. Instead the author chose to cross that line at the very beginning of the book (and then kept crossing it), cutting short even the denial phase afterwards, and filled the middle part by made-up obstacles that were supposed to put their relationship on trial and that kept getting more and more ridiculous. Maybe I would have cared more had I seen actual chemistry between Lara and Wolf in the first place, but as it is, the only reason why I kept reading was that it was weirdly entertaining.
With all that being said, there is another matter I would like to touch on: the amount of erotica in this book. I don’t really mind reading adult/erotica content, especially when it’s well written and I ship the characters. But this was just too much, too soon, and kind of without basis. To put it bluntly: there was barely anything to their relationship other than sex. And by barely anything, I mean nothing but dirty thoughts and occasional—almost—small talk. I know they used to know each other from before, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t supposed to get to know one another on a bit deeper level, develop a friendship of sort. Something more than “They lapsed into companionable chatter thereafter.” It honestly made the characters seem flat and one-dimensional—especially Wolf, whose entire personality seems to be disturbingly like that of an actual wolf.

Which brings me to my final point: the characters’ names. I can’t decide whether I found the fact that the love interest is literally called Wolf hilarious or if it made me kind of uncomfortable, but then I found out his friends were called Leo and Hawk and I just—couldn’t. I know those are all abbreviations and that back then most gentlemen were addressed by their surnames, but the fact that they are all called after animals and that no one, not even their families, used their first names made it sound really weird.

Overall, I would have liked it better had there been less telling and more showing going on.
Three stars for good writing style, own voices, and entertainment.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a from a new to me author. I did actually enjoy the read. It was a nice heart warming read. In this one we have a lady who is an outcast from society and is looking for a husband in all the wrong places. Her best friends brother just hates scandal and doesn’t want her influence on his sister. He therefore issues her an ultimatum find a husband in 6 months or he’ll pick one for her. It had an interesting premise and I enjoyed it a great deal.

“Twice tonight, Wolf had looked at her like he wanted to consume her whole. And the second time, he had kissed her like his life depended on it.” —Sapna Bhog, Dare to be a Duchess
Dare to be a Duchess by Sapna Bhog is a newly-released regency romance that I highly recommend for established fans romance fans and ones who are new to the genre. Not only does it feature a completely beguiling BIPOC heroine, but if you love attraction so hot it burns up the page with a hero who is both swarthy and stubborn (and will become your next book boyfriend in an instant) then look no further because I have the scoop for you!

This is my first introduction to Sapna Bhog, and it will not be my last. Dare to be a Duchess is full of characters that I want more of, as well as such deliciously spicy chemistry between Wolf and Lara. Seriously. It is no small feat to write love scenes that are so well-done that I become wrapped up in the emotion of it all. And while Wolf and Lara have these amazing and gorgeous love scenes, these characters are also still part of the tonand therefore there’s rules and protocol to be followed that both of them contend with in their own way. Wolf, as a Duke, needs to marry a proper woman who will be a perfect duchess. Lara just wants to marry for love, ton be damned, because she’s proud of her mixed-race heritage, and the fact that her parents married for love—scandal or not.

While Wolf and Lara grapple with their burgeoning feelings for each other, their friends also have their own agendas. On more than once occasion, Wolf and Lara put themselves into a scandalous position, and it’s their friends who come to their rescue. I admired how layered and carefully constructed the characters are within the story. I also truly enjoyed the quick pace, as well as the smattering of comedic scenes with Wolf’s friends, Hawk and Leo. Lara’s friends, Cammy and Anne, also play into more of the comedic instances, and I desperately hope there are more books for each of them! The three ladies remind me of a girl gang, and who doesn’t adore a good girl gang?

If you’re like me and have a Bridgerton Hangover, I one-hundred-percent suggest reading Dare to be a Duchess by Sapna Bhog. Fast-paced and full of fun until the very last word, I was swept away by Wolf and Lara’s story, and I guarantee that if you love a good romance, then this one will definitely win you over.

I loved the idea of a half-Indian heroine and the racism and problems she faces in the ton. And the trope of going from enemies to lovers is always a fun one. But i wasn’t as impressed by this book as I hoped to be. The language throughout the book kept pulling me out of the historical mood with far too modern style (“whatever” with head tossing?). There was a lot of talk (and lots of repetition) but not much showing or feeling. Lara and her friends think and act like rebellious teens more than mature 25 year old women who have perfectly valid reasons to rebel a bit against Society’s strict rules. Wolf, our supposed hero, is a total jerk. He wants Lara and his sister Anne to get married within 6 months or he’ll choose for them. He then spends the whole book going hot and cold with Lara: he likes her, he doesn’t like her, he can’t marry her, he can’t live without here. He wants to support her and gives her a huge dowry trying to get her a husband, then is vicious to her in front of Society and in private. While neither the author nor Lara gives him a free pass on most of this, it made me really not like him. It was also hard to believe family loved Lara when they are oblivious to how she is treated and believe that she should settle for a marriage based on who wants her dowry, instead of encouraging her to be herself and not settle for less than love. When danger threatens Lara’s life, there are only a few chapters left in the book and everything gets wrapped up so fast it almost doesn’t happen. The book would have been much more interesting if the danger had been more the focus of the plot.

Overall a good idea and start but not a winner for me

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Whispers follow Lara Ramsay, everywhere it’s become a part of her life being the daughter of a British officer and an Indian mother. She has become the ward of the Tristan Wentworth, The Duke of Wolverton’s uncle. Tristain aka Wolf and Lara have known each other for quite a while and Lara has been driving him crazy with her arrogant attitude driving him to distraction. When he catches her and his sister at a sensual salacious masquerade he realizes how attracted to Lara he really is and they an intimate moment that totally throws them both and they’re fate is sealed unless Wolf and get her married and out of his life for good. Wolf gives her an umtilamium find a husband within six months or he will find one for her, but the problem is no man among the ton who is appealing to her. They all treat her different because she’s of Indian descent and below their exalted English blood. Lara is a strongly independent young woman who challenges Wolf at every turn. I love them together they are perfect together if only they can realize it before it’s too late and too much damage has been done. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent book.