This was a second chance, low-angst romance with likable hero- heroine. I liked that hero was a nerd who didn’t care about his title but was responsible and compassionate. Heroine referred as Ice Countess was his match in every way. They both were so in tune with each other. And I’m happy they got their happy ever after.
Epilogue was adorable and satisfying.

I just wish hero had a more solid reason for leaving the first time but I guess young and passionate about his career did it.
I also liked that hero was the main persuer in this book and heroine didn’t give in to his demands easily.
Safe and recommended.

After marrying a selfish and arrogant man, Georgie now widowed never wants to marry again. Dex has promised his dying father that he will name his future bride by Twelfth Night. Dex has only one woman that he wants to marry. Now he has to persuade her. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love how this book is told from both Dex and Georgie's point of view. I could feel their mix of emotions. Their relationship is sweet, but there is plenty of sizzle and steam. This is an interesting start to a new series that I enjoyed reading.

I received "Ice Duchess" from Netgalley and the amazing Tracy Sumner. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Tracy Sumner is a unique author whose ability to tell stories is mesmerizing. Georgiana Whitcomb, widowed Countess Winterbourne and Dexter Reed Munto, future Duke of Markham have known each other since their childhood. They have both loved each other but never admitted it; their circumstances led them on different paths where Georgiana had a miserable first marriage which left her cold and desolate. Dexter returns from his many wondrous travels when his father is on his deathbed, to realize that the only one woman he has ever loved is Georgiana,  known as the Ice Duchess. Is there anything he can do to melt her heart and make her his for life? A page turner, beautifully descriptive book.

The Ice Duchess is a fun novella that starts a new series. It has two MCs you will adore. They grew up together … life happened … and now they are finding their HEA. I loved their witty banter that comes when you know each other so well and the chemistry between our MCs was mixed with the perfect angst.

Can’t wait to read the first book of the series!

The Ice Duchess - Tracy Sumner
Prequel to The Duchess Society series
Also previously published in A Scandalous Christmas anthology.

⭐️⭐️

A scandalous countess plays matchmaker…for a man she once longed to take for herself.

Georgiana Whitcomb, Countess Winterbourne, is known as the Ice Countess for her rebellious ways and refusal to marry again. But a scandalous Christmas wager fashioned by Georgiana’s childhood obsession changes everything.

The demanding duke needs a bride…

Dexter Munro, mere days from becoming the Duke of Markham, made a promise to his dying father to find a wife by the Twelfth Night. Except the only woman he’s ever desired has vowed never to marry again. Not even to become his duchess.

Georgiana and Dex share a sizzling attraction and a wicked past…but is their scorching passion enough to melt the Ice Countess’ heart?

This story is a Regency Romance…

Did anyone ever read The Ice Duchess Copyright © 2016 Amy Rose Bennett?

Georgiana Dudley, the ‘Ice Duchess’, has just emerged from mourning after a nine-year marriage of convenience to the Duke of Darby, her twin brother’s lover. Deeply hurt by a scoundrel a decade ago, Georgie swore she would never turn her head for any man, let alone another rakehell. But then she encounters the wickedly handsome and all too charming Rafe Landsbury, the Earl of Markham and against her better judgment, her interest is reluctantly aroused. An affair may be impossible to resist but dare she trust Lord Markham with her most intimate secrets… and her heart?

One story light and quick, PG rated for the sexual content that I read it in less than a day. The other steamy to hot, definitely R+ rated. This story is a Regency romance with open-door love-making scenes and frank language is used.

I love second chances, buy I don’t appreciate badly done re-writes.

Hmmm? Coincidence? I think not.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley and Tracy Sumner

The Ice Duchess is a wonderful story of friends first and finally finding love by Tracy Sumner. After being sold to the highest bidder by her father and a terrible marriage to a cruel man older than her father, Georgiana vows she will never remarry. She becomes a widow known as The Ice Duchess. Georgiana spends much of her time with The Duchess Society helping other women entering into marriage. However, when the childhood love of her life returns, she tries to keep that part of her quiet.

Dex, a geologist returns after being away for years, he realizes not knowing what he really wanted and regrets not having taken Georgiana with him. Now, his father is dying and makes a promise to his to find a wife before Twelfth Night, he just has to convince Georgie to take a chance on love.

If I could only use 3 words to describe this book I would say: charming, emotional, romantic. Of course I don't have to stick to just 3 words. So here are the rest of my thoughts.

The charming definitely applies to Dexter even if he doesn't think so. He's so focused on his "rocks" just like Georgiana says. But when his focus turns to Georgiana it's amazing how charming he can be. In his own way of course. He also brought a bit of his own brand of humor to the situation at times.

Georgiana has her very valid reasons for being dubbed the woman of ice. She's free now with money and she has a new purpose. She's loved Dexter since they were kids together. But he let her down in a major way before. So you can see there is going to be a major lack of trust that is even worse now.
This was a pretty full book especially considering it is a shorter one.

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

I received an ARC and chose to give my honest opinion - thanks NetGalley and Tracy!!

The Ice Duchess was short, sweet and to the point. It's a Christmas romance (which I read in the completely wrong time) but it doesn't focus that much on the holiday.

Our main couple is Georgie and Dex who used to be childhood friends but their lives took them to separate paths until now.

It was delightful to read about an independent and sturdy woman in a historical romance. Dex being a geologist enamored with his job was also very interesting.

They surely had chemistry and tension, sweet and touching moments, banter and jokes. All around, a great read!

The Ice Duchess by Tracy Sumner

The Ice Duchess by Tracy Sumner is a new historical romance. The novel is meant to introduce us to a new series, Ladies of the Duchess Society. A new author and a new series! In this first novel we are introduced to Georgiana Whitcomb, Countess Winterbourne and Dexter Munro, soon to be the Duke of Markham. A long time ago they were an item, but life interfered. Georgiana, now nicknamed the Ice Duchess because of her well known stance on not remarrying, has started a society to teach other women how to maintain or gain their future independence and to navigate the strains of the ton.

Dexter has promised his father that he will remarry before the Christmas holidays are done. His father is slowly dying and Dexter does not want to disappoint his father again. The only issue for Dexter is he wants Georgiana to be his wife. Unfortunately Georgiana does not want to remarry - ever again.

The Ice Duchess by Tracy Sumner is a wonderful second chance at love historical romance.

This is an excellent start to a series, but also very successful on its own. It draws you in on page one and keeps you interested right up until the end. I loved the relationship between Dex and Georgie and getting to see it develop from a young love to a mature love. I also really liked that Georgie insisted they spend some time apart to see what it was they really wanted - from life and from one another. And of course I loved that Dex supported Georgie's work with the Duchess Society and would never have even considered encouraging her to stop her work once they were married. His gifts to her were so sweet and gave her the kind of courtship she deserved as a young woman but never received. When it came time for them to meet up and I found out she didn't show I was a little heartbroken for Dex, and of course wanted to know what the heck had happened from the end of one chapter to the beginning of the next - her finally catching up to him was a moment worth reading the book for. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!

Ever since reading Bringing Down the Duke, I've found myself attracted to Victoria era romances with all of the talk of society and women fighting for their rights. I love the strong female characters and the proper titles and roles. The Ice Duchess reminded me of an Evie Dunmore type novel, which of course meant I was wholly captivated.

Georgie was married to a man 50+ years her senior because her father decided he needed the funds. Georgie was miserably married for 3 years before becoming a widow and vowing to never marry again. Why should she? As a widow, she has something unmarried women and married women don't have the luxury of - freedom. She can do what she wants, when she wants, and how she wants. Why on earth would she give that up? Enter Dex, her childhood friend who is now heir to a dukedom with his father on his deathbed. He's promised his father he will secure a duchess within 12 nights. It just so happens Georgie has a society she runs that helps women entering into marriage contracts, so Dex (recently reunited with her) asks for her help. He's completely in love with her and always has been so if he can just get her to spend some time with him and maybe make her jealous, he can get his love, who has sworn off having another husband, to be his bride.

I read this over the course of a couple of hours. It was quick, had delicious romantic/sexual tension, and a strong female lead - all things I love! Thank you to @netgalley for this #ARC!

A really cute and warm love story, albeit a bit on the short side.
Georgina and Dexter were childhood best friends, but then Dex went away to continue his geology work all over the world and left Georgie behind. So they are in a sense serving a second chance romance and also lots of longing, because Georgie is now supposed to find Dex a suitable wife, when in fact they both want each other since, like, forever. I mean, that Dex is only agreeing to this to get Georgie to realize he only wants her and not anyone else? I live for this.

This was such a cute and sweet childhood friends to lovers romance!

This is a short historical romance that is centered around the romance between Georgiana and Dexter. These two characters were childhood friends, along with Georgiana's brother Anthony. Unfortunately, ends up passing away and the link between Georgiana and Dexter is served. Georgiana is forced into an arranged marriage to a cruel old man, while Dexter goes on adventures around the world collecting and examining fossils.

This book takes place a few years after Georgiana's husband has passed, and Dexter is back in town to be with his ailing father. Georgiana is now known to the ton as the ice countess and claims that she will never ever marry again. Dexter ends up seeing her at a party and swears that he can change Georgiana's mind and make her his duchess.

I really enjoyed this one! I adore childhood friends to lovers! I will say the only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because of the believability of the romance between the two characters. I think we were told a lot of things about their relationship, instead of shown it. I think that this would have been a little better if we got flashback scenes of these two falling for one another years ago. I also did not understand why the ton called her the Ice Countess. I don't think that was explained really? All I can think of is that she doesn't want to get married. But I don't understand why that would make her icy.

But overall, I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series when they come out!

I was sent an early eARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#theiceduchess #netgalley

A woman, Georgie, who is determined to never marry again after surviving an abusive husband. A man, Dex, who must marry and wants the only woman he can ever love. I really enjoy their dance! Georgie is independent and won't give her freedom to any man, but she's loved Dex forever. I won't write a spoiler, but I found myself cheering for these two, but worried that they couldn't get to the finish line! The characters are wonderfully developed, and I just wish we had a sequel to what their lives were like, as they are a delightful couple!

I loved Georgie and Dex together!

Unlike the current practice of releasing a first chapter as a "prequel" book, this story is a complete standalone with a deliciously satisfying second-chance romance. Georgie was too young for Dex to offer for before he left to pursue his career, and her subsequent marriage nearly broke both their hearts. Now widowed, Georgie is determined to never marry again, despite the fact that the only man she's ever loved is in need of a wife before his terminally ill father passes the dukedom down to him.

Dex is a perfect gentleman, and by that I mean he's not a gentleman at all when a lady doesn't want one. He's focused entirely on carving out a second chance for Georgie and himself, despite what she believes she wants. He delightfully walks the fine line between respecting her choices and reminding her of what she's missing out on.

I really loved the way these two instinctively fall back into their comfortable ease with each other. There's a solid friendship there, despite the passage of time, which makes the perfect foundation for their romance to grow. This is a bit of a quick timeline - from a few days before Christmas to the early days of January - but that's all these two need to remember how right they are for each other.

I loved the attention to detail that Dex showed in courting Georgie. The entire story captivated me right from the start and I loved every bit of it. The HEA was everything I'd hoped for. I highly recommend this romance and look forward to reading more in this developing series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

The Ice Duchess (which was more of a novella) was my introduction to Tracy Sumner. It serves as a prequel to The Duchess Society Series, which has not yet been released. I found the story to be delightful! There is a sweet friends-to-lovers story set in Regency Era England. I especially loved that the characters were not your typical upper-class people, but rather characters with depth and personality. There were several steamy scenes that felt true to the characters, if a little cliche. I would have loved this story even more if there was more story to love (it felt a bit short at only 11 chapters and an epilogue). I enjoyed Sumner's writing style, and I will most definitely be reading the rest of this series when the books are released!

This novel was easy to read but really short for my taste. I like the idea behind the plot, but the execution was not the best. Everything happened quickly, and I did not care for the characters as much as I liked. Also, I think that the story needed more drama. The bottom line is that the story is okay, but I do not see myself making a re-read in the future.

4 stars

Interesting start to the series. Georgie and Dexter were friends as children. Dexter had a passion for Geology and along with Georgie's brother Anthony they ran or rode around Derbyshire finding rocks and fossils. Anthony dies. Georgie is in love with Dexter but Dexter doesn't respond with a proposal and so Georgie thinks her love is unrequited. Dexter is to keen to travel the world. Georgie's father marries her off to his 70 year old friend and she becomes a countess but isn't happy. On the death of her husband, she forms a club with her friend called The Duchess. Dexter returns and realises that Georgie is the one but she's off marriage and he has his work cut out to persuade her.

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

I wish this was a little bit longer, better yet, a full length novel. I enjoyed the plot a lot, but I wish there was some more back story to the characters so that there'd be a good feel of them before we get thrown into the story. I'm quite excited for the rest of the series though because the premise for The Duchess Society seems really interesting. Sometimes it felt like the author was trying to be a little too intense and profound in the characters but it wasn't working?? Some sentences seemed a little awkward as well and confusing to read.

I enjoyed this book. I definitely think that Georgie and Dex were made for each other. Their romance was steamy and sweet and I felt satisfied with their ending. The only thing that nagged at me a bit was that at times the dialogue felt modern. Other than that, it was a fast and cute read just right for the holiday season!