Adelaide Astley trained as a teacher but quickly learned that while she enjoyed working with students one-on-one, managing an entire classroom wasn't for her. Now an aspiring author, she's battling a case of writer's block when her best friend's cousin Alexander Winthrop-Bentley, the Duke of Worcester, asks her to spend the summer tutoring his dyslexic 10-year-old daughter Olympia in reading and writing. It's not long before Addy's a full-time member of the ducal household, spending her mornings with Olympia, afternoons working on her novel, evenings playing chess with Alex or making friends with the local cross stitch group...and nights dreaming of Alex naked in the library. Alex is equally drawn to Addy, but he's reluctant to act on his feelings until a paparazzi photo of them attending a charity gala together hits the papers and speculation grows that the two of them are dating. Their relationship finally begins to heat up, but will they let fear get in the way of what could be a lasting love?
I loved Alex and Addy together because their relationship felt so easy and natural. They had plenty of chemistry, but it wasn't the only thing pulling them together; I could tell how much they genuinely enjoyed spending time in each other's company, even if all they were doing was drinking wine and reading together. (As a dork who loves British history, I got a few good laughs out of their Lancaster/York debates!) Alex was a devoted father to his daughter Olympia, and as such she played a key part in his relationship with Addy. I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know much about autism or dyslexia, but from my perspective those aspects of the story were handled very well, and I learned several things I didn't know before.
Overall, I adored "Dating the Duke" and highly recommend it for all romantic comedy fans. I can't wait for the next book of the series, which will feature Addy's hilarious twin sister Eva and Matthew, the Earl of Anglesey.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Dating the Duke"
A duke and a writer walk into a bar, and the barman says—never mind. They’re in the library, and they’re not wearing any clothes. Oops.
My name is Adelaide Astley, and if there was anything remotely exciting about me to tell you, I would.
Sure, my uncle is the Duke of Leicester, and my mother bucked family tradition to marry “below” her and open a hotel, but I’m nothing but an aspiring author with a Tudor era obsession.
Oh, and I’m spending the summer tutoring the daughter of the current Duke of Worcester—who happens to be a regular in my highly inappropriate midnight dreams.
Thirty-year-old Alexander Winthrop-Bentley is so not my type, but hours of chess games and arguments over Tudor dynasties mean we’re thrown together more often than we should be. And when he shares with me that he needs a date for a charitable event, my mouth betrays me by offering myself up for the evening.
How I find myself naked in the library is another matter entirely. Ahem.
When the society papers declare us an item, neither of us have the heart to tell our families the truth. Only my twin sister and best friend know the truth, but they both agree we need to keep up the charade, even if only for the summer.
But when the end of August comes and my return home beckons, I have to ask myself a question.
Is it only his daughter who’s stolen my heart, or has Alexander done the very same thing?
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