Any Duchess Will Do

Tessa Dare Writes a Dang Good Story!

I love everything about this book. The story line is fabulous, the characters are fresh and very appealing. I listened to the whole thing in one sitting and I could turn around and listen to it again.

Eva Kaminsky's narration is terrific. I especially love her accent for Pauline, our heroine. Pauline is a country lass, who though lacking much formal education, is witty and quick and catches the hero's attention from first glance. Griff, the Duke of Halford has been forced by his mother, a woman who is desperate for grandchildren to pick a woman to be his Duchess. His mother vows to be able to turn any one of the ladies of Spindle Cove into a woman that the Ton will accept as Duchess material. Griff offers Pauline a good sum of money to take his mother up on her offer and to fail spectacularly. Pauline doesn't see this as a problem.

I love Tessa Dare more and more with every book of hers I read.

It's worth a credit. It's worth the money. And most importantly, it's worth the time it took to listen to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

9 people found this helpful

Wonderful!

Genre: Regency Romance
Performance by Eva Kaminsky was above average, except for a couple of mispronunciations which weren't bad enough to spoil everything for me.

This book has everything:
A plucky heroine
A reluctant hero
A determined Duchess
And really bad knitting

Tessa Dare takes us back to Spindle Cove, the haven for bluestockings, spinsters, and awkward young ladies needing some polish. Most of the book takes place in London, but it begins and ends in Spindle Cove.
The hero and heroine are great characters, and they grow and change over the course of the novel. Pauline takes on a little bit of shine, and Griffin finds a bit of humility.

Although this is part of a series, it isn't imperative that you read the others first.
Definitely worth the credit.

8 people found this helpful

I'm still spasming from my eargasm!

I’m kicking myself in the nuts. Why did I ever wait to dig into a Tessa Dare book. Hands down, one of the best-written and funniest and equally romantic regency romance books I’ve ever read/listened. It was really REALLY good. Funny story, a while ago, I travelled to Spain and I actually met with Tessa Dare in person. We were both attendants of a summit there. But the thing is although I knew her books, I never knew she wrote them. In my defense, I haven’t read any MF in a couple years and I only do some MF regency romance on audio sometimes. But it’s quite rare for me to read MF these days. LOL, I didn’t realize it was her until we parted. But luckily, I took some pics with her. Anyhow, she has so many books that are highly raved by all my book buddies so it was a real challenge for me to decide which one to pop my TD cherry. I went on to audible and listened the samples of all her books out there and Spindle Cove series attracted me the most. And this book, this book called to me, like a siren would to a desperate sailor. 2 minutes into listening this book and I was already laughing like crazy. What an entertaining and enthralling listen! And now, let’s get onto reviewing. Griffin York, the Duke of Halford is the fourth richest man in England and needless to say the most eligible bachelor that all women chase through a season. And our Griff was blessed not only with many properties and enormous wealth but also with a wicked, diabolical, headstrong mother. Griff is determined to not marry now or ever and his mother is equally determined to get him married off soon and have cute, little, adorable grandchildren whom she can spoil rotten. When Griff realized that he was kidnapped by his own devilish mother to the notorious Spindle Cove where wallflowers of England gather and recuperate, he knew it’s time to teach a lesson to his mother once and for all. She wanted her to choose a bride on spot while standing in a pub full of England’s aristocratic spinsters and he chose a barmaid that walked into the pub that very moment. Talk about a destiny, huh? But who knew, she really was his destiny at that moment. Pauline Simms, the barmaid of Bulls and Blossoms café in Spindle Cove and the elder daughter of the Simms family is not having a good day. And to top her misery, she was humiliated by the arrogant Duke of Halford when he chose her out of all women in the café because she was the most ineligible spouse possible for him. But Pauline isn’t anything if not determined, brave and optimistic. If the Duke of Halford and his mother wanted a disaster coming to their way, they are surely going to get that. As one unexpected events after another turned out, Pauline found herself riding in the most luxurious coach she has ever ridden on her way to London to be taught how to be a duchess by none other than the current Duchess of Halford. The plan was simple, stay in London for a week, cause the most disastrous ruckus she can ever manage to cause, break the hopes of Duchess’ wish for grandchildren, take a thousand pounds and return to Spindle Cove to have an amazing life with her younger sister. The plan certainly didn’t include to fall in love in a week and that’s what she managed to accomplish during her stay in London. To say Pauline and Griff isn’t compatible with each other would be an understatement. They are the polar opposite of each other. But despite their differences, Griff is inexplicably attracted to feisty, sassy-mouthed and determined Pauline. The Duke of Halford doesn’t have all happiness and cherry in his heart, he has been carrying a dark dark secret for more than a year and seems like no one but Pauline seems to get him. And Pauline knows better than to fall for an aristocratic rake like Duke of Halford. She’s only here in London for a week so that Griff can teach a lesson to his mother. She knows that she can be a mistress of Griff at best and a forgotten fling at worst. But the heart wants what it wants. Under the façade of an uncaring, rakish and charming duke, she knows there’s a man with a broken heart and dark secrets no one knows. And Pauline is determined to heal Griff’s shattered heart before she has to return to Spindle Cove for good. Oh my God! Eva Kaminsky narrated the hell out of this book! This is my first ever listen of hear narration and I’m head over heels in love with her voice and performance. I even bought a few other books that she narrated right away. She really captured the essence of this story with her stellar performance. I’m not going to lie, I went into this story thinking this is going to be a hilarious, fluffy and low-angst romance. After all, the funny aspect of this story is what compelled me to listen in the very beginning and boy, was I wrong. This was so much more than Tessa Dare’s superbly written entertaining banters and a damsel in distress romance. This story has a depth, that bittersweet angst and most of all, old yet true principle of all time, that “love can conquer anything” in the end. And talk about the balance of love, smut, funny banters and interesting characters. I was truly truly hooked. I binge listened this story in 2 days. And boy, I know this is going to sound ridiculous to most people but as I’m a dedicated lover of MM romance and straight sex weirds me out whenever I read MF these days. But it’s not the case in this story. It was sizzling! My my, the palpable sexual tension of our protagonists and that sweet moment when they finally consummated their love? Hot, hotter and hottest! Tessa Dare made it to my favorite authors list with my very first read of hers. And yes, she really is the queen of funny and tasteful banters! Yes, this story is not perfection and everything since there are some a bit unrealistic moments and their love was a bit too insta. But despite everything, I really loved this book and it was a perfect ending for our two beloved MCs. Heartwarming, sweet, hot and so swoon-worthy! An baby made in heaven by talented Tessa Dare’s amazing writing and equally talented Eva Kaminsky’s performance. Couldn’t recommend this book enough. 5 You are all spangled with sugar stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The rating for audio 5 stars for the story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for the narration ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for the performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Over all 10 big stars of eargasms stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4 people found this helpful

Fun twist of Cinderella's Story

The storyline is so amusing and kept my interest till the end. It's about irresponsible, living in debauchery Duke who wants to spite his overbearing mother by marrying a serving girl. Bravo for both the author and the narrator with excellent job, and my first audio from the Spindle Cove series, love to venture another series.

4 people found this helpful

Love Tessa Dare

From the beginning, I loved these characters. Great storyline and a wonderful ending. Brought a tear to my eye with the final line.

1 person found this helpful

Unlikely love match but cute story regardless

Story reminded me of Cinderella, but it was such a feel good book. I actually finished it in one day because I enjoyed reading it so much. The story even has the 12 am clock bells going off and her running away leaving a shoe behind. But the story is truly not silly. Ok that part was but it is done in a classier manner than I just reduced it to. ☺ so read it and enjoy the turn around of a Duke from a rake to a kind, generous and giving gentleman. A definite read

5 people found this helpful

Enjoyed- Any Duchess Will Do!

What made the experience of listening to Any Duchess Will Do the most enjoyable?

I loved the concept of the Cinderella story but much better. The love that develops between Griffin York, the Duke of Halford and Pauline Simms was beautiful. also loved Griffins Mother. I laugh out loud when all the servant where called and every one was confessing of what they did wrong it was hilarious, very, very funny, you got to read it you will appreciate it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford and Pauline Simms and Griffins Mother.

What does Eva Kaminsky bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love it when there is a good reader and Eva Kaminsky was that !

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to the story in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I very much enjoyed this Book and I recommend this Book. I love when there are happy endings and I can enjoy the characters and not get angry at them.

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant love story and great narrator

It has all the marks of a great story...with all the emotions that comes with it...finding true love and true friendship, anguish, pain, hilarity (was really funny when they got stuck together..litteraly),...and they live happily ever after...

2 people found this helpful

Any Duchess Will Do

Good read; Good storyline. Excellent Narrator. Couldn't stop listening. I did the book in one sitting.

Great listen

Eva narrates so well the story is allowed to just flow. Griff’s attitude towards and treatment of Pauline from the very beginning set him apart from his peers. Even his mother’s acceptance is exceptional. Pauline, of course , steals the limelight with her strength and honesty. A great story with depth and interesting characters. And, of course, a happy ending!