This book a major page turner that I could not put down from cover to cover lost some sleep but was so worth it! Bravo Jess Russell for this is her debut book but she writes as if she had been an established author for decades! I would give a bazillion stars if allowed. I absolutely loved this beautifully written, fast paced regency. I am so forward to more books by this wonderful New York City author.
The Dressmaker's Duke by Jess Russell
5/5 stars
Reviewed by Barb Batlan-Massabrook
Setting: End of March,
1810, London, England
Heroe of this story is the handsome but all aloof Rhys Alistair James Merrick, The Duke of Roydan who has many insecurities for loosing his mother at age eight, a woman who had showered him with love and then being brought up by an above his cold selfish mean evil, the former Duke of Roydan, hisfather. His allofness is really a shyness and insecurities and he never wants to grow up like his cruel father who was always whoring and mistreating others. So the ton and the papers have decided to make fun of him as in character drawings as 'the Monk. He did have selfish vain mistress he recently ended and that is how he meets up with the dressmaker as Daria Battersby former mistress of five years ordered five more gowns and other female flipperies as he calls them, but his association had already ended, but Olivia demands payment. He agrees only if she she will model and walk with them on! As some parts are hilarious for example comparing her walk to just looking at lines of a fine horse without seeing it run he might be purchasing. I love when humor pokes it's head from such serious lonely type of character made it that much more fun to read.
The reader will find that Rhys is actually a very complicated, lonely human being whom you can't help but feel empathy, and fall in love with. Who wouldn't want to heal this handsome abused Duke's wounds. He can tell those who only befriend him for his title and then there is Olive only a dressmaker that does not care a bit about his title and refuses his over generous offer to be a contracted mistress though he is honest stating he is to be married soon. It is only to save his mother's favorite estate and lands which you will have to read the reasons and why as this would be a major spoiler which I don't want to do so the readers will enjoy even more. Let's just say this marriage is just your usual ton arranged marriage where each party us unsuitable and even desire the marriage. Just seems it's the family relations that are definitely pulling for this marriage especially the harpy mother-law to be who is a definite piece of work!
The heroine of this book widower Mrs.Olivia Jane Weston some would lower class is an independent young woman determined to make it on her own and not be some man's property or else have no choice but to make money on their back in the oldest profession as a prostitute. This is not even option for this straight laced young beautiful young dress designer, seamstress and secret painter.
Olivia has had such a tragic life, loosing a parent at such a young age and as she had been married to a young soldier who dies unexpectedly in an unusual accident during his military training. Olivia is widowed at the young age 25 and at the same time lost a baby due to premature birth. Afterward she was told she could no longer have any more children and was now barren. Olivia knows the choices are very slim for a woman without a protector it's either prostitution or go into to trade, she chose the later. As she is an extremely talented dress designer and seamstress, but new to town as she hasn't been in London in thirteen years for reasons she keeps to herself. She befriends the older nurse caring for her and also a widower Mrs. Eggatine Wiggins she call Egg affectionately. When Olivia lost her baby Egg become a mother figure in her life as well as her best friend and decided to go into the dressmaking business together.
The business is hurting after spending so much money and time on the former mistress's garments! Olivia and Egg are near starving and need help as her business partner and as Egg is very sick and the Duke has dumped her best customer his mistress Daria who owes her for five gowns and other smaller garments she had made and assumed would pay for and spent a fortune on! Sometimes slipping meals just to pay for the garments materials!Of course the greety and vengeful ex-mistress claimed he would pay and thinks they will get back together. In Olivia's defense how would she know that arrangement had ended and demanded payment! Rhys pays her after realizing it was the attractive woman he had met earlier an oddity pawn shop and helped her not get robbed from the owner who had been Lording him up and down and ignoring nobody Olivia. After all only the titled seem to count to this owners eyes, but to Rhys Duke of Roydan felt the stirrings of something he did not know what, bit wanted to further examine about the mysterious Mrs. Olivia Weston. Once his usual empty feeling returned he would leave it at that and move on.
Then due to Rhys instant attraction to this mere tradeswoman either to find out she is nothing special ask for the gowns he had paid for back which sets Olivia in a panic as the ex-mistress Daria Battersby has them and Olivia has nearly spent all the funds! So Rhys tells her she must compensate in some other way! The rest you the reader will have to read this exceptional book and expect to be dazzled. The attraction and chemistry between these two is instant as you can feel it as well as their past heartaches, hardships, and secrets. They are both two good people trying to make the right choices yet aren't exactly honest and forthcoming plus their are villains in the midst besides a spiteful ex mistress determined to get him back and ruin Olivia! The sad part besides Both the couple hardships and abuse in the past is Rhys has only loved his mother and not sure what's love even is so it was wonderful to watch his heart starts to open and how these two finally resolve their differences and secrets and mistrust and find love.
It has every element you want in a beautifully written historical regency romance: suspense, drama, humor, revenge, mystery, betrayal, unrequited love, and of course love. Plus riveting scenes and adventure with so many twist and turns the reader is never sure what is going to happen next, I always love that is an exceptional book! I also loved the secondary character like Rhys Uncle Bertram and Olivia's friends Jeb and Hazel. Just have a hankie or box of Lenox nearby as some scenes are a wee bit emotional, again that tells me I am reading a very special and powerful book to get that kind of emotions out of me.
All in all this was a spectacular book I enjoyed immensely! I can't praise "The Dressmakers Duke enough it is the rare book that will touch your heart and steal your soul. Absolutely loved it!
This book a major page turner that I could not put down from cover to cover lost some sleep but was so worth it! Bravo Jess Russell for this is her debut book but she writes as if she had been an established author for decades! I would give a bazillion stars if allowed. I absolutely loved this beautifully written, fast paced regency. I am so forward to more books by this wonderful New York City author.
The Dressmaker's Duke by Jess Russell
5/5 stars
Reviewed by Barb Batlan-Massabrook
Setting: End of March,
1810, London, England
Heroe of this story is the handsome but all aloof Rhys Alistair James Merrick, The Duke of Roydan who has many insecurities for loosing his mother at age eight, a woman who had showered him with love and then being brought up by an above his cold selfish mean evil, the former Duke of Roydan, hisfather. His allofness is really a shyness and insecurities and he never wants to grow up like his cruel father who was always whoring and mistreating others. So the ton and the papers have decided to make fun of him as in character drawings as 'the Monk. He did have selfish vain mistress he recently ended and that is how he meets up with the dressmaker as Daria Battersby former mistress of five years ordered five more gowns and other female flipperies as he calls them, but his association had already ended, but Olivia demands payment. He agrees only if she she will model and walk with them on! As some parts are hilarious for example comparing her walk to just looking at lines of a fine horse without seeing it run he might be purchasing. I love when humor pokes it's head from such serious lonely type of character made it that much more fun to read.
The reader will find that Rhys is actually a very complicated, lonely human being whom you can't help but feel empathy, and fall in love with. Who wouldn't want to heal this handsome abused Duke's wounds. He can tell those who only befriend him for his title and then there is Olive only a dressmaker that does not care a bit about his title and refuses his over generous offer to be a contracted mistress though he is honest stating he is to be married soon. It is only to save his mother's favorite estate and lands which you will have to read the reasons and why as this would be a major spoiler which I don't want to do so the readers will enjoy even more. Let's just say this marriage is just your usual ton arranged marriage where each party us unsuitable and even desire the marriage. Just seems it's the family relations that are definitely pulling for this marriage especially the harpy mother-law to be who is a definite piece of work!
The heroine of this book widower Mrs.Olivia Jane Weston some would lower class is an independent young woman determined to make it on her own and not be some man's property or else have no choice but to make money on their back in the oldest profession as a prostitute. This is not even option for this straight laced young beautiful young dress designer, seamstress and secret painter.
Olivia has had such a tragic life, loosing a parent at such a young age and as she had been married to a young soldier who dies unexpectedly in an unusual accident during his military training. Olivia is widowed at the young age 25 and at the same time lost a baby due to premature birth. Afterward she was told she could no longer have any more children and was now barren. Olivia knows the choices are very slim for a woman without a protector it's either prostitution or go into to trade, she chose the later. As she is an extremely talented dress designer and seamstress, but new to town as she hasn't been in London in thirteen years for reasons she keeps to herself. She befriends the older nurse caring for her and also a widower Mrs. Eggatine Wiggins she call Egg affectionately. When Olivia lost her baby Egg become a mother figure in her life as well as her best friend and decided to go into the dressmaking business together.
The business is hurting after spending so much money and time on the former mistress's garments! Olivia and Egg are near starving and need help as her business partner and as Egg is very sick and the Duke has dumped her best customer his mistress Daria who owes her for five gowns and other smaller garments she had made and assumed would pay for and spent a fortune on! Sometimes slipping meals just to pay for the garments materials!Of course the greety and vengeful ex-mistress claimed he would pay and thinks they will get back together. In Olivia's defense how would she know that arrangement had ended and demanded payment! Rhys pays her after realizing it was the attractive woman he had met earlier an oddity pawn shop and helped her not get robbed from the owner who had been Lording him up and down and ignoring nobody Olivia. After all only the titled seem to count to this owners eyes, but to Rhys Duke of Roydan felt the stirrings of something he did not know what, bit wanted to further examine about the mysterious Mrs. Olivia Weston. Once his usual empty feeling returned he would leave it at that and move on.
Then due to Rhys instant attraction to this mere tradeswoman either to find out she is nothing special ask for the gowns he had paid for back which sets Olivia in a panic as the ex-mistress Daria Battersby has them and Olivia has nearly spent all the funds! So Rhys tells her she must compensate in some other way! The rest you the reader will have to read this exceptional book and expect to be dazzled. The attraction and chemistry between these two is instant as you can feel it as well as their past heartaches, hardships, and secrets. They are both two good people trying to make the right choices yet aren't exactly honest and forthcoming plus their are villains in the midst besides a spiteful ex mistress determined to get him back and ruin Olivia! The sad part besides Both the couple hardships and abuse in the past is Rhys has only loved his mother and not sure what's love even is so it was wonderful to watch his heart starts to open and how these two finally resolve their differences and secrets and mistrust and find love.
It has every element you want in a beautifully written historical regency romance: suspense, drama, humor, revenge, mystery, betrayal, unrequited love, and of course love. Plus riveting scenes and adventure with so many twist and turns the reader is never sure what is going to happen next, I always love that is an exceptional book! I also loved the secondary character like Rhys Uncle Bertram and Olivia's friends Jeb and Hazel. Just have a hankie or box of Lenox nearby as some scenes are a wee bit emotional, again that tells me I am reading a very special and powerful book to get that kind of emotions out of me.
All in all this was a spectacular book I enjoyed immensely! I can't praise "The Dressmakers Duke enough it is the rare book that will touch your heart and steal your soul. Absolutely loved it!
