Scan barcode
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition
4.0
Three intrepid princesses find themselves targets in a deadly plot against the crown—until their uncle devises a brilliant plan to keep them safe...
England, 1888. Quiet and scholarly Princess Emilie has always avoided adventure, until she’s forced to disguise herself as a tutor in the household of the imposing Duke of Ashland, a former soldier disfigured in battle and abandoned by his wife. When chance draws her into a secret liaison with the duke, Emilie can’t resist the opportunity to learn what lies behind his forbidding mask, and find out what adventure really means...
The duke never imagines that his son’s tutor and his mysterious golden-haired beauty are one and the same. But when the true identity of his lover is laid bare, Ashland must face the demons in his past in order to safeguard both his lady—and his heart.
**
From Booklist
Starred Review After her father and brother-in-law are assassinated, Princess Emilie of Holstein-Schweinwald-Huhnhof and her two sisters flee to England. Upon arriving, their uncle, the Duke of Olympia, convinces the young women that their future safety rests on disguising themselves as young gentlemen. All of which explains exactly why Emilie finds herself dressed up in suit and whiskers, playing the role of Tobias Grimsby, the newest tutor to Lord Frederick Silverton. Ever since returning home from an ill-fated adventure in India that left him disfigured and disillusioned, Freddie’s father, the Duke of Ashland, refuses to receive visitors, attend social functions, or set foot outside his estate in Yorkshire. Once Freddie finishes his studies and sets off for Oxford, the duke is determined to live out the rest of his days in solitude. At least, that was the plan—until the duke meets Freddie’s latest tutor. After delighting romance readers with her spectacular Affairs by Moonlight trilogy, Gray is right on target to do it again. Gray’s witty writing, flawless characterization, and fanciful plotting make this Victorian-set historical romance an absolute treasure. --John Charles
Review
"Emotionally electric scenes between strong characters make this one a winner." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review
ameretet's review against another edition
2.0
theproficientreader's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the premise - a princess who's hiding from her father's murderers by pretending to be a guy, who doesn't love that? - but the execution, well, not so much.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Stephanie, Emilie, and Luisa are sisters that are in danger of being killed just as their father was slain. The girls leave Germany to stay with an uncle. Their uncle, Olympia, decides to send them out to various households as servants and disguised as men. This book is the story of Emilie. The author does a great job of describing the bar brawl where Emilie meets the Duke, Ashland. I laughed imagining Emilie trying to fight and hold on to a chicken leg.
As Emilie tutors the duke's son, Freddie, she becomes very curious about the monthly late night escapades of Ashland. While meeting with her former governess she is mistaken for his companion. They have a very, sweet but super hot affair. I loved, loved the way Emilie took matters into her own hands and came on to the duke despite knowing he was married. He can't resist although his hesitance is admirable because he doesn't want to commit adultery. I adored him. He's a stand up, take charge guy. He was honorable, vulnerable, and just as willing to give love as to take. Despite his physical handicaps he was head and shoulders above many other heroes. He took in a daughter, continued to give his wife an allowance even after she left, and risked his life for Emilie. They were a great match.
There was a liberal amount of intrigue with bullets flying, poisoned drinks, covert agents, and several daring rescues. Several times the author would add inflection to a character's dialogue. For example, He said ""come in"" and a note would read ""said as if he was saying I'll let you in now but by God i don't want you here. This added richness of detail and a dash of humor. This couple played no games. They loved each other and were fiercely protective of each other. I will definitely be reading about the other sisters.
roseybot's review against another edition
3.0
The side characters, most of the humorous bits, kind of the mystery.
Less delightful:
The possessiveness, per usual, the god awful dialect.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fun read!
I wasn't expecting to love the book as much as I did. My only complain is that I didn't like the choice of words the author did in some cases. I felt like all would be much more attractive if she had chosen some other words to express what she wanted to say.
But apart from that, the book is perfect - funny, witty, intriguing and surprisingly sensual.
The scenes when Emilie and Ashland met in the Ashland Spa Hotel had this fantastic erotic aura that caught me by surprise.
Who would say that a woman using a blindfold, stripping to her chemise and then sitting beside the fire to simply read to the man would be so sensual?
Besides, the story of our protagonists is very much touching.
I felt so sorry for Ashland. He was such a great man and his bitch of a wife left him because he was no longer the attractive young man she married.
He came back from the war scarred and disabled. His face was mangled and he no longer had an eye and his right hand. How tragic!
For 12 years he lived in solitude, holding on to the memory of that woman who chose to leave him and their son, Freddie, and believing himself unworthy of love and affection.
And then Emilie appeared and he started living again.
He opened himself up to the world and the people around him. He decided it was time to finally finish the chapter of his life that what his marriage to Freddie's mother and move on. And most important than all, he found love and fought for it.
And that's why I love our heroine, Emilie.
She was a scholar, a extraordinary unconventional woman, an ancient spirit in a young body and she was able to, not only break herself free of the prison that was her life as a princess, but also free Ashland of his desolate life.
And can I just say how hilarious Freddie, Ashland's teenage son, was? I laughed out loud a lot with him and his histrionics.
Read this book. Seriously.
sadie_rae's review against another edition
5.0
Our story starts out with Three Princesses (sisters) who have been forced to flee there home after there father(and one of the princesses husbands) was murdered leaving the princesses open to kidnapping and murder plots. Upon arival at there uncles home he sends each off to various vocational positions in disguise in hopes of keeping them alive long enough to figure out who is behind said plots. Princess Emilie finds herself in the position of tutor to Fredrick the son of the Duke of Ashland. After getting over the initial shock of seeing Ashland's scars Emilie quickly finds herself falling in love with the Duke. And in a happy case of mistaken identity Ashland starts to fall for her as well, only he doesn't know that the woman Emilie is also Mr.Grimsby, his sons tutor.
Once everything comes to light things quickly come to a head and when the dust settles your still not entirely sure of what's what and whom can be trusted. And even though it looks as if she has been cleared for now, I'm still not crazy about the governess's, Miss Dingleby's, loyalties. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book and then seeing everything come to light in the third. In the end 5 stars!
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a risky game, playing both tutor and seductive stranger, but Emilie succeeds in capturing the duke’s heart. But what will happen when he learns that his mystery woman is not only a member of his household, but a princess being targeted by assassins?
Juliana Gray has constructed a plot worthy of the Bard himself. Disguises, intrigue, danger, and romance fill the pages of How to Tame Your Duke and I, for one, could not be happier.
Emilie is the scholarly middle sister of the three Holstein-Schweinwald-Huhnhof princesses. All her life she’s been defined by her role as princess, but now that she has a chance to break free, Emilie truly comes into her own. I loved that she was a mix of bluestocking, adventurer, and romantic. She was the perfect match in every way for Ashland. The duke in question is a man who deserves all the happiness that comes his way. He’s honorable and caring, but his time on the battlefield has left him deeply scarred outside and the abandonment of his wife has left its own marks within. He’s a good man, but not fully alive until Emilie comes along, and watching his interaction with Emilie both as his mystery woman and as “Grimsby,” his son’s tutor, was a delight. And speaking of his son, Freddie might just be my favorite character in How to Tame Your Duke. The young lord is a teenager too smart for his own good, which made him a wonderfully entertaining character. Indeed, it’s Freddie who brings the bright spots to How to Tame Your Duke, ensuring there is humor mixed in with the seriousness and suspense.
How to Tame Your Duke is the first book in a trilogy featuring Emilie and her two sisters. Though we don’t see much of Stefanie or Luisa, I’m eager to learn more about them and the fate of the German principality they call home. I finished How to Tame Your Duke a well-satisfied reader, and I can’t wait to read Stefanie’s book, How to Master Your Marquis!
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.