The Duke of Abernathe is a great friend to have. He’s wild and charismatic. However, he’s vowed that he’ll never marry even though he’s never told anyone why. Now his sister’s friend Emma has asked him to help her to gain the attention of other men. He agrees, not realizing how easy it is to be around her.
This was a quick and fulfilling read. The author does a great job in really showing the characters in a limited amount of time. I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Sometimes the beginnings of a Regency Romance series (The 1797 Club) is just a means of introducing the characters where the actual plot is merely a ploy to get our attention. Not so in the Daring Duke by Jess Michaels who draws us into the lives of James, the Duke of Abernathe, and Miss Emma Liston, two individuals with a mutual dislike of their fathers. James, the replacement son, could never win the approval of his abusive father, while Emma's dad, although absent most of the time, is an embarrassment waiting to happen. Their mothers' sufferings exhibit themselves in different ways, putting an additional burden on their children.

Emma, a bluestocking, is being pushed to marry well so she can provide for her mother when the money runs out. Her predicament makes her sympathetic to the Duke's sister Meg, helping her deal with her drunken mom at one of the social events. Meg and Emma instantly hit it off and Meg asks her brother to dance with "the wallflower", wanting to return the favor. She knows that once Arbernathe dances with one of the debutantes, their stock rises as others want a taste of anyone who garners the duke's attention, especially since he is stingy with his selections. James is unexpectedly intrigued when he discovers the girl has beautiful eyes and a smile which transforms her normally plain features. His attraction grows as he comes to appreciate her intelligent and straight forward style as contrasted with the fawning, simpering females who normally cater to his whims. Emma just wants to be left alone, but she finds herself succumbing not only to the Duke's charm, but to the secret hurt he hides beneath the charismatic exterior. Meg begins to invite Emma to various social events, including a two week house party in the country where the two potential lovers are thrown together leading to some interesting turn of events.

Add in some steamy sexual encounters, a villain, and a buffoon, plus several members of the 1797 club and you get a pleasant afternoon read which, by avoiding boring interludes and keeping the plot from meandering into the mundane, is just long enough to get the job done.

Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read:

I've been finicky in my reading choices lately and often, I'll start a new book and then immediately stop reading it, but that didn't happen with The Daring Duke. It drew me in and brought my emotions out from the beginning and the more I read, the more I grew to love it! It was just wonderful and I'm so glad that this is going to be a long series because I completely fell in love with the men from the 1797 Club!

I loved Emma from the moment I met her and how could I not? She is smart and true and real. She's kind and compassionate and it's true that she's not very confident and has what she thinks are awkward moments, but that really only endeared Emma to me more. Emma is full of integrity and honor and she is an absolutely amazing woman!

The Duke, what should I say about the Duke? Well, James has the reputation for being the life of the party, always with a smile on his face and ready to commit daring acts. It's quite true that he is all of those things, but there's more to him than that and while I fell in love with all of him, it was that "more" that I fell in love. James is teasing and playful, he's sweet, generous, and protective, but he has his moments of fear and doubt and vulnerability that caught my heart. James is a fantastic hero and I have no doubts that he'll steal your heart too!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading The Daring Duke! It can be hard to find really great historical romances that are easy to connect to sometimes, but I had no problems with this one. I felt the same emotions as the characters: heartbreak, frustration, anger, yearning, joy, and love. This is a story full of moments that will make you want to cry, will make you gasp and laugh and fill your heart with passion and warmth. It was such a lovely, lovely read and I CANNOT wait to read the next book!

The Daring Duke is the first book in The 1797 Club, it's told from James and Emma's POV, and their happy ending but a huge smile on my face!

~ A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia, 5 Stars

A wallflower and a dashing Duke make a sizzling combination but not before a few misunderstanding are resolved. Loved it.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

James Rylon, the Duke of Abernathe, was the unwanted heir. He forms the 1797 Club consisting of ten friends who are going to be dukes. The club members support each other and help teach James what he needs to know to be the Duke.

Emma Liston is an wallflower that needs to be married. Her father has been absent for a while, but every time he returns, he brings a new scandal. When he returns, her chance for marriage will be gone.

Emma meets Lady Margaret, James' sister, at a ball and they become fast friends after Emma helps them with their mother. Margaret invites Emma to a country party. James realises that he can help Emma and develops a plot to pretend he is interested in Emma so she can gain the attention of others.

Along the way, James realises that he is attracted to Emma to the point he doesn't want another man to have her. When her father returns with disturbing news, can James truly save her?



This is a great beginning to the 1797 Club Series! I loved James, Emma and Margaret. (I can't wait for Margaret to get her HEA.) I wanted to smack Emma's mother for how she treated Emma. The best part of the ending was how James put Mrs. Liston in her place!

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

This is book one from the author's new, The 1797 Club Series. The charming Duke of Abernathe and Miss Emma Liston decide to start a pretend courtship with each other that will be mutually beneficial to both of them. It will help the Duke get rid of the grasping mothers and daughters that want him for his title, at least for a season and it will help generate interest in Emma so that she can marry someone as soon as possible.

It is a good plot but didn't have the depth and emotion that I have come to expect from this author. The characters seemed a little shallow and underdeveloped and there didn't seem to be a real reason for conflict. I understand that the hero wanted revenge on his father but somehow the emotions were missing in the narration of that part. The romance in between the hero and heroine seemed forced and didn't have the usual "scorching the sheets" feel that is usually seen in this author's book. I am so disappointed with this book as I am a huge fan of this author. I also didn't quite get the fact that there are ten dukes in the club. It seems too fantastical to have so many dukes of the same age at the same time in England. Also, they all formed a club to separate themselves from others, like an Elitist group? I didn't like that part of the story either. Apart from the basis of the ten Duke club, I am still looking forward to Meg's story.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I finished reading this book about an hour ago and decided to write my review tomorrow because I was tired. So I went on Twitter and right away I see the cover of this book so I told the writer how much I loved it. She was so happy to hear it that I had to come here and write the review. The hero is a Duke his name is James and even though he's rich and handsome his life was rough. Miss Liston has a similar background so they find comfort in each other. This story has twists and turns and it's never boring. I like that James and his friends form this elite club but it's to help each other. I can't wait to read about the other men in the club. I loved loved loved the story and the way it's written. Her style reminds me of Barbara Cartland but spicier.

Wonderful start to the new series "The 1797 Club".

Long ago the Duke of Abernathe got together with his group of friends to form this club. It was for each of the young men that we destined to be dukes. They were to be there to support each other as they made there way as dukes.

James decided long ago that he would never marry. He saw to much hurt and heartache from his parents to ever want to be in the same position. His best way to get back at his father is to let his line end with him. But when he meets Emma Liston, he finds himself drawn to her. She doesn't fawn all over him because he is a duke. And she is honest with her thoughts and opinions. It is refreshing.

Emma has been a wallflower for the last 4 years. She finds herself in need of a husband before her absentee father returns with more scandal. So when she asks her friends brother to help her, she never expects to find herself falling for him. But when her father returns with the news that he has given away her hand in marriage, she is horrified at what her father has planned for her. When James comes to her rescue, she must decide if the two of them can find a way to make their relationship work.

Great start to this series. As always, love Jess Michaels characters. I am looking forward to more stories in this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1947469571?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

4.25*
This is another great start to a series that has caught my full attention. One of the thing that I can say about Jess Michaels is that she can make me cry in a prologue more times then any other author. In this first book we meet janes Rylon the Duke of Abernathe raised by a father who treated him with contempt, a mother that drank her sorrows away and a sister Meg who he adored. When he was young he and his friends formed The 1797 Club made up of their friends who were to be Dukes. They became his extended family. Emma Liston is a wallflower because she's to intelligent for her own good and nothing to offer a future husband. She's watched James from afar, he's always made her nervous. He's larger then life to perfect, the golden boy and way to handsome. Then one night at a ball she helps Meg with her mother and everything changes. James starts to notice all the things he's never noticed before and he starts to crave getting to know her better. They strike up a plan to help ea h other out but the more time spent together the more they begin to need each other. Their grand plan just might backfire on them.
I can not wait to read the next book and Meg gets her HEA.

Miss Emma Liston is a wallflower and needs to marry, the problem is she’s a wallflower and she has no prospects to marry. While Emma and Lady Meg, the Dukes’ sister, are together talking at the ball when Meg's mother joins them, it is obvious that she is drunk and about to cause a scandal. Poor Emma is no stranger to scandal, her father gambles and is hardly around and she helps Lady Meg avoid a scandal. James the Duke is worried about the gossip and Emma’s involvement in helping Meg. James is concerned about his family and who gets close to them and he approaches Emma and he finds he is actually intrigued by her. The two strike a bargain where James helps Emma find a husband and by his interest in Emma will help to keep all the ladies of the ton from bothering him. Emma and James both have troubled pasts with their parents, will they let their past and their parents define them or keep them from finding true love and happiness that neither thought they deserved.
I received this book from net galley for an honest review.

What’s it About? A group of boys in line to become dukes form a club they call “The 1797 Club” in order to help each other navigate the world that they’ll soon be a part of. As adults they’ve become more like brothers and their unofficial leader James, The Duke of Abernathe has sworn never to marry. He's making good on his promise until he meets wallflower Emma Liston. When James finds out that Emma needs to marry and fast, he agrees to a pretend courtship to improve her chances of attracting suitors. Except it's too easy for James and Emma to be together and when her scandalous father reappears with news for Emma, James quickly steps in to save her. By marrying her.


Describe the hero in five words: Kind. Intelligent. Vulnerable. Funny. Loyal.

Did you like him? I fell in love with him.

Why? James was a powerful man, a duke but throughout the entire story I saw him as this kind, patient, passionate man who was more than a little bewildered by his attraction to Emma. He was genuinely shocked and unsure of himself when it came to her and that vulnerability was endearing to me. He didn’t act like the world revolved around him, he was more of a reluctant duke and he truly cared for those in his inner circle. I loved the glimpses of his relationship with the other members of the 1797 Club because it showed just how much these men respect and care for each other. However it was James’ relationship with his sister that really got me right in the heart. He adores his sister Meg and would do anything for her and that’s clear in the way the two interact. They’re true siblings, teasing and supporting each other. My heart ached for James and how he was forced to grow up but in some ways it made him into such a caretaker of those too weak to defend themselves. I was in love from the moment I saw how he was with his sister and then with Emma.



Describe the heroine in five words: Observant. Caring. Intelligent. Funny. Honest.

Did you like her? Yes. She’s best friend material.

Why? Despite Emma’s low view of her place in society, she’s a doll. She was kind and courteous even when people didn’t deserve it and she had a different kind of strength in her that came from having lived her life waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. I loved her pragmatic attitude but at the same time I loved watching Emma become more hopeful and trusting when it came to James and Meg. Emma was such a sweet and likable character that even I wanted to jump into the book and defend her whenever she was treated badly. I hardly ever feel like that about a character! Emma definitely had the most growth in the book, going from someone who didn’t dream of much happiness to someone who fought for the dreams she was starting to have and who started to stand up for herself because she her own worth. I love characters like that, especially female ones.



How convincing were the main characters as a couple? Jess Michaels brought the heat and sexual tension to the relationship but an added bonus was the deep friendship that James and Emma built along the way. They were both so honest with each other and it definitely influenced the direction and tone of their relationship in the best way, they saw through the other’s pretenses as well which definitely deepened their strong connection but their attraction to one another was what was surprising to both of them. I loved watching James and Emma navigate the unexpected obstacles that their attraction brought. Their frustrations, their self torment, all


Is there a “Scooby Gang” worth mentioning? With ten dukes being the focus of the series some or all of them were bound to make appearances. The 1797 Club isn’t a typical men’s club like had thought. These men have a great affection for each other beyond the regular shoulder slapping, drink guzzling, womanizing relationship that usually defines these kinds of clubs. To put it in more blunt terms, it’s one big bromance going on and I loved it. These men are bonded through emotional struggles, not physical ones and that did change the dynamic of their friendships. James’ closest friends are fun but they also knew when to let their guards down and be there for James. I’m dying to get to know all of them but it was Simon and Baldwin who drew my attention the most. Simon seemed to be hiding something having to do with James’ sister Meg whom James betrothed to his other friend Graham. And Baldwin had a moment with James where he offers some advice and it was a personal piece of advice that showed how much these men trust one another. The only supporting character I just couldn’t stand was Emma’s mother. I can’t stand a scheming, nagging, mother who expects to be taken care of.




How “Lost” did you get in the story? Oh man, it didn’t take me long to become engrossed in James and Emma’s romance. But it wasn’t just the romance though! There’s an entire cast that is both mysterious and engaging. Jess Michaels has something special here with her group of dukes who are more family to each other than anyone else. I loved the dynamics between the men and though all of the club members have yet to be introduced, if James is any indication on how these men are I just know that this is going to be one heck of a series.



Click It or Skip It? Click It and prepare to fall in love with James and his fellow club members!

The Daring Duke is the introduction to Jess Michaels’ 1797 Club series. The club, consisting of ten dukes or future dukes, gets its name from the year it was founded. James, the hero, creates the group at Eton as a child after being abused by his father. The purpose of the club is for the ducal heirs to learn how to be dukes and support one another. I quite enjoyed this premise and am looking forward to reading the future books. While the titles were all a bit overwhelming at first, this book mostly focused on James and his two best friends. The trauma of James’ childhood would go on to have a lasting impact on him and be his motivation behind later actions.

We meet grown-up James again at a ballroom where we are also introduced to the heroine, Emma. She is a blue-stocking and a wallflower. After recently having re-read Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter and then devouring her new Devil in Spring, I was primed to read about another wallflower. They’re one of my favorite tropes because people always underestimate them. It is clear that Emma is attracted to James but she believes that he will never see her. However, a newly forming friendship between Emma and James’ sister, Meg, means James and Emma are now in each other’s company a lot more. Emma needs to marry soon because of her horrible family while James wants to avoid the ton’s marriage market. While they both are attracted to each other, James comes up with a way for them both help each other. By courting Emma, the ducal James will make her more attractive to other suitors. Once their courtship ends, James can plead a broken heart and avoid the match-making mothers.

At times throughout the book, the courtship plot wore a bit thin. It was obvious to everyone around them that James was starting to care for Emma but he kept denying his feelings. This continued even as they had secretive amorous encounters. Emma, in the meantime, was forced to fend off her overly zealous mother. When Emma’s father returns, circumstances force both James and Emma to truly examine their feelings for each other.

Some additional things I enjoyed about the book: The acknowledgement that Emma’s mother was equally as horrible as her father. She was constantly manipulating her and I was afraid that her horribleness was just going to be brushed aside.

Also, Meg! I adored James’ sister and I can’t wait to read about her again. I have a feeling she’s going to be in the next book.

Overall, this was a really pleasant read. James and Emma were both likable characters who still had personal trauma’s to overcome. This book was an excellent start to the series. It’s clear that all the dukes are going to have books and there were some interesting tidbits dropped about them throughout this story. I’m definitely going to continue with this series.

THE DARING DUKE is the first book in Jess Michaels new 1797 Club series. And I'm so glad I found it! The series centers around 10 young men that are in line for their respective dukedoms. They have formed the 1797 Club while at boarding school with James Rylon, The Duke of Abernathe as the leader. He has a pretty crappy childhood and is in need of some support and guidance.
James is the first to come into his dukedom. He's sworn off marriage after his parents marriage was such a disaster. He's a born leader, handsome, bold, a wild child and in Emma's words golden.
Emma is a wallflower, plain (in her eyes) and a bluestocking. She doesn't think these are marriageable qualities. She also has a way of assuming things that aren't true and that doesn't work in her favor.
I thought this book was really good, a awesome start to what I hope is a fantastic series, The characters are nicely developed and well written with a side of witty banter. I'm excited for the next release which is Simon's book!

I love this opening book to Jess Michaels' new series! A whole series dedicated to powerful dukes falling in love - count me in!

The first focuses on the "leader" of the 1797 club, James, who unintentionally falls for wallflower Emma. The chemistry and romance are steamy as always and I had a very hard time putting this book down. I can't wait for Meg's book and look forward to the rest of this series.

Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book via Netgalley!

Great start to a new series! Emma and James are great characters and the story had me hooked from beginning to end. Steamy chemistry and a great story, looking forward to more.

Jess Michaels is an author I have been wanting to read for a while now. I’ve heard good things about her other series, so when I saw this book on netgalley I requested it. Because it is the first book in what will be a 10 book series, I knew I wouldn’t be missing out on any backstory or character nuance and looked forward to getting in on the ground floor, as it were. I requested and received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

As the two star rating indicates, this book was ok. For the most part, it reminded me of middle school with all Emma’s worries about being popular vs a wallflower, her worries about not being on James’s same social level, and for all the times she needed reassuring that people genuinely liked her. I did not find that charming or endearing and really wanted to shake some self-esteem into her. Also, she claims to be a bluestocking, but never really shares how – no reading or science hobbies were mentioned. She’s just sort of there. As for James, he must be the most stubbornly obtuse man in creation. He can’t see that his sister and Simon are in love, that Graham doesn’t want to marry Meg, that James, himself, is in love with Emma. He’s supposed to be the leader of this club, but he really doesn’t act like the bon vivant he’s supposed to be. Instead, I felt like we had the same conversations – between Emma and Meg, Emma and her mother, James and Emma – repeatedly. Which led to pacing problems and I wound up putting this book down for a few days, reluctant to pick it back up for fear of more of the same.

Even the setting gave me trouble. The bulk of the story is set during a house party, but almost every event mentioned during the party was a ball. There were no other settings or amusements for James and Emma to find mischief or love together. They were always dancing when there could have been picnics, games, evenings in a salon, musicals, plays, or horseback rides on the grounds. That is a HUGE missed opportunity!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the idea of a generation of dukes all coming of age and into their titles at the same time. Of them being school friends and helping each other through life’s ups and downs. So, in general, I have hope that the series will improve with each book and look forward to reading Meg and Simon’s story next.

To marry--or not!

It's all here. The band of friends who have each other's back from their school days at Braxton Academy. They form the 1797 club, for the heirs of Dukes. That band of brothers' support carries over into their futures as peers and leaders of the land. A great premise for a series. The group is led by the gorgeous 'golden' James, the Duke of Abernathe.
Then there's the wall flower, the intellectual young woman, Miss Emma Liston, whose life has heavy secrets. Emma catches the interest of the Duke of Abenathe with her discrete interaction with his sister and mother in a difficult situation.
James is determined not to marry, to have his name die out. Emma is being pushed into marry by her mother, no matter the type of man as long as he can provide. What starts as a glancing comment to a solution to both their problems ends up taking root.
Emma's father's gambling habits lead to situations we've seen before. Here it is played out with somewhat less effect.
There is so much hinted at and happening in this novel, that the tension between James and Emma, the heated exchanges of more than one sort, became somewhat swamped. Emma is the more interesting of the two. James is somewhat wooden, but then with his upbringing it's no wonder.
I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series develops.

A NetGalley ARC
(March 2017)

Wow! What a great start to a new series. The two main characters were so likeable, James and Emma. They were so different in personalities but both had been shaped by their dysfunctional parents. I was gripped from the first page, it was a real page turner. We were also introduced to other dukes in the group, as well as Margaret, the sister of James. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the stories in the series. It has romance, banter between friends and an element of danger. Definitely a book to recommend.

I did receive an arc from Netgalley which I voluntarily reviewed and this is my honest review. I also purchased a copy for my kindle.

'The Daring Duke' by Jess Michaels is the First book in the "The 1797 Club". This is this is the story of James, Duke of Abernathe and Miss Emma Liston. The 1797 Club was started by James and his friends at school in the year 1797. The club is to help fellow Dukes grow into their position and to continue to help each other. They formed the Club after they saw how Jame's father treated and berated him. James didn't have a great childhood and has sworn off marrying anyone. Emma is a Wallflower who also has an upsetting family life. When Emma steps up to help Jame's sister Meg, it opens James up to helping Emma which started with a dance. Meg is taken with Emma and they become fast friends. Which has lead Meg to invite Emma to her house. This leads to James getting to know Emma better. This will supposedly be helping Emma gain attentions of single men with the end result that will lead to marriage. James is starting to find that Emma is different from other women he has known. But will he go forward with his growing feelings or live with the vow of never marring?
This was another hot and exciting read by Ms. Michael's!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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