As always a great book by Jess. You have to fall in love with the female lead, Emma, because of her mother - nowadays we'd say that she's a hopeless bitch. The hole lovestory is really cute and I also liked Abernathe's sister Meg a lot and hope that there will be more to her "happy" engagement soon.

*Got the ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

So love a good historical romance and Ms. Michaels delivers again. Solid plot. Excellent writing.

My first book by this author, I found the writing initially a bit choppy and inconsistent, at times somewhat staccato-like in the way the characters spat out words and performed actions without being smoothed out by subtle nuances and mannerisms, and then interspersed with fairly astute observations and descriptions. The protagonists were able to elicit my sympathy, both in their own ways trying to rise above the bad behaviours of their parents and yet both scarred by their pasts enough to influence their outlooks on their futures. In particular, James, the Duke of Abernathe, in an affecting moment, went from an initially insecure young boy overwhelmed by his destined ducal responsibilities and intimidated by his brute of a father to proudly wield his title with devastating self-possession and sense of power, fully grown into his role as one of the most powerful peers in the country.

“I’m the Duke of Abernathe,” James said softly. “With more power and money and influence than the two of you sorry lot put together. I am the Duke of Abernathe and I can do whatever the bloody hell I want. I’m marrying Emma Liston and there is nothing you can do about it.”

Way to go, Your Grace!!

Overall, the booked ended up being much better than the beginning, both characters more complete and stronger and the writing too grew in strength and calibre.

I loved this book! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!

The 1797 club was started by James, Duke of Abernathe and his two closest friends Simon and Graham, long before they became dukes. Over the years, they added members, all heirs to a dukedom and now their club boasts 10 members. OK, I know, 10 single, young dukes in 1810? Unbelievable! And I totally agree - but this is fiction and it is delicious!!! Just go with it - you won't be sorry!!

Emma Liston is a wallflower with a scandalous, absentee father and a grasping, social climbing mother. While attending a ball, Emma is approached by Lady Margret aka Meg and the two strike up a conversation. When Meg's mother joins them, it is obvious that she is drunk and ready to cause a scandal. Emma being no stranger to embarrassing parents, kindly helps Meg remove her mother to the retiring room. When Alex shows up to help Meg, he is worried that Emma will use her knowledge of his mother's drunkenness to promote herself. At Meg's suggestion, he dances with Emma and is intrigued by her. However Alex has vowed to never marry and his main concern is protecting his family, not getting involved with the wallflower with the gorgeous eyes and tempting mouth. Satisfied that Emma will not out them, he excuses himself and assumes that they will never cross paths again.

Wrong! Meg has taken a liking to Emma and invites her to a garden party at her home. There is no way Emma's grasping mom is not going to let this opportunity pass them by. After the party, Meg persuades Emma to remain after the other guests leave and finagles a meeting between Emma and James. Emma is smitten with James, but knows she is no match for the "golden boy" and when she tells him as much - he is even more taken with her. She touches something in him that he never knew existed. When Meg suggests that they invite Emma to their house party and hints that they own Emma a boon and that his interest in her will help her land a husband, he agrees to her plan.

Emma is confused by James' attraction and fears falling in love with him. Even after they share some intimate moments together, there is no expectation on her part and she flatly refuses to bend to her mother's whims and trap him.

James doesn't understand why he is so drawn to Emma, but when her father shows up expectantly and drops a bomb on Emma, James rushes in and claims they are engaged. Emma is shocked by this turn of events and knows that she loves James, but she has seen what unrequited love can do to a person and wants no part of that kind of marriage.

Just when it seems these two will have their HEA, Ms. Michaels throws them a curve ball - can Emma and James find true love? Or will their fears and past hurts keep them apart? You will have to read the book to find out!

I can't wait for the next duke!!!

I’m chortling and rubbing my hands together at the prospect of a whole series of the 1797 Club!

The Daring Duke is a great start to Jess Michaels' new series. No false misunderstandings mar the start of the Duke of Abernathe’s relationship to Emma Liston. They are both perfectly clear with each other about their unworthiness to wed. But moment by moment, they find their attraction to each other stronger than the down-pull of their pasts.

James is tortured (which I love in a hero) and Emma has her own problems to deal with. You can feel the tension when her father shows up and decides to manipulate the situation. And her mother…enough said. I love Emma’s strength in not letting this bring her down to the point of not getting what she truly wants. Love. Will James dare to give his heart and love? Read and see. I also love James and Meg’s interactions. Family is so very important.

I love the idea of the 1797 Club and am looking forward to the other Dukes’ stories.

Jess Michael's first book in a new series is a little sweeter than I was anticipating (not to say it doesn't have a decent sensual level), but I really enjoyed the characters. It felt shorter than I expected, however, and I felt there wasn't enough development of Emma as a bluestocking. We knew she was, but we didn't see her read at all. Still, I will likely continue to read the rest of the series, because I love the way Michael's writing is so vivid.

A sweet romance at wrapped in a quick read package! The interactions between the hero and heroine were entertaining and kept me reading to find out what they would do next.

Emma Liston is a wallflower, a spinster with no hope of attracting the attentions of a grand duke like James Rylon, Duke of Abernathe. It is well known that he has no desire to marry - ever - and Emma is hardly the type to change his mind. When she assists his sister when their drunk mother makes an appearance at a ball, however, James finds that he cannot keep his mind away from the timid girl with the beautiful eyes. He makes an agreement with her, both to satisfy his desire for her and his desire for bachelorhood - he will pretend to court her in order to gain her more suitors and keep the eager mamas away from him. Soon he is seeking her out at every gathering and his desire for her grows. What started out as a sham may turn out to be the love he never knew he needed.

Emma and James had great chemistry! I felt very invested in their happiness and was rooting for them from the beginning. James was sincere and compassionate, and Emma was generous and kind. The only thing I was left dissatisfied with was Emma's confidence in herself. It was disconcerting how she still was wondering why James wanted her at the very end of the book. I would have liked to have seen her character grow a bit more. My hope is that we see her in future books (there will be 10 total, after all), and I can see her confidence blossom then.

Great start to a series! I'm so glad I will only have to wait a few months for the next book.

Oh my, what a great start to this new series. The 1797 Club, is such a good idea to give me the fix that I need for my historical romances about Dukes. 10 of them if I understand correctly.
In The Daring Duke, James is dead set on never marrying to get revenge on his dead father by having the Dukedom die with him. And Emma is worried that she'll either never marry and be a spinster her whole life, or make a bad match and be just as miserable as her mother. A plan is devised to make Emma more desirable to bachelors and to keep marriage minded mommas and chits from bothering James. Of course we all know how that always works out in the end.
I can't wait to read more of, The 1797 Club.

I really enjoyed this novel and it was better than I expected. I liked the plot, the characters, and the romance. Even though people go through troubling situations and they feel the do not deserve love, those are the ones who need love the most.
James, the Duke of Abernathe, has a drunk for a mother and a deceased father who belittled him at every turn since he was not the family his father wanted. James formed the 1797 Club, which he started at school that was for boys who would become dukes and to learn how to be a duke. James decided he will never marry.
Miss Emma Liston is a wallflower and needs to marry. Her mother keeps pressuring her, telling her she needs to marry well so she can take care of her mother. Emma's father gambles and is hardly around. She meets James when she helps his sister Meg with their mother. Both are grateful. Emma and Meg become friends and Meg invites them to their estate for a party.
Emma and James like each other, but Emma is shy and believes a man like James would never be interested in her. However, James comes up with the idea to help Emma gain prospects before her father returns and he in turn gets match making mamas and girls off his back. Both have trouble opening themselves up, but they begin to form a friendship with each other and learn more about the other. This heightens their attraction to each other and Emma begins to fall in love with James.
When Emma's father makes an unwanted appearance with news about her future, it forces James to make a decision he never thought he would. Will Emma accept this and be with Jame even if he does not love her? Will James go through with his declaration and not blame Emma? Will Emma and James let their past and their parents define them?