This book was just okay for me. I didn't love, but I didn't not like it either. I struggled a bit staying engaged with the plot, but I enjoyed the characters.

Unsurprisingly I found this delightful, I am very much looking forward to the next book (though complicated in law romances are generally not my thing) as Jeffries is making the trope work. More stodgy men being unstarched please and thank you.

This book was so very cute! I was captivated by the cover and Sabrina did not let me down! I will definitely be recommending it to my historical romance fans at the library and will be purchasing for the collection.

I really enjoyed reading this story and watching the plot unfold. Grey and Beatrice were wonderful together and it was great watching them come to terms with each other and fall in love. The story line keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what is going to happen next.

Another winning title from Sabrina Jeffries. Perfectly paced, witty, and enjoyable, readers will fall in love with Grey and Beatrice.

I loved Project Duchess. How could you go wrong with Sabrina Jeffries?
Grey has no time for love. What good is it anyway? Beatrice has no need for standoffish, difficult men.
But eventually the walls come down and the two real people are revealed.
This was a nice HEA.

This review is not going to be long. I am not a huge fan of a review rehashing the entire plot and spoiling it for everyone.

This is the first book by Sabrina Jeffries that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her style of writing. keeps you interested and waiting for more. I cannot wait to read more of her books.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Lydia Fletcher was married to, produced a heir for, and is widowed by three different dukes. It is an unlikely scenario, but, if you suspend belief and imagine it, you have the basis for Sabrina Jeffries' new Duke Dynasty series.

Project Duchess features Lydia's eldest son, Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt. He was raised by his guardian, an uncle who tried his best to manipulate the young Duke. Grey learned not to allow another person to have power over him or let someone in who could twist his emotions.

After receiving a letter from his mother informing him of the death of his stepfather, Grey rushes to the funeral. Upon his arrival, this cool, cynical Duke meets Beatrice Wolf, the spirited cousin of his half-brother, Sheridan. The fuse of attraction is lit.

Jeffries builds on the steamy attraction between Grey and Beatrice, but many shadows hang over them. They continually take one step forward and two steps back in their relationship, as they deal with all that is going on with their families. Grey finally realizes that Beatrice knows him and accepts him as he is -"a man with flaws and fears, but a man still capable of loving."

Jeffries fleshes out the rest of the family and sets the stage for future installments. Project Duchess has kindled my interest in the series, and I can't wait to read more and learn the answers to all the family mysteries.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Three and a half stars, rounded down for Goodreads. This book was utterly delightful. I loved Beatrice, I loved Grey, and I loved the cast of supporting characters. I very badly want to read Gwyn's story, which I'm sure is coming, but I'm nervous - the representation of Joshua as someone with a disability may be historically accurate, but some of the language is also ableist and offensive in 2019.

My other issue is that one of the major plot lines ends on a cliffhanger. That annoys me. This is Sabrina Jeffries. We're all going to read her next story anyway, so there's no need for those tricks.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. the project success was interesting. romance and murder tend to do that. grey arrives at his brothers estate after his stepfather death. meanwhile hos.mother has taken Beatrice on as a project to make her presentable for her debut. the relationship between grey and Beatrice was enjoyable yo read. and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

This book was a wonderful historical romance novel! I loved all of the characters and I thought that it was super fun.

This debut of a new series introduces the former Lydia Fletcher who is now widowed for the third time. She is devastated by her husband's sudden death and turns to her eldest son, Fletcher Pryde, for consolation and aide. Fletcher finds himself agreeing to help his stepfather's niece, Beatrice Wolfe, with a season and finding a husband. Soon, both Fletcher and Beatrice are dancing, flirting, and trying to solve a murder. The action is nonstop and the conversation is witty in this new novel.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

First in a new series, this book follows the Duke of Greycourt (the oldest brother, whose half siblings include 2 more dukes) and Beatrice...the cousin of his younger brothers.

I did not like the first chapter or so. It was difficult to sift through who was who and figure out his mother’s three marriages to three different dukes, but once we get into the story it takes off with an immediate attraction between them. Grey and Bea are a perfect match. The steamy dance lessons were a win. And, I did like the mystery of the dukes deaths, which I assume resolves later in the series. Overall, a great start to a new series. I’m looking forward to Grey’s sister and Bea’s brother in book two.

Sabrina Jeffries usually writes in my wheelhouse, but this was mostly okay-ish for me. However, my main takeaway was: "omg, I want to read Major Joshua Wolfe and Lady Gwyn's story so hard. Give it to meeeee."

That's a compliment.

The story is well thought out and nicely written making this an exciting page turner and one which I am more than happy to recommend."

I could tell Project Duchess was the start of a new Jeffries series by the plethora of family members who were introduced in the prologue. With that, it’s also fair to say that Jeffries’s romance has family ties as one of its central themes. Because Jeffries’s thematic hand is light and her tone humorous, there be a few dark moments, Project Duchess is a droll, heartwarming series début.

Embedded in the introduction to its many characters (all of whom could potentially serve as heroes and heroines in volumes to come), the prologue sets up the series’ premise. Each potential h/h stems from one Lydia Fletcher, the dowager duchess of not one, not two, but three dukes and all her ducal offspring. When the novel opens, duke#3 has expired and the lone son/child of her first RIP duke, Fletcher Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt, 34, with a rake-hell reputation, unjustly so, has been called from his home in London’s Mayfair to his stepfather’s funeral in Armitage Hall, Lincolnshire. Except for one dash to London, the action takes place on this estate. From the get-go, we know that “Grey”, as he’s called, has been estranged from his family, not totally, and not with great enmity, but there is distance and hurt feelings.

When Grey arrives, many of his half-siblings are already there, or pending arrival, and everything is in the chaos of funeral preparations. At the centre of the organizing is one Beatrice Wolfe, related to duke#3, but not to Lydia, or by extension any of her offspring. Which is good. Because Beatrice is Grey’s love interest. Jeffries portrays a quipping, boisterous family wonderfully. Though there is some strain with Grey, there is also no doubt that everyone has nothing but love and liking and a good, healthy dose of teasing and bantering, even in the midst of genuine grief. Grey and Beatrice are thrown together, especially when the weepy Lydia decides to continue working on Beatrice and her daughter’s, Gwyn’s, débuts. As a result, Grey is recruited to help with their dance lessons and one marvelous sexy dance-instruction scene ensues. There’s some mild antagonism between Beatrice and Grey, but overall, it’s obvious they’re compatible and suited.

Complications arise when the 3rd duke’s heir, Sheridan, takes Grey into his confidence that he suspects his father was murdered and suspicion falls on Beatrice’s brooding, PTSD-suffering brother, Joshua. This is where the novel fell apart. Grey, who is supposed to be smart and sophisticated, appears an utter ninny when he skulks around suspecting Joshua and even Beatrice. How ridiculous he appears. Where the humorous ridiculousness of h/h banter totally works to make this a charming read, the whole “who murdered the duke thread?” is meh and unconvincing. I didn’t care for it. Jeffries needed more than Grey’s “I can’t open up to love, I’ll be hurt and vulnerable” and Lydia’s “I”m too poor for a duke to marry me” misgivings. So, there’s the who-killed-Maurice thread to fill up the pages.

What works are the family dynamics. Okay, they may be somewhat anachronistic (these are not class-based Regency types), but they’re fun and heartwarming. Lydia and her various sons and daughters work things out by being honest with each other. And their teasing and gently poking is all part of the affection. As for the romance, Grey and Beatrice share a friendship and powerful attraction. They have a similar mindset: sharp, honest, and blunt. I liked them a lot, both together and apart. And there aren’t any big misunderstandings or secrets, thanks be to the romance gods: they talk, they recognize the value of openness and honesty and they share a mutual, healthy, and fun lust. Again, even though this felt you could transport the narrative to a contemporary romance and it would read fine, it didn’t diminish the reading pleasure, just the plausibility. A lovely start to a series that looks to continue as it began. With Miss Austen, we deem Jeffries’s Project Duchess offers “real comfort,” Emma.

Sabrina Jeffries’s Project Duchess is published by Zebra Books. It was released on June 25 and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Zebra Books, via Netgalley.

Project Duchess was a fantastic read and an amazing start to a new historical romance series.

Fletcher “Grey” Pryde’s sole focus is expanding his dukedom leaving him little time for anything else. But after his stepfather dies, Grey knows he must do his duty to his family and heads to the family estate where upon his arrival he meets the charming Miss Beatrice Wolfe who is assisting with the funeral arrangements. When his mother decides to prepare Beatrice for her debut, Grey offers his assistance for the chance to get close to the unconventional woman. But after Grey discovers Beatrice’s brother may have been involved in his stepfather’s death, the pair will be left to decide what is more important, their newfound love or family loyalties.

Grey had a difficult childhood which is something that still affects him as an adult. After his mother’s second marriage, Grey was sent to live with his father’s family which led to Grey having some resentment towards his mother and siblings as Grey was the only one sent away. Add in the fact that living with his father’s family was not a great experience for him and I can understand why he’s a bit standoffish with his family.

Like Grey, Beatrice did not have a happy childhood and upon finding out what she went through, I really felt for her. After her parents passed away, Beatrice, as well as her brother, went to live with her grandparents and her uncle. The descriptions of Beatrice’s uncle made me seriously hate the man for what he put Beatrice through and I admired Beatrice for the fact she was able to move past the man’s actions.

Grey and Beatrice’s relationship was interesting as from the start they were both adamant that they had no interest in romance or a relationship. For Grey, the issue was that he refused to give up control over his emotions and for Beatrice, she didn’t want to end up with someone who treated her the way her uncle did. However despite their lack of interest in a relationship, the pair had a hard time fighting the attraction that developed between them. I enjoyed watching Grey and Beatrice slowly overcome their initial hesitations and when their relationship progresses, it’s very well done.

Overall I really enjoyed Project Duchess and I can’t wait for the second book in the series, The Bachelor, to release next year.

Project Duchess is the first book in Jefferies NEWEST series “Duke Dynasty” and I am such a fan for Sabrina Jeffries and she is pretty much an auto-read author since she was one of my very firsts adult authors to pick up. Now lately I never know if a regency will work for me or not but this book was so delicious in every way and I just didn’t want to put it down. There was something so sweet and connecting about this story that I gravitated towards and I have no REGRETS in any way because once again this author has delighted me and I am more than happy with that.

Every time you offer to do whatever I wish, you tempt me, Beatrice. So don’t offer unless you mean it

In Project Duchess, our story sets off when our hero has come to his family’s estate when he hears that his step father has been killed and rushes home. He has had a great distance from his family and mostly that is due to his own actions and decisions and what happened to him when he was young and sent away from his family. Now having lost the only real father he ever really knew he is devastated and regrets that they weren’t able to mend fences before he was killed. When he arrives he meets a cousin of one of his step brothers, Beatrice, who is sassy and smart and doesn’t hold back with him and he finds her refreshing and wanting her like a breath of fresh air. Beatrice is in training to have her come out under the guidance of Grey’s mother. But there is a murder to solve and Beatrice’s brother is their primary suspect. Can he get to the truth without compromising the love that is forming between himself and Beatrice? or will that bride be burned unable to be rebuilt?

What I want is to make love to you. What I want is to show you what it feels like to need someone so desperately that nothing else makes sense, that the mere thought of seeing that person makes one’s heart race.

Project Duchess was a stunning story and I was really captivated by the sweet and fun bantering that these two had whenever they were near to each other but at the same time, there is powerful chemistry that is built between them that really stuns you in all the delightful ways. I truly didn’t want to let go of what these two had together. The chemistry that slowly forms between them is powerful from their walks in the woods, to Grey teaching her to dance and the slow passion that forms into burning desire was captivating. I honestly found myself caught in these fiery moments between these two. I had forgotten how well that Sabrina Jeffries crafts these steamy moments between a couple and she did it just right for these two.

At last he’d found a woman who could not only know him thoroughly, but could accept him for what he was–a man with flaws and fears, but a man still capable of loving.

The story itself is highly engaging and I was really curious about this murder mystery that is brought into the story and found wonderful balance with the romance itself. It is so intricately placed into the story that we find the ways that these two come together and see what is really going on with her brother Joshua. We also see a delightful connection form between Gwen (Grey’s sister) and Joshua and they are book two so I love the little teasers and their book I have a feeling is going to be explosive.

Overall I found Project Duchess to be a truly entertaining and edge of your seat fun….a true pleasure to read and become engaged in!! You can’t go wrong with this one here, so grab it up, settle in with a nice cup of tea and embrace this love story bound to curl your toes and leave you with a smile!

I always love a Sabrina Jeffries title and Project Duchess is no exception! Fletcher Pryde, the Duke of Greycourt, meets Beatrice, the (non-blood) "cousin" that his mother has decided to use as her new project to take her mind off the death of her most recent and beloved husband. By presenting Bea to society, it gives the Duchess something to take her mind off her troubles, as well as providing a whip-smart temptation to Grey, who is tasked with helping to present her. As you can probably guess, he ends up falling for the woman he's helping.

I enjoyed the story between Bea and Grey, but I also appreciated the setup for an interesting series: Grey's mother has been widowed multiple times, and somehow produced three different Dukes as a result -- Grey and his brothers. We also get to see the beginnings of Grey's sister's story, clearly focusing her attention on the wrongfully accused murderer who is Bea's brother.

All in all, certainly a title worth picking up! Jeffries is on my list of automatic reads, and she hasn't steered me wrong with Project Duchess!!

I've enjoyed several of Sabrina Jeffries books in the past, and Project Duchess was a delightful introduction to her new series, the Duke Dynasty. This was a fun and relatively quick read (I couldn't put it down!) stuffed full of interesting characters. Jeffries also does a great job of setting up a mystery that will hopefully be carried into future entries into the series, as I found myself as interested in that subplot as I was in the main storyline.