Loved it! It is another one of these books you don't want to put aside because you really like the leads a lot and because you want to know more about their past.

Will we ever know who the murderer is??
(thanks to netgalley)

Sabrina Jeffries new Duke Dynasty series is off to a good start with series opener Project Duchess. It has all the classic Jeffries characteristics, spunky heroine, angsty hero, interesting cast of side characters, and suspense.

Fletcher "Grey" Pryde has been called back to his mother's home after her third husband, and a third Duke, has died. Grey experienced hardship as a child and was separated from his family. Although reluctant to return home now, he knows he must see to his mother's well-being. Things are not going so well for Grey at the moment. Although a very rich duke, he has established quite a reputation, albeit undeserved. Meanwhile his aunt is pressuring him to marry his cousin, and that is something neither of them wants.

Beatrice Wolfe is the cousin of Grey's half-brother, and Grey's mother has offered to help her by giving her a Season in London. With the family mourning now, the debut must be delayed. However, Grey's mother wants him to school Beatrice in certain matters, like proper dancing. Meanwhile, Grey's brother Sheridan is quite certain that his father, and also his uncle, previously, were murdered. The man he thinks guilty is none other than Beatrice's brother Joshua. Sheridan wants Grey to investigate the cause of both deaths.

Grey elects to spend time with the delectable Beatrice, leaving Sheridan to sort the more serious matters himself. However, Grey has very good reason for not wanting to become romantically involved. Beatrice herself gave up on romance, but she is very concerned for her and her brother's future so she has agreed to the tutelage offered by her aunt. It only takes a few glances at Grety for Beatrice to realize she is smitten.

What a delightful romance by Sabrina Jeffries! I loved all of the conflict involved with this story while the foundation for a heartwarming romance was being built. This made this become a multi-layered story that flowed smoothly through the pages. While this is my first read by Sabrina Jeffries it certainly will not be my last. I am eager to continue on with this series. The next book is Duke Dynasty and is slated for release in February, 2020.

Before you dive into reading this first book in a brand new series by Sabrina Jeffries, take a moment to carefully peruse the family tree laid out at the beginning, detailing the three marriages of Lydia, Duchess of Armitage (and before that, Duchess of Thornlands, and before that, Duchess of Greycourt) her five children from those three marriages, and their assorted cousins on their fathers’ sides.

Got that? Good. Otherwise you’re going to get in a terrible muddle over who’s who and how they’re related to everyone else, because every significant character in this first book is somehow related, even if it’s only by one of Lydia’s multiple marriages.

The Duke of Greycourt, aka Grey, is Lydia’s oldest son, and her most distant. While Lydia was living in Prussia with her third husband (the ambassador at the time) and her children, Grey was forced to return to England, and the care of his guardian, aged just 10. Things didn’t go tremendously well, and he’s grown up wary, resentful and gun-shy about commitment and trust. So when he’s called to his mother’s side after his stepfather’s sudden death and asked to look into the possibility that his stepfather was murdered, the last thing he wants is to fall for an opinionated young woman intimately connected to his own family.

Beatrice Wolfe doesn’t have good experiences with dukes, and she has no reason to believe Grey will be any different. He’s sexy, seductive… likeable and kind. She can’t help but like him, but she has secrets to protect, some of which aren’t hers to share.

There’s a murder mystery thread running through the background of this romance which will presumably be followed through in the rest of the series, because all that happened here was a suspect with a viable motive was eliminated from the inquiry. The romance arc is brought to a very nice conclusion, though not without a few hiccups along the way.

This is a wonderful start to a new series, and I’d definitely recommend getting in on the ground floor, so to speak, because I think the threads of that murder mystery might be tricky to pick up in later books if you haven’t read this one. Dive right in and enjoy! Five stars.

A new series by one of the Queens of historical romance, Project Duchess takes you into this series with all the dynamics of a whirlwind that is sure to set your heart ablaze! Prepare to get lost in the first of a sure to be amazing series if this first story is any indication!
A mother who has several children by different husbands and one of those sons Grey, having lived through several of those stepfather's, find's that she is a widow one more time. At her request he leaves London and heads to Armitage Hall.
What he finds is his destiny, he just doesn't know it yet, in the form of Beatrice Wolfe, a cousin to Sheridan, the New Duke of Armitage. She is helping with the funeral arrangements for her uncle who was married to Grey's mother, the duchess. Got that? Yes a lot of characters are introduced in this story but it all begins to form a picture of what's to come!
Grey's mother wants to help Beatrice launch into society and have him help her with her "project."
I loved these two! Bea is not afraid to speak her mind and she and Grey have a lot of great banter and it seems he is attracted to her but really should be beyond his touch.
Filled with a myster, trying to find a murderer, oh yes it seems the Duke may have been murdered and some steamy attraction made this a wonderful romance. I cannot wait to read the rest in this series and see what happens with all of the siblings!!!

I enjoyed “Project Duchess”. The premise was interesting and it left me wondering about several characters in the story, which tells me we will have more books about this interesting family of dukes! Because I am interested in reading more, I gave it 5 stars.

This is my fair and honest review in return for this ARC. Typical Sabrina Jeffries read. well written, good characters, involved tale and sweet storyline. As always, worth your time and money. Just left a bit hanging at the end.

Sabrina Jeffries is always one author on my to be read list. Every time Sabrina writes a new book I have to read it. This was no exception I was so excited to see she has written a new series. She makes me laugh and I always love the characters she comes up with. Project Duchess is about a series of stepfathers and a difficult childhood that has left the main Character Fletcher Grey not able to trust people and doesn’t believe in love. It’s a story about two people who have had difficult childhoods trying to find the one that will break down their barriers and have them fall in love. I definitely recommend this book. It was a charming read and can’t wait to read other books in the series. I was given an arc of the book from Netgalley for an honest review of the book.

Project Duchess by Sabrina Jeffries is book One in the Duke Dynasty Series. This is the story of Beatrice Wolfe and Fletcher 'Grey' Pryde, the Duke of Greycourt.
Fletcher's mother has married three times to different Dukes, that has produced 5 children (him being one of the 5) but now her last husband has died. Fletcher was taken by his Uncle when he was young which turned his world upside down...he started keeping his distance from his mother and siblings. Now in their present day he steps forward to do his duty to his mother now that her husband and his step-father has died. This lands him to meet Beatrice who is the granddaughter of the Duke but he misunderstands who she is at first. Of course Beatrice isn't like anyone he has met before which set the tone of their relationship.
Loved this book.

Reviewed on Instagram on 23 of June 2019. I also did a story about it, which reached around 100 people.

Project Duchess by Sabrina Jeffries, out June 25 2019. Shoutout for the arc @netgalley, buckle in for my reckons.
EMOJI SUMMARY: 🎩 💰 🤝 👒🗣👗🔜💃
⚠️tw: sexual harassment
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“She’s firmly on the shelf.”
[the hero]: “What a ridiculous notion. As if a woman were a knickknack to be put away.”
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Don’t you think this cover is like the moment in Cinderella where the mice and birds make her the pink dress? I LOVED that scene.
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The first page is a family tree! Brilliant! I forget names easily but I love a complex family history, so this is catnip to me. It’s based around a 3x widow, and tbh I think the best possible career for a woman in the Victorian era was that of a widow. I would be aiming for that, personally. 😂
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Our hero Grey is being set up with his cousin and he’s like ‘eww why would I be interested in this young thing I saw her grow up’ and I like him instantly. This is a Pygmalion premise, and when Grey meets Beatrice, he thinks she’s the undertaker’s daughter and tells her the biccies are weird. She shuts him down and he apologises when he learns she’s a lady. It makes me realise even good men in historical romances this thing where non-titled women were nothing, and Sabrina does this easily without making you hate him. Good shout.
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I actually like Grey. He’s a good man doing his best for his fam. Actually, the further I get I realise that all the brothers in this book are good men. And Sabrina writes some beautifully feminist moments.
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I didn’t find the mystery plot particularly mysterious or surprising, but that could just be because I’m a hard nosed sleuth. 💁‍♀️
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In terms of the tw; there’s a thing where her uncle is a lecher. It’s reasonably well handled and didn’t feel gratuitous, although there are issues with the way the romance genre in general handles these confession moments and I’ll do a story about this tonight.
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This is the first in the new #dukedynasty series, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
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VERDICT: 💎
RANK: 3 ⭐️
QUESTION: Do you like an Eliza Doolittle premise? I 🧡 them. Any recs? Bonus points if it’s the dude doing the learning.
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#projectduchess #netgally #arc #gifted #inexchangeforanhonestreview

Loved this book, the main part of the book is romance, with overtones of abuse within families. Sabrina Jeffies deals with this great. She does not shield away from the issues, or hit you over the head with it but shows that abuse changes who you were and who you become.. This is a new family, new mystery so I hope there are more books to come. A must read

I've enjoyed pretty much everything Sabrina Jeffries has written, with a number of 5-star books scattered throughout her oeuvre. But, for my money, she's at her best in a series set within a family, with a mystery at its core. She excels at family dynamics; creating realistic, and entertaining, relationships among siblings such as those within The Hellions of Halstead Hall, my favorite of her many series. Her Duke Dynasty series introduces readers to a new (blended) family - a thrice widowed mother of three dukes, a second son, and a daughter - and a new mystery to be solved. Based on the recently released first book, Project Duchess, where we meet the entire family, it just may give those Halstead Hall hellions a run for their money.

Beatrice and Grey are wonderfully complex characters, both with hidden emotional baggage. At first glance, their "playing field" appears to be very unequal. Grey is a wealthy duke from London while Beatrice is a poor spinster from the country. Yes, she's a duke's granddaughter but she's never had a debut and is much more at home running her dogs or walking the woods than at a dinner party. But Beatrice isn't about to let Grey walk over her. She's opinionated, fond of cursing, and holds her own with our rigid duke. Rather than repel Grey, those qualities only make her more attractive to him, as evidenced by the sizzling chemistry that flares whenever they're in the same room. It was so much fun to watch our calm, collected, and controlled duke fall head over heels, even though he doesn't realize it until it's almost too late. And the banter between these two! So good!

Beatrice may appear confident but she also has a vulnerable heart that could easily be broken and secrets she guards zealously. Grey has a few of his own. There are good reasons why he isn't close with his siblings; why he keeps his emotions safely locked away. My heart broke for him when those reasons were finally brought to light.

One of the things I most liked about this book is the fact that both Beatrice and Grey evolve over the course of the story without losing the essential elements of their character. Neither is "transformed" to better fit their new role, especially Beatrice. Rather, they gradually help one another overcome the pain of their individual pasts, they protect one another's secrets, they learn to trust in love and one another, and most importantly, they help each other heal and recognize their true worth. I adored them and can't wait to, hopefully, see more of them throughout the series. They are going to be one fun - and formidable - couple!

4.5 Stars
As posted at The Romance Dish
Advance copy received from author. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I have a new series!! Sabrina Jeffries writes some of the best romance stories, and I loved this little series starting romance.

Fletcher Pryde, Duke of Greycourt, is one of five siblings, three of whom are dukes. Attending his stepfather's funeral, Grey meets Beatrice Wolfe, cousin to his brother (and not related to Grey at all by blood). Beatrice intrigues him, and their banter is cute, cute, cute. Not going to lie, Grey is a sweet, considerate hero who just can't seem to make a wrong move. There's tension with his siblings, which will be great for the series in the future, and a mystery to solve, although not too much time is spent on that mystery. Grey is kind but controlled (mostly) through his and Beatrice's story, and he's a hero that most readers would want to marry themselves.

As for Beatrice, she's delightful! Strong, frank, and practical--all things I love in a heroine. She helps Grey reconcile with his family, even though her involvement has more to do with his own happiness in meeting her than her direct involvement. Really, the only problem I had was with the power dynamic, because Beatrice what would be considered a poor relation to Grey's brother, Sheridan, but I decided to shrug my shoulders and let it go.

Truly, this was what I would consider a sweet, entertaining romance and a great start to this series. In fact, I can't wait for the other siblings, especially the only sister, Gwyn, and Beatrice's injured war hero brother, Joshua. Sparks flew when they were on the pages, and brooding hero Joshua will make him distinct from Grey, who was not the brooding type, really.

Definitely, everyone who loves a sweet, sincere romance should add this book to their TBR pile, and anyone who likes series that focus on families should keep track of the comings and goings of Jeffries' latest.

Both Grey and Beatrice have sworn off love, they meet while helping with the funeral arrangements for the Duke of Armitage. Grey’s step-father and Beatrice’s uncle. Grey’s mother thinks it is best if they find a husband for Beatrice and asks Grey to help. What will happen when sparks soon fly between them. What will happen when Grey begins digging into the family secrets? Fast-paced read with lots of drama and suspense. The chemistry is steamy and the story really draws you in with its twists and turns. An entertaining historical read.

New Series, New Family, Same Fabulous Sabrina Jeffries!

Project Duchess marks the first book in the Duke Dynasty series and just like her previous series it features a big, loud, somewhat crazy family, a mystery that’s sure to span the series, and lots of steamy regency sexy times!

Grey is convinced he can’t love due to his past...until he meets Beatrice, the cousin of his half brother and the only woman to call him on his arrogance. Beatrice just wants to secure her future and forget about the assault and harassment she faced at the hands of her uncle...until she meets Grey an arrogant Duke who seems as wounded as she.

I absolutely love a Pygmalion retelling and even more so when the hero knows early on that she’s the one in every way. Sabrina Jeffries is a master at crafting wounded heroes and heroines who are still absolutely willing to fight for what’s right and aren’t afraid to fight for one another. Grey’s reaction to and affirmation of Beatrice and her experiences is spot on!

I can’t wait for more from this family and for more pieces of the mystery!

What happens when you are more alike than you think. Why a romance that just about imploded when a murder is discovered. These two have a push/pull relationship. Each must face and reveal the past in order to get to the future. Full of tension, drama, romance and danger. A nice start to a new series.

Project Duchess is the first book in the Duke Dynasty series by Sabrina Jeffries. A series of stepfathers and a difficult childhood have left Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt, with a guarded heart, enviable wealth, and the undeserved reputation of a rogue. Grey’s focus on expanding his dukedom allows him little time to find a wife. But when his mother is widowed yet again and he meets the charmingly unconventional woman managing his stepfather’s funeral, he’s shocked to discover how much they have in common. Still, Grey isn’t interested in love, no matter how pretty, or delightfully outspoken, the lady. Beatrice Wolfe gave up on romance long ago, and the arrogant Duke of Greycourt with his rakish reputation isn’t exactly changing her mind. Then Grey agrees to assist his grief-stricken mother with her latest “project”: schooling spirited, unfashionable Beatrice for her debut. Now that Beatrice is seeing through Grey’s charms to his wounded heart, she’s having trouble keeping him at arm’s length. But once Grey starts digging into her family’s secrets, she must decide whether her loyalties lie with her family or with the man whose lessons capture her heart.

Project Duchess is a historical romance with well fleshed out characters, both complex and relatable in their way. Grey has been through a lot, and has a hard time getting past his trust issues and allowing himself to feel. Beatrice has not had an easy life either, and is doing the best she can to live her life and support her brother and extended family. Both have emotional scars, and I feel like those wounds are what bring our couple together. They are both very outspoken and genuine- even when they are trying to avoid talking about things they would rather avoid. I loved their banter- and often found myself grinning and they verbally spared. I liked the secondary plot line, a murder mystery that continues on in the series. I spent a good part of the book trying to figure out the mystery, and while I am glad parts of it were resolved- I am eager to get more pieces to the puzzle in the next book of this series. I am intrigued and want to see all players have their happy ever after and the mystery gets solved.

Project Duchess is a historical romance with all the elements I have come to expect from Jeffries. I was fully engaged in the read and will continue on reading the author's work.

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Lady Beatrice Wolf did not have the traditional coming out that benefitted the granddaughter of a duke. For the past few years, she has simultaneously escaped the flirtatious behavior of her uncle while trying to care for her brother. Fletcher Pryde, the Duke of Greycourt, has not had the closest relationship with his mother and his half brother. But with the death of his stepfather, Fletcher feels obligated to visit and offer comfort and support. Interestingly enough the circumstances surrounding his stepfather's death are a mystery. I believe this will lay the foundation for this series.
This is the backdrop for both Fletcher and Beatrice. The hero is used to maintaining an emotional distance and does so even though he is attracted to Beatrice. The heroine who is known for speaking her mind and isn't sure she can trust the duke. But even still sparks fly..

I received an ARC through Net Galley

A lady marries three times and has five children. Mix in cousins and you have an extended family. The oldest son Fletcher Pryde, Duke of Greycourt is called to the funeral of his stepfather. He meets Beatrice and her brother Joshua, who are cousins to his stepbrother and stepsister. Yet, suspicions arise over the death of his stepfather and an uncle. It seems evidence is pointing to murder. Grey pursuing Beatrice, family drama, a murderer and witty dialogue, you can't be bored. A very entertaining book all the way around. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
A free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

I’m going to say this very simply – this title had me at the mention of “new series”. It’s just that simple because Sabrina Jeffries is a go-to author of mine for Regency Romance and the beginning of a brand new adventure with her is cause for celebration – at least, for me it is. (and that cover is swoon-worthy indeed!)

PROJECT DUCHESS begins the Duke Dynasty series with a powerful, a bit darker and completely intriguing romance between two people who appear, on the surface, to be as opposite as it’s possible to be. There is some world building in this first story, there has to be really, but I didn’t find it or the snippets of background provided the least bit overwhelming.

Grey’s step-father (or at least one of them) has passed and he is reluctantly returning to his mother’s side which means he’ll also be around his siblings as well and he fully expects the usual bantering and tensions to make an appearance as well. His relationship with his mother is not the greatest, however, he does owe her respect at this time. He makes a huge mistake early after his arrival when he mistook Beatrice for a servant and not the distant family member that she actually is. To say that this meeting ended up with harsh words and very bad attitudes would be an understatement. Also, their first meeting gives an intriguing start to an interesting romantic attraction between this couple. Beatrice has no trouble at all speaking her mind and tells Grey exactly what she thinks of him – even if her emotions are speaking something else in her head.

Toss in the suspicion of murder, a new pet project that Beatrice really doesn’t want to be part of, sizzling steamy moments, interesting secondary characters and a rather large family of unusually related siblings and you have a delightful beginning to this new series. I had fun with this story. There is a lot I will not mention for that falls under spoilers, but if you love a good love story, a bit dark in places and madcap in others – then you’ll want to pick up PROJECT DUCHESS and get in on the beginning of this new series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*