4.5 stars

August Crenshaw is an American heiress, who is named after her grandfather who started Crenshaw Iron Works and made the family’s fortune. Though the Crenshaws’ wealth can compete with any other family’s in 1870’s New York, they are still considered upstarts by the highest social sticklers, and aren’t truly welcome by the cream of society. This fact grates on August’s parents, particularly her mother. When a friend of August’s is forced into marrying a much older English duke, Mrs. Crenshaw practically salivates at the thought of one of her daughters making such a socially advantageous match. August mistakenly believes that her own parents would never force such a horrible thing on her, and is content with using her intelligence at being an integral part of the family business. Of course, she wants to marry someday, but at twenty three, she has plenty of time. August has no qualms about traveling to England with her family to visit her newly wed friend, while her father pursues business connections.

Evan Sterling was never meant to be the duke, but that all changed when his older brother, William, died and he became the heir. Upon his father’s death, he became Duke Rothschild, and learned the full extent of his family’s financial woes. With multiple estates, and hundreds of families depending upon him for their living, not to mention two sisters about to come out, Evan sells everything he can to try to keep his dukedom afloat. He even turned his enjoyment of boxing to a money making enterprise by becoming a bare knuckle brawler in disguise, known as the Hellion. Still, his creditors are tightening their nooses around him, and his mother stresses that he needs to marry an heiress.

Evan first spots August at the theatre, and is attracted immediately to her looks, though they’re not introduced. Surprisingly, he sees her at one of his bouts, where he saves her from a fall and then shares a brief kiss. August is surprised at her own reaction to this stranger, and how she feels drawn to him. When they eventually officially meet, August soon realizes that the duke is the same man she saw at the boxing match. Though she can’t deny that she finds him appealing and attractive, she has no place in her life for a fortune hunting duke. Her parents, however, think differently.

August is a strong woman, one who can be opinionated and stubborn. Though she finds herself weakening to Evan’s charm, she soon builds her walls back up, determined not to change her life plan. Though Evan needs an heiress, he soon finds that any heiress will not do – it has to be August. He is smitten with her beauty, but he admires her intelligence, her blunt speaking, and her lack of game playing. He loves the fact that she has no interest in his title and position, and speaks her true feelings to him. Their attraction can’t be denied, and despite August’s reluctance, they find they can’t stay away from each other. They begin to share delicious kisses and some very heated embraces.

I fell in love with Evan, and truly felt bad for his plight. His determination to win August on his own, rather than forcing her hand was like a breath of fresh air. Many times he had the opportunity to allow them to be caught in a compromising position, but chose the high road. Every time I began to hope that August was coming around, something would happen, and it was two steps back for every step forward. I became so disappointed with August’s parents, and some of the actions they took, but I adore her brother, who traveled across the ocean to stand up for his sister. The situation looks bleak, indeed, when August has had enough, and boards a ship, headed back to America.

THE HEIRESS GETS A DUKE is the first book I’ve read by Harper St. George, and I found it to be encompassing, well written, and entertaining. I love the characters of Evan and August, and their passionate battle. August is a woman ahead of her time, I think, and Evan is secure enough to allow her to be herself and utilize her intelligence and talents in the business world. I think they both ended up being surprised, August by her passionate nature, and Evan by his own tender feelings and commitment to acting honorably. THE HEIRESS GETS A DUKE is a fabulous romance with plenty of heart, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

August Crenshaw is beautiful and tremendously wealthy, but unlike Ton's other girls, she is more interested in the family business.
When her father sees that he is unable to convince her to marry, he transfers that responsibility - of bringing the noble title to the American family - to his youngest daughter, August immediately comes to Violet's defense. She would never let her sister not marry for love. And that's exactly where her path crosses Evan's.

Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild, had recently inherited the title and discovered that the coffers were empty.
Far from being a person who shies away from his responsibilities, he has always thought of getting married, but now marriage becomes urgent. He urgently needed a rich bride.
When he met the Crenshaws, the plan was for him to marry Violet, but it wasn't her who made his heart beat faster.
Now, he needed to convince August that they were the perfect match, and taming that skittish cat would be a game he would love to play.
5 stars

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book in Harper St. George’s Gilded Age Heiress series.

Harper St. George, brings the gilded age beautifully to life with gorgeous details

.A strong willed, American Heiress , who’s outspoken ways has deemed her an unlikely choice in the marriage market. August Crenshaw is the eldest daughter of her family, and heiress to a profitable iron works company. Seeing first hand what happens to other women in her station. August has a head for business along with strong aspirations. She enjoys working as a risk assessor for the family business Crenshaw Iron Works

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, is in a sad position, and in dire need for funds. Recently he inherited his older brother’s title after he departed from this world quite suddenly. Leaving the Estate and it’s financial woes, along with his mother and twin sister responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders.

He must marry an heiress to save his family from financial ruins. To refill the family’s coffiers that his now deceased irresponsible father emptied. On top of all that, His sister is about to have her debut. A wealthy wife with money, is the the only answer.

Even though he has been offered Violet Crenshaw as a would be bride, he is drawn to her fiery sister August instead. When they meet sparks fly.

August has a mind of her own, and will not be going into this marriage so easily, she has devised a plan to make sure this stuffy Brit won’t ever want her….except she never planned for the outcome that she gets!

This was such captivating book for me, I just feel in love with this feisty heroine. A spunky, outspoken August is definitely one lady I can root for. The author has created an engaging and courageous heroine. and her highly accomplished writing ensures that the reader is swept along in this lovely historical romance.

St. George weaves romance and wit seamlessly together, creating a highly seductive read. A wonderful job in creating a storyline that pulls you into its delightful pages. There are some heated moments in this historical romance, along stunning period details that makes for an exceptional reading experience.

August Crenshaw is an American heiress to her father’s railway company. She and her family go to London for the season where her parents set up her younger sister to marry Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild. Though Evan is a Duke, he has inherited his father’s debt and his family is suffering because of it. He must marry a wealthy woman to save his family’s properties. However, he has a chance encounter with August before being formally introduced to her family. He realizes that August is the perfect match for him, but he has to convince this working heiress that she should marry him.

This is the perfect book to read right now. It is a fun regency romance, that will appeal to fans of Bridgerton. I just finished watching the Bridgerton TV show, and this was the perfect book to follow it.

This romance had just the right amount of steam. Right away, I could tell that August and Evan should be together. The title gives away the romance, since it says that the heiress will get the Duke, but I loved reading about their journey. It was a bumpy road to getting together which created a lot of romantic tension and suspense.

I loved this regency romance!

Thank you Berkley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/5 Stars

After binge watching Bridgerton, I knew this had to be my next read! Evan is a duke in financial trouble after taking over his father’s debts, and August is his perfect match. August has no interest in marriage - especially when it comes to societal standing and money transactions, so when Evan is matched with her sister, Violet, August sets out to protect her younger sister while also hiding that she happened to kiss Evan one heavy evening. Evan for his part, wants August - and will not stop until he gets what he wants. One of my favourite things about this novel was the twist on high society. The including of an American Heiress into the story made it somewhat different from the countless other books I have read with similar themes. I am also really excited that Harper is making this a series! I can’t wait to read the future ones!

As a ‘new money’ family, the Crenshaws are already outcasts in London society. Worse still, they’re American, bold and brash with seemingly little regard for how to conduct themselves in polite company. Particularly that elder daughter, August. With a name like that, it’s little wonder why the girl acts the way she does, spending more time working through the financial records for her father’s company than securing a husband. She’s in stark contrast to her younger sister, Violet, yet when the Duke of Rothschild is all but forced into a quick marriage, it’s August he finds captivating.

After years of squandering away the family fortune, the previous Duke of Rothschild has passed away. Unfortunately, so too has his eldest son. Evan is left to pick up the pieces, overseeing a crumbling estate with the weight of the world on his shoulders. In secret Evan has taken up prizefighting as a means to bring in what little income he can, though it’s not enough. Never enough. In order to save not just his family, but the families who live on the estate, Evan needs to marry someone wealthy. And fast. With Mother and Papa Crenshaw salivating over rubbing shoulders with nobility, they eagerly arrange a marriage for their youngest daughter – and it’s her protective nature over her sister that leads August directly into the path of Evan.

The Heiress Gets a Duke is the first in a new series, The Gilded Age Heiresses, and a book I wholeheartedly enjoyed! What I noticed right from the start – and played a major part in my delight – was that each chapter heading featured a quote. And not just any quotes, but quotes from figures like Mary Wollstonecraft, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Benjamin Disraeli. The book opens with a line from none other than Queen Victoria herself. Needless to say, I was hooked from the get-go. From the very first page it’s evident this isn’t your typical historical romance: one of the first scenes is an underground, Fight Club-esque boxing match. The mysterious fighter known only as the Hellion is undefeated, and August has a front row seat to his latest win – and the two share a kiss. Not one to go around kissing strange men, August is more than a little surprised by herself, even moreso later on when she realizes the man she kissed is to be her brother-in-law.

The romance in The Heiress Gets a Duke was fantastic and I was there for the ride. Violet has a sweetheart back home in New York, a man she intends to marry. But why would Mother settle for a lawyer for a son-in-law when she could have a Duke? Despite Violet’s protests, the marriage is arranged and August takes it upon herself to have a frank chat with Evan, a chat that leads him to realize she’s the sister he truly wants. From there, it’s 300 pages of back-and-forth banter and bickering (which I took great pleasure in!), ultimately leading to the happily ever after all historical romance readers know lies at the end of their books.

If the book focused solely on the romance this would have easily been a favorite read of the month for me. Unfortunately, the sideplot left me wanting – and honestly, I found myself skimming quite a bit. It deals with a solicitor who was in charge of the family’s finances and now he’s missing and the debts keep piling up…I hate to say it, but I didn’t really care about this part of the book. I just kept turning the pages until I got back to Evan and August’s romance. Thankfully this was just a minor sideplot though, and didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment of this one!

The Heiress Gets a Duke is a great start to a new series, and a series I am definitely excited to continue! A minor sideplot bored me a bit and had me skimming, but I was completely engaged where it mattered. The two leads were excellent and intriguing, the romance kept me glued to the page, and the secondary characters were a delight – VERY much looking forward to the next book and following that couple’s story!!

While I love historical romance, I don’t often read those from the Victorian age. But the cover of this book had me grabbing a copy from NetGalley to read. And I’m so glad that I did.

This story follows August, an American Heiress who is visiting London with her family, and Evan, an impoverished Duke. I really liked August. She’s smart, works in the family business, outspoken, a little daring… not at all your typical historical romance heroine. On the other hand, Evan is more of a typical hero with a few twists to make it interesting.

Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, especially in historical romance. This book falls along those lines, although the marriage part doesn’t come until after the story ends…. so it’s more of an engagement of convenience. I suppose it could also fall into the enemies to lovers trope as there’s a lot of antagonisms early on in their relationship. So if you enjoy either trope, I think you’d like this story.

All that said, it’s really the relationship between August and Evan that jumps off the pages for me. It is so layered and complex and it just sucked me in. For August, she finds herself attracted to Evan, but just the thought of him being a fortune hunter and her parents not really giving her a choice in the marriage… And on the other hand, Evan doesn’t want to force August but needs the money to repair the financial damage his father did to the dukedom and he’s finding himself more and more intrigued by this unique woman… Well, as I said, I totally got sucked in. And as with most romances, there’s a twist that threatens their happiness and I couldn’t wait to see how Ms. St George would make that happily ever after happen.

I don’t freely give out 5 stars. They’re reserved for books that really touch me. The Heiress Gets a Duke had me laugh, cry, and furiously turning the pages. I haven’t read Harper St. George before, but you’d better believe this won’t be the last. I look forward to continuing this series.

If you love the chase in a romance with a good dose of sexual tension, this is your book. Harper St. George creates two strong-minded characters with different goals and does a pretty good job of not moving the constant mistaken interpretation of each other’s actions over the line into the ridiculous or annoying.

There are some really nice touches to this overall predictable story (given the title, the outcome isn’t going to be much of a surprise). There are the chapter epigraphs with quotes from writers of the era (and before), such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Benjamin Disraeli. Her detailed descriptions evoke everything from crowded and malodorous Whitechapel to the decaying grandeur of an English country house to the perfumed press of a London Season event. I’m generally not that attuned to descriptions of fashion, but St. George did a great job of describing a dress that would shock her milieu in a way that I could both envision the dress and understand the reaction.

The two protagonists, August (I so wanted to make it Augusta) Crenshaw and Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild (I also tended to giggle at this title choice) are generally likable. Their interactions are enjoyable—the fighting couple that falls in love that can be traced back at least to The Taming of the Shrew or Much Ado About Nothing. August is modern enough for us to root for but still has the disadvantages of a being a woman in the latter half of the 19th century; Evan is self-aware enough that his privileged position doesn’t alienate us.

What was more interesting to me was the other relationships these two had: August’s protective relationship with her little sister, who’s more astute than she gives her credit for; everyone’s relationship with August’s mother, an American Mrs. Bennett; Evan’s feelings about his brother and father; and the sweet relationship of Evan with his mother and sisters.

Of all of them, the most intriguing is that of August and her father. He has allowed her to be a part of his business, keeping books and evaluating financial opportunities. She feels valued to him as a result, and this burgeoning relationship with Evan complicates August’s relationship with her father in unexpected ways. This was, to me, the emotional core of the book, and it lifts this romance out of the humdrum.

If you’re not a fan of explicit sex scenes, there will be quite a few bits you’ll have to flip past, but the rest of the book makes it worthwhile. if you do like them, you should find plenty here to like.

All in all, The Heiress Gets a Duke is an exemplary version of the love/hate romance with the commoner and a Duke, so if that’s a read you enjoy, put this one on your to-be-read list.

[Post will go live on 2/4/2021.]

We have a historical romance set in the 1800's between an unwilling, stubborn, high spirited heiress & the Duke who needs her family money to restore his home back to its splendor. What he doesn't expect is to lose his heart in the agreement. Neither does she though.

I enjoyed this book immensely and if you love a good historical romance you will love this one too.

Not only is this cover stunning, the story is just as amazing!

I am a sucker for books that feature unconventional women who are tough as nails and confident in their abilities, and I got that and then some with August Crenshaw! Unlike many women in her day, August doesn't care for the finer things in life or even thinking of marriage. She has seen what an unwanted marriage has done to her best friend and she doesn't want that for herself. Instead, she spends her days helping to run Crenshaw Iron Works, which her grandfather started, and of which she is an heiress of the estate. She is rational, intelligent, and has a mind for business. I adored her!

August's family, while rich, are still on the outside of the London social circles. "New money" doesn't buy you into that world, but marriage to a member of the English Aristocracy will.

Enter Evan Sterling. Evan is the new Duke of Rothschild after the recent passing of his father. Their estate is in dire straights and greatly in debt. Evan must find a rich bride in order to save his family and their standing in society.

From their accidental first meeting and throughout the book the chemistry between August and Evan are off the charts!

This is the first book in Harper St. George's Gilded Age Heiress series and I cannot wait for the next installment! You will fall in love with George's writing and I can guarantee that you will fall hard for August and Evan!

This book just came out this week and you don’t want to miss it. Not only is this a GORGEOUS cover, the book has some wonderful characters. If you love the Bridgerton series or Evie Dunmore’s series, you’ll love this one!

American Heiress August Crenshaw wants to be independent. She handles her father’s iron manufacturing business and has no desire to marry just yet. The Duke of Rothschild inherited debt and potential financial ruin from his deceased father. He must marry for wealth to help his family and tenants. Considered unsuitable for marriage by her parents, when August and her family visit London and learn of Duke’s need for a wealthy wife, her parents offer Augusts’ sister as wife for the Duke. It would open doors for their business and provide their family a pedigree within society. The problem is, the Duke has met August and is besotted by her instead. Now if he could only convince her to marry him.

I loved that August was a feminist and not afraid to show that she was progressive in society. I also enjoyed the Duke, who genuinely loved August for her independence and wanted her to keep it, despite marrying him.

You’ll breeze through this one and escape to the Gilded Age! It’s quite enjoyable!

Thank you @netgalley and @berkley for the gifted copy!

This cover is GORGEOUS, and I couldn't resist reading the book! Overall I enjoyed the story quite a bit, though a couple things didn't work for me.

August Crenshaw is an American heiress visiting London with her family. She works for her family's successful iron works business and she has no interest in giving up her freedom to get married. In fact, neither she, nor her sister Violet, have any intention of marrying any time soon, but apparently their parents have other ideas. They are "new money" and so some more prestigious doors stay closed to them, even though they are wealthier than most. But, marrying one of their daughters off to a duke would get them all the connections they currently lack. And it just so happens a duke with a crumbling estate needs an influx of cash ASAP.

Evan Sterling, Duke of Rothschild, has to marry for money to save his family. And he has to do it immediately. His father died and left them in a mountain of debt, and if he wants to be able to provide for his mother and teenage twin sisters, he needs cash as soon as possible. His mother suggests Violet Crenshaw as a match, but after meeting them both, he wants August. She's honest to a fault, and isn't scared to tell him exactly what she thinks of him. He can't get enough.

August and Evan had chemistry for days from the second they laid eyes on each other, in a most unexpected place. I loved their physical attraction, and also how much they genuinely LIKED each other. They were each very honest about their positions along the way, and it drew them closer together, and made it harder for August to deny Evan what they both ultimately wanted. I also loved that Evan was ALL ABOUT August from first sight, and never deviated from that, even though pretty much any other woman would have made him an easier bride.

August's parents were pretty terrible, and they got even more terrible as the story went on. But, her siblings, Violet and Max, were awesome! I can't wait to read more about them both! Violet's story is next, and she had mega chemistry with Evan's friend the Earl of Leigh, so I'm excited to read their story.

Everything about this story really worked for me, until close to the end. I REALLY didn't like what happened in the "dark moment" of the story, or how Evan handled it. I felt a little bit emotionally manipulated, and I hate that. It seemed out of character for how Evan had acted up to that point. Then, the ending all wound up feeling a little rushed. I really feel like the story would have benefitted from an epilogue too. I struggled with my rating on this one, due to this situation, but I really feel this could've been a 5 star read for me, so settling on 4 instead felt right.

Again, I want to stress how much I loved the book up to that point, and I did appreciate the way it ultimately ended. Also, I very much want to read on about Violet. I really enjoyed reading about the Gilded Age time period as well, as opposed to the typical Regency or medieval historicals.

“The Heiress Gets a Duke is a romance novel that checks off all the right boxes for a deliciously romantic read.”
Cecelia Beckman Sheaf & Ink

Set in Victorian high society, August Crenshaw has zero interest in the high society of the British aristocrats. Her ambition, rightfully so, lies in the expansion of her father’s company. To find new deals where she can help manage and represent the family business her grandfather created.

August’s character resembles a more modern day woman (although, even in 2021 we are still fighting for equality and against sexism) a woman having the right to her own body, mind, and workplace outside of the domestic, is refreshing. It’s as though St. George flipped the roles. Showcasing a strong female woman, who demands to be seen as someone with a mind of her own and capabilities that society would usually only see fitting for a man.

She is not “mannish” as August is often referred to in the novel, but a woman who has feminist ideas. That women deserve the right to vote, to their bodies, and be able to have a career as well as be a mother. August is a brilliantly envisioned female character for an age that would see a woman as nothing more than a breeding mare. She is according to the laws of the time, her husband’s property and could be dealt with as such.

Notably, August pushes back on this notion throughout the novel. She is not accustomed to the stringent social elite of Britain. It’s an interesting set up seeing the clash between high society of both countries (the US and Britain). Ultimately, August insists (as her privilege allows) that she will not fit the mold her parents and the British nobles would place restrain and keep her in.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage is Evan Sterling who isn’t anything like the Dukes we’re unaccustomed to seeing in the pages of historical romances.

He’s unique both in his characteristics and his Dukedom. He is the penniless pauper whose only value is his title. Like a fresh breeze on a blazing day, Evan’s enlightenment of his depleting circumstances and his willingness to take responsibility is unique.

There are these poignant moments of his self-awareness of the situation where he’s willing to put in the work to try and make things right. Though Evan is still in the upper caste and can use his title to get him entry where others could not, the awareness that he’s not shirking his responsibilities is refreshing.

The Heiress Gets a Duke is sensuous, irresistible, and satisfying read. You will be drawn in by Augusts open brazenness. How she is the perfect pairing and foil to a bankrupt Duke. In many ways their roles flip and August drives this point at every turn of the page.

Plus, the chemistry between these two is as good as your favorite dessert. The ingredients are all perfectly measured and mixed. Creating a confection that has a delicious combination of romance and complex characters. Where August and in many ways Evan refuse the one-size-fits-all, society would like to forcibly keep them in.

If you love historical romance I definitely recommend this one!

And friends keep an eye out for a second novel.

We can’t forget about August’s younger sister Violet.

I seriously can’t wait!

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

The Heiress Gets a Duke, by Harper St. George. I enjoyed read this romantic book. I have to give this book a five star rating. I feel that the writer really deserves it. The description of the pageantry gave me some imagination of what the characters saw around them.
I liked how easy it was to read the book. I didn’t have to guess what the writer was trying to convey to her readers. I really liked that she didn’t use obtrusive wording where I had to pull out a dictionary to define a word. I had the opportunity to just relax and enjoy reading a romance novel. The writer did a great job with providing her readers with constant entertainment.
She kept me in tuned with the book. My pace at reading the book was moderate, and again I say I enjoyed reading the book. Each character has some witty humor about themselves that plays well with the other characters. August and Evan definitely play off of each other’s character. Their love affair brings some burning passion to the book.
I had a great time reading their journey towards their romance. My fellow readers I recommend this book. Until next time... read on

Ladies and gentlemen, I officially found a five star read. *throws confetti* It has been a dry spell to end all dry spells. Three months...not that I was counting. Don't get me wrong, I have had very good reads, but none that I felt enthusiastic enough to give a full five star rating. This book was everything I love about the genre with a romance that made my heart go pitter patter. I appreciated the combination of a wealthy American heroine paired with an impoverished English Duke. The clash in culture, the contrast of their social status and the differences in gender expectations gave this couple a lot of interesting moments.

August was a uniquely independent and intellectual heroine who was given the freedom to work at her father's company back home, but once her parents saw a potential title for the family dangled in front of them, (like the proverbial carrot) they rushed to sell her off faster than you can blink. The Crenshaws are swimming in money thanks to their company Crenshaw Iron Works. Unfortunately new money can't buy access into the world of the highest echelon of society-you have to be born into it.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild is currently on the market for a wife just as the Crenshaws visit friends in England. After losing his father and older brother, the Duke inherits the crumbling estate, massive debt, and heavy responsibilities to his family and tenants. Coming to the realization that they are in dire straits, he makes the difficult decision to marry a Crenshaw heiress to save the family from complete ruin. He sacrifices himself not out of greed or laziness, but because he feels it's his only option after all of his other efforts have failed. I liked Evan right off the bat, and that never changed throughout the rest of the story. Even though he held all of the power pretty much from the beginning, he always took August's thoughts and feelings into consideration. He could have forced her to accept everything on his terms, but he chose to learn more about her and what would make her happy.

Originally the "arrangement" had been decided that Evan would marry August's younger sister Violet. Though after meeting August, he's instantly intrigued and attracted. He decides that an arranged marriage won't be so bad if August is going to along for the ride, but she has other ideas. The two of them have a magnificent clash of wills as she tries to wiggle out of the wedding that would bring an end to her happy life as she knows it. She has a good head for math and evaluating potential investments, and this has been not only fulfilling, but given her her own financial freedom. Why in the world would she want to hand over everything she's earned to her husband, her American citizenship, and stop the work that she loves in order to solely take care of her husband's estates? She gets nothing out of the bargain while he gains everything. It's not that she's totally against the concept of marriage, but she wanted it to be later and to a man of her choosing.

In the beginning of the book it seemed that her parents were progressive and loving in the way that they let her have the freedoms she did during that time. We discover later on that they are worse than despicable in their attitude towards both of their daughters. Money and status is placed at a higher priority than their children's happiness. And they never quite grasp the betrayal that they've inflicted on August. I do wish that they would have seen the error of their ways later, but unfortunately that never came to be.

Evan's character was really fleshed out once August and her family visited him at his home. We finally get to dissect his insecurities and heartache which not only made me empathize with him, but it made me love him all the more. Evan had always lived in his brother's shadow as "the spare." He never felt intelligent enough, or worthy enough in his father's eyes. He never resented his brother, in fact, they were very close until his sudden passing. He spent every moment afterwards trying to reverse the damage his father had done to their finances without even allowing himself time to grieve. There was a really sweet moment between August and Evan when he opened himself up to her and left himself very vulnerable. It was a glimpse into the tenderness they could share if she allowed her life to take a new and unexpected direction into marriage.

This was a refreshing historical romance by a new to me author! The plot was tight without any holes or inconsistencies that nagged at me. If I had one constructive criticism it would be that August's brother was sort of two dimensional, but as a brief side character it wasn't all that important. The main component of the story is of course the romance between August and Evan which was in turns enchanting and emotional in all the ways that it should be. The characters were far from perfect but always relatable in a way that makes you care what happens to them, and to me, that's a trademark of a well written book. I'll be so excited to read Violet's story in The Devil and the Heiress next July.

A boxing Duke and feisty American heiress… yes please! The first novel in the Gilded Age Heiress, The Heiress Gets a Duke, by Harper St. George delivered laughs, swoons and annoying mums.

August Crenshaw, heiress to the Crenshaw Iron Works, has a head for business, particularly numbers, and the ton thinks her mannish. Not that she cares. Having witnessed the unwelcome marriages, females of the ton have endured she is pleased to be an American.

That is until her parents announce they’ve agreed to an arranged marriage for her younger sister to Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild. She will not stand for it, especially when she realizes she knows him….

I love a headstrong female and a noble Duke. The Earl of Sterling’s affairs are in dire straits, thanks in part to his late father. In fact, he has been keeping the creditors at bay by fighting in disguise in White Chapel. He is known on the streets as the “Hellion.”

I loved each encounter between August and the Duke. The chemistry was electric and the banter positively delicious. The Duke is taken aback by her forthright manner and is drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

August of course doesn’t want to give up her freedom, and in attempting to saving her sister, she puts herself directly in the Dukes crosshairs. What makes the Duke swoon-worthy is how he sought to win her favor.

I laughed, swooned and got frustrated when miscommunication and noble ideals got in the way. Sometimes I longed to lock this couple in a closet until they worked it out.

The next book, The Devil and the Heiress, will feature Violet, August’s younger sister, and I cannot wait. Coming July 2021.

★★ 4.5 stars! ★★

Let’s start with that gorgeous cover and intriguing blurb, shall we? They were what initially attracted me to this book, after all. However, once I dove into the story, I was immediately pulled into Victorian England, where a headstrong American woman meets her match with the enigmatic Duke of Rothschild.

The Heiress Gets a Duke is a bit of a twist on the usual historical romance tropes because August is an American woman in a man’s world, conforming to British rules—but is still subject to being ‘sold off’ to a titled husband in need of a cash infusion.

August knows what she wants, she’s intelligent and good with numbers, and she doesn’t want to give up her dreams in the business world to become a wife. When a duke is in need of a wife, she takes one for the team and keeps him from marrying her sister. August’s sacrifice isn’t without major negotiations and filibustering along the way.

Evan Sterling, the unintentional duke, inherited a world of problems from his absentee father. Not the least of which is a mountain of debt, a mother and sisters dependent upon him, plus the fact that he secretly likes to brawl for extra cash. The pressure on Evan is enormous, but once he meets August, being forced to marry for financial gain doesn’t seem quite so oppressive and daunting.

The bickering and private liaisons between August and Evan are the best part of this book. They have electric chemistry, and their verbal sparring is the best kind of foreplay. August is so fiercely independent that most men would find her too much to handle—which is why Evan is the perfect partner for her. I loved seeing them walk the line between propriety and attraction, fighting it — and each other — all the while.

I really enjoyed this charming and entertaining debut as well as Ms. Harper’s writing style, and I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I’m not a huge historical romance reader, but I absolutely adored how put together this book was – the characters, the story, and the writing had me absolutely hooked! This takes place in 1875 London, with August and her family visiting from New York. Already, there’s a huge difference in how the Crenshaw family conducts themselves versus those of London society. For one – August works for her family business. As a result, rumours state that she’s “mannish,” thus making her ineligible for a proper match (which August thinks is trash, I agree obviously).

That being said, I loved how little drama there was through this book (for the most part, but we’ll get into that later). I loved that despite August fulfulling the I’m-not-like-other-girls trope, she never shames the women around her for how they conduct their lives – she shows pity for those forced into marriage, and respects those who are able to make the system work for them without bringing shame. It was refreshing that there wasn’t any shame thrown around – it’s just August didn’t want that for herself and I loved how willing she was to fight for the freedom of her sister and herself to marry who they loved.

Can I also note that Evan is the KING of consent and it wasn’t obvious or overstated. His character growth through the book was fantastic – he always tried not to stomp on August’s ideals and characters, despite needing to marry her to save his estates and support his family and staff. I appreciated how much he cared about what she wanted, even if it was something as simple as a kiss.

Tension. There was so much delicious tension between August and Evan from the very beginning and their verbal sparring made me smile often through the book, and showed how very equal they were in wit and humour. There’s so much detail and depth in all characters, not just the MCs. Everyone had a chance to show off their personality which added to the whole story and world immensely.

My one gripe with the book is the end. As noted, this book has little drama, but the end has two fairly big misunderstandings/complications that cause a rift between the MCs that was resolved all too quickly. A whole book developing and growing these characters and the end reward was so rushed that it took away from the overall story as a result. It left the book feeling a little unresolved and didn’t leave me fully satisfied, even though it was the end I wanted, which is a real shame and took a star off from my overall rating.

As a whole, this book surprised me in its depth and in its characters. I’m extremely excited to read Violet’s companion novel in July when it releases!

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.99/5

eARC obtained via Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since joining bookstagram, I have a newfound appreciation for historical romance. That extends to The Heiress Gets a Duke, out today from Berkley! August Crenshaw, an American heiress, pities her friend who is married off to an elderly British duke for the connections. But she secretly wonders, will the same fate befall her or her sister? A year later, the Crenshaws are visiting London while Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, happens to be in need of a (wealthy) wife. In his mind, Violet and August would be perfect for the station, but he soon learns that there’s more to them than meets the eye.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Heiress Gets a Duke. This 19th-century romance has a decidedly feminist bent, and while I can’t speak to the historical accuracy, it was a delight to read. August and Evan are each interesting, fully-fleshed out characters in their own right, and I loved that we saw their interests outside of each other. This was a quick, easy, and extremely steam read! I would have loved to see a little more of our supporting characters, but I suspect that author Harper St. George is saving them for future novels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heiress Gets a Duke is available today! Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for sharing an e-ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of The Heiress Gets a Duke on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!

⚠️ CW: death of a sibling, death of a parent, violence

Evan, Duke of Rothschild, needs money. And to get money, he needs to marry an heiress. Enter August Crenshaw, a wealthy American heiress. The two are pushed into a marriage to satisfy Evan’s need for funds and August’s parents’ want for titles connections in England. While the two make a rather unlikely pair, they find that they actually get along rather well. Except for the biggest issue: August does not want to be forced into a marriage that isn’t a love match.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the romance in this book. I found it took me a bit to really get invested in the story and the characters, but I loved their dynamic.

I do wish there had been more than just a few pages following the conflict, though. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed whereas the rest of the book was quite leisurely paced.