I'm sad to say this one wasn't for me. The hero was so insufferable to me, and the utter disrespect he showed EVERYONE on page is not something that I could forgive as the novel went on. The book was well written, but if I can't get behind the hero, I don't enjoy the novel.

I loved the first two books of the Awakened by a kiss series by Charis Michael’s the retelling/references to Cinderella is just magical and pulls me right in. Ms Michael’s writes character you root for and fall in love with. I cannot await to read more! Thank you for the opportunity to read this truly delightfully series.

3/5 Stars

Cute but I wanted more. That pretty much sums up exactly how I feel. I wanted more passion and connection with this book. I did enjoy my time reading and I thought the story overall was very cute and average. That being said I felt like the romance connection lacked something for me, I just needed a little something more. Overall though I did have a great time reading and adore these retelling historicals.

Ian and Drew came together due to her sister’s wish to help Drew gain clientele for her “stylist” business. Drew has reformed herself to be present and considerate of others. Ian is trying to make a difference in his duchy. They were forced to come together after a moment of weakness. During their time together, they learned to be with one another. They have a great chemistry in and out of the bedroom. They both overcome their fears and learn to trust others.

This was generally an ejoyable book to read, and i've read the first in the series, and love a smart heroine who has to figure her life out.

Drewsmina Trelayne used to be the wicked stepsister, as well as awkward and unsuccessful on the London marriage mart, mostly thanks to the parenting style of her embittered, overbearing mother. Now Drew has grown up and reinvented herself, finding confidence in the bright red hair and stick thin figure her mother always reviled. Since her own transformation was so rewarding, Drew now dreams of opening her own finishing school to help girls who are overlooked develop their own confidence and own their beauty. But since she doesn’t have the funds for such an endeavor at the moment, Drew must start small, and that means private, well-paying clients.

Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan, isolated himself on his Dorset estate after a tenant disagreement got out of control and resulted in a deadly riot for which he was blamed and ridiculed. But when his estranged sister and her twin daughters arrive on his doorstep, Ian feels he must take them to London for the chance at a proper season. A foray back into society to clear his own name and tame his utterly wild yet sheltered nieces is necessary, but Ian is in over his head and Drew is just the woman to help him.

Ian is well able to afford Drew’s services, but he’s less equipped to deal with his immediate attraction to her. As she begins to thaw his prickly nieces with her gentle guidance, Ian is overwhelmed by her easy manner and her beauty. When they are inevitably caught in a compromising position, they must marry if they hope to stave off damaging scandal.

This book was an utter delight, full of whimsy and a very sweet, sincere brand of romance that I loved. Drew was a bit of an ugly duckling, or at least that’s how she saw herself thanks to her awful mother, and had worked very hard to better herself and be a nicer, more empathetic person. Ian was in over his head and overwhelmed with trying to be a good and fair landlord to those relying on his dukedom while also trying to deal with two rather hostile nieces and a very detached sister. He was reluctant to be forced to hire Drew but, once he got over the surprise of it, quickly and readily acknowledged how much he needed her and set about assuring her of her worth, both as a stylist to young debutantes and as a person in general. Ian helped Drew shore up her belief in herself and she wound up doing the same for him by loving him. I loved the whirlwind, haphazard way these two were thrown together and how they simply made the best of it. Drew refused to keep her feelings to herself and in so doing, she helped Ian learn to recognize and express his own feelings. Having never been shown love, this was a struggle for Ian and that just melted my heart even if it did make him frustratingly clueless at times. The twins and their mother were something else, but they added dimension to this story and a deeper level to the romance aspect here as Drew and Ian established a true family with all the emotions that go along with it. I loved seeing these two come together and learn how to communicate and love each other. This title will be going onto my favorites shelf and I’m looking forward to more fairytale retellings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ian needs the help of Drew. She's gone through some changes and is a better person for it. She is ready for a new start and ends up helping Ian. She also ends up falling in love. She is not Cinderella, but a wicket step-sister gone good. Great, great story!

I thought this was going to be a typical governess/adoptive mother type story right up until Drewsmina learns that the twins she will be preparing for a London season were raised in a cult and only just escaped. So it's quite a different story, after all. In A Duchess by Midnight, we have the magical regency romance that a reformed stepsister deserves. Drew was raised by a manipulative, demanding mother and pitted against her sister in everything. She grew up into a selfish, sometimes cruel creature, turning her barbs on an undeserving stepsister. When heartbreak turned her life upside down, Drew decided to make some changes, modeled after the caring stepsister she once scorned. Now we find her years later as she attempts to launch a business that will hopefully lead to her own finishing school. Drew prides herself on seeking out girls as difficult or unexpected as she once was, giving them a fighting chance in the cutthroat London Season and offering practical advice that few girls get, no rose-colored glasses included. She may have met her greatest challenge yet with the Starry sisters, but Drew is unphased, not even by their handsome, overwhelmed uncle, Ian, Duke of Lachlan. His sister isn't up to the task of launching her daughters, and Ian is in over his head in more ways than one. Into the chaotic midst of this fractured family, Drew sails in with confidence and a take-no-prisoners kindness. They'll come out the other side of this experience a new, stronger family, escaping past darkness by growing together towards the light.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was Drew's work with the twins. I found her a kindred spirit in her work with traumatized teenagers, bearing her own past hurts and errors without flinching or fear and with ample humility. She avoids scolding and punishing her young charges, instead opting for humor, deflection, or unexpected straight talk to outmaneuver meltdowns. And perhaps the most important part is that this isn't a one-way street. Drew learns much in her exchanges with Imogene and Ivy, both from their many experiences and as a mirror for her own. Teenagers can be wise creatures, offering a fresh perspective to weary old problems.

In terms of romance, it's a whirlwind of feelings, but I think the high emotions surrounding Drew and Ian's time together as they plot how to best manage two feral girls makes it feel natural. Ian's obliviousness could be a trial, but because he's open about what feelings he has the self-awareness to recognize and avoids brooding as a crutch, I wasn't bothered. Meanwhile, Drew's journey towards accepting herself is heartfelt, and the mental effort she expends trying to puzzle Ian out is relatable (also: it's hard to figure someone out who doesn't know any better what's going on, so. fair enough.). One of Ian's strong points beyond his cheery brand of expecting the worst of every situation was a scene in which he imagines telling Drew's terrorist of a mother, "You're terrible, and no one likes you." He gets a gold star for that alone.

It is a bittersweet feeling closing the book on this trilogy, like running out of pixie dust. As a minor protest, I demand a future spinoff for Imogene. That girl is a warrior queen in the making, and I would love to see her set the world on fire. Regardless, I look forward to picking up more of Michaels' books. I trust her imagination and humor implicitly. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!

first of all this cover art is swoooon worthy beauty

I do think I would have enjoyed reading this book more if I’d read the other books in the series first. I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand alone. that's my mistake. It was, however, super romantic and I loved the twist on the Cinderella retelling and felt that Drew was a great leading lady.

I'm so sorry for being late on this. I've had lung issues due to my flooded home. Had to see 5 different specialists. I am now on the mend and feeling better.
Charis Michael's is a new author for me. I was ecstatic to find her. She wrote an incredible book in A Duchess By Midnight. There were wonderful characters brought to life in the pages of her book.
I look forward to reading more from her.

I think I would have enjoyed this one more had I read the others in this series first. The sister and nieces of the hero were the best part of this book to me. This book has classic miscommunication that I just don't love.

3.5 stars

I loved the previous two books and was very excited at the premise of this one.

I really liked Drew and Ian. They're both good people in strange situations and I liked how they instantly got along. The chemistry was quick to show up and I was definitely here for it. Ian's sister and his nieces were some of the best parts and I could have easily read 100 pages more with them. (And I'm secretly hoping Imogene will get her own book, even though I know that's not likely.)

Plot wise, it was okay. I struggled with the lack of communication and Ian constantly running off to do things without telling Drew everything. (In hindsight, I realize that it helps to highlight how they're basically strangers, but still.) I wanted more of something between them than just the physical (although, hello bird watching scene.)

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I'll happily read any others in the series.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy free of charge**

Charis Michaels never disappoints! Drew and Lachlan were wonderful to read about. They both cared about helping the two girls heal and it was wonderful to see the attraction between them.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved the first two books in this series, and thought they were super adorable. I was expecting the same in this one but was a little let down. It just didn't feel the same. The characters lacked the chemistry that I was expecting, and their interactions with each other felt stiff and unnatural. I hated how at the end Lachlan didn't know that he loved Drew and within a few pages- he loved her so much. It's the tried-and-true black moment love declaration I dislike. Give me insta-love over that.

I mean, there is nothing wrong with this one. Just didn't have the humor and the charm as the other ones. I do love a Cinderella re-telling and thought the concept of this one was so different. It could have been really great, but maybe I was expecting too much.

I really enjoy reading retellings. This one was truly excellent and writing the story so that it is centered around one of Cind's stepsisters was really fun. Drewsmina 'Drew' has turned over a new leaf in her life and is set on helping others and opening a finishing school. I liked her character and the hero of the story, but the nieces of the Duke along with his sister stole the show for me. The whimsy of this story that highlighted the quirkiness of the characters was delightful. All of the characters were so different from one another. The author drew a vivid portrait of the story, surroundings and complexities of the situations that they were put in.

I definitely recommend this to other historical romance fans and those that love retellings. 4 stars for sure!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and to NetGalley for this lovely advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

I think I would have enjoyed reading this book more if I’d read the other books in the series first. I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a stand alone. However it was super romantic and I loved the trope. I would like to read the other books in the series and give this one a reread.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this title. I greatly enjoyed it.

I usually have a hard time with historical romance leading ladies. They usually loose themselves on the page as the romance progresses, making me loose interest in their HEA. I am so happy that this was not the case for A Duchess by Midnight. I enjoyed following Drew on this journey. She was a strong woman, and remained that way. She was flawed, but that made her more realistic.

Ian was an interesting hero, and I loved that he did not take time away from Drew as most historical romances tend to do. He was also flawed, and he owned it with was so refreshing. His sister and nieces brought something new to the table, and were refreshing.

Overall this was a nice read, and I will definitely recommend to my historical loving friends.

Big thanks to Avon Romance for the e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. This review is being given honestly and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly this book exceeded my expectations. Like the synopsis is wry true to word and it did have me excited but the execution was great. Not only was the writing great but the pacing was chefs kiss because I was flying through this book. I really loved Drew and Ian as a couple and right off the bat they’re lowkey obsessed with each other. We do get some background/emotional background on the characters which was fun and kind of played into the Cinderella step-sister set-up. This was also unexpectedly spicy with a few scenes which I appreciated.

Definitely would recommend and I may even look into reading the other books in the series (all can be read as stand-alone).

Drewsmina “Drew” is 28-years-old and this reformed mean girl is fine with being looked at as a spinster. She’s hoping to open her own business of coaching young debutantes through their coming-out season in London society, her speciality would be outsiders…outcasts, so called “ugly ducklings”, girls who hovered on the margins of society life. Exactly the type of girl Drew had once been. When she receives a summons from her stepsister Princess Cynde, Drew shows up to find out Cynde wants help for her husband’s old army friend, Ian, the Duke of Lachlan. Ian has twin 16-year-old nieces, Imogene and Ivy, that have recently come to live with him at his estate and Cynde has offered to sponsor the girls next spring and present them to her mother-in-law, the Queen. But the girls will definitely need Drew’s help in getting them prepped for a season. Not only have they been sequestered away in the country with their mother and some sort of church/community situation (Temple of Order in Eden—still not sure what was going on there), they have little knowledge of anything “proper” for society debutantes, and their uncle Ian was also the cause of scandal several years ago. His reputation was so damaged that he was forced to leave London. Drew steps in to help and moves in with the family, and things quickly get complicated when she and Ian themselves in a compromising position, in front of his family and staff, after he finds out she has never been kissed and decides to rectify that.

This one was a DNF for me. I had such a hard time with this story. I know this may make me sound petty, but first off, I absolutely HATED the name of the main character "Drewsmina." I understand the author wanting to be original and creative and quirky, but for a main character in an HR novel, it just doesn't roll off the tongue very well. I found the lack of chemistry between the two main characters pretty boring and it really just didn't hold my attention long enough to want to finish more than about half of the book. I tried about 4 different times to pick it up and finish it and I just couldn't get past a few pages until I finally gave up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

Charis Michaels really gets the absolute best covers. This book is third in Charis’s Awakened by a Kiss series where she does fun twists on fairy tales. This book is about Drewsmina “Drew” Trelayne, the step sister of Cinderella after Cinderella has married the prince. To earn a living, she agrees to help Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan, prepare his nieces for a debut in society. However, a compromising position leads to the two of them being forced to marry while they are still trying to get to know one another.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was a lot longer and slower than I was expecting. There was so much exposition that I felt like we didn’t get to the romance fast enough and then so much of the book was focused on Ian and his nieces that it felt like the romance was playing second fiddle. I really liked Drew and Ian, but I don’t love them together. Drew desperately needs to be loved and appreciated for who she is, but Ian was just so reserved that I feel like she didn’t really get what she needed in the relationship from him. I did like Ian and found his love for his nieces charming, but I just didn’t love him for Drew. I also wish more of the cinderella elements had been brought into the story. The other books in the series so cleverly included much of the fairy tale, but this one just wasn’t at the same level. I really wish I had liked this book more. I loved the cover and the idea behind it, but alas. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.