Gabriel Cadieux is a self-made man, raised in an orphanage after his mother died, he scraped by until at the age of 22 he won a gaming hell from the owner. In the five years since taking over the club, Gabriel, with the help of his two best friends, Charles and Freddie, has turned the club into a very profitable business. His life is going along just fine when he is confronted and if he is honest, intrigued by the sister of a young man who gambled himself into debt, but as intriguing as she was, meeting her was all but forgotten when minutes after sending her away he gets the shock of his life when he learns that his parents were married and he is now the new Duke of Grantham and is responsible for not only a debtridden estate, but six young half-sisters!

Vivienne Tremeer and her younger brother Sir William, came to London to escape the scandal she created at home in Cornwall. But Will is poised to create an even bigger scandal thanks to his reckless wagering. Vivienne tried to reason with the club own, but was rejected and now she has been waiting months for Gabriel Cadieux to demand payment for her brother’s gambling debt, yet has heard nothing. So she is shocked to learn he is the new Duke of Grantham, and that he has a proposition, if she will teach his sisters the ways of the ton, he will forgive her brother’s debt. It seems like the answer to her prayers and really what could go wrong? Well, everything…

I liked the idea of the story and had no problem with the actual writing, but there were just so many things that didn’t make sense and things that were completely ridiculous and nonsensical, that I had a hard time getting into the book. I liked Gabriel and Vivienne and had no problem believing the attraction between them, but they don’t really interact until the second half of the book, which didn’t leave a lot of time to build the romance. I think my biggest problem was the fact that Vivienne’s “scandal” was so paltry compared to the fact that Gabriel’s father had committed bigamy, which rendered his six daughters illegitimate, and yet everyone was still calling them by their honorifics and planning come-outs for them – all the while warning Gabriel that associating with Vivienne will hurt his sister’s chances to make a good match - seriously? I really tried to keep an open mind, but I just couldn’t get past that. This is the first book in a new series, and despite my disappointment with this book, I would consider reading the next book in the series, as I have read and enjoyed this author’s other books.

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

i wanted to love this book. i really thought it ticked off all of the checkmarks needed to become a favorite. unfortunately it fell flat. i felt the characters were under developed and the chemistry felt like it went feom 0 to 60 instantly with no real relationship building. i was more interested in the side characters and would have loved to see more of the sisters but there were too many moving parts and didnt feel well executed.

3.5 Stars! Cute book. This is the first book in the new ‘Duke of Grantham’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Gabriel Cadieux/Duke of Grantham and Vivienne Tremeer and I liked both of them, even if I wanted to shake them both at times. I’m so glad I didn’t live back then. One - no indoor plumbing/running water and secondly - women were treated like poo-poo and it was accepted even though men got away with everything, such as gambling everything away, drinking like there is no tomorrow and having mistresses. I’d like to think I’d be one of the women that started the women’s rights movement, but who knows.
Anyway, the story was cute, though at times some of scenes tended to drag on and I had to skim through. There was one ‘sexy time’ scene that made me want to yell at Vivienne for being so reckless. Vivienne’s mother & stepfather, Aunt Jane, & the Dukes grandmother deserve a great deal more backlash for their treatment of the main characters but the blood thirsty side of me was never satisfied. Loved the Dukes sisters though, they were cute. I’d read this author again.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

It was a slow story, but still very touching. I am so into books with found family and in this one it was just beautifully done. I so loved Gabriel’s family (minus the grandma). I loved how he just took care of strangers and how they accepted him as if he had always been there. You could tell they just wanted each other’s happiness in the end. It was frustrating to see how often the grandma would remind Gabe he couldn’t choose his life. I mean, he is already helping your family you old twit, so stop pushing. He could have said no, sell everything, he owed her nothing, he was just too kind. He let her do it every time and it got to a point where I was really mad, buy then, you’d get a glimpse of Edwina, my gosh, so cute and then a peek at the blooming relation between the girls and their brother and well... it made it all worth it.

Vivienne and Gabe were cute together and I enjoyed the tension that was palpable between them too. They did try to resist each other, which gave us many swoony scenes. And we could see their relationship evolve which was nice. Gonna be honest though, these days I’m really into the whole «I’ll burn the world for you» thing but in this one it felt more like «I’ll do nothing for you until I finally get approval of my whole family, and even then», which... if you ask me... is a little meh. It’s not that I do not understand where they were coming from but it was just too much after a while, there is just so much I can take. And also, I don't want to spoil anything but I got mad at the ending, some of the stuff that happened just didn't sit well with me. The story was still a nice one it just ended on a disapointing note for me sadly.

Thanks to the author and Forver for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I’m new to the author and this is the beginning of a new series for her. Gabriel Cadieux has gone from a founding home to running a successful gaming club. He learns he is the heir to a Dukedom. He isn’t interested until he learns that his six half sisters will lose all rank and position without him. Vivienne Tremeer has approached Gabriel about forgiving her brother's gambling debts. The request is first denied and then he instead makes her an offer. He will forgive the debts if she will help prepare his rowdy sisters more for society.

I liked Vivienne very much. And parts of the story are fun. I love that Vivienne delights in the sisters. Gabriel is supposed to be a rake but is cowed by his grandmother which didn’t fit him. I wanted him to stand up to his grandmother and society more strongly. I read a lot of historical romance and although this is enjoyable I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or swooning.

I’m assuming the series will continue with romances for the sisters. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

As an orphaned gaming club owner, Gabriel never expected to become a duke. He needs help to guide himself and his half-sisters to learn the rules of the ton. Vivienne, disgraced and impoverished, is just the one to teach them. Allowing Vivienne into his daily life makes Gabriel regret having to find a proper duchess. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Forever for my honest review.

Steam level: 2. Slow-burn, with open door sex toward the end, not graphic.
Tropes: gaming hell owner vs, well-bred lady, MC fish out of water
Publication date: October 10

No surprises, but this works well as light-hearted escapism. I'm a fan of HR's featuring MC's who are successful despite rough beginnings, and found both characters here to be likable, with strong chemistry. Most of the secondary characters are memorable and well-developed, with Gabriel's six sisters, in particular, bringing humor and warmth to the proceedings. Dialog is generally sharp and the writer's style is engaging without being overdone.

On the flipside, the pacing is leisurely at times, with not enough focus on Vivienne and Gabriel's "enemies to friends to lovers" transition in the first 2/3. The set-up takes a while to develop, with more repetition of ideas and interior monologging than necessary. The minor subplot of Vivienne and her cousin's involvement in writing a bestselling book feels shoehorned in. There's also a lack of comeuppance for a couple characters, which is one of my pet peeves.

I frankly thought Gabriel's storyline was more compelling than Vivienne's. I found myself skimming through scenes that dwelled on her ruination, the feckless man who ruined her, and her relatives, who weren't as dynamic as Gabriel's sisters and his grandmother. I wanted to know more about Gabriel's family's adjustments to each other and to society.

However, I did like how heartfelt the HEA was . The emotion between the MC's definitely came through at the end.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author and Net Galley for this opportunity.

Dreaming of a Duke Like You is a wonderful start to Sara Bennett’s new Duke of Grantham historical romance series with layered and dynamic characters and a swoon-worthy romance.

After learning that her younger brother has lost a large amount of money gambling, Vivienne appeals to the owner to release her brother from his debt to no avail. But Gabriel, the club owner and a new Duke, soon presents Vivienne with another offer – To clear her brother’s debts, she agrees to help Gabriel’s six half-sisters prepare to enter the ton.

Gabriel had a tragedy-filled childhood and spent much of it in a foundling home. Now the owner of a successful club, he still feels the sting of rejection amongst family and peers. Vivienne experiences the same feelings of rejection, especially since an incident in the past tarnished her reputation. Can I just say I have a little crush on Gabriel? An astute and sometimes ruthless businessman, he is also so incredibly caring. Plus, he loves to read and often reads romance novels! Swoon!! He’s the type of person who always puts others before himself, much like Vivienne does.

The romance between Vivienne and Gabriel is filled with chemistry and sexual tension from their very first meeting, and they have such a wonderful, slow-building love story. I think Gabriel fell in love with Vivienne from the minute he met her when she stormed into his office and started making demands. She has such a fiery spirit and is unlike most society ladies, which draws Gabriel to her. And if you like grumpy-sunshine romances, you’ll definitely love Gabriel and Vivienne’s dynamics.

The secondary characters are as interesting as the protagonists, and I especially liked Gabriel’s two friends and his step-sisters. I’m excited to see if any will be the focus of the next book in the series. I’m also eager to see a bit more redemption of Vivienne’s brother, as it seems he’s changing his ways with the help of Gabriel’s influence. Special thanks to Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Gabriel and Olivia’s story is slow to unfold but the attraction is immediate. He’s a gaming hell owner and she’s a slightly tarnished Baronets daughter with a brother that has gambling debts he can’t pay. Not the best start to a romance but both are intrigued. Throw in an unexpected Dukedom and 6 sisters and things really get interesting. Olivia knows she’s definitely not Duchess material and Gabriel knows he needs to marry a scandal free young woman. They’re both so convinced they can’t be together you’d like to shake one or both of them. Finally, the supporting characters all rally to say they can do it and forgot about the naysayers. I do wish their HEA was a little longer, just so we could live in the togetherness a bit longer, there was much of it.

A sweet romance with a little less spice. The author took time to really develop characters (maybe too much time in some areas), but readers are rewarded with a thoughtful romance that focuses more on the story and less on the sex. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Dreaming of a Duke Like You by Sara Bennett is a wonderful story of two kind humans who have been dragged through life. Vivienne may be the daughter of a Baron, but her reckless mistake a year ago left her reputation in shatters to escape that and her hellish step-father, she finds a home with a grumpy aunt. Gabriel on the other hand was tossed out after the death of his mother by his grandmother for being illegitimate. Only after the death of his father, does he and the world find out he is actually legitimate and his six half siblings are not. Vivienne and Gabriel find their way to each other through unique circumstances and have to fight to stay in each other’s arms.

This book was engaging, funny and left me wanting more. It is low spice, and really isn’t spicy until the last 20% of the book or so. I hope to read more about the siblings in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book well enough, though I do not believe it added enough to our university's collection to warrant a recommendation for purchase at this time. Thank you!

"Dreaming of a Duke Like You" is the first entry in a new series by Sara Bennett and gets the series off to a strong start. Gabriel is a foundling turned gaming hell owner turned reluctant duke. Vivienne is the impoverished daughter of a deceased baron whose stepfather is doing his best to sap away her brother's inheritance. And her brother makes it easy as he runs up an astonishing amount of gambling debts. To top it off, her reputation was lost through no fault of her own.

To clear her brother's debts, Vivienne agrees to help Gabriel's six half-sisters prepare to enter the pit that is the ton. Their attraction quickly spins out of control, but both feel bound by duty and conclude their feelings can go nowhere. It takes Gabriel time and reflection to realize he can be both duke and his own man, which in turn allows him to give in to the desire to have Vivienne in his life.

Vivienne and Gabriel are both engaging characters. Both place others above themselves to their own detriment which is likely one thing that helps them connect. I admit to being frustrated with Gabriel when he simply lets Vivienne leave, but at least he comes to his senses fairly quickly.

The secondary characters are great and I look forward to reading some of their stories.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Gabriel is a gaming club owner, who grew up in a foundling home. He found out he is the legitimate heir to a Duke. He does not want to take the position of a Duke, and the problems that come with it, but he finds out he has 6 half-sisters who need him. Therefore, he changes his life and becomes a Duke. Vivienne first met Gabriel when she went to the gaming club to ask Gabriel to forget her brother’s gambling debit. Of course, I shook my head – why do ladies think if they ask nicely these gaming clubs’ owners will lose money and forget a debit that is owed to them. Vivienne and Gabriel did not like each other at first, but Gabriel still thought of Vivienne. Vivienne helps Gabriel with his sisters, and they start to fall for each other, but Gabriel needs a perfect lady, not someone with a questionable past. I am a little disappointed about their love and romance, I wanted it to be better and hotter. I did like the side characters, Gabriel’s two friends, Gabriel’s six sisters, Vivienne’s cousin, and brother.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving my honest opinion.

A truly enjoyable read about two people burdened with duty and responsibilities, who are tough on the outside but softies on the inside. They have to struggle with social expectations and pressures against personal happiness, while dealing with sexual predators and opportunists. There are moments to raise your ire, and scenes of tender loving passion and jovial, amusing chaos when six female siblings are in the same room. Secondary characters like the best friends will be wonderful next novel in series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

I loved the rags-to-riches aspect of this novel - and the fact that Gabriel learns to stay true to himself despite the changes in his life and the expectations that have been placed on him by the ton. I love Vivienne - her steadfastness, her loyalty and fierceness towards those she loves, and her level head. As always, Bennet's stories leave me smiling. I enjoyed the main characters in this story - and some of the side characters as well (whom I hope to see in follow up stories). I wish this story went on just a little longer - the ending seemed to quick. This novel is the first in a new series and I look forward to seeing some of the characters again .

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After discovering that her younger brother has lost a fortune gambling, Vivienne Tremeer storms into Cadieux’s club to force the owner to release him from the debt. She never expects to find herself enthralled by the handsome owner, who happens to be the new Duke of Grantham. Gabriel Cadieux was raised as an orphan in a foundling home, and has fought his way to become an owner of an up and coming gaming hell. He's now comfortable in his wealth, so discovering he is the legitimate heir to a bankrupt dukedom, which comes with 6 - now illegitimate - sisters, Gabriel knows that if he will be able to join haute society, he'll need help. Seeing Vivienne as the perfect tutor for himself and his sisters, he offers to clear the debt, and train Will in working in the hell, as long as she quietly helps them. But Gabriel never expected that he would see Vivienne as anything other than a beautiful hindrance, and definitely not as a potential duchess.

I adore Sara's books, and as soon as I saw that I could download this from NetGalley, I knew I couldn't stop myself immediately reading it. Vivienne and Gabriel were phenomenal heroes, and their romance was perfect for the story. Neither was the usual character, both misfits in the ton, but they loved fiercely, and would do anything to help those they cared about. Gabriel had two friends from his childhood that meant the world to him, and though he had never had true siblings, he couldn't let his sisters be left in ruin. Vivienne was the same - her brother was throwing away everything to bad friends, and she stormed a hell in the night to fight for him - not something the usual society lady would do. I think that was the main reason why Gabriel was so drawn to her, and vice versa. They saw kindred spirits in each other, and their personalities were so complementary. A fantastic start to a new series, and I hope that Vivienne and Gabriel make re-appearances in the following books!

To protect her younger brother, Miss Vivienne Tremeer visits Cadieux’s gambling club in hopes of getting the owner to waive the debts. Raised in a foundling home and now proprietor of a successful club, Gabriel Cadieux hasn’t gotten this far by handing out favors…even to pretty ladies. But when he discovers he’s the legitimate heir to a dukedom, he needs a favor of his own: help with the six half sisters that he inherited.

Unfortunately, this story didn’t push the right buttons for me. It got off to a quick start, but then backtracked into a whole lot of set up that took half the book. It felt like too many plot strings and not enough time for the romance to develop. I thought all the characters were too nice and passive; I wanted stronger personalities. I did not care for the end. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

Tropes: Unexpected Inheritance, Settle-A-Debt, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Steam: 1

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This is an appealing dual Cinderella story--the new Duke is a foundling turned gambling hall owner, who, through a legal twist, is the rightful heir to a bankrupt holding and inheritor of guardianship of six feral sisters. The heroine is a falsely accused victim of a scandal and avoiding a louche stepfather and the debts of an aimless brother. That they figure out how to save each other is a rewarding and hot plot with hooks to continuing the series for the sisters and other family connections.

A romance that is not destined to happen.
Gabriel runs a gaming hell and suddenly a drowning in debt dukedom is dropped upon him along with six sisters that need guidance and care. None of them are up to the standards of the ton but they need to learn quickly.
Vivienne has been ruined and meets Gabriel when she tries to negotiate her younger brothers gaming debt.
A plan is formed for her to teach manners to the sisters for their come outs in society.
Gabriel begins to fall in love and lust with her but she is unsuitable to be a Duchess.
Can they resolve their differences or follow the dictates of their positions.
A long story but worth the reading journey.