The Duke and The Dressmaker by Eva Devon is a beautiful period romance. I loved the main characters James and Lily who both are not looking for love as they fear what it would do to them like it did to their families. This is book 2 of the series can be read as a standalone. This author is quickly becoming a favorite for this time of romance and I can't wait to read more!

Best Eva Devon novel yet! Loved James and Lily, both fearing to love because of what they've seen love to do their families. Strong secondary characters as well, Eve and the Duke of Montrose, Derby, even the two butlers for Montrose and Ashbridge! Loved to hate the nasty "Madame Josephine" and Mother Maggie. I especially loved the part about being yourself, no matter where you are! I heartily recommend this book. I did receive an ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Entangled, but my opinions are my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lily knows the horrors of the French Revolution witnessing the deaths of her parents and then being cast aside by her grandfather, a duke. Lily has been working as a seamstress and dreams of opening her own shop.
James has inherited a duke that should never have been his as an American but he is determined to now manage his estates and take on the East India Company in parliament.
James and Lily are two people who have been let down by love and fight hard against that word between them and yet their falling is sweet. James and lily are a good match for each other. I don't feel like there was a lot of tension and side plot felt minimal but I liked this book overall. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Entangled for the free eARC.  This is my honest opinion. 

I think that this was an okay regency historical romance, but it wasn't my favorite. This had a timeline that made no sense to me, money will move mountains, but there still is a reasonable expectation that things take time to achieve, that the book ignored. The characters were fun, but a little on the flat side (this may be a side effect of the pace of the book).  

3.75 out of 5 stars, 2.5 out of 5 🌶  for the spice level.

This book made me feel as if I travelled through time back to London where the rich posh people held power and ruled. I enjoyed how the two main characters interacted and how their dark past made them who they are but it also tortured them. Let’s just say I got all the feels from the first kiss to the first bed scene. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Talk about spicy and I loved it! I had to re-read some parts because it was just too good. My jaw dropped a few times! I wish I could go back in time and get wild in a carriage! Great book!!!

This is book #2 in the series and while it was not bad it never pulled me in like the first book The Beast and the Bookseller . While that first book was hard to put down, this novel sadly was hard to keep picking back up. It was a great story at the start but it became a story filled with boring and repetitive pages interrupted by sex for the most part. Our couple were both so filled with the desire to not love each other that it left any relation to any reality in the dust. The first few chapters and the last couple of chapters saved it from being a 2 star rating but while I would highly recommend book 1 the only reason to read this one is so you will have some continuity when the assumed book #3 comes out. 3 Stars for what could have been 4 or 5 with a bit more effort

The Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon is the second book in the series called Once Upon a Wallflower. Lily Martin has been left by her parents (They were killed during the French Revolution.) and her grandfather (He threw both Lily and her sister out, denying them.). She has had to find a way to keep her sister safe while living in some of the worst areas in London. Lily works as a dressmaker and designer for a harsh taskmaster. Their lives are a daily struggle and now they owe money to a woman who is going to make their lives even more dangerous.

As an American, James Blakefield is amazed to find he is the Duke of Ashbridge. He has also discovered he has a ward that is missing. While James is still figuring out his place, he finds Lily and jumps into help her, uncovering that her sister is his ward. While he saves them from the streets, he opens them up to other problems with his guardianship. James realizes that marrying Lily would solve all his problems. She could run his property and he could go back to America and his life. The problem: he doesn’t see any BUT he hasn’t shared his plans with his wife and duchess.

The novel was interesting with all its twists and turns. I liked the main characters because they were interesting and added to the story. Secrets not told never help a relationship! The Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon is a good read.

The Duke and the Dressmaker was a good historical romance and a fast read. I enjoyed the way the author created characters that had to work through some real baggage to realize their love. I only wish that there had been a bit more detail on their backstory as I feel that would have helped with the depth of them. I feel that I only got to know them just a little beyond the surface that an acquaintance might.

This book continues with some of the same themes as The Beast and The Bookseller, but without the fairytale retelling aspect. Instead, it is even more political, continuing to explore social class hierarchies and adding in the politics of revolution.

Lily and James have an amazing meet-cute when he attempts to rescue her in a tavern. But she is no one's damsel in distress. They learn that he has been looking for her because she is his ward's elder sister. James is the brand new Duke of Ashbridge, a distant relative who came from America to claim the title.

Their relationship builds slowly with less initial chemistry between the two of them. That is absolutely appropriate to the story and feels authentic to each character. But I would have liked to see better communication between the two.

I especially loved Lily's character and her devotion to her younger sister. And James is admirable in his wish to change British society and economics. Both have a lot of past pain to overcome in order to believe in love.

Though it is the second in a series, this stands alone. As always, I recommend reading in order because they are better together.

Thank you to Entangled for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Two people afraid to fall in love make for an intriguing story.
James and Lily are the main characters and both are in need of help. They decide to help each other and come up with a unique arrangement.
The storyline is very entertaining and keeps you engaged throughout the story.
Thank you @entangled and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

An American ship captain, James Blakefield became Duke of Ashbridge after a relative in England dies without an heir. He is in England to fight against the East India Company and also to locate his ward, the granddaughter of the deceased Duke. He meets, Lily, the eldest granddaughter of the former duke by chance and he learns that she has his ward. James makes arrangements to collect Lily and her younger sister Violet his ward the next day after they met. Unfortunate circumstances caused Lily and Violet to leave the place they were living before James could collect them but they ended up at his home after her plans to appeal to her best friend fell through. After gossip causes problems for Lily, she and James decide to marry for convenience. They are working well together until Lily finds out that James has plans to leave to return to America, leaving her and Violet behind. They each have to work through the feelings they have of commitment stemming from their parents relationships in order to have their HEA. The story all the things you wish for in a Historical romance- a great plot with steam, a love which develops between the H/h and the added controversies provided from interpersonal relationships with family and members of the ton.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and MacMillan and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Interesting story of an American who became an English Duke. James Blakefield was sea captain and now finds himself the new Duke of Ashbridge. James notices a young woman and soon finds out that Miss Lily Martin is someone he has been looking for upon arrival in England. What connection is ther between the new Duke a dressmaker who has escaped from Paris after the muder of her parents during the French Revolution. You will need to read this story to find this answer and even more questions.

My thoughts:
This is set in the 1700’s we meet Lily and James. Lily is a dressmaker who had to borrow some money from some moneylenders which now she’s regretting. Then along comes James who see a perfect solution and helps Lily. What happens next you’ll find out after reading.
I liked Lily she is a strong women back in the 1700’s and is taking care of her sister This book was the second in this series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Each book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series is STANDALONE:
* The Beast and The Bookseller
* The Duke and the Dressmaker

This was a great addition to the series. I so enjoyed the first book and we got to see that pair as they assisted these two into and around society.
Loved that this Duke was an American and came into the title by birthright, didn’t really want it. But in his effort to find his charge he found a fiery lovely woman he admired. Who also this title was rightfully hers since her grandfather disowned her once her mother took off, marrying for love. So this is a story of redemption and hope and love. These two though were so tough that they took some hitting over the head by their friends to realize the other actually did love them. Back then people married for position and wealth (some do now but you know what I mean).

Thank you entangledpub for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I can always count on Eva Devon for a cute, low angst romance, and The Duke and the Dressmaker doesn’t change that!

American, James Blakefield is in London, taking care of a few last items on his newly inherited dukedom. One of those items happens to be a long lost ward. He’s surprised to find the sister to his ward working as a seamstress in a disreputable area of town, and insists on helping both of them… not always to their betterment.

Lily Martin has disliked the Duke of Ashbridge, since the title is held by her grandfather and he shunned his granddaughters. Having taken care of herself and her younger sister since fleeing France 10 years ago, lily doesn’t need anyone’s help.

Until she does.

Forced to move into the ducal residence alongside her sister to help take care of her, she surprised to find her fortunes, turned to what they should have been.

Both James and Lily have had to work for everything and don’t take society’s dictates to heart. With so much in common, it’s not surprising that these two fall for each other, too bad they both blame love for their childhood misfortunes and are dead set against it!

I absolutely loved seeing these to give away to their feelings, and finally accept that love can have a healing affect after so long being afraid of losing control from love. I also really appreciated the James so encouraging towards Lily and her craft is a dressmaker throughout the book. As a Merchant by trade, these two truly make a perfect pair.

This is the second book in the once upon a wallflower series. I have not read the first book, but I did notice that the couple from the first book are heavily included in this story. I don’t think it’s necessary to read book one to enjoy Lily and James a story .

Thanks to entangled Publishing and NetGalley for my e-book review copy. Opinions are my own.

What an amazing story, this one is so different from most regency love stories. The biggest one is our surprise hero is an American ships Captain who finds himself a new Duke!! He has little or no patience for all the rules and fuss of England's Ton. He hates most of all the women throwing themselves at him due to his title. Not only is a now a duke but he has a missing ward, one ten-year-old Violet, granddaughter of the old duke who he refused to help. By accident he sees a woman in trouble in a very shady bar and comes to her help, except instead of helping her his actions put her in more danger instead. He finds out she is the sister of his ward and also needs help. Lily has been taking care of her little sister her whole life and doesn’t need the help of this stranger, no matter how handsome he is. She knew when she borrowed money from the worst moneylender in town it was wrong, but she never dreamed it would cause so many problems for all. Oh, my now the plot thickens. As James, Lily and Violet try to find their way. With evil and the ton watching ever move. This story is fast paced with twists and turns and lots of surprises too. I love how James and Lily even each other out and find what they needed the most in their lives. Even if it was almost too late with the help of friends the ending is great. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

This one was miss for me. I found myself skipping pages.

The story was ok, but needs a bit more polish. I tend to get annoyed with little details that don't get addressed - such as, the main character and her sister getting kick out with nothing and then it's never addressed that they don't have any other clothes. I know it's just me being extra picky.

I hope this book finds its ideal readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

I really enjoy this author and the series! It’s been so cute! I’m was excited to have been given the second one to read! I loved the characters and how both MC’s overcame their pasts and fears for finding love!! I highly recommend this book/series! It’s a wonderful, quick read!

A newly-minted duke from America and a disinherited lady that grew up in France meet in England in this sweet, uplifting romance.

I appreciated Lily’s pragmatic approach to James’s proposal, but also how she acknowledged her feelings towards him and her desire to explore it. The romance between them developed slowly and I enjoyed their interactions.

But… These two drove me crazy. James showed Lily repeatedly that he would support her in all her efforts, and let her be who she wanted to be. But at the moment of conflict, she forgot all that and fell back into her old habits of protecting herself. Both of them professed to have reasons for doubting love and was very opposed to falling in love, but I found their reasons inconsistent and conveniently added to contribute to the argument they had. At times Lily remembered her parents’ love for each other with fondness and then later she described it as something that was destructive instead? Abandonment issues made sense for both of them and the story was set up to take excellent advantage of that. I don’t think it needed the additional element of “I don’t believe in love”. It is undeniable that Lily had trust issues as well and I completely understand her desire to protect herself and her sister.

I liked the ending and Lily’s grand gesture. The story was easy to read and flowed well. And the fact that James was from America and Lily grew up in France added an interesting layer.

I can recommend this if you like steamy historical romance. This is book two in the series, but it stands well on its own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

James Blakefield, the new Duke of Ashbridge, an American that does not agree with the British hierarchy. He wants to change much in the world, for equality, support for all stations in life, and ending the East Ending Company ruling. Mostly he wants to be seen and accepted.

He inherited the title as the last male heir. Never fond of the rules governing the aristocracy, he is trying to fit in, but doing a miserable job. He has a strong sense of duty, discipline, and routine. Along with the dukedom, he has a ward, which his chivalrous side was to provide and take care of.

The Earl of Derby, most just call him Derby, befriends James and tries to help him. Derby is gregarious, fun, and easy going.

Lily Martín and her sister Violet have been on their own for more than a decade. Their mother was the old Duke's father. He disowned her when she married her art tutor and eloped. The lived in Paris until the revolution and start of the Napoleon war. Lily has seen must destruction and heartache, loneliness as well as survival. Her only skill she values is her eye for dressing, people and rooms.

Violet is ten and has been sheltered by Lily her whole life, but not secure in how they will manage. Lily wants to open a dress shop of her own, to know she will have life on her own terms. Her one friend, Elizabeth along with her husband, the Duke of Montrose, Lily has at least someone to listen to her.

Until she goes to Mother Maggie for a loan. Now her world gets turned upside down by the wrong impression. James believes he is helping but finds out he was wrong. As he tries to apologize it comes out how he can help.

How does James help her? How does Lily react? What does Violet have to do with it? How far will Lily sink before she asks for help?

These characters are bold, independent, bull-headed, and fierce. Join as they get acquainted, find common ground, and discover what really matters to live. From workshop closet rooms to gaudy bars to ballrooms, and breakfasts you see family trials and support, love, and understanding grow. Great plot and creative weaving of drama brings this story alive.