This story moved along at a very good pace. The main characters of James, Duke of Ashbridge and Lily Martin were very likeable. James is an American, who owns a fleet of ships. He is opposed to the East India Company and its actions and wants to stop them. Lily Martin is fiercely independent and looks after her younger sister, Violet. Her dream is to open her own dress shop. When James and Lily first meet, it isn’t a friendly meeting. James feels very much the outsider, unaccustomed to the ways of society in London, yet he needs to make friends to achieve his aims. Lily has had a traumatic back ground but does know how to live in this environment. This was an entertaining read that I really enjoyed. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Wonderful Tender Romance

I loved James’s character from the beginning, a hero who stepped in to try to protect Lily only to find out she was his wards sister, the one he had been trying to find!

Since Lily’s parent’s death in France, she had been trying to look after her younger sister and herself but things were getting dire. She didn’t want to accept help from James the new Duke but sometimes you have to give in and get help wherever you can.

A fun, emotional read with a slow burn into love with wonderful characters who realize they can be what they want to be and rise above the rules set by the ton.

A love story not to be missed!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The American Duke and the dressmaker...

James, and American sailor is now a Duke....in England. He's a sailor who only cares for his ships. So, his plan is find his ward and leave England, six weeks tops. He finds Lly, his wards' older sister, a foolish dressmaker who is filled with dreams and somehow lacks street smarts. James is tough and Lily is very weak, at the mercy of so many other people. They have an arrangement. Like so many couples, they lack the aility to communicate, but there's a lot packed in to this quick read, including some very sensible friends.
Recommend.

This was such a wonderful read! Lily and James were both afraid to love and yet their love was apparent to everyone (except them!) right from the beginning! I loved Lily’s no-nonsense, straight forward attitude and her (mostly) lack of the typical romance girl angst. James is a perfect book boyfriend (sigh), willing to do anything to take care of Lily and to make her happy, even if it wasn’t a choice he would have made for himself. There was some odd use of the semi colon throughout the book which was sometimes distracting, but I’d totally overlook it to read more about James and Lily. Apparently there is another book in this series set before this one, and there were some fun Easter eggs left in regards to that book. I’ll be going to read that one, straightaway!

I did enjoy this one overall. It was a cute and short story. Enjoyable characters. I did however almost fell harder for the side characters (oopsie). Derby has to be the next book, I’m really curious about his story, he was so fun! And gosh (honesty here: I did not read book 1, yet :| ) I fell in love with Montrose at first sight, so I might have to go back and read his book! But well, I had nothing to complain about James and Lily, they were sweet characters who were easy to like, taking care of everybody else except themselves so good thing they found each other! Lily is determined, and really resourceful, I really liked that about her. Maybe because the book was so short, the background story of our characters did not hit as much even though it was really tragic. It felt a little rushed when I got the infos so I had no time to feel lots of emotions, but still, I'm glad we got to what really happened to them so that we could understand how they became the adults they are.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. When I got to a little after the middle and all was going kinda well... I just knew... I just knew I would have to deal with some kind of 3rd act breakup. Not a fan of it. Especially when it’s because of BIG miscommunication and lack of fighting for what you want. These two characters, as much as I loved them, just refused to be happy and that makes me mad. When happiness is thrown at you and you refuse to see it and want to continue living a sad life... I’m out. It made me sad though but it also made me love Derby and Montrose even more because DAMN YES for those two making our MCs open their eyes! When I tell you I fell for the side characters haha!

So well, this was my main frustration... It was still a great read, beautifully written, and oh so sweet. I will look for more from that author!

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

A beautifully written romance taking place in London in the late 1700s. The author tells the tale of an American turned Duke and the disowned granddaughter of a high powered Duke. Lily and James have misguided conceptions of love which causes conflicts within themselves. Do they believe love is what they’ve witnessed though their parents or can it be something more? All the while working though the high and low expectations of the London social scene.
The author paints beautiful scenery with her words for the reader. One can almost see the dancing and hear the music of the ball. The pacing of the story is perfect - not too fast or slow. The only thing I do have questions is the timing and age of Lily’s younger sister. She’s 10 now. They’ve been on their own since the death of their parents. There was a comment about living in the darkness these past 10 years. It makes me wonder how old violet was when they escaped France. Other than that one questionable part, the story is a refreshing retake in a Cinderella story.

Thank you to Entangled publishing for the arc and allowing me to give my opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Duke and the Dressmaker" by Eva Devon. It's a captivating historical romance featuring Miss Lily Martin, a resilient dressmaker, and James Blakefield, an American sea captain turned Duke. The story revolves around Lily's dire financial situation, which James comes to rescue her from, eventually becoming the legal guardian of her sister. As their undeniable attraction grows, they face societal rumors, leading to a marriage of convenience.
Both characters are well-developed and endearing. Lily's determination and James's journey into English society add depth to the story. I couldn't put the book down, and it beautifully explores themes of dreams, hope, and overcoming obstacles.
I would highly recommend "The Duke and the Dressmaker" to any historical romance enthusiasts. It's a well-written, engaging tale with relatable characters that will surely capture your heart.

The Duke and the Dressmaker is a quick and lovely read. It's the second book of the series but it stands strong as a standalone. I haven't read the first book yet, but I didn't have any problems with immersing myself in this book.

The story unfolds at a swift pace, but it never feels rushed. I actually liked it, and rarely do I like fast-paced stories since I dwell in details. However, I would have loved to know what happened to Garrett and James' partnership and plans. The mix of cultures gave the story a layer of charm but it was the main characters' own charm that shine through. Both James and Lily are strong characters who know what they want and would do everything to get it. I think they actually mirror each other. They might have different situations, but their past seems to be similar. They've endured tons of evil the world has thrown at them, but they remained resilient, albeit they closed their hearts to love.

I also like the other characters, especially Garrett and Elizabeth; they intrigued me so much that I would definitely indulge in reading the first book. I would also love a story based on Derby.

Overall, I have greatly enjoyed the book and Eva's writing.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review has been written willing fully.

This is the second novel in the Once Upon a Wallflower series.
The story focuses on Lily's story. A girl who works as a seamstress to provide for her sister and her.
She has a dream to open her own dressmaking shop but luck isn't on her side and she has a debt to pay.

In comes our hero, James, an American that just inherited a Dukedom. He is on the search for this ward, Violet, Lily's younger sister. When James sees Lily in trouble he intervenes and discovers that he found the sisters.
After being tossed out of their meager home, James welcomes them to the Ashbridge estate.

James is not like his British counterparts. He is a trade man. A captain of many ships, his dream is to rival the East India Company. He wants no part of England except getting patrons and allies for his new business. When rumors start circulating about Lily living at his estate, he offers to marry her to benefit them both.

These two are well matched and had similar fears. They both fear of what love can do. Lily fears that love will always leave her while James fear that he will never have love. The epitome of their turning point in realizing what they mean to each other is so moving that I cried.

I love this story. James is such a refreshing character. He is the biggest cheerleader in pushing Lily and Violet to be independent and anything they want. Definitely a book to check out!

The Duke and the Dressmaker is the 2nd book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series, and its a marriage of convenience/ historical romance that I enjoyed.

The story takes place in England and follows an American ship captain James, the new Duke of Ashbridge and Lily who now cares for her younger sister after the death of their parents.

Lily and James are both wonderful characters and I loved seeing how their romance evolved from respect to admiration to love. They both had painful pasts that led to current fears making them closed off and liked seeing how they handled their fears and their feelings, as well as the expectations and judgement from society.

There were a couple fantastic secondary characters who added their own flare to the story and I loved that the characters from book 1 made an appearance and we got to catch up with them.

This was another enjoyable read from this author and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of historical romance.

The Duke and the Dressmaker is the latest installment in the Once Upon A Wallflower Series that can be enjoyed as a standalone.

James Blakefield is an American Ship Captain who loves his career, values his employees and treats people with kindness. Lily Martin has put her dreams on hold to safe her sister from harm, will she be able to avoid scandal and a life of squalor? Will she finally let someone help her, and will she open her heart that she is worthy of love?

☕🔥🔥🔥 A sinfully sweet hotter than sweet romance that tingles in all the right places, and a dash of spice to satisfy that spicy craving.

Once again, another book that tugs at the heart, takes you on a journey with characters who must overcome loss and betrayal. I absolutely love the series, and found it was easy to get lost in the pages as I couldn’t get enough of James and Lily. They both crave the same thing but stubbornness and fear of loss could be the end of whatever it is that is simmering between them.

I hope your heart squeezed as much as mine did while reading this and I look forward to hopefully another chapter in this series.

"The Duke and the Dressmaker" by Eva Devon
Smiles & Tears; Rescue & Romance
Yes, this Regency romance story has it all, and then some. I loved my time in this story.
It is book 2 in the Wallflower series; but it may easily be read as a stand-alone story. I will share that I loved book 1 in this series, too!. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

Strong heroine ✅
Worthy hero ✅
Interesting yet tragic backstories ✅

I really loved this story! I enjoyed the characters, understood their motivations, fears and dreams. Lily and James' chemistry was undeniable and their relationship both sweet and spicy. James being an American in English society offered a slight twist which I enjoyed.

There was some age discrepancies with Violet's age but for me, it did not take away from the story.

Overall, I loved this one and definitely recommend it if you like late 18th century romances.

I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

》ARC Review: The Duke and the Dressmaker《

This is tale with both a triumph of love and triumph of personal journeys.

Our leads Lily and James are wonderful.

Lily has suffered greatly, but she constantly preserves. If not for herself, then for her dear young sister, Violet. While life has treated them poorly, taken from them and denied them so much— while Lily must work to the bone to survive...she never once gives up. Not on herself, her sister, and especially not on her dream to open her own dress shop. It’s a dream that keeps her alive, until a chance encounter with a man that would turn guardian to her sister, friend to her…and then something more…changes it all.

James is a man of true honor. Before realizing who Lily is, and her connection to the ward he's looking for, he is quick to defend her against ill treatment. When he sees her living conditions he realizes he simply cannot just take his newly found ward under his wing— he finds it is his duty to also take and protect his ward's older sister. A woman who has been unjustly treated and who dreams for so much more.

These characters are vulnerable to flaws, both far too pragmatic at times and far too afraid to love at times. Blinding them into not seeing how beautifully they fit together. But once they do see, the beauty of their love story is exquisite to witness unfold.

If I had any personal setback whilst reading it is something the dialogue lacked passion in its word. It was near perfect— the plot was excellent in pace, the story was balanced gorgeously in its romance and individual romance, the character motivations always made sense, and the main characters themselves were charismatic leads. However, at times, the dialogue read a bit without emotion. It was truly the only thing missing for me, but it wasn’t a huge missing thing. Its inclusion simply would have made my heart race faster, but my heart remains full of love for this book either way.

I loved how these characters wanted to look at their marriage of convenience as just that— this convenient business exchange— but even before it begins it’s clear there connection runs far deeper than a pragmatic business transaction. It’s simply up to them to open their hearts to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Eva Devon is one of my most favorite authors. In this fun story Lily Martin has been forced to live a hard life. Taking care of her sister and trying to survive while pursuing her dream of owning her own dress shop. American captain James Blakefield is now the new Duke of Ashbridge, It is his duty to right the wrongs and take care of his ward Violet, LIly’s sister, Now he promises to protect them, take care of them and give them a life they deserve. WHile growing close to the girls and keeping secrets hidden sparks soon quickly form for him and Lily.
As usual Devon writes with such an amazing flow with strong characters whose stories and life you want to be part of. The little bit of humor and passion in her story makes it so wonderful and easy to read. You will truly enjoy this adventure in her Wallflower series.

"Look, Derby, if I can handle a squall in the Atlantic, surely I can handle such a vibrant young lady."

“And the duke was staring at her as if she was Persephone and he was Hades, and he could not wait to take her to his underworld.”

I was such a fan of The Beast and the Bookseller that when the publisher reached out, I jumped at the opportunity!!
In this book two in the Once Upon a Wallflower series - a series of standalones mind you - we get to meet Lily and James and the complicated and fearful relationship they share. With some of the best tropes (marriage of convenience, rich guy/poor girl, forced proximity) these two characters will have to deal with being rejected by society and the fear of loving someone else and what it might make you do. They meet because Lily’s sister, Violet, is James’ ward and when, thanks to his good heart, he decides to save them both from the poverty and malnutrition they have to live with to survive, the forced proximity will start and it’s so good to see.
Don’t get me wrong this book is a sweet regency romance as much as it is quite spicy but never too much. As it happens with each and every single one of Eva Devon’s books, what wins here is the slow burn between the main couple which is always a pleasure to read!!! I’m so so grateful I had the chance to read this book !!! I can’t wait for the next instalment in this universe!!!

"We are an odd pairing," he said with a shrug.
"A duke and a
dressmaker."

"Do not take your eyes off me," she whispered. "You must look at me as if I am your queen, your goddess divine."
He gazed down at her with wonder.
"But you are my queen, my goddess divine."

Having to support herself and her baby sister after losing both parents in the French Revolution, enterprising Lily Martin has not had an easy life. Trained as a seamstress, her path fortuitously crosses with an American shipping owner and her luck finally changes when it turns out she is the lost ward he has been searching for. as he has been and soon found herself working long hours for pennies, and no matter what she does, there seems to be no way to stop being a drudge and fulfilling her dreams of owning her own shop. But all that changes when a very bad decision ends up changing her life for the better. The Duke and The Dressmaker is a well-written page turner with appealing characters who readers will root for.

Ah, Lily and James…both have had such pain they don’t trust that true love can and will conquer all. Thankfully good friends, and beloved characters from previous books, come to the rescue and speak some truth to them both. If you like some angst with your romance, you’ll adore this story. I loved the twist of a dressmaker being more of the ton than the Duke! Eva Devon has a remarkable way of storytelling that pulls you in to the pain and the joy of her characters.

Overall, I liked this book a lot and thought it was a stronger installment in the series than the Beast and the Bookseller. James and Lily are charming together, similar in a lot of ways and stronger as a couple because of their differences. I love book couples like that, who make each other better by being together.

Both characters had a lot of trauma in their past, and I think the book suffered slightly while trying to balance not getting too weighed down by the horrors of the past. I understand not wanting that to be the focus of the novel, but I think their connection could have benefitted from delving more into the issues that were holding them back from one another. It felt barely touched on.

That being said, I really liked the pacing of the novel and the supporting characters. Lily's sister Violet is smart and talented and adorable, and James' best friend offered some much needed humor. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get his own book - and I'd definitely read it.

This was such a cute little book 💜

It worked well as a standalone - I haven’t read Book 1, but I now want to go read about Elizabeth (assuming that’s Book 1).