The Duke and the Dressmaker is a wonderful addition to the Once Upon a Wallflower series. I adored Lily, a talented designer and seamstress with aspirations of owning her own business, and James, an American who recently learned he is a Duke. After fleeing France ten years ago, Lily cares for nothing more than her little sister, and James, as the new Duke, has become her ward. Seeing the dire position Lily and her sister are in, James has the perfect arrangement. They can live on his estate, Lily can take care of it and her sister, and James can go back to America where he is expected in six weeks.

Lily and James are both such wonderful characters, and their romance is just as lovely. They’re both so selfless and strong. James is such an honorable man, and his intentions are always good, but he bumbles a bit when it comes to his feelings for Lily. The pair has an instant connection, but several obstacles stand in their way. It’s interesting to see how they handle societal judgment and expectations, their feelings for each other, their individual goals, and their fears.

Several times in the story, Lily finds herself in difficult predicaments. All James wants to do is protect Lily, but she wants to take care of herself and solve her own problems as she always has. Their tragic backstories and observations of love and marriage have closed them off to the idea, and they are unwilling to let romantic interests get too close. But even though they are both afraid of love and intimacy, they can’t deny their growing feelings. I love that they both grow and change and take risks because of their love for each other. I also love that everyone else can see how they feel about each other except them. It makes for some comical and heartwarming scenes.

Something else I found really interesting is the historical elements. Since James is American, Lily grew up in France, and the story is set in England, we learn a lot about the different cultures and what was happening politically and socially at that time. It’s interesting to see how different countries felt about each other and how political and social situations affected the characters. Both James and Lily are treated differently because of their origins and social status, and they discuss how different their countries are. It added depth and context to the setting, which I appreciated.

Though this is the second book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series, it’s easily read as a standalone. However, if you did read the first book, The Beast and the Bookseller, you’ll be as excited as me to see Elizabeth, Garrett, and a few other faves. A bit of time has passed since the conclusion of their story, and it’s so wonderful to see what’s been happening with Elizabeth and her new husband. And Garrett and James together are fantastic! They are opposites in many ways, but they make a good team, and their sparring scene, as well as their other scenes together, is so fun.

I’m also really curious about some of the new characters introduced in the book, including Lily’s sister and James’s closest friend. James’s friend has a big personality, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of him in future books in the series!

Special thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: September 4, 2023
Series: Once Upon a Wallflower #2
Pages: 300

Eva Devon has an uncanny way of making you love the wallflower stories that you read. Although I have not read the first in this series, “The Duke and the Dressmaker” was a very enjoyable and worthwhile read for me. The story is of Miss Lily Martin who cares for her younger sister after the death of her parents. She took on an occupation as dressmaker/seamstress in order to survive. After borrowing money from Mother Maggie, a notorious money lender, she is confronted with one of her ruffians to collect on the debt or she and her sister face ruin. Before she can counter, James Blakefield, American sea captain and the new Duke of Ashbridge and his friend comes to her rescue. While securing his estate, Lily discovers that he is the new Duke and not the grandfather she once knew. The duke becomes the legal guardian to Violet and Lily agrees as they are in much need of his protection, and he needs someone to care for his estate. As Lily takes on her new role as housekeeper in the home, James becomes enamored and she likewise with him. The is an undeniable attraction between the two, but rumors begin to circulate as to her being unchaperoned in the home, and James offers a marriage of convenience to squelch the talk.

I loved both characters in this story. Lily is strong, dedicated, smart and has endured a lot to overcome obstacles to take care of herself and sister. She dreams of owning her own shop and will do anything to become a well-known dressmaker. James can be viewed as complicated but also had to endure hardships at a young age. As an American, patience must come to him in order to learn societal London and that is something he must learn. The two make a united front and lovely couple. This is such a well-written story that I found it hard to put down. It is one of dreams, hopes, and fears and one in which the secondary characters add well to the story. I guess I am going to have to go back and read the first in this series as I have quite enjoyed this one immensely. Recommend the read.

This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone, however the characters from the first book do appear in this one.

This is a wonderfully entertaining read. Typically in romance novels, you have the woman trying to convince the male to love her, to see her. But I loved that this tale was different. I loved James and Lily's story and the way they were brought together and the way they were almost torn apart.

I received an eArc of this book and I’m so glad I did! This was such a cute and quick read. I am excited to go back an read the first book of the series and hope there are more to come. The characters were so well written, it was easy to love them and want to know more about all of them!

An Eva Devon novel has a way of always capturing my heart. I found both James and Lily's character flaws to lean perfectly towards their inability to fully allow the other in, making for that excellent clash of conflict and chemistry. I loved how James just wished to make Lily's dreams come true and provide her a level of freedom she had never been allowed and quite rightly deserved. Honestly, I fall HARD for an Eva Devon hero. I loved the reintroduction of Montrose and Elizabeth, as well as Montrose's and James's 'budding friendship'. I adore male friendship's in novels and this one is one of my favourites especially adding in Denby and how his character (along with Montrose) were the driving force in repairing the third act breakup. I really hope there is a third book in the series and that Denby is our MMC! All in all I really enjoyed The Duke and the Dressmaker and always find the perfect amount of conflict and spice and that element of cozy HR that keeps me coming back to Eva Devon's wonderful writing style.

American ship captain James Blakefield is the new Duke of Ashbridge. He has grand plans for the power his title allows him. However, James finds it difficult to fit in amongst his new English peers. One evening, he rescues a damsel in distress, the woman happens to be his missing ward’s older sister. James wants to help both women, and he offers Lily the perfect solution to all their problems. Will Lily give James reasons to remain in England.

Miss Lily Martin is the eldest daughter of a disowned English noblewoman and a French art tutor. To support herself and her little sister, she works tirelessly at a dress shop. Lily hopes to open her own modiste shop someday. She frets on how to repay her loan from sketchy moneylenders; however, an American comes to her rescue. He is not just any American but a duke who just happens to be her sister’s legal guardian. Can Lily trust James with her and her sister’s welfare?

Lily and James have a lot in common. Both were traumatized by their parents’ past decisions. They made James and Lily hesitant to open their hearts to one another or trust the other. Also, both have a rough time asking and accepting help from others.

James, I noticed, has a hero complex. He wants to help others in need. I like how he selfishly tries to help both Lily and Violet. There were a few things about Lily that annoyed me. Nothing too major, little things that did not sit well with me. I admire everything Lily did for her sister’s sake. Everything she did was for Violet’s welfare.

THE DUKE AND THE DRESSMAKER is book two in Eva Devon’s historical romance series, ONCE UPON A WALLFLOWER. The story can easily stand alone. I have not read the prior book, and I could easily follow the storyline. There is no on-going back plot spilling over into this story. The couple from the prior book do make an appearance close to the end.

"The Duke and the Dressmaker" book 2 in the Once Upon A Wallflower series was a fast-paced engaging read. From start to finish I was pulled into this story and found it to be unputdownable.

I thought the author did a fantastic job crafting a love story that brought two seemingly opposites together after past tragedy. I really enjoyed seeing James and Lily's relationship develop and grow. Their interactions felt authentic and the story had a natural flow to it.

I woud definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading Historical Romance and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Eva Devon, Net Galley and Entangled Publishing Amara for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I read The Beast and the Bookseller earlier this year and really liked the author's writing. The couple was sweet, tender, and had an immediate connection. Unfortunately, I didn't have that same resonance with The Duke and the Dressmaker. The dynamic felt lopsided and it lacked the natural chemistry of their predecessor. The hero went gaga over the heroine and she seemed ambivalent over his affection until halfway through the book. I was immediately drawn to the sea captain turned duke and liked him from the first page. My main issue was with the dressmaker herself. She was a sour apple who behaved like her seams were sewn too tight.

The Duke and the Dressmaker had a great premise, but it seemed like as the reader I was more invested in the romance than the heroine. She had excuses at every turn why they shouldn't pursue a dalliance meanwhile the duke was bending over backwards trying to convince her it was a good idea. Captain James was charming and was determined to protect her the moment he spied her in the pub. All I'm saying is it wouldn't take much convincing for me to hang my hat next to his. The other main issue was Lily's sister became his ward and it was his ducal responsibility to take care of them. They said they weren't closely related, but suspicious intertwined branches on the family tree is enough to make me take a breather. I despise children in romance novels and I was ready for Violet to scoot off the page every time she appeared. I know she was integral to the plot, but the constant interruptions made me want to scream.

The Duke and the Dressmaker didn't quite match the bar set by The Beast and the Bookseller, but I'm still eager to read more from Eva Devon. I liked how tenderly her romances developed between the couple and my toes practically curl from the sweetness. I hope to read further in the Once Upon a Wallflower series and see what else the author has to offer. We've encountered a bookseller and a talented seamstress, who knows what girl boss we'll encounter next after The Duke and the Dressmaker?

I was sucked in from page one and found I just didn't want to put this book down! I enjoyed the first book in the series and was excited to find out what Lily's story was. I was a little confused about how old she was when she had to leave France but that didn't really affect my enjoyment of the overall story. If there was ever a couple who needed to have an open and honest conversation about their feelings it was Lily and James. They were both so afraid to be vulnerable that they almost lost out on their chance for happiness with one another. Thank goodness for Derby and Montrose and their confrontations/meddling. As with the marriage in Beast and the Bookseller, our main characters may have said it was just an agreement to protect reputations but we all knew they were really in love with one another. And as with the previous book, we knew we would just have to wait it out until the characters realized that too.

The Duke and the Dressmaker is the second book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series.

Miss Lily Martin has been taking care of her younger sister for the past ten years ever since her parents died in France. They both escaped in fear of their lives being taken. She has been working for a dressmaker for long hours in order to survive. But she has made a mistake in borrowing money from Mother Maggie and now the debt is long past due and time to pay up. Mother Maggie sets one of her large employees after Lily but before she can resist, a man steps in to rescue her with his friend. Lily takes offense believing he has caused more trouble than she needs and that she can take care of herself.

Ship captain James Blakefield is also the new Duke of Ashbridge. He is only in London for six weeks to secure his estate and find his ward that he feels duty bound to take care of. He introduces himself as the Duke of Ashbridge to which she states "no he is not," her grandfather is the duke, and he disowned his daughter and refused to help her when she and her sister asked for help. James explains that he is now the new Duke and has been searching for his new ward. They come to an agreement by being her sister's guardian, he can keep them both safe and ensure someone cares for the estate which also helps him.

Lily takes her new duties to heart and begins to make changes to their new home which pleases James. But rumors begin about Lily's character and being unchaperoned, which upsets James, and he suggests that they marry to stop the rumors. James has neglected to tell Lily that he has plans to return to Boston for the launching of his new ship which threatens their new relationship. This newest problem between them might be the last straw for them to find their way to one another.

Both characters are not the usual type I read about. James is an easy going American newly made Duke with all the trappings which seem ridiculous to him. Lily has been taking care of her younger sister and has been forced to be pretty independent with dreams of one day having her own dress shop. But both have horrible pasts and have fears of being abandoned so they protect their hearts, so they won't be hurt again. They both have a lot to overcome in order to find the love that has been missing from their lives. The only thing that was missing for me was a more in-depth explanation of how James is related to Lily's grandfather.

Despite being the granddaughter of a rich and powerful duke, Lily Martin has not had an easy life. Her grandfather disowned Lily’s mother when she married for love and she and her new husband fled to France. They raised a family and lived quite happily in France, but then the revolution claimed her parents, leaving Lily all alone. So Lily took her baby sister Violet and escaped the terror by returning to England, but England was no refuge for them when her grandfather refused to see them. Lily got work as a seamstress 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.

American shipping magnate, James Blakefield, never expected to become an English duke and had no desire to stay in England, but he too has dreams and knows that being a rich and powerful duke could come in handy for stopping the atrocities being done by the East India Company. He just needs to find a way to garner support in Parliament, and then find someone trustworthy to manage his estate, so he can return to Boston. But first, he must find his ward - the old duke’s granddaughter Violet Martin. So far he has had no luck, but a chance encounter in a tavern with a damsel whom he thought was in distress, turns out to be his ward’s sister and may be the answer to all his problems. He just needs to convince her that they can solve each other’s problems, without any messy emotions like love getting in the way. It is a perfect plan until it isn’t…

This is another well-written, nicely-paced installment of the “Once Upon a Wallflower” series, this time featuring Lily, the best friend of Elizabeth from the previous book. It is clear from the start that Lily and James share an amazing connection, but they have both been hurt by those who should have loved them, and both refuse to let themselves fall in love. But they both soon learn that love doesn’t always give you a choice and that trusting someone with your heart may be the scariest thing you have ever done, but the reward is far greater than the risk if you are willing to take a chance. This book is filled with dreams, fears, great secondary characters, bad choices, grand gestures, friends who tell it like it is, second chances, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I enjoyed this story, not quite as much as the first book, but still a book I would be happy to recommend. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title as the books are loosely connected.

*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.*

"Dressmaker Miss Lily Martin knows too well the sordid dealings of London’s corrupt underbelly. She should have known borrowing from one of the city’s most reviled moneylenders was risky. Horribly so. Now the loan has come due—and there’s nothing standing between Miss Lily and her darling sister’s ruin. Until a dashing American with flashing, defiant eyes intervenes… Ship captain James Blakefield may be the new Duke of Ashbridge, but he’s only in London for six weeks to secure his estate before returning to America, and far from the watchful eye of the ton. He’ll be damned if he’ll attend another society event where eligible ladies fling themselves at his title. But when he discovers Miss Lily’s desperate predicament, James realizes he might have the perfect arrangement."
This is a good book. Society events don't interest him but he is interested in Lily.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

When being abandoned most of your life, it makes achieving your dreams seem impossible and love too hurtful.
Lily found herself slaving away in a dress shop, taking care of her sister, and having her designs taken from her.

James, the new Duke of Ashbridge, is definitely not like most Dukes. He obtained the title being a distant relative, is a ship captain, and blast, is American. James meets Lily when finding out about his ward, her sister.

Both characters are pretty unconventional, but have similar horrible pasts. I liked the marriage of convenience turning into love. The marriage offer was out of a kind gesture and intention so love grew easily even if denied. Only thing that bothered me a little is that the characters related? Maybe not close enough to be a marriage concern.

Some extra time spent on ships would have been nice since the focus was more on Lily's passion. A steamy scene there would have been fun.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Freedom, Fashion, Romance:
A charming story with interesting characters.
James formally a sea captain is now a wealthy duke with a ward he has never met.
A chance meeting changes not only his life but the lives of his young ward and Lily the wards older sister.
A sweet story ensues along with many inspiring heartfelt situations, interesting plot, many surprises, and a few emotional fears each needs to conquer.
A slow building attraction soon develops into a fan or two worthy story.
My thoughts:
1. I loved James, how thoughtful and generous he was.
2. When Lily stood up for herself, she rated a Yahoo! "you go girl from me".
✔Mature Advisory:

This is the second book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series. Lily, the heroine, is friends with Elizabeth from the previous story. As much as I enjoyed reading this book, Lily did annoy me with her rigid thinking. The hero James was much more realistic. James rescued Lily and her sister from desperate circumstances and provided for all their material needs. It was obvious from the beginning that he desired Lily for more than just a business arrangement. Due to her prior emotional damage, Lily was not capable of acknowledging her feelings.
Her incredible stubbornness nearly caused her to lose James forever. Luckily, due to the interference of friends that were equally stubborn, their HEA was saved.
This book lightly touched upon some social issues and the phrase "change the world" was tossed around a bit. I generally prefer that characters remain within their stories and don't try to go beyond. That being said this was still an easy read with plenty of steam and lively conversations.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Lily has had to work hard for everything she has for herself and her sister. Left to defend themselves after the horrible death of their parents, Lily and her sister flee to London to seek help from a relative that shoots them down due to their mother leaving town years earlier. With nothing but her sewing skills Lily makes a name for herself even if the ladies who wear her designs don’t know that she made them. Everything changes one day when the new Duke of Ashbridge comes, and he makes a deal with Lily to become her sister’s legal guardian and keep her off the streets. However, does this relationship just say strictly a perfect arrangement or does something else happen to blossom.

I read the first book, and I enjoyed it, just like I did with the second book as well. With the plot being kinda the same as the first one, I did not mind because the characters and how they handled themselves is what made this book different. I love that in this book you will meet a handsome ship captain James who is the new Duke of Ashbridge, but he has a charge that he must find, while in search of her he comes across her sister, and he strikes a deal that they both cannot refuse. However, during all this they both find themselves learning more about what they want in life and in love and that is where the story blossoms. This book really is character-driven, and I love a good romance that is character-driven.

I thought Lily's character was done well. She has a lot of wisdom, smarts, and charm about her, but she has one flaw: she sees love as a weakness, well not love for her sister but for anyone else. She has dreams for herself and to make a name for herself in the dressmaking world.

James is handsome, a little shy when it comes to love. Not shy when it comes to women and getting to tangle in the sheets. He never saw himself as the type to settle down with someone, instead he has always known that he will travel the world on his ship and make trades and set up routes. However, he is a smart man who sees the value of one's help when needed and he needs help with taking care of his new charge Violet and Lily, her sister is the perfect person to do that. I loved that he did not shy away from asking for help from Lily when it comes to matters as her sister and how to handle the London Society. I thought those two were a perfect pair and matched each other in wits and will.

I loved this love story. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I have the next person down right on who is going to be in the next book. I don’t want to say who I think it is but please be who I am hoping it is Devon… also thank you for writing such fun, romantic books. I used to not like Historical romances but the reason that you write makes them not seem so blah and boring. I really cannot wait to see what is next for you.

I want to Thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

This was such a heartwarming read where both the.characters are.each others hero. James is an American. Shipping.magnet and .the newly named.duke of Ashbridge.and he is in search of his.ward. But when he.accidental steps.into a situation where he is trying to protctect.a young women he discovers she is the sister of his ward. Lily has be taken.care.of her.sister for many years after the.death of her parents.during the.French Revolution so the escape to England.where.her.grandfather.turns.them away. So depending only on herself to.keep.them safe.she.is.a.little.spectacle of James offer. They are both two lonely people looking.for.somone.to.care.

Great story Arthur did a great job with the characters. I would have liked a.longer ending as it seemed a bit short. However I enjoyed James and Lily's story very much.

I love Eva Devon books, especially this one! I read it in one sitting. She comes up with excellent issues for her characters to overcome before getting their HEA. A Duke to the rescue... American James Blakefield is the new English Duke of Ashbridge and in a bad part of town sees a young woman in trouble and jumps in to save her, only now he's made it worse by assaulting the thug working for Mother Maggie. Lily Martin is never going to get out of debt to Mother Maggie. She works her fingers to the bone and provides her designs to the owner of a dress shop trying to provide for her little sister, Violet, but it's still not enough so she owes Maggie. But it turns out James is the guardian of her sister and he's been hunting for her. After meeting Violet, the next morning they are tossed in the street by Madame Josephine. Lily, after finding her friend Elizabeth gone, has no choice but to go to the Duke. James becomes instantly enamored of Lily when she fights her way in the door past the horrible butler she has a history with, who tries to stop her. As an American he appreciates her fiery spirit. It takes time for them to come to terms and even marry (purely as a business arrangement). These characters are very damaged for similar reasons but from very different and horrible circumstances. Thank goodness for their friends.

Thank you to Entangled: Amara and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Abandoned by her grandfather, a duke, when she and her sister are orphaned, Lily toils working as a seamstress for a dressmaker. She dreams of having her own dressmaker shop. Living in terrible conditions with her young sister, she is shocked when the new young American duke comes looking for them. Guardian of her younger sister, James feels responsible for the two women. He encourages them to move in to the London townhouse with him. Lily and James become very attracted to each other, which is problematic since he must get back to his shipbuilding business in America. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for my honest review.

Thanks to Entangled and the author for the ARC!
I enjoyed this one, and will check out more from this author, including the first book in this series of loosely connected stand alones.
I thought this book had good character development and interesting backstories that made it not as cookie cutter as some in the genre can be. A satisfying read.