Lydia and James are a most unusual Duke and Duchess. Lydia is a cast of Duke’s granddaughter and James is an American captain ship-owner. Their marriage of convenience became a love story worth telling. 5 stars for interesting characters and a great love story.

I received an EARC from Netgalley and the publisher for this book, and I hadn't read the first book, The Beast and the bookseller, which I bought and read in a few hours. I loved Lily in that book ,so was thrilled that she was the heroine of this book. What a heroine she is!!
She meets James, a Duke, who turns out to be the guardian of her sister Violet. The book takes many twists and turns to get to the happy ending.
James is an American ship captain and has hopes of challenging the East India Company. Lily hopes to own her own dress shop. How their hopes and dreams intersect, and how it illustrates the stratified social classes helps raise this book from "just a romance" to a social read. I highly recommend this book, and the review is an honest and fair one. I can't wait for the next.

What an emotional roller coaster ride this is. To think that children like Lilly saw the French Terror as described here is just heartbreaking. The scars left caused so much pain and doubt, it is no wonder Lilly acted as she did. James had his own childhood issues and it was so delightful to see how new friends could bring everything into focus for them both. Violet’s insight at her young age was so delicious to see and I hope at some point we will see a story of her own. This is a beautifully written love story and the way Lilly gets out of trouble in the end almost made me cry. I loved these characters and will miss them dearly!

I received this ARC copy for free and these are my own opinions.

A delightful Regency romance that pits an independent young dressmaker against an American ship captain who has reluctantly become a Duke....who discovers he has a young ward for whom he is responsible and must find. As the Duke and his friend relax in a pub they witness a young woman in trouble and as the Duke steps in to help - he unwittingly finds himself with a young woman, Lily, who will lead him straight to his ward Violet. The Duke, James, opens his home to Violet and her sister, Lily, with the intention of leaving Lily in charge as he heads back to Boston to continue his ship-building business. But plans change as Lily takes charge of his heart as well as his home and, while both are reluctant to find love, their hearts take control. A fun read in the Devon-fashion that keeps the reader entertained and turning the pages while cheering on the challenges the couple face in getting to their ultimate conclusion of happiness together. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheDukeandtheDressmaker

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for granting me an advance eCopy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023

The book was a fast, light comfort read for me I was able to finish it in one side in less than a day on my front porch. Such a nice relaxing read. Great summer beach or vacation day read.

I loved the romance. I loved the spunky strong, Lily and James, the Duke of Ashbridge. They totally complimented each other. Miss Violet Martin, (Lilly's sister and James newly acquired ward) is also one of my faves.

The book was entertaining a a good read

The Duke and the Dressmaker
by Eva Devon
Pub Date: 04 Sep 2023

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.

By assuming the legal guardianship of Lily’s sister, he can keep them both safe and ensure someone cares for the estate. But it means having Lily under the same roof for the next six weeks. No chaperones. No betrothal. As their undeniable attraction charges the very air between them, both propriety and restraint are threatened. But scandal is the least of their concerns when James’s secret threatens to pull everything apart at the seams...

Each book in the Once Upon a Wallflower series is STANDALONE:
* The Beast and The Bookseller
* The Duke and the Dressmaker

This book shows how love can conquer a multitude of doubts and outside influences if a heart is opened without fear holding it back.
Lily has been rejected over and over, first by the death of her parents, then by her grandfather, then by society. Working as a seamstress and living in a cramped space above a dress shop with her young sister has been her life for the past ten years. She has a dream but when James shows up claiming her sister is his ward everything changes except the thought that she will always be alone and must guard her heart.
James may have inherited a dukedom but he’s still an American sailor at heart. Duty is everything to him. There’s no room for love, it ruin lives and he wants no part of it. He’s content to help Lily by bringing her to his London house to help care for her sister Violet. When gossip about the situation makes its way through the Ton his solution is to marry Lily but guard his heart.
As each one grappled with their old wounds and budding love for each other I found myself drawn more and more into the story. The romance was cleverly written and the pacing was perfectly executed. There was no need for open door love scenes as the emotions of the characters were so well written.
I received a copy courtesy of Amara. This is my honest opinion of the book.

James is a sailor and businessman but has come into a Dukedom. Along with the properties and money comes the responsibility of. a ward Violet. As he searches for her in worst areas of London, he rescues Lily a seamstress from a terrible situation. Lily is Violet’s older sister and protector but James removes them to safety in his new home. They are the rejected granddaughters of the previous Duke and they have struggled to survive on the streets. James finds a solution by marrying Lily and plans to return to America and his business passions. Lily will remind in London starting a dress shop but will their hearts become entangled? How will this marriage work?
Fun to read a romance with banter and well developed characters.

I absolutely loved James & Lily’s story. Hopefully Derby’s story might be next? Again I love how Eva Devon writes everything seems to flow along! Great read and if you haven’t read any of her books start now because she is a great story teller!

I enjoyed this latest book from Eva Devon, but I didn’t think it was quite as strong as The Beast and the Bookseller. For me, it moved a bit slowly in developing the relationship between the main characters. However, both characters were compelling, and it was clear how their painful pasts impacted their relationship with each other. I also just *liked* the characters; they were interesting and tried to do what they thought was right, even if they were a bit boneheaded at times, lol.

Thanks to the author, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Newly inherited duke James attempts to rescue a young woman at a tavern and finds out that she’s the sister of his missing ward. Lily and Violet are granddaughters of the old duke but not part of society due to their mother’s scandalous marriage to a French painter. Now orphaned and impoverished, Lily works as a dressmaker’s seamstress while caring for her young sister. James insists that they both move into the ducal townhouse and after a bit of a disagreement, they do. However, James and Lily are starting to stir up a scandal with all the time they spend together unchaperoned, as much as they try to keep things proper. They do ultimately get married, since Lily is so good at managing James’ household, but conflict looms ahead as James plans to leave England without having mentioned his plans to Lily. I liked how well Lily and James worked together and started to soften towards each other, even though both have been disappointed by their own parents in the past.

Miss Lily Martin is very protective of her younger sister, Violet. Orphaned, the two girls are living above the dress shop where Lily works.

Duke of Ashbridge, James Blakesfield, is looking for his newly acquired ward, Miss Violet Martin. He wants all his affairs in order before he sets sail once again for Boston and the launching of his newest ship. I don't want to share too many details to spoil their encounters for you!

The love story that develops between James and Lily is quite adorable. From their arranged marriage to the developing of feelings, the reader gets to enjoy the building tension and sparks between this unlikely couple. I love that Lily is both rescued and empowered by her relationship with James, which of course was uncommon back then. I like the fire between Lily and James, but I also like their personal passions and how they learn to make room for the personal in their relationship. A beautifully written historical romance with characters that you really want to know better, I definitely recommend reading A Duke and the Dressmaker by Eva Devon!

This is book 2 of Once Upon a Wallflower series by Eva Devon and can easily be read as a standalone. Book 1 is The Beast and The Bookseller and features Lily's friend, Elizabeth and her new husband.

This was my first historical romance by Eva Devon and it was a delightful surprise. Once I started reading I could not put it down.

I was immediately drawn into Lily and James’s world. They were both engaging characters that although very different from each other, we’re absolutely perfect together. Their love story played out beautifully, I enjoyed James’s foreword thinking outlook on societal roles and the fact that he empowered Lily and let her flourish.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗨𝗞𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥 gets the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, I look forward to reading more by this author. TBR and Enjoy!

I loved the first book in this series and this book is as enjoyable as the first one.

American-born shipping captain, James Blakefield, is now, through a complicated family tree, the new Duke of Ashbridge. Unbeknownst to James until he arrives in London is that he's also the legal guardian of Miss Violet Martin, but he has no idea where to find the girl. Just by happenstance, James and his friend are drinking in a bar, and James comes to the rescue of Lily, who is being manhandled. Come to find out, Lily is Violet's sister. He soon learns of the dire circumstances of their living situation and tells them they are to live in his household. Thus begins a complicated relationship between James and Lily and how Society views their relationship.

I loved Lily's strength and perseverance. She had endured so much since she fled France during the revolution and now works her fingers to the bone for a modiste in London, just to keep a roof over her and her sister's head. The love she has for Violet is evident in everything she does. Lily is a talented dressmaker, but her family's name has been riddled with scandal. Her dream of opening her own dress shop has languished for over ten years while she slaved away. Lily is smart, ambitious, and wants to fend for herself and make a name for herself as a premier dressmaker, but as with everything in the world, she doesn't have the funds to accomplish her dream.

James is a more complicated character--abandoned at a young age by the death of his parents--he's taken to the sea and the regiment of a sailor's life as his safe haven. He has worked hard to gain success, and he firmly believes everything runs better on a schedule. He uses this routine to establish a place for Lily and Violet to feel safe and secure. What James doesn't realize is that he cannot just come barging into London Society and expect his goals to be accomplished. He needs allies, and it's through Lily's expert knowledge of the ton that helps James navigate the complicated life and rules of the ton. The two of them make a formidable pair.

Ms. Devon gets to the heart of their insecurities and lets the reader understand how devastating their respective childhoods had been. Both James and Lily have been wounded deeply and are reluctant to love again, even though they cannot resist their mutual attraction. It takes an act of supreme courage on both of their parts to admit their mutual love before they get their HEA.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of The Duke and The Dressmaker by Eva Devon from Netgalley James Blakefield, an American by birth but by some genealogical happenstance, the new Duke of Ashbridge. As such, he takes his responsibilities very seriously.  He is trying to locate his ward, Violet. By miracle of miracle, he is at the wrong place at the right time and saves Lily Martin, who he believes is being bullied by a thug. She, in fact, turns out to be Violet's older sister. She is in very poor circumstances partially because her grandfather, the old Duke of Ashbridge, would not acknowledge the two sisters. As James and Lily learn about each other, they also begin to care about one another. Yet,neither is willing to love the other in fear of what love can cost. I absolutely adored this story and would highly recommend it.

They shared similar heartbreaking abandonment as children. But they found each other and life got better. If only they didn’t allow fear to wreak havoc into their life together. Good thing good friends are around to provide good advice and wisdom. She is fiercely independent and he is admirably supportive. Heartwarming and enjoyable read.

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

Lily and James come to get as an arrangement to help each other. Little do both of them know that they will find love together. They have both been hurt from life experience and have to Fight to make their love work. Really enjoyed the other characters that helped the story along.

The Duke and the Dressmaker, written by Eva Devon, is a fast-paced tale that captivated me from start to finish. This novel is the second installment in the enchanting Once Upon a Wallflower series; however, each book can be enjoyed independently.

In this riveting narrative, Devon skillfully weaves a story that effortlessly transports readers into a world of romance, intrigue, and adventure. The plot unfolds at a brisk pace, ensuring that readers are constantly engaged and eager to discover what lies ahead.

While The Duke and the Dressmaker is part of a series, Devon expertly crafts the narrative in a way that allows new readers to fully immerse themselves in the story without feeling lost or disconnected. This standalone quality is a testament to the author's ability to create well-rounded characters and a compelling storyline that can be appreciated on its own merits.

With its seamless blend of historical accuracy and imaginative storytelling, The Duke and the Dressmaker is a testament to Devon's prowess as a writer. Her attention to detail and meticulous research shines through, transporting readers to a bygone era with vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue.

Furthermore, Devon's characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The Duke and the Dressmaker's protagonists are brought to life with their own unique quirks, flaws, and aspirations, making them all the more captivating and endearing.

The Duke and the Dressmaker is a remarkable novel that effortlessly combines romance, historical accuracy, and captivating storytelling. Whether you are a fan of the "Once Upon a Wallflower" series or a newcomer to Eva Devon's work, this book promises an enthralling reading experience that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment.

*Title: The Duke and the Dressmaker - Book#2 Once Upon a Wallflower

*Release date: 9/4/23 read: 8/20/23

*Author: Eva Devon, an auto-buy author for me

*Book cover: another beauty, Lily in blue/purple gown

*Format: e-ARC

*Page Count: 223

*POV: 3rd person

*Setting: London

*Genre: Regency Romance/HR

*Tropes:
✅ arranged marriage/ marriage of convenience
✅ guardianship
✅ French Revolution

*Look out for:
⚠️prostitution (only mentioned), virgin h, classism, blackmail, suicide (not H/h)

*Synopsis:
Dressmaker Lily Martin borrowed money from one of London's most reviled moneylenders- Mother Maggie. Now it's time to pay it back or Lily and her sister Violet face ruin. Enter sea captain James Blakefield - the new Duke of Ashbridge. He inherits legal guardianship of Lily’s sister and wants to keep them both safe. Because of James and Lily's undeniable attraction, he offers a marriage contract. Lily agrees as long love is not part of deal.

*Hero: Duke of Ashbridge James Blakefield. A sea captain from America. A distant relative of the old Duke who was Lily's g-father.

*Heroine: Lily Martin. A seamstress and dressmaker. Owes loan to Mother Maggie, takes job w/the Duke as Violet's educator and their housekeeper in exchange for his protection.

*Secondary Characters: Violet- Lily's 10 yr. old sister, James' ward; Earl of Derby-James' friend and rake; Elizabeth-Lily's bff, Duchess of Montrose; Madame Josephine-Lily's employer, stole all Lily's dress designs and threw them out.

*Review: A legal guardship for a beloved little sister by a powerful man. James was dutiful, protective, and a workaholic. Lily and James were attracted to each other, but their romance took a back seat (especially in the beginning) to his sense of responsibility. Lily didn't want his charity but knew the world of the ton was too harsh for a young woman alone. Liliy made the best of her situation and even helped other women along the way.

*Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

*Spice level- 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️


Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC💜 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

A lovely and enticing romance with a dashing American ship Captain and his damsel in distress. Lily and James are wonderful characters, both in need of love and the best place is with each other. A worthy journey of belonging, acceptance and love.