I enjoyed this novella, it was sweet and not too long. I have not read any of the previous books or any book by this author. The tropes were fun, the characters were enjoyable, especially Arabella, relentless and witty. However, it took me a while to finish it, so it's 4 stars from me.

The next generation in the Duchess Society Series! Although time flies in this series apparently! It had been a few years, since I’ve read the stories of Tobias Streeter and his wife Hildy in The Brazen Bluestocking and of course of Xander Macauley and his wife Pippa from The Wicked Wallflower. Imagine, Xander having a daughter, who is just like her mother… with the same determination to score her husband. It doesn’t matter to Belle that Nigel Streeter is eleven years her senior. She is going to marry him, no matter what. He just doesn’t know it yet. Again, Tracy takes us on a wonderful journey, where it is great to see Xander and Tobias remember their own history. Can’t help but root for Arabelle to get Nigel to heel. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Book 8 of 8 - Tracy Sumner brings us yet another great story. A Victorian era London scandal which is so much fun to read.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Streeter’s adopted son and Macauley’s wild daughter fight falling in love! A new generation of the Leighton Cluster comes of age. Trying to find the way through this strange and exciting world. I loved seeing how the oldest of the children come of age and fall in love. Navigating how the parents are involved and interact with each other and each others children’s is heartwarming, interesting and captivating all in one. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

I'm so happy to see the next generation of The Duchess Society! One of my favourite Regency Romance series.

Bella is the daughter of Xander Macauley and she has her eyes set on making Nigel Streeter, adopted son of Tobias Streeter her man.
This fun almost Christmas novella is a quick read giving us an insight into the lives of some of our favourite Duchess Society Characters 20 years later.
Being a novella, character development is quick and fast but it was still a captivating read for me.
Could easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the earlier books first to get a better insight into all the side characters.

i originally requested this novella because i wanted to give the historical romance genre another try but ultimately i don't think it's for me. however, this may be of more interest to those who would like a short victorian romance read.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts

Tracy Sumner's "The Daring Debutante," the sixth installment in the Duchess Society series, delivers a delightful blend of historical charm and romantic intrigue. Set against the backdrop of Regency-era London, the novel follows Lady Amelia, a spirited debutante determined to defy society's expectations.

Amelia's character is refreshingly bold yet endearingly vulnerable, making her journey from societal rebel to unexpected heroine compelling and relatable. The chemistry between Amelia and the broodingly handsome Lord Nathaniel adds a layer of tension that keeps the pages turning. Sumner weaves a tale of love, passion, and societal conventions with skillful prose and vivid historical detail, transporting readers to a time where reputation and desire collide.

"The Daring Debutante" is a captivating addition to the Duchess Society series, blending romance and historical intrigue in a way that will charm both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Tracy Sumner's storytelling prowess shines in this engaging Regency romance, making it a must-read for lovers of the genre.

James' rating: 5 out of 5 stars of intoxicating heat! ✨

I was excited to return to the Duchess Society with the next generation of the Leighton Cluster and Christmas (in the novella) was the perfect setting to do so!

This had some of my favorite tropes, was a Duchess Society book and was written by Tracy... well I immediately jumped on it. I loved Bella. She was a mix of Xander and Pippa... and my, that's a dangerous combination. Nigel, our grumpy hero, had a complex character full of love and compassion with a heavy burden of the past. I absolutely adored our MCs. They had great chemistry and I loved their banter.

There were moments where their ages showed and I loved the expression of it. The best gift Bella could give Nigel was love and acceptance and she gave that in abundance. The spice was vivid and fiery. Not gonna lie, I wanted MORE! 😂 The poor bloke was overwhelmed and hesitated for a second which brought about a little grovel and was quickly resolved.

(Cue flash Grey's Anatomy scene. "You hesitated?!" "I didn't hesitate. I was thinking!" )

The epilogue was the icing on the cake. I loved the Xander and Pippa moment which was like a blast from the wait. Can't wait to read about the other characters in the next generation.

Thanks to Tracy, Wolf Publishing and Victory Editing for a rousing ARC!

I have read all of the books in this series and they were all 5 star reads. This book was enjoyable in that we were revisiting the families of the Leighton Cluster but this one was a bit predictable. For this reason I am giving it 4 stars.

The Daring Debutante is book 8 in Tracy Sumner’s The Duchess Society series. It follows the adopted son of Tobias and Hildy from ‘The Brazen Bluestocking’ and the daughter of Macauley and Pippa from ‘The Wicked Wallflower’– two of my favourite couples. When I saw this I was really excited to read Nigel and Arabella’s story and I wasn’t disappointed.
Arabella has known Nigel all her life – after all their parents have been best of friends along with the rest of the ‘Leighton Cluster’ for years. She knows that Nigel is the one for her but he does not let himself drop his guard. Nigel still carries the scars of his youth with him. Despite the love of his adoptive parents, he is always conscious of his luck and he cannot fully forget where he came from. He cannot believe he is deserving of his good fortune. For Arabella’s sake he cannot give in to the attraction he feels for her. But Arabella is her mother’s daughter and is determined to get her man. Will Nigel be able to withstand the irresistible temptation she offers?
I loved reading Nigel and Bella’s story. It is a novella and a fairly quick read but I loved every minute of it. Nigel is suitably dark and brooding and Arabella was a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful to see the rest of the Leighton Cluster again years down the line.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this. Tracy Sumner once again knocks it out of the park with her storytelling! I can't wait to see more stories around this next generation (hopefully they are coming!)

I loved this novella! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a grumpy MMC, age gap, family friends and a troubled hero tropes.
I enjoyed Arabella a lot, she was such a strong character and relentlessly pursued what she wanted. She is so witty and the banter in the book was great! I also enjoyed the Christmas setting.

4.5 stars

The Daring Debutante is the latest book in Tracy Sumner's wonderful Duchess Society series. This is the first in the next generation books. You could read this as a standalone but shouldn't. The entire Duchess Society series is so fantastic and it gives a richer reading experience having read the original generation of books.

Arabella McCauley knows what she wants and isn't afraid to do what's necessary to get him. I just loved her confidence. One of the things I truly loved about this book was that the reader could see how the parent figures influenced their children's personalities. I could completely understand why Bella did the things she did; she was the product of Xander. All of the scenes where Xander and Tobias give Nigel advice were both funny and endearing. If the rest of the second gen stories are written like this one than I will be extremely happy. The main problem I have with Sumner's writing is that I always wish the books were longer! She's such an amazing author and has been a "one click" since I first read The Ice Duchess. She excels in writing heroes and Nigel is no different. The banter and chemistry between Bella and Nigel was top notch. Best first kiss, hands down.

Tropes included: age gap, gaming hell, found family, family friends, "born in a gutter" hero, next generation character series, unrequited love, Christmas novella, grumpy hero

Thank you to NetGalley, Tracy Sumner, and Wolf Publishing for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quick read for the weekend. This was a first time author read for me and I can't wait to read the others in the series. This read will have you smiling from beginning to end. Advanced Reader copy from NewGalley for review.

I am not a huge historical romance reader, so I can't comment on how great this one is in regard to the genre. But I did enjoy it!

Plot: We have Arabella and Nigel. Nigel is older than Arabella, and was mentored by her father. She has set her eyes on him but he is very persistent about the fact that he doesn't think he is good enough for her. He also is pretty against falling in love with a younger woman. What happens though when she keeps putting herself in situations where he can't avoid her affection any longer?

Thoughts: I liked that this was a novella, it was short and sweet. I would describe this as lower spice but this is coming from someone who reads dark romance often lol. It had some fun tropes in it and the characters were enjoyable. I have not read any of the previous books and I think that would have made this more enjoyable if I had. Overall, a cute read!

Another wonderful love story! It was a joy to read about a union between the children of Tobias and Macauley. The same fiery relationship that Pippa and Macauley had is what Nigel and Arabella share. It was cool to read a continuation of that love and passion. I look forward to more from Ms. Sumner, as she never disappoints!

This was my first Tracy Sumner book. What a great author! This is book six in the series but I didn't feel lost at all. Bella and Nigel have known each other for years and she decides to make her attraction known. He views her as basically a sister but that changes quickly. They have smoking hot chemistry- and that's not always easy to establish in a novella - but Tracy Sumner shines as a master storyteller. I am very impressed how I can join this series late and have no problem connecting with these characters.

I also appreciate that at the end of the book she gives the book synopses of the former books AND THEY INCLUDE THE PETS IN THE STORIES. Swoon!!! I love me some Notable Pets. Oh, my heart!!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I thought this was cute, and I loved seeing Tobias and Macauley again as silver fox daddies. However, I would’ve liked a bit more plot or action; it felt like there wasn’t much happening. I adored the romance and the couple, but their relationship seemed to come together a bit too easily. That said, this was a short and sweet novella, and I loved the tender father-daughter moments between Arabella and Macauley.

I wish it were longer, that's the common feeling when you finish a Tracy Sumner book. It doesn't matter if it's a short story or a full-length novel.
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Each book in The Duchess Society series follows the story and journey of a family member who finds love unexpectedly and goes to great lengths to not lose it. Each character is fierce, strong and Arabella McAuley is no exception.
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Nigel Streeter is a man made on the streets and runs several businesses whom is like an uncle to him, Arabella's father. That's why when she appears in the middle of the night asking for help to get home without being noticed, he can't refuse.
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But Arabella is as strong as she is determined and is not interested in dancing and choosing a husband from the dukes and Lord of the Ton. And he begins to see her with different eyes, she knows what she wants and has no problem taking risks and going for it just like the women in her family .
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This story is short, entertaining and with all the chemistry that only Tracy Sumner can handle in so few pages, so it is perfect that there are more books in the series.
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Thanks to Tracy Summer and Wolf Publishing for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.