If you like historical romances, Michelle McLean is your girl. I always enjoy her characters and world building.

This story blends playful pranks, sharp banter, and a simmering romance that takes its time to unfold. Christian and Tamsin are refreshing, unconventional characters—he’s a German count navigating English society, and she’s a tradesman’s daughter with no ties to the ton. Their shared outsider status adds depth to their connection and sets the stage for an engaging dynamic.

While the premise is intriguing and the writing strong, the pacing felt sluggish, especially in the first three-quarters of the book. It wasn’t until the final stretch that the plot gained real momentum, leaving me wishing the earlier chapters carried the same energy. If you’re a fan of slow-build romances and unique characters, this might be worth picking up. Just be prepared for a leisurely start.

I was so disappointed by this book. It was very repetitive and boring. The relationship was not really built through the book. One has to believe that proximity is love. I would give it a 2.5*

#netgalley #TheDuchessTakesitAll

Tamsin Palmer, the recently widowed Duchess of Clevesly, seemingly has it all: wealth, a title, a grand estate, and her beloved toddler son. Yet, her life is far from easy. Ostracized by high society for her commoner roots as a jeweler's daughter, she faces an even greater challenge with the arrival of Christian August, the Count of Rauchberg. Tasked with co-guardianship of her son, Christian is determined to impose order upon Tamsin's chaotic life. Their initial clashes quickly turn into a battle of wits as Tamsin employs mischievous pranks to reclaim her autonomy, driving Christian to distraction with her fiery spirit and undeniable charm. As their arguments intensify, so does their longing for each other, culminating in a passionate connection that threatens to unravel their carefully constructed lives. Both Tamsin and Christian grapple with societal expectations and personal sacrifices, navigating a complex web of love, duty, and the longing for freedom. With humor, heart, and a touch of steam, The Duchess Takes It All offers a delightful enemies-to-lovers tale set against a richly woven historical backdrop.

This enchanting story captivates with its blend of humor, passion, and engaging characters. Readers will appreciate Tamsin's spirited determination and Christian's honorable yet exasperated demeanor as they navigate their tumultuous relationship. The witty banter and playful pranks create a delightful tension that keeps the pages turning. Moreover, the exploration of societal constraints intertwined with a heartfelt romance makes for a compelling read. With themes of personal sacrifice and the quest for happiness, this novel is a must-read for romance enthusiasts seeking a fresh and entertaining historical love story. I really loved the German words sprinkled throughout the story (there is a glossary in the back). I was really mad at the historical accuracy of how a woman didn’t outright have custody of her children (AGH!) and the unfairness of it. The story was thought provoking on many different levels. I really liked it and recommend it to fans of historical romance.

DNF. Found the characters and writing style a bit too artificial. Gave it a try. A widowed do good duchess and her husband’s cousin are main characters.

Six months a widow, Tamsin Palmer, the Duchess of Clevesly, must contend with her dead husband's cousin as co-guardian of her son and his holdings. Christian August, Count of Rauchberg, is in England for his cousin's wife and child and to find his own bride. Rebellious against his control of her son and herself, Tamsin isn't afraid to fight back. Christian accepts her pranks with humor and finds her rebellion stimulating. Is it any wonder their attraction is explosive? His commitment to his country as the heir and her determination to never marry again doesn't look like a happy ending. Laugh-out-loud at a desperate duchess and cry for one man's sacrifice.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Duchess Takes It All by Michelle McLean is entertaining and playful, filled with mischievous pranks and adventures, this story is rich with humor and passion that will leave you smiling and cheering along the way. Tamsin Palmer, the widowed Duchess of Clevesly and Christian August, Count of Rauchberg, a German count, counter with amusing banter, torn between family obligations that threaten their connections, and a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance that is beautifully paced. Tamsin and Christian might seem to have it all, but underneath all that perfection are two very lonely souls struggling to find their footing in life. Not that they’re willing to show anyone, let alone the other, how much they hurt; despite having some very loyal friends.

With a German connection and complicated laws woven throughout, along with clashing wills between a mother and a guardian resulting in numerous amusing episodes, A more major conflict however, is between the couple in love vs. society and governing laws on marriages and treaties. Love finds a way makes for a most satisfying ending.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley # Entangled # TheDuchessTakesItAll

In The Duchess Takes it All by Michelle McLean, Tamsin Palmer, duchess and widow, although in mourning,greatly values her newly found freedom, having lost her husband, who left her with a son. But now Christian August arrives to oversee her estates as well as help in the raising of her son, which she is against. They don't see eye to eye since he started dishing out orders and meddling in every area of her life. According to him, she needs him, but she sees him as a pain in the neck. As days go by, though, they start discovering each other, in spite of the fact that they realize that they can't have any sort of relationship since it is forbidden. In any way they look at it, it will be a losing game. Will they fight for their newfound love, or will they take the easy way out? find out in this book The Duchess Takes it All by Michelle McLean

I like the manner in which the author has brought out the friendship between Tansim and her friends, also the friendship between Christian and Frederick It has taken the story to another level. Additionally, I love the love-hate relationship between Lord Bainbridge and the Duke; it is quite hilarious. The theme of the book fits impeccably.

I found some gaps in between chapters, which is likely to leave readers hanging, and that is what I disliked about the book.

I rate this book, The Duchess Takes it All, by Michelle McLean, 4 out of 5 stars.

I recommend it to readers who love historical fiction books. I also recommend it to those who have ever sacrificed for love. The author has shed light on how being titled is not always a blessing like most of us think, although the rewards are enormous, the responsibility and sacrifice are extremely high.

I really enjoyed Tamsin and Christian's story. It was so much fun watching Tamsin prank Christian, I was laughing out loud!

I do love a second chance romance. Tamsin has been the dutiful daughter, the perfect lady and obeyed every rule to try and make a place for herself in society, but as a daughter of trade she will never be fully accepted. This truth finally take hold in her and we see her start to accept her true self and embrace her boldness. When pitted against her son’s co-guardian the Count, she gives as good as she gets to establish her rule as his mother. Seeing their attraction take hold make for some delightfully heated moments, tempered by many sweet and tender ones. Ultimately deciding what each was willing to give up for love would be their true test, and that battle made for a truly entertaining story. My attention was peaked from start to finish, and I adored getting to isten to this story.
Audio notes: Claire Staniforth reads with a tone that is uniquely suited to period pieces such as this. Truly capturing the historical romance feels.

This is a well written and entertaining story which involved pranks and witty banter as well as a slow burn romance. I really liked both Christian & Tamsin they were interesting and different characters as neither were really of the ton as Tamsin is from a family in trade and Christian although a Count is German so both are outsiders. Very enjoyable and entertaining story.

Good story but very slow until 75% of book
I have read and enjoyed multiple books by this author and I truly feel awful giving this book such a low score but I kept falling asleep while reading it. It is well-written but the pacing is so slow that I had a hard time keeping engaged. The story line is wonderful but somehow it seemed unnecessarily drawn out. Loved the premise which is why I wanted to review this book.
The blurb tells you the basics of the story so I won’t add to it. If the book could have been as exciting at and past the 75% mark, this book would have easily been a four or five-star reading experience. I volunteered to read an ARC of it through NetGalley and Entangled.

A witty, enemies-to-lovers romance filled with fiery banter and irresistible chemistry. Tamsin and Christian’s constant clashes lead to a passionate, heartwarming story that’s as clever as it is steamy. With humor, pranks, and undeniable tension, this tale of love and power dynamics is a delightful, irresistible read.

I loved the premise for The Duchess Takes It All, in which widowed duchess Tamsin Palmer, whose position in society was purchased by her father. Tamsin is a lovely character and I warmed to her right away. Faced with a challenging position in a society filled with hypocrisy and prejudice and that looked down its nose at her because of her family, Tamsin still manages to act with dignity and compassion. I loved that she was such a hands-on mother to her young son James and the way she sought to protect him. Christian, Graf von Rauchberg, has been named by Tamsin’s husband as guardian of young James, something which Tamsin feels is both unwelcome and unnecessary and the banter between these two is excellent. It’s clear from early on that they’re attracted to each other and yet they fight that and each other regularly. This book provides plenty of entertainment and I enjoyed reading it.

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

I love historical romcoms, and this one changes it up a bit with having a MMC who is from German aristocracy instead of British. Christian came off as a bit of a know it all at first, but I love how Tamsin wasn’t having it and he ended up loving how independent she is and how she would always go toe to toe with him! He also isn’t a rake and is an all around good guy. I was frustrated with Tamsin’s need for acceptance, but can also understand where she was coming from. I liked her sense of humor and how she lightened up the otherwise serious Christian.

For me, it was enjoyable but slow until about 60 percent in when things got really interesting and then ends up with a twist! I would love if Christian’s brother gets his own story and continues in this regency world the author created with a great group of supporting found family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes, you pick up a book hoping for a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance with all the swoon-worthy tension, and instead, you get… well, a lukewarm cup of tea. That’s how I felt about The Duchess Takes It All. It’s not bad—it has its moments—but it’s not one that will stick with me, either.

Tamsin and Christian have all the right ingredients for a deliciously angsty romance: a widow trying to hold her own in a society that shuns her, a brooding count tasked with co-parenting her adorable son, and a mutual knack for driving each other absolutely bananas. Their banter is cute enough (shoutout to the goat prank!), but it never quite sizzles the way I hoped it would.

The pacing was also a bit uneven. The early tension between Tamsin and Christian felt promising, but the payoff didn’t land as strongly as it could have. Their "slow burn" romance sometimes felt more like a candle someone forgot to light. Plus, the stakes—society's judgment, their own stubbornness, the whole “will-they-or-won’t-they-surrender-to-passion” thing—never fully delivered the emotional punch I was waiting for.

That said, the book isn’t without its charm. Tamsin is a plucky heroine who refuses to let her station define her, and her love for her son gives her character some nice depth. Christian, though occasionally insufferable (by design), does grow on you. Their dynamic has flashes of wit and tenderness that show what the story could have been with a bit more polish.

I also appreciated the world-building—it’s fun to revisit the world of Four Weddings and a Duke (even if you haven’t read it, this stands alone just fine). The historical romance vibes are there, but they don’t overshadow the characters’ personal journeys.

Overall, this one was okay. It’s a breezy read with some sweet moments, but it’s not the kind of romance you’ll be daydreaming about later. Big thanks to Michelle McLean, NetGalley, and Entangled Publishing for the ARC! If you’re in the mood for a light historical romance and aren’t looking for anything too intense, it’s worth a shot. Just don’t expect it to take it all.

Tasmin's imagination for ways to coax Christian to do what she wanted was hilarious! I loved how they figured out who they are individually and as a couple. All of the characters rounded out the story perfectly. It was a fun entertaining story and definitely worth the read.

A lovely book! The characters were great. I loved Tamsin and Christian both. And the pranks Tamsin pulled were pretty hilarious too! I will definitely look for Michelle McLean books in the future.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

It was ok. Good banter but the story didn’t keep my interest. If I had not just finished a different historical romance, which I was still thinking about, I might have felt differently about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Slight enemies to lovers theme with a splash of hilarious devilry in this one. Michelle McLean is a new author for me and this book takes you on a ride. While Tamsin and Christian get to know each other the book is lighthearted and fun but once their feelings start to develop the gravity of their separate lives and expectations come out. This book has all the angst you could want while cheering for our couple to beat impossible odds. I love Christian and his solid gold heart and Tamsins spirit is nothing to scoff. Beautiful character development and a solid storyline.