This enemies to lovers romance has a fast pace and well-devoloped characters to keep the reader engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review

I really enjoyed this book from a new to me author. Tamsin is a widow and mother of a 2 year old duke. But is shunned by the ton because she comes from trade. Christian arrives from Germany as the baby duke's co-guardian.

Tamsin, not happy about Christian's blundering attempts to interfere in their lives, embarks on a series of pranks to try to get her Christian out of their hair.

Great banter and shenanigans ensue.

We also have a supporting cast of friends who are constantly eye rolling over the antics as well as Tamsin and Christian's obvious attraction to each other.

This is slow burn and low spice, but has lots of s*xy kisses.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and Michelle McLean for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Really loved the vibes in this book.

It was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. I liked the story and being taken back to this time in historical London. I think it shed light on societal expectations on a woman and how not every woman followed that premise.

Tamsin, the FMC, isn't timid and she is smart. She wants to be beholden to herself after being widowed and fights that societal perspective that she should remarry. Now, to the MMC, Christian, who much in good conscious find Tamsin a husband. I mean, I get his perspective but I didn't enjoy him until he threw caution to the wind. So most of the book, I was yelling at him to get on with it already. The banter and build up of their relationship although cute and lovely, is predictable.

The ending also was fast and I wanted more of a wrap up. This being said, it's still an enjoyable read and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

Historical romance has always been my first love of reading so I was happy to request Michelle's newest one. Just this year I read a book by her and knew I wanted to read more! So one of the best things about the book was the German thrown in periodically, not that I speak it fluently but it was fun to read and know what was being said! Tamsin is a strong Regency heroine who is a perfect foil for Christian. Overall, an easy fun read!

As always, thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with this ARC!

This story was fantastic! The characters could easily be side characters in Bridgerton that got their own little side story. The whit and banter between the lead characters was perfection. This was a great fast paced enemies to lovers period piece. I will definitely be adding more of this author's books to my TBR!
Widowed Tamsin is living her best life (mostly) until her departed husband's cousin is sent to manage her estate until her toddler is of age to take over. Thru arguments and wacky pranks, the slow burn romance ensues

A cute, fun read. Easily finished in an hour. This enemies to lovers romance has a fast pace and interesting characters to keep the reader engaged. I’d read more from this author if I came across something in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

A fun frothy historical! I enjoyed reading this and it was a quick pleasant story.

This was a fun easy going historical romance from a time when it's not as simple to be with someone you love. It is clear to the few close people near them that Tamsin and Christian were made for each other. Watching the banter between them as they get to know each other is entertaining. The build up to our HEA is at just the right speed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I enjoyed reading this one. It is a relaxing read. Something I would recomnend as a weekend, vacation, or beach read.

I read it in one sitting.

Recommend.

*enemies to lovers
*banter
*independent and strong FMC
*duty or desire

Tamsin and Christian didn’t make sense to me as a couple and I found I wasn’t able to warm up to the story.

Other readers will love this, but it wasn’t for me.


Thank you to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the DRC

I was given this in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like this but I was not over the moon about it. The story was slow and hard for me to get into. It got a little bit better towards the end but this took me forever to finish.

“The Duchess Takes it All” by Michelle McLean
A Super FUN Read
YES, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this story. There were times that I truly laughed out loud. Also, there was a time, or two, when the saline water poured out of my eyes and dripped off my chin. Thankfully, I smiled and cheered again. I think most everyone has been in a position requiring them to make very difficult choices. Just maybe not as life changing as the choices to be made by the characters in this story. Yes, this is a worthy read. Oh, and there was a bit of spice in this story; but I think you can handle it. Happy Reading ! !

**Please note that my rating scale is very picky and only the best of the best in the book world earn a 5 star review from me. However, 3 and 4 star books I still very much enjoy reading, and I consider good.

Overall, I would give this historical forbidden romance a 3.5/5! I had a fun time reading this book, and enjoyed watching Tamsin go nuts trying to get back to where she wanted. Truly the female brain was accurately shown here, and it made it funny to read. (Especially her little innuendos which of course drove our dear count mad) I do not read many historical romances but this one sounded interesting, so I wanted to give it a try, and going back in time with my characters was a fun experience. I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions that was brought on with women not having the rights they want, but a man in the society willing to give the rights to his true love. Also, this book did contain a little ~spice~ after the long awaited romance finally blossomed. I also definitely did not see the twist coming at the end, and I love being kept on my toes.

However, the end of the book to me felt a little rushed, and I wished that I had more context on some of the characters, which may have been in some of the other books. I think I just wish I had a little more between the last few chapters and the epilogue to see some of the character dynamics a little more before the details in the epilogue were given. This was a great historical romance for those looking for a quick read, with plenty of banter, wit, and cleverness, and I will be keeping my eye out for other books by this author!

The title was intriguing and had me wondering what exactly the Duchess took? Tasmin Palmer, Duchess of Clevesly is in mourning when we meet her. She's confident, mischievous, creative, strong willed, independent, and yet a stickler for the rules of the ton. To her displeasure, we meet Christian August, Count of Rauchberg. He is there to make sure her deceased husband's estates are in order. Christian is noble, stubborn, overbearing, overprotective, dutiful, and somehow always manages to put his foot in his mouth. These two together are hysterical. Christian can never seem to say the right thing when talking to Tasmin and she is definitely not afraid to let him know when he's being obtuse. The things Tasmin does to try to get Christian to leave are horribly fantastic. More than once, I found myself laughing until I had tears in my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship. They both learned things about themselves and each other throughout the story. Their friends only added to the humor. A few omgoodness plot twists, tears from laughter, tears from heartbreak and the occasional head shake are just a few of the reactions I had while reading their story. I'm hoping that we get more stories involving some of the friends. I would love to read their stories as well.

I love a we cannot fall in love because
1. I am now a widow and no man is in charge of me.
2. You are not suitable to be my wife
3. I will thwart your management of my child.

Witty banter, secrets, and two dummies who fall in love anyway.

Tamsin Palmer, the widowed Duchess of Clevesly, has everything a woman could want, except being accepted by the society due to her unblue blood. And to make matters worse, her departed husband had assigned a co-guardian of their son, the handsome Count of Rauchberg, who seems most insistent on dictating the terms of Tamsin's duchy and how to raise her son.
Christian August has never been so vexed in his life. He's come to help raise the duchess's son, and in return, she's doing everything she can to destroy his peace of mind, and make ignoring the attraction between them difficult to ignore.
This was a wonderful story and I enjoyed reading it. I loved the connection between Tamsin and Christian, and how understanding they were of each other. There was some entertaining banter between them and I enjoyed the pranks that Tamsin played on Christian, made their slow burn chemistry that much hotter. Christian stole my heart in the last couple of chapters, truly a swoon worthy hero.
I enjoyed reading Duchess take it all and look forward to reading more by the author.

3.5 stars

So, the writing wasn't bad, but I really disliked the characters, particularly the MMC. He suffered from what I call the Jamie Frasier problem (I've only read the first Outlander book, please don't come for me). Christian was an entirely period appropriate, pompous jerk. And frankly, even when he fell for the heroine, he still had that "I know best" edge to him.

Now, some people appreciate that sort of thing, but it's not my cup of tea.

Also, the ending seemed really rushed. I almost thought there wouldn't be an HEA (which secretly pleased me since I was made at the MMC, yet simultaneously upset me because it's a romance!) But it turned out right in an abrupt and rather convoluted manner.

Cute. Very readable. Fun antics. Enemies to lovers. Duty over desire. Quick pacing. I’d read more by this author, even though I’ll probably forget these characters’ names tomorrow.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is not officially listed as part of a series, but there are secondary characters in this book that were featured in other books. Regardless, this book can be read as a stand alone, despite allusions and characters from the other books.

Her Grace, Tamsin Palmer, the widowed Duchess of Clevesley, is coming out of her mourning period. Despite being a young, beautiful duchess and the mother of the current Duke, and wealthy to boot, Tamsin is barely tolerated by Society, being the daughter of a tradesman who used his wealth to buy marriage to a duke for his daughter, to gain a foot into Society. But the snobs of the Ton, including her own husband, never let Tamsin forget her place. Tamsin, now that she is coming out of her year of mourning, is hoping to gain some acceptance, to please her father, smooth the way for her son's future, and to move her own goals for charitable foundations forward. Despite her wishes for acceptance though, she is hiding a scandalous and subversive secret as well - she draws subversive cartoons that mock notable figures in Society, highlighting social injustices, in the hopes of making change in a way other than through the charities she wishes to form.

An millstone around the young duchess' neck however is the man appointed by her husband to oversee the ducal estates and be guardian to her young son, Christian August. Christian is cousin to the dead duke, but also a high ranking member of German aristocracy. He travels to England with his close friend, expecting to spend months there, to oversee his duties and ensure that the young Duke is well cared for. He is also under pressure from his high-ranking uncle to seek a bride - one that is acceptable in terms of bloodlines and social status, according to the strict laws governing marriage in his country, and based on his uncle's approval. Christian is a man who adheres closely to his expected duties and honours his uncle's wishes greatly, but is not ready for marriage as yet. However, he is aware that if he does not find a bride for himself soon, his uncle will arrange a socially and politically acceptable bride for him on his return.

When Christian and Tamsin meet, they immediately clash. Tamsin resists the idea of a stranger dictating how to raise her son, and overseeing her household, plus Christian and his friend's presence in her life curtails her secret activities. It also galls Tamsin, and highlights their social disparity when invitations arrive for the handsome, high ranking and highly eligible foreign aristocrats, but Tamsin is snubbed, except for her close circle of friends. Christian however, is not the snob that his cousin was, and finds himself sympathetic to Tamsin, and appreciative of her intelligence and spirit. Despite his growing attraction to her and their eventual friendship, he very aware of his duty and the expectations of his uncle. Besides, now that freedom and independence are within her reach, Tamsin is reluctant to cede that again in marriage. But she is curious to explore the growing attraction between herself and Christian, before he is forced to return to his home.

A rather sweet enemies to lovers, differing social status historical romance that injects a fresh note with characters with slightly different social backgrounds and expectations. Christian is torn between his obligation and duty to his country and his uncle, and it is later in the novel that we understand just how much of a burden those obligations are, and what he must consider when choosing between love and duty. Tamsin seems a bit torn also; on the outside looking in. But her desire to fit into Society appears to stem from what her father wants, and for the success of her son and her charities.

3.25 stars out of 5

Thank you NetGalley for an interesting read. The Duchess is in mourning when a friend of her husband's shows up. He is a prince in a Germanic small country and her husband has made him the co-guardian of their son and to oversee his estates. She does not like him and his interference at first. Her father had arranged her marriage but he was a merchant in jewelry and quite wealthy but not of the nobility. Soon Christian and the Duchess realize they have feelings for each other. They cannot marry according to the laws in his country for he is a prince and they have very strict. Will they find away?