April 4, 2022
Bestseller Jeffries (The Bachelor) launches her Designing Debutantes series with this witty Regency romance. Though Lady Diana Harper and her sisters, young Verity and widowed Eliza, are social outcasts due to their scandalous parents’ many infidelities, they’re able to put their knowledge of fashion and the aristocracy to use running Elegant Occasions, a party planning company that helps clients navigate the intricate and high stakes world of London society. The sisters’ expertise is challenged when the unlikely new Duke of Grenwood, the rough-hewn Geoffrey Brookhouse, requests their assistance launching his sister, Rosy, into society. Though Geoffrey balks at Diana’s price, he agrees to double her fee if she can guarantee his sister will have five suitors a day the week after her debut ball. Diana refuses to back down and agrees to his terms on the condition that he submit to her instruction on improving his own manners as well. The bargain forces them to spend time together, and their initial attraction builds into a relationship neither expected. Jeffries again proves her mastery of historical romance with this scintillating series debut, complete with bold, determined characters whose sparring only highlights their sexual tension. Historical romance fans will be riveted. Agent: Pam Ahearn, Ahearn Agency.
December 1, 2022
When scandal made Lady Diana Harper's prospects seem grim, she decided to take destiny into her own hands and help other young ladies avoid the same fate. Four years later, she and her sisters run Elegant Occasions, a consulting business that guarantees their clients success on the marriage mart. When the newly minted Duke of Grenwood, Geoffrey Brookhouse, engages their services for his sister's debut, Diana finds his lack of aristocratic aptitude to be boorish and exasperating, but it soon becomes apparent that he has secrets and scandals of his own. In this first installment of the "Designing Debutantes" series, Jeffries ("Duke Dynasty" series) crafts an engaging historical romance with an enchanting cast of characters that readers will delight to see return in subsequent volumes. The audio experience is largely unremarkable, though not unpleasant. Narrator Beverly Crick's sultry voice is well-suited to the steamy love scenes, if not to the effervescent Harper girls and their bubbly banter. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a witty Regency romance with an intrepid female lead who is as spirited as she is sensuous. Recommended for fans of Mary Balogh, Eloisa James, and Lenora Bell.--Lauren Hackert
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