Book Review: The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

Pages: 316

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: January 26, 2021

Source: Library

Publisher: Berkley

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can't buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society—for that you need a marriage of convenience.  American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn't some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger—it's Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it's clear that August's outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitible for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.  Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He's recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can't walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn't the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants. But August won't go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she's no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more."

 

The Duke of Rothschild should have it all except for the fact that his family is drowning in debt, thanks to his deceased father's mismanagement of the family money.  It's the Gilded Age, so that means his best bet of preserving his family's wealth is to marry an American heiress as this is the current trend.  If he can't do this, not only does he lose his wealth, status, and estate, his mother and sisters do as well, so a lot is riding on his possible engagement.  But the question is whom to marry?  His mother thinks Violet Crenshaw, an American heiress, would be the solution to their problems.  Even though Violet's parents have pretty much offered her up to a myriad of suitors, one might ask why her older sister, August, isn't in the market for a husband.  Violet is deemed a much more acceptable option, whereas August is a nonconformist, not to mention the fact that she helps her father with the family business at Crenshaw Iron Works. This is unheard of for the time period.  When Violet realizes that the Duke of Rothschild, Evan Sterling, might have his eye on her, Violet makes it clear that her heart belongs to another.  While August tries to help her sister get out of this mess, she spends time getting to know Evan.  She realizes that not only did she meet him before, but she finds herself doing the unimaginable. She is starting to fall for Evan! The story unfolds with more drama between the two and many big decisions need to be made.  The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George is a delightful romance novel that's perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

I really liked August from the beginning. I mean what's not to like in such an awesome feminist character? I loved that she helped out with her family business, had plans for herself, and was considered a blue stocking. She is truly such a fun character! Also, her relationship with Evan was also really done well.  I grew to like Evan more and more as the story unfolded.  At times, he reminded me of Simon from the Bridgerton series as he even participated in boxing in The Heiress Gets a Duke.

I think St. George really nailed the Gilded Age time period. I absolutely loved this glamorous time period filled with lavish balls, exquisite clothing, beautiful ancestral homes, elaborate dinner parties, and of course, eye-catching American heiresses.

While I don't consider myself a true romance reader as I tend to dabble in historical romances maybe once or twice a year, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The Heiress Gets a Duke found me at the perfect time in my life as I was recovering from surgery and didn't want anything too heavy.  I also had just finished Bridgerton on Netflix and wanted something similar.  This didn't disappoint and I plan on checking out book two, which comes out this summer.  If you are looking for a pick-me up and really feeling the depths of despair this winter, give this fun romance a try.  

Are you a romance reader? Have you read this book? Is it on your TBR list?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.