One Dance with a Duke (Stud Club Trilogy, #1)

by Tessa Dare

In One Dance with a Duke—the first novel in Tessa Dare’s delightful new trilogy—secrets and scandals tempt the irresistible rogues of the Stud Club to gamble everything for love.
 
A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members—yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing “Duke of Midnight.” Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke—until Lady Amelia d’Orsay tries her luck.

In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke’s dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother’s debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club’s founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?

• ISBN10: 0345518853
• ISBN13: 9780345518859
• Publish Date: 25 May 2010 (first published 1 January 2010)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Random House Australia
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345518859

Reviews

[scarr]

Book Club Read!

This was a delightful romance - though the author did not land the ending, imo. It became a bit messy and rushed but otherwise a really enjoyable read.

I really liked Spencer - he gives me SBD vibes and SBD is one of my faves :) I also liked Amelia - I enjoyed her will and dedication to her family and those she loves. I think her devotion to her brother Jack is similar to many folks who love someone experiencing addiction (to gambling, drinking, etc etc). ALSO - I love that all the women in the book seem to have the same opinion of the ridiculous name of the ridiculous club lol

I am interested if we hear about Spencer's ward - what she chooses and how those around her support her. Looking forward to the next in the series!

[Amanda]

Can we just pause for a moment and revel in the hilarity of a club called the Stud Club? Hilarity and brilliance. Because...STUD CLUB. Good times, good times.

With a series name of Stud Club, you know it's going to have the kind of humor that doesn't take itself too seriously. So while it does get emotional (and seriously, give me a romance that doesn't--wait, don't), it doesn't have the same kind of emotion tugging that, say, the Sarah MacLean books I read did. And you know what? That's perfectly OKAY. Too much of the same is bad.

I liked Amelia even though I, like Spencer, thought her faith in her brother was a wee bit misplaced. But it also gave the story part of its push and pull, so can you really fault her too much? No. You can't. I do wish her need to put people in front of her own desires was explored a little more, but...I was satisfied. (As were Amelia and Spencer. Multiple times. But they might have been satisfied in different way than I was...)

Moving on.

Spencer was a delight. Fun. Romantic while denying every moment of it. And his being completely bewitched by Amelia was so very entertaining. Because he doesn't know why, but he just goes with it. On gut instinct. Wait. It may have not been his gut. But either way, he goes after what he wants without looking too closely at why. Rawr.

One aspect of One Dance with a Duke that I appreciated was the inclusion of family. It wasn't a strong family-family kind of book. (I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds right.) But it did feature familial ties and that matters for something.

You can bet I'm going to seek out books two and three in this Stud Club trilogy. Heh.

[Stephanie]

Absolutely adored this book! Can't wait to read more!

[Linda]

4.5 stars

The story of 'plain' Amelia, a 26 year old noble woman without money, and the Duke Spencer Morland. They met at a ball, where 'The Duke of Midnight' arrived, and Amelia boldly took his hand for the one dance he accepted to do each night.

Amelia was a strong woman, more like a more modern woman than a Victorian times woman. This historical romance had all the right ingredients. A tight-knit family, a new love, a duke who didn't really know how to deal with his feelings, a brother covered in gaming debts and a murder to solve.

The strong emtions between Amelia and Spencer became clear very early in the story, but both of them were afraid to show their feelings, thinking the other might not really love them back.

The sensual scenes were just that - sensual. Very well written, straight-forward but still good plot, and character-driven story. I had fun reading this, and I was sometimes just wanting the characters to actually share their feelings, instead of hiding behind their insecurities and old hurts.