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 triesher 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?
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.
