Title: One Dance with a Duke
Author: Tessa Dare
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: May 25, 2010
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-0345518859
Genre: Fiction

About the book:

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?

My Review:

I am rather excited to share with my readers the first book in a trilogy I will be reviewing by Tessa Dare. The first book in the trilogy, One Dance With A Duke, is the book I shall be reviewing today. In July and August, I will be reviewing the second and third books in the trilogy, Twice Tempted By A Rogue and Three Nights With A Scoundrel, respectively. I am very excited about this tour and hope my readers will be as well.
The novel begins in 1817 London with Lady Amelia d’Orsay placed in the position to beg Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Moreland, to forgive her brother Jack’s gambling debts yet she learns far more than she bargained for when she did the unthinkable and chose the infamous “Duke of Midnight” to waltz with, rather than he choosing her. Moreland’s nickname has been well earned as he chooses a different lady to waltz with each night as the clock strikes midnight. While they were discussing the fate of Jack’s debts they are interrupted with the news that the founder of the Stud Club, Leo Chatwick, has been murdered, leaving his twin sister Lily alone in the world. While Amelia was not unaccustomed to dealing with her brother Jack’s debts, however murder, especially of a prominent young man, and the inner workings of the Stud Club are all new to Amelia. As for the Duke of Moreland, there has always been widespread rumours and speculations about him, as vast as his temperaments appear to be. Amelia makes a brilliant heroine for she is headstrong, not too proud, defiant, quick witted and intelligent. The perfect match for the Duke of Moreland.
Dare’s characters come to life on the pages of the book as do the scenes, due in large part to her expansive imagery. I personally enjoyed how the story was told through varying viewpoints within each chapter rather than alternating the chapters with a speaker. One Dance With A Duke will enchant the reader, pulling the reader deeper into the story and the twisting plot filled with murder, mystery, intrigue and of course, romance. Romance readers will be greatly pleased with this novel as well as those fond of period novels and a good mystery. I highly recommend One Dance With A Duke and eagerly look forward to reading the second novel. Be sure to stop back in July for my review of Twice Tempted by A Rogue.

About the Author:

Tessa Dare a part-time librarian, full-time mommy, and swing-shift writer. She makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a dog.

For further information:
Tessa Dare’s website.
Read an excerpt of the book here.
Watch a trailer of the trilogy.
Follow Tessa Dare of Twitter.
Become a Fan on Facebook.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.

I received a complimentary copy of One Dance With A Duke by Tessa Dare from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.