Title: Duchess MaterialAuthor: Emily Sullivan
Pages: 336
Publication Date: Nov. 19, 2024
Publisher: Forever
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
Ever since unexpectedly inheriting a dukedom over a decade ago, William Margrave, the Duke of Ellis has strived to silence his critics and please his disapproving relatives by being the perfect aristocrat —even though that meant leaving behind the progressive ideals he once held. Now the time has come for Will to wed and he intends to find his duchess using the same relentlessly clinical approach that has led to his success thus far. The only problem? His old friend’s unconventional younger sister keeps interrupting his carefully controlled life. And to make matters worse, Will discovers he rather likes it.
The Atkinson sisters are known for two their father’s self-made fortune and their disinterest in playing by society’s rules. Middle sister Phoebe Atkinson revels in her role as the outspoken bluestocking Bohemian, much to the exasperation of her older sister Alexandra, the budding economist, and the amusement of her younger sister Winifred, the endlessly charming social butterfly. Though her parents would love to see her married to an upstanding member of the ton, Phoebe traded the ballroom for the schoolroom years ago and now spends her days teaching working class girls. But when her most promising student goes missing, Phoebe reluctantly turns to the most powerful man she knows, the Duke of Ellis. He was once the object of her girlhood affections until he ascended to the dukedom and left his old life behind. But as they search across London, she discovers that perhaps Will hasn’t changed as much as she thought—and neither have her feelings.
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When I read Emily Sullivan’s League of Scoundrels series I knew I had found another auto buy author. She’s such a fantastic storyteller, and I adore her swoon-worthy historical romances. Duchess Material is no exception. It’s a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance with great characters, amazing banter, and a sexy and touching love story.
The story follows childhood friends and neighbors Phoebe and Will who haven’t really connected in years since Will unexpectedly inherited the dukedom. Will has spent a decade trying to be the perfect Duke, and now he must find his perfect duchess. Phoebe is a teacher at a school for girls, and though she has loved Will since she was a child, she knows she isn’t duchess material and would never want to give up her hard-won independence. However, fate and love might have other plans.
I adore Phoebe and Will! They are both dynamically developed characters with interesting stories, and their connection is lovely. They’ve known each other for so long, and their lives are very much entwined even though they haven’t seen much of each other in years. Phoebe has always held a torch for Will, and Will has always had a soft spot for Phoebe, though I don’t think he really realized how deep his feelings were.
Now older and more sure of themselves, Phoebe and Will grow closer as he helps her with a mystery regarding her missing student. The chemistry between Will and Phoebe is fantastic, and though there’s a lot keeping them apart, I so wanted them to find a way to be together! Will puts a lot of pressure on himself to be the perfect Duke, which means he must choose a wife that fits the expectations of society. This is definitely not Phoebe, who lives on the fringes of the ton and cherishes her life and autonomy. It’s interesting to see how they work through all of the obstacles that stand in their way. Their story is romantic and complicated and sexy, and though their lives are very different, they complement each other well. I love how Phoebe challenges Will and brings him out of his comfort zone. She is a good influence, and she definitely makes him take a hard look at himself, his future, and what kind of mark he wants to leave. And the way Will feels about Phoebe is so wonderful. It’s pretty clear he’s always loved her, though it takes him a while to realize the depth of his feelings.
The story includes an intriguing mystery, as Phoebe relentlessly searches for a missing student. Her investigation takes some dangerous turns, and she finds herself in trouble more than once. Luckily, she has Will on her side. Their search brings to light some of the hypocrisy of the ton, as well as the inequities between classes and genders. I really like how Sullivan sheds light on many of the issues that plagued women and the different classes during this time.
The story also highlights the strength and perseverance of women despite the limitations and restrictions they faced. Characters like Phoebe, who moved out of her family home to work and live independently, Phoebe’s sister, who is trying to prove herself in business with her father, the headmistress at Phoebe’s school, who forged her her own path years ago, and the woman who helps Phoebe locate her student all face patriarchal prejudices and challenges, yet they never stop fighting for what they want and what they believe in.
I flew through this story! It was so engrossing, and I adored the characters and love story. I can’t wait to see which sister will be the focus of the next book. They’re all so different, and I have a feeling their stories will be just as swoontastic as Phoebe’s. Special thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“That is how most progress is made, isn’t it? Not in great leaps and bounds, but in tiny, diligent steps. It isn’t until you look back that you see how far you’ve come.”
Emily Sullivan is an award-winning author of historical romance set in the late Victorian period.
She lives in New England with her family, where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women.
Her other talents include baking chocolate chip cookies, correctly identifying guest stars in old Simpsons episodes, and not overwatering her houseplants.
I can’t believe I still haven’t read Emily Sullivan’s books because I do have her League of Scoundrel series on my digital shelf and this review makes me think it’s time to prioritise them… especially since this is going on my TBR now! 😂 This sounds so good. Great review!
It’s such a good series. I think you’ll like it, Dini!
I am very much looking forward to this one!