Izzy slowly chips away at his exterior and her persistence eventually wins him over. The castle is the only thing he still has and he is pissed to find someone who wants to take it from him. He is gruff and brooding,and he just wants to be alone after his accident. My first image of Ransom, in my head, was of Fabio hanging out with the cute giant Alaskan Malmute from our local coffee shop. Ransom is a cranky, bitter recluse due to an injury sustained in mysterious circumstances. Except the castle already has a resident in it-Ransom, the Duke of Rothbury, and his giant wolf. Suddenly, she receives a summons informing her that she’s been bequeathed an inheritance, which turns out to be a castle. (Yes, this is a historical novel.) When he died, he left her with nothing. Izzy Goodnight’s father was a well known author who published a much beloved serial in the papers with a fangirl/boy following.

Just when you think the heroine will follow a romance trope, she turns it on its head. “Splendidly talented Dare creates cleverly written dialogue, exceptionally appealing characters, and an engaging plot that gives a wink toward Beauty and the Beast and a nod to fandom, all key components in this wickedly funny and soul-satisfyingly romantic novel, the perfect launch to Dare’s new Castles Ever After series.A funny, humorous read. “A unique twist to a fairy tale, complete with an ancient castle, a damsel in distress, and a wounded hero…Dare’s lyrical writing and expert, intense character development make this a romance to be savored with the eager expectation of future series installments.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Isn’t that one reason for reading romance?” - RT Book Review (4½ stars, Top Pick)

“‘An intrepid heroine, a brooding hero, delightful secondary characters (including an ermine named Snowdrop), and just enough angst and passion to turn this into a Dare fan’s delight…There are modern-day references galore that turn every scene into a joy and leave readers smiling.

“Izzy Goodnight has long given up on fairy tales, so she is shocked to learn that she has inherited a castle and must figure out what to do with the wounded duke who lives there…Dare starts her new series with a unique story line, a sweet, fun nod to literary fandom, and two main characters who are perfect for each other yet never would have met if they weren’t each at a nadir in life’s journey.” What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed? Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. Rescued from drudgery by charming prince? The storybooks offered endless possibilities.Īnd as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens.

Romancing the duke by tessa dare