About the book:

What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants…

Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club—and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it.

Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily—even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened…or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined….

I absolutely loved this debut historical romance. Lucas and Cecily’s relationship is so fantastically written. They argue, they kiss, they have misunderstandings, and then most importantly they have their very own happily ever after! What drew me in to this book was the dialogue - I loved the conversations between Lucas and Cecily. I also liked the way Cecily confided in and hatched schemes with her cousins (I can’t wait for their stories). There were several places that I highlighted in my kindle because I loved the passage so much. Like this one where Lucas has just complimented Cecily, but she isn’t used to receiving compliments and tries to laugh it off:

“I believe they see me as something out of the common way and are diverted by the novelty of conversing with a sensible creature for a change. They certainly are not doing so because they find me attractive. I am and Ugly Duckling, after all.”

“I bed you pardon, Miss Hurston,” he replied, shaking his head as if in sorrow for what he was about to say. “But as a gentleman…as a man,” he corrected himself, “let me be the first to inform you that you are utterly, splendidly wrong.”

Several times throughout the story Lucas makes sure that Cecily knows how beautiful her finds her body and her mind. He is truly swoon-worthy.

The plot revolves around an expedition to Egypt that resulted in the disappearance of Lucas’s younger brother and a terrible illness in Cecily’s father. Lucas and Cecily team up to find out exactly what happened. There are several twists and turns and the mystery kept my attention to the very end. I can’t wait to read more by this author - this book was simply fantastic.

the book girl gives HOW TO DANCE WITH A DUKE a 5/5

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About the book:

The pleasure of your company is requested at the wedding of Miss Eliza Cynster…but not until she’s rescued from a daring abduction by the most unexpected of heroes!

Brazenly kidnapped from her sister Heather’s engagement ball, Eliza Cynster is spirited north to Edinburgh. Desperate and determined to escape, she seizes upon the first possible champion who happens along - gentleman scholar Jeremy Carling.

Villains and rescues are a far cry from Jeremy’s expertise, yet he cannot abandon a damsel in distress. But danger lurks and hurdles abound a damsel in distress. But danger lurks and hurdles abound in their race to escape the mysterious laird, until a final confrontation on a windswept cliff reveals what their future life could hold - if both are bold enough to capture and own the unexpected love they now share.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I would. I really liked both of the characters, but so much time is spent talking about where they are going and consulting their map. I got really tired of reading the “how” of their journey. I wish there had been less focus on the map and more on the romance developing between Eliza and Jeremy. I loved how simple their romance is. It evolves naturally between them since they are together day and night. The kidnapping plot is pretty much the same as what happened with her sister, Heather, and really not the focus of the story. I can’t wait to find out what happens with the third Cynster sister - Angelica - in the next book.

the book girl gives IN PURSUIT OF ELIZA CYNSTER  a 4/5

to find the book:

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