Series & Title: Farthingale Series Novella: Never Dare a Duke
Author: Meara Platt
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Publisher: Myra Platt
Release Date: February 23, 2018
Genre: Historical, Medical, Romance
eBook Purchased From: Amazon
Frances Cameron ought to be spending the month planning her wedding, but when a casual toast on the night of her betrothal escalates into a battle of the sexes, she finds herself obligated on a dare to spend the next thirty days working closely with the handsome and powerful Duke of Kintyre. In winning the dare, will she also lose her heart to the duke?
Preconceived notions of someone often leads to trouble. Frances and Robbie have ideas of who and what the other are, and coming face-to-face blows those notions right out of the water.
In a day and age when women were relegated to the drawing room and ballrooms, Frances refused to be confined. Her knowledge of the medical field rivaled most men of her time. Being a woman, however, meant she was barred from actively practicing. Her gender kept her from being heard by the board of directors regarding a new wing of the hospital which would, ironically, house mostly women. But men know best, right? And, surely, women can't be all that different from men, can they?
Robbie is what stands between her and being heard by the board, but the man refuses to meet with her. Until he does. By accident. Then on purpose. He struggles to match his moonlight woman with the dowdy woman his cousin was engaged to, a woman he unknowingly kissed on, of all nights, her engagement night. But their meeting was meant to be. If it hadn't happened, the challenge wouldn't have been issued. They wouldn't have found themselves bound to work together for one month at Robbie's practice.
I loved Frances' mettle. She's made of incredibly sterner stuff than even her fiance gave her credit for, which was so disheartening to read. He was a total asshat, minimizing Frances' abilities and lumping her in with societal rules instead of hearing her out and compromising with her regarding her work. Nope, she was better off without him.
Which, turns out, is what happened. Weeks of working close with Robbie brought change to each of them, but the issue of her fiance was never far from their thoughts. They didn't have to worry about it though. His interests had turned elsewhere as well during Frances's time with Robbie.
This was a battle of the sexes, and there was so much more at stake than just a seat on the board. It would be public acknowledgement that women were just as capable as men at working outside of the home. It would empower women to stand up to men, to show that they were meant to be more than a man's broodmare and punching bag.
An engaging and thoughtful little story about misconceptions, strong wills, a change of heart, and new beginnings.
Meara Platt is happily married to her Russell Crowe look-alike husband, and they have two terrific children. She lives in one of the many great towns on Long Island, New York, and loves it, except for the traffic. She has traveled extensively, occasionally lectures and finds time to write. Her favorite place in all the world is England’s Lake District, which may not come as a surprise since many of her stories are set in that idyllic landscape, including her Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award winning story.
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