Guilty Pleasures

Another solid read from Guhrke--it's not quite as polished as her later works (Abandoned at the Altar series especially), but it was definitely an entertaining story. There aren't a lot of surprises in this book, but the characters are so much fun that one doesn't even mind. ( )

I loved this story of plain Jane archeological assistant, Daphne Wade, who works for the handsome Duke of Tremore - and is secretly in love with him. Alas, he doesn't notice her at all. After overhearing some disparaging remarks he makes about her, she resigns and gives him a month's notice so she can pursue a season in London with his sister who wants to take her under her wing as a protege. The duke, not used to not getting his way doesn't want to lose her for she is the best in her field. After she tells him off, he begins to see her differently and so the courtship begins! He is determined to prevent or at least delay her leaving and she develops a spirit to live and come into her own. I simply loved this book and it made me feel good all over by the end! Hurrah! ( )

A very enjoyable story. I really liked Anthony and Daphne. I teared up at the ending (always a very good thing). Looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

This is the story of an orphan woman, Daphne Wade, who presents herself to the Duke of Tremore in place of her father to catalog and repair ancient artifacts that are being unearthed on his estate. Daphne falls in love at first sight but the Duke doesn't even register that he is a woman.
The story is a typical romance and proceeds as the reader would expect. Nothing to write home about but entertaining in the normal romance genre way. ( )

This is the story of an ugly duckling, Daphne Wade, who has, appropriately enough, a "guilty pleasure." She is head over heels in love with her employer, Anthony, the Duke of Tremore, who is excavating a dig on his estate for a museum he plans to open in a few months. She helps with the restoration and cataloging of the artifacts, and he doesn't know she exists.

After I got over some initial difficulty actually getting into the story (it seemed so derivative at first, and I really didn't like the duke's matchmaking sister, but thankfully she soon bows out of the story,) this romance hit all the right notes with me. Even if it isn't that original, I loved watching Daphne and Anthony spar and fall in love, and it was great to see Daphne transform from a self-effacing, shy, infatuated girl into a woman who is honest with herself and knows what she wants. Though her transformation is rather abrupt - it literally happens over night - it was still believable, given the catalyst for her awakening. I liked that Anthony wasn't a typical rake - he's serious and responsible, but so sexy and fun at the same time.

The only problem with Daphne is that she isn't *really* an ugly duckling at all. She just hides her beauty and true self with the magical uglifying power of spectacles and a "functional bun." Such a stereotype. So sigh worthy. Other than that, everything about this romance rang true for me, and I enjoyed every word of it. ( )