Along Came A Lady Review

Author: Christi Caldwell

Series: All The Duke's Men #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: August 24, 2021

Order Link: Amazon

My Rating: 4 Hilarious Hearts

Special thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book.

The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell—perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

 

USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell makes her Berkley debut this summer with ALONG CAME A LADY (Berkley Mass Market; August 24, 2021), a sparkling, banter-filled, enemies-to-lovers tale about letting go of society’s preconceived notions and finding love.

 

In a reverse retelling of My Fair Lady, ALONG CAME A LADY follows the budding romance between the irascible son of a duke and the lady hired to teach him the ways of a gentleman. As the lessons go on, the two engage in a battle of wits and passion. Rafe Audley detests his father, the Duke of Bentley, for abandoning his family. Born illegitimate, Rafe has worked the mines his whole life to care for his younger siblings. Edwina Dalrymple has spent her life making a name for herself as an instructor in etiquette, and she has yet to fail in preparing her charges for Polite Society. Edwina soon learns that Rafe is no ordinary charge. He is wholly uninterested in joining the Gentry, making his lessons Edwina’s most difficult undertaking yet. Taming the foreman would surely elevate her status, but can Edwina put her own feelings aside in order to get the job done? As the bold teacher and stubborn pupil work to sabotage each other at every turn, Edwina and Rafe will learn that while opposites attract, the unlikely pair have more in common than they think.

Review:

Edwina Dalrymple is presented with a challenge she can't afford to turn down - travel to coal mining country and convince Duke Bentley's bastard son to come home to London and groom him to take his place in English High Society.  Edwina has transformed several young women of the gentry for their coming out in society . . . A Duke's son will be a piece of cake, right?  Rafe Audley refuses to acknowledge the father who never claimed or supported him and his siblings.  As the eldest of four illegitimate children left alone to fend for themselves, Rafe has raised and cared for his brothers and sister the best way he could.  Now a grown man, he neither needs nor wants anything from his father . . . not even his fortune.  The Duke has sent several men to try to convince Rafe to meet with him to no avail.  What makes him think a woman will succeed where others have failed?  The story that unfolds is hilarious beginning with the opening scene with Edwina strolling through the mud mire of the mining camp in all her finery carrying a parasol through repeated battles of wit to a heart touching conclusion.

Along Came A Lady is funny, heartwarming historical romance at its best.  The banter between these characters is hilarious and grows more so as the attraction between them becomes undeniable.  Caldwell's characters are authentic and a joy to get to know.  The setting swings between the muddy mire of a mining camp to the fine ballrooms of London and our hero and heroine fit equally well in both places.  Readers know Edwina is hiding secrets of her own that she keeps hidden from Rafe less they destroy her, serving to drive the action at a steadily rising pace.  This author has brilliantly rendered a delightful, yet heart touching romance that fans of historical romance will love.  Highly recommended.

Synopsis:

Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne'er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.

Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.

As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.

 

Christi Caldwell is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sinful Brides Series and the Heart of a Duke Series. She blames novelist Judith McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. She enjoys torturing her couples before they earn their well-deserved happily ever after. Originally from Southern Connecticut, Christi now resides in North Carolina, where she spends her time writing and being a mommy to an energetic little boy and mischievous twin girls who offer an endless source of story ideas. Learn more at christicaldwell.com.