Project Duchess (Duke Dynasty Book 1) Kindle Edition

WAS THIS BOOK WRITTEN BY A GHOST WRITER?!! I have read all of Sabrina Jeffries books and within the first few pages felt that something was off and not quite the same in writing style. The dialogue was off and the depth of the story....well there was none! BY CHAPTER 3, when Grey (hero) first meets BEA, he has images of sex with heroine. Just a bore! I have never encountered this poorly developed of a story by Sabrina Jeffries. Disappointing.DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

Normally I enjoy Sabrina Jeffries. This storyline is predicated on such a ridiculous premise that I just could not drag myself through the mud. The characters were not believable, the paranoid plot twists were far flung and I surrendered better than half way through. This one is surely one to skip.

When Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, Duke of Greycourt’s cousin Vanessa comes to visit him he learns two things, one his aunt is still intent on him marrying Vanessa, much to his and Vanessa’s disgust and two his mother has been widowed yet again. At his mothers’ request, he immediately leaves London and heads out to Armitage Hall.Beatrice Wolfe, is cousin to Sheridan Wolfe, the new Duke of Armitage. She is at the hall helping with the funeral arrangements for her uncle Maurice when Grey arrives and immediately sets her temper off. For his part, Grey is intrigued by the plain speaking Beatrice and would love to argue with her, but he needs to see his mother and get some answers from Sheridan. Beatrice and her brother Joshua live in the dower house, they were orphaned when Beatrice was only 10 and they were taken in by her grandparents, soon after Joshua joined the army and only returned a few years ago, injured and much changed. Beatrice had tried to be helpful to her aunt Lydia (Grey’s mom) and the duchess has decided that Beatrice needs a season and Beatrice hopes to find a husband and finally some security in her life. She is surprised by her reaction to Grey, but is cautious, she has heard rumors of his debauched life and knows better than to pine after a man so far above her in station.His mother is overcome with grief and very happy to see Grey, she wasn’t sure he would come as he has ignored his family in the months since they returned to England from Prussia. His step-father was an ambassador in Prussia and only returned to London when his brother “Armie” died and he inherited the duchy. His mother was married three times and had five children, three of her sons are dukes – Grey, the Duke of Greycourt is her eldest, Marlowe is the Duke of Thornstock and Sheridan is now the Duke of Armitage, she also has a daughter Gwyn (Marlowe’s twin) and Heywood (Sheridan’s younger brother) – with the exception of Heywood who is in the military, they are all at Armitage for the funeral. Grey is happy to see his siblings, but is guarded, he left Prussia when he was only ten to go live with his aunt and uncle in England and the experience left him changed, he doesn’t want love, as it has only ever caused him pain and as much as he would like to embrace his family, his past holds him back. He soon learns that Sheridan doesn’t believe Maurice’s death was an accident and thinks that Beatrice’s brother Joshua killed not only him, but possibly Armie as well. He wants Grey to investigate Joshua, but Grey argues that he would probably get more answers from Beatrice – especially since their mother is grooming her and Gwyn for a debut, Grey says he would get more information helping their mother prepare the girls as he is familiar with the London season.I really enjoyed this story, yes, there are a lot of characters and yes, there is a lot going on, but it is really well done and even with the multitude of characters, it stays on point and Beatrice and Grey are definitely forefront in the story. I loved watching them fall in love and slowly overcome the hurts of their past and learn to trust each other, even when things are not what they seem. The book is filled with witty dialogue, secrets, heartache, steamy love scenes, mystery and a very hard won HEA. The book nicely sets up the series with hints of the other siblings backstories as well as the ongoing mystery of Maurice’s death. I am happy to recommend this book and am eagerly awaiting the next story!!*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

A great start to other series for Sabrina Jeffries. I have read almost all of her books, and series and this first book was great. Fletcher "Grey" Pryde, Duke of Greycourt finds out after a visit from his cousin.That his mother is a widow again. She has been married three times and has five children. Three of her son's are Duke's, one is in the military, and her only daughter is single.Vanessa Pryde is ten years his junior and more like a sister then a cousin. Her mother has been trying for years to set them up for marriage. Both want the opposite to marry someone else anyone else.There is a lot going on in story, lot's of character's both good and bad. The mystery of why his mother's husbands have all died in accidents. The last two close together.Grey and Beatrice get off to a rough start and tempers fly. Grey thinks she is a servant working on the funeral and starts giving her orders. Then finds out she is cousin to his half-brother.As Beatrice and Grey get to know each other, find themselves falling for each other. Grey is also helping his brother try to find out who killed his father. Sheridan thinks it is Bea brother Joshua. He has come home for the war after he was injured. He is a loner and keeps to himself.This is a great story and as I don't want to give anything away, I will just end by saying this haseverything you want in a romance, both Beatrice and Grey are likeable, a mystery, steamy love scenes and a really hard won great ending.... I can't wait for the next book

I thought the budding romance w/ Bea & Grey was too predictable, then rushed towards last 2 chapters. I usually love SJ, her earlier books were great & the romance had a nice pace. But this plot seemed WAAaay to similar to Eloise James books, The Wildes of Lindow Castle series. They all have the same similar plot, the handsome duke falling for the outspoken pauper, beautiful gal. Total snooze!

As some others have already stated, this book was ridiculous. I have read and enjoyed many series by Sabrina Jeffries and this was not at all up to par comparatively. The hero was abhorrent with nothing to like about him which made it even more aggravating that the foolish heroine could fall for him. The plot was not interesting. I literally skimmed the last half. Bought the next in the series hoping it will be better and because the only interesting part of this book for me were the secondary characters introduced. If the next one is similar to this, it will be the last I read of the series and possibly author

Three stars, This book was a highly sensual, Grey was a Duke and his other two half brothers were also Dukes... There was a funeral for his step father who he found out was murder.. He wasn't the only one..Mostly it was about Beatrice who live on the grounds..She fell for the Duke, and the sex was on..Naturally they ended up married. .. Mystery unsolved.

I had waited eagerly for this story,it was a disappointment. Erratic, ill placed steamy scenes, no gripping plot. All I wanted was to read a riveting book this author is so capable of creating. I have given it two and a half stars, it doesn't come up to the mark.

Usually love Sabrina Jeffries books but this one just wasn’t right. The writing was all off: very overly-descriptive, laborious, boring. The characters were very two-dimensional, and the family ties were all really convoluted, with peripheral characters that added absolutely nothing and felt completely banal. Felt like the novel of a novice author, rather than that of a (usually wonderful) seasoned pro.

Worth reading

I enjoyed this novel, it had a different plot from others and a murder mystery.Both Heroine and Hero are decent folk with pasts that keep them guarded but as the plot thickens and unfolds, their romance develops.Enjoyable read and great introduction to other characters in this series

While it was a fairly decent read from one of my favourite historical romance writers, the two main characters had almost no on page chemistry and the story fell flat.