The Daring Duke: The 1797 Club Paperback – March 14, 2017

What’s it About? A group of boys in line to become dukes form a club they call “The 1797 Club” in order to help each other navigate the world that they’ll soon be a part of. As adults they’ve become more like brothers and their unofficial leader James, The Duke of Abernathe has sworn never to marry. He's making good on his promise until he meets wallflower Emma Liston. When James finds out that Emma needs to marry and fast, he agrees to a pretend courtship to improve her chances of attracting suitors. Except it's too easy for James and Emma to be together and when her scandalous father reappears with news for Emma, James quickly steps in to save her. By marrying her.Describe the hero in five words: Kind. Intelligent. Vulnerable. Funny. Loyal.Did you like him? I fell in love with him.Why? James was a powerful man, a duke but throughout the entire story I saw him as this kind, patient, passionate man who was more than a little bewildered by his attraction to Emma. He was genuinely shocked and unsure of himself when it came to her and that vulnerability was endearing to me. He didn’t act like the world revolved around him, he was more of a reluctant duke and he truly cared for those in his inner circle. I loved the glimpses of his relationship with the other members of the 1797 Club because it showed just how much these men respect and care for each other. However it was James’ relationship with his sister that really got me right in the heart. He adores his sister Meg and would do anything for her and that’s clear in the way the two interact. They’re true siblings, teasing and supporting each other. My heart ached for James and how he was forced to grow up but in some ways it made him into such a caretaker of those too weak to defend themselves. I was in love from the moment I saw how he was with his sister and then with Emma.Describe the heroine in five words: Observant. Caring. Intelligent. Funny. Honest.Did you like her? Yes. She’s best friend material.Why? Despite Emma’s low view of her place in society, she’s a doll. She was kind and courteous even when people didn’t deserve it and she had a different kind of strength in her that came from having lived her life waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. I loved her pragmatic attitude but at the same time I loved watching Emma become more hopeful and trusting when it came to James and Meg. Emma was such a sweet and likable character that even I wanted to jump into the book and defend her whenever she was treated badly. I hardly ever feel like that about a character! Emma definitely had the most growth in the book, going from someone who didn’t dream of much happiness to someone who fought for the dreams she was starting to have and who started to stand up for herself because she her own worth. I love characters like that, especially female ones.How convincing were the main characters as a couple? Jess Michaels brought the heat and sexual tension to the relationship but an added bonus was the deep friendship that James and Emma built along the way. They were both so honest with each other and it definitely influenced the direction and tone of their relationship in the best way, they saw through the other’s pretenses as well which definitely deepened their strong connection but their attraction to one another was what was surprising to both of them. I loved watching James and Emma navigate the unexpected obstacles that their attraction brought. Their frustrations, their self torment, allIs there a “Scooby Gang” worth mentioning? With ten dukes being the focus of the series some or all of them were bound to make appearances. The 1797 Club isn’t a typical men’s club like had thought. These men have a great affection for each other beyond the regular shoulder slapping, drink guzzling, womanizing relationship that usually defines these kinds of clubs. To put it in more blunt terms, it’s one big bromance going on and I loved it. These men are bonded through emotional struggles, not physical ones and that did change the dynamic of their friendships. James’ closest friends are fun but they also knew when to let their guards down and be there for James. I’m dying to get to know all of them but it was Simon and Baldwin who drew my attention the most. Simon seemed to be hiding something having to do with James’ sister Meg whom James betrothed to his other friend Graham. And Baldwin had a moment with James where he offers some advice and it was a personal piece of advice that showed how much these men trust one another. The only supporting character I just couldn’t stand was Emma’s mother. I can’t stand a scheming, nagging, mother who expects to be taken care of. She drove me nuts!How “Lost” did you get in the story? Oh man, it didn’t take me long to become engrossed in James and Emma’s romance. But it wasn’t just the romance though! There’s an entire cast that is both mysterious and engaging. Jess Michaels has something special here with her group of dukes who are more family to each other than anyone else. I loved the dynamics between the men and though all of the club members have yet to be introduced, if James is any indication on how these men are I just know that this is going to be one heck of a series.Click It or Skip It? Click It and prepare to fall in love with James and his fellow club members!

Jess Michaels is one of my favorite HR authors, and this first book in her most recent series is a strong start to a promising set of new regency historical romances.As a youth, James was belittled, berated, and abused by his father (the Duke of Abernathe, one of the most well-known and influential dukedoms) who constantly informed him that he was a poor excuse for an heir. James' older brother from his father's first marriage was killed in an accident; the duke's first wife perished in childbirth, and so in order to obtain a new heir, the duke married James' mother. James' father cared nothing for his second wife, which led to her self-medicating her depression with excessive drinking. When James is mocked and slapped in front of his best friends (2 classmates who wae also future dukes), the three of them devise a plan to form a group intended to support one another: The 1797 Club. This club had a very exclusive membership as it consisted entirely of young dukes-to-be and is named for its year of founding when they were all adolescents. Because of his (now late) father's cruelty, James (the unofficial leader of the club) has vowed never to marry or produce an heir to spite his father's "the line must continue at any cost" philosophy, and he certainly doesn't believe in love from the example he had in his parents.Emma Liston is the daughter of the 3rd son of a Viscount who was essentially disowned by his titled family because of his excesses (with respect to gambling and women) as well as because he is constantly inviting scandal. He has a tendency to disappear for months, and even up to years, at a time only to resurface to complicate and disrupt hers and her mother's lives. As she is barely considered part of English society, and thus has garnered little interest by possible suitors, she is entering her 4th season at the insistence by her mother to make a good match to give them financial security. Emma is happy to remain single and be categorized as a bluestocking wallflower, but she feels she must do her duty and find a suitable gentleman to wed. While attending a ball, Meg (James' younger sister) strikes up a conversation with Emma when Meg's mother begins to make a drunken scene in the middle of the soiree. Thinking on her feet, Emma jumps in to assist Meg with the duchess and helps avoid scandal. Meg convinces James to at least dance with Emma to garner some interest from other men for her as he is the most powerful duke who sets the fashion and trends. James reluctantly agrees, but he soon finds himself fascinated by Emma's straightforward manner and lack of interest in capturing his attention which is the complete opposite of how all other available females behave in his presence. James initially chalks it up to the novelty, but he can't seem to get Emma out of his mind and soon finds himself making a deal to help her that he may not be able to uphold.What I liked:--- Very good plot; even though the "I will pretend to like you so others will notice you" bit has been well-tread, this one had a fresh take and was more engaging--- The characters were flawed by likeable--- Good development of other characters that sets up the subsequent installments of the 1797 ClubWhat I didn't like as much:--- While there was some foreplay stuff going on, there was only 1 time that they got together in the book; I prefer more steam, so that aspect fell short for me--- James came across as a little full of himself at times, but I think it was mostly an overcompensation to hide the insecurities his father planted in himOverall, a really good read that hooks the reader's interest to continue on in the series.Plot --- 4.5/5Main Characters --- 4.5/5Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5Steam Level* --- 3/5Violence --- nothing graphicLanguage --- not egregiousPOV --- 3rd*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

James Rylon, the Duke of Abernathe, is charming and well-liked, with many friends. He’s also the de facto leader of the 1797 Club, his closest friends, a group of ten men who banded together to help each other learn and cope with the responsibilities of running the dukedoms they would one day inherit. Despite his popularity and desirability among women, James is determined never to marry.With a small dowry and a wastrel, absentee father, Emma Liston hasn’t exactly been a success on the marriage mart. She’s a wallflower but given that her father is a ticking timebomb of scandal, she needs to marry and soon. When she jokingly suggests a faux courtship to her new friend Meg’s brother, James, Emma is shocked when he agrees, citing the potential benefits to them both. James’ interest will help Emma attract more suitors and save James from the attentions of some of the more aggressive mamas. Only, everything with Emma is easy and feels right and James has no clue what to make of that or his increasingly possessive feelings towards her.When her father returns at the most inopportune time, he presents Emma with a future that is most undesirable. The courtship between Emma and James is suddenly feeling very real for them both, but they each must put aside their own insecurities if a relationship between them is going to work.This was a classic and well-executed example of the fake relationship trope. James was afraid of love because he hadn’t experienced much of it and both James and Emma harbored doubts about their own worthiness. Emma’s family was truly horrible, and I loved how James stepped in to defend her from their machinations. I thought Emma and James were very sweet together and I loved Meg as a supporting character, so I’m looking forward to listening to her story next.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💋💋Jess has done it again.It’s taken me a while to begin reading this series, now I wonder why I waited .Brilliant, addictive, sensitive, enthralling, romantic.I could go on but nothing seems to describe it adequately.Perfect is the nearest .And so many more to come , I can hardly wait .

I found this a really good book. Emma is a really strong character and James doesn't value himself after years of his Father berating him. Emma is everything he likes in a lady but he refuses love and marriage until her own father betrothes her to an enemy of James and he is forced to do something in return.

I love everything Jess Michaels does. She is an excellent author. This is a great story. If you like a lot of steam this book is for you. If you like strong heroine this book is for you. If you like dashing hero this book is for you. ♨ ♨ ♨ ♨ ♨

This book is recommended for those who like well written regency romances but haven't yet read hundreds of these😙. If you're like me and you have read hundreds (slight exaggeration) then this book will just be satisfactory.

James never intended to marry but when he unexpectedly met a friend of his sister's he was unexpectedly attracted. Hey presto change of plans.I like all of Jess Michael's books ( I'm not sure this was her best, but still good). The next in the series looks interesting though.