A Duchess by Midnight by Charis Michaels

Charis Michaels will make you believe in fairy tales.- #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn USA Today bestselling author Charis Michaels concludes her Awakened by a Kiss series with another enchanting romance, this time telling the real story of Cinderella's stepsister and the man who can't help falling in love with her. A Former Ugly Duckling... Miss Drewsmina Drew Trelayne is a former awkward child and one-time wicked stepsister. Raised by a bitter, overbearing mother, Drew is all grown up and has made peace with her orange hair and bean-pole height. Her transformation has inspired her dream of opening a finishing school that emphasizes inner beauty, capability, and confidence. But launching a school costs money so Drew must begin with private clients who pay well and don't ask many questions. A Reclusive Duke... Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan, lives alone on his Dorset estate, forced by scandal into a smuggler's life. When his estranged sister arrives with her two daughters, he feels obligated to give the girls a proper Season. Venturing back to society could clear his name and provide his vagabond nieces with a better life. Who better to help than the striking Miss Trelayne? A Midnight Kiss... Affording Drew's services isn't a problem for Lachlan, but his growing desire for her is. As his nieces warm to her gentle charm, he is overwhelmed by her unique beauty and open manner. When they're caught in a scandalous embrace, nothing short of marriage will save all of them from further scandal. Can a marriage made in haste be love's saving grace? Editorial Reviews 05/16/2022 An aspiring finishing school instructor must practice what she preaches in Michaels's appealing third Awakened by a Kiss Regency romance (after When You Wish upon a Duke). Enterprising Drewsmina Drew Trelayne sets out to make a living coaching young debutantes through their coming-out Season, hoping one day to start her own finishing school, and, more importantly, move out of her sister's home. Despite Drew's awkward first meeting with the Duke of Lachlan--during which she inadvertently insults him--Drew is eager to take on his twin nieces as her first clients. But when timid Ivy and the wild child Imogene catch Drew in a compromising position with their uncle, Drew's own rules about being discovered alone with a man--which she has drilled into her charges' heads--mean that she and the duke must marry. While Lachlan is secretly pleased about his duchess-to-be, he's preoccupied with clandestine business dealings, and Drew tries to protect her own heart by not allowing herself to get too invested. Michaels's female characters are delightfully complex, and the strange behavior of Ivy, Imogene, and their mother adds intrigue as Michaels slowly peals back their traumatic history. This delivers all the elements Regency fans long for. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July) - Publishers Weekly Charis Michaels will make you believe in fairy tales. - #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn Charis Michaels knows what readers want and delivers. - Lorraine Heath, New York Times bestselling author Charis Michaels writes with grace and verve. - Julie Anne Long, USA Today bestselling author Smart, sexy, and sparkling! - Megan Frampton, author of Never Kiss a Duke, on A Duchess a Day This entertaining romance leans into its fairy tale roots with just the right amount of over-the-top whimsy. Mirror mirror on the wall, it's fun, charming, and sure to enthrall. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on A Duchess a Day - From the Publisher Charis Michaels will make you believe in fairy tales. - #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn Smart, sexy, and sparkling! - Megan Frampton Charis Michaels writes with grace and verve. - Julie Anne Long Charis Michaels knows what readers want and delivers. - Lorraine Heath 05/01/2022 In the last of her fairy-tale trilogy, after Duchess a Day and When You Wish Upon a Duke, Michaels rehabilitates one of the ugly stepsisters from Cinderella, offering a delightful and deeply engaging story that sees Drewsmina Trelayne remake herself from a meanspirited wretch into a tactful, caring woman of substance, determined to make her own way by working as a stylist/teacher of debutantes in need of a helping hand. Drew needs money to make her grand plans come true, however, and with the help of her stepsister, Princess Cynde, is soon employed by Ian, the Duke of Lachlan, to aid his nieces. The girls need more than deportment advice. They need healing after spending years in a religious cult. Ian and his sister carry their own scars and regrets and it is with deep compassion that Drew helps rebuild this family. Michaels's quick pacing is immediately appealing, and her fetching dialogue and fabulous set scenes are delightful, plus there are some clever Easter eggs that nod to Cinderella. VERDICT A charming story of people learning to live with their past and commit to their futures, Michaels's fairy tale finale is joyful and redemptive. The mix of retold stories, the governess trope, and winning characters makes this a solid addition for all libraries and a great pick for readers new to the author.--Neal Wyatt - Library Journal 2022-05-11 In this fairy tale-inspired romance, a wicked stepsister finds her happily-ever-after. Drewsmina Trelayne used to be a terror, but now she is reformed and aspires to help girls who are outsiders and outcasts like she once was by training them for a London season. Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan, known for his scandalous involvement in his tenants' riots, recently had his eccentric sister and her teenage twin daughters move in with him. He hires Drew because he wants to give the girls a coming-out season, but they are not at all fit to mingle with society, as they've been part of a strict religious commune for the past five years. Drew has her work cut out for her--and she also finds herself pining for the duke. He returns her desire, but when they are caught in a compromising position, they must marry. The attraction is there, but Drew soon yearns for love. With nods to Cinderella and The Ugly Duckling, the story maintains a fairy-tale feel through its infusion of royalty and enigmatic characters. Other plot points, like the economic hardships of craftsmen and the rigors of preparing for a season, add a realistic balance. Sometimes, though, it feels like there is too much extra plot that detracts from the central romance and isn't fleshed-out enough to be fully compelling. Still, Drew is engaging and interesting, the nieces are a hoot, and Ian's journey to better communication with the people he loves is commendable. An overabundance of side plots, but the core characters shine. - Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2022 Reformed evil stepsister Drewsmina Trelayne has learned a lot from her wicked ways and has vowed to help future debutantes do the same. When Ian Clayback, the reclusive Duke of Lachlan, seeks her services for his twin nieces, Drew suddenly has her hands full. So distracted is she by the young ladies that her feelings for the duke take her quite by surprise, resulting in a compromising moment of passion that becomes a hasty engagement when they are discovered. Can they turn their ill-advised assignation into a lifetime of love, or will secrecy and scandal halt their happy ending before it begins? In this third installment of the Awakened by a Kiss series, Michaels (The Earl Next Door) continues her playful twists on classic fairy tales with a Cinderella spin. The well-crafted dialogue is amusing, and the love scenes are alluring. Fans of the series will recognize narrator Morag Sims's lyrical lilt, while newcomers will be drawn in by her delightful delivery. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking flawed, but likable, characters finding fairy tale romance, with a side of scandal and sensuality. Recommended for fans of Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, and Sabrina Jeffries.--Lauren Hackert - Library Journal - Audio