Review: The Duke Is But a Dream (Debutante Diaries #2) by Anna Bennett

Print Length: 311 pages

Publisher: St.Martin's Paperbacks (July 30, 2019)

From Goodreads.com: HE’S COME TO HER RESCUE

Miss Lily Hartley is the anonymous mastermind behind the ton’s latest obsession: The Debutante’s Revenge, a titillating advice column for ladies on the marriage mart. To keep her identity secret, Lily delivers her columns disguised as a chimney sweep—which is all well and good, until she unwittingly lands in the middle of an ugly tavern brawl. Fortunately, the devastatingly handsome Duke of Stonebridge sweeps in to rescue her. Unfortunately, Lily’s dressed as a boy—and holding rather incriminating evidence linking her to the scandalous column. Drat.

SHE’S LOST HER MEMORY

When Eric Nash, Duke of Stonebridge, sees a helpless lad receive a nasty blow to the head, he’s outraged. But when he discovers there’s a beautiful woman hiding beneath the chimney sweep’s cap, he’s positively stunned. Nash would happily escort her home, but she’s forgotten her name—leaving him little choice but to take her in himself until he can locate her family. But the closer he gets to finding them, the more he doesn’t want to let her go.

WILL THEY FIND LOVE?

Lily’s trying to figure out exactly who she is…in more ways than one. With so much at stake—her column, her reputation, and even her heart—she needs a plan, and she needs it fast. Before Nash finds her family. Before he learns who she is. Before they fall totally, completely, and utterly inconveniently in love.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

For the first little bit of this book, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching Lily take a measure of control of her world. I enjoyed the bar fight that brought these two people together. Heck, I even enjoyed the way Nash's sister Delilah welcomed Lily into the family even knowing that the mere fact that she was staying there could bring ruin on the entire family.

What I did not enjoy? Was the way that even without knowing who or what she was, Lily willingly engaged in sexual situations that no well bred young virgin of the time period should even know about. However, not only did she engage in them, but Nash allowed it to happen (up to an including him potentially impregnating her) when he didn't even know if she was married or not. 

All of this just added up to characters that didn't fit whatever time period this novel was supposed to take place in (which was never specified), and a story that while it was okay, did not keep me glued to the pages. And while I do honestly believe this story will appeal to some people, this one could have been better for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                          The Duke is But a Dream is available from Amazon.com