The Duke is But a Dream by Anna Bennett ~ a Review

by MK French

Lily Hartley writes the column "The Debutante's Revenge" anonymously, delivering her column dressed as a boy. When she is caught up in a tavern brawl and hits her head hard enough to lose her memory, she has no idea who she really is or why she dresses as a boy. The duke that had been present at the brawl feels obligated to help her recover, and with time is more and more drawn to her. While he agrees to help her find out who she is, he's reluctant to let her go that easily.

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July 2019; St. Martin's; 978-1250199485
ebook, print (320 pages); Regency romance

The Duke is But a Dream is the second novel in the Debutante Diaries series, the first of which was First Earl I See Tonight. (read my review) It's not necessary to have read that book first, because all we need to know about the column is explained in the opening of this novel. If you've read it, then you know that Fiona Hartley and Gray had their own emotional struggles, so seeing them so obviously in love here is a nice callback. The story is focused on Lily, and then her time as Caroline when she can't recall anything about herself. Nash cares a lot about his sister, especially after losing his twin sister and father years ago. Caroline gets along well with Nash's sister, and she and Nash also gel really well.

Everything between Lily and Nash is a delight to read, even their arguments about how he treats his sister. I think it's because he never once does it in a mean or nasty way, and it's out of concern for those he loves. He can't express his thoughts well and is easily hurt when he feels abandoned. Lily is the wordsmith between the two of them, after all, and Nash had closed himself off for years. She has more influence over the siblings than she realizes, and their happily ever after comes without too much of a struggle after Lily gets her memory back. It's an adorable and quick Regency romance read.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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