This was so delightful and clever. I am missing the characters already. A very fun read. I am eager to find another of this author`s books.

I won a copy of this book in a competition a while ago. Due to my large reading list, I wasn't able to read it until recently. I loved it!

Ally Giordano is a wonderful character. I admit that she comes across as a little straight laced and severe at times. It's like she has a rod placed down her spine and is unwilling to bend a little in case she has fun. In a way, I can understand her wanting to control things around her when things are unraveling into chaos. Meeting the charming Sam Carson throws a spanner in the works and sparks fly.

Sam Carson is most definitely a charming rogue. I fell a little in love with him myself. He has an easygoing manner that I liked, along with a wonderfully warm heart. Meeting an elderly lady in distress, he takes it upon himself to rescue her, but her stuffy granddaughter is another matter altogether. He realises that, just maybe, she's a worthy risk to his heart.

This is a sweet contemporary romance that completely charmed me. The story combined two of my favourite genres - historical and contemporary romance. It took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion. I started to read it and didn't put it down until I had finished it.

I fell in love with Ally's grandmother. She may be a little confused about which era she is living in, but she is still sharp as a tack when it comes to the important things - mainly her granddaughter and her happiness. The story is told in such a way that I felt I was actually there. I could picture all the scenes clearly and I fell in love with all of the characters. The story is told mostly through the eyes of Sam and Ally, but Mateo (the coach driver) and Ally's grandmother also have something to share. I loved the soccer scene, though I'm not a fan of the sport myself. The game can be brutal and the author didn't pull any punches with the description. I also loved the scene where Sam reads the historical romance novel that started the whole debacle. His reaction to it made me giggle. There are some incredibly touching moments in this book and I found myself shedding a tear or two, as well as laugh out loud moments; I'm glad I was at home alone and not out embarrassing myself with my sniggers. The chemistry between Sam and Ally is palpable and it is fun watching them bicker and banter. I also love how Sam persisted in breaking down Ally's walls and making her see that a little fun doesn't hurt once and a while. There are some scenes of a sensual nature that are not as explicit as some of the books I have read in the past, but are a little on the hot side. I reached the end of the book and felt sad. Not because it had a sad ending (it doesn't), but because the book had finished. I wanted the story to keep going!

Diana Holquist has written a charmingly sweet contemporary romance. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow was wonderful. Her characters come alive on the page. I have never read any of this author's books before, but I would most definitely read them now. She's found a fan in me.

Due to scenes of a sensual nature, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book to readers over the age of 15 who love contemporary romances with a little heat. - Lynn Worton

This story is definitely like nothing I have ever read before; a crazy old lady (I totally see myself turning into her because of all the regency books I read), a Duke of Whatthehell, and frumpy schoolteacher. I'm three chapters in and feel like I should write some comments but honestly I'm flabbergasted as to what to say, not because it is awful but because it is so damn good and intriguing right now.

When someone asks you to waltz, you waltz. I understand Ally's fear for her grandmother (grandmother ran away and has dementia) but she did find her safe and sound and with so many people around it would have been safe and ok to have a night waltz in central park with Sam. Yeah, yeah I get the author is trying to establish and make known Ally's personality here. She has issues from her parents abandoning her, I get it. Just please let the lady waltz!

Awesome stuff, when Sam is imaging Ally's "garden" (personality/environment) and how it differs from Veronica's and is possibly full of poison ivy but doesn't care and wants to scoop her out of it and carry her to his jungle. Funny, Funny.

Up until ch. 11 I kind of brushed Sam off as carefree, rich, and good looking male but after he reads "The Dulcet Duke" (regency romance book Ally's grandmother thinks she is living in) and proceeds to get drunk at the pub the reader gets an insight into the real man. These couple of pages that show Sam's thoughts, feelings, and past are fantastic and add some much needed heft to his character and the story.

The trip in a horse carriage through New York seemed kind of crazy and a bit fortuitous how everything worked out perfectly for them. However, in the pursuit of the greater good (storyline) I was able to forgive the author for these nagging little unbelievable parts.

I liked Ally's friend June, great secondary character doesn't try to take over the story but adds something and is intriguing in her own right.

Very touching how Sam is hurt that Ally doesn't think him worthy. He is also bothered that he and Ally had to role-played as a duke and princess in order for Ally to sleep with him. After they sleep together he just wants Ally to respect him and see him for who he really is. So touching; story becomes about breaking through walls to get to the true essence of a person.

Oh the late night conversation between Ally and Sam when they are at the Brazilian hotel is where I felt like the fun, frivolous aspect of their relationship stopped and it started to become meaningful. Ally wants him to tell her about his past but he argues he is his own man and his past doesn't matter (even though it's obvious it affects who he is and his actions) and that only what they feel and do here and now matters. This little part was incredibly meaningful and brought this couple out of "Chik-lit" for me.
Oh Sam what a hero sigh sigh sigh. I refuse to tell you what made me type this, you must read for yourself.

Oh letter writing such a lost art form! When Sam writes his "prologue" my eyes watered for some weird reason. The last chapters of this book are guaranteed to make your heart clench. Ally is the focus of the first half of book then Sam last half, it worked, sort of. Mateo (carriage driver) was nice character but his soccer story was unnecessary. The quotes from a regency romance called "The Dulcet Duke" was just about one of my favorite things from this story. I want to read that story!

LOVED the ending (I really want to waltz) just sigh, sigh, sigh.
Read this book people. Sure it's a little fluffy, glossed over heavier tones the author tried to introduce in regards to her character's background, a hero/heroine not fully flushed out, and some unnecessary secondary character drama. But the overall story is wonderful from it's humor, sheer romanticism, and sigh inducing moments. Simply a modern day fairytale. This book is going in keeper purgatory. Meaning it was really, really good but I don't know if it is quite keeper worthy. I have a bad feeling that the magic and sigh worthiness will fade after the first reading. You all know books like that where some dialogue loses it's weight with a second reading. Time will only tell, we'll see after I read it a second time in the distant future.