After Emma shows up at the Duke of Ashbury's home demanding payment for the wedding gown she painstakingly sewed for the Duke's now ex-fiancee, she receives a far better proposition - become his duchess.

Ashbury, horribly scarred from a rocket explosion during the campaign against Napoleon figures he has found a convenient bride. Emma is of child-bearing age, she's pretty, she isn't scared of him, and she has nothing to lose by suddenly becoming rich.

They strike a deal - Emma will become his wife, they'll eat dinner together, have sex in the dark, and when she bears his heir she'll be set up for life away from him. What they both don't expect is that they are perfect for one another, despite both their flaws.

So much fun, so swoony, and a lovely way to spend the evening. I loved all the banter between Emma and Ashbury, her silly nicknames for him and the slow, steamy way they eventually fall in love.

Looking forward to more books in this series!

re-read for But Do They Bang

All in all, upon my second reading, I still adore Ash and Emma's romance. I was having a hard time focusing on the reread for whatever reason, so it didn't grip me as hard this time.