ARC Review: The Duke Is But a Dream by Anna Bennett

The Duke Is But a Dream
Author: Anna Bennett
Series: Debutante Diaries (Book 2)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (July 30, 2019)

Description: She’s a secret sensation. 

Miss Lily Hartley is the anonymous mastermind behind the ton’s latest obsession: The Debutante’s Revenge, a tell-all advice column for young ladies. To keep her identity hidden, Lily delivers her columns disguised as a boy—which is well and good, until she lands in the middle of tavern brawl. As luck would have it, a devastatingly handsome duke sweeps in to rescue her.

He has no idea who she is.

Eric Nash, Duke of Stonebridge, discovers there’s a beautiful woman hiding beneath a lad’s cap, and, before long, he’s falling for the delightfully clever stranger recuperating in his house. He vows to help her find her home, even though he’s reluctant to part with her. There’s only one problem…

Neither does she.

Lily has no idea who she is. She could be a duchess or maid. Betrothed or married. There’s only one thing she does know—that her attraction to Nash is more than skin-deep, and it grows stronger every day. While Lily and Nash search to find her true identity, they just might lose their hearts to each other...

My Thoughts: Miss Lily Hartley, her sister Fiona, and her friend Sophie are the masterminds behind the potentially scandalous advice column for young debutantes called The Debutante's Revenge. They give advice to young women looking to navigate the marriage mart. However, if their secret is revealed, they will be thrown out of society.

One evening, Lily disguises herself as a boy and delivers the latest column to the newspaper. Because her sister and her new husband are out of town as are her parents, Lily takes the opportunity at freedom and explore parts of London she has seen before. She finds herself in a pub and in the middle of a bar fight.

Lily is rescued by Eric Nash, Duke of Stonebridge, who was also in the pub. Lily has an accident that was partially caused by Nash so he brings her to his home and calls his doctor. When Lily awakens, she has no memory of her past. Nash and his sister Delilah, who is a big fan of the Debutante's Revenge, nurse her back to health. They want to help her recover her memory.

Nash and Delilah have just returned to London from five years at their country home. A tragic accident which cost the life of their father and Nash's twin sister sent them away from all the memories and left Nash guilty and afraid to commit his heart to anyone.

The story has Nash and Lily falling in love while Delilah is also falling in love - with a very unsuitable suitor. I loved the relationship between Nash and Lily as she convinced him that his heart was safe with her.

Favorite Quote:

"If you truly care for him, you will notice more than his broad shoulders and handsome visage. For few qualities are more desirable in a partner than a beautiful mind."
                                                        -- The Debutante's Revenge

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.