This tale fairly hummed!

The Brazen Bluestocking (The Duchess Society #1) by Tracy Sumner         

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love that bad boy with heart of gold meets the woman who stops him in his tracks trope, as much as I do, this read is for you!

Lady Hildegard Templeton and her partner Georgiana, the Duchess of Markham are matchmakers for those who need guidance through the pitfalls of society as they move to secure a partner.

Hildy, almost destitute with a decaying mansion and an equally as crumbling “cadre of servants” to support has taken up this occupation, soiling her hands to many as one in ‘trade.’ Given the cut direct even! She’s known as the ‘Mad Matchmaker.’

Their business, the Duchess Society, has been approached by the Earl of Hastings to facilitate the marriage between his daughter and Tobias Streeter, shipping magnate amongst other things and known as the Rogue King of Limehouse Basin, in a way that’s acceptable to society. Once that’s done and dusted the Duchess Society will be employed to assist Hasting’s five other daughters thread the path of high society. The smell of success is being dangled before Hildy’s nose.

Here’s the thing the Earl’s daughter, Lady Matilda Delacour-Baynham, is mad keen to be a doctor. She already works in the slum areas learning as much as she can. Mattie wants a husband who will leave her free to pursue her passion. And here’s the other thing, Mattie’s not actually drawn to men. A marriage of convenience will suit the almost courting couple.

Tobias has a Romani background and is the illegitimate son of an Earl. An Earl who’s never acknowledged him. Toby is now very wealthy, lives in the Limestone Basin Lock area, and still keeps a hand in with his smuggling concerns, although most of his business is now legitimate. He cares for the well being of those in his area, and has a young boy and a couple of cats sharing his quarters. (But that’s not all—Tobias has fascinating depths, including a love of architecture, that Hildy will unravel them one by one.)

Hildy’s task is to bring Tobias up to scratch as a courting swain, following society’s rules. Now there’s the challenge!

The thing is when they meet the air simply becomes incandescent. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end! And when Hildy’s eyes “so… blue they hurt”  meet Streeter’s “sea-green gaze”. Omph! The strength of their eye encounter is physical.

There’s so much happening in this story that gives it interest and depth. Summer’s writing is tight, descriptive and enchantingly explosive

Yes there’s  lot of heavy breathing, heaps of “Oh My’s” and I loved every word!

A splendid beginning to the series, I can hardly wait for what is to follow!

A WOLF Publishing ARC via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)