A Business Engagement (Duchess Diaries #1) by Merline Lovelace

A Business Engagement (Duchess Diaries #1) Reviews

• 
  Susan

  Fun and fast paced book. I really liked both Sarah and Dev. Dev's life has not been the same since Sarah's magazine named him one of the Top Ten Sexiest Single Men. He can't go anywhere without women accosting him and now it's impacting his business also. He's a very private guy and all the attention is making him really grouchy. To top it all off he has video of Sarah's sister stealing an artifact from his home during a party. He needs help countering the female attention and he has picked Sarah to provide that help. To keep him from going to the police, she is going to have to act as his fiancee for the next six months. I loved the way he started out intending a strictly business arrangement but quickly decided he wanted something far more. The conversations between the two of them were great and the chemistry was explosive. He didn't take long to declare his love for her, but also ended up making her doubt that love. When he discovered a photographer from her magazine taking pictures, followed by a kidnapping attempt, he accused her of using their engagement for publicity. He quickly realized his mistake, but the damage was done. I really liked the way he thought about it and went into romantic courtship mode to show her his feelings. And I loved the way he showed up in Switzerland.
  
  Sarah is a fairly reserved woman who works hard at her job. When she is confronted by "Number Three" Dev Hunter, she can't deny the attraction. She is dismayed to hear about the trouble that Gina is in and will do whatever she can to prevent distressing her grandmother. She consents to the fake engagement and rapidly finds that part of her wishes it were real. I really enjoyed their interactions. It was fun seeing her step in to protect him from one female on the first night they had dinner together. She was a reluctant participant at first but was beginning to enjoy it while they were in Paris. Things were going well for them and they decided to make their relationship real. The next day someone attempts to kidnap her and Dev accuses her of participating in a publicity stunt. She is devastated by his accusations and tries to break things off. When Dev apologizes the next day she lets him know her feelings. She thinks they rushed things and should back off and try to get to know each other better before going any further. I loved the way that she was willing to work with him over the disagreement. I also loved the way she had been standing up to her boss and how the latest bit was the final straw. Things were starting to go better with Dev when she finally heard from her sister and went tearing off to see her leaving Dev behind. Loved those scenes in Switzerland - now I can't wait to read Gina's story!
• 
  Izy

  I really liked this book, it had a great hero and a heroine though i did find Gina a bit annoying (i mean come on, no one can be that of a idiot) Sarah and Dev were both lovely characters and for the 1st time in Harlequin there wasn't conflict or revenge. The book does though take place only over a couple days time so it did feel a tad bit rushed but I felt this was fluffy read.
• 
  Tawnya

  A Business Engagement is a really good book. I believe Merline Lovelace did a really good job writing Sarah and Dev's story.
• 
  Melinda

  This made for a very quick read but it was a very interesting read for sure.
  
  I liked Sarah and Devon, they are quite refreshing characters and not too stereotypical. Sarah comes from a now disfunct royal house but maintains that royal aspect (that regal posture and manners drilled into her by her grandmother the dutchess) and good personality (like not totally a snobby bitch). Devon was in the army, and used his knowledge and skills to make millions, but is still pretty down to earth, and extremely secretive.
  
  What started off as blackmail, ok 'agreement', leads to so much more. The chemistry between them is electrifying and makes you want so much more. I enjoyed the times they spent together in Paris, so romantic but still natural, even though their relationships speed along really quickly.
  
  I think we should have ended off with a kiss and "I Love Yous" after the whole kidnapping scene, instead of the whole Gina and Switzerland scene. I didn't like the scenes with Gina in Switzerland very much, it kind of took away from the rest of the story and felt very out of place. I get that the author is trying to set up the next story but this was very out of place with this current story
• 
  Andrea Lujano

  Protagonistas: Sarah & Devon
  
  Profesiones: Diseñadora & Empresario Aeronáutico
  
  Paises: USA, París & Suiza
• 
  Maura

  When business tycoon Dev confronts granddaughter to the duchess of some long-gone Eastern European country, Sarah St. Sebastian about her sister's burglary of one of his pieces of art, she is shocked. Dev is "Number Three" on the Top-Ten Sexiest Single Guys list in the fashion magazine Sarah works for and he's been bombarded with women ever since. And he isn't necessarily happy about it. He decides he can let the whole thing slide, so long as Sarah is willing to pose as his fiancee until his major business deal has closed.
  
  The characters were pretty refreshing. Dev isn't some stereotypically wealthy business tycoon. He grew up on a farm in New Mexico and he kind of lucked into his fortune. He isn't ruthless or dastardly or even a womanizer. He's got a set of ethics and he honestly feels guilty about his blackmail (although it's nothing compared to some of the blackmail out there in romancelandia). He doesn't even actually set out to seduce her...that comes later. Sarah has a head on her shoulders. She's intelligent, strong and maybe a little too cool and reserved. She has moments were she's a little too snooty. But she was likeable. The romance between them wasn't overly angsty or dramatic. I was a bit disappointed that the ending, the romantic conclusion seemed to lack punch or passion. I mean, couldn't we have ended with a kiss? The story was good, but I have absolutely no desire to read Gina's story though. What little I learned about her I didn't care for.
• 
  Ipshita Ranjana

  Merline Lovelace , Lady Sarah is an editor for a glossy magazine which names Devon Hunter as one of the Ten Sexiest Single Men and gains him unwanted female attention which disrupt his privacy. One of his business deals also begins to suffer because of the same and now someone has stolen a twelfth-century Byzantine medallion from his house and done a runner.
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• 
  Jennette

  There are some good old fashioned romance staples in this story. Empty title nobility from a defunct country, a wealthy hunk that is just a little sleezy so you can hate him just a little bit, a too good girl that puts her family first, blackmail, fake engagement, and kidnapping; throw in Paris and you are set for an exciting ride. Fun.
• 
  LadyTechie

  Thoroughly loved the story, characters and travel in this book. Will be reading the others.
• 
  Annie

  quick easy read - good characters and good plot. I might even read the next book in the series straight away
• 
  Egle Morales

  Me encantó. Amor a primera vista
• 
  Harlequin Books

  Miniseries: Duchess Diaries
• 
  PottWab Regional Library

  E
• 
  Spinneretta

  Good.