In 1850s rural Sussex, William Talbot is many things, heir to a grand estate, loyal friend, passionate lover, but a gentleman of polish and poise he is not.

While his closest companions, the refined and fashion-forward George and Charles, glide effortlessly through aristocratic society, William prefers mud on his boots and honesty on his tongue. Unfortunately, his late grandfather's will demands one impossible condition: William must marry before he can inherit Talbot Manor.

The obvious choice?

Mary Louisa Laurentien — childhood friend turned dazzling beauty. But Mary Louisa, fresh from finishing school and armed with flirtation and ambition, desires elegance, not a stubborn country squire.

When the dangerously charming Edward Waterford arrives,

duelist, rumored rake, and favorite of the Prince, William's rustic ways are publicly mocked. A humiliating duel leaves him wounded in pride and arm alike. Rejected by Mary Louisa and overshadowed by Edward's glittering sophistication, William faces a choice:Remain a country gentleman…Or reinvent himself entirely.

With encouragement (and funding) from his father, and mischievous enthusiasm from George and Charles, William travels to Paris,

where silk replaces tweed and powder replaces dust. Under the tutelage of the enigmatic Marquis de Châ­teau-Banvau, he masters wit, fashion, and the intoxicating art of being seen.

In the salons and candlelit ballrooms of Paris, William becomes a sensation.

But transformation brings complications. He meets Simon, captivating, intelligent, and unlike anyone he has ever known. As feelings deepen, William begins to question whether he is reshaping himself for love… or discovering who he was always meant to be.

When rumors of Edward appearing in Paris with taunts and rumors of Mary Louisa's engagement in his wake,

William must decide what truly defines a gentleman, and what kind of future he wants to claim.

Fun, flirtatious, and laced with champagne and scandal,

Duels and Dalliances is a sparkling historical romance about reinvention, rivalry, and finding love where you least expect it.