Customer Reviews

The Reluctant Duke

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This delightful romance, set in Victorian England in 1845, has two wonderful central characters who are truly meant for each other--even though they don't know it yet! The sparks fly when Antonio and Caroline are together. The atmosphere and descriptions paint very colorful pictures of the time. This sizzling story, meant for the avid romance reader, is well-plotted with all the devices needed for enjoyment. Filled with great characters, some of the spicey scenes will have you mopping your brow. The Reluctant Duke is a well-written, extremely entertaining novel that begs to be read. Don't miss this terrific story!

This novel almost felt like two different stories under one cover. Both the hero and the heroine have an abrupt personality shift in the middle of the story which actually improved my opinion of this book. However, the leads in the first half of this novel acted rather strangely and in many ways were too unlikable for this to be a four star review.

Lady Caroline Lockler is a widow who was never touched by her older husband, they had a father daughter type of marriage (btw these type of marriages always are a bit creepy, why would a woman want her husband to be a father figure, unless she has some unresolved father/daughter issues). Her new neighbor is Antonio now the new Duke of Weston, a man she had a school girl crush on years ago when he visited from Oxford.

Antonio did not desire the Dukedom. He was very happy back in Spain raising his Andalusia horses but now since his cousins and their son perished in a boating accident he must take up the reigns of the dukedom. He returns with his charming sister Briella, he intends to make a match for her from among the London nobles.

He is startled when he sees Caroline again and decides he must instantly have her. She is a widow and in his mind ripe for the plucking. Caroline, on the other hand, is not going to fall into his hands and they spar verbally all the time. I think it was about halfway through the book before they have a civil conversation. Antonio sounds insincere with his innuendos and way too smooth and practiced with his compliments. It was hard to like him. Caroline was prudish and haughty and overly concerned about everything regarding English manners.

They share a romantic moment which leaves Caroline angry and Antonio frustrated, they do not part on good terms. So it is no wonder when they see each other in London a few weeks later they still are engaging in the same behavior of insincerity and haughtiness. Caroline at times is too naïve. She is truly surprised that people would not know she is a virgin. How ridiculous, she was married for four months.

When these two do succumb to temptation they must now pay the price of a hasty marriage. Here is where the novel became more intriguing. The couple really began to treat each other with kindness and respect, and they have a very passionate marriage, however their road to happiness has some bumps along the way. Fortunately they begin to understand the power of two people working together instead of apart. This novel is a three star book, two stars for the first half and four for the latter.