Scan barcode
suzannacurran's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trupti's review
3.0
Blake becomes a Duke and inherits a large fortune after his father’s accidental death just 2 years back. But still his rakish ways continue. He is more interested in card parties, frolicking with women and horse racing than he is in managing his estate and settling down.
Into this happy-go-lucky life of the Duke’s, enters a 19 year old charming, beautiful and intelligent Henrietta. She claims his father was the last guardian on a list her father had prepared before his death. And as Duke’s father is dead, he should take a position of her guardian. For a man who is not used to take care of his own responsibilities and who does not loose an opportunity to take every beautiful girl to his bed, Henrietta comes as a shock. Blake is immediately attracted to her and wants to shirk off her responsibility and the only way he thinks fit is to find her a suitable husband. Meanwhile Blake and Henrietta try to control their immense attraction and liking for each other.
I really liked the London season shown in this book. One could picture the colorful gowns, the candlelight’s, the gentlemen in their evening coats and the overall glittering high society atmosphere very well. It was fun to read about the things a gentleman had to do to go on a date with a woman he wished to court.
Amelia and Blake were both likable characters, especially Amelia. She was young but had spunk and was not afraid of speaking her mind. Yet, there was certain vulnerability in her which was endearing. The scenes between Blake and Henrietta were nicely developed. But I wish there was more book space given to them. The other characters were okay but weren’t as interesting to read about. Even the scenes where the balloon venture was discussed with Gibby were not really that interesting. I couldn’t care less what happened to Gibby and his money even though I like him instantly.
The scenes between Blake and his cousins Race and Morgan were not that great. Firstly I thought they were the villains in the story. I kept thinking on the same line almost throughout the book. Here is a paragraph at the beginning of the book,
“Blake was friendly enough with his two cousins, but an unspoken rivalry had always simmered just below the surface of their relationships.
To the ton, the three grandsons of Lady Elder always appeared united; taking up for each other if need arose. But when they were alone, it wasn’t unusual for one to try to best the others, be it at shooting, racing, or fencing, though they never admitted to the competition unless it was to gain the favor of a young miss.”
I might have read a little too much into the above, but because of these very sentences I could not warm up to Morgan and Race.
All in all, I found ‘A Duke to die for’ to be a descent book, but not be listed in the top romantic books I have read. A descent enough read. I would certainly try another Amelia Grey novel.
Originally published at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com
Into this happy-go-lucky life of the Duke’s, enters a 19 year old charming, beautiful and intelligent Henrietta. She claims his father was the last guardian on a list her father had prepared before his death. And as Duke’s father is dead, he should take a position of her guardian. For a man who is not used to take care of his own responsibilities and who does not loose an opportunity to take every beautiful girl to his bed, Henrietta comes as a shock. Blake is immediately attracted to her and wants to shirk off her responsibility and the only way he thinks fit is to find her a suitable husband. Meanwhile Blake and Henrietta try to control their immense attraction and liking for each other.
I really liked the London season shown in this book. One could picture the colorful gowns, the candlelight’s, the gentlemen in their evening coats and the overall glittering high society atmosphere very well. It was fun to read about the things a gentleman had to do to go on a date with a woman he wished to court.
Amelia and Blake were both likable characters, especially Amelia. She was young but had spunk and was not afraid of speaking her mind. Yet, there was certain vulnerability in her which was endearing. The scenes between Blake and Henrietta were nicely developed. But I wish there was more book space given to them. The other characters were okay but weren’t as interesting to read about. Even the scenes where the balloon venture was discussed with Gibby were not really that interesting. I couldn’t care less what happened to Gibby and his money even though I like him instantly.
The scenes between Blake and his cousins Race and Morgan were not that great. Firstly I thought they were the villains in the story. I kept thinking on the same line almost throughout the book. Here is a paragraph at the beginning of the book,
“Blake was friendly enough with his two cousins, but an unspoken rivalry had always simmered just below the surface of their relationships.
To the ton, the three grandsons of Lady Elder always appeared united; taking up for each other if need arose. But when they were alone, it wasn’t unusual for one to try to best the others, be it at shooting, racing, or fencing, though they never admitted to the competition unless it was to gain the favor of a young miss.”
I might have read a little too much into the above, but because of these very sentences I could not warm up to Morgan and Race.
All in all, I found ‘A Duke to die for’ to be a descent book, but not be listed in the top romantic books I have read. A descent enough read. I would certainly try another Amelia Grey novel.
Originally published at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com
tracydurnell's review
2.0
I had to roll my eyes at a lot of this book - the way the H & h lusted after each other from page 1 and their internal monologues were a little over the top. I am always skeeved out by a more than ten year age difference - what 30-year-old thinks a teenager will make a good life partner? The sex scenes weren't anything special, felt a little rushed.
This could have stood for another round of editing - there were two 'red herrings' of antagonistic relationships that I was expecting to have some repercussions but didn't go anywhere. Tension for nothing. Maybe they arise in the next book? The ending could have been much more exciting - I had a few possibilities mapped out (including the red herrings) so the actual ending was kind of a let down and seemed to happen too quickly.
This could have stood for another round of editing - there were two 'red herrings' of antagonistic relationships that I was expecting to have some repercussions but didn't go anywhere. Tension for nothing. Maybe they arise in the next book? The ending could have been much more exciting - I had a few possibilities mapped out (including the red herrings) so the actual ending was kind of a let down and seemed to happen too quickly.
lootsfoz's review against another edition
2.0
The heroine was annoying. The side characters were more interesting than the leads. The plot felt like something I read before, only poorly written.
donnah's review against another edition
4.0
With this book Amelia Grey has written a romance with a great sense of fun and humor. I read many different genres of romance books and enjoy coming back to this style of romance. I will be mixing more of Amelia Grey's books into my reading list. On my Nook the book listed 271 pages.
What is a roguish young nobleman supposed to do with a shockingly lovely young ward?
The Duke of Blakewell believes he'd better marry her off as soon as possible, before he gives in to temptation himself...
But Henrietta doesn't want a husband— she wants her independence...
Sure that she carries a curse that killed her previous guardians, Henrietta just wants the duke to sign over her inheritance before something terrible befalls him...
In a moment of passion, they become scandalously entangled, and suddenly the duke must take Henrietta's curse seriously, and she must take drastic measures to save the one man she could love...
What is a roguish young nobleman supposed to do with a shockingly lovely young ward?
The Duke of Blakewell believes he'd better marry her off as soon as possible, before he gives in to temptation himself...
But Henrietta doesn't want a husband— she wants her independence...
Sure that she carries a curse that killed her previous guardians, Henrietta just wants the duke to sign over her inheritance before something terrible befalls him...
In a moment of passion, they become scandalously entangled, and suddenly the duke must take Henrietta's curse seriously, and she must take drastic measures to save the one man she could love...
prationality's review against another edition
5.0
A DUKE TO DIE FOR is the first in Amelia Grey’s Rogues’ Dynasty books. A DUKE TO DIE FOR is about Duke Blakewell and Henrietta Tweed, while the next two will be about Blackwell’s two cousins (Lord Raceworth and Lord Morgangale).
Great fun sums up this story quite well. Despite his initial bluster, Blakewell isn’t quite as bad as his reputation makes him out to be. At least he takes his role as Duke quite seriously (even if he is a tad absentminded), so maybe it's more he hasn’t had time to keep up his reputation as the Devilish Duke. Henrietta, for all her superstitions, is rather level-headed and mature. She’s only nineteen, but shows more sense then many of the older people of the story.
As for the curse, it truly was a self-fulfilling prophecy, I think. Sure enough, if you go looking for trouble, you can subscribe just about any ordinary event to it. What I was really pleased by was Blakewell and how quickly he understood Henrietta. There wasn’t any misunderstandings between them, and even if he didn’t always believe what Henrietta said (who would believe a curse was put upon a seven year old girl?), he didn’t condescend or make light of it.
I look forward, eagerly, to the next two books although I have a feeling Blakewell might keep my heart.
Great fun sums up this story quite well. Despite his initial bluster, Blakewell isn’t quite as bad as his reputation makes him out to be. At least he takes his role as Duke quite seriously (even if he is a tad absentminded), so maybe it's more he hasn’t had time to keep up his reputation as the Devilish Duke. Henrietta, for all her superstitions, is rather level-headed and mature. She’s only nineteen, but shows more sense then many of the older people of the story.
As for the curse, it truly was a self-fulfilling prophecy, I think. Sure enough, if you go looking for trouble, you can subscribe just about any ordinary event to it. What I was really pleased by was Blakewell and how quickly he understood Henrietta. There wasn’t any misunderstandings between them, and even if he didn’t always believe what Henrietta said (who would believe a curse was put upon a seven year old girl?), he didn’t condescend or make light of it.
I look forward, eagerly, to the next two books although I have a feeling Blakewell might keep my heart.
More...