lassarina's review
2.0
This book was a mess—a fairly enjoyable mess, to be sure, but a mess nonetheless. It's plagued by errors that closer editing would have resolved (misplaced commas, use of the wrong homophone, sentences missing words and not in an intentional stylistic way). It also suffers from being a late book in a series, in that there are all these people around that I'm clearly supposed to care about, but are given no depth in this book and so they just annoy me because their antics aren't adorable (the way they might be had I read those people's books) but instead just get in the way. Okay, fine, my fault for picking up a book in the middle of a series, but I've done that with other authors (such as Caroline Linden and Katharine Ashe) and been intrigued rather than annoyed by the other characters.
The other issue I have with the book is that the main conflict is a scandal, namely the reveal of Patience's identity as a ~scandalous writer~ which should ruin her altogether, is brushed aside because the ducal family likes artists. Look, dukes get to do more or less as they please, that's a feature of the title, but it's more difficult to extend that immunity to younger sons. Basically, I didn't buy the resolution of the conflict, and that made the entire book fall flat.
I did enjoy Patience and I was amused rather than infuriated by Charles's efforts to make her a published writer, but overall, the book didn't encourage me to seek out anything else by this author.
The other issue I have with the book is that the main conflict is a scandal, namely the reveal of Patience's identity as a ~scandalous writer~ which should ruin her altogether, is brushed aside because the ducal family likes artists. Look, dukes get to do more or less as they please, that's a feature of the title, but it's more difficult to extend that immunity to younger sons. Basically, I didn't buy the resolution of the conflict, and that made the entire book fall flat.
I did enjoy Patience and I was amused rather than infuriated by Charles's efforts to make her a published writer, but overall, the book didn't encourage me to seek out anything else by this author.
jandmterry's review
5.0
I have enjoyed all of the Duke's Club books. I was so glad that Charles had his story told. He is a great guy down deep and he deserved an equally good person as a partner in love. Lady Patience needed a guy who understood her and allowed her to be herself.
I loved the hero and heroine in this book. I'm also glad that we were able to catch up on the lives of the other Dukes and their wives.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I loved the hero and heroine in this book. I'm also glad that we were able to catch up on the lives of the other Dukes and their wives.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
missyterry73's review
5.0
I have enjoyed all of the Duke's Club books. I was so glad that Charles had his story told. He is a great guy down deep and he deserved an equally good person as a partner in love. Lady Patience needed a guy who understood her and allowed her to be herself.
I loved the hero and heroine in this book. I'm also glad that we were able to catch up on the lives of the other Dukes and their wives.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I loved the hero and heroine in this book. I'm also glad that we were able to catch up on the lives of the other Dukes and their wives.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
dianed's review
4.0
Two independent people manage to find each other accidentally and there is an immediate attraction. Lady Patience is living alone in a home she thought had been left to her by her uncle. Charles won the property from the uncle before his death. He came to inspect the property not expecting it to be inhabited. When he meets Patience, he feels sorry about taking her house from her and tries to be generous and allow her to continue living there. Patience wants nothing to do with his generosity and offers to buy it from him. She doesn't need his generosity because upbeknowst to all she is actually P Auden a famous author. She hides in the country, secretly writing her novels only traveling to London to do research.
When she travels to London, Charles finds a manuscript in her desk. He thinks it is so good he will help her get it published only to find out that it already has been published and the author is the famous P Auden. Knowing her secret, he agrees to help her with her research into the lives of rakes and unfortunate women.
When her secret is found out and Patience is about to be ruined Charles marries her to save her reputation. It seems that his family is known for its outrageous actions and could easily weather the gossip about her writing.
The two agree to marry, without any thought of feelings but they seemed well suited to each other. Unfortunately, they both have secrets - deep dark secrets. They (esp Charles) find it easier to hide their dark feelings than to risk sharing them but when they finally get comfortable enough to share their pasts, they are able to help each other heal.
This has been a wonderful series and this book certainly adds to the whole. The characters are well written, smart people who are more concerned with the poor than the ton. They live their lives with meaning and show kindness and generosity to all.
When she travels to London, Charles finds a manuscript in her desk. He thinks it is so good he will help her get it published only to find out that it already has been published and the author is the famous P Auden. Knowing her secret, he agrees to help her with her research into the lives of rakes and unfortunate women.
When her secret is found out and Patience is about to be ruined Charles marries her to save her reputation. It seems that his family is known for its outrageous actions and could easily weather the gossip about her writing.
The two agree to marry, without any thought of feelings but they seemed well suited to each other. Unfortunately, they both have secrets - deep dark secrets. They (esp Charles) find it easier to hide their dark feelings than to risk sharing them but when they finally get comfortable enough to share their pasts, they are able to help each other heal.
This has been a wonderful series and this book certainly adds to the whole. The characters are well written, smart people who are more concerned with the poor than the ton. They live their lives with meaning and show kindness and generosity to all.
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