Saturday, August 5, 2023

BOOK REVIEW- Not That Duke (A Would-Be Wallflowers #3 )by Eloisa James

   

General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance  

Description

The Duke of Huntington has no interest in an eccentric redhead who frowns at him over her spectacles…until he realizes that she is the only possible duchess for him. A new enemies-to-lovers romance by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James.

Bespeckled and freckled, Lady Stella Corsham at least has a dowry that has attracted a crowd of fortune-hunting suitors—which definitely doesn’t include the sinfully handsome Silvester Parnell, Duke of Huntington, who laughingly calls her “Specs” as he chases after elegant rivals.

And then—

The worst happens. Marriage.

To the duke. To a man marrying her for all the wrong reasons.

How can Silvester possibly convince Stella that he’s fallen in love with the quirky woman he married? Especially after she laughingly announces that she’s in love—but not with that duke.

Not with her husband.

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 It felt like this author really nailed it when it came to the rigidness of the society of those times.  And what society thought about just about everything. Also what they deemed what was was outside of their mold of what was acceptable. Stella fit in to none of those  So many times she is made to feel like less, a second choice at best, if even chosen at all.  She was definitely an "original". A intelligent woman, with a kind heart.  I really liked her and even more when she was gutsy. 

 The friendly arguing between Stella and Silvester made for some fun times.  He is highly competitive which we get to see bites him in the butt.  Stella had been secretly attracted to Silvester but she also knew most of the women of the ton were too.  At least she had a friendship with him.  That is until she learned of a careless comment that he made when he joined in others laughing about her.  That was like cold water in her face, and she began to see him more of his actual flaws.  I did like Silvester, except for that shortcoming.  But I also began to like him better when he began to grow up  more when criticized. He's beloved by just about everybody so the only people to really call him on any behavior is Stella and his mother.  

Let's talk about Silvester's mother.  What a straight-forward woman. Okay she was blunt.  I really enjoyed her unique personality and what others considered her wacky ways.  She was smart as a whip though and not just about inventions but also people.  

There were plenty of emotions in the story without being mushy.  A entitled woman whose mouth knows no end of insults and had no restraint.  New friendships are also formed with Silvester's mother also being firmly in Stella's corner.  It was good that his mother did love him even though when he was growing up, there was some lack in her mothering. 

For me, the thing I liked best was all of the different people and their interactions.  And how Stella beat them all and got her H.E.A.

It had a good ending and an even better Epilogue.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

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