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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
This was delightful. I was worried it would be too sporty for me, but by chapter three I knew I was in love. Dina was everything I wanted in a "heroine." I can't wait what else this author publishes!
Something about her writing style really did not click for me. I think it may be debut related, because it felt like her craft in storytelling wasn't quite there. I felt like the narrative ended up drifting sometimes, and I wasn't always quite sure why we went from point a to point b. I tried really hard to get through it, but it really was not working for me and when I realized I had like 150 pages left there was just no way I was going to be able to slog through it. I liked Dina and I'm glad to see the representation in HR, but this isn't one wasn't quite it for me - especially when I saw another review spoiler and realized how dramatic and weird the ending would be. I'd pick up another book from her in the future, but I won't be finishing this one.
This was recommended to me based on a scene where they get h*rny watching horses breeding and I was somehow...still shocked by it
CW: Sexual content, racism
CW: Sexual content, racism
One of the best regency romances I've read.
It is the story of Dina, a heroine with Indian heritage and feminist views who would make every reader wish they could be her friends, and Aetius, a handsome duke apparently obsessed with horseracing and with some secrets in his past. The story starts when the duke decides to take Dina as a wife for the horse his father offers as a dowry, a thing Dina might disagree with. The two enter some kind of bet, a game that ends up bringing them closer instead of pulling them apart. The story is full of twists and turns and full of tension (a lot of it of sexual nature), classic tropes reimagined in a new way, and an ode to acceptance. To wrap this all up, we have the writing style, which is almost as good as the story itself if not better. A must read, especially for those who are into this genre.
It is the story of Dina, a heroine with Indian heritage and feminist views who would make every reader wish they could be her friends, and Aetius, a handsome duke apparently obsessed with horseracing and with some secrets in his past. The story starts when the duke decides to take Dina as a wife for the horse his father offers as a dowry, a thing Dina might disagree with. The two enter some kind of bet, a game that ends up bringing them closer instead of pulling them apart. The story is full of twists and turns and full of tension (a lot of it of sexual nature), classic tropes reimagined in a new way, and an ode to acceptance. To wrap this all up, we have the writing style, which is almost as good as the story itself if not better. A must read, especially for those who are into this genre.
A huge thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read an ARC of this debut novel in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wonderful debut historical romance. I loved the representation, and Dina and Aetius were the perfect match. While I enjoyed the unique backgrounds of the characters and their slow burn development of their relationship, there were several reasons I couldn't quite give the book 4 stars.
1. The dialogue was a bit clunky at times - especially during the intimate scenes.
2. The heroine capitulated too quickly - I would have loved to have seen more encounters between them before she realized her feelings were more than lust.
3. The scene in the hayloft was awkward to me.
4. I found myself skimming over a lot of the descriptions, and sometimes the sentences were just too long.
These observations aside, it was still a lovely debut and I look forward to reading more by this author.
3.5 Stars.
This was a wonderful debut historical romance. I loved the representation, and Dina and Aetius were the perfect match. While I enjoyed the unique backgrounds of the characters and their slow burn development of their relationship, there were several reasons I couldn't quite give the book 4 stars.
1. The dialogue was a bit clunky at times - especially during the intimate scenes.
2. The heroine capitulated too quickly - I would have loved to have seen more encounters between them before she realized her feelings were more than lust.
3. The scene in the hayloft was awkward to me.
4. I found myself skimming over a lot of the descriptions, and sometimes the sentences were just too long.
These observations aside, it was still a lovely debut and I look forward to reading more by this author.
3.5 Stars.
It's such a wonderful historical novel. But then, I suppose I just love diving back in time and read about people's misadventures. Aetius and Dina are great characters and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two. There were a few parts that felt dragged but overall, it's an interesting historical fiction and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
This historical romance uses a few tried and true concepts that, combined, should have made for a fun book: Dina's father has settled a winning racehorse on her as a dowry. When Dina turns him down, the horse-mad nobleman who takes the bait agrees to court her through the means of "challenges" - if he wins, he can announce their engagement; if she wins, he withdraws his proposal. We were also intrigued by Dina's mixed-race background: her mother was Indian, while her father is of the British gentry.
Instead of a fun and frothy novel, however, Betting on a Duke's Heart leans in to the angst. The challenges/courtship are only half of the book, while the second half includes blackmail, sabotage, missed connections and refusal to communicate. If you really like the time period (late Victorian), horses, and are interested in the South Asian connection, you might be interested in this one. Unfortunately it was not our cup of tea.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Instead of a fun and frothy novel, however, Betting on a Duke's Heart leans in to the angst. The challenges/courtship are only half of the book, while the second half includes blackmail, sabotage, missed connections and refusal to communicate. If you really like the time period (late Victorian), horses, and are interested in the South Asian connection, you might be interested in this one. Unfortunately it was not our cup of tea.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
This was a histrom from a debut author that hits all the beats you'd expect of a histrom - a starchy duke who has trouble feeling his feelings because he has daddy issues and a headstrong, independent miss who challenges him at every turn. What was different was that Dina is half British and half Indian and has an unexpected secret - I thought she was being blackmailed because Brit society didn't know she was half Indian, but turns out it's because her mother's family in India participated in the uprising against the East Indian Company which saw her 2 male cousins executed and her uncle to this day continues to give speeches that could be considered nationalist. I enjoyed this different perspective - the epilogue was especially lovely since Dina and Aetius are in Calcutta, visiting her beloved extended family and second parents, and despite being married under British law, they have to sleep apart and behave as if they aren't married because in the eyes of her aunt and uncle, they need to observe the traditional hindu wedding ceremony/rituals for it to be real in their eyes.
I read this in audio and while Neha DeLancie's soft Indian accents were fabulous, Tristan James' attempts sounded at times Scottish and Spanish(?) and it was super distracting.
I read this in audio and while Neha DeLancie's soft Indian accents were fabulous, Tristan James' attempts sounded at times Scottish and Spanish(?) and it was super distracting.
2.75 stars. This had a strong start, but grew into a meandering, unfocused story. It made me realize that while I love angst, you have to introduce it before the 75% mark. The hero also felt very entitled to the heroine's affections before she expressed interest in him
However, with a strong-willed Indian heroine and a hero looking for a wife, this has strong Bridgestone S2 vibes, if that's what you're looking for.
However, with a strong-willed Indian heroine and a hero looking for a wife, this has strong Bridgestone S2 vibes, if that's what you're looking for.
Determined to restore his family name and ensure his place in the equestrian world, Aetius White wants nothing more than to win the Triple Crown, even if it means marrying his neighbor’s daughter to get her prize-winning horse. The only problem is Dina Campbell has no intention of marrying a horseman who is only after her dowry. She wants to marry for love, and not even Aetius’s intriguing competition will change that. However, never one to back down from a challenge, Dina agrees to the competition, and the games begin. However, the competition slowly becomes less about winning and more about proving their love for each other.
Goal-oriented and resolute, Aetius feels much shame over his father’s demise. He also fears rejection. In his eyes, everyone he has ever cared for has left him, and though Aelius is interested in marriage, he is resistant to falling in love. He fears abandonment and chooses to isolate himself and shut his heart to everyone. Respectability is important to him. He slowly comes to see things from other perspectives. It doesn’t change the past, but it does offer him hope and an opportunity for growth. He has to learn to open up to and trust others. This proves difficult, but as he grows closer to Dina, he changes.
Dina is so different from Aetius, which is why they butt heads throughout the story. Dina is tender-hearted, empathetic, and vivacious. She is also outspoken and often bends the rules. Her passion lies in translating, and she fears that marriage will squelch her ability to continue translating, especially since her career is taking off. If she marries Aetius, will he prohibit her from traveling? Will she be able to continue her career in writing? Will he ever grow to love her?
The focus of the story is on the passionate, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance between Aetius and Dina. Aetius and Dina want different things in their marriage. Dina wants love, and Aetius wants more of a partnership or alliance. This angst-filled couple struggles to trust each other, Aetius because of his past and Dina because of the nature of the engagement. However, as they spend time together, they both start to understand each other, and their feelings grow. They have amazing chemistry, and their interactions are filled with sexual tension.
Each chapter of the book starts with a brief passage from the story Dina is translating. I love this, as well as the other parts of the story that highlight Dina’s heritage and culture. An intriguing mystery that puts Dina and Aetius in danger is another interesting addition to the story. I also like the secondary characters, especially Dina’s closest friends. They are fiercely protective of Dina and extremely loyal, and they prove that you don’t have to be related by blood to be a family.
Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the historical references. Political news, new inventions, social changes, and historically significant cultural allusions are fascinating. I loved learning about the popular inventions during this time and how people felt about the major societal progressions and happenings. The changing times and their effects, both positive and negative, resonate with the characters and add depth to the story and setting.
I enjoyed Betting on a Duke’s Heart. It is a well-paced and developed story with interesting characters and a sexy romance. The story also examines complicated family relationships. Miscommunication, lies, and feelings of betrayal are juxtaposed with tenderness and love, showing how complex families, and life, can be. It also has a great love story that historical romance fans will love. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Royaline Sing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Goal-oriented and resolute, Aetius feels much shame over his father’s demise. He also fears rejection. In his eyes, everyone he has ever cared for has left him, and though Aelius is interested in marriage, he is resistant to falling in love. He fears abandonment and chooses to isolate himself and shut his heart to everyone. Respectability is important to him. He slowly comes to see things from other perspectives. It doesn’t change the past, but it does offer him hope and an opportunity for growth. He has to learn to open up to and trust others. This proves difficult, but as he grows closer to Dina, he changes.
Dina is so different from Aetius, which is why they butt heads throughout the story. Dina is tender-hearted, empathetic, and vivacious. She is also outspoken and often bends the rules. Her passion lies in translating, and she fears that marriage will squelch her ability to continue translating, especially since her career is taking off. If she marries Aetius, will he prohibit her from traveling? Will she be able to continue her career in writing? Will he ever grow to love her?
The focus of the story is on the passionate, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance between Aetius and Dina. Aetius and Dina want different things in their marriage. Dina wants love, and Aetius wants more of a partnership or alliance. This angst-filled couple struggles to trust each other, Aetius because of his past and Dina because of the nature of the engagement. However, as they spend time together, they both start to understand each other, and their feelings grow. They have amazing chemistry, and their interactions are filled with sexual tension.
Each chapter of the book starts with a brief passage from the story Dina is translating. I love this, as well as the other parts of the story that highlight Dina’s heritage and culture. An intriguing mystery that puts Dina and Aetius in danger is another interesting addition to the story. I also like the secondary characters, especially Dina’s closest friends. They are fiercely protective of Dina and extremely loyal, and they prove that you don’t have to be related by blood to be a family.
Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the historical references. Political news, new inventions, social changes, and historically significant cultural allusions are fascinating. I loved learning about the popular inventions during this time and how people felt about the major societal progressions and happenings. The changing times and their effects, both positive and negative, resonate with the characters and add depth to the story and setting.
I enjoyed Betting on a Duke’s Heart. It is a well-paced and developed story with interesting characters and a sexy romance. The story also examines complicated family relationships. Miscommunication, lies, and feelings of betrayal are juxtaposed with tenderness and love, showing how complex families, and life, can be. It also has a great love story that historical romance fans will love. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Royaline Sing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.