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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Why can’t all historical romances be like this? Strong heroines, real diversity, non-asshole heroes, push and pull of love, and the pining. All of these goodies wrapped in one book. It’s shocking for me to believe that this was Royaline Sing’s debut book (FYI I’m going to need about a dozen more from her).
Let’s just get into this. I love Dina. Her spirit, her drive, her culture. I especially loved all the details about Indian culture and life, and I know I probably missed even more than I caught. They were so beautifully wrapped into the book. One of my favorite parts is the story being told at the beginning of every chapter. And Dina is so determined as well, she’s spunky and fierce but not in the obnoxious way that happens so often. She’s a fully (and well) developed character!!
I loved Dina’s secret occupation as well. I thought that it was incredibly cool. And I totally get her reasoning for keeping her secret. I just got so excited every time she talked about it! Do I wish that this hadn’t been as secret, yes, but I really enjoyed it.
Aetius’ growth. I loved watching this man slowly find himself and fall in love with Dina. It was a long process. I mean real long. But it was also incredibly heartwarming. The way that Aetius interacted with his friends, tenants, and others became so sweet. Love this man.
The enemies-to-lovers aspect was also really good. I understood the why behind it and the conflict wasn’t created based off of one poorly communicated interaction. The who falls first was also refreshing.
My biggest grievance with the book is Aetius. I mean I like the man immensely, however I wanted to slam him against a brick wall many times over because the man was insane. You know that whole do the same thing again and again and expect different results situation? Well hello there Aetius… You are that person. I just wish that there had been some movement beyond that. Also, Dina’s whole devotion to her father was a little over the top.
Long story short, do I recommend this book? Yes! If you love historical romance, OwnVoice novels, fun stories, turn of the century setting, and a good time then yes! I loved reading this book. It was the breath of fresh air I needed in historical romance, because I’ve been getting annoyed with that subgenre lately. So, thank you Royaline Sing for making me love the genre again and writing such a fabulous novel! (Also, I wish there was more of a sliding scale of rating because this honestly falls between a 4.25/4.5 for me!)
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own.
Let’s just get into this. I love Dina. Her spirit, her drive, her culture. I especially loved all the details about Indian culture and life, and I know I probably missed even more than I caught. They were so beautifully wrapped into the book. One of my favorite parts is the story being told at the beginning of every chapter. And Dina is so determined as well, she’s spunky and fierce but not in the obnoxious way that happens so often. She’s a fully (and well) developed character!!
I loved Dina’s secret occupation as well. I thought that it was incredibly cool. And I totally get her reasoning for keeping her secret. I just got so excited every time she talked about it! Do I wish that this hadn’t been as secret, yes, but I really enjoyed it.
Aetius’ growth. I loved watching this man slowly find himself and fall in love with Dina. It was a long process. I mean real long. But it was also incredibly heartwarming. The way that Aetius interacted with his friends, tenants, and others became so sweet. Love this man.
The enemies-to-lovers aspect was also really good. I understood the why behind it and the conflict wasn’t created based off of one poorly communicated interaction. The who falls first was also refreshing.
My biggest grievance with the book is Aetius. I mean I like the man immensely, however I wanted to slam him against a brick wall many times over because the man was insane. You know that whole do the same thing again and again and expect different results situation? Well hello there Aetius… You are that person. I just wish that there had been some movement beyond that. Also, Dina’s whole devotion to her father was a little over the top.
Long story short, do I recommend this book? Yes! If you love historical romance, OwnVoice novels, fun stories, turn of the century setting, and a good time then yes! I loved reading this book. It was the breath of fresh air I needed in historical romance, because I’ve been getting annoyed with that subgenre lately. So, thank you Royaline Sing for making me love the genre again and writing such a fabulous novel! (Also, I wish there was more of a sliding scale of rating because this honestly falls between a 4.25/4.5 for me!)
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own.
3.5 Stars
Betting on a Duke's heart felt like an homage to older historical romances, in some ways for the better and in some ways for the worse. (I wouldn't go so far as to say it was reminiscent of old skool romance, though at one point I did put in my notes "Fuck him. He doesn't deserve a happily ever after," because he was being a giant, ducal ASSHOLE. Which is, generally, how I feel about old skool heroes.)
I really liked Dina; she was fiercely loyal to her friends, had an amazing vocation she was passionate about, and she never once questioned her own worth. I loved that she embraced both sides of her heritage so wholly, both Indian and English, and never tried to drown out one or the other. Dina was proud of who she was and where she'd come from, and I love that we get to see more of that representation, written by a South Asian woman, in a time and place that has been painted all too white by history.
I liked Aetius too, when he wasn't be an emotionally stunted a-hole. The truth is, Aeitus wanted love and companionship too much, but is terrified of getting hurt and doesn't handle it well. Half the time I wanted to hug him and the other half I wanted to slap him. The banter between Dina and Aetius was very entertaining (though there were a few times I got a little lost over who was saying what) and there were definitely a few intimate moments that were...surprising. In a very good way.
Betting on a Duke's heart felt like an homage to older historical romances, in some ways for the better and in some ways for the worse. (I wouldn't go so far as to say it was reminiscent of old skool romance, though at one point I did put in my notes "Fuck him. He doesn't deserve a happily ever after," because he was being a giant, ducal ASSHOLE. Which is, generally, how I feel about old skool heroes.)
I really liked Dina; she was fiercely loyal to her friends, had an amazing vocation she was passionate about, and she never once questioned her own worth. I loved that she embraced both sides of her heritage so wholly, both Indian and English, and never tried to drown out one or the other. Dina was proud of who she was and where she'd come from, and I love that we get to see more of that representation, written by a South Asian woman, in a time and place that has been painted all too white by history.
I liked Aetius too, when he wasn't be an emotionally stunted a-hole. The truth is, Aeitus wanted love and companionship too much, but is terrified of getting hurt and doesn't handle it well. Half the time I wanted to hug him and the other half I wanted to slap him. The banter between Dina and Aetius was very entertaining (though there were a few times I got a little lost over who was saying what) and there were definitely a few intimate moments that were...surprising. In a very good way.
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I listened to this as an audiobook and I really enjoyed it. The characters were well-developed and likeable. Dina is looking for a soulmate and has clear expectations for her future husband. Aetius is looking for a specific horse, and with that horse comes a bride. Their relationship ebbs and flows naturally and the progression of their love makes sense. The plot has other points as well, which is nice in to read in this genre. I enjoyed that Dina's identity as a half-Indian woman was part of the story.
The plot of this book sounded very interesting to me and I was looking forward to reading it. Right away I felt that something was off, we are thrown into the opening scene with the Duke and Dina without much build up or explanation. The story revolved more around horses than romance. This book wasn't for me.
First I want to thank @netgalley and @entangled_publishing for allowing to read a copy of this ARC for free for my review.
.
Betting On a Duke’s heart is a sweet historical romance between Miss Dina Campbell and the Duke of Saxton, Aetius White. This historical romance is rocky from the beginning as Dina does not want to get married as she is a very strong independent woman. The Duke also does not want to get married; however, Dina’s dowery was one he couldn’t refuse. A sure bet for the Triple Crown: Rochko. As Dina, the daughter of a horsemen, does not want to be betrothed to ANOTHER horsemen. This in turn becomes a game of wits. These two are very competitive which makes their competitions funny to read.
. Overall, this was a cute story. I liked both characters but they also both drove me crazy! This was written back and forth in both Dina’s and Aetius’s perspective and they are both so dumb and stubborn sometimes. More than once I wanted to pull my hair out or my eyeballs hurt from rolling them. I just felt like the book took much long and unnecessarily than it needed to be because once you thought one of them wised up… the other character messed it up.
.
Betting On a Duke’s heart is a sweet historical romance between Miss Dina Campbell and the Duke of Saxton, Aetius White. This historical romance is rocky from the beginning as Dina does not want to get married as she is a very strong independent woman. The Duke also does not want to get married; however, Dina’s dowery was one he couldn’t refuse. A sure bet for the Triple Crown: Rochko. As Dina, the daughter of a horsemen, does not want to be betrothed to ANOTHER horsemen. This in turn becomes a game of wits. These two are very competitive which makes their competitions funny to read.
. Overall, this was a cute story. I liked both characters but they also both drove me crazy! This was written back and forth in both Dina’s and Aetius’s perspective and they are both so dumb and stubborn sometimes. More than once I wanted to pull my hair out or my eyeballs hurt from rolling them. I just felt like the book took much long and unnecessarily than it needed to be because once you thought one of them wised up… the other character messed it up.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Betting on a Duke’s Heart intrigued me, as I was excited to see yet another book with an Indian heroine, although that excitement was also tempered with a healthy dose of apprehension, due to the uproar over a similar (delayed) title, also featuring an Indian woman and a duke. And while I can’t speak to the rep in this case, just as I couldn’t in the other, I found this book interesting and refreshing…with caveats.
I loved the prominent placement of Indian culture and mythology. As the romance proceeds, each chapter is headed with an epigraph relating a tale from the Mahabharata, “The Love Saga of Nala and Damayanti,” and over time, you can see how it parallels the romance between Dina and Aetius. And generally, I could feel like Royaline Sing was coming from a really authentic place and embedding her own cultural experience in the story, in addition to acknowledging the largely ignored (in historical romance novels, anyway) South Asian population in England by this time.
I really liked how Sing addressed the power dynamic, in terms of gender. As she noted in her author’s note, a marriage act amendment meant women were no longer the property of their husbands, allowing Dina more agency when she married Aetius. While him being a Duke still presents some unmentioned, but implied problems, given her background, I found that their romance was more balanced as a result, and fairly sweet and fairly easy to root for. Dina is strong willed, and Aetius respects that.
But at the same time, a few things bogged the story down. One was the large role horses played. Horse racing, breeding, the feeling of being on horseback. Some of that is understandable…Aetius is called “the Bareback Duke,” after all. I love when heroes actually have particular hobbies that aren’t drinking and whoring, especially if it serves as a bonding point for him with the heroine. But it got really repetitive, and even though it did help them bond, it also ended up distracting me more than anything else.
I also struggled with the character motivations at times, especially towards the end, when the Black Moment happened. Aside from echoing the myth, I had no idea what happened with them, and why.
This is a sweet romance, and even with these major caveats, I did enjoy it enough to keep an eye on what Royaline Sing writes next.
Betting on a Duke’s Heart intrigued me, as I was excited to see yet another book with an Indian heroine, although that excitement was also tempered with a healthy dose of apprehension, due to the uproar over a similar (delayed) title, also featuring an Indian woman and a duke. And while I can’t speak to the rep in this case, just as I couldn’t in the other, I found this book interesting and refreshing…with caveats.
I loved the prominent placement of Indian culture and mythology. As the romance proceeds, each chapter is headed with an epigraph relating a tale from the Mahabharata, “The Love Saga of Nala and Damayanti,” and over time, you can see how it parallels the romance between Dina and Aetius. And generally, I could feel like Royaline Sing was coming from a really authentic place and embedding her own cultural experience in the story, in addition to acknowledging the largely ignored (in historical romance novels, anyway) South Asian population in England by this time.
I really liked how Sing addressed the power dynamic, in terms of gender. As she noted in her author’s note, a marriage act amendment meant women were no longer the property of their husbands, allowing Dina more agency when she married Aetius. While him being a Duke still presents some unmentioned, but implied problems, given her background, I found that their romance was more balanced as a result, and fairly sweet and fairly easy to root for. Dina is strong willed, and Aetius respects that.
But at the same time, a few things bogged the story down. One was the large role horses played. Horse racing, breeding, the feeling of being on horseback. Some of that is understandable…Aetius is called “the Bareback Duke,” after all. I love when heroes actually have particular hobbies that aren’t drinking and whoring, especially if it serves as a bonding point for him with the heroine. But it got really repetitive, and even though it did help them bond, it also ended up distracting me more than anything else.
I also struggled with the character motivations at times, especially towards the end, when the Black Moment happened. Aside from echoing the myth, I had no idea what happened with them, and why.
This is a sweet romance, and even with these major caveats, I did enjoy it enough to keep an eye on what Royaline Sing writes next.
This historical romance starts with a horse. On the verge of winning the Triple Crown, Rochko is a part of Miss Dina Campbell's dowry. The lady in question receives many greedy suitors who truly seek her champion racer. The worst of the lot seems to be Duke Saxton, an equestrian of some renown who informs her of their engagement rather than, you know, asking her. Commence a battle of wits. Both competitive, they set one another a series of challenges to determine whether Dina will accept the proposal or find herself set free.
The story had a lot of amusing quips and sentimental moments. Dina, in particular, was a strong character. Her passion for translating myths, her enthusiasm for travel, and the way she strives to honor both sides of her cultural heritage (Indian/English) make her a dynamic protagonist. Her at-times tempestuous personality and strong sense of loyalty combined to make a fierce advocate and devoted friend. Our hero, Aetius, held less sparkle for me. It was often his emotional immaturity that held the romance back throughout. On the other hand, the author said to imagine he looks like Hrithik Roshan, and honestly, I can work with that alone.
What I loved best about the story is that it wasn't rushed. We get thoughtful details about our characters' lives, relationships, and histories outside the love story. What drives them? What makes them well-rounded people? It was very well done and at just rhe pace I like. I want to know about side characters and read the back-and-forth of conversations to settle the idealistic romance into the trappings of reality in a comforting way. I also enjoyed the snippets from the myth Dina is translating from Sanskrit.
This is a promising #ownvoices historical romance debut, and I so look forward to finding out what futures lie in wait for the other characters in this world. Thank you to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It hits shelves next month on 4/19!
The story had a lot of amusing quips and sentimental moments. Dina, in particular, was a strong character. Her passion for translating myths, her enthusiasm for travel, and the way she strives to honor both sides of her cultural heritage (Indian/English) make her a dynamic protagonist. Her at-times tempestuous personality and strong sense of loyalty combined to make a fierce advocate and devoted friend. Our hero, Aetius, held less sparkle for me. It was often his emotional immaturity that held the romance back throughout. On the other hand, the author said to imagine he looks like Hrithik Roshan, and honestly, I can work with that alone.
What I loved best about the story is that it wasn't rushed. We get thoughtful details about our characters' lives, relationships, and histories outside the love story. What drives them? What makes them well-rounded people? It was very well done and at just rhe pace I like. I want to know about side characters and read the back-and-forth of conversations to settle the idealistic romance into the trappings of reality in a comforting way. I also enjoyed the snippets from the myth Dina is translating from Sanskrit.
This is a promising #ownvoices historical romance debut, and I so look forward to finding out what futures lie in wait for the other characters in this world. Thank you to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It hits shelves next month on 4/19!
medium-paced