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bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Three and a half stars.
Am I up-to-date with this series yet?
Another couple we have seen signalled on the horizon for some time, the very honourable Duke of Ravenwood and Miss Katherine Ross.
Ravenwood is on the surface a cold, dutiful Duke, a man who religiously attends to his duties in the House of Lords but dislikes the company of other people. Inside however he is a true romantic and a poet, forever scarred by the deaths of his parents and his guardian's callous removal of any and all memories of them from his home.
Katherine is Ravenwood's opposite, she is a patron of the arts, she owns her own museum and she likes nothing more than to entertain others.
When Ravenwood's sister Amelia (the heroine of the first of these novellas) invites him to supper and asks him to assist Katherine by attending an auction she is holding (Ravenwood's rare presence at an event would bring the rest of the ton flocking) he can't say no. But when Katherine's Aunt Havens accidentally turns an innocent encounter into a potential scandal there is no choice but for the two of them to marry to save Katherine's face.
This is kind of a mish-mash of [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] and [b:The Taming of the Shrew|47021|The Taming of the Shrew|William Shakespeare|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327935253s/47021.jpg|3152341]. Katherine and Ravenwood dislike each other (whilst of course privately acknowledging the hotness) but their dislike is based on ignorance and prejudice. Once they are forced into marriage they start to uncover their misconceptions.
Why the so-so mark? Ravenwood and Katherine individually were such nice characters that I just couldn't understand why they took so long to gel.
I like these books but I have to say they are totally modern books set in a historical setting. There is no attempt to bring historical accuracy to the characters' actions or speech which can lead to some glaring anachronisms. That might put you off if you want to be immersed in the period, TBH these books are so short I just enjoy the romp.
Am I up-to-date with this series yet?
Another couple we have seen signalled on the horizon for some time, the very honourable Duke of Ravenwood and Miss Katherine Ross.
Ravenwood is on the surface a cold, dutiful Duke, a man who religiously attends to his duties in the House of Lords but dislikes the company of other people. Inside however he is a true romantic and a poet, forever scarred by the deaths of his parents and his guardian's callous removal of any and all memories of them from his home.
Katherine is Ravenwood's opposite, she is a patron of the arts, she owns her own museum and she likes nothing more than to entertain others.
When Ravenwood's sister Amelia (the heroine of the first of these novellas) invites him to supper and asks him to assist Katherine by attending an auction she is holding (Ravenwood's rare presence at an event would bring the rest of the ton flocking) he can't say no. But when Katherine's Aunt Havens accidentally turns an innocent encounter into a potential scandal there is no choice but for the two of them to marry to save Katherine's face.
This is kind of a mish-mash of [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] and [b:The Taming of the Shrew|47021|The Taming of the Shrew|William Shakespeare|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327935253s/47021.jpg|3152341]. Katherine and Ravenwood dislike each other (whilst of course privately acknowledging the hotness) but their dislike is based on ignorance and prejudice. Once they are forced into marriage they start to uncover their misconceptions.
Why the so-so mark? Ravenwood and Katherine individually were such nice characters that I just couldn't understand why they took so long to gel.
I like these books but I have to say they are totally modern books set in a historical setting. There is no attempt to bring historical accuracy to the characters' actions or speech which can lead to some glaring anachronisms. That might put you off if you want to be immersed in the period, TBH these books are so short I just enjoy the romp.
robinwalter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Sweet, fast fun
kristi518's review against another edition
3.0
Having read several of the books in this series I was anxiously awaiting Ravenwood's story. I was a little disappointed as I read this book because the story fell a bit flat for me. The characters in the book didn't seem as well developed as in the rest of the series.
Kate and Ravenwood are likable enough but they just didn't leap off the page at me. I didn't really find myself that interested in their story until well after the halfway point. They seemed a bit bland and one-dimensional. Ravenwood was a bit too brooding for my taste. Kate was independent and I found that to be refreshing.
The storyline was easily predictable and one I felt like I had read before. The author did add her own touches to the story to make it her own which was nice. I like her writing style and find her books easy to read.
All in all, this wasn't a bad book and my rating is really more of a 3 1/2 stars. This was a quick and easy read that wasn't too deep or thought provoking.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
Kate and Ravenwood are likable enough but they just didn't leap off the page at me. I didn't really find myself that interested in their story until well after the halfway point. They seemed a bit bland and one-dimensional. Ravenwood was a bit too brooding for my taste. Kate was independent and I found that to be refreshing.
The storyline was easily predictable and one I felt like I had read before. The author did add her own touches to the story to make it her own which was nice. I like her writing style and find her books easy to read.
All in all, this wasn't a bad book and my rating is really more of a 3 1/2 stars. This was a quick and easy read that wasn't too deep or thought provoking.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
cathepsut's review against another edition
3.0
If you are in need of a silly regency romance with scattered-brained women and tall, dark and broody Dukes, Earls or otherwise entitled menfolk, wearing frocks and waistcoats, look no further than the Dukes of War series.
This one is fairly short, only 200 pages, and the plot is full of the usual romance tropes, with a little tension thrown in at the end. Nothing surprising or unusual, with the required HEA at the end.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
This one is fairly short, only 200 pages, and the plot is full of the usual romance tropes, with a little tension thrown in at the end. Nothing surprising or unusual, with the required HEA at the end.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
crazychriss93's review against another edition
4.0
:D
This novel was fun, it was deep and it had a lot of modern views in it, especially when considering the period.
Regency novels
What I love about those novels it that you can really dive into a completely different time, encounter completely different views and characters who hold the highest regard for propriety and loyalty.
I love that this novel is your typical regency novel but it’s also more than that. Our heroine is a very modern woman who in the end has to decide between family and her work and charity. I love this conflict because you encounter this so often when reading about feminist movements.
The characters?
As mentioned before, our heroine is lovely. I like that she tries everything to be the perfect wife and really puts everything concerning her husband and her new life first. Sure, taking a feminist view, this seems to be all wrong but I love that about her. She lives in the present and not in the past; she knows what she has with her husband and is determined to hold on to that.
Our hero seems to be all arrogant and cold but deep down, he is looking for love. I think it’s a pity that he is so devoted to his work that he doesn’t even notice and realize what his wife is doing to herself but in the end, I think it’s all greatly solved.
Writing style?
Awesome.
Plot?
Ah, the plot has everything in it that I love:
a great ending with a quick flashforward, some suspense (but I have to admit, some means little in this case), a lot of love etc.
This novel was fun, it was deep and it had a lot of modern views in it, especially when considering the period.
Regency novels
What I love about those novels it that you can really dive into a completely different time, encounter completely different views and characters who hold the highest regard for propriety and loyalty.
I love that this novel is your typical regency novel but it’s also more than that. Our heroine is a very modern woman who in the end has to decide between family and her work and charity. I love this conflict because you encounter this so often when reading about feminist movements.
The characters?
As mentioned before, our heroine is lovely. I like that she tries everything to be the perfect wife and really puts everything concerning her husband and her new life first. Sure, taking a feminist view, this seems to be all wrong but I love that about her. She lives in the present and not in the past; she knows what she has with her husband and is determined to hold on to that.
Our hero seems to be all arrogant and cold but deep down, he is looking for love. I think it’s a pity that he is so devoted to his work that he doesn’t even notice and realize what his wife is doing to herself but in the end, I think it’s all greatly solved.
Writing style?
Awesome.
Plot?
Ah, the plot has everything in it that I love:
a great ending with a quick flashforward, some suspense (but I have to admit, some means little in this case), a lot of love etc.
jandmterry's review against another edition
5.0
The Duke of Ravenwood wants to marry for love. He is thought to be made of ice but it is all a mask. Only his sister knows his true nature.
Miss Katherine Ross lives independently. She has her Antiquities Museum keeps her happy and satisfied. She is content to live with her Great Aunt Havens who raised her.
When they are caught in a compromising situation at a charity event, they have no choice but to marry. What develops makes for a truly beautiful story. This is a must read.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
Miss Katherine Ross lives independently. She has her Antiquities Museum keeps her happy and satisfied. She is content to live with her Great Aunt Havens who raised her.
When they are caught in a compromising situation at a charity event, they have no choice but to marry. What develops makes for a truly beautiful story. This is a must read.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
melissadeemcdaniel's review
3.0
Ravenswood is unlikeable, but reliable. Kate is the opposite. They both find the grace to change enough to make the rough edges smooth, and possibly make a family out of the scandal that started their relationship.
An enjoyable book, with a history of six books to be read if you are starting the series here!
An enjoyable book, with a history of six books to be read if you are starting the series here!
missyterry73's review
5.0
The Duke of Ravenwood wants to marry for love. He is thought to be made of ice but it is all a mask. Only his sister knows his true nature.
Miss Katherine Ross lives independently. She has her Antiquities Museum keeps her happy and satisfied. She is content to live with her Great Aunt Havens who raised her.
When they are caught in a compromising situation at a charity event, they have no choice but to marry. What develops makes for a truly beautiful story. This is a must read.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
Miss Katherine Ross lives independently. She has her Antiquities Museum keeps her happy and satisfied. She is content to live with her Great Aunt Havens who raised her.
When they are caught in a compromising situation at a charity event, they have no choice but to marry. What develops makes for a truly beautiful story. This is a must read.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
dianed's review
5.0
With the 7th book in this series it is finally the Duke’s turn to find happiness and love. The Duke of Ravenwood was forced to stay behind when all his friends went off to war. At the time he was jealous but after seeing them come back emotionally and physically wounded he realized that he was the lucky one. This book along with the first book, The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation, makes nice bookends to the entire series. In the first Lady Amelia is running the Duke’s house and she now hand’s the duties over to Kate in this last book.
Ravenwood is known for being cold and aloof but in reality he is a hard-working Duke who feels that his duty as a peer must come first. But, when he is alone in his office he is a romantic who writes poetry and holds out the hope of marrying for love. He isn’t aloof, he’s shy. The first few chapters of this book are reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice and just like Mr Darcy, our Duke isn’t proud he’s shy.
On the other hand, Katherine Ross is a woman who is friendly with everyone. She enjoys life to the fullest. She doesn’t care to marry for love because she doesn’t plan to marry at all. Imagine her shock and surprise when she is accidentally caught in a storage closet with the Duke and they are forced to marry. In addition to a new bride, the Duke also inherits an elderly aunt who has raised Katherine since she was a girl and who is now beginning to show signs of dementia.
These 2 are opposites in every way. He is a Duke who needs an heir and she is a duchess who is deathly afraid of childbirth and didn’t plan to have children. Their marriage gets off to a frosty start but outside the bedroom, they begin to forge a friendship.
The interaction between Ravenwood and Katherine is among the best of the series. He tries to be more open while she tries to be structured. They each put aside their fears to be open to loving the other.
Ms Ridley has crafted a wonderful series which shows the real-life side of the return from war and it’s impact on the men who fought and the women left to pick up the pieces on their return. Throughout the entire series, the Duke has been in the background as a trusted friend who cares as much for the men who fought as their wives. This book can be read on it’s own but for a truly delightful experience one would do well to pick up the entire series.
Ravenwood is known for being cold and aloof but in reality he is a hard-working Duke who feels that his duty as a peer must come first. But, when he is alone in his office he is a romantic who writes poetry and holds out the hope of marrying for love. He isn’t aloof, he’s shy. The first few chapters of this book are reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice and just like Mr Darcy, our Duke isn’t proud he’s shy.
On the other hand, Katherine Ross is a woman who is friendly with everyone. She enjoys life to the fullest. She doesn’t care to marry for love because she doesn’t plan to marry at all. Imagine her shock and surprise when she is accidentally caught in a storage closet with the Duke and they are forced to marry. In addition to a new bride, the Duke also inherits an elderly aunt who has raised Katherine since she was a girl and who is now beginning to show signs of dementia.
These 2 are opposites in every way. He is a Duke who needs an heir and she is a duchess who is deathly afraid of childbirth and didn’t plan to have children. Their marriage gets off to a frosty start but outside the bedroom, they begin to forge a friendship.
The interaction between Ravenwood and Katherine is among the best of the series. He tries to be more open while she tries to be structured. They each put aside their fears to be open to loving the other.
Ms Ridley has crafted a wonderful series which shows the real-life side of the return from war and it’s impact on the men who fought and the women left to pick up the pieces on their return. Throughout the entire series, the Duke has been in the background as a trusted friend who cares as much for the men who fought as their wives. This book can be read on it’s own but for a truly delightful experience one would do well to pick up the entire series.