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becbeach's review against another edition
4.0
Robert and Constance's story was convoluted and interesting to a point then it became a mess of details to be sorted out. The romance part of the story seemed very minor and the steamy parts very lacklaster. Not one of my favorite stories of Ms. Burrrowes but a very distinctly unique subject matter concerning epilepsy in that time period.
robinwalter's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sluggish and overburdened with too many plotlines, all of which were dragged out far too long. The least enjoyable of the series so far.
serenityfire's review against another edition
5.0
I simply love Grace Burrowes. I can always count on her to craft a great romance novel. I was looking forward to this one because the hero, Robert, suffers from epilepsy and some other mental health issues after being trapped in a madhouse for years and experimented on while he was there. I love how the author deals with health issues in realistic ways without miraculous cures. Her characters learn how to thrive and find true love while still coping with their mental and physical health issues. It is refreshing.
I love the heroine, Constance, and I appreciated how Robert knows when he falls in love and does whatever he can to help and protect her without taking away her choices. They are both fully developed people who fall in love and face the world together. It was just what I needed, and I could not put it down..
It was also fun to see the other family members that I have enjoyed throughout the series. I highly recommend reading A Duke by Any Other Name before you read this book, as it includes a lot of important character and plot development.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review
I love the heroine, Constance, and I appreciated how Robert knows when he falls in love and does whatever he can to help and protect her without taking away her choices. They are both fully developed people who fall in love and face the world together. It was just what I needed, and I could not put it down..
It was also fun to see the other family members that I have enjoyed throughout the series. I highly recommend reading A Duke by Any Other Name before you read this book, as it includes a lot of important character and plot development.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review
thenaptimewriter's review against another edition
3.0
I’m a big fan of Grace Burrowes:
Unconventional, sex-positive characters.
An understated Downtown Abbey-esque style—gentle tones used to convey some tough love, insults, & drama!
Secrets! & some familial discord but the characters also possess an unbending sense of integrity & loyalty.
The Truth about Dukes focuses on Robert, a duke living with epilepsy who has decided to return to his rightful societal place.
As a child, after experiencing epileptic episodes, Robert was sent to live in a mental asylum by his father & the assumption was that he was dead. After his brother rescued him Robert spent years in his home, anxious of many things related to his terrible asylum experience.
Now, forced to act like a Duke, Robert finds an old ally, Lady Constance Wentworth, who once left her family for reasons unknown so she could be a maid at the aforementioned asylum. They had a friendship, an allyship, then but haven’t spoken since.
Like with her other books I’ve read, the love story here is touching & tender & gives me those awww feelings. Because Burrowes writes imperfect characters, her romances often feel real & approachable.
Robert & Constance are two ships on storm-wrecked seas & I love how they latch onto each other. They’re able to reveal their vulnerabilities with one another & it’s truly beautiful to me.
I did feel like there are some execution issues with this romance though, particularly some aspects of the plot & characterization that feel rushed.
Be aware too that this book is tackling the subject of how people in the 19th century might have viewed someone with epilepsy, & the reactions to Robert & his episodes are often callous, insensitive, &/or cruel, both outside of the leads’ families & within.
With TTaD Burrowes offers another beautiful tale of two characters falling in love—it’s just that some aspects of how the tale unfold don’t quite hold up for me.
[Additional CWs:
the heroine felt like she had to give up her illegitimate daughter for adoption years earlier. Veiled references to the heroine’s background, including things her violent father did & forced his children to do.]
3.5 ⭐️. The Truth about Dukes releases on 11/10. Thanks to Netgalley, Forever Pub, & Grand Central Pub for the complimentary ARC (and the latter two for the finished copy, too.) All opinions provided are my own.
Unconventional, sex-positive characters.
An understated Downtown Abbey-esque style—gentle tones used to convey some tough love, insults, & drama!
Secrets! & some familial discord but the characters also possess an unbending sense of integrity & loyalty.
The Truth about Dukes focuses on Robert, a duke living with epilepsy who has decided to return to his rightful societal place.
As a child, after experiencing epileptic episodes, Robert was sent to live in a mental asylum by his father & the assumption was that he was dead. After his brother rescued him Robert spent years in his home, anxious of many things related to his terrible asylum experience.
Now, forced to act like a Duke, Robert finds an old ally, Lady Constance Wentworth, who once left her family for reasons unknown so she could be a maid at the aforementioned asylum. They had a friendship, an allyship, then but haven’t spoken since.
Like with her other books I’ve read, the love story here is touching & tender & gives me those awww feelings. Because Burrowes writes imperfect characters, her romances often feel real & approachable.
Robert & Constance are two ships on storm-wrecked seas & I love how they latch onto each other. They’re able to reveal their vulnerabilities with one another & it’s truly beautiful to me.
I did feel like there are some execution issues with this romance though, particularly some aspects of the plot & characterization that feel rushed.
Be aware too that this book is tackling the subject of how people in the 19th century might have viewed someone with epilepsy, & the reactions to Robert & his episodes are often callous, insensitive, &/or cruel, both outside of the leads’ families & within.
With TTaD Burrowes offers another beautiful tale of two characters falling in love—it’s just that some aspects of how the tale unfold don’t quite hold up for me.
[Additional CWs:
the heroine felt like she had to give up her illegitimate daughter for adoption years earlier. Veiled references to the heroine’s background, including things her violent father did & forced his children to do.]
3.5 ⭐️. The Truth about Dukes releases on 11/10. Thanks to Netgalley, Forever Pub, & Grand Central Pub for the complimentary ARC (and the latter two for the finished copy, too.) All opinions provided are my own.
izziede's review against another edition
Just not for me.
I just couldn't get into it.
I just couldn't get into it.
mslori's review against another edition
4.0
I'm seem to be a bit of a rarity that I enjoyed this one, and I did round up from a 3.5 star.
The story did seem to downplay Roberts condition, and Constants past, and it ended a bit to cleanly. But it was cute, well narrated and an enjoyable listen.
Maybe I would have felt differently if I had read it but there you go.
The story did seem to downplay Roberts condition, and Constants past, and it ended a bit to cleanly. But it was cute, well narrated and an enjoyable listen.
Maybe I would have felt differently if I had read it but there you go.
adecafbookworm's review against another edition
Just didn’t care for the writing or characters.
laurasalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
A traditional historical romance with fantastic writing. Robert, Duke of Rothhaven, is at a ball when he spots someone from his past. He knew Constance from when they met while Robert was hidden away at an institution by his father. Robert has epilepsy and his father, ashamed of him, sent him away for over a decade and told everyone that he had died. When his brother, Nathaniel, learned that Robert was alive he rescued him and brought him home. Since then, Robert has not been out of his home until he meets Constance and aspires to make her his duchess. Little does he know, Constance has some secrets of her own.
Burrowes definitely has a writing style all her own. Her attention to detail, while admirable, made the story slow at times but still enjoyable. I applaud her decision to write about a duke with epilepsy. She handles it with such matter-of-fact grace and respect that I wished we saw more in books. I loved the familial, and especially brotherly, bonds in the book. There is a slow burn to this book that makes the romance almost secondary but the overlying story of the challenges brought to Robert regarding his epilepsy and Constance in her situation made for a great read. I would recommend this book to fans of Mary Balogh as well as anyone looking for a more reserved, traditional romance with a twist. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Forever for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
Burrowes definitely has a writing style all her own. Her attention to detail, while admirable, made the story slow at times but still enjoyable. I applaud her decision to write about a duke with epilepsy. She handles it with such matter-of-fact grace and respect that I wished we saw more in books. I loved the familial, and especially brotherly, bonds in the book. There is a slow burn to this book that makes the romance almost secondary but the overlying story of the challenges brought to Robert regarding his epilepsy and Constance in her situation made for a great read. I would recommend this book to fans of Mary Balogh as well as anyone looking for a more reserved, traditional romance with a twist. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Forever for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
zeey's review against another edition
1.0
omg was this boring....I almost dnf'd at 30 % and then again at 50%.... forced myself to just finish it up..
Constance was boring or ungratefully annoying (does she even like her siblings?), both of which I couldn't stand. Robert had moments of shine but as soon as he came in contact with Constance, it was all woe is me woe is me...And Constance spent more time 'defending' Robert's epilepsy like it was some sort of competition .. Things got a bit better with the woe is me in the second half but by that time I was just not interested.
The potential :epileptic duke, heroine who is quiet and self contained but has secret in her past, ducchy in danger and secrets threatening to spill out etc etc..
The reality : snoozeworthy conversations about the Duke's epilepsy or more just about the trauma induced ptsd thanks to the asylum he was housed in and then Constance's big secret and then the much feared incompetency scuffle..... That's it. That's the story. No actual love story. Just...that.
Constance was boring or ungratefully annoying (does she even like her siblings?), both of which I couldn't stand. Robert had moments of shine but as soon as he came in contact with Constance, it was all woe is me woe is me...And Constance spent more time 'defending' Robert's epilepsy like it was some sort of competition .. Things got a bit better with the woe is me in the second half but by that time I was just not interested.
The potential :epileptic duke, heroine who is quiet and self contained but has secret in her past, ducchy in danger and secrets threatening to spill out etc etc..
The reality : snoozeworthy conversations about the Duke's epilepsy or more just about the trauma induced ptsd thanks to the asylum he was housed in and then Constance's big secret and then the much feared incompetency scuffle..... That's it. That's the story. No actual love story. Just...that.
kwcook's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25