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thecozyarchivist's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The fifth book in the Rogues to Riches series was a rollercoaster. This one might be the most soap operay book in entire series. I’m glad we got to read Robert’s love story because I liked him in the last book. But there was definitely an elevated level of drama throughout this story, and often times it felt repetitive. It was still a cute and steamy read, and I’ll definitely check out any future books. I’m assuming we’ll get to Stephen’s story soon.
vgdesigns's review against another edition
5.0
Remember to be Fierce
Grace Burrowes continues the exploration of the Wentworth family’s secrets, with a serious and honest romance. The Truth about Dukes picks up right after A Duke by Any Other Name, at Nathaniel former Duke of Rothhaven and Lady Althena Wentworth’s engagement party. Meeting again after ten years Robert Rothmere and lady Constance Wentworth have a lot to catch up on, and quickly. Robert has finally been brought home to be the Duke of Rothhaven, and society is not accepting of disabilities. Grace Burrows does a great job in her books representing characters with a variety of disabilities. The patience and understanding Constance has for Robert is a true representation of an accepting friendship. She has a wonderful artistic eye, and her descriptions of Robert are delightful to read. Robert’s respect and kinship with Constance is refreshing. Despite his traumatic life and anxiety, he still has a lot of room to support Constance in her struggles. Constance and Robert find a kinship in both their particularities, and together find a way to challenge society’s opposition with dignity. There are plenty of references, and meetings with previous characters in the Rogues to Riches Series. Including hints to the next book How to Catch a Duke with Lord Stephen Wentworth. Grace Burrowes creates a wonderful slow-burn romance about finding love in shared understanding.
Grace Burrowes continues the exploration of the Wentworth family’s secrets, with a serious and honest romance. The Truth about Dukes picks up right after A Duke by Any Other Name, at Nathaniel former Duke of Rothhaven and Lady Althena Wentworth’s engagement party. Meeting again after ten years Robert Rothmere and lady Constance Wentworth have a lot to catch up on, and quickly. Robert has finally been brought home to be the Duke of Rothhaven, and society is not accepting of disabilities. Grace Burrows does a great job in her books representing characters with a variety of disabilities. The patience and understanding Constance has for Robert is a true representation of an accepting friendship. She has a wonderful artistic eye, and her descriptions of Robert are delightful to read. Robert’s respect and kinship with Constance is refreshing. Despite his traumatic life and anxiety, he still has a lot of room to support Constance in her struggles. Constance and Robert find a kinship in both their particularities, and together find a way to challenge society’s opposition with dignity. There are plenty of references, and meetings with previous characters in the Rogues to Riches Series. Including hints to the next book How to Catch a Duke with Lord Stephen Wentworth. Grace Burrowes creates a wonderful slow-burn romance about finding love in shared understanding.
ladywithaquill's review against another edition
4.0
After reading the last book in this series, I was eagerly anticipating Robert's happily ever after, and Grace Burrowes did not disappoint! This was exactly the book his character deserved, with so much character growth, healing, and the opportunity to have the life he always wanted. It took me several days to get through this book, I'll be honest, mostly because I am one of those people who have "invisible" ailments, who the author dedicates this book to. There comes a very real, and distressing, understanding of Robert's situation, when you have gone through even a smidgen of what he went through. My situation doesn't even come close (I have very supportive parents, for one thing), but I remember the first time I realized something was wrong with me that I couldn't control. It's terrifying and it's even worse when people don't understand it. During Robert's time period, a person with any disease that people didn't understand was hidden away, often left in asylums that tortured them and held them prisoner until they died. Grace Burrowes did a fantastic job of creating a realistic character, and it was heartwarming to see his growth as a person and his belief in himself grow stronger each day.
Constance Wentworth never thought to see Robert Rothmere again, but now he's back in her life ten years later, a duke and her soon-to-be brother-in-law. Having met him in a private hospital, which she'd fled to after receiving heartbreaking news, she remembered him well, but after writing to him once and receiving no reply, she assumed he was firmly in her past. Now in her present, the Duke of Rothhaven is enchanted by Constance. Robert has never forgotten how kindly she treated him during those months she worked at the hospital, and upon seeing her again, he feels a stirring beyond friendship that he's never felt before. As they grow closer, Robert feels guilty for bringing her into his problematic world, but Constance refuses to give up on him and their relationship. And while Robert may have an obstacle in front of him, Constance has one of her own that she has yet to share with him. One that could change the course of their relationship, for better or worse.
As I stated above, Robert was a very well-written character, completely believable in how he felt about his past, his illness (epilepsy), and his future. It was why I had such a hard time reading it - I could feel both his affection for her and his anxiety over losing her. It was difficult to read at times, because I could relate so much to it. Constance was exactly the woman he needed in his life, completely unafraid to take on whatever challenges he faced and all the while facing her own. She was his light, which he desperately needed as people plotted against him. Possibly the worst (and by that I mean best written) villainous couple I have every laid eyes on reside in this book. Truly awful people who deserve every bit of unpleasantness that can be thrown at them, honestly. Bravo to the author, for creating not only realistic main characters but also creating villains we all love to hate.
Perhaps even more anticipated than Robert's book has been Stephen's book, and I'm happy to say that his story is next! I'm so excited to see him be happy, and his lady love has already been introduced and is lovely. I can't wait!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Constance Wentworth never thought to see Robert Rothmere again, but now he's back in her life ten years later, a duke and her soon-to-be brother-in-law. Having met him in a private hospital, which she'd fled to after receiving heartbreaking news, she remembered him well, but after writing to him once and receiving no reply, she assumed he was firmly in her past. Now in her present, the Duke of Rothhaven is enchanted by Constance. Robert has never forgotten how kindly she treated him during those months she worked at the hospital, and upon seeing her again, he feels a stirring beyond friendship that he's never felt before. As they grow closer, Robert feels guilty for bringing her into his problematic world, but Constance refuses to give up on him and their relationship. And while Robert may have an obstacle in front of him, Constance has one of her own that she has yet to share with him. One that could change the course of their relationship, for better or worse.
As I stated above, Robert was a very well-written character, completely believable in how he felt about his past, his illness (epilepsy), and his future. It was why I had such a hard time reading it - I could feel both his affection for her and his anxiety over losing her. It was difficult to read at times, because I could relate so much to it. Constance was exactly the woman he needed in his life, completely unafraid to take on whatever challenges he faced and all the while facing her own. She was his light, which he desperately needed as people plotted against him. Possibly the worst (and by that I mean best written) villainous couple I have every laid eyes on reside in this book. Truly awful people who deserve every bit of unpleasantness that can be thrown at them, honestly. Bravo to the author, for creating not only realistic main characters but also creating villains we all love to hate.
Perhaps even more anticipated than Robert's book has been Stephen's book, and I'm happy to say that his story is next! I'm so excited to see him be happy, and his lady love has already been introduced and is lovely. I can't wait!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
maureenabell78's review against another edition
3.0
Grace Burrowes has moved from unrealistically perfect sex to unrealistically perfect relationships. Sex is glossed over in favor of a quick, enjoyable story about two people who are reasonable and mutually supportive through their various problems.
craftyhilary's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I find this series delightful. I thought this book in particular was a good exploration of how badly damaging the kind of abuse Rothhaven suffered can be to one's sense of self-worth.
ETA: I was less enamored of this upon an audio reread. The romance fell flat, and hearing Quinn and Stephen, whom I normally respect, speak so dismissively and negatively of Robert because of his disabilities made me very unhappy. I’m doing a full reread of the series on audio, and so far this is by far the weakest. I’ve revised my rating down accordingly.
ETA: I was less enamored of this upon an audio reread. The romance fell flat, and hearing Quinn and Stephen, whom I normally respect, speak so dismissively and negatively of Robert because of his disabilities made me very unhappy. I’m doing a full reread of the series on audio, and so far this is by far the weakest. I’ve revised my rating down accordingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Physical abuse
ellaspring's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aimee70807's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-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
4.5
The author pulled off a disabled love interest very well, making him both flawed and heroic. The heroine was a little more forgettable, but perfectly passable.
bookwifereviews's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting historical romance. I don't think I have read one quite like it.
Robert Rothmere, Duke of Rothhaven has been living his life in a mental hospital because of some head injuries that happened when he was younger. When he was 15 he fell in love with a young staff member only for her to disappear. Fast forward a few years and Rothhaven is entering the ton because his brother is getting married. There he sees the young staff member, Constance. They develop a friendship that eventually turns into more.
I really enjoyed this story. I really liked Robert and Constance. I like that the duke wasn't portrayed as perfect. He obvious had a rough life.. just the fact that he spent so much of his life in a mental hospital shaped alot of who he is now. I just really liked him. Constance was also an amazing character. She was the best friend/wife Robert could have ever dreamed of. She was a strong woman and I loved seeing them fall in love.
Robert Rothmere, Duke of Rothhaven has been living his life in a mental hospital because of some head injuries that happened when he was younger. When he was 15 he fell in love with a young staff member only for her to disappear. Fast forward a few years and Rothhaven is entering the ton because his brother is getting married. There he sees the young staff member, Constance. They develop a friendship that eventually turns into more.
I really enjoyed this story. I really liked Robert and Constance. I like that the duke wasn't portrayed as perfect. He obvious had a rough life.. just the fact that he spent so much of his life in a mental hospital shaped alot of who he is now. I just really liked him. Constance was also an amazing character. She was the best friend/wife Robert could have ever dreamed of. She was a strong woman and I loved seeing them fall in love.
katiegrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shilo1364's review against another edition
4.0
For the first 15% of this book I really actively disliked it. I was seriously considering dnfing it. I've read Burrowes' books before and enjoyed them, but it felt like we were dumped into a scene midway through followed by a series of short conversations between characters I didn't know about this mysterious thing that no one was naming. Part of this could be that it was the fifth in a series (which I didn't realize until I started reading it.)
However. I persevered and actually started really enjoying it soon after that, when Constance and Robert start interacting more.
The really interesting thing about this book, to me, is that it wasn't what I was expecting for a historical romance. There wasn't a lot of sex (honestly that's a good thing), and Constance and Robert got together VERY early on. The conflict didn't hinge on their relationship or misunderstandings between them, but rather on outside events each was going through. It actually felt more like historical fiction than historical romance.
The families were wonderful, and I was reminded a great deal of the Bridgertons. Which is good as I adored the Bridgerton clan and now I adore the Rothmeres and Wentworths as well. I'm tempted to go back and read the other books in the series now that I know how much fun the characters are.
This novel also took on some serious topics - Epilepsy, mental competency trials, anxiety, and adopted children one regrets giving up. I don't have personal experience with any of those, but I do have other debilitating physical and mental illnesses and the way these topics were handled rang true to me.
All in all a great book, but that awkward beginning drops the rating a bit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this e-arc to review
*whoops just realized this review has been sitting in my drafts for a month. Smh.
However. I persevered and actually started really enjoying it soon after that, when Constance and Robert start interacting more.
The really interesting thing about this book, to me, is that it wasn't what I was expecting for a historical romance. There wasn't a lot of sex (honestly that's a good thing), and Constance and Robert got together VERY early on. The conflict didn't hinge on their relationship or misunderstandings between them, but rather on outside events each was going through. It actually felt more like historical fiction than historical romance.
The families were wonderful, and I was reminded a great deal of the Bridgertons. Which is good as I adored the Bridgerton clan and now I adore the Rothmeres and Wentworths as well. I'm tempted to go back and read the other books in the series now that I know how much fun the characters are.
This novel also took on some serious topics - Epilepsy, mental competency trials, anxiety, and adopted children one regrets giving up. I don't have personal experience with any of those, but I do have other debilitating physical and mental illnesses and the way these topics were handled rang true to me.
All in all a great book, but that awkward beginning drops the rating a bit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this e-arc to review
*whoops just realized this review has been sitting in my drafts for a month. Smh.