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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Disclaimer! I was granted an ARC of this from Pocket Books through NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review. I should also add that by the time I was granted the ARC, I'd already bought the book in pre-order, because with one horrible exception, she writes awesome books, and is on my automatic pre-order list.
Once again, the cover image has little to nothing to do with the contents of the book, although the cover model is at least a redhead, like the heroine. I don't think she wears a bright orange dress and frolics around on the grass at any point, though, and the dress is not even a little bit period appropriate. It does have a nice bright colour that catches the eye, which I suppose is what the marketing department was going for.
But what is the book about, I hear you ask? Olivia Johnston is on her third assumed identity, having stolen a series of letters from her former employer, now Lady Elizabeth de Grey (see [b:That Scandalous Summer|14822924|That Scandalous Summer (Rules for the Reckless, #1)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364942113s/14822924.jpg|20476452]). She's now trying to infiltrate the household of the Duke of Marwick, her former employer's new brother-in-law in order to get further incriminating evidence to help her blackmail Baron Bertram, the man who's made her live in fear for years. Bertram was one of the duchess of Marwick's former lovers, and Olivia has heard Marwick kept detailed dossiers on all his political and personal rivals. Hoping to get a post as a housemaid, she has an impressive reference from her friend Amanda, who recently became a Viscountess through an advantageous marriage (see [b:Your Wicked Heart|13547664|Your Wicked Heart (Rules for the Reckless, #0.5)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1393781003s/13547664.jpg|19112804]). Yet the duke's household is in such disarray that the desperate and distraught butler convinces Olivia to take the post as housekeeper instead. Olivia is elated, thinking this will make it all the easier to search through the duke's papers for blackmail material. Her optimism doesn't last long.
The reason that Marwick's household is in such disorder is that Alastair de Grey, the duke, has holed himself up in his private rooms, nursing dangerous thoughts of vengeance against the men who cuckolded him with his now dead wife. He knows that if he leaves the house, he will murder each of the men who slept with and conspired towards his own political downfall with his faithless wife. In the months since she was found dead in a hotel room from a suspected opium overdose, the duke has become more and more distanced from his former life, driving away all who previously cared for him, including his brother (again see the previous book). Most of his servants have left, and the only retainers left have little to no work ethic and flirt, gossip and generally do as they please around the house. Marwick doesn't care, he just wants to drink himself into oblivion and forget.
Olivia discovers that in order to search the house without anyone catching her, she needs to whip the staff into shape. After having no luck finding any incriminating evidence elsewhere in the house, she concludes that the papers must be in the duke's private quarters, where no one is allowed to enter. When she first attempts to lure the duke out for a spell, he throws a bottle at her, but she refuses to be cowed. He then proceeds to try to fire her, as well as intimidate her physically. Olivia stands her ground, and because she's come to admire the man Marwick once was through all the correspondence and notes of his she's already searched, she can't help but try to provoke him out of his hardened shell of grief and rage.
One of the things [a:Meredith Duran|1330133|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1211894121p2/1330133.jpg] does better than most romance writers out there, is character development. Her characters are never one-sided and simple, there are always flaws and depth and complexity and usually quite a lot of angst. With Alastair de Grey, she's possibly created her most unpleasant character yet. In [b:That Scandalous Summer|14822924|That Scandalous Summer (Rules for the Reckless, #1)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364942113s/14822924.jpg|20476452], he was pretty much straight up the villain, doing everything he could to prevent his brother and Elizabeth from being able to marry. He starts out pretty villainous here, as well. Olivia gets the job as his new housekeeper because the last one quite when the duke threw a shoe at her. His valet has abandoned his duties and mainly tries to canoodle with the maids. The butler seems to be drowning his sorrows. He is none too pleased at the interfering young woman who keeps intruding in his chambers, and not only refuses to accept that he's fired her, but shows no respect for his station and constantly argues with him.
Marwick's a deeply unlikely romantic hero, yet Duran makes us sympathise with him, as he was clearly so deeply devastated by his wife's betrayal. He loved her and thought she'd be his perfect mate, and she didn't just cheat on him with multiple men, but revealed insider secrets to his political rivals, undermining his career. His rage and wish for vengeance is natural, and from both the previous book and his former reputation in this book, we are allowed to see what a great and influential man he was before his collapse. Now he's cruel, cold and callous, but the true culprit here is clearly the dead duchess. It's not just his heart that's broken, it's his confidence and belief in his abilities.
Having heard a lot of negative things about the duke while posing as Mather, Elizabeth's secretary, Olivia has very qualms about stealing Marwick's late wife's letters to find blackmail material on Bertram. Yet when she actually spends time in his home, reading his journals and personal correspondence, appreciating his former achievements and good works, she is shocked to see the degree of desolation he appears to have succumbed to. Even when he tries to intimidate her and drive her away, she can't help trying to draw him out of his hopelessness. She's both appalled by and attracted to him. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that even as a crazy recluse he's described as being handsome as Lucifer.
As Olivia starts having a positive effect on the household and the duke himself, the fact that she's in his house under false pretences, attempting to make him trust her and make him better so he'll leave his private rooms in order for her to search them and steal from him is obviously a major conflict here. Olivia is driven by desperation of her own though. Seven years ago, when she first arrived in London, Bertram's man left her for dead in a ditch, and now he's on her trail again. She's fighting for her life and her own safety, and she's willing to fight dirty to protect herself, whether it's lying, stealing or resorting to blackmail. So our heroine isn't exactly pure as the driven snow either.
When I first finished the book, I rated it 4.5 stars, but since I finished it several weeks ago, I keep thinking about it and coming back to nuances of the story in my mind, and I can't really find any actual flaws in the story. Duran takes such an unpleasant and dark hero and a morally ambiguous and troubled heroine and gives them not only time to properly get to know each other, building a believable, if rocky and complicated romance. I loved Olivia gradually making the duke better, almost despite her own instincts. The passion between them is scorching, even when it's rather uncomfortable in the beginning. I liked that as the story progressed, Bertram turns out not to be a cardboard cutout villain either, despite Olivia's impression of him. I already can't wait to reread this book, and after careful consideration, it's now my favourite of Duran's books. I'm eagerly anticipating her next book.
Once again, the cover image has little to nothing to do with the contents of the book, although the cover model is at least a redhead, like the heroine. I don't think she wears a bright orange dress and frolics around on the grass at any point, though, and the dress is not even a little bit period appropriate. It does have a nice bright colour that catches the eye, which I suppose is what the marketing department was going for.
But what is the book about, I hear you ask? Olivia Johnston is on her third assumed identity, having stolen a series of letters from her former employer, now Lady Elizabeth de Grey (see [b:That Scandalous Summer|14822924|That Scandalous Summer (Rules for the Reckless, #1)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364942113s/14822924.jpg|20476452]). She's now trying to infiltrate the household of the Duke of Marwick, her former employer's new brother-in-law in order to get further incriminating evidence to help her blackmail Baron Bertram, the man who's made her live in fear for years. Bertram was one of the duchess of Marwick's former lovers, and Olivia has heard Marwick kept detailed dossiers on all his political and personal rivals. Hoping to get a post as a housemaid, she has an impressive reference from her friend Amanda, who recently became a Viscountess through an advantageous marriage (see [b:Your Wicked Heart|13547664|Your Wicked Heart (Rules for the Reckless, #0.5)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1393781003s/13547664.jpg|19112804]). Yet the duke's household is in such disarray that the desperate and distraught butler convinces Olivia to take the post as housekeeper instead. Olivia is elated, thinking this will make it all the easier to search through the duke's papers for blackmail material. Her optimism doesn't last long.
The reason that Marwick's household is in such disorder is that Alastair de Grey, the duke, has holed himself up in his private rooms, nursing dangerous thoughts of vengeance against the men who cuckolded him with his now dead wife. He knows that if he leaves the house, he will murder each of the men who slept with and conspired towards his own political downfall with his faithless wife. In the months since she was found dead in a hotel room from a suspected opium overdose, the duke has become more and more distanced from his former life, driving away all who previously cared for him, including his brother (again see the previous book). Most of his servants have left, and the only retainers left have little to no work ethic and flirt, gossip and generally do as they please around the house. Marwick doesn't care, he just wants to drink himself into oblivion and forget.
Olivia discovers that in order to search the house without anyone catching her, she needs to whip the staff into shape. After having no luck finding any incriminating evidence elsewhere in the house, she concludes that the papers must be in the duke's private quarters, where no one is allowed to enter. When she first attempts to lure the duke out for a spell, he throws a bottle at her, but she refuses to be cowed. He then proceeds to try to fire her, as well as intimidate her physically. Olivia stands her ground, and because she's come to admire the man Marwick once was through all the correspondence and notes of his she's already searched, she can't help but try to provoke him out of his hardened shell of grief and rage.
One of the things [a:Meredith Duran|1330133|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1211894121p2/1330133.jpg] does better than most romance writers out there, is character development. Her characters are never one-sided and simple, there are always flaws and depth and complexity and usually quite a lot of angst. With Alastair de Grey, she's possibly created her most unpleasant character yet. In [b:That Scandalous Summer|14822924|That Scandalous Summer (Rules for the Reckless, #1)|Meredith Duran|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364942113s/14822924.jpg|20476452], he was pretty much straight up the villain, doing everything he could to prevent his brother and Elizabeth from being able to marry. He starts out pretty villainous here, as well. Olivia gets the job as his new housekeeper because the last one quite when the duke threw a shoe at her. His valet has abandoned his duties and mainly tries to canoodle with the maids. The butler seems to be drowning his sorrows. He is none too pleased at the interfering young woman who keeps intruding in his chambers, and not only refuses to accept that he's fired her, but shows no respect for his station and constantly argues with him.
Marwick's a deeply unlikely romantic hero, yet Duran makes us sympathise with him, as he was clearly so deeply devastated by his wife's betrayal. He loved her and thought she'd be his perfect mate, and she didn't just cheat on him with multiple men, but revealed insider secrets to his political rivals, undermining his career. His rage and wish for vengeance is natural, and from both the previous book and his former reputation in this book, we are allowed to see what a great and influential man he was before his collapse. Now he's cruel, cold and callous, but the true culprit here is clearly the dead duchess. It's not just his heart that's broken, it's his confidence and belief in his abilities.
Having heard a lot of negative things about the duke while posing as Mather, Elizabeth's secretary, Olivia has very qualms about stealing Marwick's late wife's letters to find blackmail material on Bertram. Yet when she actually spends time in his home, reading his journals and personal correspondence, appreciating his former achievements and good works, she is shocked to see the degree of desolation he appears to have succumbed to. Even when he tries to intimidate her and drive her away, she can't help trying to draw him out of his hopelessness. She's both appalled by and attracted to him. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that even as a crazy recluse he's described as being handsome as Lucifer.
As Olivia starts having a positive effect on the household and the duke himself, the fact that she's in his house under false pretences, attempting to make him trust her and make him better so he'll leave his private rooms in order for her to search them and steal from him is obviously a major conflict here. Olivia is driven by desperation of her own though. Seven years ago, when she first arrived in London, Bertram's man left her for dead in a ditch, and now he's on her trail again. She's fighting for her life and her own safety, and she's willing to fight dirty to protect herself, whether it's lying, stealing or resorting to blackmail. So our heroine isn't exactly pure as the driven snow either.
When I first finished the book, I rated it 4.5 stars, but since I finished it several weeks ago, I keep thinking about it and coming back to nuances of the story in my mind, and I can't really find any actual flaws in the story. Duran takes such an unpleasant and dark hero and a morally ambiguous and troubled heroine and gives them not only time to properly get to know each other, building a believable, if rocky and complicated romance. I loved Olivia gradually making the duke better, almost despite her own instincts. The passion between them is scorching, even when it's rather uncomfortable in the beginning. I liked that as the story progressed, Bertram turns out not to be a cardboard cutout villain either, despite Olivia's impression of him. I already can't wait to reread this book, and after careful consideration, it's now my favourite of Duran's books. I'm eagerly anticipating her next book.
Finally figured out what happened to the secretary, Olivia, I enjoyed this one more then the first but it felt a little stockholm syndrome-y.
Meredith Duran came very highly recommended to me from various romance readers, but after reading the opening novella first book and not liking either, I decided Duran maybe just wasn't for me. Elizabeth May convinced me to give this series/author another try, specifically by describing this book to me, and I'm so glad I gave these books another shot!
Right from the start, Fool Me Twice intrigued me. Olivia's on the run from someone but also determined to become the villain in her own story so she can gain her freedom. You won't find out why for a while, though, as Olivia gets caught up in her role as Miss/Mrs. Johnson, a maid immediately promoted to housekeeper for a shut-in duke. It's so adorable how Olivia's going through this time of crisis and undercover, but she can't help getting caught up in the people there and trying to make a difference.
The Duke of Marwick hasn't left his room in months. Discovering his late wife's scheming and infidelity threw him into an emotional spin that has left him scared to face others. He gave up his powerful role in Parliament and closed himself off to the world. There's something very Beauty and the Beast about his initial reactions to Olivia, as she tries to force him up and out and convince him that there are better ways of getting revenge.
Given that she's working as his employee and also that she's lying about her identity, there's some drama here and some consent issues, but the book minimizes the former and is aware of the latter, so it really worked for me. Olivia and Alastair have such an interesting dynamic, and their chemistry is fantastic. He clearly respects her so much, and the way they go toe-to-toe is such shippy catnip.
Fool Me Twice walks the line between fluffy and dramatic, so I think it should have a lot of appeal for most HR readers.
Right from the start, Fool Me Twice intrigued me. Olivia's on the run from someone but also determined to become the villain in her own story so she can gain her freedom. You won't find out why for a while, though, as Olivia gets caught up in her role as Miss/Mrs. Johnson, a maid immediately promoted to housekeeper for a shut-in duke. It's so adorable how Olivia's going through this time of crisis and undercover, but she can't help getting caught up in the people there and trying to make a difference.
The Duke of Marwick hasn't left his room in months. Discovering his late wife's scheming and infidelity threw him into an emotional spin that has left him scared to face others. He gave up his powerful role in Parliament and closed himself off to the world. There's something very Beauty and the Beast about his initial reactions to Olivia, as she tries to force him up and out and convince him that there are better ways of getting revenge.
Given that she's working as his employee and also that she's lying about her identity, there's some drama here and some consent issues, but the book minimizes the former and is aware of the latter, so it really worked for me. Olivia and Alastair have such an interesting dynamic, and their chemistry is fantastic. He clearly respects her so much, and the way they go toe-to-toe is such shippy catnip.
Fool Me Twice walks the line between fluffy and dramatic, so I think it should have a lot of appeal for most HR readers.
Yet again, a Duran book I'm struggling with on the review front. I liked it a great deal in many ways. The appeal of all the characters. The historic details. The wit of the writing.
And yet again I am uncomfortable with ethics and morals. At first I was uncomfortable because the hero repeatedly sexually harasses the heroine as her boss in her workplace. It doesn't matter if she learns to welcome his advances, they should not have been made, in particular so boldly. This is not flirtation, it's a tongue down your throat! It's even worse when you realize it's precisely the behavior he hated his father for. The hero never really addresses this factor by feeling guilty or even thoughtful about it properly.
Next I was uncomfortable because she agrees to be with him, possibly risking pregnancy, when her entire life's misery has been directly due to the fact that she is a bastard child herself. I cannot believe she would copy her mother's behavior when she saw where it leads!
Finally, the ending is awkward. I don't quite understand what makes him propose, and if it's linked to revelations of her parent's past, or just solely based on her character. If it's the former, that's a bit snobby. Also, I'm incredulous that he would think he could have a career in any kind of public life after he marries a woman who applied for a job as a maid in his own home.
Yes, these things did happen in history - generally they occurred a generation later when things were a little less stuffy. And generally the people involved then lived more obscure lives, retiring to the country and such. They were not political or social leaders.
And yet again I am uncomfortable with ethics and morals. At first I was uncomfortable because the hero repeatedly sexually harasses the heroine as her boss in her workplace. It doesn't matter if she learns to welcome his advances, they should not have been made, in particular so boldly. This is not flirtation, it's a tongue down your throat! It's even worse when you realize it's precisely the behavior he hated his father for. The hero never really addresses this factor by feeling guilty or even thoughtful about it properly.
Next I was uncomfortable because she agrees to be with him, possibly risking pregnancy, when her entire life's misery has been directly due to the fact that she is a bastard child herself. I cannot believe she would copy her mother's behavior when she saw where it leads!
Finally, the ending is awkward. I don't quite understand what makes him propose, and if it's linked to revelations of her parent's past, or just solely based on her character. If it's the former, that's a bit snobby. Also, I'm incredulous that he would think he could have a career in any kind of public life after he marries a woman who applied for a job as a maid in his own home.
Yes, these things did happen in history - generally they occurred a generation later when things were a little less stuffy. And generally the people involved then lived more obscure lives, retiring to the country and such. They were not political or social leaders.
This book was so fun. Olivia is a badass heroine. Alastair was cool, but his most defining feature was his depression and once that was gone he was just sort of grumbly and worshipping Olivia. My favorite parts of the book were Olivia trying to get him out of his room. Once she took action, I thought the book became pretty cliche. But the sex scenes were great!
Ms. Duran is amazing in her ability to surprise and delight. A wretched, horrible beast of a man is made human and sympathetic in the eyes of a not-so-ordinary beauty. Shades of Cinderella inhabit this as well. Yet it's so much more than the fairytale. It's people being the things one wishes them to be. A smart, capable, survivor of a woman - and Ms. Duran does have a special gift for writing women I want to be, and (almost more importantly) that I want befriend. There are some deep feels and even a few twists and the reader ends content, satisfied, filled ;)