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beccaand's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
theclassicsareboring's review
3.0
(ARC from NetGalley) A second-chance historical romance that's interracial, queer, polyamorous and has an age gap... I think these are all fantastic ideas but way too much going on. I felt like we didn't spend enough time in the heads of the characters and their feelings, it was more like ticking off another label. Not bad, just too much going on at once with the flashbacks as well.
allieveryday's review against another edition
Withholding my review until the HCP Union gets a fair contract.
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
2.5
I just don’t think I’m a fan of Peckham’s prose—I find it dry?? and idk maybe just boring. I didn’t care about anything I read in these two books in the series. This one was frustrating because you once again (like book 1) had a character so terrified of commitment and every step forward led to several steps running away in the other direction.
Below is a quote that basically sums up Cornelia’s frustrating reasoning at the end (of a book that was filled with more of the same reasoning), but it could be seen as a spoiler so proceed with caution. <blockquote>“Tell me you don’t feel anything for me,” Rafe said again, raggedly. “Tell me, and I’ll go.”
She could not say that. It was too far from the truth. The truth was that she adored his company. She flourished in his affection. She found few people more amusing. She loved making love to him. She wanted him more than anything she had ever wanted in her life. It was against her principles, and her better judgment, and it was utterly true, and it was so terrifying she nearly couldn’t speak. And so she had to end it. The sex. The tenderness. The marriage.
“Rafe, this was a mistake,” she said as firmly as she could. “We knew it was a mistake from the moment that we kissed in the summerhouse. And it has only become a greater risk the more that we indulged in it.”
***
“That’s probably for the best,” he said quietly.
For the best? Damn her if her heart did not shudder at those words. For some reason, she had expected him to fight. He always fought for her. But his posture was one of surrender. Defeat.</blockquote>
A risk of what?? And it wasn’t fair of her to keep hurting him with zero consequences. Oh, he “always comes back” so it’s okay to keep jerking his chain? It was like 300 pages of this. His crime at the beginning that caused their initial breakup was him wanting a marriage in truth. Misguided? Yeah. But not something heinous.
She ran again in the present and didn’t even have to grovel. She was like “I’m sorry” and he was like “what are you sorry for?” and then HE was the one taking the blame like god make it stop. He was too puppy dog and she was too indecisive.
The only part I liked was the openness to polyamory because this is the first time I’ve seen it in a trad pub historical romance. There was a lovely (and hot) MMF ménage scene. But even then, Cornelia’s end suggestion for their marriage could’ve happened at like 50% and the book could’ve ended then. But it was a reasonable solution and Cornelia was just avoiding reason for a lot of the book. **Spoiler** The HEA consisted of an open marriage where they can each take lovers or share as long as they’re open and honest.
Overall, I’ve concluded that this is my last book I’ll be reading by the author. I basically read this one for the cover and I doubt another book in the series will have one as good as this, so I’m probably safe. I think both books have tried to subvert tropes (and have very fun premises), but have also lacked nuance and stumbled into other trope pitfalls.
⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.75*/5
*The scenes we got were hot but there weren’t many of them. One was a ménage (no DP). The characters didn’t come as fast as they did in book one, but overall I’m still not a huge fan of how Peckham writes sex scenes.
Below is a quote that basically sums up Cornelia’s frustrating reasoning at the end (of a book that was filled with more of the same reasoning), but it could be seen as a spoiler so proceed with caution. <blockquote>“Tell me you don’t feel anything for me,” Rafe said again, raggedly. “Tell me, and I’ll go.”
She could not say that. It was too far from the truth. The truth was that she adored his company. She flourished in his affection. She found few people more amusing. She loved making love to him. She wanted him more than anything she had ever wanted in her life. It was against her principles, and her better judgment, and it was utterly true, and it was so terrifying she nearly couldn’t speak. And so she had to end it. The sex. The tenderness. The marriage.
“Rafe, this was a mistake,” she said as firmly as she could. “We knew it was a mistake from the moment that we kissed in the summerhouse. And it has only become a greater risk the more that we indulged in it.”
***
“That’s probably for the best,” he said quietly.
For the best? Damn her if her heart did not shudder at those words. For some reason, she had expected him to fight. He always fought for her. But his posture was one of surrender. Defeat.</blockquote>
A risk of what?? And it wasn’t fair of her to keep hurting him with zero consequences. Oh, he “always comes back” so it’s okay to keep jerking his chain? It was like 300 pages of this. His crime at the beginning that caused their initial breakup was him wanting a marriage in truth. Misguided? Yeah. But not something heinous.
She ran again in the present and didn’t even have to grovel. She was like “I’m sorry” and he was like “what are you sorry for?” and then HE was the one taking the blame like god make it stop. He was too puppy dog and she was too indecisive.
The only part I liked was the openness to polyamory because this is the first time I’ve seen it in a trad pub historical romance. There was a lovely (and hot) MMF ménage scene. But even then, Cornelia’s end suggestion for their marriage could’ve happened at like 50% and the book could’ve ended then. But it was a reasonable solution and Cornelia was just avoiding reason for a lot of the book. **Spoiler** The HEA consisted of an open marriage where they can each take lovers or share as long as they’re open and honest.
Overall, I’ve concluded that this is my last book I’ll be reading by the author. I basically read this one for the cover and I doubt another book in the series will have one as good as this, so I’m probably safe. I think both books have tried to subvert tropes (and have very fun premises), but have also lacked nuance and stumbled into other trope pitfalls.
⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.75*/5
*The scenes we got were hot but there weren’t many of them. One was a ménage (no DP). The characters didn’t come as fast as they did in book one, but overall I’m still not a huge fan of how Peckham writes sex scenes.
rubywh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
sash_marguerite's review against another edition
4.0
The Portrait of a Duchess is the sequel to Scarlett Peckham's Society of Sirens series. I haven't read the first book in the series, so I did not what to expect when I began this book. I loved how the book pushed the framework of a typically historical romance by featuring an interracial relationship, bisexuality, and rebellion against societal restrictions on women's agency and accepted cultural norms. I enjoyed most of the book, but there were moments in the book that were a bit uneven. Cornelia's hyper-independence got a bit annoying at times because she waffled a lot, and it took a majority of the book for her to finally come to terms that she could depend on Rafe. I did enjoy the aspect of found family within the book, which was at its peak when the ensemble cast was together. I liked the flashback moments the most because the history between Cornelia and Rafe is touching. The use of miscommunication as the main conflict in the book was disappointing and is in stark contrast to the characterization of the FMC and MMC. They were able to communicate just fine with the other characters but together they were totally inept. Overall I rated the book a 4 stars because I enjoyed most of the romantic elements of the book.
*This ARC was provided by Avon Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*
*This ARC was provided by Avon Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*
helenkadetroika's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
kathleenmcg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.75
I really wanted to love this book. Having a woman of color as the heroine was very promising. I had to go back and check the time period the story is set in. The late 1700s is the late 18th century, just to be clear.
I love the idea of these modern women, for the times, bucking the system. If the book was set in the Victorian era, the 19th century, or the turn of the 20th century, or even the 1920’s, I would not be so critical. I know and am willing to suspend disbelief for most romance novels, especially historical. I just have a hard time believing that the main character would be as free as she is, and protesting about her freedom, to have sex, even group sex, travel between countries, and make art during that time.
She keeps going on about her freedom, even institutes a incredibly creative resolution to the story. I am sure things like this did happen, but I’d expect them later in English history.
The hero was a cinnamon roll. He was just so loving, yet radical in his politics. He was treated as a good time, but not worth a relationship. My heart sort of broke for him, and I, as an admittedly queer woman, would have taken him in an instant. Yes, the reader wants to be or do, and root, for main characters.
The reader should not, however, want to rescue the hero. As a 21st century woman, “I’d be his Duchess. I’d help him try to abolish the class system.” Yet, so, too, was the heroine, really a creature of the 21st century.
I love the idea of these modern women, for the times, bucking the system. If the book was set in the Victorian era, the 19th century, or the turn of the 20th century, or even the 1920’s, I would not be so critical. I know and am willing to suspend disbelief for most romance novels, especially historical. I just have a hard time believing that the main character would be as free as she is, and protesting about her freedom, to have sex, even group sex, travel between countries, and make art during that time.
She keeps going on about her freedom, even institutes a incredibly creative resolution to the story. I am sure things like this did happen, but I’d expect them later in English history.
The hero was a cinnamon roll. He was just so loving, yet radical in his politics. He was treated as a good time, but not worth a relationship. My heart sort of broke for him, and I, as an admittedly queer woman, would have taken him in an instant. Yes, the reader wants to be or do, and root, for main characters.
The reader should not, however, want to rescue the hero. As a 21st century woman, “I’d be his Duchess. I’d help him try to abolish the class system.” Yet, so, too, was the heroine, really a creature of the 21st century.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Colonisation and Emotional abuse
nicolesa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0