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dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is going to be a long one, I fear. I shall endeavour to do my best.
This book was first published in 1985. That’s the edition I thrifted and read. It has since been edited around 1999 and that’s the edition most see. Even the edited version includes some serious CWs (I read a few scenes from the newer edition to see what had changed, and the answer was “not everything”.) Read this book with care, friends, and keep your HR goggles on and put it down if you need to.
Whitney is young, stupid, impetuous, and infatuated with the local hottie, Paul. He strings her along until she goes to Paris to live with her aunt and uncle bc her mean, worthless dad “can’t do anything with her”. She comes back from Paris and is obviously gorgeous and perfect and desirable, bc #reasons. Paul finally sees her and wants her and foibles between them ensue. What neither of them know is that a masked man at a masquerade in Paris became equally infatuated with Whitney, and has arranged a betrothal agreement (and large amount of money) with her father. The Duke of Claymore WILL have his way.
Here’s important part: Whitney and Clayton are stupid. They are stupid for each other with the amount of love they’ve got, and they’re stupid for letting their anger control them (so. much. stupid. anger.) and they’re also a bit stupid for what I believe is 4 massive miscommunications that aren’t necessary and make the book quote long.
The other important part is it’s got the “I love my abuser” angle- even in the edited version. His I love yous and soothing kisses are enough for Whitney to apparently forget he’s a name-calling, degrading, and sometimes physically violent jerk. But he loves her! He does!
Okay now here’s the tough part. This book is compulsively readable! I was ALL IN. I had a love/hate feeling for Whitney immediately because she was incredibly fun and different from a lot of other heroines I’ve read, and despite her stupidity, I was on her team. Clayton is actually, and I’m sorry about this, hot sometimes. He smirks in all the right places, and worships Whitney about as often as he’s mean to her, but his toxicity (apparently bred into the Westmoreland Dukes from birth?) overrode all the rest of that for me, as it should have.
Anyway, TL; DR -
Am I recommending this book? Probably not. Did I enjoy my read of it? Yes, both as a study of historical romance and a story that was very compelling to read. Did it handle any of the heavy topics it should have? No, bc 1985. Is it an utter icon on the genre, against culture’s better judgement? It sure is. I dare not give it a star rating, but out of sheer curiosity, I will, in fact, be reading more McNaught!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse