Reviews

The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe

josiew09's review

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lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

jphoffman's review against another edition

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4.0

🔥🔥🔥🔥

mostlyfated's review against another edition

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3.0

3 stars...ouch!

I want to preface this by saying that I still love Joanna Shupe. I realize my opinion on this book is in the minority but this novel was just a dud for me. Sorry folks. I appreciated that Joanna Shupe wanted to portray a female character who was a modern day woman even though she was a woman of the Gilded Age. But I found the entire story was too much about Nellie’s own sexual independence and work on women sufferage (which are all important) and not enough romance between her and Lockwood.

Again, this is a historical romance and there needs to be that balance between the plot AND the overarching romance between the two main characters. Unfortunately, Joanna Shupe was not successful on balancing those two aspects. I felt this book was focused wayyyy too much on Nellie and not enough on her and Lockwood’s relationship. The book just felt preachy and too much discussion on Nellie’s work and, frankly, I just really didn’t believe in her romance with Lockwood or the fact that they’re even compatible for each other.

I will still continue to read Joanna Shupe because I love her historical romances of the Gilded Age but I wish/hope she will return to her style of story telling in the early years of the “Knickerbocker Series”.

groundhogbaby88's review against another edition

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fast-paced

4.0

seeaudreyread's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ingrid6's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0

This book was a little ridiculous. Also this was one of those couples I do not see a HEA for. Despite that, it was a moderately fun read.

ajune22's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

lemon_'s review against another edition

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2.0

I’m a stickler for at least some level of historical accuracy in my HRs, so this was a no-go for me unfortunately! 

elizabethhollar1997's review against another edition

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5.0

I was very much looking forward to the Duke finally getting his HEA. After 3 books of nothing but heartache, I was ready for the guy to find some happiness. I was also excited to learn more about Nellie in this book. I feel like Nellie has always been this looming figure in the first 3 books, but she is the star of the show in this one. I think Joanna Shupe has done an excellent job weaving 4 books together that take place over the same time period with the same event covered just in different POVs. When I started book 2 I was a bit nervous about that fact, but Ms. Shupe absolutely blew it out of the water with every book. I was nervous I would feel bored by the same event happening over and over, but I never felt that way.

One thing I wanted to point out was that I appreciated the moments that focused on contraceptives and the choices (or lack of) women were being forced to make about their bodies.

NOW. I feel like Joanna Shupe’s male characters simply get more filthy by the book. This book was so. freaking. hot. Definitely the hottest book Ms. Shupe has produced thus far and I LOVED it. The mouth on Mr. Duke had me blushing as I was reading. From the previous books, we’re led to believe the Duke is this sweet and innocent hero, but boy were we wrong. The man has a mouth on him.

I really enjoyed learning more about Nellie and her family in this one. We learn more about her mothers passing and the fact that her family is the Irish Mob. While she did frustrate me toward the end of the book, I kind of understand her thought process and why she did the things she did.

I’m so sad that this series is over, but I cannot wait to see what Joanna Shupe brings to us with her next series!

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

sunflowerribs's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-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? It's complicated

3.5