Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
My first note is do not start reading this book before bed because I could not put it down!
I tend to enjoy Eloisa James’s romances, but I adored this one! I loved Viola and her duke! I like how James lets a character grow and change.
This is about the Wilde Child who felt like she was not really one of the family. James does a great job with Viola’s social anxiety and insecurity. And Devin seems like a pompous ass, but then we get to watch him grow as well. And the historical details about both clothing and theater were great too.
I love that James also hints at various tropes without letting them derail the novel. It was great! This is the best book that I have read in a while.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.
#SayYestotheDuke #NetGalley
I tend to enjoy Eloisa James’s romances, but I adored this one! I loved Viola and her duke! I like how James lets a character grow and change.
This is about the Wilde Child who felt like she was not really one of the family. James does a great job with Viola’s social anxiety and insecurity. And Devin seems like a pompous ass, but then we get to watch him grow as well. And the historical details about both clothing and theater were great too.
I love that James also hints at various tropes without letting them derail the novel. It was great! This is the best book that I have read in a while.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.
#SayYestotheDuke #NetGalley
funny
lighthearted
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 rounded to 5 stars
Plot/Storyline:
Plot/Storyline:
I adored "Say Yes to the Duke" by Eloisa James. It was just as sweet and funny as all of her previous books have been, featuring endearing, well-developed characters and witty banter. Even though it is the fifth book in a series, it reads as a complete standalone, so readers new to Ms. James's work will not feel lost at all by starting here. That said, I am happy to have read the series in order because the characters have all been delightful, and I have enjoyed catching up with them through their cameo appearances in subsequent books.
I found the relationship development between the main characters of "Say Yes to the Duke," Viola and Devin, to be perfectly paced. Even though they were forced to marry relatively quickly, they spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other both before and after the wedding. It was clear that Devin and Viola genuinely loved and accepted one another, flaws and all, and I appreciated how they constantly supported each other when challenges arose.
That support was especially important for Viola as she fought to overcome her crippling shyness. Having her stepsister Joan debut with her was undoubtedly a tremendous help, but the fact that Devin saw Viola for who she truly was and didn't care about her family connections or perceived suitability as a potential duchess was also critical. In return, Viola helped Devin learn to open up to those he loved. He seemed so arrogant at first (and he likely was arrogant, given that he was a duke!), but he seemed so much warmer as his relationship with Viola grew.
Overall, "Say Yes to the Duke" was an excellent read and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! (I really hope Joan will be the female lead...)
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss/NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
I found the relationship development between the main characters of "Say Yes to the Duke," Viola and Devin, to be perfectly paced. Even though they were forced to marry relatively quickly, they spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other both before and after the wedding. It was clear that Devin and Viola genuinely loved and accepted one another, flaws and all, and I appreciated how they constantly supported each other when challenges arose.
That support was especially important for Viola as she fought to overcome her crippling shyness. Having her stepsister Joan debut with her was undoubtedly a tremendous help, but the fact that Devin saw Viola for who she truly was and didn't care about her family connections or perceived suitability as a potential duchess was also critical. In return, Viola helped Devin learn to open up to those he loved. He seemed so arrogant at first (and he likely was arrogant, given that he was a duke!), but he seemed so much warmer as his relationship with Viola grew.
Overall, "Say Yes to the Duke" was an excellent read and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! (I really hope Joan will be the female lead...)
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss/NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
funny
hopeful
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
I ended up skimming this one.
What I did read, I really enjoyed. I like a tsundere hero, who is very closed off. I liked the dynamic of the extremely shy heroine as well. But I time was running out on my library loan and I found my mood wasn't fitting with the historical genre right now. This is one I will definitely be picking up again in the future as it is very much a case of "it's me, not you".
What I did read, I really enjoyed. I like a tsundere hero, who is very closed off. I liked the dynamic of the extremely shy heroine as well. But I time was running out on my library loan and I found my mood wasn't fitting with the historical genre right now. This is one I will definitely be picking up again in the future as it is very much a case of "it's me, not you".
Viola Astley knows she's not a real Wilde. Her mother married into the family when she was two. Though the Duke and all of her siblings have accepted that she's a true "Wilde Childe," Viola has worked herself into such a thought pattern that she is physically ill before balls, even before just meeting eligible men. She isn't a Wilde by blood and, shorter than the rest, plumper than the rest, she doesn't even look like she belongs. But then she meets the new local vicar and falls in love. Too bad he already has a fiancee. And really too bad that a duke seems to have set his eyes on her.
Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, is ready to get married. He might as well marry a Wilde, but not the adopted daughter. Instead, he'll check out the one who is generally known to not be a Wilde by blood but is by name. Even his uncle pushing him to meet Miss Astley doesn't make him interested in Viola. But when she stands up to him, well, that catches his notice.
This is a fairly quiet book. Not a lot of conflict and that was just lovely right now. Even the last misunderstanding wasn't a Big Misunderstanding because they actually talked to each other.
Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, is ready to get married. He might as well marry a Wilde, but not the adopted daughter. Instead, he'll check out the one who is generally known to not be a Wilde by blood but is by name. Even his uncle pushing him to meet Miss Astley doesn't make him interested in Viola. But when she stands up to him, well, that catches his notice.
This is a fairly quiet book. Not a lot of conflict and that was just lovely right now. Even the last misunderstanding wasn't a Big Misunderstanding because they actually talked to each other.
4.5⭐️
Tropes: enemies to lovers, uptight hero.
Eloisa James’s Say Yes to the Duke takes on one of my favorite trope combos: enemies to lovers with an uptight, seemingly emotionless duke. God love those men. Throw in a socially anxious Miss who fancies herself in love with the already-engaged vicar and well, who’s to blame me for falling as hard as I did?
Miss Viola Astley doesn’t feel like a Wilde and this, paired with a disastrous encounter at a ball, has resulted in anxiety related to societal events, marriage, & sex.
Devin the duke was raised in isolation & learned to put on a mask as a coping mechanism. He wants to marry Viola’s sister Joan only because she ticks off his boxes, and Viola overhears him coldly assessing her sister and calling *her, Viola,* a mouse in the same supercilious tone.
You have to read to see how mouse-y sweet Viola is with the jerk duke. Spoiler alert: not very mouse-y at all.
I just really loved this book. It was nearly everything that I wanted and needed. I love how Viola puts herself out there despite her shyness (that’s me in certain situations), I love how the Ice Man looks out for her and encourages her, I love how sexy their romps are. I love how Devin’s so closed off at first, poor dear, and has to learn that it’s safe for him to share his feelings with her.
Some of the transitions feel somewhat abrupt and some of the coincidences in the book are a bit much but Say Yes to the Duke is a funny, heartwarming, and did I mention sexy? foray into opening up, learning how to be married, and falling in love.
It made me really happy.
Say Yes to the Duke is out today. Thanks to the publisher & Edelweiss for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, uptight hero.
Eloisa James’s Say Yes to the Duke takes on one of my favorite trope combos: enemies to lovers with an uptight, seemingly emotionless duke. God love those men. Throw in a socially anxious Miss who fancies herself in love with the already-engaged vicar and well, who’s to blame me for falling as hard as I did?
Miss Viola Astley doesn’t feel like a Wilde and this, paired with a disastrous encounter at a ball, has resulted in anxiety related to societal events, marriage, & sex.
Devin the duke was raised in isolation & learned to put on a mask as a coping mechanism. He wants to marry Viola’s sister Joan only because she ticks off his boxes, and Viola overhears him coldly assessing her sister and calling *her, Viola,* a mouse in the same supercilious tone.
You have to read to see how mouse-y sweet Viola is with the jerk duke. Spoiler alert: not very mouse-y at all.
I just really loved this book. It was nearly everything that I wanted and needed. I love how Viola puts herself out there despite her shyness (that’s me in certain situations), I love how the Ice Man looks out for her and encourages her, I love how sexy their romps are. I love how Devin’s so closed off at first, poor dear, and has to learn that it’s safe for him to share his feelings with her.
Some of the transitions feel somewhat abrupt and some of the coincidences in the book are a bit much but Say Yes to the Duke is a funny, heartwarming, and did I mention sexy? foray into opening up, learning how to be married, and falling in love.
It made me really happy.
Say Yes to the Duke is out today. Thanks to the publisher & Edelweiss for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3
Say Yes to the Duke was I must say.... a bland regency romance unfortunately. It was promising in the beginning since I was getting Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy vibes from Miss Viola Ashley and Devin, Duke of Wynter, but everything fell flat later on.
I enjoyed the banter between them but the romance developed very quickly there wasn’t any build up and slow burn to it.
Say Yes to the Duke was I must say.... a bland regency romance unfortunately. It was promising in the beginning since I was getting Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy vibes from Miss Viola Ashley and Devin, Duke of Wynter, but everything fell flat later on.
I enjoyed the banter between them but the romance developed very quickly there wasn’t any build up and slow burn to it.