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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This romance isn’t complex in many ways (especially the nonentity that is the character of Perfect Dead Wife)– but the scene where Grace reveals her scars is truly beautiful. A comfort read moreso than a must read. cw warning for breast cancer.
Felt like a lot of dialogue was repeated over and over. I want a man who loves me/I will never love again. And their flirtations that pushed the envelope so far, not too mention her mom being a non-royal just felt out of place for the time. Not too mention it took him too long to get his head out of his ass. Finally, not enough angst.
I regard When the Duke Was Wicked to be an OK read. There were moments in the first half of When the Duke Was Wicked where I could feel the sparks between Grace and Lovingdon in their many, many conversations. Certain key moments were sweet and nuanced as
(1) we deal with Grace who once crushed on Lovingdon but now as a grown woman, is requiring some help in discerning the genuine from the fakes amongst her many suitors, and
(2) we deal with Lovingdon who is withering away at life after the death of loved ones.
She is caught between going beyond just nursing a crush with Lovingdon whilst also juggling her suitors. He is coming out of grief rather reluctantly as he advises her on how a man who loves behaves with his beloved. How to know when a love is true, much is touched upon as unwittingly, Lovingdon begins to realize there is none who could love Grace as she deserves. None but him by the end.
However, by the end, I had grown tired of the book and finished reading just so I could say I completed When the Duke Was Wicked. Not the greatest of signs that I was pleased with the book. I suppose the contrast between how it was with Juliette vs how it could be with Grace niggled at me. One reviewer managed to sum up how I felt, something along the line that Juliette was portrayed as dull and bland in order to make Grace even more appealing. Grace is already plenty appealing in my eyes with her spirit, her candor, her sensible self without having to depreciate another past love which must have been so great since Lovingdon had ended up being totally wrecked by loss. Also, minor quibbles have me frayed but how improper was it that Grace could so easily have access to his bedchambers? I suppose it was a convenient tool to move the plot along, for kisses and more to happen. Meh.
One brightside...Yay to more positive portrayal of female friendships.
(1) we deal with Grace who once crushed on Lovingdon but now as a grown woman, is requiring some help in discerning the genuine from the fakes amongst her many suitors, and
(2) we deal with Lovingdon who is withering away at life after the death of loved ones.
She is caught between going beyond just nursing a crush with Lovingdon whilst also juggling her suitors. He is coming out of grief rather reluctantly as he advises her on how a man who loves behaves with his beloved. How to know when a love is true, much is touched upon as unwittingly, Lovingdon begins to realize there is none who could love Grace as she deserves. None but him by the end.
However, by the end, I had grown tired of the book and finished reading just so I could say I completed When the Duke Was Wicked. Not the greatest of signs that I was pleased with the book. I suppose the contrast between how it was with Juliette vs how it could be with Grace niggled at me. One reviewer managed to sum up how I felt, something along the line that Juliette was portrayed as dull and bland in order to make Grace even more appealing. Grace is already plenty appealing in my eyes with her spirit, her candor, her sensible self without having to depreciate another past love which must have been so great since Lovingdon had ended up being totally wrecked by loss. Also, minor quibbles have me frayed but how improper was it that Grace could so easily have access to his bedchambers? I suppose it was a convenient tool to move the plot along, for kisses and more to happen. Meh.
One brightside...Yay to more positive portrayal of female friendships.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness
I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. Had a few issues
3.5 stars. This was so addicting?? Why did I stay up until 1 am on a weekday to finish??
Really lovely book. 3* because I'm not sure I would re-read.