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uniquereads's review
4.0
What is my final review?
First off, thank you Penguin Random House-Loveswept and Netgalley for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. I will be using my new way of reviewing books to make it fair for the authors and readers across the board.
The Characters? Were the characters lovable, likable, or redeemable? Did the author blur the lines with their characters? Yes and yes. The author did an excellent job of blurring the lines with the main characters which are Lady Hestia Cary and Alexander Sylvester Bracken who is the Duke of Bedford. Alexander had demons he had to conquer in order to heal his "dark" heart. And Hestia would be the one to save him. She started off as a weak "damsel in distress," but she turned into a force of nature towards the end. You have to read the book to find out. I gave a 5/5 for this section. The author did create a likable character.
The plot? Did the other use many plots? Is there a hook into the next book or does it end on a cliffhanger? Were there any plot holes? No plot holes and no cliffhanger. The epilogue sets it up for the next novel. This author used many plots. The plots are: Alexander battling his opioid drug addiction, Alexander avoiding Hestia because he didn't believe he's good enough for her, Alexander battling the demons from the captivity he was placed in, the wicked cousin of Hestia's, Frederick, and Murad. Murad placed Alexander in captivity to be his own little deviant toy in the past. There were many plots swirling throughout this book. At the end of the epilogue, the author sets us up for Stephen, another tortured Duke. You have to solve these plots when you read this book. Yes, the author nailed the plots. I gave a 5/5 for this section.
The Writing? For the most part, the author did an excellent job. There was a few problems for me. For example in Chapter 25: "He lips curved into that heartbreaking smile of his." And there were a few more sentences that did pull me out of the story. Wrong comma usage and wonky sentences at different times. I gave a 3/5 stars for this section.
Formatting? No issues with formatting. No wonky sentences falling off the page. And I did receive the entire book. A 5/5 for this section.
Book cover? Even though the book cover is delicious to gawk at, he's missing chest hair from what the book stated. And it seems as though the character on the front book cover is a little darker than the character in the book. I was expecting a man with long, fair hair on the front cover. I gave a 4/5 for this section.
Averaging a total score of 5+5+3+5+4=22/4.4 for a total star count of 4.
What are my personal thoughts? I have one issue with this book. We can argue that they were both consensual, but I disagree. I believe it's in chapter 18. The first time they have sex. He was not in any shape to have sex if he was drugged up. In a sense, he didn't consent to sex. If the characters were switched, we would be outraged. BUT! This is fiction. Whatever happens in fiction, stays in fiction. Just that part rubbed me the wrong way. That scene had issues for me. But, I enjoyed the ending much better. That was my only complaint out of the entire book. Yes, I'll read more from the author in the future.
--As always, I'm just another asshole with an opinion.
First off, thank you Penguin Random House-Loveswept and Netgalley for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. I will be using my new way of reviewing books to make it fair for the authors and readers across the board.
The Characters? Were the characters lovable, likable, or redeemable? Did the author blur the lines with their characters? Yes and yes. The author did an excellent job of blurring the lines with the main characters which are Lady Hestia Cary and Alexander Sylvester Bracken who is the Duke of Bedford. Alexander had demons he had to conquer in order to heal his "dark" heart. And Hestia would be the one to save him. She started off as a weak "damsel in distress," but she turned into a force of nature towards the end. You have to read the book to find out. I gave a 5/5 for this section. The author did create a likable character.
The plot? Did the other use many plots? Is there a hook into the next book or does it end on a cliffhanger? Were there any plot holes? No plot holes and no cliffhanger. The epilogue sets it up for the next novel. This author used many plots. The plots are: Alexander battling his opioid drug addiction, Alexander avoiding Hestia because he didn't believe he's good enough for her, Alexander battling the demons from the captivity he was placed in, the wicked cousin of Hestia's, Frederick, and Murad. Murad placed Alexander in captivity to be his own little deviant toy in the past. There were many plots swirling throughout this book. At the end of the epilogue, the author sets us up for Stephen, another tortured Duke. You have to solve these plots when you read this book. Yes, the author nailed the plots. I gave a 5/5 for this section.
The Writing? For the most part, the author did an excellent job. There was a few problems for me. For example in Chapter 25: "He lips curved into that heartbreaking smile of his." And there were a few more sentences that did pull me out of the story. Wrong comma usage and wonky sentences at different times. I gave a 3/5 stars for this section.
Formatting? No issues with formatting. No wonky sentences falling off the page. And I did receive the entire book. A 5/5 for this section.
Book cover? Even though the book cover is delicious to gawk at, he's missing chest hair from what the book stated. And it seems as though the character on the front book cover is a little darker than the character in the book. I was expecting a man with long, fair hair on the front cover. I gave a 4/5 for this section.
Averaging a total score of 5+5+3+5+4=22/4.4 for a total star count of 4.
What are my personal thoughts? I have one issue with this book. We can argue that they were both consensual, but I disagree. I believe it's in chapter 18. The first time they have sex. He was not in any shape to have sex if he was drugged up. In a sense, he didn't consent to sex. If the characters were switched, we would be outraged. BUT! This is fiction. Whatever happens in fiction, stays in fiction. Just that part rubbed me the wrong way. That scene had issues for me. But, I enjoyed the ending much better. That was my only complaint out of the entire book. Yes, I'll read more from the author in the future.
--As always, I'm just another asshole with an opinion.
debbiesilkserif's review
3.0
Received via Loveswept and NetGalley in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Addicted to the Duke was one of those romance novels that made me cry and simultaneously root for the main characters. Alex, completely destroyed from his time in captivity to Turkish pirate where he cultivated a raging opium addiction, is in love with Lady Hestia. However, haunted by his past, he pushes her away believing he is unworthy of her affections.
Lady Hestia is devoted to the man who rescued her from the same Turkish pirates a few years after Alex escaped captivity. Unfortunately, although Hestia is besotted with her savior for years after being rescued, Alex does not appear to feel the same way about her. Yet, Hestia is sure she can make Alex finally see her as a woman and not the child she was when he rescued her while on a sea voyage to save her father from being murdered for her family fortune. And so ensues an intense story of love, loss and acceptance..
Lady Hestia was slightly more naive than I would have liked for the heroine of Addicted to the Duke. She often swung between devotion to Alex and thinking he didn’t love her..only to be completely devoted to him moments later when Alex bats his “tortured” eyes in her direction once again. If Bronwen was not such a talented writer, I would have hated this book based solely on Hestia’s character, yet Hestia’s mood swings were palatable thanks to the strongly emotional plot surrounding Alex and Hestia’s star crossed lovers plot.
In relation to Bronwen’s other novels I found Alex particularly dark. The Disgraced Lords series featured haunted, broken and dark male romantic interests, but in Addicted to the Duke she has created one of my favorite male protagonist. Alex is easy to relate to regardless of his past. I found that I was saddened by Alex’s story and shed tears over the emotional anguish he felt from wanting the girl he loves but cannot allow himself to have. Slowly we learn why Alex is so tortured and we empathize with him. Alex's eventual evolution into something more than a womanizer and drug addict is inspiring.
The most unfortunate thing about this novel was that it was over far too quickly with a rushed ending that could have used more of Bronwen’s emotionally manipulative magic (and I say that with affection because all of her “feels” moments sneak up on you and you’re always surprised to find yourself having a spectacular emotional reaction without warning). Of course, reading Bronwen Evans is never enough because she's just that good at making strong characters and good plots in a market saturated with far too many mediocre novels.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy dark romances, flawed heroes and emotional stories. I would suggest this to readers of the Disgraced Lord series and avid romance readers looking for another fantastic read. A warning to readers that Addicted to the Duke deals with dark subject matter.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Addicted to the Duke was one of those romance novels that made me cry and simultaneously root for the main characters. Alex, completely destroyed from his time in captivity to Turkish pirate where he cultivated a raging opium addiction, is in love with Lady Hestia. However, haunted by his past, he pushes her away believing he is unworthy of her affections.
Lady Hestia is devoted to the man who rescued her from the same Turkish pirates a few years after Alex escaped captivity. Unfortunately, although Hestia is besotted with her savior for years after being rescued, Alex does not appear to feel the same way about her. Yet, Hestia is sure she can make Alex finally see her as a woman and not the child she was when he rescued her while on a sea voyage to save her father from being murdered for her family fortune. And so ensues an intense story of love, loss and acceptance..
Lady Hestia was slightly more naive than I would have liked for the heroine of Addicted to the Duke. She often swung between devotion to Alex and thinking he didn’t love her..only to be completely devoted to him moments later when Alex bats his “tortured” eyes in her direction once again. If Bronwen was not such a talented writer, I would have hated this book based solely on Hestia’s character, yet Hestia’s mood swings were palatable thanks to the strongly emotional plot surrounding Alex and Hestia’s star crossed lovers plot.
Dark, sensitive love interest, evil pirates and an emotional roller coaster opens up a new series by Brownen Evans. Addicted to the Duke another satisfying and beautiful read written by a master of the romance genre.
In relation to Bronwen’s other novels I found Alex particularly dark. The Disgraced Lords series featured haunted, broken and dark male romantic interests, but in Addicted to the Duke she has created one of my favorite male protagonist. Alex is easy to relate to regardless of his past. I found that I was saddened by Alex’s story and shed tears over the emotional anguish he felt from wanting the girl he loves but cannot allow himself to have. Slowly we learn why Alex is so tortured and we empathize with him. Alex's eventual evolution into something more than a womanizer and drug addict is inspiring.
I still loved the ending regardless of how little heart-tug I received from it: the ending was satisfying and opened up the series to our next installment which looks to be exciting.
The most unfortunate thing about this novel was that it was over far too quickly with a rushed ending that could have used more of Bronwen’s emotionally manipulative magic (and I say that with affection because all of her “feels” moments sneak up on you and you’re always surprised to find yourself having a spectacular emotional reaction without warning). Of course, reading Bronwen Evans is never enough because she's just that good at making strong characters and good plots in a market saturated with far too many mediocre novels.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy dark romances, flawed heroes and emotional stories. I would suggest this to readers of the Disgraced Lord series and avid romance readers looking for another fantastic read. A warning to readers that Addicted to the Duke deals with dark subject matter.
chymerra's review
4.0
Do not judge Addicted to the Duke by its cover. Why you ask? Well because the cover doesn’t do this book any justice. While it is nice to look at, and who doesn’t like a bare-chested man who is in the process of ripping his shirt off, I do think that the cover should have included Hestia. Normally, I am like “No women on the cover” but Hestia earned a spot in my heart because of everything that she went through and how she loved Alex unconditionally. Actually, thinking about it, maybe Hestia should have been featured instead of Alex. Just saying…
I loved, loved, loved the note that the author included before the prologue. It explained so much about Alex and his dependency on laudanum and opium. It also explained how addiction wasn’t even given a name until 1909. Which is a full 102 years after Alex’s experiences. I thought it was very helpful that she included that because, like Bronwen said in the note, no one understood that opium and laudanum were addictive. So everything that was written about Alex, the view people had on those substances and how widespread they were was historically accurate. And I can’t tell you how much I love it when an author does their research and gets it right in the book!!
Alex was so tortured by his years of captivity by Murad, a self-titled Sultan, and pirate, that he felt he couldn’t be loved or love anyone. The author never lets the reader know what exactly Alex experienced at the hands of Murad but she drops enough hints that I thought I knew what happened and I felt awful for him. No wonder he had nightmares, 7 years after the fact. He suffered from PTSD (not that it was even recognized back then) and extreme self-loathing. The only person who accepted him, scars and all, was Hestia but he wrote it off as hero-worship and figured that if she knew the truth that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him. Which wasn’t the case. I cried, ugly cried, during his flashbacks and when he finally told Hestia about his addiction and what happened with Murad.
Hestia was so completely opposite of what Regency era women were supposed to be and it was a breath of fresh air. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, her interactions with Murad and Alex definitely showed that. She didn’t let the fact that her father warned Alex off of seeing her (citing his addiction to opium and laudanum but there was another reason and it was really awful) scare her off. She loved Alex completely and she was able to take everything that had happened to him, process it and not let it cloud her love of him. Even his relationship with Tulay (read the book to find out who she was). She was perfect for him.
The sex scenes and there were a few, were hot. The only thing I didn’t like was when Alex and Hestia had sex for the first time. Alex was drugged when they had sex and thought it was a dream. Now, I understand totally where Hestia was coming from. I mean, the man of her dreams was kissing her and feeling her up. But she should have stopped. She knew he was drugged. But she went ahead and gave him her virginity anyway. Which didn’t sit right with me when I read it. Other than that first scene, everything else was burning!!
I liked how all the plotlines got resolved at the end of the book. I cheered when Alex, Hestia, and Murad had it out at the end of the book and honestly, Murad got what was coming to him. The only thing that even left a bad taste in my mouth was how Hestia’s father treated Alex. I was pretty ticked off about it and loved that Alex finally stood up for himself. The epilogue, though, was my favorite part of the book. I was in tears reading it and all I have to say is “Yes!!” (read the book if you want to find out what made me have that reaction)
How many stars will I give Addicted to the Duke: 4
Why: Loved the storyline and the characters. All were vividly written. The only thing that turned me off was that one sex scene.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Adult
Why: Sex and violence. Also drug use
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
I loved, loved, loved the note that the author included before the prologue. It explained so much about Alex and his dependency on laudanum and opium. It also explained how addiction wasn’t even given a name until 1909. Which is a full 102 years after Alex’s experiences. I thought it was very helpful that she included that because, like Bronwen said in the note, no one understood that opium and laudanum were addictive. So everything that was written about Alex, the view people had on those substances and how widespread they were was historically accurate. And I can’t tell you how much I love it when an author does their research and gets it right in the book!!
Alex was so tortured by his years of captivity by Murad, a self-titled Sultan, and pirate, that he felt he couldn’t be loved or love anyone. The author never lets the reader know what exactly Alex experienced at the hands of Murad but she drops enough hints that I thought I knew what happened and I felt awful for him. No wonder he had nightmares, 7 years after the fact. He suffered from PTSD (not that it was even recognized back then) and extreme self-loathing. The only person who accepted him, scars and all, was Hestia but he wrote it off as hero-worship and figured that if she knew the truth that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him. Which wasn’t the case. I cried, ugly cried, during his flashbacks and when he finally told Hestia about his addiction and what happened with Murad.
Hestia was so completely opposite of what Regency era women were supposed to be and it was a breath of fresh air. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, her interactions with Murad and Alex definitely showed that. She didn’t let the fact that her father warned Alex off of seeing her (citing his addiction to opium and laudanum but there was another reason and it was really awful) scare her off. She loved Alex completely and she was able to take everything that had happened to him, process it and not let it cloud her love of him. Even his relationship with Tulay (read the book to find out who she was). She was perfect for him.
The sex scenes and there were a few, were hot. The only thing I didn’t like was when Alex and Hestia had sex for the first time. Alex was drugged when they had sex and thought it was a dream. Now, I understand totally where Hestia was coming from. I mean, the man of her dreams was kissing her and feeling her up. But she should have stopped. She knew he was drugged. But she went ahead and gave him her virginity anyway. Which didn’t sit right with me when I read it. Other than that first scene, everything else was burning!!
I liked how all the plotlines got resolved at the end of the book. I cheered when Alex, Hestia, and Murad had it out at the end of the book and honestly, Murad got what was coming to him. The only thing that even left a bad taste in my mouth was how Hestia’s father treated Alex. I was pretty ticked off about it and loved that Alex finally stood up for himself. The epilogue, though, was my favorite part of the book. I was in tears reading it and all I have to say is “Yes!!” (read the book if you want to find out what made me have that reaction)
How many stars will I give Addicted to the Duke: 4
Why: Loved the storyline and the characters. All were vividly written. The only thing that turned me off was that one sex scene.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Adult
Why: Sex and violence. Also drug use
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
blackshelfbooks's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This was a fun read. While the plot did get a little tiresome at times (I felt like it could have been shorter), I was happy with the general story. Alex was captured years ago and kept as a prisoner of a Turkish pirate for two years, during which he became addicted to opium. A few years later, he rescued Hestia, the daughter of the earl who saved him from his captivity, from the same pirate. She loved him for years (with a good amount of hero worship), even though he pushed her away due to the earl specifically telling him to stay away. Then, when her father's cousin claims that the earl is dead, they sail to Greece to find her father and - for Alex - get revenge for his years of captivity.
I love Hestia's pure love for Alex. Granted, it did start off as mostly hero worship, but even when she discovers what he went through as a slave, that doesn't deter her at all. She's always able to find the good in him - and in others. I think she also learns how to stand up for herself more as the book continues. At one point, she even thinks "I'm not going to let a man decide this for me" or something along those lines. YES, GIRL. I enjoy a character who learns to stand up for themselves while also holding on to their innate goodness.
Alex, of course, is plagued by the things that he did and that were done to him as a slave, so he has the injured leading man personality. He's been attracted to Hestia for years, but due to the promise that he gave to her father, refuses to address it. His character grows a tiny bit, but I didn't see it as much as in Hestia. I would have liked more growth from him.
While I think it could have been shorter and some of the descriptive passages weren't my favorite, it was still a good read. As the title suggests, Evans addresses the topic of addiction through Alex's opium addiction. We see him struggle throughout a good portion of the book with his addiction and his fear of falling victim to it. Sometimes romance novels solely focus on the romance, but I like that the author added this dimension to the book as well.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgally for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!
This was a fun read. While the plot did get a little tiresome at times (I felt like it could have been shorter), I was happy with the general story. Alex was captured years ago and kept as a prisoner of a Turkish pirate for two years, during which he became addicted to opium. A few years later, he rescued Hestia, the daughter of the earl who saved him from his captivity, from the same pirate. She loved him for years (with a good amount of hero worship), even though he pushed her away due to the earl specifically telling him to stay away. Then, when her father's cousin claims that the earl is dead, they sail to Greece to find her father and - for Alex - get revenge for his years of captivity.
I love Hestia's pure love for Alex. Granted, it did start off as mostly hero worship, but even when she discovers what he went through as a slave, that doesn't deter her at all. She's always able to find the good in him - and in others. I think she also learns how to stand up for herself more as the book continues. At one point, she even thinks "I'm not going to let a man decide this for me" or something along those lines. YES, GIRL. I enjoy a character who learns to stand up for themselves while also holding on to their innate goodness.
Alex, of course, is plagued by the things that he did and that were done to him as a slave, so he has the injured leading man personality. He's been attracted to Hestia for years, but due to the promise that he gave to her father, refuses to address it. His character grows a tiny bit, but I didn't see it as much as in Hestia. I would have liked more growth from him.
While I think it could have been shorter and some of the descriptive passages weren't my favorite, it was still a good read. As the title suggests, Evans addresses the topic of addiction through Alex's opium addiction. We see him struggle throughout a good portion of the book with his addiction and his fear of falling victim to it. Sometimes romance novels solely focus on the romance, but I like that the author added this dimension to the book as well.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgally for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!
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