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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Sigh. When I ordered this book I was on a Bridgerton high, and this is not Bridgerton.
The drama I need was not there! Its a nice enough book with some steam, don't get me wrong, but if you are looking for a book to ease those Bridgerton needs, this isn't the one.
I am sure if I went into it without Bridgerton hopes, I would have liked it more. However, the strong female character is something that makes me very happy!
The drama I need was not there! Its a nice enough book with some steam, don't get me wrong, but if you are looking for a book to ease those Bridgerton needs, this isn't the one.
I am sure if I went into it without Bridgerton hopes, I would have liked it more. However, the strong female character is something that makes me very happy!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
An excellent book - that cover alone deserves an entire star. August and Evan's characters were well-fleshed out and their motives understandable. I admired August for her intellectual skills, and really felt for her when she realized her father only ever indulged her efforts to improve the company's profits and never properly appreciated it. Evan, too, was bold in his own way and made the most of whatever assets he had. His love for his family shows clearly in his actions. I really liked that he never pressurised August into marrying him and gave as much time and space as possible (while trying to ensure that her decision would be in his favour, obviously). The ending was definitely a surprise, but not a bad one. In this book, we see sparks between Violet and Leigh and I'm curious to see where that will lead.
One of my peeves about this book was that the MCs spend way too much time thinking about each other's physical assets and - hello? there's a lot more to a person than that. This bothers me with nearly all the HR books I've read recently, so maybe it's my tastes that have changed and not the books' fault.
Overall, a great read and definitely recommended for fans of historical romance.
One of my peeves about this book was that the MCs spend way too much time thinking about each other's physical assets and - hello? there's a lot more to a person than that. This bothers me with nearly all the HR books I've read recently, so maybe it's my tastes that have changed and not the books' fault.
Overall, a great read and definitely recommended for fans of historical romance.
I was pleasantly surprised by this! Every time i thought I knew what was going to happen next St.George chose a different route and it was so much more pleasant that way. I was happy to see the characters staying true to themselves throughout the novel. Likewise, I felt the plot points were thought through.
I love a historical romance that gives its heroines a certain level of agency and allows the men to be emotional and have growth. Gone are the days of swooning over machismo attitudes. Very cute, I’m excited for the next one.
I love a historical romance that gives its heroines a certain level of agency and allows the men to be emotional and have growth. Gone are the days of swooning over machismo attitudes. Very cute, I’m excited for the next one.
I have been loving historical romances lately and was excited to start The Heiress Gets a Duke after reading the blurb. This was an entertaining historical romance with a bit of a twist. I really loved the banter and back and forth between August and Evan and their chemistry was wonderful. For better or for worse, they never backed down and they challenged each other throughout the book. August was a force to be reckoned with and I loved that she stayed true to herself and her own dreams. Yes, there were communication issues and misunderstandings along the way, but for the most part there wasn't a ton of angst in this one. The overall pacing was slow however, and it made the novel feel a bit too long. Things picked up in the last third or so of the book, but I wasn't a fan of the OW drama that arose late in the story. The final resolution felt rushed and left me wanting more.
The secondary characters were great and played their roles perfectly, especially Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw. I don't think I could have despised them more! I'm curious to see how Violet and Leigh's story unfolds and even Max has piqued my interest. Overall, this was an entertaining novel that historical romance fans will enjoy.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
The secondary characters were great and played their roles perfectly, especially Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw. I don't think I could have despised them more! I'm curious to see how Violet and Leigh's story unfolds and even Max has piqued my interest. Overall, this was an entertaining novel that historical romance fans will enjoy.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
Thanks to Berkley Pub for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
I’m all about an independent, business-minded heroine who would rather not marry a Duke, thankyouverymuch! Harper St. George’s The Heiress Gets a Duke offers that plus an aristocratic hero who *shudder* has to “work” to get his intended bride to accept his suit & some sweet & sexy moments between the two.
American August Crenshaw & her family are temporarily in London to visit a friend when her wealthy parents announce that they’re marrying off her younger, more conventional sister to a penniless, arrogant Duke.
Evan Sterling, said Duke, does not want to marry but he must to save the people who depend on him & to live that Big D—Duke, silly—life to which he is accustomed.
But saucy August—who wants to help run her family’s company, Crenshaw Iron Works, & who decidedly does not want to marry—is the Crenshaw who catches his eye.
The fortune-hunting hero/American heiress pairing isn’t one that I’ve encountered a lot before & it complicates the dynamic between Evan & August in an intriguing way. The set-downs August lays, the fact that she basically laughs in his face at his arrogance, gave me a lot of pleasure ;), & the vulnerable moment Evan has when he shares his grief over his brother is touching.
But I think my biggest quibble with the romance is that it doesn’t feel that truly romantic to me. The hero & heroine are both quite resistant toward marriage well into the book, & though their resistance wears down, their romance arc is never assertive enough. Persuasive enough. Without offering any specific spoilers, it just feels lackluster to me.
Please also note there is reference to Crenshaw Iron Work’s possible expansion into India, a moment that @liber_lady explores in greater detail in her own review.
The Heiress Gets a Duke is an interesting read with a heroine who wants to make her mark on the world & the cover is truly ravishing, but unfortunately the romance falls flat for me.
3 ⭐️. The Heiress Gets a Duke is available now.
I’m all about an independent, business-minded heroine who would rather not marry a Duke, thankyouverymuch! Harper St. George’s The Heiress Gets a Duke offers that plus an aristocratic hero who *shudder* has to “work” to get his intended bride to accept his suit & some sweet & sexy moments between the two.
American August Crenshaw & her family are temporarily in London to visit a friend when her wealthy parents announce that they’re marrying off her younger, more conventional sister to a penniless, arrogant Duke.
Evan Sterling, said Duke, does not want to marry but he must to save the people who depend on him & to live that Big D—Duke, silly—life to which he is accustomed.
But saucy August—who wants to help run her family’s company, Crenshaw Iron Works, & who decidedly does not want to marry—is the Crenshaw who catches his eye.
The fortune-hunting hero/American heiress pairing isn’t one that I’ve encountered a lot before & it complicates the dynamic between Evan & August in an intriguing way. The set-downs August lays, the fact that she basically laughs in his face at his arrogance, gave me a lot of pleasure ;), & the vulnerable moment Evan has when he shares his grief over his brother is touching.
But I think my biggest quibble with the romance is that it doesn’t feel that truly romantic to me. The hero & heroine are both quite resistant toward marriage well into the book, & though their resistance wears down, their romance arc is never assertive enough. Persuasive enough. Without offering any specific spoilers, it just feels lackluster to me.
Please also note there is reference to Crenshaw Iron Work’s possible expansion into India, a moment that @liber_lady explores in greater detail in her own review.
The Heiress Gets a Duke is an interesting read with a heroine who wants to make her mark on the world & the cover is truly ravishing, but unfortunately the romance falls flat for me.
3 ⭐️. The Heiress Gets a Duke is available now.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Was here for the smut, misogyny was annoying
Since joining bookstagram, I have a newfound appreciation for historical romance. That extends to The Heiress Gets a Duke, out today from Berkley! August Crenshaw, an American heiress, pities her friend who is married off to an elderly British duke for the connections. But she secretly wonders, will the same fate befall her or her sister? A year later, the Crenshaws are visiting London while Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, happens to be in need of a (wealthy) wife. In his mind, Violet and August would be perfect for the station, but he soon learns that there’s more to them than meets the eye.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Heiress Gets a Duke. This 19th-century romance has a decidedly feminist bent, and while I can’t speak to the historical accuracy, it was a delight to read. August and Evan are each interesting, fully-fleshed out characters in their own right, and I loved that we saw their interests outside of each other. This was a quick, easy, and extremely steam read! I would have loved to see a little more of our supporting characters, but I suspect that author Harper St. George is saving them for future novels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Heiress Gets a Duke is available today! Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for sharing an e-ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of The Heiress Gets a Duke on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
⚠️ CW: death of a sibling, death of a parent, violence
Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
I was pleasantly surprised by The Heiress Gets a Duke. This 19th-century romance has a decidedly feminist bent, and while I can’t speak to the historical accuracy, it was a delight to read. August and Evan are each interesting, fully-fleshed out characters in their own right, and I loved that we saw their interests outside of each other. This was a quick, easy, and extremely steam read! I would have loved to see a little more of our supporting characters, but I suspect that author Harper St. George is saving them for future novels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Heiress Gets a Duke is available today! Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for sharing an e-ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of The Heiress Gets a Duke on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
⚠️ CW: death of a sibling, death of a parent, violence
Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
What can I say? This wasn't a bad book, but to me it was bland and so much like many other historical romances I've read over the years. I've long craved - futilely so far - historical romances set during the Gilded Age that are steeped in the intricate manners, morals, homes, fashions, and habits of that period in history, and I'm fascinated by real life stories of American "dollar princesses" who were married off to British aristocrats in a crass and often tragic exchange of money for titles and prestige. I want the kind of beautiful but suffocating atmosphere of a movie like Martin Scorsese's "The Age of Innocence"; I want an angsty Edith Wharton novel but sexier, and with a happy ending.
This was not that. I mean, obviously no one is going to be Edith Wharton. But you know what I mean. I want the richness of period detail and the intensely circumscribed society of that time. I want the wrong move or an inappropriate moment to have genuine danger for the characters' lives and reputations. I want a touch of hands to be as intense and erotic as a kiss. (Remember Daniel Day-Lewis removing Michelle Pfeiffer's glove in "The Age of Innocence"? I want that.) A few desultory mentions of Worth gowns, Newport, and Mrs. Astor aren't enough to really put me in the Gilded Age.
As for the characters and the romance, it all felt kind of standard. Impoverished duke with daddy issues, feisty and independent heiress who isn't like all the other prim and proper ladies of her day. Throw them together with a lot of arguing and sexy gazing and body parts throbbing and watch them fall in love in a few weeks.
Two stars.
This was not that. I mean, obviously no one is going to be Edith Wharton. But you know what I mean. I want the richness of period detail and the intensely circumscribed society of that time. I want the wrong move or an inappropriate moment to have genuine danger for the characters' lives and reputations. I want a touch of hands to be as intense and erotic as a kiss. (Remember Daniel Day-Lewis removing Michelle Pfeiffer's glove in "The Age of Innocence"? I want that.) A few desultory mentions of Worth gowns, Newport, and Mrs. Astor aren't enough to really put me in the Gilded Age.
As for the characters and the romance, it all felt kind of standard. Impoverished duke with daddy issues, feisty and independent heiress who isn't like all the other prim and proper ladies of her day. Throw them together with a lot of arguing and sexy gazing and body parts throbbing and watch them fall in love in a few weeks.
Two stars.