Scan barcode
hellhorse's review against another edition
4.0
This book has everything I enjoy in a romance - strong characters, tense conflict, and decent sex scenes. The book also made a point to show people of color and queer people in Regency England as part of society, not as exotic stereotypes. I could see myself reading this again, which for me is very rare with romances.
This one falls short of 5 stars, however, because of a few things that bothered me while reading. Almost all Italian sayings in the text were superfluous since she’d say or think the English translation directly after. And while I appreciate the social justice-themed plot, some of the language in the book felt way too modern and slangy for a 19th century setting. At one point, Lucia notes that Tom’s kindness wasn’t performative and I fully rolled my eyes because it sounded like a snarky tweet. At times it felt like the book was intentionally hitting on “woke” concepts really hard as if to say that it’s okay to root for this couple despite the fact that Tom is a wealthy aristocrat from a conservative family. It made his and Lucia’s relationship seem a lot less messy and complicated when they’re casually talking about their class and gender power imbalance. Don’t get me wrong, loved that those ideas were on the table, but I found their introduction into the text to be kind of clunky, as though Tom and Lucia were having a realistically awkward 2019 conversation in 18-something.
As much as the stuff in the previous paragraph bothered me, the book was good enough that I was able to put it aside (mostly) and enjoy this smart, sensitive, and surprisingly hot romance.
This one falls short of 5 stars, however, because of a few things that bothered me while reading. Almost all Italian sayings in the text were superfluous since she’d say or think the English translation directly after. And while I appreciate the social justice-themed plot, some of the language in the book felt way too modern and slangy for a 19th century setting. At one point, Lucia notes that Tom’s kindness wasn’t performative and I fully rolled my eyes because it sounded like a snarky tweet. At times it felt like the book was intentionally hitting on “woke” concepts really hard as if to say that it’s okay to root for this couple despite the fact that Tom is a wealthy aristocrat from a conservative family. It made his and Lucia’s relationship seem a lot less messy and complicated when they’re casually talking about their class and gender power imbalance. Don’t get me wrong, loved that those ideas were on the table, but I found their introduction into the text to be kind of clunky, as though Tom and Lucia were having a realistically awkward 2019 conversation in 18-something.
As much as the stuff in the previous paragraph bothered me, the book was good enough that I was able to put it aside (mostly) and enjoy this smart, sensitive, and surprisingly hot romance.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
Dare To Love A Duke by Eva Leigh is the second in Leigh's The London Underground series. Find out why I enjoyed this audiobook. Read my full review here Review goes live 6/4/2021
melbsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: slut shaming, turning to sex work out of desperation (in the past), blackmail.
I've been intrigued by Amina as a character from the first time she showed up on the page back in the Wicked Quills of London series, so I may have screamed a small amount when I realised that this book was her story.
And it didn't disappoint. I loved getting her backstory (although I wanted sliiiiiiiightly more explanation around her father and grandparents than we got (entirely possible I may have missed it because I was listening to the audio of this while making dinner)) and the romance was delightful. Were things wrapped up a little too neat and tidy for my liking? Sure. Did I care? Not even remotely.
I've been intrigued by Amina as a character from the first time she showed up on the page back in the Wicked Quills of London series, so I may have screamed a small amount when I realised that this book was her story.
And it didn't disappoint. I loved getting her backstory (although I wanted sliiiiiiiightly more explanation around her father and grandparents than we got (entirely possible I may have missed it because I was listening to the audio of this while making dinner)) and the romance was delightful. Were things wrapped up a little too neat and tidy for my liking? Sure. Did I care? Not even remotely.
traciquiroz's review against another edition
4.0
What a great ending to the series. Loved getting to know this group of friends and everyone finding their happy ending through all the challenges they faced.
pandashiv's review against another edition
5.0
https://notjustabuzzword.com/2018/09/10/dare-to-love-a-duke-review-spoilers/
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
malissac's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one the best of the bunch, sadly it is the last. I am kinda hoping Tom's sister gets a spin-off book though. I liked the dynamic between the two main characters, their push and pull felt a little more realistic than that of the previous two and I really liked the concept behind the book, of the club and girls school. I would have liked more background on the club and the ownership of it, ie how all that came about...but overall this is a good book to get lost in for a while. Don't go in expecting it to fit into historical accuracies, just take it for what it is, a romance with a historical bent.
joreadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't hit the mark for me
3 stars
This is the third book in the Scandalous Ladies of London series (also known as the [b:London Underground|40721889|Not a book|NOT A BOOK|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555345628l/40721889._SX50_.jpg|63343933] series). While the couples from the first two books ([b:From Duke Till Dawn|31931749|From Duke Till Dawn (The London Underground, #1)|Eva Leigh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544946325l/31931749._SY75_.jpg|52586127] and [b:Counting on a Countess|35068619|Counting on a Countess (The London Underground, #2)|Eva Leigh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544945243l/35068619._SY75_.jpg|56364069] respectively) pop up in this tale - this can be read entirely as a standalone.
I enjoyed the first two books in the series - giving them both 4 stars - but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I think that might partly have been because both Tom and Amina/Lucia have appeared throughout the series with little glimpses that set out to tempt readers into wanting to know the couple’s story. Instead, I always thought they were a mismatched pair which definitely had me going into this book waiting to be convinced.
And I was not convinced.
I normally like a couple who are hugely different in some way and have to find a way to overcome their situation/temprement/ideals etc to be together. In this story, I found Lucia and Tom were so similar - jaded, world wise characters - that even their difference in stations hardly seemed insurmountable.
I also very much enjoy sex in a story - in fact I prefer a story with some graphic shenanigans going on and if there’s graphic language it’s all the better. So I was very much surprised that I found the sex, and the descriptions of the Orchid Club’s goings on, to be vulgar, gratuitous and a little gross. And the use of all the f-words in a Regency tale…well, it didn’t feel right, somehow.
Despite the writing being good, I found myself massively struggling to finish this book. I understand that much of this might have been due to my preconceived notions about the book and its characters - which is why I feel it’s only fair that I up my grading to 3 stars instead of my initial thoughts of 2.
Not a book for me, but if you like the idea of a worldly woman who manages a sex club matching with a worldly duke who frequents said sex club - then this very well could be tale for you. But just 3 stars from me.
