Reviews

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley

mirrorchaser's review

3.0

In all fairness to this book, I was not expecting a genuine historical romance. I didn't read the blurb and the cover made me think it would be more "rom com" because when one judges a book by its cover they expect historical romance to have a windswept regency woman on the cover.

Once I realized that this was *not* in fact a rom com, I began to enjoy it. I like the characters and think their situation is realistic. It is heavy on the romance and light on the plot which keeps perfectly with the genre, but there is a bit of a plot to give the characters some depth.

My only complaint here is that this book is dreadfully slow and the plot parts are in such large, disjointed chunks that they seem like they were written after everything else and thrown in.

nyxki's review

2.0

I wanted to like this, because the premise was so interesting. But it was boring. I don't mind slow burn romances, but this was more like no-burn. There were approximately 800 sub plots that all sounded exciting, but none of them were ever really explored.

katiegrrrl's review

3.0

I read this for a book challenge. As historic fiction the characters had to behave somewhat like the times the were in, but it was disappointing that they did to extent that they. I wish that Patience had not blamed herself for so much and that the Duke had been less of an asshat. I doubt I will read anymore in this series, but i wanted historic romance written by a BIPOC author. The writing was good, I just didn’t care for the characters or the era.

elizaed's review

DNF

barbrattybooks's review

2.0

Just ok

extracelestial's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I wanted to like this one! A BIPOC heroine who was also a mother?! There was a lot of potential but I found the characters really frustrating, and their fondness for each other felt a little forced.

jmcrane79's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lifeand100books's review against another edition

4.0

I truly truly truly enjoyed these characters. Patience is such a fierce mother that is willing to do anything for her son. I just loved her. And Busick, the wounded war hero that just never gives up. Just loved them.

I can't wait to read about more of the widows that are in the Widow's Grace. (And to find out Gantry's story!)

emeraldawn's review against another edition

mysterious

3.0

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

4.0

A delicious slow burn interracial Regency romance between a widow and the Duke who has become ward to her infant son. Born in the Caribbean, Patience is of mixed race and fell in love with a rich man. However, when he dies she is sent to Bedlam psychiatric asylum only to escape and make her way back in disguise.

I loved the dynamic between the Duke and Patience! Haunted from his own time and losses during the Napoleonic war where he lost part of his leg, he is determined to do right by his ward, even if it means keeping around the woman he doesn't realize is the baby's mother. Highly recommended for fans of Julia Quinn or Mary Balogh and great on audio narrated by Bahni Turpin! Looking forward to reading more books in this series!