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A review by kiki124
Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
4.0
This is really 3.5-star book for me.
When I fell back into reading romance novels about 5 years ago, Eloisa James was one of the authors who sucked me back in. I was excited for her Wildes of Lindow Castle series, and it's been a frothy diversion. These books lack the depth of characterization and meaningful plots of the Essex Sisters, Desperate Duchesses, or Duchess in Love (they're more like her fairy tales), but James' trademark witty dialogue, joy in food and fashion, family loyalty and potent expression of lust more than get the job done. I especially liked the inclusion of medieval plays (I'm a theatre professor, after all) and the steamiest scene evokes William Wycherley'sThe Country Wife . The love story happened fast and without much conflict, but Viola and Wynter were rounded characters who made sense together. If you expect a funny, sexy, romp, you won't be disappointed.
I've recently seen James compared to Georgette Heyer, and that seems apt. Perhaps it's this particular polarized political moment, or the pandemic, but I found the lives of leisure more than a little tone deaf--these characters do nothing more than sit around, getting dressed, eating, and having sex. And none of them are explicitly queer ( And, again, there are an awful lot of very sexy and muscular Dukes taking an awful lot of baths. It's time for more POC, even in Georgian England. This series in particular, with Alaric's travels and North and Jeremy's time in the Colonies, could realistically support African American/Afro Caribbean characters or Native Americans. Parth is certainly a welcome addition, but we need to do better.
When I fell back into reading romance novels about 5 years ago, Eloisa James was one of the authors who sucked me back in. I was excited for her Wildes of Lindow Castle series, and it's been a frothy diversion. These books lack the depth of characterization and meaningful plots of the Essex Sisters, Desperate Duchesses, or Duchess in Love (they're more like her fairy tales), but James' trademark witty dialogue, joy in food and fashion, family loyalty and potent expression of lust more than get the job done. I especially liked the inclusion of medieval plays (I'm a theatre professor, after all) and the steamiest scene evokes William Wycherley's
I've recently seen James compared to Georgette Heyer, and that seems apt. Perhaps it's this particular polarized political moment, or the pandemic, but I found the lives of leisure more than a little tone deaf--these characters do nothing more than sit around, getting dressed, eating, and having sex. And none of them are explicitly queer (