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A review by cleheny
The Ice Duchess by Amy Rose Bennett
2.0
I decided to read this because work has kept me so busy I couldn't focus on a more challenging book. Unfortunately, this wasn't that great or much fun. There were a couple of things I liked, the most important of which was that the couple admitted their love to each other well before the ending, and the h, at least, was confident that the H loved her before the mutual declaration. At least the reader didn't have to go through the nonsense of both being desperately in love with each other but neither believing the other felt the same. The story also avoided the cliché of constant misunderstandings leading the h/H to believe that the other has betrayed them/doesn't love them/whatever. Also, the H's past as a British spy is, for once, shown to have had its sordid side.
But the couple had very little chemistry. Georgiana, widowed after a 9-year platonic marriage to a man who was her best friend, survived a pretty horrific sexual trauma. Rafe is routinely described as a rake, but it's not clear why he has that reputation, as most of his sexual history is a mystery to the ton, which is not aware of his spy career. Georgiana is known for being cold and aloof, able to keep unscrupulous men at bay, yet one look at Rafe shatters all of her walls, and she is unable to concentrate when he immediately engages in risque, but banal, flirting. Rafe's supposedly fascinated by her aloof demeanor and reputation, which is why he pursues her and, of course, with one kiss, reveals her passionate nature. We aren't shown most of this; most of the time, the author just tells us, which contributes to the lack of a believable connection between the main characters.
I also hated how the author described characters as loving Georgiana, but they frequently didn't respect her. Although Georgiana's brother, as well as her best friend, are (somewhat) aware of her traumatic past, they don't respect her when she tells them things like, "don't set me up," "I want to go home," etc. The night that Rafe and Georgiana meet, the friend tells Rafe intimate details about Georgiana's past and marriage. And the brother ends up having conversation with Rafe about Georgiana's past and agrees to keep important things (like her life may be in a danger from an old enemy of Rafe's) from her because neither he nor Rafe want to "worry" her. I think what bothered me most about these characters is that the author presented them as being not only well-meaning but, usually, right to ignore Georgina's wishes and autonomy.
But the couple had very little chemistry. Georgiana, widowed after a 9-year platonic marriage to a man who was her best friend, survived a pretty horrific sexual trauma. Rafe is routinely described as a rake, but it's not clear why he has that reputation, as most of his sexual history is a mystery to the ton, which is not aware of his spy career. Georgiana is known for being cold and aloof, able to keep unscrupulous men at bay, yet one look at Rafe shatters all of her walls, and she is unable to concentrate when he immediately engages in risque, but banal, flirting. Rafe's supposedly fascinated by her aloof demeanor and reputation, which is why he pursues her and, of course, with one kiss, reveals her passionate nature. We aren't shown most of this; most of the time, the author just tells us, which contributes to the lack of a believable connection between the main characters.
I also hated how the author described characters as loving Georgiana, but they frequently didn't respect her. Although Georgiana's brother, as well as her best friend, are (somewhat) aware of her traumatic past, they don't respect her when she tells them things like, "don't set me up," "I want to go home," etc. The night that Rafe and Georgiana meet, the friend tells Rafe intimate details about Georgiana's past and marriage. And the brother ends up having conversation with Rafe about Georgiana's past and agrees to keep important things (like her life may be in a danger from an old enemy of Rafe's) from her because neither he nor Rafe want to "worry" her. I think what bothered me most about these characters is that the author presented them as being not only well-meaning but, usually, right to ignore Georgina's wishes and autonomy.