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A review by cala_p
My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid
5.0
I received an ARC of this book.
Being unfamiliar with this author I went head first into the book with only the synopsis to drive me forward.
Katherine (Kitty) Danvers has had multiple seasons with them going nowhere. She has two sisters who need to marry and marry well in order to save their family from impending financial ruin. As they already have little money, the sisters are not marriageable and Kitty has had no luck. So she conducts a plan and claims to be engaged to a duke who has not been seen in years. With the duke’s name and title attached to her, her sisters immediately start attracting men and material things are coming to the family. Alexander, said duke, reads of his engagement in the papers. Surprisingly he does nothing but continue to send her stuff and plan a trip to meet her.
This book has a beauty and the beast retelling vibe, particularly in the second half of the novel. Alexander experienced an accident in which scarred his face, much of his body and made it so he is unable to walk without a walker, but is often confined to a wheelchair. In the age of this story, all things that makes this duke unwanted by society. Kitty is unaware of all this until meeting him. Despite his injuries she slowly falls in love with him, for him and his kindness. She doesn’t care for the looks. He “the beast” worries that she will eventually want for more (children) in which he can not provide for her.
So despite the unique situation, they become friends. He helps her by keeping the lie alive. She helps him by being a friend and helping his loneliness. Together they fall in love and it is magical. What I especially love about this book is the development of the romance. It’s not quick. They do truly become friends while falling in love with one another. There’s a quote from a movie I love: “Love is friendship on fire” and this book represents that. Despite the attraction, the hold off and become friends but once the attraction builds more, on top of the friendship, it really all becomes enflamed creating one hell of a story. Alexander and Kitty are so great for each other. While she is young and “fresh” she had had a few seasons so both characters have an air of maturity around them.
Due to his limitations nothing physical happens for most of the book. I love that about this one. The story truly stayed true to the character’s disabilities and limitations and didn’t magically speed healing along in order to drive the physical aspects of the relationship.
I’m very happy I picked this one up. I can’t believe I need to wait a year for book 2, which is undoubtedly about a friend of hers in the club. I enjoyed this book immensely. A fairytale retelling without being too much of a retelling; more of a theme than anything. Magical, heartwarming, and lovely! I’ll definitely check out more from this author.
Being unfamiliar with this author I went head first into the book with only the synopsis to drive me forward.
Katherine (Kitty) Danvers has had multiple seasons with them going nowhere. She has two sisters who need to marry and marry well in order to save their family from impending financial ruin. As they already have little money, the sisters are not marriageable and Kitty has had no luck. So she conducts a plan and claims to be engaged to a duke who has not been seen in years. With the duke’s name and title attached to her, her sisters immediately start attracting men and material things are coming to the family. Alexander, said duke, reads of his engagement in the papers. Surprisingly he does nothing but continue to send her stuff and plan a trip to meet her.
This book has a beauty and the beast retelling vibe, particularly in the second half of the novel. Alexander experienced an accident in which scarred his face, much of his body and made it so he is unable to walk without a walker, but is often confined to a wheelchair. In the age of this story, all things that makes this duke unwanted by society. Kitty is unaware of all this until meeting him. Despite his injuries she slowly falls in love with him, for him and his kindness. She doesn’t care for the looks. He “the beast” worries that she will eventually want for more (children) in which he can not provide for her.
So despite the unique situation, they become friends. He helps her by keeping the lie alive. She helps him by being a friend and helping his loneliness. Together they fall in love and it is magical. What I especially love about this book is the development of the romance. It’s not quick. They do truly become friends while falling in love with one another. There’s a quote from a movie I love: “Love is friendship on fire” and this book represents that. Despite the attraction, the hold off and become friends but once the attraction builds more, on top of the friendship, it really all becomes enflamed creating one hell of a story. Alexander and Kitty are so great for each other. While she is young and “fresh” she had had a few seasons so both characters have an air of maturity around them.
Due to his limitations nothing physical happens for most of the book. I love that about this one. The story truly stayed true to the character’s disabilities and limitations and didn’t magically speed healing along in order to drive the physical aspects of the relationship.
I’m very happy I picked this one up. I can’t believe I need to wait a year for book 2, which is undoubtedly about a friend of hers in the club. I enjoyed this book immensely. A fairytale retelling without being too much of a retelling; more of a theme than anything. Magical, heartwarming, and lovely! I’ll definitely check out more from this author.