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A review by amberreadsalot
Dubious about the Duke by Alexa Aston
3.0
I have read most of Ms. Aston's books and most of what I have read are solidly 3.5-4 stars for me. This one, while enjoyable, didn't quite get there. The story centers on the last of the Second Sons, Win, who has returned home to take over a dukedom he never expected to inherit. The heroine is Sera, twin sister to Minta, who married another Second Son in the previous book. Perhaps it was because I read the books in this series all in a row, but the plot line here felt a bit repetitive. Hero unexpectedly becomes a peer, comes home planning to have the typical ton marriage, meets the heroine, everything changes for him but he doesn't bother to tell her, there is a reunion and a HEA.
Here, there were several times I felt like I was rereading Made for the Marquess, the third book in the series. And while many, if not most, regency romances have some form of insta-love, or at least insta-lust, the transitions here are remarkably fast. Win's quick switch does not feel like it came from true character development. Sera basically deciding to come be Win's unpaid governess (do we really think he would have let her stay in the room meant for the governess?) is somewhat bizarre in light of all that has been said about her shyness and discomfort in new situations. Not to mention how in the span of 24-hours Win went from distant guardian to loving uncle while in the same span of time two hellion boys become remarkably well-behaved. It just all felt a little nonsensical, even for a book of this genre.
All of that said, I still have mostly liked the Second Sons series and Ms. Aston's books and will continue to read both this series and her others. It is interesting that she is now branching into the secondary characters now that all 5 Second Sons have been married off. In conclusion, this was a 2.5 star read for me. I am rounding up because I know the author's other works.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions herein are my own.
Here, there were several times I felt like I was rereading Made for the Marquess, the third book in the series. And while many, if not most, regency romances have some form of insta-love, or at least insta-lust, the transitions here are remarkably fast. Win's quick switch does not feel like it came from true character development. Sera basically deciding to come be Win's unpaid governess (do we really think he would have let her stay in the room meant for the governess?) is somewhat bizarre in light of all that has been said about her shyness and discomfort in new situations. Not to mention how in the span of 24-hours Win went from distant guardian to loving uncle while in the same span of time two hellion boys become remarkably well-behaved. It just all felt a little nonsensical, even for a book of this genre.
All of that said, I still have mostly liked the Second Sons series and Ms. Aston's books and will continue to read both this series and her others. It is interesting that she is now branching into the secondary characters now that all 5 Second Sons have been married off. In conclusion, this was a 2.5 star read for me. I am rounding up because I know the author's other works.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions herein are my own.