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A review by turophile
Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
3.0
Growing up, I was often sad when I reached the end of the book. I’d spent all this time getting to know characters and towns, I just wanted to know what happened next. Where did their lives go. (Clearly, fan fiction was just not a thing at the time). Young me would have loved this book. Although each romance novel is different, they each share some commanalities – two people, often man and woman, start coming together – sometimes they’ve just met, other times they’ve known each other forever. And there’s always a conflict, or two, that is getting in the way of their love – internal conflict, external conflicts, or both. The conflict resolves and they get their happily ever after.
In this book, that sequence wrapped up pretty early on in the book. Viola Astley, a member if the Wildes family and stepdaughter to a Duke, is painfully shy, largely because she’s never felt like a true daughter of the duke. When she was younger, she also spied a couple arguing at a ball and the man really screamed at the woman. This made a lasting impression on her.
Fast forward a few years and it’s getting close to her season. The new Vicar and his rather obnoxious fiancé come to visit. Viola falls instantly in love with the Vicar, who’s handsome and nice. She decides to break up their engagement so she can marry him, though her family soon gets wise to the plan.
Meanwhile, at another ball, she overheards Devyn, the Duke of Wynter, telling a friend he needs to get married and produce an heir, so he’s going to court and marry, Joan, Viola’s step sister. The friend, Otis, says – no, you should go for Viola. Devyn rejects the idea because Viola’s too mousy and is not the real daughter of a Duke, which makes Viola quite angry.
She reveals herself and argues with Devyn, who quickly finds her attractive and not mousy. He soon realizes her desire to marry the Vicar, so he devises his own plan to block that. Sparks continue to fly between the two, which leads to kissing, which leads to being caught in a compromising position, which leads to a quick marriage. And the sparks grow even more, as they quickly embark on a relationship with plenty of marital relations. But that gets you half way through the book, if that.
The story continues. Secondary plots resolve, the vicar’s wife gets her comeuppance, but there’s really no conflict for the two lead characters and the book felt wanting as a result. Yes, Devyn figures out that he was the gentleman whom Viola spotted arguing years ago and he becomes convinced he ruined her life. He ultimately reveals that and she responds with a shrug, “meh”. I get that people can plow small incidents up in their brain – it happens, but it’s not enough – at least this incient is not enough – to prop up half a book.
When I read novellas, I often wish they could be longer. This book should have been a novella.
It’s sweet and charming, Ms. James is a good writer, the characters are enjoyable, yet something was missing. 3/5
In this book, that sequence wrapped up pretty early on in the book. Viola Astley, a member if the Wildes family and stepdaughter to a Duke, is painfully shy, largely because she’s never felt like a true daughter of the duke. When she was younger, she also spied a couple arguing at a ball and the man really screamed at the woman. This made a lasting impression on her.
Fast forward a few years and it’s getting close to her season. The new Vicar and his rather obnoxious fiancé come to visit. Viola falls instantly in love with the Vicar, who’s handsome and nice. She decides to break up their engagement so she can marry him, though her family soon gets wise to the plan.
Meanwhile, at another ball, she overheards Devyn, the Duke of Wynter, telling a friend he needs to get married and produce an heir, so he’s going to court and marry, Joan, Viola’s step sister. The friend, Otis, says – no, you should go for Viola. Devyn rejects the idea because Viola’s too mousy and is not the real daughter of a Duke, which makes Viola quite angry.
She reveals herself and argues with Devyn, who quickly finds her attractive and not mousy. He soon realizes her desire to marry the Vicar, so he devises his own plan to block that. Sparks continue to fly between the two, which leads to kissing, which leads to being caught in a compromising position, which leads to a quick marriage. And the sparks grow even more, as they quickly embark on a relationship with plenty of marital relations. But that gets you half way through the book, if that.
The story continues. Secondary plots resolve, the vicar’s wife gets her comeuppance, but there’s really no conflict for the two lead characters and the book felt wanting as a result. Yes, Devyn figures out that he was the gentleman whom Viola spotted arguing years ago and he becomes convinced he ruined her life. He ultimately reveals that and she responds with a shrug, “meh”. I get that people can plow small incidents up in their brain – it happens, but it’s not enough – at least this incient is not enough – to prop up half a book.
When I read novellas, I often wish they could be longer. This book should have been a novella.
It’s sweet and charming, Ms. James is a good writer, the characters are enjoyable, yet something was missing. 3/5