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A review by viktorian
Never Have I Ever With a Duke by Darcy Burke
4.0
When I requested this, I really swore I had read Darcy Burke before. Ironically, I may have dnf-ed the sort of companion book to this? But didn't get far enough to bother marking it?
Whatever the case, I'm glad I assumed otherwise and requested this.
Pros: the characterizations, hands down, and an enjoyable play against the usual the tropes (but not in the stereotypical "she's not like all the other girls" and "he's a rebel gentleman" way" you usually see). They're both pragmatic and practical about it, even if they waver between various feelings of guilt and embarrassment and acceptance about. For Arabella, marrying for wealth is the only way to rescue her family, even if she'd rather have an option for love or independence; it's the only option left. Graham's searching for another way for the money, but he knows marriage is the best way and he has to marry eventually anyway, right?
Spoiler-y pros:
Cons: A few of the motifs felt forced, or at least placed for future series set-up. The plot meandered a bit and felt a little flat, especially considering it has one of my favorite things (a con man/scheme). However... it also ended on a really good set-up that's going to make me search out the second book. (Even if I'm not sure how much I like the proposed pairing.)
tl;dr: This a was a solid, unconventionally fun 3.5 series starter that not only enticed me to look for book #2, but also convinced me I need to go look for more of Darcy Burke's stuff.
Disclaimer: Thanks Netgalley & publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts!
Whatever the case, I'm glad I assumed otherwise and requested this.
Pros: the characterizations, hands down, and an enjoyable play against the usual the tropes (but not in the stereotypical "she's not like all the other girls" and "he's a rebel gentleman" way" you usually see). They're both pragmatic and practical about it, even if they waver between various feelings of guilt and embarrassment and acceptance about. For Arabella, marrying for wealth is the only way to rescue her family, even if she'd rather have an option for love or independence; it's the only option left. Graham's searching for another way for the money, but he knows marriage is the best way and he has to marry eventually anyway, right?
Spoiler-y pros:
Spoiler
{Spoiler} I really appreciated that Arabella had been in love before and had no regrets or apologies about it, only a wistful remembrance about what might've been (and I was super surprised that he never did a surprise return for a conflict during the book considering he left England to make his fortune. Maybe he'll eventually be a character in a sequel?) and that Graham struggled with ~emotions and feelings~ before Arabella ever did. Also, I'm so happy that Arabella gave zero cares about St. Ives and had no bitterness, even when Graham felt awkward about his bff's role in her life. {/spoilers}Cons: A few of the motifs felt forced, or at least placed for future series set-up. The plot meandered a bit and felt a little flat, especially considering it has one of my favorite things (a con man/scheme). However... it also ended on a really good set-up that's going to make me search out the second book. (Even if I'm not sure how much I like the proposed pairing.)
tl;dr: This a was a solid, unconventionally fun 3.5 series starter that not only enticed me to look for book #2, but also convinced me I need to go look for more of Darcy Burke's stuff.
Disclaimer: Thanks Netgalley & publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts!