Author: Julie Anne Long
Original Title: What I Did For A Duke
Release Year: 2011
Literary Genre: Romance
Setting: England, regency
Series: 5° of the Pennyroyal Green
Vote: 10/10
It's
a romance that I liked a lot because of its simplicity. The story
events take place in a short period: during the stay at Everseas'
estate, with balls, hunting, strolls and so on. It is linear, without
dramatic or unlikely turn of events; the romantic story development
between the two main characters is really exciting: I like the
relationship in which is him the one who firstly realises to be in
love or who hasn't any problems in admitted it, in other words I
prefer when the men are the one to chase and the women to be chased,
and that's probably because in these kind of romance often happens
quite the opposite.
Alexander
Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge is an almost-forty-years-old dashing
widow, engaged with the young and stunning Lady Abigail. But when he
catches her in flagrante, in unmistakable behaviours with the
charming and beautiful rake Ian Eversea, and after an icy, but also
quite ironic, debate between the duke and the two lovers followed by
not particularly masked threats, the engagement is broken.
Alexander
Moncrieffe, a man around whom circulate a lot of gossip, especially a
shocking one about his wife's death, doesn't stand the outrages; but
this time he decides to settle the all thing not calling out Ian but
paying him with the same coin: he will seduce Ian's little sister and
then he'll severely abandon her. What better occasion to act than the
party hosted by the Everseas?
The
Eversea's family is used to scandals, the only one still unhurt is
the youngest: the kind, sharp, wit and sensible Genevieve. She's in
love with the charming Harry, with whom she shares a deep passion for
Art.
Unfortunately
one day he tells her that he intends to marry her best friend
Millicent and Genevieve who hasn't got a clue about his purpose is
painfully shocked by the new. The young Eversea doesn't take well the
all thing and it is in this moment of discouragement that the duke of
Falconbridge bursts into her life.
Alex,
shortly after his arrival reconsiders his revenge: he's fascinated by
the girl's indifference to himself, by her impertinence and her
sharpness and despite his lack of interest for Art, he is enchanted
by her passion in admiring and speaking about portraits, especially
the italians one. But what really strike them both is the ability to
deeply understand each others, their masks crumble down when they are
together.
I
really liked this jealousy game between Alex, Genevieve and Harry; I
strongly appreciated the characters, they are funny and fully
characterised; the age gap between Genevieve and Alex didn't bother
me: in the story context I believe it's completely normal (but I
wouldn't have found it strange or disturbing in our time too). I
truly enjoyed the young Eversea's passion for italian Art of the
Renaissance (that's probably because I share it...), the way she
admires the paintings is certainly captivating.
I
strongly appreciated this romance and the author's style, I'm
definitely going to read the others Pennyroyal Green books!
Buona
lettura!
M.E.G.
Pennyroyal Green series: 1. The perils of pleasure (Colin Eversea & Madeleine)
2. Like no other lover (Miles Redmond & Cynthia)
3. Since the surrender (Chase Eversea & Rosalind)
4. I kissed an earl (Violet Redmond & Asher)
5. What I did for a duke (Genevieve Eversea & Alexander)
6. How the marquess was won (Julian & Phoebe - Lisbeth Redmond's companion)
7. A notorious countess confesses (Evie & Adam Sylvaine - Everseas' cousin)
8. It happened one midnight (Jonathan Redmond & Thomasina)
9. Between the Devil and Ian Eversea (Ian Eversea & ?)
10. ( ... )
No comments:
Post a Comment