L'eredità della duchessa

Diamonds in the Rough #4

by Sophie Barnes, Gabriella Parisi (Translator)

Londra, 1820
Atteggiarsi a impenitente dongiovanni ha permesso per anni a Henry Lowell, futuro Visconte Armswell, di tenere a distanza matrone e debuttanti interessate ad accaparrarsi le sue attenzioni e il suo titolo. Ma quando la ferita subita durante un duello lo porta su un letto d'ospedale gestito dalla bellissima Viola Cartwright, Duchessa di Tremaine, la fama che si è costruito gli appare improvvisamente un ostacolo. Affascinato dalla donna e dalla sua intraprendenza, Henry vuole infatti persuaderla a sposarlo, affinché lei possa salvaguardare l'eredità che le permette di tenere aperto l'ospedale e trovare protezione dalle minacce di un ignobile individuo che già in passato l'ha umiliata e ingannata. Ma come convincere Viola della sincerità dei sentimenti di un famigerato libertino?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Regency, Fiction

315 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2019

About the author

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

For all the latest releases, promotions, and exclusive story updates, subscribe to Sophie Barnes’ newsletter today: www.sophiebarnes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophie...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Barnes/...

Reviews

[chan ☆]

henry is a DELIGHT

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infamous Duchess by Sophie Barnes is book 4 in the Diamonds in the Rough Series. This is the story of Viola Cartwright and Henry Lowell. I have read (and Loved) the other books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Viola is marked as a scandalous money hungry women when she marries a older Titled man who dies the day after their wedding. Viola has worked with the inheritance to help St. Agatha’s Hospital but she also gives her time and skill. This is where she meets Henry who is smitten with her from the start but his reputation that he used to his advantage is now not such a advantage.
Enjoyed their story...big fan of Ms. Barnes writing.

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title was from a new to me author and I really liked the set up.

I enjoyed Viola and Henry. She’s smart and he’s charming and I loved their easy banter and conversation. The growth of their relationship felt organic and I did see the chemistry. There are several other couples and I’m going to assume they’re from previous books.

Plot wise, it was okay. I did like that Viola had a medical background; it was refreshing to see something different. The first half of the book was engaging, but the second half fell a bit flat for me. The time jumps weren’t apparent and there were several times I thought a day had passed when it had been weeks.

Overall, it was the characters and their romance that kept me reading. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading any other books in this series.

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

[Jude: The Epic Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this more the first time. I remember it being a lot better. I just wished that the female lead was older, she is literally a widow but only 21. I knew she was young but I would've liked her and this story more if she was older. Henry though, I loved.

[Jen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in Sophie Barnes’ Diamonds in the Rough series and it centers on Viola Cartright, the mysterious patroness of St. Agatha’s hospital. Though we have met her several times over the course of the series, if you jump in here, you will be fine reading this as a standalone.

Viola is a young widow trying to keep a low profile. The ton kind of gives her the side-eye because she married a man old enough to be her father, or maybe even her grandfather, and he left her everything when he died the very next day. All she wants to do is run her hospital and make a difference, but when her grown son-in-law comes home and wants to fight her for his father’s fortune, everything starts to fall apart.

The hero here is Henry Lowell, brother to Florian, a previous hero in the series. Henry has a reputation as a rake, but we discover that was a carefully crafted image designed to keep meddling mamas from trying to match him with their daughters. As the story begins, he is a patient at the hospital, because he was shot in a duel. That puts him and Viola in each other’s orbit.

Henry is taken with Viola right away, but she is a bit more circumspect. The last thing she wants is to hand over her hospital and independence into the keeping of a man. But Henry convinces her rather quickly, there is more to him than his reputation would suggest.

I liked this book… OK. Henry was a lovely beta hero. He reads novels and has a cat and likes to garden. He is extraordinarily patient and protective. Viola is strong and resilient. And while these things sound like a lovely combination, they were a little bit lackluster. Don’t give me wrong, the book wasn’t bad. I liked it well enough, I just had a hard time getting emotionally invested or excited about it. It was very low angst. And I get that some people really want that in a romance, but I would rather be on the edge of my seat and wondering what might happen next. Here, I was not on the edge of my seat.

The villain is properly dastardly, but he is pretty one note. His actions play out almost exactly as you would expect. In fact, the entire plot plays out exactly as you would expect. Is that a bad thing? That depends on you. If you’re looking for a comfort read, maybe that is a plus.

For me, it was just all right. I am a little intrigued by the last chapter which sets up the next book. An unlikely hero, for sure. And those are one of my favorite kinds. I will check it out and see if it is a bigger hit for me.

Rating: B-

*ARC provided by publisher

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series: Diamonds In The Rough #4
Publication Date: 3/26/19
Number of Pages: 384

Complex and compelling characters, one of the best romances I’ve read in a while, and a really nasty villain make up this truly delightful story. The writing is excellent, the plot is tight and well executed. This book contains everything you could want, including some lovely insights into our next hero and heroine.

Viola Cartwright, Duchess of Tremaine is a wonderfully complex character who draws you to her and makes you admire her – and when you learn her whole history, you’ll admire her even more. Viola’s aging husband died one day after their wedding and she’s been labeled as a money-hungry, social climbing woman who conned the duke into changing his will and leaving his unentailed fortune to her. None of that is true, but you’ll have to read the book to see what is true. Viola has taken that fortune and over the last two years, she has created the best hospital in London – the best doctors, the highest success rates for cures, and it is all free. Against all of society’s rules, she not only runs the hospital, but she also participates in patient treatments. She also has no intention of ever marrying again.

You will absolutely fall in love with Henry Lowell from the first moment you meet him – in Viola’s hospital with his brother, Florian, removing a bullet from a duel. When Henry first begins to come around, he notices an angel – the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen – standing at the window with the sunlight glowing around her. Who is that angel? He fully intends to find out! Henry soon comes to regret the reputation he’s built for himself because his angel completely believes it and doesn’t want anything to do with him. Henry purposefully spread the rumors and built that reputation in order to avoid all of the matchmaking mama’s until he was ready to find a wife. Now, that reputation has come to haunt him!

Henry keeps arranging, teasing, harassing and requesting Viola to spend time with him in the hospital so that he can get to know her – and she can get to know him. Henry soon learns that he has to be very slow and very, very patient if he wants to win Viola – and he certainly does want to win her. He does the sweetest and most caring things, but she’s still very skittish.

When Robert, the new Duke of Tremaine brings a suit against Viola, contesting his father’s will, Henry does all he can to help Viola. Secrets are exposed and Henry and Viola draw closer. It is so very touching. You’ll just need to read the book to see all of the exciting parts of this lovely, lovely read.

I highly recommend this book – and can’t wait for the next one. The ONLY thing that would have made it better would have been for something that wasn’t nice to happen to Barrister Hayes and Judge Atkins – just sayin’. I also love the setup for the next book with Carlton Gutherie and Lady Regina Berkly - I can hardly wait!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. It had real drama. I mean if a 16 year old married some 70-80 year old man then of course people would gossip about her, of course the son would be mad.

Viola married an old man, one day later he died leaving everything to her. But he was a good guy, who wanted for her to be cared for. No funny business. And with that money she built a hospital. How anyone can gossip about that I do not know. She built a hospital! She is no gold digger.

But would I gossip about her? Probably. I get why she hid from society.

Right so the son comes back and wants all the money and calls her out. Ugh, I hated that guy. But yes if your dad married and then died, of course you would be all omg he left HER all the money?! But luckily he is a total arsehat so I wont even forgive him for a second. That is the drama, court room drama to be.

And the romance is with a scoundrel, who is not a scoundrel but a really good guy. He will help her deal with her stepson. I liked him.

Then end, oh my, there was like 20 min left when I had to stop, but I had to keep going cos it got intense!

I enjoyed this. Romance, real drama and interesting characters.

And it looks to be a good book next too. I liked the build up for that one.

Narration
I liked this narrator. She works great for historical romance. I liked her female voices. Her male voices sound funny at first, but then they are just perfect for HR.

She works the story well and I hope to hear more from her.

[Smitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Smitten by Books Reviews blog

3.5 Stars

Unconventional, high stakes, low angst/conflict are the words I would use to describe Barnes latest historical romance. Out of these there were many likable elements to this story, though the characters and plot were not earth-shattering.

To start I enjoyed the unconventional elements of the story. Our heroine, Viola is a duchess, but eschews the life in favor of using her money and limited to influence to run a hospital that provides free care to any and all patients (no matter their station in life). A widower who comes into money under questionable circumstances is always a fun tale. The hero, a Henry Lowell, a known rake, is the man avoiding marriage for no other reason than waiting to meet the right woman. Rather refreshing since normally hero’s are motivated to stay free of the bounds of marriage for other reasons.

Additional reasons I enjoyed the story included the heroine’s job as a physician. Though not formally trained she is allowed to practice doctor work in a limited capacity. The villain is truly a piece of work, in the form of Viola’s stepson. Ensuring he got us just desserts was a primary motivator for me to keep reading, though I feared he would not get the punishment he deserved.

As for why this book ranked a bit lower for me had to do with the high stakes, but the lack of urgency amongst the characters. Viola has her entire future in jeopardy through most of the book and though our hero is assisting I found the lack of more work in certain areas disturbing. The hero seemed to be at his best distracting the heroine instead of fighting for a win to help her win against her vile stepson. Secondly, certain events in the book felt disjointed and not cohesive with the rest of the story and to me this affected the pacing. Though I hesitate to provide specifics because they might be spoilers.

Overall, this book works as a stand-alone novel. I was able to get immersed in the story without feeling like I missed something. There is a good deal of references to history and highlights of the changing times from females in medicine to aristocracy owning business ventures. Finally, if you’re enjoy historical romance with a little less heat, then this book is perfect for you.

~ Landra

[Joana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Thank you.

Review originally posted at Romancing Romances.

3.25*

This is a mixed feelings book. I was really liking it in the beginning, but then our hero, Henry Lowell, kept saying something that was annoying me and that I don’t personally like – something like “She’ll be mine no matter what”. And I don’t like that because every time I read that sentence or a similar one, all I could think about was that he didn’t really care about our heroine, Viola, he simply saw her as a prize to be own, no matter what. I wouldn’t be mentioning it if it was something he had said/thought once, but no, he keeps thinking/saying it. He evolves as a character to someone who learns to love and who actually sees Viola as a person and not a prize, but his mind-set doesn’t seem to change, which is one of the reasons why I couldn’t connect as much as I wanted to with this book, hence the rating not going over the 3*.

I really wanted to like Viola – she is a fierce, dedicated woman, a physician, even if she didn’t go to University, and in the beginning of the book she seems so confident, with a bit of sarcasms and wit, but as the book develops, she morphs into someone else, all that strength we saw in the beginning almost disappears… So, I really wanted to like her, but the author made it a bit difficult.

I have to say the best character – “construction” wise, I mean – was probably the villain. We hate him from beginning to end, and he behaves exactly like he should and as we expect him too – with an extra at the end that was perfect. And at that point we see the Viola from the beginning.

So, to be honest, I liked the beginning and the end, and the book isn’t badly written, or anything similar, it just didn’t allow me to connect to the characters enough for me to love them.

The character that most intrigued me and that actually left me wanting to know more was Carl Guthrie, the criminal from St. Giles – now that was someone who I would like to get to know better. Can’t wait to read his book. I’m sure it will be much better than this one.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

The longer this series goes on, the more it reminds me of the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt. Considering how excellent and popular that series was, that’s a terrific thing!

What has made this series so interesting has been the way that either the hero, the heroine, or both, are definitely unconventional for their time while still seeming to be at least plausible. That unconventionality has made the characters more readily identifiable with for 21st readers while not feeling so far out of the realm of the possible as to whiplash the reader out of the story.

In the case of both Viola, Dowager Duchess of Tremaine and Henry Lowell, a viscount’s heir, there is plenty that draws them out of the ordinary while not shifting them into the impossible.

Viola has been a part of the series from relatively early on. Her business partner is Dr. Florian Lowell, an excellent physician AND the heir to a dukedom. Florian’s story was told in the previous book in the series, The Illegitimate Duke.

Viola was trained as a surgeon by her late father, and often works with Florian in the operating theater as well as running the hospital where they work. Viola’s late husband left her a small fortune, and she used that inheritance to start the hospital.

But her late husband was an elderly man when she married him, and society sees her as a conniving gold-digger. So she shuns society in return. Running the hospital is her work, her duty and her fulfillment. She doesn’t care about society – except in so far as she can use her notoriety to raise funds to further develop the hospital.

Henry Lowell is Florian’s brother. He’s also a rake of the first order and seems to find himself in more than his fair share of duels.

That’s how Viola and Henry meet – in the wake of yet another duel. Florian has to patch up his brother. One wonders if at least some of Florian’s original interest in medicine might have been born out of necessity – as Henry gets into more than his fair share of trouble.

But the near-brush with death has Henry re-examining his life. It’s time for him to settle down and start a family, to provide an heir for the title he hopes not to inherit for a long time. He obviously loves his grandparents very much and has no desire to inherit anytime soon.

Henry and Viola have a lot in common. They are both on the outs with society and they both have acquired undeserved and undesirable reputations. They are also both practical-minded people and both are in business for themselves and are successful at and responsible to those businesses.

And they have an intense chemistry that neither wants to deny, although perhaps they both should.

When Viola’s past returns to not merely haunt her, but to strive to take all she has earned away from her, it is her relationship with Henry that provides her with strength – along with even greater vulnerability.

But it is her unconventionality that finally saves the day.

Escape Rating B: Like all of the books in this series, The Infamous Duchess is a lot of frothy fun with just a bit of an unconventional bite to keep things interesting.

(It is not necessary to read the entire series to get into the action in this fourth entry, but they are delicious. Start with A Most Unlikely Duke to see exactly what I mean.

A couple of things about this story that I’m still thinking about.

One is that the portrayal of the cruelty and vindictiveness of Regency society does make one wonder what made it such a fruitful period for romance in general, and why anyone would aspire to be part of that society in particular. While there are some likeable individuals and even families, overall the ton seems petty and venal and just plain nasty. But then again, isn’t that just people?

While both the heroine and the hero of this story are, as is usual, extremely pretty and or handsome, they are both surprisingly deep characters in a lot of very unusual ways. Even more surprising is the way that their unconventionality dovetails together so neatly.

Part of what I enjoyed about Viola was the depth of her character, but also the unusual breadth of her experience. Like many of the protagonists in this series, Viola did not come from the upper classes. Her father was a physician, making her solidly a member of the small middle class. That her marriage raised her to the peerage is not surprising – and neither is the amount of gossip and downright disgust it engendered. That she’s made so very much good out of her circumstances shows a great deal of strength of character. And it is wonderful that it is that strength that draws the hero to her – as much as if not more so than her looks.

It’s also marvelous that he believes from the very beginning that she is the most beautiful woman in any room – even though she does not see herself that way and that objectively she probably would not have been considered a “diamond of the first water”.

Another part of her experience that is out of the ordinary is that while Viola’s marriage was never consummated because of her elderly husband’s illness, she is not a virgin. And the cause of that particular “lack” was the result of her being taken advantage of by her husband’s son – before she married. That the consequences of that act, while in their way shameful and heartbreaking did not lead to either pregnancy, poverty, prostitution or all of the above is refreshing.

And it leads to the dramatic tension of the story – but not in any of the ways that one might expect. It certainly made for a very interesting twist as well as a lingering sense of creeping menace.

There is (obviously as shown above) a villain in this piece, and he’s extremely villainous – almost to the point of caricature. A part of me wants to think of him as a “Snidely Whiplash”, complete with evil cackle, twirling mustache, and tying the heroine to the metaphorical tracks, but the disgusting pustule in this book is so horrible that even Snidely would be rightfully insulted to be considered as part of his company.

Evil does mostly get its just desserts, after a truly frightening climactic scene, but one of his henchmen manages to miss being properly punished, so that part of the story feels a bit unfinished. Perhaps in a later book in the series we’ll see him get his.

Speaking of later books, the series clearly continues. We watched the hero and heroine of the next story meet as The Infamous Duchess concluded, and their entry in the series looks like a real treat!

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Infamous Duchess is #4 in Diamonds in the Rough series by Sophie Barnes.

This one had Florian's brother Henry Lowell and St. Agatha Hospital's owner Viola as the main characters. Both of them meet after Henry is brought to the hospital after getting shot and Viola becomes his nurse.

This one was the weakest book in the series so far imo because I did not appreciate Henry's relentless pursual of Viola despite everything. I could not sense much chemistry or passion between them as well and although Henry helping Viola with Robert and the case was noble, the romance was not that great and I did not find myself rooting for the couple at any point of time.

There were a few quick instances which I liked for eg with Henry's grandma and Guthrie's surprisingly good deed for the hospital. Robert getting what he deserved was also greatly satisfying. Apart from that, nothing really stood out for me and I felt a twinge of disappointment.

2 stars.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her elderly husband dies within days of their marriage, Viola Cartwright is labeled a grasping con artist along with her new title of Duchess of Tremaine. Though she is not a social person, she finds solace in her work running St. Agatha's Hospital. When the notorious rogue, Henry Lowell, winds up on the operating table after a duel went badly, Viola is surprised to find herself attracted to him, but she reminds herself of his reputation and not to fall for him.

Henry has cultured his fictional rakish reputation in an effort to avoid marriage minded ladies who are after the title he is heir to, that of Viscount Armswell and eventually Earl of Scranton, but he is intrigued by Viola and might actually consider settling down with her. She definitely makes him regret the idea to soil his reputation.

When Viola's stepson returns from years spent abroad and contests her inheritance from her late husband, Henry sees his chance to prove his worth to Viola. In the newly returned Duke of Tremaine, Henry recognizes little of the man he once considered a friend. The Duke is determined to ruin Viola and paint her as a manipulative social climber, but this image doesn't match with what Henry knows of the kindhearted woman.

Though Viola has a fairly low opinion of Mr. Lowell, her loyalty to his half brother and her colleague, Florian, the Duke of Redding, keeps her defensive of him. But she's been fooled by a man before and therefore she is determined to avoid them now and maintain her independence, despite the threat her stepson poses to that. She certainly won't be risking her heart again, and certainly not with a notorious rake, and yet everything she is coming to know about him controverts what she thinks she knew. Regardless, she knows she can't risk getting close to or trusting any man ever again. Right?

I really loved the idea of a "fake rake" with a completely contrived and utterly terrible reputation. Both of our main characters learn that the other is not what they've been led to expect. The attraction and sexual tension between them ignites almost instantly but their actual relationship is a bit of a slow burn. Henry and Viola spend time getting to know each other, but Viola is terrified of being hurt again and hesitant to give up the bit of independence she has found. Henry is patient with her and tries to help her gain confidence and get over her insecurities.

This is a well-written book with quite a bit going on. It's a combination of several different plot devices that I don't believe I've ever read in conjunction before and I liked it. This one isn't very steamy with scenes occurring but mostly glossed over and the focus mainly on the growing connection between the couple. These two faced difficulties mostly due to Viola's fear and insecurities, along with her enemies, and Henry was great for sticking by her and supporting her. There was also quite a bit of medical description in great detail that, although perhaps a bit tedious at parts, demonstrated the author's research and showed more of Viola's character. The plot gets just a little discombobulated toward with end with a bit of a lull before the final climax. This couple kept hitting setbacks and I was ready for them to just get to be happy already, but I suppose that was rather realistic. The ending for our couple felt a bit abrupt for me, with the final chapter setting the stage for the next installment in the series, although now I'm looking forward to that story. Overall I enjoyed this one and found it quite refreshing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tracy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I enjoyed it. Great Narration by Carolyn Morris (audible review)

I really liked Viola, she was very smart. I liked Lowell too. They made a good match. There was some mystery thrown into this romance. The chemistry between the two was great. They actually got to know each other throughout the book and it as not full of any angst. So that was a bonus. There was a lot of good dialogue too.

It was a bit long and could have been shortened a little but all in all a really good story.

As for the narration it was great. I am a big fan of Carolyn Morris. She does such a great job on all the voices and has such a nice reading voice. Always a pleasure to listen to her.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viola is ‘infamous’ for one simple thing: her brief marriage to a man who was a contemporary of her father, and the fortune he bestowed upon her. Unfortunately for her, the marriage was very brief and left her looking like a mercenary social climber, all of which is untrue – and her continued refusal to perform for society as a Duchess should has left her a source of speculation. But she’s not been idle – sinking most of her money and her not inconsiderable brains and determination into a hospital that has had great successes in treating the population. Her work and position have brought her close to Florian, a physician who has become both a teacher and a friend, and given her some small moments of friendship and society with his wife and sisters in law. Viola is a bit of a law unto herself: her father was a physician and refused to deny his very intelligent daughter the availability of books, education or opportunities that would further her education – in short, he treated her much as he would have treated a son. And while the unconventional upbringing didn’t bring her many difficulties – she was betrayed in her search for love – led on by the man who is now her stepson.

Henry is the new Duke and half-brother to Florian, with a reputation that would have him listed in the most infamous rakes of all time. And a duel over, of all things, clothing choices, have him in Viola’s care after Florian removed the troublesome bullet from his shoulder. Instantly intrigued by Viola, and wholly undeserving of the reputation that precedes him – Henry wants to know her better – and actually thinks that she may be the solution to his very real, and pressing need for a wife and heir. But – there are many things to overcome, not the least of which is Viola’s inheritance from her husband, and the son and current Duke of Tremayne’s determination to both ruin her and reclaim money he feels were owed him.

A story that is entirely about Henry and Viola coming to grips with (and understanding) one another’s histories, learning to trust in one another and simply allowing their feelings to grow and develop. No one who knows the two well are actually concerned that they aren’t good for one another – all of the questions come as a result of those who only know the ‘stories and gossip’, and the actual friendship offered to Viola shows the esteem and regard in which she is held by those who had the experiences of working with her, or benefitting from her forward thinking and heart. Each one of the books in this series explores another person (or couple) who were not ‘of the norm’ for the society of the day, and as such have a unique perspective and approach as they work to build a future for themselves that quietly affirms their experiences and beliefs, while leaving readers with a smile.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Branded a money-hungry con artist for marrying the elderly Duke of Tremaine days before his death, Viola Cartwright has found refuge in her work at St. Agatha’s Hospital working alongside Florian. No one must know the painful reason behind her marriage. She steers clear of attachments until Henry Lowell, heir to the Viscount Armswell & Florian’s brother, lands on her operating table after a duel. Charming and wickedly handsome, Henry is one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels.
Posing as an unrepentant rake has helped Henry avoid women pursuing him only for his title. Now that duty has finally called on him to marry, he finds himself entranced by the mysterious, independent-minded Viola. Then her late husband’s son Robert returns from overseas, contesting Viola’s inheritance.
It took me a little time to become engrossed, however the more I read the more I was drawn in & read the second half of the book in a long sitting as I had to find out what happened to Viola & I so wanted Robert to pay. There were multiple threads to the story but overall they worked well to make for a captivating read. The book was very well written & the characters extremely well portrayed. I instantly loved Henry – sigh. He was not only gorgeous to look at but he was so caring, protective & honourable, he was immediately smitten by Viola & his feelings deepened from raw attraction & lust to liking her & very soon to loving her. I liked the complex Viola from the start & as the story progressed came to love & respect her. Whilst this book is part of a series it could easily be read on its own, I liked that the next book in the series was ‘set up’ in the final pages & can’t wait to read it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Maria Dariotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infamous Duchess
Diamonds in the Rough
book 4
by Sophie Barnes

This is Viola’s and Henry’s story and let me tell you it was riveting!

Viola has been scorned and labeled a money and title hungry woman who married an elderly dying man for the money and his title. She finds solace in realizing her father’s dream of establishing a hospital. Being the daughter of a physician she’s able to assist Florian with a gun shot patient .....where she first meets Henry.

Henry’s first impression of Viola although hazy is that of an angel. But this angel isn’t swayed by Henry’s flirtatious manner that he’s very well known for. Their relationship evolves when the heir to the dukedom threatens Viola with contesting the inheritance her late husband left her. Henry’s attention and caring towards Viola have her realizing that he’s not the man the ton believe him to be. Henry and Viola have some hurdles to go through when secrets are exposed before they reach the very much deserved happily ever after.

Sophie Barnes has another winner in this series. The story was well written and I loved the dialogue and Henry’s wooing of Viola I’m also anticipating the next book which will be Guthrie’s story which I can’t wait to read!

I received a complimentary copy from the author via Edelweiss. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

[Fae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book had a promising start, with me liking the hero because he seemed like a nice guy with good humour. Sadly the plot was too slow moving without any much romance development between the hero and heroine because the hero has a bad reputation and the heroine is reluctant to get involved with him because of his reputation + not wanting to be a married woman again.

The slow pace frustrated me because by chapter 16, they were still trying to be friends with each other and not even a single kiss happened between them. I felt too many things were happening which compromised the romance building. They barely spent any time together after they parted at the hospital in the first few chapters.

I was dying of boredom as i just wanted to see some development between them but honestly by chapter 16, i was done because aside from the okay chemistry at the first few chapters, they didn’t have enough screen time for them to have banter or for me to love them.

It seems that only the first book in this series was good, while the rest of the books (up to this book) are disappointments. Since the books after this ‘infamous duchess’ seem to have a higher rating, i will give them a read once my library has it available. Otherwise, i think i won’t be reading other books by this author as the writing is disappointing.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

London 1820 Viola was working at the hospital as a man with a gunshot came in and she had to help the doctor with his surgery. Well that was non other than Henry Lowell, rake extraordinaire or so that was the word out in society. Viola herself was the talk of the ton for marrying her elderly Duke days before he passed away. She had done her best to ignore society and taken the money left to her by opening a hospital and helping those in need.
The problem was, rake or not, Henry was a handsome man and very charming. When he first sees Viola he thinks she is an angel. But Viola wants nothing to do with him due to his reputation. But is he really as bad as everyone says?
Sophie Barnes brought these characters to live and with the historical references to the medical field it was fascinating. I always enjoy her books and this was truly a great story. There is a lot to take in and secrets abound but I could not turn the pages fast enough.. Looking forward to the next in this series!

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one thing I loved, loved about this book was Henry's insistence that they take the physical part of the relationship slow, because he knew she'd had a violent experience in the past. Him waiting for her to come to him, not taking it further than she wanted was such a good plot point.

But of course sex with him magically cures her, or at least her issues are never mentioned again, so there's that 🙄

[SidneyKay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never a Good Sign

A recent conversation I’ve had – warning, I paraphrase:
Delia, “How’s that book coming?”
Me, “I’m having a lot of trouble with this one. The verbiage is disjointed.”
Delia, “Oh, that’s too bad.”
Me, “Yes, the heroine is blah, blah, blah, blah. The hero is blah, blah, blah. It’s giving me a headache.”
Delia, “Oh, I’ll be looking forward to your review. I thought The Infamous Duchess sounded interesting.”
Me, “The Infamous Duchess?”
Delia, “Yes, isn’t that what you’re talking about?”
Me, “Uh, no. I’m talking about blah, blah, blah.”
Delia, “Well, your blog says The Infamous Duchess.”
After looking at my blog:
Me, “Did I read that?”
Delia, “Don’t know.”

My light bulb moment, “OMG! I did read it, only three days ago…and it has already been relegated to the dark corners of my mind.”

Yes, that is my sad story, and it isn’t a good sign for the Infamous Duchess. So now it’s time to pull out allll the stops and put ye’ old thinking cap on. First step, we check our notes.

Oh look, here’s a note attached to the sentence -“You must be joking.” My note says, “Is this correct slang?” Well, that’s obviously not a good sign either. That means that I’ve been thrown out of the book by the use of slang. Now, before I started accusing anyone of using the incorrect words, I did do some research. It’s not always a good thing to go with your gut reaction. Because I had a hard time finding the exact phraseology I zeroed in on the word “joke.” Much to my surprise, I did find that the word “joke” appeared on the scene in 1791. What does that mean? Well, to me it means that it would be possible for the heroine to actually use that phrase in her conversation. But by the time I was thrown out of the book, it was already tooooo late.

Remember what I always say. I can overlook tons of incorrect verbiage, spellings, and historical inaccuracies if I have been captured by the story. Why wasn’t anything capturing my imagination in this book? To be perfectly honest, I found The Infamous Duchess dull. That is what happens when a Beta hero is allowed to be a super-duper Beta and the infamous heroine really isn’t infamous.

Just because our heroine was married to an older man who died, leaving her some money, doesn’t mean she’s a disgraced person. She has countered the title of “infamous” by doing good. She’s also established a hospital – a good hospital. She’s a little concerned when the story opens, because her evil son-in-law is threatening to close her down. Spoilers. We are told he is evil because not only is he making her life miserable, but there also seems to be the matter of disappearing women around him. That includes his wife. Now, I love my villains as much as the next guy, but this one didn’t make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I could find no threatening atmosphere to dig into. For me, that was the problem with the rest of the characters in this story. None of the people in this book had any flavor. Most of the time in The Infamous Duchess was used up with a lot of outside padding and standard Romanceland similarities.

From the typical should-I-give-up-my-independence-and-marry-this-wonderful-guy heroine, to the rake-not-rake beta hero, this story was filled with plot-lines/themes/devices which didn’t go anywhere, and prevented the much-needed character development. By the time I found myself at the end of this book, I had lost interest in the love story. It was easy for me to file this story into the dark midst of my mind. And, just so you know, I don’t like to forget stories created in a genre I care so much about. Sorry to say, I cannot recommend this book.
KaysBlog

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viola Cartwright is a very complex character. She has survived losing everyone she loved, some by death and one by deceit. Her story is as complex as her character. She is facing losing everything she has worked for and finds that she must trust even though it is very hard for her. This plot just kept getting more complex as Viola both looses and gains as the story progresses. I loved Henry Lowell and how he worked to overcome a past he invented to keep safe from marriage. Seems it was coming back to haunt him. Look for a interesting characters whose story will come up next. Love how this series just keeps moving in unusual ways. I also enjoyed hearing about the medical history that Barnes adds as an afterwards.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four in The Diamonds in the Rough is another wonderfully stunning love story from Sophie Barnes. I have to say that I loved the first three books in the Series but this is my favorite!

Henry Lowell is a perfect gentleman with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, handsome as sin with a smile that can make a lady weak in the knees. Henry has a reputation as a libertine who has as the story opens participated in a duel that has landed him in his brother Florian's (Hero in The Illegitimate Duke, Book 3) operating room at the hospital he helps fund with the woman who built and runs the hospital, Viola Cartwright, Duchess of Tremaine.

Viola Cartwright is not your typical Society Duchess. She doesn't attend balls or dresses like a lady of Quality. She is the daughter of a doctor who taught her everything she knows about medicine. When her father passed away she was taken in by a patient of her father's, an elderly Duke. He gave her a home and protection and he married her so she could inherit his money to continue her father's work and build a hospital to help the poor.

Now the Duke's son is back in the country and intends to take Viola to court to get his hands on her hospital. Viola would never give him the satisfaction of showing how frightened she is that he could take away her life's work. Enter Henry Lowell, who is immediately attracted to her and will do anything to help her defeat the man who is threatening all she holds dear.

Henry is perfect for Viola. He wants to court her. He knows how incredible she is and wants her to feel the same about him. He won't push her, he is a patient man and knows that she is worth the wait.
Viola has been betrayed once by a man and is slow to trust. Can Henry convince her that he is sincere?

What I love about Sophie's writing is that you can literally feel the emotions that Henry and Viola are feeling. Sophie is a master at crafting what her characters are feeling which makes her love stories exceptional. I love her sense of humor and her witty repartee. "Viola flattened her lips. "Then I shall have Dead from unnecessary cause and too stubborn to listen to reason engraved upon your headstone."

I also appreciate the research that goes into Sophie's stories. I always learn something when I read her books. Do not miss this one!! I highly recommend it.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy good historical fiction, but I've never really read that much Regency Romance - it all seemed so predictable: boy meets girl or girl meets boy, they are perfect for each other but have issues, those issues get resolved, and in the end, they end up together. Sigh. But, when you think about it - a lot of genre fiction as a certain formula to it - the detective solves the crime, the superheroes defeat the villain, etc. etc. so dismissing something as genre shouldn't be the "insult" it often is. Besides I really enjoyed reading The Infamous Duchess and it even got me out of my funk from the holidays, work, and the weather crashing in on me at the same time. So a book that I liked that made me feel better? In my book, that's a good thing.
Viola Cartwright, Duchess of Tremaine - wasn't always a Duchess or even a member of the Aristocracy and therein lies her problem. the daughter of a doctor who was a private physician to a Duke and his family, Viola grew up in the Duke's household but not really a part of it. She became friends with the Duke's son, but then he took advantage of her when she was 16 - an event Viola has blamed herself for years. Fortunately, the elderly Duke of Tremaine isn't the cad his son is - he sends his son off to a British colony in Africa or someplace and marries Viola, making her a Duchess. He also changes his will to leave everything to Viola, because he's become estranged from his family, especially his son.
Once the elderly Duke dies, Viola buys a small house for herself, sharing it with two former prostitutes she met through her good works and charity. However, unlike many others of her class - she doesn't look down on the unfortunate women, but genuinely wants to help them and she becomes friends with them. But her main project is a hospital to help London's poor. She starts the hospital, hires the staff, and works as a nurse (her father had trained her as a doctor but because she's a woman she is not able to attend university to get an official degree and certification). Fortunately, the main doctor at her hospital, Florian Lowell, judges Viola by her abilities not her gender - which is part of why Viola hired him. As the story opens, Viola's hospital is doing well enough that she's able to open a second location, a day spa, modeled on the health spas in Bath, where the rich can go to be pampered and looked after. The spa is meant to provide income for the hospital so it can be self-sufficient instead of depending on donations.
The story opens with Florian's brother, Henry Lowell, being brought in after a duel. Henry is a notorious rake - yet Viola and Henry get along well from the very beginning. He's kind to her and realizes she's been hurt in the past, whereas from the beginning, Viola notices that Henry seems to be kinder, more preceptive, and less of a cad than rumor would lead her to believe. Besides Viola knows firsthand how vicious and unfounded the rumors of bored aristocrats can be. Once Henry is released from her hospital, she and he run into each other over and over again - often with good results. Meanwhile, Florian and his wife head to Paris for a long-deserved and planned vacation.
But every story needs a villain, and in The Infamous Duchess that villain is Robert, now Duke of Tremaine, who failed to become successful in whatever colony his father banished him to, and who's wife died there under mysterious circumstances. Also, Henry had known Robert at school, and they had been friends (something Viola finds disturbing) though their friendship had cooled over the years. Robert returns to London, threatens to take Viola to court and demands his inheritance back. Told the money was invested in the charity hospital and the spa - Robert coldly tells Viola, he'll just take the hospital from her then and sell it.
Robert not only gets himself a barrister who specializes in "getting back" inheritances - but the two also bribe a judge to rule in his favor. Henry helps Viola to obtain a good barrister and looks into Robert's past - remembering a scandal that Robert had roughed-up a "lady of the evening". He also finds considerable proof that Robert probably returned and killed a young woman in St Giles - a notorious slum. Despite sympathetic police, testimony from another lower-class woman, and information from the girl's parents that she wasn't a prostitute - the police refuse to prosecute a Duke when all they have are "rumors" and the testimony of "unsavory" people (including a gangland boss). The judge in Viola's case won't even let her present the information that Robert may have killed someone. Henry also attempts to get information about the death of Robert's wife - but the evidence that he killed her and bribed a corrupt cop to get away with it arrives too late to save Viola.
Viola and Henry, meanwhile, have become close - and married, which should have protected Viola's assets, since by the laws of the time they became her husband's property. However, the judge still rules for Robert and takes the hospital from Viola. It's quickly sold. But the person who bought it is the gangland boss who feels indebted to Henry for trying to get justice for the girl Robert killed and to Viola for building a hospital to help London's poor in the first place. He returns the hospital to Viola as a gift, so the hospital belongs to her husband, Henry, now. It's not clear if Robert was able to take controlling interest in the spa or not because the other main investor is Florian, Henry's brother and the surgeon at Viola's hospital.
With the hospital safe, Henry and Viola honeymoon in Paris for a month. They return and Robert bursts in on them, attacking Henry and nearly killing him. Viola shoots Robert in self-defense but fails to kill him. Both Henry and Robert end up at Viola's hospital and both survive their injuries. Now, however, Robert has attempted to kill Henry - who is now a Viscount and due to become an Earl when his father passes. Attempted murder of an Earl's son is considered much more serious than the deaths of two women - and finally, Robert is sentenced to death. No mention is made of what happens to the money and property he took from Viola or even who would inherit his title.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Infamous Duchess. It was a fun, light read, but it was nice to read something knowing it would all work out in the end and that the book would have a happy ending. But the story also had a nice mix of traditionally romantic scenes: Viola and Henry dancing at the opening of her day spa, their trip to the seaside, with more action-oriented scenes - Viola meeting Henry when he shows up on Florian's operating table, a second duel at dawn between Henry and Robert, Henry's investigation into the truth about Robert - that frustratingly, they can't use against him. It's a great story, and it was enjoyable to read. It also appears to be part of a series, with brief references to "difficulties" in Florian and his wife getting together and a hint that the gangland boss with a heart of gold would get his story next. Recommended.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to read a lot of shorter works by self-published authors. Often, this means reading a relatively short work that may or may not have character development or detailed plots. This book was so different than my normal reading because it starred a complex hero and heroine in a story that allowed their characters and relationship to grow and evolve. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them and their relationship change over the course of the book.

Viola is the Dowager Duchess of Tremaine. Her husband's final wish before he died was that she open a hospital to help take care of London's poor at no cost to them. So for two years--while tracking down the new Duke--she has been doing just that. She even helps with procedures and patients. As she is the daughter of a physician herself, she came to this role having some knowledge and experience.

The book starts off with a bang as a man is brought in suffering from a shoulder gunshot received during a duel. It just so happens that this man happens to be the brother of the chief physician of the hospital, Florian. The man, Henry Lowell, is saved by his brother but must convalesce for a few days in the hospital. During this time, he gets to know Viola, though she is wary of him because of his reputation.

So much happens in this book! Viola and Henry get to know each other gradually and come to understand each other in a way that feels organic and natural. Henry, of course, is not the man of his reputation. Viola has a long and complicated past that is revealed slowly through the book. She married the Duke at the age of 19 when he was 70. He did this because he wanted to protect her, as he promised her father (his friend). Once the new Duke of Tremaine is back, Viola’s life is thrown into turmoil, as the new Duke believes she stole what was rightly his.

Aside from the romantic plot, there's also a plot about the new Duke trying to get back at Viola both personally and through the courts. There is a side plot about the new Duke’s past; there are also a few colorful secondary characters, one of whom looks like will get his own book.

The love story was beautifully done. You could understand the fears and the motivations of each character, and it was lovely to watch everything unfold slowly. My only issue with the pacing of the book is towards the end, where the speed of the plot increased dramatically. While the courtship was slow, everything accelerated around the time of the trial, and I found it a little jarring after the previous gentle pace.

As a registered nurse who has studied microbiology--including the history of it--I do take issue with the way medicine is portrayed in this book. Despite the author's note at the end of the book stating her justifications for having Florian insist on handwashing and soaking instruments in alcohol (as well as the use of morphine), understanding of the transmission of disease during the Regency era would not have made these the normal precautions of even a progressive doctor. The miasma theory of disease transmission was still firmly held at this point; bad air is what was believed to caused disease, so any person in a locale of such could become ill. Handwashing was not common even after Ignaz Semmelweis’ realization in the 1840s of the harm caused to pregnant women by physicians who worked on them with the muck of the dead and prior patients still on them; surgeons in the 1800s were known, too, to take pride in being blood spattered as they moved from patient to patient, seeing such as a mark of their office and skill. The germ theory of disease didn't take hold until the later 1880s to 1890s, well after the work of Pasteur and the findings of Semmelweis. Even Dr. Joseph Lister, who pioneered the use in the 1860s and 1870s of what we would now call antiseptics and is now called the Father of Modern Surgery, was believed to be to progressive and radical in his ideas and practices even by the esteemed medical journal, the Lancet, that published his initial findings on the topic. I think it adds nothing to the book to have these anachronistic bits. Unfortunately, I have seen this recasting of the past quite often in stories, where the author wants to give modern sensibilities and knowledge to people who simply wouldn't have had them.

That being said, I still found this to be a very good read because of the character exploration done earlier as well as a very likable, very human hero and heroine.

If you enjoy well-written Regency romance, you will most likely not be disappointed by this book.

I did receive a free advance copy of this, but this did not affect my review.

[Teresa (Reads_Romance) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really debated between giving this book two stars or one; ultimately I went with one star because it was honestly one of the most boring books I’ve read in years. That’s not to say that nothing happens in this book, a lot goes on, all of it is boring.

The story is about the Viola, a Duke’s widow and patroness/nurse in a free hospital for the poor and Henry Lowell, a nice future Viscount who is also her friend’s brother. When I think of Viola and Henry as characters, very little comes to mind. Viola was timid and indecisive; Henry was so nice it was a little absurd. I have no idea why Henry was so drawn to Viola but to give this book a positive, I did like how supportive Henry was of Viola’s medical career.

I think part of the problem with this story was that Henry and Viola were drawn together easily, so the author threw in a lot of superfluous plot points, which ultimately just felt like filler. Just off the top of my head, the author covered: building a spa, an evil relative, a court case, a helpful king of the underground, a duel, more than one operation, gardening, a day trip, a wedding, and lots of pool hall games. Plus, even though there was a lot of instalove, this was a slow burn novel.

With all of this going on, you would have thought the story would keep my attention. Wrong. Most of the many plot points felt underdeveloped and rushed, mostly because they didn’t move the story forward. The plot, and the romance were buried under historical facts and secondary characters.

Through the whole book, I had to actively try to care about a sad Viola and an overly nice Henry. By the time Henry and Viola were talking with their lawyer, I almost DNF’s the book because of all the heavy-handed foreshadowing and Viola’s lack of confidence. I understand the restrictions of the time period, but for being portrayed as a strong and independent woman, Viola had a complete lack of confidence in her looks, her skills as a nurse, or her experience as a businesswoman.

I also thought that Henry’s much-touted reputation as a rake was ridiculous. He was so far from being a rake it was silly, and I think him purposely tarnishing his reputation to avid marriage-minded women was absolutely absurd.

Side note: I like a beta hero as much as the next girl, but could Henry have maybe won any of the (many) fights he was in? He spent a good part of this book either bleeding or recovering because he kept losing fights.

Overall, I could continue on about my issues with this book, but I don’t want to dwell on it. This was my first Sophie Barnes novel and, unfortunately, I have no interest in picking up a second one.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Lowell is easily my favorite character of this series and I enjoyed reading how he charmed and patiently, thoughtfully wooed a gun-shy Viola. That said I was frustrated by scenarios that did not make sense to me like no one calling Florian Lowell back from Paris since the outcome of the conflict at the center of the novel impacted him almost as personally as it did Viola. Once he does return and the worst has happened he doesn’t even raise an eyebrow at not even being notified about circumstances that so directly affected him. It was equally odd that it is Henry and Florian’s grandmother (previously only mentioned) and not his mother that plays a pivotal role in Henry and Viola’s courtship. Even having no family or friends visit during Henry’s hospitalizations for a man so beloved made little sense. As Carlton Guthrie appears significantly in this novel to set up the next, it is still strange that Henry and Viola react to his generous act without protest or mention of repayment in some way. Barnes is worth the read for the love story alone, for Henry alone, but I could wish she wrote with greater consistency from one novel to the next in how she portrays her characters and occasionally rewriting events in one novel and recounted in the next.

[Zili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: Some say Viola is a money grabbing, social climber, whilst others would say she's a bit odd. I'd say she's really unlucky and has suffered a lot of pain in her life so far.

Her marriage to the much older, and unwell Duke of Tremaine days before his death, see Viola in a elevated position as a wealthy Duchess, but she has no interest in society and prefers to develop her hospital and use her position for good.

Current Viscount and future Earl, Henry finds himself the target for many matchmaking mothers and sets himself the reputation of rake to avoid marriage. He finds himself in hospital, being treated by a beautiful woman. Little does he know that she's actually the infamous Duchess of Tremaine!

The story is sweet and funny. In this cold weather, it's lovely to read a story set in another lifetime.

I enjoyed all the medical interludes and Viola's passion to help people is a delight to see. I enjoyed their slow burning friendship and wanted them to find a HEA. The secondary characters are an interesting bunch - I liked Florian!

4 Stars in my Sky!

[Limecello]

😅 I think THINK I fell asleep at the very very end
- this is another Hoopla audiobook "read" so ...

I really like all the heroine has done - but ... again with the audiobooks I missed parts so like why the duke basically disinherited his son [or left all his money to his wife of a day...] other than his son is an awful human being?
So ... I guess that...

But something that super annoyed me was the NOT TELLING HER LAWYER EVERYTHING. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WOULD TOO. COME ON NOW.
SO.
STUPID.

And the rest of it just ... I kinda felt like it was filler then BAM SO MUCH.
Also though LOL a lot of action, considering - the poor hero ends up in the hospital so much. Good thing his love interest OWNS A NON-PROFIT/FREE ONE.
[Which - yeah that's pretty damn incredible.)

So there is a LOT to like here and I need to read more Sophie Barnes books :)

Ok so the April "re-read" >.> I still missed some of the same things. But I LOL ok yes kinda re-listened to the whole thing jUST FOR THE ENDING. Which ...
Like what I thought I missed wasn't really anything and I'm LOW key meh I DID listen to it again because the END end was just a lead to the next book which ... I never love.
It's just... I feel like it cheats the main couple of the book THE CURRENT BOOK.
But whatever, I get authors need the hook to get readers to book 2.
But :|

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married to an elderly duke days before his death, Viola Cartwright, the Duchess of Tremaine, is being taken to court by her stepson Robert, the new Duke of Tremaine. Charging undue influence over a man with an impaired mind, Robert wants the hospital that Viola built with money she inherited from her late husband. He left everything to Viola and nothing to his son. Henry Lowell, a former patient at the hospital, is in love with Viola and offers help with the court case. He offers to pay Robert for the monies spent on the hospital but Robert is determined to destroy Viola’s happiness while Henry is determined that Robert not succeed.

It is up to Viola and Henry to find evidence that will destroy Robert. Henry knew him while they were boys at school but is hard to see the former boyhood friend in the cruel and hard man he now sees. Rumors are heard about a woman Robert stabbed to death in St. Giles. There are also questions about his late wife's death in the West Indies. Henry is determined to see justice for Viola.

[Person AMV · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a slog. The plot seemed interesting and the hero an heroine were likable and I wanted to like the book, but it was just too...boring.

It was highly repetitive, for every little action each character needed to rehash his or her feelings about the other. It took them like five pages to unroll a carpet. We get it you are horney for each other. Because of this constant character reflection on their feelings the book was mostly telling and no showing. Also because of this the pacing of the plot felt off and as slow as molasses.

The other thing that bothered me was the characters seemed one dimensional, I felt like I had seen all of these characters in several other romance novels. The villain was over the top, the hero was just very sweet and the heroine was the 'i am not like other girls' trope and none had real depth. Plus the dialogue felt very awkward.

If you want a standard romance novel this one is okay, but there are others out there that are much more fun to read.