Books

by Madeline Hunter

Sometimes I read books too fast to get much out of them…especially romance novels. I’ve enjoyed most Madeline Hunter books that I’ve read so far, but this one didn’t seem to engage my interest as much as the other ones have. I think I didn’t like the fact that the heroine didn’t appear to have any options…it was either do what the overbearing emissary of the king told her to do or have him force her to do it. Never mind that she ended up falling in love and living happily ever after with said overbearing emissary of the king.

The main female character, Sophia Raughley, lives a life of apparent debauchery in Paris, collecting and supporting a colorful collection of artists and poets on her estates. When her father, a duke, dies without another heir, the entailed English estates and parliamentary obligations fall on her shoulders and give her the title of Duchess. Upon her refusal to return to London, Adrian Burchard is sent to bring her back. The king and other politicos hope to marry her off to a viable candidate and thus secure the Parliamentary votes included in her inheritance for their own self-serving agendas.

Adrian Burchard, as the illegitimate, third son of an earl, has his own hang-ups and foibles to conquer in order to achieve a happy ending. Not the least of which is overcoming the strictures of society that dictate who a man of his class can hope marry.

Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood to read a romance when I picked this book up. I know a book without conflict would not be worth reading , but the societal conflicts of this book irritated me more than anything else. Maybe one day, I’ll give it another read and have a different opinion…maybe…one day…