The Duchess War by
Courtney Milan
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
This is my first book by this author, and first, in a long time, audio book.
Why did I try this one first, and why audio? Because I kept getting intrigued by that Romance Package on Audible and finally gave in. I figured I'd try either that one book that was in the Urban section first (that I'd spotted a week or more ago), or some relatively random lesbian fiction book. Instead I ended up listening to this one here - because I'd recognized the name of the author, hadn't tried them before, and the narrator, when I heard a sample, was very captivating. I really wanted to hear this book. So I did.
From the audio point of view: There are very view audio books I've enjoyed, very few audio narrators I've liked, but I rather enjoyed
Rosalyn Landor work on this book here. There are a lot more of her stuff in the Audible Romance program that I can listen to, so I'll be doing so shortly. Probably not next, but shortly.
Book/story POV: This was a tricky one in a certain way. Listening to an author I'd never read before - trying to make sure I caught everything, making sure I didn't miss anything. This wasn't a humor book, but it was filled with humor. It was an historical fiction from a different period than I normally read - I've read books in this time period before, but mostly USA Civil War books (and no, there was no mention of the war in this book). The book was set, you see, in 1863 - the USA is in the middle of a war, but the English are just being themselves, living, doing stuff in factories and the like. That was an interesting little intersection - a vaguely Regency type book (which would have been set about 50 years before), mixed with lots of people working in factories, and the Duke himself owning one or more factories. But let's move on.
Minerva Lane (not called that during most of the book, see reasons later) is in the area because she lives there. With her two great-aunts. Her father, an unusual twist in these types of books, had died while in prison, and her mother, less of a twist, died long ago. But Minnie wasn't raised by the great-aunts (who, neat little hints dropped, might actually have some kind of 'special' relationship not elaborated upon but mentioned as potentially 'special' (they aren't actually related, and the hinted at point being they might be a lesbian couple - don't worry if you don't want to read something like that - it's only hinted at once, though many times was it mentioned that once the great-aunt dies whose land they live on, the other one would be ejected without a means to live)) immediately. No, she stayed with them here and there, while pops (never called that) was off in Europe and the like. But somewhere along the line he decided to take her with him. Though he was quite poor and a young girl needed things that a young boy wouldn't, so he, pops, dressed Minnie as a boy and called her one. So - Minnie is living in the area because her great-aunts do, and because she's hiding from the 'great scandal' that befell her when she was 12.
The Duke, Robert Blaisdell, is in the area because he is looking into his property and the like. He despises what his father did as Duke, doesn't want to be like him, and wants to 'right' what the father did wrong. Which is how one particular plot-line came about - while in the area, the duke put out flyers under an assumed name basically calling for some radical politics to develop in the area. Much upsetting the local law and local . . . . people in power, and causing people like Minnie to come under greater scrutiny. The duke would do that a lot in the book - accidentally do things that would cause Minnie massive trouble.
The duke and Minnie end up meeting when the Duke was basically hiding in a back room near an open window at a party. He as a cigerette in his hand, but he isn't actually smoking. It's just there in his hand near the window. An excuse. While in there, he hears someone else enter. Whereupon some of the funny stuff I mentioned already unfolded. Like when he realized he had taken too long to reveal that he was in the room, and so he couldn't now pop out and say something like 'I was just looking at the plaster walls'. While this thought process was occurring, the other person is revealed. And he watches her. And finds her . . . not beautiful. And half her face is filled with a scar. But she has 'something' that intrigues him. And this is before . . . well, let's get to that later.
Before one thing or another can happen, the woman is leaping over a sofa, and ending up on her knees behind the curtain near him, though not yet realizing he is there. Whereupon two men enter and talk quite badly about the woman. One of whom is supposedly going to be marrying that woman but talks about her . . . well, badly.
They leave, the woman, Minnie, realizes there's a man in there with her. They talk. And this is the start of the story, and the first time the two meet. Though, and I'll continue this just a tiny bit further, she didn't realize he was a Duke until she is found by her best friend, Lydia, and lead to a room. To be introduced to the visiting Duke. That man she was kneeling near earlier.
And so - the book unfolds. Minnie's trying to live her life. The Duke is putting out radical leaflets. And stuff of a humorous and romantic nature is shown.
Many outstanding side characters in this story, like Sebastian, the nephew of the Duke, Oliver the Duke's brother, Violet the Countess who grew up with them, even the current Duchess (mother of the Duke's), who plays a role normally occupied by someone without honor, redeeming qualities, or anything like that. But who is allowed to be seen to be human. Albeit deeply flawed, but human.
If I recapped the things that unfolded in this book, it would probably read like a soap opera, very melodramatic, and yet it in no real way felt that way. This was a rather deeper book than I expected. Much more fun and entertaining than expected.
And good grief - even the heterosexual sex as entertaining. More because it was boring, then, realizing it was boring, the two participates actually talked to each other and showed each other how to make it not boring. So, that was outstanding.
Well, enough of my babbling. If you haven't read this book yet, do so. Preferably with the lovely voice of Rosalyn Landor whispering the words into your ear.
Rating:
Book Rating: 4.97
Audio Narrator Rating: 5.0
January 28 2018
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