The Duke's Disaster - Grace Burrowes ~Review in English~

~Review in German~

Better late than never.... 

It's been some weeks now since I've written the german review and now, 

finally, you get the english version as well!

The Duke's Disaster von Grace Burrowes

Sourcebooks, Inc

ISBN: 9781492605300

Blurb: 


Noah Winters, Duke of Anselm, exercises the pragmatism for which he's infamous when his preferred choice of bride cries off, and her companion, Lady Thea Collins, becomes his next choice for his duchess. Lady Thea's mature, sensible and even rather attractive-what could possibly go wrong?
As a lady fallen on hard times, Thea doesn't expect tender sentiments from His Grace, but she does wish Noah had courted her trust, lest her past turn their hastily arranged marriage into a life of shared regrets. Is His Grace courting a convenient wife, or a beautiful disaster?

"Was that how a woman learned to know the man she'd marry, 

or did courtship have more to do with tears, cinnamon toast, and trying discussions?"

Kindle; Pos.2781, The Duke's Disaster

 

„The Duke's Disaster“ is a book that I've already read a couple of times in the few weeks since I've read it for the first time. I guess it doesn't really surprise anybody when I say that I really really like it.

Noah Anselm, the Duke whose disaster is pictured in this book seems to be a rather pragmatic guy who says about himself while proposing (in a, well, let's say, less than romantic way...) that he is not a nice person. Alright, maybe he is not nice, but maybe he is and maybe Thea or rather Araminthea is the reason for his poposal after all when his first choice rejects him.

I really love the characteres in this book. Noah is a multi-layered, interesting character that you simply have to llove. He doesn't believe in marital affection but still he pilfers Thea's tea and gives her thoughtful, sweet gifts. He is always there when she needs him even though he'd be the first to deny that.

Actually, it may not be that easy to be married with Noah's sisters as well, as Noah tends to be a bit protective there as well – despite the fact that his sisters seem to have it all very well under control, especially their husbands.

Thea on the other hand, doesn't really know what happens to her. She didn't really expect to marry as life hasn't been too kind to her and her social status is not what it used to be either but – Noah being Noah – she doesn't stand a chance of refusing him and his proposal.

Behind an apparantly hard shell, Noah hides a senitive, loving and lovable core as well as Thea, who seems to be rather shy and reserved at first glance, but turns out to be an equally lovable and complex character.

Over and over again the question of trust and being able to trust is adressed as well as the question how one gets to know a person and how a couple can build something lasting against all odds.

Rogues are also a subject of discussion, after all, almost all of Noah's ancestors were rogues who didn't think much of marital fidelity and other strange things like that. Noah and his siblings (and halfsiblings) still suffer from their ancestor's shortcomings and their wanton behaviour even though their social position protects them from the worst.

Thea had to find that being a companion doesn't offer much protection against men of that species, a realization that left its marks on her.

Every now and then society in general is a topic as well. Especially the situation of the young, unmarried women is described very vividly. It shows once more how limited their possibilities of making a living were, how much of a balancing act it was between social acceptance and social ruin and how helpless and vulnerable a young woman was when there was no male member of the family to protect her.

„The Duke's Disaster“ is a complex story about people that you just have to like, a story that every now and then made me laugh out loud, that made me smile (rather goofily, I must admit), that made me furious and that definitely was also responsible for a mountain of handkerchiefs – in short, a book that I can absolutely recommend!  (Just keep your handkerchiefs at hand...)

★★★★★