Book Review
May. 24th, 2023 10:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariTen Things I Hate About the Duke
by Loretta Chase
This historical romance novel was a delight. It's loosely based on The Taming of the Shrew and Ten Things I Hate About You but set in the 1830s and with a hefty dose of Mary Wollstonecraft. Cassandra Pomfret is an unconventional woman who speaks her mind publicly, drives her own carriage, and is generally considered far too bold and opinionated for marriage. When the dissolute Duke of Ashmont comes crashing (nigh on literally) into her life and almost damages her reputation, an attraction flares up. However, Cassandra will not accept Ashmont in his decadent state, and he is starting to see the downsides of his current lifestyle and to want something different. He sets out to change and become a worthy suitor.
I loved this romance. Cassandra is intelligent, bold, brave, and very caring towards her family and friends. Ashmont starts out as kind of an ass, but one with a core of decency who genuinely strives to put things right when he messes up. I love how he is initially impressed with Cassandra's competence rather than her beauty. Best of all, he reforms himself - he does the work. His feelings for Cassandra motivate him, but she does not have to take on any of the emotional labor as he looks to his friends and uncle for guidance. His transformation occurs over the course of the book rather than in a dramatic revelation at the end, and it is very endearing. There's plenty of witty banter along the way, as well.
by Loretta Chase
This historical romance novel was a delight. It's loosely based on The Taming of the Shrew and Ten Things I Hate About You but set in the 1830s and with a hefty dose of Mary Wollstonecraft. Cassandra Pomfret is an unconventional woman who speaks her mind publicly, drives her own carriage, and is generally considered far too bold and opinionated for marriage. When the dissolute Duke of Ashmont comes crashing (nigh on literally) into her life and almost damages her reputation, an attraction flares up. However, Cassandra will not accept Ashmont in his decadent state, and he is starting to see the downsides of his current lifestyle and to want something different. He sets out to change and become a worthy suitor.
I loved this romance. Cassandra is intelligent, bold, brave, and very caring towards her family and friends. Ashmont starts out as kind of an ass, but one with a core of decency who genuinely strives to put things right when he messes up. I love how he is initially impressed with Cassandra's competence rather than her beauty. Best of all, he reforms himself - he does the work. His feelings for Cassandra motivate him, but she does not have to take on any of the emotional labor as he looks to his friends and uncle for guidance. His transformation occurs over the course of the book rather than in a dramatic revelation at the end, and it is very endearing. There's plenty of witty banter along the way, as well.
