Review: Duke ?? Of What ??
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 12 28, 2012
I have no idea why this is titled "the Dukes' Willful Wife" I really disliked this book, and I have several E. Lennox books this was just horrible. We are never given Dante's title so how we know he's a Duke only by the title of the book; willful is a horrible way to describe a person who has been emotionally abused by her husband, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law.SpoilersAfter Dante catches her in an embrace with his brother Cristolo, Dante insists that they were having an affair, yet even though Sasha could tell Dante why Cristolo (who is seeing another women) would not be interested she refuses saying over and over that he must speak with Cristolo which Dante never does thus the year long separation.Sasha is so in love with her husband yet is willing to throw away her marriage to keep her brother in laws relationship a secret? After witnessing the treatment of Sasha by his mother Cristolo is unwilling to place his fiancé in such a position, apparently he has told Sasha that he will explain all to Dante (we do not read about this conversation it is implied by Sasha), he never does.  Dante's' mother has never liked Sasha, she wanted Dante to marry a friend's daughter and increase their position in "Roman society".  Dante has never believed that his mother has ever said anything hurtful, or disrespectful to Sasha, though he was never home working some 16 hours a day. And yet when he finally does witness his mothers action toward Sasha he's shocked, and immediately apologizes for her actions then once again when in the hospital he sees a man HOLDING his wife's hand immediately becomes angry yelling at the man (a priest) to release his wife.Through all this Sasha has about as much self-respect, as a doormat. She meets Dante at her agent's art gallery some 2/3 yrs ago; Dante takes an immediate liking to her work and to her. After just one meeting Dante goes to Sasha's home and a kiss, a touch, and they are making love. Yet Sasha is a virgin and extremely shy, confused, and embarrassed. After a month they are married, and Dante takes her home to Italy. There he leaves her to his mothers "tender mercy", a women who hated her own husband, and belittled her second son. Yet no matter what Sasha says Dante refuses to believe, she has this unreasonable need to keep Cristolo secrete even knowing how much pain her husband and she are in.When in the hospital visiting his grandmother and once again makes an ass of himself, he and Sasha go for a walk, and before he can say anything Sasha begs him to not "give up on us...keep on trying". HELLO!!! Really, such a great relationship to keep going I mean at least he hasn't beaten her yet. Finally, Sasha tells Dante about Cristolo and his fiancé, and why Cristolo never told him of her. Dante and Sasha reunite, and Cristolo and his fiancé finally marry. While his grandmother moves in with them, Dante mother is ousted.This just wasn't a good as her other books, most are very short and can be read in little over an hour. But this just annoyed me so much I was glad it was over. Not worth it..PASS.