Review: Close but not quite
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
I've read nearly everything written by my favorite regency novelist Stephanie Laurens and was in need of further reading.  I bought this book on a 13 book shopping spree the other night.  This was the third in that shopping spree that I've read and I won't be adding the author to my future purchases list. I liked the premise of the book - arranged marriage leads to love - so I bought it despite the poor reviews.  I should have heeded the warnings.  It started out OK and I initially thought that the Duke calling the Duchess "Duchess" was not a historical inaccuracy but instead was his reluctance to actually learn his wife's name or use the proper courtesy of "your Grace".  But as it went on the use of Duchess, especially after he started calling her Eva, just appeared to be the author's failure to understand that "your Grace" would have been the appropriate phrase.  There was also a lot of times when names were used when it wasn't necessary.  Pass the teacup, Daniel.  Sure, Eva.  Etc.... Not that that is actual dialogue but it's something close.  Who talks like that in real life when you are alone or with only a few people?  I know I don't sit at home ending every single sentence with my husband's name.  The other irritating name issue was the Duke's good friend Simon Kelkirk calling the Duke Daniel.  In reality the truly familiar would have addressed a titled friend by their title.  The Duke usually appropriately called Kelkirk by his title but I don't think Kelkirk ever called Stratton by his title.  This is just so unfamiliar to me that at one point I thought one of the lines was spoken by Eva instead of Simon.  I had to read the line a couple of times until I understood that Simon was calling Daniel Daniel.  With the name issues discussed, there other implausible plot devices that went beyond fiction into the fanciful. I mean, I know most of us read regencies to escape life for a few hours and swoon over a love story but I like my stories to at least seem like it might have been possible for the events to happen.If you are looking for a short cheap read and can look past the editorial and historical inaccuracies then have at it.  If you want a truly delicious read, check out Stephanie Laurens "Devil's Bride".  If you enjoy it, you'll be happy to know there are another 17 novels all within the same family and then another 13 all within the same "world".  Stephanie's stories are sweet with happy endings.  If you are looking for something with a darker yet still mostly happy ending check out the Lost Lords of Pembroke Series by Lorraine Heath or "Silent Revenge" by Laura Landon.  For laugh out loud funny, check out Tessa Dare's "A Week to be Wicked".  Aside from being a fantastic screwball comedy, Wicked also contains one of the most romantic lines I've ever read.