Review: Good idea, poorly executed
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 09 23, 2013
I purchased this book because the synopsis really appealed to me. I liked the idea of the characters being forced to wed early in the story and the feelings gradually growing so I will give the author points for concept.Sadly the story was so poorly executed that it spoilt the whole thing for me. I won't belabour the plot as it is pretty much as set out in the synopsis: duke, Daniel, forced into marriage with Eva due to an agreement his cruel father made to avoid a gambling debt. The pair get off to a rocky start but feelings quickly (too quickly) develop.I didn't really feel any connection to the characters as I didn't think they were particularly well drawn; I had no real sense of either other than Daniel: grumpy Eva: timid. It made it hard to invest in the story.Another issue was the lack of attention to detail and historical accuracy. At one point, Eva-now a duchess-is informed that she has a guest which apparently her servants let in without getting his name, finding out if Eva was 'at home' etc. I know this seems minor but little things like this really big me. The more ridiculous detail however was that said guest was a friend of her fathers who apparently decided to drop in to try and force himself on her. Randomly. And this is the first of a number of attacks on poor Eva, I really had no idea duchesses were quite so vulnerable.The story races through a rather limited and rushed plot involving Eva's horrible family trying to extort money from her. Of course being a sensible female, and aware of her exalted position in society Eva promptly informs her powerful husband and it is speedily resolved. No wait, she stupidly accedes to every demand and tells the Duke nothing, for apparently no reason but to create unnecessary drama in the story.Things go from bad to worse when SPOILERS......her estranged family and her earlier attacker decide to have the Duke killed. At this point I was ready to abandon the story completely. In what possible world would this be a remotely sensible plan? An even cursory knowledge of the British rules of primogeniture would tell you that this would not do Eva or her grasping family any good. The Dukes assets, possibly save for a small stipend, would pass to the next male relative-something her family would be well aware of.Finally the whole thing descends into farce whereby her family is dealt with by a few punches from the Duke and the evil attacker is dispatched following a duel which takes place in the middle of a house. With a ball going on a few feet away.All in all very disappointed in this story. I really can't give it more than one star, and that is more for the idea than anything else.