A Duke by Any Other Name

I love this story! I was thinking it would have been great if there was an epilogue, say 5 years into the marriage, when they already have a child or two. I just happen to love epilogues - it's my idea of happily-ever-after. But I was happy to find out that another story is coming out in the fall - one about Rothhaven and Lady Constance. I'm so looking forward to that one. I hope there'll be third book, one about Lord Stephen, because I find him to be an interesting character, too.

I'm blown away by this outstanding romance! This is the first book I've read by this author, and Wow, I have been missing out! The writing is refreshingly erudite, clever, and witty and showcases the intelligence of her characters at every step. The elegant vocabulary, the intricate descriptions of emotionally-driven thought processes, the sophisticated, elegant use of language -- it all beautifully captures the spirit of verbal sparring for position and influence with highly sophisticated and nuanced observations of societal interactions. These characters instantly come alive off the page as Althea and Nathaniel find they have so much in common despite having been raised at opposite ends of the class spectrum. The story starts with a simple plan wherein Althea requests Nathaniel's help in navigating "polite" society. What actually ensues is a carefully orchestrated series of minor events that erode the status quo, expose its structural weaknesses, and force every character, including a few other not-inconsequential relatives, to examine their lives and desire to do better, to be more than they ever dreamed. I loved the cheeky way Althea stood up to Nathaniel, which is more than balanced by his direct but not-quite-condescending manner with her. As they lean more toward and on each other, secrets are revealed that seem insurmountable, which resulted in a series of beautifully haunting descriptions of a love that can't be pursued. Just when we think things can't become any more complicated, an unexpected twist shakes everything up all over again. This story delicately demonstrates a juxtaposition of the best and worst of society before revealing a truly brilliant resolution. Nathaniel and Althea get a solid and sigh-inducing HEA, and another couple is hinted at having just started their equally complex journey of the heart. Every now and then I'm treated to a book that is so brilliantly executed that it rises above all its competition while raising the genre itself. This book is one of my all-time top ten favorites and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's time now to go find another of this author's books to dive into. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

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