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The Shy Duchess (2011)

by Amanda McCabe(Favorite Author)

3.53 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0373296320 (ISBN13: 9780373296323)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin

review 1: DNF. Some spoilers in further comments.Only made it about a fourth of the way in. This books is SO CONTRIVED. The writing is juvenile (way too many exclamation points and quotations) and tries too hard. The characters lack depth and are generally unlikable, but perhaps this is because the heroine seems to dislike everyone around her (it almost reads as though she belittles their existence, and thinks that she is above everything and everyone.) Emily, the heroine, is a mismatched conglomeration of characteristics that the author seems to hope are becoming, but ultimately read as inconsistent. Many things also seem to be out of place for the time period. Exactly how does the governess of an earl's daughter become the master of a school to help former prostitutes? Where does ... moreshe get the funds to not only teach these girls, but to house and feed them? How could she think it possibly appropriate to hire her former charge as a teacher? If she truly cared about Emily and understood the society in which she lives (which presumably she does since she was a governess to the aristocracy), how could she possibly think this a good idea? Secrets like these don't tend to stay secret. Emily doesn't even try that hard to keep it a secret. She brings along a maid, whose allegiance is not to her mistress, but to her mother and father. How would she ensure the maid's silence? Also, if Emily is supposedly under the microscope of her parents, and society, how is she able to find time every week to make it to this part of town for hours? It feels like this situation was ultimately contrived - invented simply for the purpose to show the audience, oh look how likeable our heroine is! She wants to be helpful! Granted, I did only read about 25% of the book. Perhaps these questions get answered further on, but given the quality of writing I doubt it. The hero also seems to lack depth. He's so much of a Gary Stu, it's hard to understand him. The author does try though - we get the sad story of his first wife, but the description of their whirlwind courtship seems forced and unlikely. The stories I tend to give one stars to, I usually do because they affront my morals (i.e. rape, dubious consent, general assholishness). This book didn't really qualify under these standards, but I couldn't give it more. It was NOT a good book. I can't say that "it was okay," because it really wasn't. It reads like something a high school student would write. No depth and fully contrived. I feel so horrible about having cut this book to shreds, especially when I didn't even finish it. Perhaps it DOES get better, but I don't have the motivation to read further. I really don't see how it could get better, but never say never.
review 2: 3.25 out of 5 starsThis was a leisurely, inoffensive read, much like the shy duchess herself. Emily hides among potted palms at social events, such is her painful shyness. Even though she is beautiful and her parents have pinned their hopes on her marrying well, most of the eligible men call her 'The Ice Princess', Emily overhears just such talk from a couple of gentlemen, and in fleeing the scene in mortification, falls against a well muscled chest.It is Nicholas, Duke of Manning. He is every inch the proper Duke, in looks and bearing. They had met before at a house party (part of the Anthology The Diamonds of Welbourne') They have an enlightening conversation. Nicholas cannot forget her. Perhaps, she would make him a good Duchess, she is well mannered and well born. But did he want an ice princess in his bed?Nicholas is a fine hero, upstanding, a true gentleman, and one with a secret. He has been lonely a long time, and the more he comes across Emily, the more he senses a simmering passion under the ice princess facade.Nothing really earth shattering happens in this book, it is focused almost exclusively on Emily and Nicholas, and their sweet but short courtship was endearing. But I felt it lacked a real narrative heat, no real tension in the plot. An over zealous suitor of Emily posts a touch of menace, but hardly merits a raised eyebrow. Also Emily herself is keeping a secret, but again, it is not enough to cause any great shock.However, once Emily becomes the duchess, things heat up between her and Nicholas. She discovers Nicholas' secret, and it has her doubting they could ever be truly happy, despite how well matched they are in the bedroom.A satisfactory read, I found the hero and heroine well thought out and their love story sweet with a nice balance of heat to keep things from getting too dull. However, I wished there was more going on here to create a little tension. less

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