What I Did For a Duke (Pennyroyal Green #5) by Julie Anne Long
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Synopsis:
For years, he's been an object of fear, fascination...and fantasy. But of all the wicked rumors that shadow the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, the ton knows one thing for certain: only fools dare cross him. And when Ian Eversea does just that, Moncrieffe knows the perfect revenge: he'll seduce Ian's innocent sister, Genevieve—the only Eversea as yet untouched by scandal. First he'll capture her heart...and then he'll break it.
But everything about Genevieve is unexpected: the passion simmering beneath her cool control, the sharp wit tempered by gentleness...And though Genevieve has heard the whispers about the duke's dark past, and knows she trifles with him at her peril, one incendiary kiss tempts her deeper into a world of extraordinary sensuality. Until Genevieve is faced with a fateful choice...is there anything she won't do for a duke?
Review:
*Note: some spoilers ahead*
I know a lot of people who love this story, but I don't really know why. It was meh at best. I mean...It could just be me. I am particular about my old-timey romances mainly because I actually love romances written a long time ago. Pre-1950's or so. They were my main genre I read growing up and I still love them. So historical romance can be a tricky one for me. And even though this did have something I hate in new old-timey romances (sex outside of marriage), it was so far into the book that I didn't even care at that point. Which is odd. Because I don't like that in this genre. So the story had to already be meh, or so good I was loving it and didn't care. Unfortunatelty it was the former not the later.
Okay, so this book. What do I want to say about this story? First off can we talk about that cover? Because that cover does not fit this story at all. That cover makes it look like a bodice ripper and I never would have picked this to read if it wasn't a book club pick. Because bodice rippers aren't my thing. Great if they are yours, have fun reading them, they just aren't mine. So right from the start I was expecting that from the story. Judging the book by its cover and all that. But what I got instead was a rather boring story overall. I didn't care for Genevieve, I found her rather tedious and annoying for the most part. And Alex? He was alright, but nothing amazing either. It was interesting because he has this grand scheme to seduce and sully Geneviere, and when he first meets her he thinks this might be tedious. Then he starts talking to her and realizes she is quite smart and observant about most things and at times thinks maybe this will be fun. Then he goes back to the I just need to get this over with thing. So he goes back and forth with her. And that is how I spent the first half of the book. Like the story was Geneviere. I kept getting glimpses of fun, enjoyable story. I kept thinking maybe this won't be so bad, but then it would get dull again. Really by halfway I just wanted it to end.
Genevieve thinks she is in love with her best friend who just broke her heart when the Duke arrives. She is certain she is in love with her friend even when sleeping with the Duke. Even when seeking him out at night when no one else is around to talk to and see where things go. Even when it is so flippin obvious she isn't. I...she grated on my nerves. Of course not everyone knows their minds all the time, but I found she was a bit...inconsistent maybe? Like she was scandalized by the Duke at times, but she liked it and found it fun when he said something uncouth, but it was like she also wasn't in an old-timey story if that makes sense. Like she doesn't know the ways of the world, and yet she does at times. I didn't find her believable is the real issue. She didn't come across as actually being in love or thinking she was the entire time. She was more like purposely keeping her head in the sand which I found odd. So she really made the story frustrating at times, but also rather dull. I may have enjoyed it more with another female lead, but I don't know that I would have loved it. It really just wasn't the story for me.
Rating: ★ ★
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