Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Book Review: The Taming of the Duke by Emily Royal

Title: The Taming of the Duke
Series: Misfits of the Ton #3.5
Author: Emily Royal
Genre: Historical; Retelling; Romance
Publication Date: December 16, 2023

Who will be tamed—the shrew, or the rake?

Lord Baptiste Parville longed for a male heir, but instead, his late wives burdened him with two daughters—Catherine and Blanche. Catherine, known as the Spinster Shrew, is of such a sour disposition, that Lord Parville, desperate to rid himself of her, declares that no man may court Blanche until Catherine is off his hands.

Lord Lucian Horton, Blanche’s would-be suitor, is in despair. Until a wager is made. Enter Daxton Hawke, Duke of Petrush, committed bachelor and rake, who agrees to pretend to woo the waspish Catherine so Lucian can court the delightful Blanche.

Having had her heart broken, Catherine Parville resolves never to marry. But, out of loyalty to her younger sister, who has fallen in love with Lord Horton, she accepts the advances of the rakish duke. Catherine has no intention of making life easy for her suitor, but despite her increasingly acerbic comments, Daxton thrives on her shrewish nature, indulging in a few barbs of his own.

With the tenacity of a seasoned warrior and a skillful touch that sends Catherine’s senses ablaze, Daxton may yet emerge victorious.

But Daxton soon learns that he’s met his match—and it is the duke, not the shrew, who might perhaps be tamed.


Rating


 Hello Fellow Readers,

My favorite retelling from Shakespeare is The Taming of the Shrew and I love when authors decide to take it and mix it up. The title intrigued me, so I picked it up on Kindle Unlimited and immediately started to read. Unfortunately, this has one of my least favorite things in romances, instant love, or at least that is how it felt, with under 100 pages this could have benefitted from a chapter or two devoted to their interactions so this wouldn't have seemed so rushed. I didn't feel the chemistry between Daxton and Catherine and I didn't get enough interaction with them to connect, I actually didn't like any of the characters in this. One minute I felt like they hated each other, then wanted each other, then conflict then love again. I think my neck may have gotten whiplash after reading it. The writing wasn't bad at all and had Royal given her leads enough time to simmer, I could have really enjoyed this book.

Overall, not my cup of tea. 

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