SAY YES TO THE DUKE

A young woman with a nervous disposition draws the attention of a duke looking for a wife.

Although Viola Astley's stepfather, the Duke of Lindow, loves her and claims her as his daughter, society doesn’t accept her as a proper lady. This judgement magnifies her own feelings of inadequacy; she knows she doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the Wildes, her stepfather’s raucous and rambunctious family. Viola wishes she could stay at home with her pet crow and cows instead of running the gauntlet of society functions that make her feel ill and vomit. When Viola’s stepsister Joan learns of her deep-seated fears, Joan tells her to have confidence in herself as a “Wilde Child.” Bolstered by this single pep talk, Viola miraculously sheds years of crippling social anxiety and decides to pursue her interest in a handsome young vicar. However, her plans for a late-night meeting are thwarted by Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter. Devin has decided it’s time to marry and has his eye on Joan, the “real” Wilde daughter on the marriage mart. After Viola spars with Devin, he realizes that perhaps she's the right match for him after all. Their courtship progresses without conflict and will please readers looking for high heat and low angst. Lavish descriptions of clothing and hairstyles are more fully developed than the characters—or their romance. The lack of conflict makes the late-stage misunderstandings and confessions seem silly and manufactured. A subplot about whether or not medieval cycle plays based on Bible stories are appropriate fare for Christian audiences might be interesting to some readers, but it’s so divorced from the main romance arc that others might view it as filler.

Perfect for readers who like high wigs and low stakes.