Veena’s review of When a Duchess Says I Do (From Rogues To Riches, Book 2) by Grace Burrowes
Historical Romance published by Forever 02 Apr 19
I have read and enjoyed books by Grace Burrowes previously and really enjoyed Book 1 in this series with the banker turned prisoner turned duke story line. So I was eagerly anticipating this one. While the characters are deep and fully fleshed out with their needs, desires, and frailties, I found the romance a bit understated and the story a bit overstated.Widowed duchess Mathilda runs away from home and hides in the woods of the estate that Duncan Wentworth is in the process of restoring. When she comes to Duncan’s rescue and prevents him being shot and killed by poachers, he recognizes her nobility and her poor forlorn state and brings her in to his home. With Mathilda constantly on the verge of running away and Duncan finding reasons to keep her at the estate, it makes for an interesting pull and push.
The villain is detestable but not truly villainous, and the other characters add a nice touch of color to the story. It does make your head spin a bit with all the different points of view involved here, including Mathilda’s father’s staff. While I enjoyed the chess games and how Mathilda uses chess as the means to evaluate people, and yet despite having all the answers, fails so miserably with the man she almost allows to marry her, even if he does appeal to her emotional needs.
The story just moves too slowly for me and there are many aspects that I just do not find believable. A sophisticated, well-traveled woman – a duchess at that – runs away from her father’s home and shelters in the cold, starving and sleeping in haystacks even if it does set her up for a perfect meeting with Duncan. Duncan has his own share of complimentary baggage from the last time he went out on a limb to help a woman and almost lost everything, including his faith in himself.
I like the two of them together and how Duncan stands up for Mathilda and gives her the one thing she craves above all: a home.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Duncan Wentworth once tried his hand at rescuing a damsel in distress long ago, and he’s vowed he’ll never make that mistake again. Yet when he comes across a stranger in the poacher-infested woods of his estate, decency compels him to offer the lady aid. Matilda is whip-smart, she can read Duncan’s horrible penmanship, and when she wears his reading glasses all Duncan can think about is naughty Latin poetry.
Widowed duchess Matilda Wakefield can’t entrust her secrets to Duncan without embroiling him in the problems that sent her fleeing from London, but neither can she ignore a man who’s honorable, a brilliant chess player, and maddeningly kissable. She needs to stay one step ahead of the enemies pursuing her, and falling into Duncan’s arms is a distraction she can’t afford-or they’ll both pay the price.
Other books in this series:
