Wicked Incognito Now's Reviews > The Duke Is Mine
The Duke Is Mine (Fairy Tales, #3)
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Wicked Incognito Now's review
bookshelves: 2011, one-of-my-favorite-authors, auto-buy-author, my-special, read-w-a-buddy
Jul 16, 2011
bookshelves: 2011, one-of-my-favorite-authors, auto-buy-author, my-special, read-w-a-buddy
**note** a few other reviewers, who didn't read the book beyond a few first pages, suggest that EJ's MC treats a disabled character with a lack of respect. This is not how the novel shapes up. Actually, the MC is amazingly kind and respectful. I hope those of you contemplating reading this book don't give so much credence to those reviews that you end up missing out on an entirely lovely novel.***
I loved every second of this book (except for, perhaps, the ending which was an episode of over-the-top action theatrics).
Eloisa James excels at character development and dialogue. This is why I adore her writing. I often envision myself actually hanging out with these people. Quite often, I am irritated by historical romance heroines and just want to slap them silly. But EJ writes a type of heroine that is entirely likable. I find myself with a silly grin on my face as I read these novels.
Olivia is the best of these heroines. She's extraordinarily good AND intelligent and silly all at once. Even the supposed villains of the novel turn out not to be villains so much as ordinarily flawed people. A reader normally goes into this expecting the duke she's being forced to marry to be a fat slobbering evil menace, and the hero's disapproving mother to be stupid, loud, obnoxious, and an evil menace. The perfect twin sister should of course be simpering, insipid, gorgeous, and an evil menace, and all those evil Frenchies at the end? Well, they, OF COURSE, should be outright evil menaces.
These "villains" are none of those things. They are good people with issues who Olivia cares for. All of the them. Even the Frenchies. Books like these make me look at humanity and think--"yeah, we're not so bad."
**EJ gives us a cute nod to Justin Bieber in her character Lord Justin.
I loved every second of this book (except for, perhaps, the ending which was an episode of over-the-top action theatrics).
Eloisa James excels at character development and dialogue. This is why I adore her writing. I often envision myself actually hanging out with these people. Quite often, I am irritated by historical romance heroines and just want to slap them silly. But EJ writes a type of heroine that is entirely likable. I find myself with a silly grin on my face as I read these novels.
Olivia is the best of these heroines. She's extraordinarily good AND intelligent and silly all at once. Even the supposed villains of the novel turn out not to be villains so much as ordinarily flawed people. A reader normally goes into this expecting the duke she's being forced to marry to be a fat slobbering evil menace, and the hero's disapproving mother to be stupid, loud, obnoxious, and an evil menace. The perfect twin sister should of course be simpering, insipid, gorgeous, and an evil menace, and all those evil Frenchies at the end? Well, they, OF COURSE, should be outright evil menaces.
These "villains" are none of those things. They are good people with issues who Olivia cares for. All of the them. Even the Frenchies. Books like these make me look at humanity and think--"yeah, we're not so bad."
**EJ gives us a cute nod to Justin Bieber in her character Lord Justin.
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Reading Progress
July 16, 2011
– Shelved
July 16, 2011
– Shelved as:
2011
July 16, 2011
– Shelved as:
one-of-my-favorite-authors
July 16, 2011
– Shelved as:
auto-buy-author
Started Reading
January 4, 2012
– Shelved as:
my-special
January 4, 2012
–
Finished Reading
January 17, 2012
– Shelved as:
read-w-a-buddy
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)
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Narnies
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rated it 3 stars
Jan 18, 2012 12:57AM
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I hate to think that people would just see that review and not realize that that particular review doesn't reflect the entire book. Of course everyone is entitled to their review and entitled to NOT finish reading a book. It just bothers me that since that review comes up first, people may decide not to read the book based it.
Hmm, I base my decision to read after I check out the two-star reviews. If they make a compelling case, I bail. There's plenty of people out there who will say a book is all kinds of great, but I want to hear the reasons it's not.
That having been said, you need to be able to read reviews discerningly, I think. There's lots of happy reviews that won't actually tell you WHY it's good, just that they loved it, loved it, loved it (and I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else).
Anyway. YAY you liked it! That's CJ and you, which means I'm a-buying. Even though HR is hard graft for me these days.
That having been said, you need to be able to read reviews discerningly, I think. There's lots of happy reviews that won't actually tell you WHY it's good, just that they loved it, loved it, loved it (and I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else).
Anyway. YAY you liked it! That's CJ and you, which means I'm a-buying. Even though HR is hard graft for me these days.
PS: A-dog, at the time of writing this comment I was unaware that you too had sampled the joy. Three! That's three peanut butter sandwiches! Muahahaha!
Yeah, what is it about 2012 that's killed HR for us? I call Mayan apocalypse. When the world ends I want to be reading about hot manlove and not ballgowns and how pure virgins are.
Wow. I'm really over HR.
Wow. I'm really over HR.
But yeah, getting a heroine in HR that isn't a virgin every once and awhile would definately be entertaining. Don't be scared of the man meat ladies!!!
Maya Banks, Maya Banks.... don't think I've ever read her.
You likey enough to reccy?
You likey enough to reccy?
I don't know if I'd recommend her other stuff to you though, Lethal would probably like it as it's a bit like Julie Garwood :P I'm pretty sure you hated her stuff.
Ah, Julie Garwood. Kill me.
Alrighty then! It's goodnight from him, and goodnight from him. See you tomorrow, playazzz.
Alrighty then! It's goodnight from him, and goodnight from him. See you tomorrow, playazzz.