The Duke's Disaster Mass Market Paperback – Picture Book, April 7, 2015

This review will contain SPOILERS!As I continue to read all of Grace Burrowes' books - those I've previously read and some I have not, I decided to purchase this book. Although there were elements of the book I enjoyed, the story seemed to go on and on and on without enough progress in Noah's and Thea's relationship to suit me.Big Issues: Noah Winters needed a wife. When the young deb he had chosen cried off, he decided her companion, Thea Collins, would do just as well. Thea's in a really tight spot since she and her younger sister are dependent upon a young brother for their livelihood. Their brother is a wastrel who is drinking and gambling away his funds as soon as he receives them from his Solicitors. So, of course Thea needs to somehow find a way to establish her younger sister so she will have more choices than Thea had.Thea agrees to marry Noah planning to tell him she is no longer a virgin, but somehow doesn't find the right time until Noah attempts to consummate the marriage. It's a disaster in the making. When Noah realizes Thea's not "virtuous" (how I hate the use of that word as it was applied in those days), he doesn't trust her word for when she gave up her virtue and decides nothing further will occur between them until she has her monthly so he can be certain any future children are his. Okay, I get that, but for a man who had slept around as much as he had, I thought the way he acted was a bit over the top. Big whiny baby! Especially when he had two little secrets of his own that he never bothered to offer up. In fact, the two little secrets were not actually his, but he allowed Thea to believe he had two illegitimate daughters in his home - the actual truth of whose children they were which doesn't come out until near the end of the book.Further, during Noah's mixed up, confused feelings about how to go on with Thea, he actually visits his former mistress to get advice from her regarding his marriage. To give the woman credit, she was quite honorable for a courtesan and I had to admire the way she dealt with Noah. But, overall, this book simply had too many issues which resulted in my overall dislike. In truth, this book didn't quite seem to be a Burrowes' book. Normally, I find her male characters to be top rated, sensitive gentlemen who cherish the women within their sphere. Noah definitely needed a sensitivity chip. Two and one-half stars...

I haven’t picked up one of her books for several years, not because she isn’t a talented author, because she is. So why do I shun her books? Her writing is annoyingly predictable to me. He might say“ Pass the Jam, please, don’t be keeping it all to yourself” as they carry on conversation, in which she might say something similar as he butters his biscuit furiously. Or, more tea, cream? Orange muffins? Aren’t you going to share?Every single time I pick up one of her books the in between sentences are about the couple sharing food, or the mistress or anyone at all. It was quaint in my first book read of hers. The 2nd book I thought, really? The 3rd book it was driving me crazy. I let a few years go by and I thought to give another chance. Please don’t have the couple discussing food, I prayed. Well, it literally is the MO of this author and my prayers weren’t answered, at least for this reader. It reminds me of being annoyed by someone chewing too loud and you think, “ please stop!” I know my review sounds most unkind, but how can every book mirror the last one? Even the H and HR seem similar. There is a predominant pattern of her characters being just too darn ho hum and boring. I’ve been reading HR books for 45 years and rarely give out harsh reviews. This is my exception. A little more creativity and imagination would go a long way to pacify me in regards to Ms Burrowe’s books.

I have read nearly all of Grace Burrowes's historical romance novels. I have yet to read (but plan to) her contemporary novels. I picked this book to review simply because it was there. I would like to convey to potential GB readers what a delight she is to read. There are some particular elements you will find in nearly all her books which added to my enjoyment. These are: 1) There is no hero you will NOT like. Her heroes are kind, gentle, respectful of women, not judgmental where the lack of virginity is concerned, and they all have an uncanny understanding of the heroine. 2) Burrowes likes to use food as a connection between hero and heroine. 3) You will usually encounter flowers--picking one at random to put in a lady's hair or a gentleman's lapel, gardens galore whether the planting of or walking through, etc. 4) There are sex scenes of course, but none of them are gratuitous. 5) Aggression on the part of the heroine as pertains to love scenes. You will not regret reading a GB novel or novella. I have found in other books the need to scan quickly a lot of pages! You will not do that in GB book. Her plots are genuine, believable, and move along with some surprises along the way. Her books are sophisticated and not insulting to the reader's intelligence, and her grammar is impeccable. (Sadly, I have found horrendous breaches of grammar among other authors I have read.) If you enjoy historical romance, Grace Burrowes should be at the top of your list along with Julie Garwood. GB is a MUST!.

I will not summarize the plot as others have done so. Noah Winters is one of my favorite heros. He doesn't think himself nice. He even states that up front to the heroine. He's wrong. He is nice. He is also sweet, funny, and honorable. He and the heroine have the same flaws; neither can communicate effectively with each other at first, but they both try very hard because they want their marriage to work. The book leads us through their growth as a couple with sweet domestic scenes. A crises at the end allows both to see how much they trust and love one another. As my title states, this is one of my favorite of Grace B's books. It is the only one, so far, that I have read twice. I am sure I will read it again because I am in love with Noah Winters, too.

I have such a problem with this book - it is my first Grace Burrowes book, and I would love to read more of her stories. However, although I loved the writing and the dialogue, there were a whole host of predictable scenarios thrown together and for me they didn't work. I think my main problem was that the hero and heroine, having embarked on a marriage of convenience, were so demonstrably affectionate with each other from the beginning that the misunderstandings just didn't ring true [yes, I know this is HR and they are littered with misunderstandings] However, the heroine's intent to tell her husband her dark secret was put off for the most feeble reasons - read MB's 'Heartless' for a similar but entirely believable situation with a genuine threat shadowing the heroine. In TDD, the heroine didn't appear to have any reason to fear repercussions from her abuser, given the circumstances of her ruination, and she really was entirely blameless, so I couldn't understand her continuing reluctance to explain to the hero. Likewise, the truth of the hero's secret was pretty obvious to the reader, so why did the author allow him to keep it from his new wife? Both parties dealt with a number of people who wanted to be helpful and sympathetic - but the hero's family didn't put the poor new wife right about the circumstances of the two little girls? The hero kept dashing off on missions of his own - but none directly related to trying to solve his wife's problems, it seemed. Having started married life sharing a bed, there were times when he disappeared into his own room for no discernible reason other than to pad out the story and give the heroine something else to cry about!Another aspect which made it a difficult read for me was that I wasn't at all sure what period this was meant to be set in. I probably need to reread it to get that right! The idea of a duke - and a rather remote, reserved one at that - bringing his wife breakfast in bed every morning, and the couple acting as valet/maid to each other just didn't ring true. The very idea of servants NOT tending to their employers simply doesn't work - it was just the way things were done, especially in a ducal home, even if it was one of his lesser estates.Having said that, what I loved were scenes like the one when the hero's horse is in pain and may have to be destroyed - the emotion between hero, heroine and horse worked beautifully and just when I started snivelling the author managed very skilfully to turn the scene around and make me laugh out loud. Very good writing.Maybe I am missing something, maybe the author wanted to give the reader the end product, as it were, and make us think about how the story got there? I really don't know, and because I enjoyed the writing and emotional engagement so much I would like to try other books by GB, but I'm really not sure ..........

Noah Winters, duke of Anselm is seeking a bride and his choice has fallen on a lady of good birth but not in circumstance. Thea is the paid companion of a titled lord's daughter although she is an Earl's daughter by birth. She is a fallen woman and has to try support her younger sister as best she can whilst their brother the current Earl wastes away along with all their money.Anslem offers for her because her companionship is ending soon since her charge is soon to be married but he doesn't know about Thea's past or the mire he's got himself into, even if he has his own family more to try and fix.Thea and Noah's marriage is true to the phrase... The first year is always the hardest. It is tricky from the beginning but through misunderstandings, trying and not being nice. Thea and Noah's marriage works and becomes very very nice even with a little bit of doting involved.I love this book and its characters I wish there was a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book, and found it difficult to put down. I warmed to Thea straight away - and grew to care for Noah as the story wore on. They were totally new characters to me (many of Ms Burrowes' books are about connections of other heroes/heroines), although there was a slight reference to a pair of characters well covered in other books. The story line is a little different from the normal run of Regency Romances and, of course, it is all written in Ms Burrowes' lovely English. I often read her novels at pace - to find out what happens - and then a little later read them in slow time, to get the nuances and the evocative descriptions!I would definitely recommend this to lovers of this genre. (My one little criticism is that the front cover pictures of many of her stories have the ladies dresses 'out of period'. These flowing ball gowns, falling off ladies' shoulders, are all very well - but they are not Regency style! It is not so glaring a distraction when one is reading on a Kindle - but it does colour one's view and also is a bit awkward when asking the local library to purchase the books!)

I really wanted to like it, and the reviews were so promising! The 4+ reviewers must have low expectations from their Recency Romance. It never came alive, and though it was intelligent and well thought out in places there was no sparkle. I prefer Sherry Thomas, DG Rmpton, Lorretta Chase or Elizbeth Hoyt.

This is one of my favorite authors and I always love her stories. I was also pleased with the delivery.