ARC Review: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

“Another winner from Ms. Milan” ~Under the Covers

If there is one thing I’ve come to realize about Courtney Milan’s books is that she has come up with some unique plots for her books.  They are well thought out, researched and executed.  Her writing style flows and keeps you turning the pages effortlessly.

In THE DUCHESS WAR we are introduced to yet another set of unique characters.  From the opening scene to the closing of the book, I couldn’t stop reading.  It consumed any free time I had and I read this in less than 24 hours.  Why?  Because I felt compelled to know more, to find out what happens next.

The Duke of Clermont, Robert Blaisdell, is hiding a secret.  But then again, so is Miss Minnie Pursling because she is not who she says she is.  They come from two completely different backgrounds and lifestyles but they are very similar deep down.  Minnie is trying to hide her past and Robert is trying not to become his.

Robert was a good hero, not great enough to be “claimed” material, but flirtatious, idealistic, strong and determined.  Also he was quite the smooth talker 😉  Very direct in his approach of Minnie.  Maybe it’s just that, as he said, when she was around she couldn’t think and did stupid things.  There were several moments that their banter made me laugh.  But in the end I thought he was a bit naive himself, and I’m not just talking about the fact that he was a virgin.

Minnie, on the other hand, has known the darker side of life.  Humiliation, lack of freedom, she’s lived her life repressed and not able to show the world who she really is, always having to pass by under the radar.  But underneath that there’s a feisty girl that Robert was able to draw out from the very beginning.  Their connection and the way they were able to complement each other was great.

But of course, what good Courtney Milan book doesn’t have a bit of BETRAYAL.  And in this case it comes from both sides.  When she puts one of these obstacles in the way of the story, they are big.  They are the type of betrayals that I don’t know if could be forgivable.  But she manages to make me believe.

And make me cry.  This book brought tears to my eyes in the wee hours of the night.  Towards the end I couldn’t help but keep wiping the tears away so I wouldn’t have to put the book down.  But as it made me cry, it also made me smile.

Smile because Minnie, a virgin herself, had to instruct Robert on what to do the first time they were together.  Smile because Minnie couldn’t help but fall in love with Robert.  Smile because two broken people were able to fix each other.

I can’t say this book was perfect.  I thought the problem resolution at the end was a bit rushed and the Dowager Duchess coming in at the very end and being part of the family as if nothing had happened was a bit farfetched to me.  I think time and some groveling had to happen before that could take place.

Regardless, the storyline and the characters have captured me.  Another winner from Ms. Milan that has me waiting anxiously for the next.

*ARC provided by author

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[about-author author=”Courtney Milan”]