Pleasure here lies in Linden's understated character studies, not in a plot that motivates the arranged marriage but then has little to do with the development of a relationship between our hero and heroine.

Blame It on Bath is the second novel in the Truth About the Duke series by author Caroline Linden. The main characters featured are Gerard de Lacey and Katherine Howe.

After finishing the last book in the series, I was a little curious about Gerard. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like reading about his journey. He is the youngest of the bunch and he seemed a little hot headed. I hoped the author would make him a little more interesting with some softer emotions shown to the reader in his book.

Holy. Freaking. HOTNESS.

Gerard de Lacey was one fine specimen who could be so dirty in the bed. Not only was the sexy scenes so much better in this book, but Gerard was swoon worthy. He is faithful, dependable, sweet, and very sexy. While he went into this marriage with Kate on the basis of an arrangement, he was completely changed by the end of the book.

While this book heavily focuses on Gerard and Kate exploring their marriage of convenience, the mystery of the blackmailer is still in question. I wish there would have been a bit more focus on the mystery, I can't say I am completely disappointed in getting some lovely romance between the two.

So far this is my favorite of the series. While it is only book two, the author did a much better job in focusing on the romance in this book for the swoon factor. I am looking forward to seeing how Charles will handle being the one left holding the bag in unearthing the blackmailer.

I actually enjoyed this book. With a steady plot, nice, mature characters, a proper build up and a sweet romance. So far the series has been enjoyable, not knocking me off my feet or full of angst. But enjoyable nevertheless.

Part #2 of the Durham Dilemma, focusing on the blackmail angle. Gerard and Kate's story doesn't have the instant-lust aspects that Edward and Francesa's did, but has a very real-world feel which I liked.

Spoiler

Although I didn't get how Lucien could "control" Kate's money when clearly it was held under the auspices of her solicitor? perhaps that's where the mental abuse from mother/late husband/late husband's cousin comes in

A few aspects of Northanger Abbey/Persuasion were included - appropriately, since the novel was set primarily in Bath.

Now that Charlie has bestirred himself (and his broken leg healed in a month? six weeks? that's pretty fast) we'll have to wait until August to see if the brothers put the Durham Dilemma to rest or the odious cousin wins out.

Katherine finds Gerard in an inn the night before he leaves town and proposes a marriage of convenience, her wealth for his assistance in avoiding a marriage to a man she loathes. Since Gerard had been thinking for a while now that he needed to find an heiress to marry in case things don't go his and his brothers way, this is very well timed on Kate's part, she gives him 3 days to do his research.
Watching as he slowly melts her defenses and she allows her personality to shine through, which has always been frowned on either by her mother or her first husband was extremely sweet, and very steamy in a lot of places :)
The side character's where also interesting in this one, be it her new friends, his old ones, her mother or the man she avoiding marrying. I do wish we'd see more interaction between the brothers, hopefully that will be in the last book.

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