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A review by bandherbooks
Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean
5.0
Gosh, that was so good.
I'm just going to sit here with my feelings.
(April 2020)
2nd read - audio & print (my own copies) - July 4 - July 13 2020
It is truly difficult to write a coherent review for a book you adore I've discovered. Let's just mash some keys on the keyboard and call it done? No, I cannot do that! Plus I had to review the audio book for my Library Journal gig and I don't think lkjsdflkjakjl would work.
Mildly spoilery and if you haven't read the other books in this series (or this book):
Okay. So here goes. I have to admit I didn't worry about Ewan's redemption like I worried about Malcolm's from [b:The Day of the Duchess|31307650|The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)|Sarah MacLean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477616140l/31307650._SY75_.jpg|51979220]. I felt MacLean deftly showcased Ewan as cold and calculating and completely without hope until he discovered Grace's existence. I fully believed he has ulterior motivations for attacking Grace and her brothers so I could sink into this story ready for his redemption.
And oh Grace, she is so awesome. I connected with her tendency to give others the pleasure they seek without taking pleasure of her own. Her loyalty to her family, her brothers of her heart and her crew of women. I loved seeing her discover what would give her pleasure, going to seek it, but never compromising herself or her ideals. Duke was hers by right, and Duchess would never be enough, and finally seeing Ewan understand this and burn it to the ground was SO SATISFYING.
Grace and Ewan also both have a past. So often in this trope the woman often remains unkissed, a virgin, and I'm glad Grace's past was not dissected but was presented in a way we know that she has taken lovers before. She is not shamed for living her life, but instead is glorified for who she has become.
I want to revel in the world more, and will reread this series often. It is a true treasure.
I'll post the LJ audio review when it is live.
I'm just going to sit here with my feelings.
(April 2020)
2nd read - audio & print (my own copies) - July 4 - July 13 2020
It is truly difficult to write a coherent review for a book you adore I've discovered. Let's just mash some keys on the keyboard and call it done? No, I cannot do that! Plus I had to review the audio book for my Library Journal gig and I don't think lkjsdflkjakjl would work.
Mildly spoilery and if you haven't read the other books in this series (or this book):
Okay. So here goes. I have to admit I didn't worry about Ewan's redemption like I worried about Malcolm's from [b:The Day of the Duchess|31307650|The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)|Sarah MacLean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477616140l/31307650._SY75_.jpg|51979220]. I felt MacLean deftly showcased Ewan as cold and calculating and completely without hope until he discovered Grace's existence. I fully believed he has ulterior motivations for attacking Grace and her brothers so I could sink into this story ready for his redemption.
And oh Grace, she is so awesome. I connected with her tendency to give others the pleasure they seek without taking pleasure of her own. Her loyalty to her family, her brothers of her heart and her crew of women. I loved seeing her discover what would give her pleasure, going to seek it, but never compromising herself or her ideals. Duke was hers by right, and Duchess would never be enough, and finally seeing Ewan understand this and burn it to the ground was SO SATISFYING.
Grace and Ewan also both have a past. So often in this trope the woman often remains unkissed, a virgin, and I'm glad Grace's past was not dissected but was presented in a way we know that she has taken lovers before. She is not shamed for living her life, but instead is glorified for who she has become.
I want to revel in the world more, and will reread this series often. It is a true treasure.
I'll post the LJ audio review when it is live.