The Duchess War

The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan

This is the first(ish) book in the series, and the third book I read.

Wilhelmina Pursling has a past she is desperately hiding from. She’s changed her name and hidden with obscurity with her two great-aunts, and pushed down everything she once was, to avoid any whisper that might cause someone to look into her past.

Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont was conceived solely so his father would have an heir. His entire childhood was spent as a pawn in his parent’s battles, and it wasn’t until he escaped to school and met his bastard half brother that he began to have any inkling of what family truly could be. So he owes his brother almost everything that he currently has become.

“Your Grace,” Stevens finally said, “your concern does you justice.”
The man’s toad-eating did him none.
Robert met Stevens’s eyes. “No, it doesn’t. It’s called basic human decency, and I deserve no credit for doing what every man should.”

Of course, having read the following two books, I knew what the end result would be (well, it’s a romance, the end is pre-determined, pretty much) but I really enjoying the bits with Sebastian.

“You know me,” Sebastian said. “I’m the soul of discretion.”

“No, you’re not. You are exactly the opposite.”

“I knew perfectly well what you meant,” Sebastian said. “But I’ve always found that the quickest way to make someone relent in his foolish edicts is to take every command literally and to perform it with flagrant obedience.”

I really really like Sebastian.

Did I like this story as well as the other two? Sadly, no. Minnie was fine, as was Robert, but they’re both so serious and so very broken. It just wasn’t anywhere near as fun as The Countess Conspiracy.
Rating: 7/10

Published by Courtney Milan

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