Dukes and realizations!

 My Dearest Duke (Cambridge Brotherhood #2) by Kristin Vayden  

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whilst I rather liked the characters of Rowles Haywind, Duke of Westmore, and Lady Joan Morgan, I felt the storyline meandered far too much. 

A nobleman whose mother’s mental illness makes him wary of ever marrying in case he passes the illness onto his children. He was at his best at Cambridge. When his older brother died he had to ex-chance Cambridge for a Dukedom. His love of challenging conversations has never left him and that’s what Joan provides, stimulating discourse, and maybe something more.

A young noblewoman who hides considerable talents for detecting, exposing forgeries and works secretly for the war office, Joan wants a normal life, but how much will her secret make a husband shudder. There’s a hint of presence but didn’t fully develop. Joan also wants a world where the freedom to be equal and have the same opportunities as men is normal.

Mental health conditions of the time and the addiction to laudenham, are discussed. The terror of such situations is talked about but these ideas didn’t flow comfortably, rather they’re inserted and somewhat stilted. Rowles makes sure his mother is cared for even though the attempts to reason with her are fraught. I must say it was rather shocking that his mother and brother had discussed putting Rowles into Bedlam should his scholarship and attitude to servants cause concern amongst the ton.

Chapters are headed by supposed quotes from Joan of Arc. I was finding the relevance somewhat scattered. Although Joan’s code name is Saint. So there’s a hint.

There are many positive interactions but it all felt slightly off key. 

I had no problem with content having a Christian flavour, but there was just too many other threads at play.

A Sourcbooks ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.