The Truth About Dukes by Grace BurrowesMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
His eyes...a mere pencil sketch would never do justice to a gaze that complicated. Rothhaven was both calm and turbulent. Distant and intensely present. To study him made Constance thirsty for a glass of wine---or something stronger.
This fifth installment in the Rogues to Riches series could be read as a standalone but I'd suggest at least reading the previous, A Duke by Any Other Name, to settle and familiarize yourself with the family dynamics and emotions going on. Constance is one of the sisters in the Wentworth family, whose members the series is about, and she has been the wallflower one, hovering on the edges. Robert is the older brother of Nathaniel, hero of previous book, and the actual Duke of Rothhaven. Five years ago, Nathaniel discovered that his brother was indeed alive and he rescued him from a private hospital. Their father had placed him there because Robert had the “falling sickness” (epilepsy) and was ashamed and didn't think he could handle the dukedom. When Nathaniel and Althea, Constance's sister, begin their romance, Constance and Robert are not, in fact, introduced but reunited.
Because in some way, he knew her. Not from long acquaintance, but from shared experience.
If you're a frequent reader of Burrowes, like I am, you'll know to expect a more calm, quiet, and loving tone. The dramatics (arguably some theatrics drama at the very end) are left out in favor of a soothing read where you're pulled in by virtue of already being attached to the family by reading previous books. I wish we had gotten flashback scenes of when Constance and Robert first meet and their initial bonding. Burrowes does a good job of having Constance and Robert relay what their friendship meant to them when they first met but that already connection left a lot of the first spark and burn out of the story and the romance feel of this suffered because of it. The first half of this was more about the backstory than readers being involved in real-time of Constance and Robert falling in love. However, the backstory of Constance running away to elope at fifteen but getting abandoned and having to work in the kitchens of the private hospital Robert was held, along with both having abusive fathers, gave me the hows and whys for their bond, it just didn't feel like I was involved in the emotion of it.
“[...]The power of that, of being seen and cared for by a person with the courage to act, made all the difference in the world.”
The second and latter half has our couple solidly together and is more about them dealing with a threat from a crooked solicitor who wants to get Robert declared mentally unfit so he can be declared guardian of his estate and skim some profits for himself. There's also a reveal of a secret Constance has held from most of her family. These two things pull and have Constance and Robert working together, showcasing how well they work together. There's some one-eighty turning from one “villain” and the ending had a thwarting of another villain that felt a bit slap-happy. Constance and Robert were both more still waters run deep characters, especially Robert, I would have liked a bit more from him and you're going to have to find conversation more intimate than a kiss (this statement was even worked into the text) to enjoy their story. There were some truly touching moments but be prepared for this to be less romance and more of a family drama.
“Now I know I can never let you go.” Then he kissed her, with no self-restraint, whatsoever.
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