Review: Say No to the Duke (The Wildes of Lindow Castle #4) by Eloisa James
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Series: The Wildes of Lindow Castle #4
Author: Eloisa James
Published June 25th 2019 by Piatkus Books
Goodreads Synopsis
One little wager will determine their fate—a daring escape or falling into temptation with a rakish lord.
Lady Betsy Wilde’s first season was triumphant by any measure, and a duke has proposed—but before marriage, she longs for one last adventure.
No gentleman would agree to her scandalous plan—but Lord Jeremy Roden is no gentleman. He offers a wager. If she wins a billiards game, he’ll provide the breeches.
If he wins…she is his, for one wild night.
But what happens when Jeremy realizes that one night will never be enough? In the most important battle of his life, he’ll have to convince Betsy to say no to the duke.
Goodreads
Review
In Say No to the Duke, the eldest Wilde daughter, Lady Boadicea - also known as Betsy - is now on the way for romance. Because of her mother's indiscretions, and the fact she ran away from her husband and children with a blond hair Prussian, she's always been watched with a little more scrutiny, and from the moment she started school, and learnt what society thought about her, she has portrayed herself as the perfect lady, and during her first season, has collected marriage proposals like others collect silk flowers. However, the big fish - a proposal from a duke, or duke's heir - has alluded her, but at the house party to celebrate Diana and North's wedding, it seems that Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, has taken a fancy to her. However, all Betsy wants is to have an adventure, and throw off the yoke of being the perfect lady. She wants to go to an auction, bid, and wear breeches in public. So, she uses her prowess at the billiards table to challenge Lord Jeremy Roden to a wager. If she wins, he has to take her out and let her do everything she wants; if he wins, she spends the night with him. Jeremy may be the son of a viscount, but since his return from America, he's suffered severely from PTSD and eschews the gentlemanly persona. He is damaged, but with Betsy he's starting to cam back into his old self. All the wagering and banter is only proving one thing, though, that their chemistry can't be denied, and Betsy seriously needs to Say No to the Duke.
I love each one of these books a little bit more, and it was no different this time. Betsy is my favourite of Eloisa's heroines, and her spunk and sheer tenacity was awe inspiring. She had hidden so much of herself away for so long, except for with her family, and Jeremy was the only one outside the family who she felt comfortable being the real Betsy around. They fought, but it was a banter that was full of flirting and chemistry, and him calling her Queen Bess was lovely. Jeremy's PTSD was handled well, I thought, and the way he dealt with his guilt, and his feelings of lack of self worth was inspiring to read. He had been dealt a really poor hand, and it was in the welcoming embrace of the extended Wilde family - and Aunt Knowe especially - that he began to heal. I found the elements of Jeremy's family surprising to see, and am glad with how the topic of Jeremy's cowardice was dealt with. Knowing that Thaddeus will be in Wilde Child too, is making me even more excited for March!
Dates Read:
October 17-18, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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