Much Ado About Dukes
Series: Never a Wallflower #2
Author: Eva Devon
Published August 23rd 2022 by Entangled: Amara

Goodreads Synopsis
As far as William Easton―the Duke of Blackheath―is concerned, love can go to the devil. Why would a man need passion when he has wealth, a stately home, and work to occupy his mind? But no one warned the duke that a fiery and frustratingly strong-willed activist like Lady Beatrice Haven can also be a stunning, dark-haired siren who tempts a man’s mind, body, and soul.

Lady Beatrice is determined to never marry. Ever. She would much rather fight for the rights of women and provoke the darkly handsome Duke of Blackheath, even if he does claim to be forward-thinking. After all, dukes―even gorgeous ones―are the enemy. So why does she feel such enjoyment from their heated exchanges?

But everything changes when Beatrice finds herself suddenly without fortune, a husband, or even a home. Now her future depends on the very man who sets her blood boiling. Because in order to protect his esteemed rival, the Duke of Blackheath has asked for Beatrice’s hand, inviting his once-enemy into his home...and his bed.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lady Beatrice Haven knows that as the daughter of an Earl, and ward to her uncle, she should marry, but her ideals and goals for women's rights make the idea of becoming the property of a man wholly abhorrent to her being. So finding herself attracted to William Easton, Duke of Blackheath, and the man she's sworn as the enemy for ignoring her pamphlets and refusing to meet, is definitely a problem. And for William, the very same is true. He doesn't want to marry, especially not for love, because he's seen what love can do to a person, and he can't imagine finding himself in that situation, not after his mother's betrayal and abandonment caused such suffering. As a fledgling friendship begins, they soon find themselves needing to marry, in order to protect each other, but can they harden their hearts against love, or will it be inevitable?

When I saw that a new book in the Never a Wallflower series was available to request, I couldn't stop myself. I adored the the first book, and had such high hopes for Much Ado About Dukes, that I was a little wary, but it did not disappoint! This book is a pseudo-retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, and a fantastic one at that. Beatrice and William were the perfect main characters for the tale, and their romance was a joy to read. They both were very much against marriage, but whereas William was wary of love, Beatrice knew that only love could entice her into the horrid state of matrimony. Their feminist ideals, and wish to fight for the rights of women, and those less fortunate than themselves was so great to see, and the moment when William leaves parliaments, sees his new bride on Parliament Square with a load of leaflets, and joins in, was utterly perfect! Of course, there were moments of angst, and they were really heartfelt, but the ending of this book definitely made up for any suffering the reader had. I've just seen that a third book is scheduled for next year, and I'll be impatiently waiting for it!

Dates Read:
May 19-20, 2022

Rating
4 Stars