Tag: Caroline Linden

Desperately Seeking Duke: The Ultimate Epilogue by Caroline Linden

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Desperately Seeking Duke: The Ultimate Epilogue

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Desperately Seeking Duke #3.5
Publication Date: 6/7/22
Period: Georgian
Number of Pages: 80

At the front of this short read, the author explains her reasoning for doing a separate release for the ‘Ultimate Epilogue’. She says “I wanted to revisit the characters from earlier books when they learned who would inherit the dukedom, and see how they were getting on a year or more after the end of their story. These scenes didn’t fit in the context of any one book, but they add something to the overall series.” I’ve read each book in the series, and while I was satisfied each of the couples got their HEA, I was always left with questions, and, of course, the big question was – who will become the ducal heir. I was totally frustrated with the last book because it seemed to leave everything up in the air (or heir😊) and it just didn’t feel finished. I didn’t realize the author planned this separate epilogue, but I’m glad she did because it answered most of my questions. Are there some things I feel I’m still missing – yes – but nothing I can’t live without knowing since they all revolve around supporting characters. She plainly says she isn’t planning to do a future book with Jack, and he was the main supporting character I wanted to see. 😊 Ah, well.

Since it was a short read, I can’t tell you a lot without giving everything away. So, I will tell you:

• She nicely adds to Max and Bianca’s HEA. Their book didn’t end with any big questions hanging over them, so this epilogue just gives you a lovely, lovely view of their ongoing happiness and where their lives and business have taken them. It also gives you a nice look at Kit and Jennie’s future. You’ll love the heartwarming scenes with Bianca’s father.
• Since Drew and Ilsa’s book left several things in the air, it was nice to see some answers. We learn the fate of Ilsa’s father and the thieves who had been breaking into stores in Edinburgh. I will say, I’d have liked a little more information on the father’s fate though. I know where he is – but – what is he doing? Is he making a new fortune? Will he find love? I know, I know, this wasn’t his book. I also wonder about the futures of Drew’s sisters – will their London debut be successful? Will they find their own HEA? Again – not their book, but it is sad that I’ll never know. 😊
• Will and Phillipa’s portion provided us with the ultimate answer to what will happen with the dukedom. I absolutely adored the update on the current duke – it was just perfect. Then, there is the resolution of what will happen with Will’s parents, sister, and brother. Jack is the supporting character who most intrigued me, but he isn’t getting his own book, so I guess I’ll never know his fate. Given Jack’s reactions when the Frenchmen were mentioned, I just have to wonder if there isn’t a story there. 😊 AND – FINALLY — I can say I actually like the Duchess.

I am happy to have read this Ultimate Epilogue and I’m so happy to have seen the happy futures for all of our series participants.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

All the Duke I Need by Caroline Linden

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series2 Comments

All the Duke I Need (Desperately Seeking Duke, #3)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: Desperately Seeking Duke #3
Publication Date: 4/26/22
Period: Georgian – 1787
Number of Pages: 384

*** UPDATE: I just learned the author will be writing “A Giant Series Epilogue” (her words) that will release within a couple of weeks of the publication of this book. The author is currently taking questions and suggestions for what to include in that epilogue. So, while that doesn’t make the conclusion of this book any more satisfying, it does give us the opportunity to see what happens and get the answers we are craving. I’m leaving my review as I originally published it because publishing a new book doesn’t change what I thought of this book. However, it does offer us the opportunity to get our grand wrap-up in another book. *****

Well – what can I say? I absolutely loved the romance between Will and Philippa and would have rated it 5-stars, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a more dissatisfying series ending. The wrap-up was just suddenly there and then it was just as suddenly gone and left me wanting more information, more interactions, more completion. For me, that wrap-up was a 2-star at best. I think the book either needed at least two more chapters OR a super-long epilogue.

The Prologue was the polar opposite of the Epilogue. It was a wonderfully heartwarming story of the meeting between the Duchess of Carlyle and 3-year-old Philippa Noor un-nisa Kirkpatrick. I hadn’t previously been a fan of the Duchess, but as I read that scene – and then learned more of the family’s history throughout the book, I did warm up to her a bit.

Philippa’s mother was Indian and her father, a Colonel, was English. Her parents met, fell in love, and defied everyone so they could marry. After the death of her mother, Philippa’s father meets, falls in love with, and marries the daughter of the Duchess of Carlyle. After the deaths of her stepmother and her father, Philippa is raised as the beloved granddaughter at Carlyle Castle. Philippa is everything you could want in a heroine – she’s sweet, considerate, caring, intelligent, realistic, wise – and a bit sly at managing the Duchess.

William (Will) Montclair and his brother Jack have arrived in London at the behest of their father, to set up a branch of Montclair and Sons (a merchant shipping company). Will was in charge of getting the business going, but he really didn’t want to be. Will really wanted to be out of the business because he didn’t enjoy it – and his brother Jack did, so why not let Jack be the one in charge. After all, their father was all the way across the ocean in Boston. When an opportunity presents itself, he takes it. Jack is in charge of setting up a London branch for their shipping company and Will is off on a new adventure as a steward for a large estate. What can go wrong with that scenario?

Everyone at the estate quickly falls in love with Will – well, everyone except the Duchess. She takes an instant dislike to him and would gladly dismiss him. How dare he challenge her, argue with her, tell her she was wrong? But, her son finds him delightfully entertaining and thoroughly enjoys Will’s company. Since the duchess will do absolutely anything for her son, Will stays employed.

The growth in the relationship between Will and Philippa is delightful to see and I could thoroughly believe the attraction and the relationship. I also loved that it was all pretty much angst-free. So – kudos for the delightful romance.

However, the romance isn’t the entire book and the rest of it left much to be desired. I had more questions at the end than I did at the beginning. For instance – two mysterious French characters are introduced and then they just disappear. They aren’t mentioned again, so what happened to them and their scheme? Do we really have a new heir for the duchy? How about the new heir’s relationship with the duchess? In my humble opinion, the secret should have been revealed a bit earlier and then the subsequent chapters could have dealt with the aftermath, re-establishing relationships, etc. – OR – add a couple of additional chapters. At any rate – the end was just too abrupt, too incomplete, and I just felt a bit cheated.

I do recommend the read because the romance is lovely, but don’t expect to end the series feeling good about the whole thing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews