Four Weddings and a Duke was an absolute delight in my eyes! Michelle McLean's writing is clear, charming and charismatic. This is the romance between two awkward people who find someone they can relate to. This novel is very much a character driven novel, it is about two people starting to build a life together, it is about how they learn to work and grow together, and how they choose to embrace the attraction between them. While this novel might not work for everyone, it absolutely worked for me.
I loved watching the hero and heroine fall in love with each other. Their relationship is quickly built on the foundation of attraction and curiosity but blossoms as they grow together and independently. Because their relationship is new it definitely lacks in true open communication in moments which causes the misunderstandings in their marriage. But I thought that McLean traverses these moments realistically in regards to the time period, the perceived age and innocents of both, and the uncertainties that come when you wed a stranger. I found that in their moments of interaction in which they let their attraction and the physical side of their relationship give them the openness and clarity to believe in the relationship they are building. This novel is really about building the strong foundation of their relationship that will give them the opportunity to support and understand each other as they grow older and create a family.
This novel has the charm of first love and the sweetness of what falling in love is. It highlights the lustfulness of attraction and is a sensual novel that balances innocent romance with the frustrations of new love. If this intrigues you, I think you are sure to enjoy this offering from Michelle McLean. Michelle McLean is definitely becoming a must read historical romance author for me and I am so looking forward to continuing to watch her writing grow!
Thank you to Entangled: Amara and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.