Book Review #theduchesshunt #lorraineheath #bookreview #historicalromance #avonbooks #happilyeveravon #readavon
This is such a sweet and endearing novel. I find Lorraine Heath to be a master at her craft, each story seems to be lovingly and carefully crafted to tell the journey of love that the hero and heroine embark upon. Heath's writing is well paced, accessible, and has a delicious build up of tension. I found all of her characters to be well developed with believable dreams, worries and ambitions. This novel is a slow burn, work place romance between two strong and independent people who are great support system for the other.
Penelope has been working as Hugh's (the duke) secretary for the past eight years. She is calm, competent and independent. She has been on her own for a long time but she is strong in her convictions, quick on her feet and able to support herself through all her obstacles. Over the past eight years Penelope has found herself falling in love with Hugh. Hugh is smart, hard working and independent as well, and over the past year he has come to realize it is time for him to find a duchess and get his heir and spare. After a recent backfire in this department, Penelope has been tasked with helping to find this bride as well as plan a ball where his new duchess will be revealed. Throughout their interactions, Hugh is beginning to see Penelope in a new light, he has alway respected her as a hard worker, but now he is seeing that other gentlemen might have interest in her as a woman and this causes jealous to spark within him. Little touches, stolen glances, and a growing desire, soon leads to a stolen kiss in a garden which then leads to Penelope and Hugh entering into a sort of friends with benefits arrangement (where neither is to expect more than a sharing of desires).
I found this to be a really soft romance that builds upon a regard that both Penelope and Hugh have for each other. Their desires and longings have been building up through out the years, so their feelings are not insta-love, which gives their romance a feeling of maturity. I loved watching how well these two work together. I loved knowing that Hugh had a deep understanding that Penelope could do a "man's" job just as well (or better). I love that Hugh has a reverence for Penelope's brains, work and wits. I love that Hugh realizes that Penelope is strong and might not need him for every situation, but that he wants and needs her. I also love that Penelope desires to be a strength that Hugh can rely on, that she feels confident that they are equals, and that they are much stronger when they work as a pair. When they enter into a physical relationship Heath crafts it with beauty, esteem and consent and all these items add up to a sensual and steamy expression of desire and love.
I would very highly recommend this novel. This slow burn, work place/friends to lovers romance is beautifully crafted with a deep and mature love, wonderful moments of consent, and a heroine who is a lovely representation of feminism in her time. Lorraine Heath's novels are fantastic and always worth exploring!