The Duchess War

I would highly recommend this book for modern historical romance buffs. I am thrilled to have discovered this author -- she is an excellent writer, producing three-dimensional, naturally flawed characters, shaped and developed by their pasts and environment. Some of my favorite aspects of this book is how much goes into helping the reader to understand what the characters are thinking, how they use their intellect and logic, and the most satisfying way in which they come to their realizations and then subsequent schemings. I appreciated the occasional bursts of laughter from the characters’ witty banter and repartee (it made me look forward to the story of Sebastian Malheur in later sequels). It's refreshing to have heroines like Minerva Lane who are not defined by their appearance, but rather respected for their intelligence and skill and strength of character. The hero Robert Blaisdell is not your typical nobleman, but a man seeking to revolutionize English society, adding a (modern) social critique of the times. They each are forced to difficult decisions regarding each other, and finding trust and acceptance in their compromises. This is a refreshing take on the whole genre -- I would recommend anyone looking for a smart, well-developed, and engaging historical novel. I look forward to finishing the Brothers Sinister series, because I can tell how very very well-written and clever they are. Details of law and science and medicine are brought up throughout. Overall, an excellent mix of smart, strong, capable female characters with goals and dreams, and the rare, special men able to appreciate them.

4.5 stars — Well…I think maybe I do like historical romance. At least when it’s in the right hands. And look at that, I’ve added another author to my list. Seriously though, I really really really enjoyed this! Minnie was a delightful heroine — so complex. She was bright, could be feisty, down to earth (possibly by necessity)…and she had a big beautiful heart that was still there despite what she had been through. I have to admit, I was confused by her past ruination for much of the book…partially because I don’t read a lot of historical, and so I don’t really know what it was like at that time. But once we heard her full story, wow…then I got it. I appreciated watching her internal struggle between who she really was, and who she had become (both as a reaction to what happened, and as coached by her well meaning great aunts). I’m not sure I can completely explain why I connected with her so deeply, but I just did. Robert took me COMPLETELY by surprise. I think I thought I knew who he was, and there was SOOOOO much more to him. Sometimes I find that one MC will get more book time than another, I’ll know them more or feel for them more. But these 2 had completely different childhood circumstances, but were equally damaged. I think he almost broke my heart a little more, because he had been convinced that this was all he deserved. Seriously, my heart aches just thinking of the many different ways that people had failed him. And yet he still had wonderful people in his corner…people that didn’t quite understand everything, but still wonderful. Their courtship had me on tenterhooks. The banter, the push and pull, the genuine connection, the fascination, the longing. Yeah, I was there for all of it. And once they got together? Well, more surprises were in store that just delighted me more! It gave their relationship the same depth that they each had as individuals. LOTS of great secondary characters in this one. Like, I seriously cannot wait to read all of the rest of the stories in this box set because I want them all. Oliver, Sebastian and Violet all had me cackling with the way they would tease Robert. It was so lovely to see their friendships. And while Minnie and Lydia had some things to overcome, I appreciated their friendship as well. And besides all of that, I learned a lot!! Not only within the course of the story, but with the author’s note at the end that explained the liberties she had taken with history. I’d never seen that before, and I really appreciated that. So yeah. Now I’m going to have to start a binge. Oh well, what are you going to do.

It was only okay. Milan's writing style was only okay for me. I love historical romance novels set in the UK, so the fact that Milan writes those, she gets points from me. I also liked that she attempted to set this story in the mid -1860's English industrial factories reform era... that was different. However, I didn't feel like I was really in the time period of the book. The language Milan had her characters use was wholly unbelievable for me. Yet at the same time, I did enjoy the characters she created.