#Review: YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE by Amelia Grey

 

3 of 5 stars

Wyatt, the Duke of Wyatthaven, has learned about a condition in his grandmother's will, and it threw him for a loop. He had to marry within 7 days, or he'd lose a substantial inheritance. With help from his solicitor to find a suitable bride, he proposes to Miss Fredericka Hale. Fredericka has her own reasons for needing a husband, and with only Wyatt's word that he'd help her retain guardianship of her nieces and nephew against her cousin Jane's suit, she marries him. Wyatt goes back to London to live his carefree life, and Fredericka stays behind to take care of the children. During a contentious visit with Fredericka, Jane informs her that she'll not give her her suit to win control of the children; Fredericka makes the decision to go to London and seek Wyatt's help to defeat her cousin. But what she finds in London shocks her. Can she learn to trust a man in this crucial matter, when he doesn't seem to take anything seriously?

I've read other books by Ms. Grey and have enjoyed them, but this book was not one of my favorites. Fredericka was way too harsh and rigid in her discipline with the children, always wanting them to have perfect behavior. She seemed very much a shrew. It made her unlikeable, not that Wyatt was much better. He didn't seem to take anything seriously, including Fredericka's concerns that Jane would win custody. The story centers mostly on the children, and I would have preferred more with the main couple. Every time we saw them, Wyatt and Fredericka were fighting about their different parenting styles. When did they have time to fall in love? I just wasn't convinced of their passion for each other. If Wyatt took the time to tell Fredericka that he hadn't seen his mistress since they had married, why not just say he broke it off with her? Otherwise, there was no reason even to mention it. By the time I got to the end of the story, I didn't really care about either of them. Sorry to say, this story won't stay with me at all.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy, and all opinions are my own.