ARC Review: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

Title: Ten Things I Hate About the Duke

Author: Loretta Chase

Series: Difficult Dukes (Book 2)

Page Length: 400

Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2020

Publisher: Avon

Synopsis: USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare’s classic, The Taming of the Shrew.

This time, who’s taming whom…

Cassandra Pomfret holds strong opinions she isn’t shy about voicing. But her extremely plain speaking has caused an uproar, and her exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does.

Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them.

The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting.

The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

My Review:

Cassandra’s father won’t let her younger sister participate in the season until Cassandra has married. At twenty-six, Cassandra has no desire to marry. However, when The Duke of Ashmont causes her carriage to crash, their lives are irrevocably changed.

Cassandra fell in love with Ashmont when they were children, but she abhors him as an adult. He drinks too much, plays foolish pranks, and lacks the maturity that one would expect of a man his age. When Cassandra ends up in a socially compromising position, however, the pair agrees to a fake courtship with no intention of letting it progress. They expect it to be easy, with no feelings attached. Neither expects the growing feelings they have for each other. Will this unlikely pair give in to their feelings and realize that they are meant to be together?

I loved Cassandra! Smart and outspoken, she is not afraid to share her strong opinions, much to her father’s dismay. Cassandra doesn’t care for the social constraints of women, fights for the rights of the lower class, and makes her opinions known. She has an independent, progressive spirit, which is what I think draws Ashmont to her.

When we first meet Ashmont, he isn’t the most appealing character. Drunk, self-absorbed, and thoughtless, he is drowning in self-pity. His careless actions almost hurt people, and his foolish behavior reeks of irresponsibility. He is the opposite of Cassandra, and her influence makes him want to straighten out and be a better man. He quickly falls for Cassandra and values her intellect, outspokenness, and stubbornness. Ashmont showed so much growth throughout the story and became one of my favorite characters.

I enjoyed Ten Things I Hate About the Duke and would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy historical romance with dynamic characters, Shakespearean undertones, and fantastic dialogue. Plus, the romance!! Though this is the second book in the Difficult Dukes series, it can totally be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.