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Garland Cousins #1
Primrose and the Dreadful Duke
An irrepressible duke, a bookish spinster, a devious murderer … Regency house parties have never been so hazardous!
Oliver Dasenby is the most infuriating man Primrose Garland has ever known. He may be her brother’s best friend, but he has an atrocious sense of humor. Eight years in the cavalry hasn’t taught him solemnity, nor has the unexpected inheritance of a dukedom.
But when Oliver inherited his dukedom, it appears that he also inherited a murderer…
Oliver might be dreadfully annoying, but Primrose doesn’t want him dead. She’s going to make certain he survives his inheritance—and the only way to do that is to help him catch the murderer!
A Baleful Godmother novel.
Oliver Dasenby is the most infuriating man Primrose Garland has ever known. He may be her brother’s best friend, but he has an atrocious sense of humor. Eight years in the cavalry hasn’t taught him solemnity, nor has the unexpected inheritance of a dukedom.
But when Oliver inherited his dukedom, it appears that he also inherited a murderer…
Oliver might be dreadfully annoying, but Primrose doesn’t want him dead. She’s going to make certain he survives his inheritance—and the only way to do that is to help him catch the murderer!
A Baleful Godmother novel.
ebook
First published August 7, 2018
570 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Emily Larkin
38 books369 followersEmily Larkin is the USA Today bestselling author of the Baleful Godmother historical romance series, a series that readers are calling “sexy, unusual and vastly entertaining,” and "ridiculously wonderful."
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 28, 2018
This book was such fun!
I laughed at Oliver's antics! He's such a comedian! And he's soooo sweet!
And he makes Primrose crazy! LOL
They're so perfect together! Oliver balances Primrose's seriousness perfectly!
Wonderful romance and such a joy to read! I'm looking forward to the next one!
I laughed at Oliver's antics! He's such a comedian! And he's soooo sweet!
And he makes Primrose crazy! LOL
They're so perfect together! Oliver balances Primrose's seriousness perfectly!
Wonderful romance and such a joy to read! I'm looking forward to the next one!
August 23, 2018
Oh my gosh! This was one of the most enjoyable, smiling until my cheeks hurt, reads I’ve had in a long while.
Upon his return from India, Oliver takes his new place as duke and makes a game out of all the young misses that throw themselves at him for his title. The only woman who doesn’t take him seriously or inflates his ego is his childhood friend Primrose. When it becomes apparent that someone is trying to kill him, Prim and her brother step in to help him find who the villain is as well as who it is not. Along the way, Oliver quickly realizes that what he feels for Prim is much more than that of friends.
I absolutely loved this story! Oliver was just too dang cute! He had such a wonderful sense of humor and the author kept it completely appropriate to the era. He kept Prim on her toes and she did the same for him. Their banter was perfection and the romantic development between them was very natural.
Prim was bookish and a bit nerdy as well as feisty and sweet. I loved how she was able to challenge Oliver and bring him to heel, calling him out when necessary. I was completely enthralled with both this heroine and hero and couldn’t get enough of them.
There is definitely a villain, a couple actually, causing drama and mayhem to erupt throughout the story. The fact that I was grinning like a loon one minute and then gasping and wide eyed the next made me love this book even more than the characters alone.
This is a fast paced read that never bogged down. The secondary characters were exactly what was needed, always adding to the story instead of acting as filler. While the steam level is a bit low, considering the era, this couple were definitely pushing the boundaries. They don’t find complete fulfillment until the end, but I can honestly say I didn’t miss it at all. There were lots of hot kisses to tide me over as well as the mystery they are trying to solve. It ends with a nice little epilogue that highlighted how wonderful this couple really are although it was too short. But then again, I’m not sure I would ever get enough of them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Upon his return from India, Oliver takes his new place as duke and makes a game out of all the young misses that throw themselves at him for his title. The only woman who doesn’t take him seriously or inflates his ego is his childhood friend Primrose. When it becomes apparent that someone is trying to kill him, Prim and her brother step in to help him find who the villain is as well as who it is not. Along the way, Oliver quickly realizes that what he feels for Prim is much more than that of friends.
I absolutely loved this story! Oliver was just too dang cute! He had such a wonderful sense of humor and the author kept it completely appropriate to the era. He kept Prim on her toes and she did the same for him. Their banter was perfection and the romantic development between them was very natural.
Prim was bookish and a bit nerdy as well as feisty and sweet. I loved how she was able to challenge Oliver and bring him to heel, calling him out when necessary. I was completely enthralled with both this heroine and hero and couldn’t get enough of them.
There is definitely a villain, a couple actually, causing drama and mayhem to erupt throughout the story. The fact that I was grinning like a loon one minute and then gasping and wide eyed the next made me love this book even more than the characters alone.
This is a fast paced read that never bogged down. The secondary characters were exactly what was needed, always adding to the story instead of acting as filler. While the steam level is a bit low, considering the era, this couple were definitely pushing the boundaries. They don’t find complete fulfillment until the end, but I can honestly say I didn’t miss it at all. There were lots of hot kisses to tide me over as well as the mystery they are trying to solve. It ends with a nice little epilogue that highlighted how wonderful this couple really are although it was too short. But then again, I’m not sure I would ever get enough of them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
August 14, 2018
Series: Garland Cousins #1
Publication Date: 8/7/18
This was a delightfully engrossing introduction to a new-to-me author and she could very easily come to be one of my go-to authors. I love that the book is imaginative, intelligently-written and very romantic. It is also very well plotted and the characters are exciting, entertaining, witty, likable and very relatable. I believe this is a follow-on series to Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series – and this book was so good I’m not only going to read future books in this series – I’m going to go find the books in the first series and read those as well. It was just the kind of humorous, non-angsty read I needed and I loved it. I read it straight through the night. I kept telling myself that I needed to put it down and get some sleep, but it was so interesting and exciting that I just had to see what happened next. Finally, at 7 AM, I read the last word and thought “WOW, just WOW.”
Captain Oliver Dasenby is now a duke at the age of twenty-nine. He never expected nor wanted to be a duke, but with several deaths in his family over a short period of time, he is now saddled with the responsibilities and the privileges of being a duke. Maybe he also inherited something else – somebody is trying to kill him.
Lady Primrose Garland, the daughter of a duke, and the sister of Oliver’s best friend, Rhodes Garland loves books – all kinds of books, but particularly those written centuries ago. Her favorite was written by Marcus Aurelius and she used his quotes in living her everyday life. She is prim, proper, serious, and she totally believes that her brother’s best friend is a useless fiddle-faddle. Oh – and by the way – she also has a faerie godmother who has gifted her with a special talent.
Oliver has always been a good-humored jokester that causes everybody around him to love him. He’s more serious than many think because he is always in a good mood and happy. However, he does take serious things seriously – even if he might use his humor about them. Primrose ‘Prim’ has never seen that. To her, he just jokes about everything and doesn’t take anything seriously.
When Oliver’s life is in danger both Rhodes and Prim will do whatever it takes to unearth the murderer and keep Oliver safe. The mystery is suspenseful because you never know where the next attack will come from and you don’t know who the villain is. Surely it must be someone close to home. When an invitation to a house party arrives, they all know they must attend to unmask a murderer. It is so entertaining to watch as Oliver’s good humor and zest for life slowly changes Prim’s opinion of him. That is quite a house party too – there is a LOT going on and you really need to read the book to keep up with it all.
Did I mention that you get two HEA’s – well – I should have – because you do. So, you get an engrossing mystery, two lovely romances and two HEA’s. Along with all of that you get some of the most intelligent and witty banter I’ve read in a long time. All-in-all a wonderful read!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 8/7/18
This was a delightfully engrossing introduction to a new-to-me author and she could very easily come to be one of my go-to authors. I love that the book is imaginative, intelligently-written and very romantic. It is also very well plotted and the characters are exciting, entertaining, witty, likable and very relatable. I believe this is a follow-on series to Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series – and this book was so good I’m not only going to read future books in this series – I’m going to go find the books in the first series and read those as well. It was just the kind of humorous, non-angsty read I needed and I loved it. I read it straight through the night. I kept telling myself that I needed to put it down and get some sleep, but it was so interesting and exciting that I just had to see what happened next. Finally, at 7 AM, I read the last word and thought “WOW, just WOW.”
Captain Oliver Dasenby is now a duke at the age of twenty-nine. He never expected nor wanted to be a duke, but with several deaths in his family over a short period of time, he is now saddled with the responsibilities and the privileges of being a duke. Maybe he also inherited something else – somebody is trying to kill him.
Lady Primrose Garland, the daughter of a duke, and the sister of Oliver’s best friend, Rhodes Garland loves books – all kinds of books, but particularly those written centuries ago. Her favorite was written by Marcus Aurelius and she used his quotes in living her everyday life. She is prim, proper, serious, and she totally believes that her brother’s best friend is a useless fiddle-faddle. Oh – and by the way – she also has a faerie godmother who has gifted her with a special talent.
Oliver has always been a good-humored jokester that causes everybody around him to love him. He’s more serious than many think because he is always in a good mood and happy. However, he does take serious things seriously – even if he might use his humor about them. Primrose ‘Prim’ has never seen that. To her, he just jokes about everything and doesn’t take anything seriously.
When Oliver’s life is in danger both Rhodes and Prim will do whatever it takes to unearth the murderer and keep Oliver safe. The mystery is suspenseful because you never know where the next attack will come from and you don’t know who the villain is. Surely it must be someone close to home. When an invitation to a house party arrives, they all know they must attend to unmask a murderer. It is so entertaining to watch as Oliver’s good humor and zest for life slowly changes Prim’s opinion of him. That is quite a house party too – there is a LOT going on and you really need to read the book to keep up with it all.
Did I mention that you get two HEA’s – well – I should have – because you do. So, you get an engrossing mystery, two lovely romances and two HEA’s. Along with all of that you get some of the most intelligent and witty banter I’ve read in a long time. All-in-all a wonderful read!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
May 7, 2023
⭐⭐⭐
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
The banter is in some parts entertaining.
“Older” heroine (27)
Takes place at a house party/country estate.
The beginning of the story was rather interesting.
➖ What I disliked:
The magic aspect of the story was underused.
(Would be more interesting if the magic aspect of the story was utilized and focused on more.)
Rather generic/formulaic character description (appearance.)
Dragged in some parts.
The mystery was very obvious.
Somewhat anachronistic.
(The way they talked etc.)
The humor/banter is in some parts annoying and over the top.
Not enough time on the couple/main characters and their romance.
(Too much focus on the mystery etc.)
The romantic build up and chemistry between the main characters is unconvincing/lacking.
Rushed ending.
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
The banter is in some parts entertaining.
“Older” heroine (27)
Takes place at a house party/country estate.
The beginning of the story was rather interesting.
➖ What I disliked:
The magic aspect of the story was underused.
(Would be more interesting if the magic aspect of the story was utilized and focused on more.)
Rather generic/formulaic character description (appearance.)
Dragged in some parts.
The mystery was very obvious.
Somewhat anachronistic.
(The way they talked etc.)
The humor/banter is in some parts annoying and over the top.
Not enough time on the couple/main characters and their romance.
(Too much focus on the mystery etc.)
The romantic build up and chemistry between the main characters is unconvincing/lacking.
Rushed ending.
September 19, 2018
4.5 unique and fun stars! I totally forgot to change this a month ago, but I loved this book! Super cute and low key on the angst. will definitely be reading more by this author.
Also, the mixture of a little fantasy was a very welcome difference
Also, the mixture of a little fantasy was a very welcome difference
April 23, 2022
The Duke of Westfool lol best nickname ever!
This romance was cute and extremely funny. The hero is a clown that lives his life in merriment with many laghs and theatrics. He's a lover of drama. It's quite funny. And the heroine is the opposite, prim and proper. But they have been friends their whole lives so she's okay with calling him an idiot and fool and rolling her eyes at his dramas.
I don't usually go for a friends to lover stories, but this one was definitely cute. I was listening to the audiobook while walking, I believe people were thinking that I am a lunatic, smiling from ear to ear, sometimes holding a laugh but not fast enough lol
You don't need to read the whole series to read this book. Just be aware that it has its fantasy side.
And despite having a murder mystery to solve, this book is very light-hearted.
This romance was cute and extremely funny. The hero is a clown that lives his life in merriment with many laghs and theatrics. He's a lover of drama. It's quite funny. And the heroine is the opposite, prim and proper. But they have been friends their whole lives so she's okay with calling him an idiot and fool and rolling her eyes at his dramas.
I don't usually go for a friends to lover stories, but this one was definitely cute. I was listening to the audiobook while walking, I believe people were thinking that I am a lunatic, smiling from ear to ear, sometimes holding a laugh but not fast enough lol
You don't need to read the whole series to read this book. Just be aware that it has its fantasy side.
And despite having a murder mystery to solve, this book is very light-hearted.
August 17, 2018
I loved, loved, LOVED this book! Though it should be called Prickly Primrose and the Dastardly Dashing, Delightful Duke (these two have a thing with alliterations, and it rubbed off). Fair warning though: this book is related to the rest of the author's books, in that every heroine gets a visit from the family's fairy godmother and is granted one wish - it can be anything, like the gift of being able to tell when someone lies, or to magically going wherever they want to go.
That being said, I absolutely ADORED the main characters. They give off a sort of Castle & Beckett vibe, constantly bickering, with him taking almost nothing seriously but radiating happiness, and her constantly rolling her eyes at his antics, but loving them deep deep - deep down.
"Aargh!" Oliver shrieked, and then pretended to swoon to the floor. "You should have been an actor, not a duke," Primrose told him dryly. Oliver opened one eye. "I know." Then he opened the other. "Wait! Do you think I could be a duke AND an actor?" He sat up on the floor. "That's a thought! What do you think, Prim? The Duke of Westfell as… Romeo!" "The Duke of Westfell as… Dogberry." "Harsh, Prim. Very harsh."
Those two have the best chemistry I have read in a while! Watching them bicker was an absolute delight!
I didn't even mind the who-is-trying-to-kill-the-hero subplot, and from me, that's saying something given that that sort of drama usually automatically loses a book at least a star from me. But this just worked for me somehow. I absolutely loved spending time with Prim and Ollie, and I can't wait to see more of them!
"Idiot," she said, with great affection ... "Yes, but I'm your idiot."
*I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
That being said, I absolutely ADORED the main characters. They give off a sort of Castle & Beckett vibe, constantly bickering, with him taking almost nothing seriously but radiating happiness, and her constantly rolling her eyes at his antics, but loving them deep deep - deep down.
"Aargh!" Oliver shrieked, and then pretended to swoon to the floor. "You should have been an actor, not a duke," Primrose told him dryly. Oliver opened one eye. "I know." Then he opened the other. "Wait! Do you think I could be a duke AND an actor?" He sat up on the floor. "That's a thought! What do you think, Prim? The Duke of Westfell as… Romeo!" "The Duke of Westfell as… Dogberry." "Harsh, Prim. Very harsh."
Those two have the best chemistry I have read in a while! Watching them bicker was an absolute delight!
I didn't even mind the who-is-trying-to-kill-the-hero subplot, and from me, that's saying something given that that sort of drama usually automatically loses a book at least a star from me. But this just worked for me somehow. I absolutely loved spending time with Prim and Ollie, and I can't wait to see more of them!
"Idiot," she said, with great affection ... "Yes, but I'm your idiot."
*I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
September 15, 2018
But that was the mark of the very best friendships, that you could pick up where you’d left off, however long you’d been apart.
This was a quick historical romance with two mysteries and a hint of magic.
Oliver grew up with Primrose, he was her brother Rhodes best friend. He left for the Calvary and seven years later, he was surprised to find out he inherited a dukedom.
Primrose is called a spinster in the description of this book, but she’s a duke’s daughter, she can do whatever she wants and society goes along with it. She also has a gift, she can translocate, which means she can move from one location to another with just her thoughts. All the women in her family are blessed with a gift of their choosing at the age of twenty three from a literal fairy godmother.
When Oliver comes back to the England, he is an eligible bachelor who just inherited a dukedom. Women are throwing themselves at him in subtle and not so subtle ways. Primrose remembers him as the friend from her childhood and treats him as a friend instead of conquest.
Someone isn’t happy that Oliver is now a duke. Several attempts have been made at his life by pushing him into traffic, and the most likely suspect is his cousin Ninian. So when he gets invited to a house party that includes his uncle and cousin, Oliver goes and his friends Rhodes and Primrose go too.
The strength of this story is the slow appreciation Oliver and Primrose have for each other. They started as childhood friends and are friends as adults, but gradually appreciate and fall in love with each other. Oliver was charming with a great sense of humor. Primrose started as a little judgmental, but really opens her mind toward others.
The weakness of this story is who is behind the attacks. I felt it was fairly obvious, but the story isn’t about the mystery, it’s about the romance. Also the Miss Middleton-Murray plotline was too much with the other mystery going on.
If you’re looking for a historical romance between friends, this is a good one to add to your list.
I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley and was not paid for my opinions. The opinions are my own.
This was a quick historical romance with two mysteries and a hint of magic.
Oliver grew up with Primrose, he was her brother Rhodes best friend. He left for the Calvary and seven years later, he was surprised to find out he inherited a dukedom.
Primrose is called a spinster in the description of this book, but she’s a duke’s daughter, she can do whatever she wants and society goes along with it. She also has a gift, she can translocate, which means she can move from one location to another with just her thoughts. All the women in her family are blessed with a gift of their choosing at the age of twenty three from a literal fairy godmother.
When Oliver comes back to the England, he is an eligible bachelor who just inherited a dukedom. Women are throwing themselves at him in subtle and not so subtle ways. Primrose remembers him as the friend from her childhood and treats him as a friend instead of conquest.
Someone isn’t happy that Oliver is now a duke. Several attempts have been made at his life by pushing him into traffic, and the most likely suspect is his cousin Ninian. So when he gets invited to a house party that includes his uncle and cousin, Oliver goes and his friends Rhodes and Primrose go too.
The strength of this story is the slow appreciation Oliver and Primrose have for each other. They started as childhood friends and are friends as adults, but gradually appreciate and fall in love with each other. Oliver was charming with a great sense of humor. Primrose started as a little judgmental, but really opens her mind toward others.
The weakness of this story is who is behind the attacks. I felt it was fairly obvious, but the story isn’t about the mystery, it’s about the romance. Also the Miss Middleton-Murray plotline was too much with the other mystery going on.
If you’re looking for a historical romance between friends, this is a good one to add to your list.
I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley and was not paid for my opinions. The opinions are my own.
December 31, 2023
Loved the mature h who suddenly realises she's on the shelf. The ex-military H is a family friend, doesn't take life very seriously. They get involved in a murder and while H seemed lightweight, it's a façade and she's the only one he wants.
October 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this. It was just funny. I loved how since Oliver and Primrose grew up together (Oliver and Primrose' older brother are childhood best friends and the three of them are a trio for most of the novel) and have known each other their whole lives, we didn't have to worry about establishing a connection between the two main leads. Instead it is there from the first pages - Oliver making Primrose laugh during a ball, Primrose insulting him and making Oliver laugh right back, etc. Add in some magic, a mystery, a house party in the country and it was a perfect childhood friends-lovers story. I had a migraine all day yesterday and this book was the perfect distraction from my pain.
I know the author has written more in both this series and the companion series but honestly I enjoyed this book so much that I don't feel the need to read the rest because I know it won't be as good as this one. This one is so specifically tailored to my interests and hits quite a lot of my personal tropes (laughter! humor! strong family ties!) that anything else will be a let down. So I will just re-read this one if I want to be back in this Regency universe of light magic and would-be-assassins and dukes with merriment oozing out of their whole beings.
I know the author has written more in both this series and the companion series but honestly I enjoyed this book so much that I don't feel the need to read the rest because I know it won't be as good as this one. This one is so specifically tailored to my interests and hits quite a lot of my personal tropes (laughter! humor! strong family ties!) that anything else will be a let down. So I will just re-read this one if I want to be back in this Regency universe of light magic and would-be-assassins and dukes with merriment oozing out of their whole beings.
December 3, 2020
A light breezy romance despite sharing space with a murder mystery. I actually found the friendships and found family aspect more endearing than the romance. I’m not sure if I’m going easy on this one since the author is new to me, but I liked that it was an easy read.
It captured the humorous connection between long time family friends and the awkward transition to romance really well. Also the one sex scene was so bizarrely playful that it stands out. I liked the levity; Hit for me but its definitely a scene that will be a miss for others.
I will say the comedy gag with the flirty ladies and B-plot mystery kind of got repetitive. I wish there was less emphasis on that and more emotional depth. But then it’d be a different kind of book I suppose.
Caveat for those that hate it but there is a bit of magical realism. There’s a prequel series explaining the origin of the gifts, but the way it is seemingly contained to one family drives me nuts because my mind refuses to accept why, out of the entire damn world, only one family would have magical gifts. Thats a personal problem though 😂.
It captured the humorous connection between long time family friends and the awkward transition to romance really well. Also the one sex scene was so bizarrely playful that it stands out. I liked the levity; Hit for me but its definitely a scene that will be a miss for others.
I will say the comedy gag with the flirty ladies and B-plot mystery kind of got repetitive. I wish there was less emphasis on that and more emotional depth. But then it’d be a different kind of book I suppose.
Caveat for those that hate it but there is a bit of magical realism. There’s a prequel series explaining the origin of the gifts, but the way it is seemingly contained to one family drives me nuts because my mind refuses to accept why, out of the entire damn world, only one family would have magical gifts. Thats a personal problem though 😂.
November 5, 2018
This book is quite light on substance, much like the hero himself, who is forever pulling pranks and cracking jokes. Oliver is a newly inherited duke. He and the heroine, Primrose, have had a comfortable platonic relationship, since he is her brother's best friend and her father's godson. She's always been dismissive of him as too silly and irreverent. She of course changes her mind and sees the value in his perpetual sunny sense of humour. Me, I prefer the cantankerous heroes to the jovial ones and I found Oliver's behaviour a bit too flighty and lacked the dignity and authority expected of a duke, even a new one. The subplot of catching his would-be murderer and second character with malevolent intent was a bit too simplified. The unimaginative psychopathic female seeking to eliminate her competitors in the race to be the next duchess only has one modus operandi, maim by string. Their little signals to one another and constant conferencing every few moments were slap-stick and ridiculous. There's a bit of a supernatural thing going on in this series and the Baleful Godmother series, which I can do without, but it's not too intrusive and is more incidental than anything. I do wish, the author can go back to pure romances like her earlier books, which were fantastic.
February 8, 2023
This book started strongly but unfortunately it dragged a lot after that. The back story was very obvious and the actions of the main characters became extremely repetitive.
August 21, 2020
3.5 stars rounded to 4 because the author quotes Marcus Aurelius.
A fanciful romance featuring a heroine with a bit of magic and hero with a decent sense of humor. The plot has enough suspense and twists to keep the reader guessing. The development of the friends to lovers relationship drags a bit, and the Dreadful Duke was a bit slow to figure things for someone who had been a successful military officer.
A fanciful romance featuring a heroine with a bit of magic and hero with a decent sense of humor. The plot has enough suspense and twists to keep the reader guessing. The development of the friends to lovers relationship drags a bit, and the Dreadful Duke was a bit slow to figure things for someone who had been a successful military officer.
November 15, 2018
This started out interesting and cute but evolved into a long, dragged out story of three people who re desperately trying to figure out a mystery and failing miserably. The author wrote the mystery in such a way that the true identity of the murderer was very obvious. It was so obvious that I started feeling very annoyed with the MCs’ ineptitude and sympathetic toward the wrongly accused party.
The humour was cute until it wasn’t. I personally don’t like characters who always seem to be joking around, so there’s that. The modern language would also jar me out of the narrative. No one said “I have your back” back then. I also didn’t really feel the romantic tension between the MCs. They loved each other, but it did really seem to have more of a sibling vibe than anything. The single intimate scene was a bit awkward and. It very sexy at all.
The paranormal aspect of this story was just weird too. It could’ve easily been told without it. Maybe if I’d read the original story/series that this is a spin-off of, I would’ve understood and liked it more. All in all, this was just a bit too weird for me.
The humour was cute until it wasn’t. I personally don’t like characters who always seem to be joking around, so there’s that. The modern language would also jar me out of the narrative. No one said “I have your back” back then. I also didn’t really feel the romantic tension between the MCs. They loved each other, but it did really seem to have more of a sibling vibe than anything. The single intimate scene was a bit awkward and. It very sexy at all.
The paranormal aspect of this story was just weird too. It could’ve easily been told without it. Maybe if I’d read the original story/series that this is a spin-off of, I would’ve understood and liked it more. All in all, this was just a bit too weird for me.
August 15, 2020
Another book I forgot to review so just a few points:
- Great h/H
- Mild fantasy element in that the h has the power to translocate (Picture a place in her mind and travel there). She mostly uses this power in ordinary ways.
- Mystery of who is trying to kill the H was mostly well done but the pacing got a little slow.
- Safe: Virgin h, experienced H but no details, no OW drama.
- I enjoyed this one. I like this authors books but the pacing is slow at times.
- Great h/H
- Mild fantasy element in that the h has the power to translocate (Picture a place in her mind and travel there). She mostly uses this power in ordinary ways.
- Mystery of who is trying to kill the H was mostly well done but the pacing got a little slow.
- Safe: Virgin h, experienced H but no details, no OW drama.
- I enjoyed this one. I like this authors books but the pacing is slow at times.
November 12, 2023
Je dois reconnaitre que le résumé avait tout pour plaire avec cette petite touche de surnaturel. Assez osé dans une romance historique, cela dit.
Depuis un moment, j’ai du mal à faire confiance à ce genre parce que la plupart du temps, je trouve que toutes les histoires se ressemblent et se confondent. Et encore plus depuis le succès interplanétaire des Bridgerton. Du coup, nous avons droit aux comédies romantico-historique à toutes les sauces de la régence anglaise. Au secours ! Je ne sais pas vous, mais moi, je sature !
La romance historique ne se limite pas à une seule époque, que diable ! Bref, revenons-en à nos moutons, et ici, à notre héroïne qui donc un don de téléportation. Soit ! Pourquoi pas ?
J’ai entamé ma lecture assez confiante et, plus j’avançais dans le début, plus ça me rappelait une histoire déjà lue. Arrivée aux trente premières pages, j’ai eu ma réponse : je l’avais commencée il y a un moment, l’avais mis de côté et… oublié. Ah ! Ah ! C’est tout moi ça. Mais, cette fois, j’ai senti que c’était le bon moment pour reprendre cette romance.
Primrose peut donc pour de vrai se téléporter. J’ai été étonnée, voire sceptique. Je me suis même dit qu’elle devait délirer, mais non. J’ai ma réponse un peu plus loin quand le héros découvre par hasard son don. Il lui vient d’une bonne fée marraine, cette chère Sinistre ! Et là, ça a fait tilt dans ma tête puisque j’ai lu et adoré la série principale des Cousins Garland, Sortilège amoureux, dans laquelle chaque héroïne peut demander un don à sa bonne fée lors de ses vingt-trois ans. Je reconnais que l’explication était essentielle ici pour mieux comprendre cette touche de fantastique.
Concernant l’histoire, elle reste classique et pas extraordinaire en soi. Primrose retrouve Oliver un ami d’enfance qui a hérité du titre ducal de sa famille. Devant se marier, notre héros cherche la perle rare, mais… on va dire qu’Oliver est… très cynique. Il ne prend aucune demoiselle au sérieux et passe son temps à s’amuser avec sa bonne vieille amie, Prim. Puis, vient une invitation à passer quelque jour à la campagne, et plusieurs tentatives d’assassinats sur Oliver se mêlent à la partie. Bien vite, Prim et son frère décident d’enquêter et les proches d’Oliver sont immédiatement soupçonnés.
Même si je n’ai pas trouvé la lecture transcendante, j’ai passé une bonne soirée en compagnie de tout ce petit monde. L’intrigue est sans plus, ce qui fonctionne ici, ce sont les réparties ainsi que l’humour omniprésent. On est vraiment dans une comédie en costume. Il y a tous les ingrédients pour se croire devant sa télé.
Pour ce qui est de la romance, elle arrive sur le tard, car nos héros sont avant tout ami. Forcément, ils mettent un certain temps à se rendre compte de l’autre comme étant autre chose qu’un élément du décorum de leur vie de toujours. Et quand ils se regardent enfin avec les yeux de l’amour, eh bien…
En fait non, pas d’étincelles, ça reste assez basique, je dirais presque un peu trop réaliste. Du côté de la sensualité, on repassera, parce qu’elle est absente. Même l’unique partie de jambe en l’air est prise avec beaucoup de légèreté et d’humour. De quoi ne pas me faire fantasmer du tout, mais… j’aime l’idée. J’aurais pu écrire ce genre de scène qui va à contrecourant de ce qui se fait dans le genre habituellement. Oliver a de l’imagination et Primrose par contre est d’une naïveté confondante ! Très en raccords avec l’éducation des femmes de son époque.
Dans l’ensemble, je ressors tout de même satisfaite. Le stratagème de Primrose est une romance historique gentillette avec des héros que j’ai pris plaisir à suivre. L’autrice a tout misé sur l’humour et la comédie nous offrant un récit léger et sans prise de tête. Malheureusement, je dois reconnaitre que c’est le genre d’histoire que je risque fort d’oublier avec le temps. Pas grave, ça me donnera l’occasion de le relire dans cinq ans comme si je redécouvrais le livre.
Depuis un moment, j’ai du mal à faire confiance à ce genre parce que la plupart du temps, je trouve que toutes les histoires se ressemblent et se confondent. Et encore plus depuis le succès interplanétaire des Bridgerton. Du coup, nous avons droit aux comédies romantico-historique à toutes les sauces de la régence anglaise. Au secours ! Je ne sais pas vous, mais moi, je sature !
La romance historique ne se limite pas à une seule époque, que diable ! Bref, revenons-en à nos moutons, et ici, à notre héroïne qui donc un don de téléportation. Soit ! Pourquoi pas ?
J’ai entamé ma lecture assez confiante et, plus j’avançais dans le début, plus ça me rappelait une histoire déjà lue. Arrivée aux trente premières pages, j’ai eu ma réponse : je l’avais commencée il y a un moment, l’avais mis de côté et… oublié. Ah ! Ah ! C’est tout moi ça. Mais, cette fois, j’ai senti que c’était le bon moment pour reprendre cette romance.
Primrose peut donc pour de vrai se téléporter. J’ai été étonnée, voire sceptique. Je me suis même dit qu’elle devait délirer, mais non. J’ai ma réponse un peu plus loin quand le héros découvre par hasard son don. Il lui vient d’une bonne fée marraine, cette chère Sinistre ! Et là, ça a fait tilt dans ma tête puisque j’ai lu et adoré la série principale des Cousins Garland, Sortilège amoureux, dans laquelle chaque héroïne peut demander un don à sa bonne fée lors de ses vingt-trois ans. Je reconnais que l’explication était essentielle ici pour mieux comprendre cette touche de fantastique.
Concernant l’histoire, elle reste classique et pas extraordinaire en soi. Primrose retrouve Oliver un ami d’enfance qui a hérité du titre ducal de sa famille. Devant se marier, notre héros cherche la perle rare, mais… on va dire qu’Oliver est… très cynique. Il ne prend aucune demoiselle au sérieux et passe son temps à s’amuser avec sa bonne vieille amie, Prim. Puis, vient une invitation à passer quelque jour à la campagne, et plusieurs tentatives d’assassinats sur Oliver se mêlent à la partie. Bien vite, Prim et son frère décident d’enquêter et les proches d’Oliver sont immédiatement soupçonnés.
Même si je n’ai pas trouvé la lecture transcendante, j’ai passé une bonne soirée en compagnie de tout ce petit monde. L’intrigue est sans plus, ce qui fonctionne ici, ce sont les réparties ainsi que l’humour omniprésent. On est vraiment dans une comédie en costume. Il y a tous les ingrédients pour se croire devant sa télé.
Pour ce qui est de la romance, elle arrive sur le tard, car nos héros sont avant tout ami. Forcément, ils mettent un certain temps à se rendre compte de l’autre comme étant autre chose qu’un élément du décorum de leur vie de toujours. Et quand ils se regardent enfin avec les yeux de l’amour, eh bien…
En fait non, pas d’étincelles, ça reste assez basique, je dirais presque un peu trop réaliste. Du côté de la sensualité, on repassera, parce qu’elle est absente. Même l’unique partie de jambe en l’air est prise avec beaucoup de légèreté et d’humour. De quoi ne pas me faire fantasmer du tout, mais… j’aime l’idée. J’aurais pu écrire ce genre de scène qui va à contrecourant de ce qui se fait dans le genre habituellement. Oliver a de l’imagination et Primrose par contre est d’une naïveté confondante ! Très en raccords avec l’éducation des femmes de son époque.
Dans l’ensemble, je ressors tout de même satisfaite. Le stratagème de Primrose est une romance historique gentillette avec des héros que j’ai pris plaisir à suivre. L’autrice a tout misé sur l’humour et la comédie nous offrant un récit léger et sans prise de tête. Malheureusement, je dois reconnaitre que c’est le genre d’histoire que je risque fort d’oublier avec le temps. Pas grave, ça me donnera l’occasion de le relire dans cinq ans comme si je redécouvrais le livre.
October 10, 2019
After the death of his uncle Reggie Oliver Dansenby is now the new Duke of Westfell. Something he never excpected to become. He had 3 other relatives in line before him. Now all have died within months of each other.
Primrose Garland 27 year old spinister, daughter of the Duke of Sevenash has been given a mysical gife by her Fairie Godmother Baletongue. All of the Garland girls have been granted special gifts. Prim's brother Rhodes Garland Marquess is best friends with Oliver.
After two episodes when someone pushes Oliver down the steps and under an on coming coach. He realizes someone is trying to kill him. He goes to talk it over with Rhodes. Prim comes in a sees them whispering and they confess to what has been happening to Oliver. The 3 of them decide to go to the Cheeves House Party where they intend on trapping the murderer.
Oliver and Prim begin to recognize that they love each other. They are always shutting themselves off to talk about what they found out but whine up kissing.
My problem with the story is I hate Spinister stories. Why is Prim a spinster? She's not just off the shelf. She is locked up with the doors to shelf close she is so old. There is no reason at all for her to be 27. She is beautiful, the daughter of a powerful Rich Duke. These aristocratic families insured there daughters marriage. Prim is suppose to be an intellectual and spends her time in books. But she doesn't know what a males private parts look like. She has never seen male art forms in all these books she has read? This is very questionable. The other problem I had is there are two many repetitions of words and discriptions used. I call them word fillers to extend the pages of a book. This author is in dire need of a good editor!
These are the reasons I could not rate the story 5 stars.
Primrose Garland 27 year old spinister, daughter of the Duke of Sevenash has been given a mysical gife by her Fairie Godmother Baletongue. All of the Garland girls have been granted special gifts. Prim's brother Rhodes Garland Marquess is best friends with Oliver.
After two episodes when someone pushes Oliver down the steps and under an on coming coach. He realizes someone is trying to kill him. He goes to talk it over with Rhodes. Prim comes in a sees them whispering and they confess to what has been happening to Oliver. The 3 of them decide to go to the Cheeves House Party where they intend on trapping the murderer.
Oliver and Prim begin to recognize that they love each other. They are always shutting themselves off to talk about what they found out but whine up kissing.
My problem with the story is I hate Spinister stories. Why is Prim a spinster? She's not just off the shelf. She is locked up with the doors to shelf close she is so old. There is no reason at all for her to be 27. She is beautiful, the daughter of a powerful Rich Duke. These aristocratic families insured there daughters marriage. Prim is suppose to be an intellectual and spends her time in books. But she doesn't know what a males private parts look like. She has never seen male art forms in all these books she has read? This is very questionable. The other problem I had is there are two many repetitions of words and discriptions used. I call them word fillers to extend the pages of a book. This author is in dire need of a good editor!
These are the reasons I could not rate the story 5 stars.
August 6, 2018
An irrepressible duke, a bookish spinster, a devious murderer … Regency house parties have never been so hazardous!
Oliver Dasenby is the most infuriating man Primrose Garland has ever known. He may be her brother Rhode’s best friend, but he has an atrocious sense of humour. Eight years in the cavalry hasn’t taught him solemnity, nor has the unexpected inheritance of a dukedom but when Oliver inherited his dukedom, it appears that he also inherited a murderer.
Oliver & Primrose have known each other for years but she’s always been Rhode's annoying little sister however when Oliver returns to society as the Duke of Westfell he soon realises that to Primrose he’s still Daisy not a duke. An engrossing read that flowed extremely well, the characterisations are very good, I’ve loved all of the Baleful Godmother novels & this is up there with the best of them. Oliver & Primrose spend time together at the Cheevers’ house party & gradually they fall in love but it's their verbal spats that are so very entertaining. There's the mystery of who's trying to kill Oliver & then the ladies vying for his attention meet with accidents & of course a lovely romance.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Oliver Dasenby is the most infuriating man Primrose Garland has ever known. He may be her brother Rhode’s best friend, but he has an atrocious sense of humour. Eight years in the cavalry hasn’t taught him solemnity, nor has the unexpected inheritance of a dukedom but when Oliver inherited his dukedom, it appears that he also inherited a murderer.
Oliver & Primrose have known each other for years but she’s always been Rhode's annoying little sister however when Oliver returns to society as the Duke of Westfell he soon realises that to Primrose he’s still Daisy not a duke. An engrossing read that flowed extremely well, the characterisations are very good, I’ve loved all of the Baleful Godmother novels & this is up there with the best of them. Oliver & Primrose spend time together at the Cheevers’ house party & gradually they fall in love but it's their verbal spats that are so very entertaining. There's the mystery of who's trying to kill Oliver & then the ladies vying for his attention meet with accidents & of course a lovely romance.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 23, 2022
Quite refreshing.Nothing like anything I have read before.
The MC are friends their whole lives and the way the romance evolves is very realistic and well written.Not a big fun of the paranormal but it does not overtake the book so it felt okay.
It was funny,cute and unusual with bit of mystery and in overall a good read,that I do recommend if you shall need a change 😀
The MC are friends their whole lives and the way the romance evolves is very realistic and well written.Not a big fun of the paranormal but it does not overtake the book so it felt okay.
It was funny,cute and unusual with bit of mystery and in overall a good read,that I do recommend if you shall need a change 😀
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August 16, 2018
My reviews are honest & they contain spoilers. For more, follow me:
I’ve been eagerly waiting for the sequel to Emily Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series for quite a few months now. Primrose and the Dreadful Duke, is the first in the Garland Cousins series and I’m happy to say it was a delightful read mostly because I adored our H and the h, Oliver and Primrose. Of course, I do love Emily’s writing style, so all in all, this was a great initiation to a new series!
Though Primrose and the Dreadful Duke can be read as a standalone, I’d suggest you read the Baleful Godmother series and its prequels containing 4 books, titled the Fey Quartet. The prequels are set in the ancient times when magic seemed real and Fae roamed the earth. You get to know why a family of females were gifted with special powers by a cold and scary-looking Fae named Baletongue. It began with the Miller Family; Widow Miller and her 3 daughters Hazel, Ivy and Larkspur. Then the female descendants of their families were gifted by Baletongue with a special power, what you can also call a ‘super power’ of their choice. The wish would be granted when they turn from somewhere between 21 and 25 depending on which sister they descended from. Girls born from a male descendant won’t inherit it and if a female who was the last of a line inheriting special power either lived her life as a spinster, or passed away without having a daughter, that line would die with her.
The Baleful Godmother series is Regency set and contains 5 books and a novella, each telling the story of a girl descended from the Millers one way or the other. Some of them were cousins; others didn’t even know they had relatives with special powers until circumstances brought them together! It was a super fun series, and apart from book 1, I enjoyed them all. The novella is M/M, with 2 male characters appearing in the installment right before it. It doesn’t really connect to the theme of the series directly but the state of affairs in both books went simultaneously, so it’s connected that way. The novella was written in a way that if M/M isn’t your cup of tea you can skip it. I read and loved it myself. :)
Book 1, Unmasking Miss Appleby is of Charlotte’s and book 2, Resisting Miss Merryweather is of Merry’s. They’re cousins. Book 3, Trusting Miss Trentham is about Letitia Trentham who turns out to be Charlotte and Merry’s distant relative. Book 3.5 is the M/M novella, between one of Letitia’s cousins and his best friend. Book 4, Ruining Miss Wrotham and book 5, Discovering Miss Dalrymple aren’t directly connected to the first installments but by the theme, though I think Charlotte and Merry do make appearances in book 4. I’m sure all those ladies are relatives one way or the other, whether they know each-other or not.
The Garland Cousins are another set of descendants of Widow Miller. I said that Primrose and the Dreadful Duke can be read as standalone because none of the characters from Baleful Godmother make an appearance, nor are they mentioned. But of course, the story is connected by the common theme and our ‘favorite’ Fairy Godmother Baletongue. :P I don’t remember if Primrose was ever mentioned in any of the installments before, and right now, I don’t really care. The story flowed just fine and I enjoyed it being in the moment with her and Oliver.
Primrose Garland AKA Prim as her closest call her is the daughter of the Duke of Sevenash. Though Prim didn’t lack the looks, the riches, the brains, an identity or anything else that may hinder a girl’s marriage prospective, at 27 she was fast becoming a dedicated spinster. Prim loved reading, especially books written by Marcus Aurelius. She enjoyed using her brain rather than being the air-headed misses that milled about inside the ballrooms. What she didn’t think she’d ever find was a man who was as intelligent, passionate and as considerate of his wife’s penchant for being intelligent, something that put her off of marriage for good. Prim thought she’d live out her life as a spinster, coddling her 3 nieces and nephews from her older brother Rhodes.
Rhodes is the heir to the Dukedom. He married young, had 3 children, then lost his wife Evelyn just a year before. He’s been drowning in sorrow ever since. Prim and the rest of her family have been very worried about Rhodes but had no idea how to help him. The Duke and Duchess are alive btw. Prim also has 2 other sisters, Violet and Aster. All 3 of them inherited their gifts already so I’m safely assuming that Violet AKA Vi and Aster are over 21 themselves. The Duke and the Duchess or the sisters never made an appearance in this story but they were mentioned a few times. Primrose has chosen the gift of ‘translocate’ or what can plainly be termed as the power to teleport herself from one place to another, as long as she can imagine the exact location. Her super power comes into handy a few times in the story. I think I could imagine her doing it too. :D
When Oliver Dasenby, the newly minted Duke of Westfell, returns home from India Prim felt nothing but relief. Termed as ‘Daisy Dasenby’ by Prim when they were young, Oliver is Rhodes’s best friend. Hence he’d also known Prim for a long time and never missed an opportunity to irritate the hell out of Prim by his ridiculous, overly dramatic activities, hence the name Daisy. :P It’s one of those things that annoys you but you can’t help but laugh at the perpetrator of it cause it’s harmless enough. Though Prim found Oliver to be annoying AF, when he left to join the Army some 8yrs. ago, she also deeply felt his absence. Over the years, she’d missed him much, something she didn’t acknowledge until the news of his death reached them a few months ago. Prim didn’t think the news would strike her the way it did, that a person full of so much joie de vivre, was dead! It was utterly unthinkable!!
But then, the news of him being alive reached (it was an error of mixed up names) and Prim felt a sense of relief that she’d never felt before. And she’d gone to receive Oliver when he’d finally returned home. Out of the ship and Prim knew Oliver may have changed outwardly—he’s gotten tanned and even bigger than before—on the inside, he was still the Daisy Dasenby that made her laugh, because the first thing he did was to cast his dubious charm on her once more with some hyperbolic accolade to her beauty. It was all Prim did to not roll her eyes as she was used to around Oliver. Would this nutcase ever change? More precisely, would Prim ever want him change? In a few weeks though, Prim would know her answer.
Oliver had been dazzled by Prim’s beauty and his accolade, however hyperbolic, was genuine. He’d liked Prim when she was young, and he’d found that Prim is even more likable now that she’s grown up to be an intelligent young woman. Beauty and brains went well together where she was concerned and Oliver was smitten. Though he didn’t think of it much in the beginning, he still kept on teasing Prim with his usual bit of shenanigans, calling her ‘Prickly Prim’ because of the way she’d look at him and twitch her eyes so that she doesn’t have to roll it, which would be very unbecoming of a lady of her status. He loved when she called him ‘The Duke of Westfool; a fiddle-faddle fellow with jingle brains’ (that’s how I surmised it from their banters, which was superbly funny). Only she and she would call Oliver that, and more, disregarding his new, elevated status in life. The status he certainly wasn’t groomed for since his father was the second son and was thrown out by his grandfather for making a love match. Hell, Oliver was planning on becoming a Colonel by 40 when news broke that his eldest uncle, the current Duke and his two sons had perished within the span of a few months. As he was the one direct in line, Oliver had to acknowledge the fact that his days in the army has come to an end.
Oliver was an orphan himself but he had 2 other living relatives; his uncle Algernon, the youngest brother to his father and his cousin Ninian, Algernon’s only son. He was exceptionally happy to see his 2 last living relatives hale and hearty. He was grateful to find that Uncle Algernon had done everything in his power so Oliver can assume his duties as the Duke ASA he’s in England. But he wasn’t really saddened by the loss of his eldest uncle and his cousins Basil and Percy. It was said that the Dukes of Westfell are the cruelest POSs out there. Maybe except for Oliver’s father, who never really became the Duke. Oliver wasn’t fond of them since they’ve done their utmost best to ignore his family as per his grandfather’s decree. The only person who’d sneak in to check in on them was uncle Algernon and Oliver had always been thankful for his visits. Ninian was practically a kid when he left for the Army, but Oliver found him to be one of those fellows that loved their clothes more than anything else. A fop, I think? Ninian was a beautiful young man and though the clothes he wore looked marvelous on him, Oliver was too hardened in battle despite his joie de vivre. He viewed his cousin to be a weakling of sort. Later in the story, Ninian would prove that he was way more than what meets the eyes.
In London, Oliver was trying to settle into the new life as a duke and catching up with everyone he’d missed while in India. Of course, his first stop was the Sevenash House to visit Rhodes. Oliver was aware of the tragedy that had befallen his best friend and tries his best to bring him out of his shell. Rhodes was becoming reclusive and Prim was ever so grateful to Oliver for helping him. While at it, and attending balls, Oliver also finds out rather astonishingly that someone is trying to murder him! As he was going out of a ball he was attending, on a secluded area someone shoves him down the steps. Oliver was hurt but largely unharmed; a fact he can thank to his years in the army, on a horse, which greatly improved his reflexes. This also put a new twist in his happy return to London. He knew the Dukes of Westfell were basically a$$holes and they may have any number of enemies but why him? He’d just assumed his title and definitely wasn’t one of them in that sense!
Though Oliver hid the first attempt away as misgiving, thinking it may have been an accident, after the next attempt made on his life he was certain it’s something he can’t ignore any longer. If he’s to live and be the Duke—and Oliver doesn’t want to die so soon—he needs to find out what’s going on. So Oliver confides in Rhodes. Later Prim comes to hear of it as well. The three then discuss the possibilities and hatch a plan to catch the murderer in action at a house party which they were to attend in a few days. The suspects were also going to attend so that was their first step into investigating this insanity. Oliver, personally, still couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to murder him and he hated to suspect people he’d thought his friends. But if he’s to live, it had to be done.
The rest of the story takes place in the house party investigating the murder attempts on Oliver. I kind of had a guess on the murderer early on, so that bit wasn’t very surprising for me. What I absolutely loved was Prim and Oliver’s budding relationship that becomes too deep too soon. Both had already figured out that behind all the poking and prodding, silly banters and eyerolling, there was something going on; something that began when they were young. Though they would’ve never believed it 8 yrs. ago and laugh at the thought of being romantically involved, in the interim the dynamics of their relationship has changed drastically. They’ve grown up and now view things in a different way. So while chasing a murderer, Prim and Oliver find that they very much would like to catch up on that bit of their life. It was, you can say, inevitable the way they found to be attracting each-other wherever they went. Rhodes certainly wasn’t surprised as if he’d been waiting to finally see this relationship come full circle. I could only laugh in the end, tremendously happy with how things turned out for these two.
I totally agreed with Prim where she thought Oliver will always be Oliver; someone who had so much joy for life that he made everyone around him happy. He was like a ray of sunshine and Prim couldn’t think of him being any different. She wouldn’t have him any different, hyperbole, silly dramatics and all that. For Oliver, he was just, as I mentioned before, smitten with everything about Prim. I was never in doubt truth be told. ;)
It seems like the next story in this series would be Prim’s younger sister Violet’s. I still don’t know the particulars but I’m really quite excited to read more in the series, so much so that that 2019 is looking a bit too far away at the moment. I also find myself quite smitten with Rhodes and hoping he’d find love again. 4.5 stars and totally recommended!
Review copy received, thanks Emily! x
I’ve been eagerly waiting for the sequel to Emily Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series for quite a few months now. Primrose and the Dreadful Duke, is the first in the Garland Cousins series and I’m happy to say it was a delightful read mostly because I adored our H and the h, Oliver and Primrose. Of course, I do love Emily’s writing style, so all in all, this was a great initiation to a new series!
Though Primrose and the Dreadful Duke can be read as a standalone, I’d suggest you read the Baleful Godmother series and its prequels containing 4 books, titled the Fey Quartet. The prequels are set in the ancient times when magic seemed real and Fae roamed the earth. You get to know why a family of females were gifted with special powers by a cold and scary-looking Fae named Baletongue. It began with the Miller Family; Widow Miller and her 3 daughters Hazel, Ivy and Larkspur. Then the female descendants of their families were gifted by Baletongue with a special power, what you can also call a ‘super power’ of their choice. The wish would be granted when they turn from somewhere between 21 and 25 depending on which sister they descended from. Girls born from a male descendant won’t inherit it and if a female who was the last of a line inheriting special power either lived her life as a spinster, or passed away without having a daughter, that line would die with her.
The Baleful Godmother series is Regency set and contains 5 books and a novella, each telling the story of a girl descended from the Millers one way or the other. Some of them were cousins; others didn’t even know they had relatives with special powers until circumstances brought them together! It was a super fun series, and apart from book 1, I enjoyed them all. The novella is M/M, with 2 male characters appearing in the installment right before it. It doesn’t really connect to the theme of the series directly but the state of affairs in both books went simultaneously, so it’s connected that way. The novella was written in a way that if M/M isn’t your cup of tea you can skip it. I read and loved it myself. :)
Book 1, Unmasking Miss Appleby is of Charlotte’s and book 2, Resisting Miss Merryweather is of Merry’s. They’re cousins. Book 3, Trusting Miss Trentham is about Letitia Trentham who turns out to be Charlotte and Merry’s distant relative. Book 3.5 is the M/M novella, between one of Letitia’s cousins and his best friend. Book 4, Ruining Miss Wrotham and book 5, Discovering Miss Dalrymple aren’t directly connected to the first installments but by the theme, though I think Charlotte and Merry do make appearances in book 4. I’m sure all those ladies are relatives one way or the other, whether they know each-other or not.
The Garland Cousins are another set of descendants of Widow Miller. I said that Primrose and the Dreadful Duke can be read as standalone because none of the characters from Baleful Godmother make an appearance, nor are they mentioned. But of course, the story is connected by the common theme and our ‘favorite’ Fairy Godmother Baletongue. :P I don’t remember if Primrose was ever mentioned in any of the installments before, and right now, I don’t really care. The story flowed just fine and I enjoyed it being in the moment with her and Oliver.
Primrose Garland AKA Prim as her closest call her is the daughter of the Duke of Sevenash. Though Prim didn’t lack the looks, the riches, the brains, an identity or anything else that may hinder a girl’s marriage prospective, at 27 she was fast becoming a dedicated spinster. Prim loved reading, especially books written by Marcus Aurelius. She enjoyed using her brain rather than being the air-headed misses that milled about inside the ballrooms. What she didn’t think she’d ever find was a man who was as intelligent, passionate and as considerate of his wife’s penchant for being intelligent, something that put her off of marriage for good. Prim thought she’d live out her life as a spinster, coddling her 3 nieces and nephews from her older brother Rhodes.
Rhodes is the heir to the Dukedom. He married young, had 3 children, then lost his wife Evelyn just a year before. He’s been drowning in sorrow ever since. Prim and the rest of her family have been very worried about Rhodes but had no idea how to help him. The Duke and Duchess are alive btw. Prim also has 2 other sisters, Violet and Aster. All 3 of them inherited their gifts already so I’m safely assuming that Violet AKA Vi and Aster are over 21 themselves. The Duke and the Duchess or the sisters never made an appearance in this story but they were mentioned a few times. Primrose has chosen the gift of ‘translocate’ or what can plainly be termed as the power to teleport herself from one place to another, as long as she can imagine the exact location. Her super power comes into handy a few times in the story. I think I could imagine her doing it too. :D
When Oliver Dasenby, the newly minted Duke of Westfell, returns home from India Prim felt nothing but relief. Termed as ‘Daisy Dasenby’ by Prim when they were young, Oliver is Rhodes’s best friend. Hence he’d also known Prim for a long time and never missed an opportunity to irritate the hell out of Prim by his ridiculous, overly dramatic activities, hence the name Daisy. :P It’s one of those things that annoys you but you can’t help but laugh at the perpetrator of it cause it’s harmless enough. Though Prim found Oliver to be annoying AF, when he left to join the Army some 8yrs. ago, she also deeply felt his absence. Over the years, she’d missed him much, something she didn’t acknowledge until the news of his death reached them a few months ago. Prim didn’t think the news would strike her the way it did, that a person full of so much joie de vivre, was dead! It was utterly unthinkable!!
But then, the news of him being alive reached (it was an error of mixed up names) and Prim felt a sense of relief that she’d never felt before. And she’d gone to receive Oliver when he’d finally returned home. Out of the ship and Prim knew Oliver may have changed outwardly—he’s gotten tanned and even bigger than before—on the inside, he was still the Daisy Dasenby that made her laugh, because the first thing he did was to cast his dubious charm on her once more with some hyperbolic accolade to her beauty. It was all Prim did to not roll her eyes as she was used to around Oliver. Would this nutcase ever change? More precisely, would Prim ever want him change? In a few weeks though, Prim would know her answer.
Oliver had been dazzled by Prim’s beauty and his accolade, however hyperbolic, was genuine. He’d liked Prim when she was young, and he’d found that Prim is even more likable now that she’s grown up to be an intelligent young woman. Beauty and brains went well together where she was concerned and Oliver was smitten. Though he didn’t think of it much in the beginning, he still kept on teasing Prim with his usual bit of shenanigans, calling her ‘Prickly Prim’ because of the way she’d look at him and twitch her eyes so that she doesn’t have to roll it, which would be very unbecoming of a lady of her status. He loved when she called him ‘The Duke of Westfool; a fiddle-faddle fellow with jingle brains’ (that’s how I surmised it from their banters, which was superbly funny). Only she and she would call Oliver that, and more, disregarding his new, elevated status in life. The status he certainly wasn’t groomed for since his father was the second son and was thrown out by his grandfather for making a love match. Hell, Oliver was planning on becoming a Colonel by 40 when news broke that his eldest uncle, the current Duke and his two sons had perished within the span of a few months. As he was the one direct in line, Oliver had to acknowledge the fact that his days in the army has come to an end.
Oliver was an orphan himself but he had 2 other living relatives; his uncle Algernon, the youngest brother to his father and his cousin Ninian, Algernon’s only son. He was exceptionally happy to see his 2 last living relatives hale and hearty. He was grateful to find that Uncle Algernon had done everything in his power so Oliver can assume his duties as the Duke ASA he’s in England. But he wasn’t really saddened by the loss of his eldest uncle and his cousins Basil and Percy. It was said that the Dukes of Westfell are the cruelest POSs out there. Maybe except for Oliver’s father, who never really became the Duke. Oliver wasn’t fond of them since they’ve done their utmost best to ignore his family as per his grandfather’s decree. The only person who’d sneak in to check in on them was uncle Algernon and Oliver had always been thankful for his visits. Ninian was practically a kid when he left for the Army, but Oliver found him to be one of those fellows that loved their clothes more than anything else. A fop, I think? Ninian was a beautiful young man and though the clothes he wore looked marvelous on him, Oliver was too hardened in battle despite his joie de vivre. He viewed his cousin to be a weakling of sort. Later in the story, Ninian would prove that he was way more than what meets the eyes.
In London, Oliver was trying to settle into the new life as a duke and catching up with everyone he’d missed while in India. Of course, his first stop was the Sevenash House to visit Rhodes. Oliver was aware of the tragedy that had befallen his best friend and tries his best to bring him out of his shell. Rhodes was becoming reclusive and Prim was ever so grateful to Oliver for helping him. While at it, and attending balls, Oliver also finds out rather astonishingly that someone is trying to murder him! As he was going out of a ball he was attending, on a secluded area someone shoves him down the steps. Oliver was hurt but largely unharmed; a fact he can thank to his years in the army, on a horse, which greatly improved his reflexes. This also put a new twist in his happy return to London. He knew the Dukes of Westfell were basically a$$holes and they may have any number of enemies but why him? He’d just assumed his title and definitely wasn’t one of them in that sense!
Though Oliver hid the first attempt away as misgiving, thinking it may have been an accident, after the next attempt made on his life he was certain it’s something he can’t ignore any longer. If he’s to live and be the Duke—and Oliver doesn’t want to die so soon—he needs to find out what’s going on. So Oliver confides in Rhodes. Later Prim comes to hear of it as well. The three then discuss the possibilities and hatch a plan to catch the murderer in action at a house party which they were to attend in a few days. The suspects were also going to attend so that was their first step into investigating this insanity. Oliver, personally, still couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to murder him and he hated to suspect people he’d thought his friends. But if he’s to live, it had to be done.
The rest of the story takes place in the house party investigating the murder attempts on Oliver. I kind of had a guess on the murderer early on, so that bit wasn’t very surprising for me. What I absolutely loved was Prim and Oliver’s budding relationship that becomes too deep too soon. Both had already figured out that behind all the poking and prodding, silly banters and eyerolling, there was something going on; something that began when they were young. Though they would’ve never believed it 8 yrs. ago and laugh at the thought of being romantically involved, in the interim the dynamics of their relationship has changed drastically. They’ve grown up and now view things in a different way. So while chasing a murderer, Prim and Oliver find that they very much would like to catch up on that bit of their life. It was, you can say, inevitable the way they found to be attracting each-other wherever they went. Rhodes certainly wasn’t surprised as if he’d been waiting to finally see this relationship come full circle. I could only laugh in the end, tremendously happy with how things turned out for these two.
I totally agreed with Prim where she thought Oliver will always be Oliver; someone who had so much joy for life that he made everyone around him happy. He was like a ray of sunshine and Prim couldn’t think of him being any different. She wouldn’t have him any different, hyperbole, silly dramatics and all that. For Oliver, he was just, as I mentioned before, smitten with everything about Prim. I was never in doubt truth be told. ;)
It seems like the next story in this series would be Prim’s younger sister Violet’s. I still don’t know the particulars but I’m really quite excited to read more in the series, so much so that that 2019 is looking a bit too far away at the moment. I also find myself quite smitten with Rhodes and hoping he’d find love again. 4.5 stars and totally recommended!
Review copy received, thanks Emily! x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
The former Captain Oliver Dasenby has recently inherited a dukedom. Is is just coincidence that three recent deaths have elevated him to a duke or is it suspicious. Primrose Garland, a childhood friend finds him just as irritating now as then. But he is the best friend to her brother. Both are concerned for his wellbeing.
The story is a mixture of romance, mystery and the paranormal (faerie godmother).
As I would expect, a delightful read, well-written with some very likeable characters. Such an easy to read book (a good point).
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
The story is a mixture of romance, mystery and the paranormal (faerie godmother).
As I would expect, a delightful read, well-written with some very likeable characters. Such an easy to read book (a good point).
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
June 26, 2021
This was the perfect blend of historical romance and a murder mystery. Engaging, fun and dreamy. So exited to read more by Emily Larkin and see what more she has to offer. It was a very easy read and I just gulped tge story up but was a bit sad when it was finished! Definitely an author I want to explore more as I don't think I've read her before. But it's quite hard to remember by what author I have read or not before. This was the lighter side of a murder mystery but engaging nevertheless
July 27, 2018
This is one of the best books I have read in some time and I read a LOT of books. The Larkin series of Baleful stories is excellent. This one is one of the best . It is a compelling read with mystery and suspicions abounding. I could not put it down till I read it all. The Duke is a delight and his relationship with Primrose grows from friendship to love in a meaningful and touching way. They so deserve each other, plus the suspense in the story is better than most mysteries I have read. I am so blessed to have read the ARC of this book. Grab a glass of whatever you prefer and sit down with this amazing story!
April 19, 2022
Prim and Oliver really couldn’t have been any stinking cuter. Their unspoken affection for each other was just so endearing.
Childhood acquaintances, Prim and Oliver were forever teasing and annoying each other. She was serious, he was silly.
The way Oliver would puff out his chest and over act. His fall-on-the floor theatrics. So many LOLs.
I can’t wait to read more of Larkin’s work.
Childhood acquaintances, Prim and Oliver were forever teasing and annoying each other. She was serious, he was silly.
The way Oliver would puff out his chest and over act. His fall-on-the floor theatrics. So many LOLs.
I can’t wait to read more of Larkin’s work.
July 30, 2018
A welcome return to the wonderful world of the Baleful Godmother series. There is no need to have read the previous books - although the first of them, Unmasking Miss Appleby, is available as a free ebook so why not? I wouldn't have found this fantastic author if I hadn't picked it up as a freebie.
One of Emily Larkin's biggest strengths is her male characters. Far too many heroes are clones of Mr Darcy. Hers are very real and human, with real human flaws. Oliver is one of my favourites. I'd find him just as infuriating as Primrose does, and also just as gorgeous.
The dialogue is brilliant, witty and erudite.
The mystery aspect of the story wasn't the strongest, it wasn't too difficult to guess the answer, but the emotional fallout that the whole mess caused was handled very sensitively.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review. It's definitely staying on my bookshelves as I'll definitely read it again!
One of Emily Larkin's biggest strengths is her male characters. Far too many heroes are clones of Mr Darcy. Hers are very real and human, with real human flaws. Oliver is one of my favourites. I'd find him just as infuriating as Primrose does, and also just as gorgeous.
The dialogue is brilliant, witty and erudite.
The mystery aspect of the story wasn't the strongest, it wasn't too difficult to guess the answer, but the emotional fallout that the whole mess caused was handled very sensitively.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review. It's definitely staying on my bookshelves as I'll definitely read it again!
May 21, 2020
Loved the hero and the heroine. Interesting mystery and intrigue. Wish the magical abilities played more into solving them.
September 28, 2023
3.75
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2023/0...
Encore une autrice que je découvre avec Le stratagème de Primrose, une romance historique Friends-to-lovers avec une petite enquête sur le devant et une touche de fantastique puisque l'héroine a un secret : un don de téléportation. Autant dire qu'on sort de l'ordinaire !
Primrose Garland prend plaisir à se chamailler avec son ami, Oliver, duc et meilleur ami de son frère. Et le voir se dépatouiller avec les demoiselles en quête d'un bon mariage l'est tout autant. En revanche, qu'on s'en prenne à lui et faisant croire à ses accidents, c'est tout simplement impensable et lors d'un séjour à la campagne, Primrose, Rhodes (son frère) et Oliver vont mener l'enquête sur la personne qui s'en prend à lui. Mais le danger est encore plus grand et les deux amis pourraient bien être plus que cela à l'issue de cette enquête.
Voilà une romance historique originale ! Non seulement avec la touche de fantastique que les femmes de la famille Garland apportent avec leurs dons mais également avec le côté enquête que nos personnages vont mener. Il faut dire qu'Oliver risque sa peau à chaque moment et quand les demoiselles qui le convoitent semblent elles aussi succomber, le mystère s'épaissit. Vous l'aurez compris, cette romance est à la fois douce, mignonne et avec une touche de suspense qui est la bienvenue.
Le point fort de cette romance, c'est bien la dynamique entre Oliver et Primrose. Ils se chamaillent comme chien et chat depuis des années et clairement, l'histoire ne manquent pas de réparties. Et notamment liées aux livres, puisque Prim est une passionnée. Un point commun qui ne fera que les rapprochés. Et si la romance entre les deux semblent évidentes pour nous, lecteurs, pour eux, cela viendra plus doucement, ce qui n'est pas plus mal. Il faut dire qu'ils sont avant tout amis, et ça, on apprécie. Individuellement, ils sont aussi vraiment très chouette à suivre. Oliver est un personnage assez lumineux, ils aiment plaisanter, s'amuser et ne se prend pas la tête. Prim, de son côté a une profonde affection pour son frère et Oliver. Elle n'hésite pas à dire ce qu'elle pense et a toujours les mots justes.
Au fil des pages, on se laisse donc porter à la fois par la romance et la partie enquête. Bon, clairement, j'avais deviné les identités des coupables mais c'était amusant de voir nos personnages mener l'enquête, tenter de débusquer les traitres et surtout, les voir se confronter. Cela amène aussi pas mal d'autres questions sur le tapis, notamment liées aux préjugés que l'on peut avoir sur des personnages et sur les tempéraments de chacun. Ainsi, si certains semblent sans intérêts au démarrage, ils gagnent en importance et se révèlent tout aussi importants par la suite.
J'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture avec cette romance. C'est drôle avec ces chamailleries, c'est parfois même mignon de voir nos deux personnages tomber sous le charme l'un de l'autre et ça nous tient en haleine jusqu'au bout ! Je n'aurais pas été contre un peu plus d'émotions dans les moments clés, mais cela reste tout de même une très bonne lecture et une autrice à découvrir.
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2023/0...
Encore une autrice que je découvre avec Le stratagème de Primrose, une romance historique Friends-to-lovers avec une petite enquête sur le devant et une touche de fantastique puisque l'héroine a un secret : un don de téléportation. Autant dire qu'on sort de l'ordinaire !
Primrose Garland prend plaisir à se chamailler avec son ami, Oliver, duc et meilleur ami de son frère. Et le voir se dépatouiller avec les demoiselles en quête d'un bon mariage l'est tout autant. En revanche, qu'on s'en prenne à lui et faisant croire à ses accidents, c'est tout simplement impensable et lors d'un séjour à la campagne, Primrose, Rhodes (son frère) et Oliver vont mener l'enquête sur la personne qui s'en prend à lui. Mais le danger est encore plus grand et les deux amis pourraient bien être plus que cela à l'issue de cette enquête.
Voilà une romance historique originale ! Non seulement avec la touche de fantastique que les femmes de la famille Garland apportent avec leurs dons mais également avec le côté enquête que nos personnages vont mener. Il faut dire qu'Oliver risque sa peau à chaque moment et quand les demoiselles qui le convoitent semblent elles aussi succomber, le mystère s'épaissit. Vous l'aurez compris, cette romance est à la fois douce, mignonne et avec une touche de suspense qui est la bienvenue.
Le point fort de cette romance, c'est bien la dynamique entre Oliver et Primrose. Ils se chamaillent comme chien et chat depuis des années et clairement, l'histoire ne manquent pas de réparties. Et notamment liées aux livres, puisque Prim est une passionnée. Un point commun qui ne fera que les rapprochés. Et si la romance entre les deux semblent évidentes pour nous, lecteurs, pour eux, cela viendra plus doucement, ce qui n'est pas plus mal. Il faut dire qu'ils sont avant tout amis, et ça, on apprécie. Individuellement, ils sont aussi vraiment très chouette à suivre. Oliver est un personnage assez lumineux, ils aiment plaisanter, s'amuser et ne se prend pas la tête. Prim, de son côté a une profonde affection pour son frère et Oliver. Elle n'hésite pas à dire ce qu'elle pense et a toujours les mots justes.
Au fil des pages, on se laisse donc porter à la fois par la romance et la partie enquête. Bon, clairement, j'avais deviné les identités des coupables mais c'était amusant de voir nos personnages mener l'enquête, tenter de débusquer les traitres et surtout, les voir se confronter. Cela amène aussi pas mal d'autres questions sur le tapis, notamment liées aux préjugés que l'on peut avoir sur des personnages et sur les tempéraments de chacun. Ainsi, si certains semblent sans intérêts au démarrage, ils gagnent en importance et se révèlent tout aussi importants par la suite.
J'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture avec cette romance. C'est drôle avec ces chamailleries, c'est parfois même mignon de voir nos deux personnages tomber sous le charme l'un de l'autre et ça nous tient en haleine jusqu'au bout ! Je n'aurais pas été contre un peu plus d'émotions dans les moments clés, mais cela reste tout de même une très bonne lecture et une autrice à découvrir.
August 17, 2018
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-Ng
PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is the next installment in the delightful BALEFUL GODMOTHER series, in which direct female descendants of a certain family line inherit a supernatural ability of their choosing. This gift is the result of a mysterious favor done many years ago for a genuine fairy. Primrose Garland is of this family line, and has chosen to have the gift of transporting her body to another location at any given time.
Oliver Dasenby is a soldier, and far enough back in line for the family title, that he never expected to inherit. Yet, a series of deaths has now caused him to be the latest Duke of Westfell. Young ladies flock around him, desperately hoping to be the next duchess. Oliver endures their attention while skillfully avoiding their snares. Still, he can't deny that his greatest pleasure is dancing with Prim, the sister of his best friend, who has no designs on him, and tends to keep him in his place. They even continue to use their dreaded childhood nicknames - "Lady Prim and Proper" for her, and "Daisy" for him.
When it becomes clear that several attempts on Oliver's life were not accidents, Prim and her brother, Rhodes, make plans with Oliver to flush out the killer at an upcoming house party. The siblings immediately suspect Oliver's relatives, who are next in line for the title, but Oliver adamantly refuses to believe that his beloved Uncle Algy or his cousin Ninian can be the culprits.
During the house party, as Prim and Oliver meet in secret to discuss their plans, they come to realize that not only do they like each other, but they're attracted to each other. Much to his own amazement, Oliver even begins to think that marriage may not be so bad, if Prim is his bride. As Oliver and Prim explore their attraction and begin to fall in love, there is still the issue of the attempts on Oliver's life. I truly adore this couple! Prim is not about to change the way she treats Oliver, just because he now has a title. She is intelligent, protective, and honest. I love Oliver's sense of humor and the way he could make fun of himself. He managed to remain charming to the females pursuing him, while not overtly encouraging them. His interactions with Prim are fresh, real, and smile-inducing. (Later, they become steamy, too!)
PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is another engaging and most enjoyable read from Emily Larkin. The suspense part was interesting and well done, but didn't overshadow the romance, which I really appreciate. Prim's supernatural ability did play a part, but also did not take over the story. I love Oliver's reaction when he discovered Prim's hidden talent. Prim's widowed brother, Rhodes, was a very endearing and sympathetic character, and I hope he finds his own happily ever after somewhere down the line. PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is a fabulous read which left me smiling, and I highly recommend it for fans of "friends-to-lovers" stories and those who enjoy a touch of magic with their romance.
PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is the next installment in the delightful BALEFUL GODMOTHER series, in which direct female descendants of a certain family line inherit a supernatural ability of their choosing. This gift is the result of a mysterious favor done many years ago for a genuine fairy. Primrose Garland is of this family line, and has chosen to have the gift of transporting her body to another location at any given time.
Oliver Dasenby is a soldier, and far enough back in line for the family title, that he never expected to inherit. Yet, a series of deaths has now caused him to be the latest Duke of Westfell. Young ladies flock around him, desperately hoping to be the next duchess. Oliver endures their attention while skillfully avoiding their snares. Still, he can't deny that his greatest pleasure is dancing with Prim, the sister of his best friend, who has no designs on him, and tends to keep him in his place. They even continue to use their dreaded childhood nicknames - "Lady Prim and Proper" for her, and "Daisy" for him.
When it becomes clear that several attempts on Oliver's life were not accidents, Prim and her brother, Rhodes, make plans with Oliver to flush out the killer at an upcoming house party. The siblings immediately suspect Oliver's relatives, who are next in line for the title, but Oliver adamantly refuses to believe that his beloved Uncle Algy or his cousin Ninian can be the culprits.
During the house party, as Prim and Oliver meet in secret to discuss their plans, they come to realize that not only do they like each other, but they're attracted to each other. Much to his own amazement, Oliver even begins to think that marriage may not be so bad, if Prim is his bride. As Oliver and Prim explore their attraction and begin to fall in love, there is still the issue of the attempts on Oliver's life. I truly adore this couple! Prim is not about to change the way she treats Oliver, just because he now has a title. She is intelligent, protective, and honest. I love Oliver's sense of humor and the way he could make fun of himself. He managed to remain charming to the females pursuing him, while not overtly encouraging them. His interactions with Prim are fresh, real, and smile-inducing. (Later, they become steamy, too!)
PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is another engaging and most enjoyable read from Emily Larkin. The suspense part was interesting and well done, but didn't overshadow the romance, which I really appreciate. Prim's supernatural ability did play a part, but also did not take over the story. I love Oliver's reaction when he discovered Prim's hidden talent. Prim's widowed brother, Rhodes, was a very endearing and sympathetic character, and I hope he finds his own happily ever after somewhere down the line. PRIMROSE AND THE DREADFUL DUKE is a fabulous read which left me smiling, and I highly recommend it for fans of "friends-to-lovers" stories and those who enjoy a touch of magic with their romance.
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