Un duque para Daisy

The Blooming Brides #1

by Ellie St. Clair, Elizabeth A. Marin (Translator)

En el momento en que Nathaniel Huntingwell, el recién nombrado Duque de Greenwich, entra en la posada Wild Rose, un literal tropiezo con Daisy Tavners lo cambia todo. Recuperándose de una herida de guerra y ocultando su verdadera identidad, es constantemente puesto a prueba por la obstinada y testaruda hija mayor del posadero, pero parece que no puede mantenerse alejado de ella.

Ocupada dirigiendo la posada de sus padres, Daisy no tiene tiempo para los secretos. Y definitivamente no tiene tiempo para duques secretos. De hecho, lo único que quiere es que el arrogante y presuntuoso Sr. Hawke, como ella lo conoce, se aleje de la posada y de su familia, porque claramente está ocultando algo que no desea compartir. Abandonada por por uno de los aristócratas locales a causa de otra mujer, ella promete no volver a confiar nunca más, especialmente en un hombre que la trata con tanta superioridad.

Todo sobre Daisy y Nathaniel debería significar que no son absolutamente el uno para el otro. Sin embargo, cuanto más tiempo pasan juntos, no pueden negar que se sienten inexplicablemente atraídos el uno por el otro. Pero, cuando Nathaniel deba asumir la vida de un duque, ¿qué pasará con Daisy?

Esta novela de la regencia tiene un contenido sensual.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction, Ebooks

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2019

About the author

Ellie St. Clair writes heartwarming Regency romances with spirited heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and happily ever afters. Her passion for history shines through in richly drawn characters and romances brimming with irresistible tension.

A former journalist with an incurable love of history, she is the author of popular series such as Remingtons of the Regency and The Bluestocking Scandals. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband and three children.

When she isn’t crafting romantic tales or keeping up with her kids, she’s mainlining coffee, sweating it out on her Peloton, valiantly attempting to keep her plants alive, planning her next dog rescue, or dreaming of lake escapes.

Ellie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.

Contact her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elliestclair, and sign up for her mailing list at http://www.elliestclair.com/subscribe.

Reviews

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little story

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel/Nate Huntingwell is newly minted Duke of Greenwich. After the death of his uncle and cousin from a fever that stuck there villiage. Nathaniel has been serverly hurt on the battlefield after spying on Nepolian and stealing documents that will help give England a great victory. He walks with a limp and uses a cane after the calf in his leg was sliced open with a bayonet. He is sent to The Wild Rose end to hide out from French spy.

Daisey Tavners is the eldest daughter of the Wild Rose innkeeper. She is a bit like a Cinderella who takes on all the work to keep the Inn going while her father mother and 3 other sisters do as they will. Daisey runs smack into Nate who is going by an assumed name of Mr. Hawke. They do not get on well at first but later come to talk and like one another. The two begin to fall in love. Nathaniel is hiding his true identity from Daisey and when it is revealed Daisey feel betrayed.

This was a cute quick story to read.

[Gerda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is set in Regency but neither speech nor behaviour are in line with that time period.
There was so much manual work in an inn that one scullery maid would not have been enough. The way the daughters behaved they didn't perform menial labour.
A baron's son would have a tryst with the innkeeper's daughter but never contemplate to marry her - as was the case. So a duke even a newly minted one would never marry a girl, poor and so far below his standing, even his title would not prevent her from being shunned by a society who didn't accept daughters of wealthy merchants.
It is hardly imaginable a baron would invite the innkeeper's daughters, the blacksmith's daughter, and a poor fisherman to a ball/dance in his house. That fisherman is said "not to be able to earn a dollar". DOLLAR??? He is living in England, so he would earn pence, shilling, pounds, or guinea.

When reading a Regency romance I expect the author to do her research and abide by the limitations this time frame gives her.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the idea of Daisy not being aristocracy, but having grown up in an inn near the sea. I can’t waist to read the stories of her sisters. I loved the idea of Nathanial’s storyline. It didn’t need the sex scene.

[HR-ML · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subtitle should be: a day off for Daisy.


Regency.

This started w/ abrasive leads Daisy and Nathaniel
who morphed into guarded friends. Who reportedly
fell in love.

Daisy's parents owned an inn + had 3 daughters
besides Daisy. Daisy did the marketing, cooking and
cleaning-up. What did the other five family members
do? I disliked the heroine as doormat trope. I disliked
that the author never addressed the "elephant in the
room:" the family scrimped/ saved because dad was a
gambler.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I signed up for Ellie St. Clair's newsletter and I got this book for free for doing so. This is my 29th book by her. I picked up 1 book in late 2017, then 2 more in 2018 and then not again until May 2022 and I have read 23 of her books since. She is quickly becoming a favorite.

So this was a cute story. Super quick read. I liked Nathaniel and Daisy and their personalities. I have to save there wasn't much character depth but for a short read you got the jest of who everyone was. There was sex but once and like 2 paragraphs, maybe! I don't think I'll read the other 3 books in the series. I just feel I'll get the same type of read, they are too short and aren't KU.

[Sonia N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy and Nathaniel

This was such a sweet and beautiful romance! I enjoyed Daisy and her independent nature. And then Nathaniel hiding that he is a Duke. But everything came together for them in a wonderful way. And I loved reading their story!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
The Tavners family run the Wild Rose Inn in Southwold, the father is a retired soldier, he and his wife, who is mad about flowers, have four daughters. The eldest Daisy literally runs the inn. Nathaniel Huntingwell, the newly minted Duke of Greenwich has been injured whilst fighting in France but must hide for a while under the name of Hawke until a plan he uncovered is thwarted, as he steps into The Wild Rose Inn, a literal run-in with Daisy Tavners changes everything. Daisy has no times for secrets, she wants nothing more than for the arrogant, self-righteous Mr. Hawke, as she knows him, to leave the inn and her family, for he is clearly hiding something he has no wish to share.
Another well written well paced book from the author. The characters are well fleshed even the secondary characters are relatable. From their first meeting sparks fly between Nathaniel & Daisy, although they act as though they dislike each other but can’t seem to keep away. As time passes they begin to like each other & gradually fall in love but a Duke & an Innkeeper’s daughter how could that ever have a future? A lovely romance that I read in well under a day, I’m now looking forward to Iris, Marigold & Violets' stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Heike · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Nathaniel Huntingwell returns injured but as a war hero from France, he discovers that an illness had decimated much of his male kinship and he unexpectedly inherited a dukedom. Because he may have enemies searching him out for spying on Napoleon, his commander sends him into hiding for a few weeks to the Wild Rose Inn, owned by an old acquaintance.
There Nathaniel meets the innkeepers daughters .... and now guess what.
In a time when the gap between nobility and commoners was wider than the distance to the moon, he falls for Daisy, the oldest and most rustic one of the daughters. And why not? The neighboring baron almost married her, why not the duke? Nice that the people are so egalitarian, but it is a bit disturbing after learning in other Regency novels that this is a no-go.

All this could be forgiven if the two protagonists had any character to them, but, alas, they both had the most boring personalities with the most boring inner dialogs.
It speaks for the writing talent of the author that I did finish this novel anyways. Of course, it was not very long and I didn't have to be concerned about missing anything by skipping pages.

[Laura J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

unbelievable - did not finish

A duke falls in love with a woman whose family runs an inn. Both characters were interesting and would have made a reasonably good romance couple if it weren’t for the difference in their social situation.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan, a newly minted Duke, falls for Daisy who lives and works in the Wild Rose Inn.
This was a lovely short story. Enjoyed reading it. 4☆

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

Avis, Central patron, June 2019, 2 stars:

A Duke for Daisy by Ellie St. Clair describes the historical romance of Nathaniel Huntingwell and Daisy Tavners, two young people of different social classes who meet and fall in love.

A Major General in the British army and a strategic leader in the efforts to defeat Napoleon, Nathaniel is disgruntled to receive orders to hide at a country inn to heal from a leg injury. While at the inn, he meets Miss Daisy Tavners, the oldest daughter of the innkeeper. She is opinionated, stubborn, and downright disrespectful of his high-handed ways, yet over the course of time, he grows to admire her strength and beauty.

Daisy is so over high-handed rich men. After being tossed aside by a nobleman, she is determined to live the rest of her life helping her parents run their inn. Her initial interactions with Nathaniel confirm her opinions that rich men are arrogant and selfish. As she starts to see beneath his facade, she is softened by his kindness and handsome face and eventually falls in love. The only thing keeping them apart is an aristocratic class system, but surely love will find a way!

This book started off so well. There were excellent verbal sparring matches between the two main characters and their feelings for each other progressed as you would expect. The plot was a little weak, but plausible. However, I was SO disappointed by the way the book ended. The content in the last chapter was completely unnecessary and out of character for both Daisy and Nathaniel. It ruined the book for me, I am sorry to say.

It is a fun, light romance that most people will enjoy. However, the claims that it was a 'clean' story were inaccurate.

[Lisa Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give the book a 3.7 or 3.8.
It is a bit far fetched to consider that a duke would marry the daughter of an innkeeper, not even a member of the gentry, but it works to a certain extent. Perhaps if Nathaniel was a baronet or a baron, the story would have been more believable.
One thing that really got to me was, in Chapter 1, the character's name is Alice Tavner. In Chapter 5 and to the end of the book, the family name becomes "Tavners."
The story has those dreadful split infinitives I so dislike. (Perhaps if I say it long enough someone will notice and do a better job of editing them out. to overly care (used twice), to even begin, to ever run, to slowly climb, to not betray, to yet begin to nearly shake, to never introduce, to slowly lead, to simply enjoy, to hastily prepare, to simply leave, to not eat, to quite capture, to properly dance, etc.
There is also the problem of "one another," which means three or more. Then, the phrases, laughed at one another, speak alone with one another, grinning at one another, staring at one another, growing connection to one another, had just found one another, felt something for one another, looked at one another, lips found one another, ran into one another, we found one another, smiling at one another, helped one another rise, staring at one another, have with one another, lay beside one another, etc. are incorrect. "Each other" means 2.
There is an issue of plurals. More than one person named Tavners is Tavnerses, not "asked Tavner for pen," "had not seen the Tavners sisters," or "three of the Tavners sisters."

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is delightful story about Daisy the daughter of an Inn Keeper and an ex soldier, Nathaniel who just found out he is also the new Duke of Greenwich. Daisy is the oldest daughter and all the responsibility has fallen to her after her father
lost most of their funds gambling. She is helped by her sister's Marigold, Iris and Violet.
Nathaniel, has been ordered to stay at The Wild Rose Inn, till a secret mission can be carried out. He had secret documents on him when he was injured and all thought he was dead. He needs to stay so for the mission to work.
When he and Daisy first run into each other, she finds him rude, and arrogance with his actions. She dislikes him quickly
He can't believe her impropriety in how she talks to him. He is the grandson of a Duke and use to upper ton.
The banter between two is lively, fun, interesting, and let both start learning all is not what it seemed to be.
They find themselves not only liking each other but having much deeper feelings.
The only thing bad about this book is it is over way too soon !
I can't wait to see which sister's story is next..
Do get you copy and start reading, you will not be able to stop till the end..
I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review.

[Mephala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in the mood for something light and not overly long, and this book fitted the bill quite nicely.

A Duke for Daisy is a quick read, with tropes like ‘enemies to lover’ and ‘friends to lovers’ mixed together. It’s more historical/Regency themed rather than just being historical romance, as it has a certain modern feel to it.

Both main characters were likable, if a little underdeveloped. The banter was nice, maybe a little awkward at times, but mostly rather lively. Maybe because of the book’s length, there wasn’t much chemistry between Daisy and Nathaniel, and their romance felt rushed.

Add to that, I was almost sure it’s going to be a “closed door”/no sex kind of book, but then – almost by the end – one intimate scene happened, and I’m not sure… it felt unnecessary almost?

If you have a few hours to spear, A Duke for Daisy is an ok book for a light read.

I’ll probably continue with the series, especially if I’m in a mood and have time for two-three hours reading session, and – as I’m easily amused – I liked that all the sisters have flower themed names.

3/5 stars

[Cheryl Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy lives at The Wild Rose Inn with her family, she has fallen in the habit of taking on most of the running of the Inn with her sister's help. Daisy's father tells his family a new boarder is coming but can't recall exactly when he. Nathaniel was injured during a battle with the French and has been in recovery restless to get back to the war. When his commanding officer wants to see him he thinks he is going back only to find that is not the case, after several deaths in his family he is told he has become the new Duke of Greenwich. Before taking up the new role he has to take on a new persona, they must convince the enemy that Nathaniel died in battle so they can use the info he stole from the French to launch an attack until this happens he will be staying at the Wild Rose Inn incognito. From the first meeting or accident, Daisy and Nathaniel are like water and oil and don't mix well. She knows he is hiding something but has no idea what it is, even when they start enjoying the company of each other and a shared kiss or two she knows all is not what it should be. When a man shows up and talks with Nathaniel her younger sister overhears that Nathaniel is a duke, so when he announces he must leave without seeing Daisy first she feels as if he was just passing time with her and feels abandoned. Back in London the Duke is trying to learn his new responsibilities but can't stop thinking of Daisy finally he sends a note to her saying he is coming meanwhile she has decided to go to London to see for herself if he really loves her. Will they miss each other or meet in the middle.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie St. Clair has written another fun, romantic, page turning tale with wonderful main and secondary characters that you fall in love with immediately.

Daisy Tavners is the oldest of 4 sisters and has accepted the fact that she will spend the rest of her days managing her parents' inn and looking after her younger sisters in the small sea coast village.
Daisy's family have tried encouraging her to marry but after be thrown over by a Baron in their ton for another lady, she wants nothing to do with courting or marriage.

Nathaniel Huntingwell is a grandson of a Duke and had always lived a privileged life. He; however, never felt he had a purpose until he became a part of the war to defeat Napoleon. He worked hard through the years and became Major-General and also, discovered very important French documents in a battle in which Nathaniel is wounded and the army must hide the fact that he lives from their enemy. Now, he must hide to save his life and he also has just been informed his uncle and cousin ave died, leaving him the new Duke of Greenwich. He is sent to a small seaside village, where his general’s former colleague now owns an inn.

The first time they meet - sparks fly and they aren't the romantic kind. Follow Nathaniel and Daisy's adventures mixed in with secrets, romance and great family moments. I was gifted the ARC and I am happy to recommend it to all historical romance readers.

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dithered between three and four stars eventually just aiming my finger in the middle of the two and letting my Kindle decide which it would be. I am a voracious reader and I must admit the writing style of this book/author was very difficult for me to accustom myself to. The syntax alone nearly forced me to DNF this at about 10%. The only thing that really kept me plodding along was the idea that it would get better; I would get used to it, the writing would become smoother as the book progressed, it was a relatively short read for an evening in with a glass of wine (which was probably another point in the book's favour) and it would take me too long to select another book :)
I loved the story idea. I am a sucker for the class clashes, even as I know how historically inaccurate an improbably such a pairing would be. I am also a bleeding heart for the war-ravaged hero who is a little rough and out of touch with his emotions. In that regard this was the perfect quick bit of fluff for me to read. I didn't love Daisy and Nathaniel right away, I found their daggers-drawn antagonism for each other a little jarring and unnecessary. Luckily that smoothed over quickly and I was drawn in by some heart-warming moments together.
I enjoyed the light story with little substance and a lot of sweetness, which is just what I was in the mood to read.

[Stormy ✿ (stay-at-home tackler of tbr shelf) ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy read. Unlike a few other reviewers, I was actually ok with the difference in their stations, him being a duke and her being an innkeeper's daughter. Kind of like a Cinderella romance, in my eyes.

The author did a great job telling the story, no irksome repetition going on, not an over abundance of inner thoughts, no huge editorial errors... I would say the only negative for me would have been the heroine's overly sensitive nature to aristocracy. She was so ready to be offended by anything and everything the hero said or did.

And honestly, as an employee of a hotel/or an inn... who are they to complain if a paying guest is arrogant, expects to be waited on, etc. That is part of the business, to serve the guest. For example, the hero questioned whether there was anyone that could carry his one bag/suitcase up the stairs to his room as he was checking-in (because he was injured and couldn't lift it up stairs himself). The heroine, not knowing that the hero was injured, immediately assumed he thought he was too good to carry it himself and she promptly mocked him for it. That's just uncalled for to treat a guest that way.

The next books in the series should be wonderful, as each of the sisters all seem to have great personalities and will make great heroines I think.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that covers the short relationship between Daisy and Nathaniel. Nathaniel is incognito at The Wild Rose Inn. He is hiding from French spies for a period. His commander will let him know when he can return to his civilian life as soon as he is able. From the very beginning Daisy and Nathaniel rubbed each other the wrong way. Daisy was still wary. She had been spurned by the local Baron's son. She now has a prejudice against peerage of any type. This made things difficult between herself and Nathaniel. Over time however they came to know each other better. They started having feelings for each other. Daisy worried about what would happen when Nathaniel had to return to London and she had to stay behind. She had doubts if she was good enough for Nathaniel. Nathaniel on the other hand did not want to leave Daisy behind but he had no idea what he had to face now that his military life was over and his civilian life was unknown. He needed time to sort through everything. He asked Daisy to wait for him. Daisy felt she let herself be fooled again by a man. But she loved him. After a couple of weeks Nathaniel had an epiphany that he did indeed love Daisy and did not want to be without her. A very sweet simple story. An enjoyable read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy is a daughter of a inn owner , while she was once courted by the son of a local baron who was goning to wed her once he got his title he took another to wife. Refusing to ever be fooled again she filled her days taking on most the duties to her family inn. Until one stranger comes to board at the hotel who knocks her walls down and ooen her heart again. Yet he is mysterious amd knows he comes from a wealthy past.

Nathaniel Hawke was injured in battle against France now his leg has damage. He finds out he inherited his uncles title and is a new duke. He is sent to england to hide till they know he is safe to return to his new life as a duke. So he is sent to Daisy family inn . while at first he has attuide for being sent away from battle he see Daisy as healer to his heart and makes him feel whole again. He has not revealed his title to her. If this is found out she might not trust him since was once scorned by her past beau whom was titled.

Good book sweet love seeing our hero mend his outlook on his life and seeing Daisy open to love again.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

1813 Major-General Nathaniel Huntington could not believe the orders his superior General Collins was giving him. After stealing important documents and receiving bad injuries to his leg and head, he was being told to go hide out at an Inn, so the enemy thought he was dead. Plus he let him know due to the death of his uncle and his son dying from an illness that swept through the village. He was now the Duke of Greenwich! All he wanted to do was go back to the front line and defeat Bonaparte!
Daisy and he sisters lived with their parents running the inn and she did most of the work. Having been thrown over recently by a Baron, she was in no hurry to marry, if ever. When she literally runs into Nathaniel as he is entering the Inn and the adventure or standoff begins!
A delightful sweet story that has great secondary characters and a road to a happy ever after that will have you turning the pages! Looking forward to the next in this new series and know it will be fabulous!!

[Linda Rutland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is the oldest daughter in her family and after being humiliated by the local Baron when he dumped her right after his father's death she's pretty much determined to stay single. Much to her sisters dismay. That stupid thing about the oldest must marry first is playing havoc with Daisy. But she pretty much runs her family inn and seems content. But when a guest arrives and she feels like he's privileged and treats her as a servant her mouth continues to get her into difficult situations. He's a soldier home from the French wars and seems to just be hiding out with no purpose but to annoy Daisy. Great story as they work through their different personalities and her preconceived notions of nobility which puts her a real odds when she discovers he is a Duke. Loved the story and the characters.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZINGLY DELIGHTFUL!!!
Wow! Man, talk about disaster. Unpredictable surprises and circumstances thrust all of your emotions bursting to life splendidly. Trials and tribulations running rampant feels as though you've been put through the wringer more often than not. Twists and turns, along with a few bumps and bruises catapult this bad boy to life beautifully. All the drama, angst and suspense bring this baby together smoothly. The characters are authentic, believable and so realistic with depth and traits that blend and play off one another perfectly. The scenes are so graphic and detailed it paints a fantastic backdrop that really makes the storyline pop. Incredible job Ellie, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short sweet read. As a historical romance, it starts with the main character in the Wild Rose Inn which her parents own. Her character is one of a woman with her own mind and after being treated poorly by her last beau, she is wary of men. Then Mr. Nathaniel Hawke shows up at the Inn. Little did everyone knew he really was a duke. They thought he was just a man with an injury from the war and pain. Soon Dasiy and Nathaniel realize they were meant to be with one another every though everything about them should not suggest this. It was a good story with well-built characters. Being the first in a series, I look forward to reading more about Daisy’s sisters who are all named after a flower.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating and engaging Regency romance by Ellie St. Clair featuring Daisy Tavners, the innkeeper's daughter, and Nathaniel Huntingwell, the new Duke of Greenwich.
Well written, with a good storyline that includes Nathaniel and Daisy's adventures, secrets that cannot be revealed, romance and warm family moments.
The main characters are believable, determined and well defined.
There is good interaction between the two.
The secondary characters support the storyline.
The Author has also given very good detailed description to the various scenes and settings.
An enjoyable book to read
Gifted with a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Nancy Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy and Nathaniel

Really enjoyed this book with it's danger, mystery, romance and HEA, with interesting characters and historically correct setting. Ms St. Clair always writes great stories and this is no different as the story evolves around a young girl growing up with the horrific memories and nightmares of seeing her parents murdered. She leaves the home of her adoptive parents to be a governess to the brother and sister of a Duke. Will her nightmares stop or is she still entangled in a web of corruption that threatens all around her? Recommend that you read this book to find out.

[JANET SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

Lovely Read and first book in a new series by Ellie St Clair. I particularly liked the cover of this book, and I enjoyed the well written story. Daisy and Nathaniel were made for one another, and they were an endearing couple. What I couldn't understand was why Daisy ran herself ragged whilst other members of the family did virtually nothing, this being the case of her mother and father, Nathaniel had the right of it when he asked Daisy the same thing. The epilogue and the added chapter were a nice touch and I was pleased that the Baron and his wife got the comeuppance. I would thoroughly recommend this book and I look forward to Marigolds story.

[Julie Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet lovely story. Although not your usual crossing of social groups type of historical regency romance, it still managed to delightfully cross the divide between a new duke ( though not raised to be a duke) and an innkeepers daughter ( who was born when her parents were gentry but ). The only thing I found frustrating was me wanting to pick up and shake her lazy gambling father, but I get the feeling that one of her sisters will do that in one of the next few books!
I rated it a 5 star as I enjoyed reading it and cannot wait for the next in the series!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Blooming Bride series. Daisy works at her parent’s Inn. Nathaniel has been sent there to hide out from possible enemies and recoup from an injury. Daisy finds him arrogant and secretive. She knows that he is not telling her everything about himself. What will she do when she finds out the truth about him. Can the two of them overcome the secrets keeping them apart? I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and think that you will too. I received an advance copy of this novel but the review is my own personal opinion.