Up All Night with a Good Duke
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"I can think of the perfect way to keep you occupied and your mind diverted," she murmured. "Come to my room. If you're not too tired..." Lust flashed in his gaze and then he caught her face between his hands and kissed her. "For you, my beautiful Artemis, I'd stay up all night." Artemis Jones—"respectable" finishing-school teacher by day and Gothic romance writer by night—has never lost sight of her real dream: to open her own academic ladies' college. When Artemis is unexpectedly called upon by a dear friend, a fellow Byronic Book Club member, to navigate her first London Season, she comes at once. Who knows, perhaps she can court the interest of a wealthy patron for her school. As long as she can avoid her high-handed aunt's schemes to marry her off. Dominic Winters, the widowed Duke of Dartmoor, needs a wife—someone who will provide him with an heir and help him to manage his spitfire adolescent daughter. The problem is, Society has dubbed him "The Dastardly Duke." Rumors are rife that he murdered his mad wife so his choices for a suitable bride are limited. But then he meets the ravishing and passionate Artemis Jones who might just be everything he needs. "The perfect blend of sexiness and humor... Amy Rose Bennett has created a lush, vibrant love story, her characters sharing a fabulous sensual chemistry that fairly scorches the page."—Christina Britton, award-winning author
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I have mixed feelings about this book. There were several things that I really liked, but a few that bugged me.
I really enjoyed the main characters, especially Artemis, and the banter, as well as the family bonds. In fact, I wish we'd gotten more of this. I liked the aspect of the FMC, Artemis, being a secret writer and her aspirations of opening a women's college; I also wish we'd gotten more of this, especially involving her plans or maybe even gotten to see her in action. I liked how much of a role Artemis' books played in the story. I really liked the respect Artemis and Dominic had for each other, and the way Dominic encouraged her dreams; I also really liked that there was no third-act misunderstanding-fueled breakup; Dominic could easily have made a huge deal over discovering Artemis' secret, and he handled it with maturity. I really appreciated that.
However, I wasn't such a big fan of the writing style in some places - it felt overwrought and overwritten (which was maybe intended to go with the time period in which the book was set but it occasionally felt over the top and pulled me out of the story. A few times, I caught myself rolling my eyes. But then, I've never been the biggest fan of Gothic romances, so maybe it just goes with the territory.) I also wasn't a big fan of how the story occasionally dipped into almost soap opera territory (or just over the top plot twists) but again, maybe that just goes with the territory of a Gothic romance and I'm merely judging the book for following expected tropes. Another thing that bugged me a bit was the pace at which Dominic and Artemis' relationship moved - the “I love you”s seemed to come too soon, especially considering Artemis seemed to think she was holding out on him. Maybe this is simply because we're not given a clear timeline? And lastly, the villains seem so one-dimensional, especially the male villain. He's bad because... he's bad?
Overall, I did enjoy this book - the positives outweighed the negatives - and I plan to continue with the series... Eventually.
