Desert Isle Keeper
The Duke Who Didn't
The Duke Who Didn’t is Courtney Milan’s newest release, from a new series based in a small town in Kent. It’s the tale as old as time- boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy disappears for three years. Of course, it’s a little more complicated, seeing as the boy never told the girl he was a duke, and the girl rejected a kiss from the boy before he vanished.
Chloe Fong is a listmaking fiend; she makes a list of tasks every day and feels incredible satisfaction crossing them off. She’s lived in Wedgeford Downs all of her life, and has spent the last couple of years helping her father perfect his masterpiece, a sauce unlike any other. Unnamed Sauce will take England by storm, if the two of them can prepare everything they need in time to launch it at the village’s annual festival. There are only a few tasks remaining: filling several hundred jars, making bao to serve with the sauce, and naming the sauce that has been her father’s life’s work. So no pressure, then. The last thing Chloe needs is to be distracted, so naturally, Jeremy Yu chooses this precise moment to come back to Wedgeford.
Jeremy isn’t exactly the person he claims to be- he’s not Jeremy Yu, he’s Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, and he just happens to own pretty much all of Wedgeford. For years, he visited for the Wedgeford Trials, the yearly games that drew people from all over, but he had stopped coming. Jeremy is a goof, a silly guy, who finds the joke in everything and lightens any room. When he tried to kiss Chloe, she asked him if he could be serious, and he wasn’t sure if he could. So, he left, and spent three years trying, and failing, to become a serious person. Despite his failure, Jeremy returns to Wedgeford, in the hopes of convincing Chloe to marry him, regardless of his unrepentant silliness. His main obstacle lies in explaining himself, and the life she would take on as his duchess, but also in convincing the woman he loves that his proposal is genuine. Being the only half-Chinese duke in Britain is difficult enough, and Jeremy fears that the shunning they might face as a Chinese aristocratic couple might deter Chloe from accepting his proposal.
Jeremy is absolutely delicious- a protagonist with a sense of humor is a wonderful thing, and while usually it is the female lead who is the quirky, eccentric one, I loved Jeremy to pieces. Chloe is equally lovely, with her work ethic, ambition, and loyalty really making her stand out as a unique, interesting character. What’s really special about their romance is that they seem to really see each other, and know one another on a really deep level. Each does their best to meet the other’s needs, and they communicate surprisingly effectively despite not always being completely honest. Their relationship is satisfying and very sweet, exactly what I look for in a romance.
The book was also surprisingly funny, which was very enjoyable to read. It’s not exactly a plot-heavy story – it’s very much character-driven – but the two characters it so heavily leans on are very strong. There are only two things I would criticize. Firstly, that while the two principals are perfectly fleshed out, most of others barely make an impression. The only other character that really stuck with me was Chloe’s father, but his impact on the plot was fairly minimal, and the arc he had really felt under-developed. Maybe we’ll get more of Mr. Fong in further books. Lastly, that while the events of the book are centered around the Wedgeford Trials, they are only briefly explained and then don’t really have much of a footprint in the book after about the halfway point. Overall, The Duke Who Didn’t is a whimsical, fun read that any lover of historical romance and light-hearted love stories will devour in one sitting.
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Book Details
Reviewer: | Rachel Finston |
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Review Date: | October 2, 2020 |
Publication Date: | 09/2020 |
Grade: | A- |
Sensuality | Warm |
Book Type: | Historical Romance |
Review Tags: | AoC | PoC | Wedgeford Trials series |
So, I have finished this. I have thoughts.
I was actually appalled that Chloe, Jeremy, Mr. Fong and the little Wentworths had spent YEARS of their lives planning revenge even after they all found joy. It seemed petty although, to be fair, revenge is my least favorite motive.
If all the village knew about Jeremy, which I liked, that lessens the already wan sense of conflict to Jeremy’s and Chloe’s HEA. It was clear, from day one, that the two of them could live happily and without racism in Wedgeford. If racism is the barrier, this romance undercut it. I get and support that Milan wanted to show us the world as she wishes it is–hello Bridgerton!–but as a plot device, having prejudice be the problem didn’t work in the lovely context she created.
I loved the sex scenes. Total props to Milan for portraying consent and a woman who knows what she wants so deftly.
Is this worth reading? Yes, as long as you don’t expect angst or historical accuracy. In a grim year, this is a light and kind book.
And yet historical accuracy – especially in the way she has created intelligent, forward-thinking heroines BUT had them (largely) operating within the restraints of society – has been one of the things that has been so impressive about CM’s other work.
This book is NOT for you. I feel pretty sure of that!
I thought that as soon as I read this review and haven’t been tempted to pick it up. I think CM and I have broken up for good!
I’m not yet sure if I will buy the newesr Milan. Some of her books I really love, others I don’like.
But as an historian I’m really interested if there ever was a biracial duke in the UK. Does anybody know?
I’ve actually been trying to find out, because I was curious about that, too. Haven’t found one so far.
Probably not, but it does just read as something that could have happened, so it entirely works in the story. I feel like I’ve read many more unlikely dukes.
(I think the reason the exam thing bothered me was that, because it was clearly a different system than back in my day, at my much more ordinary uni, I started to wonder who would be responsible – his tutor, or the master of whatever college, or some wider forum – I was missing the point, but it took me longer than it should have to think that through.)
I enjoyed it. I really like a romance with minimal conflict, but it is difficult to tell a worthwhile story without conflict. In this instance, it worked for me.
The only bit I wondered about, and I could have used an author’s note, was how the exams in Oxford worked at the time. (I think I imagined they’d have still been doing vivas or something.) But there was a point to his experience, and it mattered to the story, so I tried not to overthink it.
I just loved all the food, and would buy an entire crate of the sauce if it was available: I can’t remember when I last so badly wanted to eat a fictional food.
I’m sure they were doing Vivas back then – I did one in the 1980s! (Uni of London not Oxford though!)
I love Courtney Milan. Some of her books are light and some of them are not so light. This one is lighter and lovely, though it deals with racism and how the pernicious effects of racism keep us from seeing others as fully people. It’s set in a small village, with just enough description of traditions for you to get a sense that it’s a unique place that is a refuge, but has managed to thrive. The central couple feel unique, but not annoying. And I love any book where the woman’s dreams and aspirations are recognized and supported.
I liked that, and one of the things I loved most about this book was how he was like, oh, your thing is way more important than my thing, and also I hate my life, so let’s do your thing.
I’m so glad this is as excellent as I’d hoped it’d be!