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    The Duchess War
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    The Duchess War
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    The Duchess War
    Ebook403 pages5 hours

    The Duchess War

    By Courtney Milan

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Miss Minerva Lane is a quiet, bespectacled wallflower, and she wants to keep it that way. After all, the last time she was the center of attention, it ended badly—so badly that she changed her name to escape her scandalous past. Wallflowers may not be the prettiest of blooms, but at least they don’t get trampled. So when a handsome duke comes to town, the last thing she wants is his attention.

    But that is precisely what she gets.

    Because Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, is not fooled. When Minnie figures out what he’s up to, he realizes there is more to her than her spectacles and her quiet ways. And he’s determined to lay her every secret bare before she can discover his. But this time, one shy miss may prove to be more than his match...

    The Duchess War is the first full-length book (97,000 words) in the Brothers Sinister series. It is preceded by The Governess Affair, a prequel novella. Each book stands alone, but those who prefer to read in order might want to read that book first.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCourtney Milan
    Release dateDec 6, 2012
    ISBN9781937248093
    Unavailable
    The Duchess War
    Author

    Courtney Milan

    Courtney Milan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, an exuberant dog, and an attack cat. Before she started writing historical romance, Courtney experimented with various occupations, none of which stuck. Now, when she's not reading (lots), writing (lots), or sleeping (not enough), she can be found in the vicinity of a classroom. You can learn more about Courtney at http://www.courtneymilan.com.

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    Reviews for The Duchess War

    4/5

    438 ratings32 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Minnie is quiet as a mouse in company, doing her best to fade into the background. It's easy for her to do; she wears glasses, dresses primly, and keeps her eyes on the ground. When a handsome Duke realizes Minnie isn't all she appears, Minnie realizes she's going to need to fight a 'tactical war' to keep him off-guard. But Robert has his own agenda, and Minnie figures on it, right at the top of his list. This was a reread for me and a very enjoyable one. I remember being surprised at Minnie's backstory; it's very different from the usual trope about secret wallflowers disguised as governesses or housekeepers but very believable. Robert is just a sweetheart, a hero in every sense of the word. He's trying to help poor factory workers in Victorian England, partly to make up for his father's ill-usage of people, but also because he is just a nice man. His backstory breaks one's heart, and you just root for him (and Minnie) throughout the book. This romance is a bit different, but lovely, a truly beautiful story.
    • 4/5
      This was sooooo good. I completely adored both the hero and heroine. To start, the hero. Politically fascinating - there is some great history and poli-sci in this novel, so while it is a fun read, it also strongly appeals to the labor history buff in me. I also really enjoyed that he is kind of a beta hero. His depth and insecurity didn't make him seem weak, just made him interesting. My heart went out to him over and over. And his friends, I can't wait to read their stories!! The heroine is wonderful, too. Scarred and traumatized, but nothing like the shallow, one-dimensional waifs that I love to read about - this book is too complex for that. Her back-story is utterly unique and fascinating, and she is a wonderful mix of vulnerable and tough. She's described as plain and is a wallflower, but it's a fairly minimal aspect of the book - not your traditional wallflower romance at all. Right on to the next one!

      First read July 2013, re-read November 2016 - gah I love this book so much! I can re-read Milan's books over and over. So good.
    • 4/5
      OK, fine, it's as adorable as promised. Feelgood historical romance with protagonists who have extremely progressive views and lots of banter. Minnie Lane is a spinster with a secret, and when a duke comes to town, he threatens (initially without knowing what he's doing) to expose her to renewed calumny. Cute as heck.
    • 4/5
      The beginning was brilliant, highlighting two protagonists who were very compelling. The radical Duke was intriguing enough, but the extraordinarily clever heroine even more so. They both had interesting backgrounds and baggage, especially Minnie's secret which was dark enough that she needed to stay as unobtrusive, unobserved, and as unknown as possible. The chemistry towards the beginning was nicely intelligent and tantalizing, while the second half seemed less extraordinary but fine and pleasantly typical romance fare.

      3.5 stars rounded up for just how attractively clever I found the "plain" heroine to be
    • 4/5
      Minnie wants nothing more than to appear as insignificant as possible, marry the least unobjectionable of suitors, and leave her scandalous past behind her. Until the Robert Blaisdell, Duke of Clermont discovers her hiding behind a davenport. That single encounter leaves the Duke fascinated by the seeming contradictions of Minnie's character. As he works to uncover just who this woman is, he'll discover that she sees far more abou him than he thought anyone would ever recognize.I've found another historical romance author that I enjoy in Milan. With strong, well-drawn characters and a plot that exists as more than a frame between scenes of flirtation and seduction, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am very glad that I have the rest of the series waiting for me on my iPad.
    • 5/5
      I haven't read any romance novels since my Georgette Heyer jag, but I was pleasantly surprised by the plottiness of this book. I finished the rest of the series, if that tells you how much I liked it!
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this one. At first, I would have said that I loved it. But I thought that the quality was uneven; the first half was amazing. It built up this intense, heart-stopping conflict between the hero & heroine. The writing was evocative, vivid and tight, and every scene delivered a punch to the gut. I mean, wow. Amazing.

      But if the first half built and built, cranking up the tension and the stakes until my heart felt like an winch about to bust, the second half...fizzled away all that tension. It loosened that conflict and devolved into a sort of episodic story, depending on silly contrivances and characters making sudden about-faces that I found hard to believe. The second half was good, above average anyhow, but it didn't leave my heart in my throat the way the first half did.

      So that's my quick resume. I'll try to unpack those conclusions.

      Our hero, Robert, is a duke with radical political views. He's very aware of his privilege, and he grew up with a father who possessed that same privilege and abused it terribly. Robert has developed into an egalitarian, a duke who believes the peerage is morally wrong, that all people should be treated equally. He sees himself as a mole, destroying the system from within. In THE DUCHESS WAR, he's traveled to Leicester in order to smoke out the identity of a brutal union buster who's fixed trials in order to protect abusive factory owners.

      Basically, Robert is a sweet guy. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, but he's kind of a dope. He does a lot of dumbish things throughout the book and it's built into his character. He's a bumbling idealist with a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease...really, if this guy weren't a duke he'd be, like, a shoe-in to play the adorable but wacky sidekick character on a TV drama.

      Our heroine, Minnie, is a savagely intelligent woman with a past. Her past is so scandalous, in fact, that she's changed her name to escape it. She keeps her head down, she makes no waves, she kicks up no fuss. It's slowly killing her to repress her true nature, which is bold and vivacious, but she bows to necessity. She is in a vulnerable position, she is poor, and she has no other options.

      No other options.

      That's what THE DUCHESS WAR does so well. Minnie is one disaster away from dropping out of the middle class entirely, and sweet, bumbling Robert has arrived in Leicester to precipitate disasters. Their romance is heart-wrenching because it is so sincere, because Robert really likes Minnie and means no harm, but Minnie is terrified of him. That's what it's like to fall into the orbit of a man who could crush her with a word. Every time Robert promises to take care of her, Minnie has to trust him with her whole future, and when Robert bumbles and makes mistakes...Minnie is the one who suffers.

      There was a moment, when Robert has oops! accidentally ruined Minnie's life, where I had to put the book down and walk away. I felt so badly for her (& she is a GREAT heroine, fierce and smart and damaged). But I was also deeply invested in the romance, which is a sweet, lovely thing that brightens a book that might have otherwise been unrelentingly grim, set in an industrial town with characters whose pasts are full of land mines.

      But the second half. Sigh. The thing is, once Minnie is no longer afraid of Robert, the book has no juice. And yet there's still lots of plot to wrap up, so the book sort of stutters along. I didn't buy the character of Robert's mother at all; her transformation didn't strike me as authentic (I am biased against parental characters who, after a lifetime of withholding love and approval, do an about face and become affectionate), and there were several other minor characters who had unbelievable revelations/reversals of opinion that make the HEA ring false to me (Lydia and her father both. Lydia's initial anger seemed extreme to me, but so did her forgiveness. Their fight felt like a blip to artificially intensify Minnie's black moment. Whereas the father, a factory owner who seems to care nothing for his workers, suddenly experiences empathy and turns against Stevens? Admittedly, we're given to understand that he had been nursing some resentments, but it was too much, too fast for me.). The last 30% of the book or so felt really rushed.

      I picked up THE DUCHESS WAR because I've had uneven experiences with Courtney Milan's books. It was a last chance read; either I'd finish it a fan, or I'd stop trying. Despite the weak finish, Milan has won me over. There were just so many great moments, great lines, great scenes--I'l recommend THE DUCHESS WAR, and I'm going to keep going with the Brothers Sinister series.



    • 4/5
      Was very surprised I liked this but perhaps should not be given my love of strong female characters. In addition, I often feel the romance parts in Romance stories are overwrought and forced, yet this one felt real, like it was between two real people. This was a nice, quick read over a weekend.
    • 3/5
      First I have to say if all the threads were pulled together this could have been a terrific story. There were some very sad moments both Minnie and Robert had difficult childhoods, especially Minnie. Now some may say that such sadness takes away from the romance but I often think it makes the reader appreciate the love that the main characters find. I did have some issues with Minne's "aunts" - I didn't find that storyline made sense. I felt the aunt's were ashamed or trying to punish Minnie. I also didn't care for the relationship between Robert and his family/friends.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book, it made me feel like I'd been too long away from the 19th century. This was set in the Victorian era rather than my usual Regency haunts. It was fun to read a book where the heroine is so much smarter than everyone around her, and the problems that creates (on top of the requisite-yet-different scandal). The MMC's personality sometimes seemed a little forced/not totally realistic, but all in all it was a fun, fast-paced read.
    • 5/5
      I wasn't sure at first if this book was worth five starts, but I asked myself if I could find fault with it, and I couldn't, so five it is! I suppose its my own fault for not reading Courtney Milan before now, despite seeing her books recommended left, right and centre.Minnie is a fascinating heroine, complex and self contradictory in a very realistic way. Robert is equally so, with just the right amount of backstory angst to tug at the heartstrings without dragging the character down. Both are smart and witty, but not artificially so. The secondary characters are all delightful - Lydia who is so determined to be happy, Sebestian and Violet have the confident spark of childhood friends, and even the Countess has a self awareness that makes her interesting if not likeable. The plot is character driven and thorough in its resolution. Also, it's set in Leicester, which is a nice detail! Not enough historicals set foot outside of London.
    • 4/5
      As always, I love Courtney Milan's characters. I love how Minnie's wit and intelligence comes through in spite of herself, even as she deliberately keeps herself invisible to a crowd. I love Robert's earnestness.
    • 4/5
      Read/Listened for Fun (Kindle/Audible)Tracking Books Read Review (Short)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 4.25Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: The Duchess War was just as heavy as the novella was--these are not light historicals but they are good!Overall Thoughts: I am just going to say it: Courtney Milan goes for the emotional gut every dang time and won't stop until she has rung you dry! These are not for those that prefer light historicals. The issues addressed in this series are real, raw, and sometimes downright emotionally gripping. In this one, the leading lady dealt with something that is pretty easy to identify now but back then would have been paralyzing. I love how Courtney dealt with it and made the love story happen around it. I was less emotionally gutted by the leading guy, Robert, but he was a great match for Minerva. I think together they brought out each others better qualities.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Rosalyn Landor / Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins Rosalyn is one of my favorite historical romance narrators! I just love how she makes the characters come alive. This was another knock out of the park and I think Rosalyn/Courtney make a good audiobook match set!Final Thoughts: Emotionally gripping and extremely fulfilling.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so that I was up most of the night reading it. I can't even bring myself to regret the lack of sleep. What I really enjoy about the books that I have read by Courtney Milan so far is that she creates such moving characters that you can't help but feel for them. I loved both Robert and Minnie and felt so horrible for what they both had went through so I was happy to see how their story ended. At times the story did move a bit slowly but I don't feel like my interest in the story was lost because of it. I am looking forward to continuing on with this series, but hopefully all of them won't be read in the middle of the night (I do need my sleep).
    • 5/5
      First, let me say this is a keeper. I will re-read this book! I love how Minnie is the mouse that roars. With her head down and her voice quiet, she speaks volumes. The unsuspecting don't notice, but a certain Duke tunes in loud and clear.

      With few choices to an impoverished, scandalized young lady, Minnie is forced to assume a false identity to protect herself from the past, but in protecting herself, she also silences her opportunities, until she meets a certain Duke who also has reasons to hide his activities (moreso than his past). Minnie quickly discovers his secret thanks to her astute skills of observation, carefully honed as a mouse living an "invisible" life. Together, they must figure out how to overcome the sins of the past, the moral crimes committed against them.

      Ms. Milan threads heart-rending conflict throughout the book, feeding the reader just enough information without allowing her characters to disclose their secrets too soon, and then making the payoff worthwhile. We walk beside the characters toward trust, and the impossible decisions that threaten to breach that fragile trust. A tale of betrayal, forgiveness, trust and most importantly, finding love against all odds. Well done! Looking forward to the other Brothers Sinister books.
    • 5/5
      The Hero was very refreshing. He was unlike any hero ive ever read and i loved it, it made it so much more real. The Heroine was smart, witty and just lovely. I couldnt put it down, i loved it so much and didnt want it to end.
    • 1/5
      A promising plot but too many characters, it's hard to care about these other people who have little relevance to the story. The book seems to lack focus and the dialogues are lengthy and a bit boring. It couldn't finish it.
    • 4/5
      Interesting
    • 4/5
      This was an easy, enjoyable read. You pretty much know the key plot points from early on, but it was still pleasant to watch the events unfold. The main female character was clever and largely called her own shots. And the male character was kind, and had more of a backstory than love interests are often given. I liked that the story went back and forth between their two perspectives. The main dramatic plot point to be overcome was a bit weak, but not ruinously so. I liked it enough I think I'll read the next one in the series.
    • 2/5
      completely uninteresting.
    • 3/5
      Usually I like CM’s books but I struggled to get through this one. It was well written, but it just didn’t grab me.
    • 3/5
      The Duchess War
      3 Stars

      After a childhood in the limelight, Miss Minerva Lane has dedicated her life to keeping a low profile. Thus, when Robert Blaisdell, Duke of Clermont with his gorgeous smile and secret agenda, arrives in town and threatens Minnie’s well-ordered existence, she knows that something will have to be done. As Minnie and Robert set out to discover each others’ secrets, little do they know that their private war is about to become very public …

      Wonderful premise, but weak execution mainly due to the fact that there are too many criss-crossing plot threads.

      Minnie and Robert’s romance starts out well with some excellent stolen moments and witty banter. The author would have been better served developing this simple love/hate relationship rather than adding numerous unnecessary and confusing plotlines.

      To begin with, the underlying cause of Minnie and Robert’s conflict is problematic given the circumstances, i.e., Minnie’s desire to help the working class and Robert’s interest in social justice. Based on this, one would think they would be allies rather than enemies, but this is not the case because of Minnie’s troubled past.

      And herein lies the problem with the book as Milan begins to add a host of unrealistic characters and events that make absolutely no sense within the narrative and the setting. For example, the villain is a weak willed nobody whose social standing should not enable him to have any power over a duke yet somehow he does. Moreover, the behavior of Robert’s neglectful and manipulative mother is completely inconsistent. At first she spurns Minnie but then decides to accept and support her? Then, there is Minnie’s supposedly loyal friend who turns her back the moment she feels slighted, not to mention Robert’s illegitimate half-brother who evokes in him both feelings and guilt and jealousy. There is simply too much in such a short book and none of it manages to come together properly.

      All in all, a disappointing read given all the hype and I doubt that I will be continuing with the series.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. As I’ve mentioned in other reviews I am fairly new to historical romances – I am much more of a contemporary fan. But if this is representative of the genre, then I might have to convert my allegiance. (Sorry. As you can see, I’ve just finished reading it. The language conventions are lingering in my head.) As far as I’m concerned, this book had everything – good writing, wonderful characters, an involved plot that allowed the romance to develop, humor, wonderful family and friend relationships – not-so-wonderful family and friend relationships that were quite wonderfully resolved… I could go on. The upshot, however, was that it was utterly satisfying. So much so that I found myself staying up until 2:30 in the morning to skim to the end just to that I could have the pleasure of fully immersing myself in the ending again the next day without being distracted by worrying about the resolution. (Yes, I look at the last page of mysteries and actively seek out spoilers. I’m funny that way.) Speaking of funny, there were several laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout the book – partly just from the unexpected twists of language. One of my favorites: “I earned this, fair and square.” Well, maybe it hadn’t been fair. And maybe it hadn’t been precisely square. Still, she’d earned it legally. Legally and…rectangularly. That would have to do.The scene with Sebastian and Violet on the train stands out as one of my favorites (I’m a sucker for the whole meeting-the-family vibe), as does the scene with the Duchess, Minnie, and her two great-aunts. I also have to say that the Duchess character was unexpectedly poignant – a word that is not usually a selling point for me, but in this case handled exactly right. I think that this book may be self-published. This is not the author’s first book (or first series), and, being so new to the genre I don’t know if Courtney Milan is already part of the establishment. The cover does say that she is an NYT bestselling author, which does lean me towards the latter and makes me wonder if this is a case where the author just wasn’t willing to compromise her vision. Should that be true, then I’m glad she didn’t. And I can’t wait to read more.
    • 5/5
      This is a very good book -- serious, funny, heartbreaking, romantic, and so damn well written that I would have to give it five stars even if I didn't like the story. I highlighted so many passages, but I think this one is my favorite: It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in love. The thought of love was like water in the desert. Now there was a stupid cliché, one that made him think of a man in ragged clothing staggering through the Sahara, searching for an oasis among the sand dunes.

      But the Antarctic was a desert, too—a cold desert, one made dry because water there turned to ice the instant it hit the air.

      So he believed in love. He’d always believed in love. He’d been surrounded by water all his life; it had simply been frozen solid. He’d loved as hard as he dared and watched it freeze before his face. It was no surprise now when he checked his feelings and discovered that he loved her. The surprise was that this time, when he dared to take a sip, he found water instead of ice.

      He could have wept.

      I've read all of Milan's books, and this is by far the best. You should read it.

    • 4/5
      Good book. I thought the beginning was a little bit slow, but it picked up quickly. The story's premise was interesting, if a bit unlikely, and ended up being a fun read. Robert and Minnie first meet at a ball where he hid behind a curtain to avoid dealing with people. While he is there, Minnie comes looking for a place to escape her wannabe fiancé and ends up hiding behind the couch that's in front of his curtain. The subsequent conversation leaves Robert intrigued with her intelligence and fire. Minnie is a young woman with a big secret. After an unusual childhood that ended in scandal and betrayal by her father, she changed her name and moved in with her aunts. Since that time, Minnie cultivated a persona of a quiet, meek, and mild wallflower, frequently compared to a mouse. Thanks to her past, she fears crowds and being the center of attention. She also craves love and a feeling of security. Minnie works quietly with others for better conditions for the poor. She was a chess prodigy as a child and is highly intelligent as an adult. Robert is deeply ashamed of his father, the previous duke, and vows to be nothing like him. To that end, he came to Leicester to right a wrong done to some workers at a factory he owns. Robert also has a deeper purpose, one that employs an unexpected method of investigation. As the story opens, a local law enforcement official confronts Minnie, accusing her of writing and distributing seditious flyers. These flyers encourage workers to strike, form unions, and do other anti-business/pro-worker activities. He informs her of his investigation of her and knows she is not who she claims to be. Minnie, terrified of being exposed, decides finding the actual author of the flyers will prove her innocence. It doesn't take her long to settle on Robert as the most likely suspect. I loved Minnie's visit to Robert at his home. She laid out her suspicions and requested that he confess, thus taking the heat off her. Robert, of course, refuses her request, citing a lack of proof. He doesn't intend to quit until he reaches his goal. Minnie promises to get the evidence and that she won't hesitate to use it. Meanwhile, Robert vows to flirt with her and make her the center of attention. I love how she laughs at him and tells him no one will believe it. I loved the scene where she proved him right, her public mouse-like persona making a hash of his attempts to flirt with her. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Minnie and Robert. She intrigues him, and the more he gets to know her, the deeper his fascination goes. I liked how he found so many chances to spend time with Minnie, getting to know her, and enjoying getting past her mouse façade. There's a fun scene that takes place on the train from London to Leicester. Robert wants to spend the time talking to Minnie, but his cousin Sebastian and their friend Violet take over the conversation. Minnie is equally fascinated by Robert, but she sees no future in it with her past what it is. As Robert continues his investigation, he unwittingly implicates Minnie in his latest flyer. Through a twisted series of events, the only way to save Minnie is for her to marry Robert. I liked their discussion of the practicalities, but both dropped the ball by not admitting their feelings. I loved their honeymoon to Paris and seeing them come together. But their honeymoon comes to an abrupt end when they receive a message that Robert's half-brother has been arrested and accused of writing those damning flyers. I ached for Robert, who had to decide whether to save his brother by betraying Minnie or protecting Minnie and allowing Oliver to suffer. The courtroom scene was intense and had me on the edge of my seat as it played out. The ending surprised me with a couple of unexpected twists. I enjoyed the scene with the reporters, especially Robert's unswerving support for Minnie. I also liked the resolution of Robert's investigation. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the look at the plight of workers in Victorian times. It's a subject not often seen in romance novels, and it made a nice change. I also found Robert's views on the aristocracy unexpected. I liked getting to know Robert's half-brother, Oliver, a bit and learning a little of the complicated history of the two of them. Robert's cousin, Sebastian, was an interesting character with his flirtatious manner and high spirits. There was a great scene with the three men as Sebastian and Oliver have pre-wedding advice for Robert. I can't wait to read the other two books in the series.
    • 4/5
      Courtney Milan writes some great historical fiction. No weeping violets here, thank God. I'm reading this series out of order but it doesn't really hurt.
    • 5/5
      BR for my near-annual reread of this book. Safe to say, it's more than a comfort read now!
      __________

      The moment they lay a baby on a mother's chest, the moment the groom sees his bride, the laughter in a room after a long day of work, the conversations that are so entertaining that you doubt you'll forget...Of course, life is made up of moments. Books are too, and my favorite books are the ones that capture those little and not so little moments as a series that lends itself to a character, relationship, and thus a story.

      Don't get me wrong, this story had a meaty plot. But it also conveyed its characters with moments and didn't rely on the plot and lots of exposition, as odd as that sounds. the moment Minnie kisses a chess piece, the moment Robert meets Oliver's mother, the moment Robert decides to ride with Minnie, and well, then so do his friends. I could go on and on. I won't. This book is indeed made up of all these wonderful and terrible moments, revealed bit by bit by. And it's wonderful. Hard not to adore Robert immediately when he's smoking/not smoking, hard not to adore and understand Minnie when punching the couch. The why and how that become revealed slowly, peeling back these characters layer by layer to make you invest and love even after you know you really liked them already.

      Wonderful.
    • 4/5
      Lovely, sweet, smart, and romantic with a delicious social justice center. Exactly what I wanted.
    • 4/5
      At the halfway point I had to stop and write a bit about how much I am loving this story. Minnie's plight is so heartwrenching and wonderful. The brilliant heroine, the hidden heroine, with no position or beauty to protect her from harm, only anonymity. With each page I think of Woolf's A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN and my heart breaks for the generations of trapped, constrained women, tearing themselves apart against the boundaries of society.

      And the story of this heroine and hero just gets better and better as the story progresses.
    • 4/5
      For all his 28 years, the hero comes off as barely 20. Verbally abused by his father and used as a pawn against his mother, he seems very idealistic, determined to cast of the bonds of his father's history, and yet so very unsure of how relationships with people work when they are done right. I really felt for him as a character. The heroine was interesting, too -- very hard to place in a mold. She wasn't nobility, but she was genteel. She wasn't tragic, but she's wasn't without flaws due to pain. She didn't back down, but she stood up so quietly at times, she was hard to hear. Honestly, watching all the little threads of the story come together as the characters all got their acts sorted out was compelling, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I am looking forward to the next in the series so that I can see what happens to that "brother".