A cornucopia is an emblem of abundance. We usually see cornucopias
overflowing with fruits and vegetables representing a bountiful harvest as
Thanksgiving decoration, but the cornucopia I’m imagining today is overflowing
with books. Sometime a Tuesday arrives offering such bounty that it calls for a
special celebration. March 27 is such a Tuesday.
A Book to Celebrate: Day One
The Art of Duke Hunting
(Royal Entourage, Book 2)
By Sophia Nash
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Roman Montagu, seventeenth Duke of Norwich, is under a
curse. Since the first Duke of Norwich’s marriage proposal and gift of dead
ducks was rejected by a lady he then accused of being a witch, sixteen Dukes of
Norwich have died at an early age and in “fowl” circumstances. Roman is
resigned to his fate, but he wants to delay death as long as possible and he is
determined that the cursed line end with him. He avoids water and ducks,
otherwise enjoying his life as a member of the Prince Regent’s Royal Entourage.
It is after the most scandalous shenanigans of this group that Roman finds himself
in the last place he would choose to be—lashed to the rail of The Drake during
a severe thunderstorm. His terror combined with the ravages of the Entourage’s
notorious party renders him irrational.
His life is saved by Lady Esme March, the widowed Countess
of Derby, who pulls him to safety inside her cabin, locks the door to prevent
him from further endangering his life, and distracts him in a manner that
successfully takes his mind off all thoughts of storms and death. The damaged
ship manages to make its way to the nearest harbor, and Esme and Roman find themselves
along with the captain of the ship isolated from the other survivors. Once Roman
learns that the woman who saved him is a member of his own social circle, he
does the honorable thing and offers marriage, but Esme has no plans to remarry.
The two spend the next several days much in each other’s company, getting to
know one another and liking what they come to know. But they expect to part and
continue with their lives unchanged when they return to England. Prinny, whose
major interest is rescuing himself from the consequences of the infamous party,
has other ideas. He commands that Roman and Esme marry. Can these two
independent people with clear plans for their lives let go of their fears and
trust themselves and one another enough to confess their love and build a life
together?
I loved Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea, but I think
The Art of Duke Hunting is even better. Many of my favorite romance novels
combine humor with poignancy, and Nash does so here with skill and emotional
power. Roman is a multi-faceted character and a terrific hero, despite all the
duck jokes. By the time I read Esme’s description of his “intelligent regal
face full of angles,” I was half in love with him. His affection for his
friends among the Entourage made him more attractive and I found his commitment
to devising a way for London to have clean water admirable. His honesty with
himself about the emptiness of his self-indulgent life was all I needed to believe
him a hero worthy of the remarkable heroine Nash gives him. Even when he makes
the wrong choices, his motive for doing so is clear, and his choices are in
character for what the reader has come to know about him. And once he
recognizes that he is wrong, he takes quick and dramatic action that leads to a
sigh-worthy conclusion.
The secondary characters are superbly drawn and serve to
complicate and enrich the story. The dukes of Candover and Abshire are
provocative characters. I’m especially looking forward to Abshire’s story. I also liked the fact that the Prince Regent
is an actual character who plays a pivotal role in the plot. I still chuckle
when I think about the scene where he orders the marriage.
“Your Highness,” Roman said rubbing his forehead with one hand.
“This is impossible. I am certainly not the man for Lady Derby. And she does
not want to marry me.”
“And what does it matter what anyone wants these days? Do
you think I want rotten potatoes thrown at my head every single morning? Do you
think I want talk of revolution spreading through the country like wildfire on
a summer afternoon? You are to be married, I say. Right this blooming moment,
sod it all.”
I have no idea if the historical Prinny would have spoken
these words, but I had no trouble believing the Prinny of Romancelandia would
have.
But the heroine is what moved this book from a good read to
a keeper for me. She is wholly delightful, not least because she is more than a
conventional romance heroine. I love that she’s an artist who is passionate about
her art. She values her independence. She loved her husband who taught her
about pleasure and love even though she’s angry with him for choosing whiskey
over her. One of my favorite lines is “The wallflower within her had never
wilted.” She is an endearing combination of assurance and insecurity. She thinks of herself as “old at four and
thirty, and worse, she was plain. And too tall. A wretched combination for a
lady.” But she shows such courage when she stands up to her mentor, insisting
upon her own artistic vision. Perhaps even more important, she is kind and
large-hearted. Overall, she is one of the most engaging heroines I’ve
encountered.
It’s not necessary to have read Between the Duke and the
Deep Blue Sea to understand and enjoy The Art of Duke Hunting. In fact, the
clearest explanation of what the Royal Entourage is, the very top A list
celebrities of their day, can be found in the second book: “Every English lady
worth her weight in smelling salts had a favorite member of the royal
entourage, and Norwich had always been Esme’s since the night many seasons ago
when she had first spied him entering a gilded ballroom in Mayfair—his mother
on one arm, his ravishing sister on the other.”
So too can the account of the behavior of the Entourage on that night that scandalized a nation, a night when eight dukes,
one archbishop, and the Prince Regent were involved in duels, lawn bowling in
their underwear, “swimming amok with the swans in the Serpentine” in the
company of “scantily clad females,” and other boisterous acts that led one
of the dukes to miss his own wedding and gave Prinny many uneasy moments.
I recommend you read both books because Sophia Nash is a gifted writer whose books are a joy to read, but if you are going to read only one, I suggest The Art of
Duke Hunting.
How do you feel about series? Do you start with the first and wait impatiently for the rest? Do you wait until all the books in a series are released and read them together. Do you read them out of order? Read some and not worry about those you missed? Or do you avoid series altogether?
6 comments:
I am HOWLING at the premise. I love it; I'm definitely going to have to hunt down a copy and read. I love when authors can balance humor and whimsical bit of the absurd with poignancy. Well done!
God reputedly made the world in seven days, but he didn't have all these books to distract him!
I will be following progress with great interest and when, on the seventh day, you see all that you have made, I'm sure that it will be very good.
Unlike creating the world you will not be resting though, but will look into the future when I'm betting that the scene gets even better.
I've had a weird day! LOL
I have Sophie Nash on my radar following your earlier recomendations. This one sounds a very good place to start. *smile*
Hellie, I think you'll like both books in the series. And I agree that the premise is a winner. I think it's going to be one that I reread often.
Well, Q, the books may be divine, but I'm certainly not. My role is more that of the wondering observer who shouts, "Come see the worlds these creators have made."
I think The Art of Duke Hunting is a great place to start with Sophia Nash. Just remember that she has a backlist of marvelous books. :)
Can't wait to read this one!
I love a good series and I try to always read the books in order. Rarely, can I hold on until all the books have been released before beginning.
I'm not much for delayed gratification either, PJ. The sooner I can get the books I want to read, the happier I am. :)
And I think you're going to love TAIDH.
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