The Duchess War

Courtney Milan

The Duchess War
Courtney Milan
2012

The Summary
"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 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 Good
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Duchess War.  This actually makes the second time I've read it, and I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the story and the characters.  It's a surprisingly complex story:  not your generic boy meets girl, but rather boy meets girl and girl, who has already had a tough history and wants none of the attention a duke can bring on her, immediately decides to wage a quiet war against said boy to keep him at arm's length.

That's a gravely simplified plot, but it's fairly accurate.  You see, Minnie--I much prefer her name Minerva to Whilhelmina--harbors a dangerous secret and she's not about to let anyone else exploit her.  She's a wallflower now, and she's content (or wants to feel content) with simply slipping into the background.  She doesn't want to be the center of attention, anyone's attention, including Robert's.

And she'll be damned if she lets Robert outsmart her in any regard.

I suppose that's why I enjoyed this novel so much.  Minerva is quiet, unobtrusive, but she's incredibly intelligent.  She's always thinking ten steps ahead of anyone else, in order to protect herself and those she loves.  Even when odds are stacked against her, she manages to pull the rug out from any opponent.  It's thrilling to watch.

Plus, I really like Robert.

Personally, I thought he was probably one of the best romantic heroes I've come across.  He has his flaws--I mean, who wouldn't after the childhood he suffered?--but he's willing to admit his mistakes and he's willing to change.  He cares deeply about his friends and family; he loves Minerva, even if he isn't quite sure how to say it.

I think that's what I liked best about this novel:  Minerva and Robert are both badly damaged by their upbringing.  Minerva acquired a phobia of crowded rooms and a distrust of men; Robert distrusted affection and saw relationships as tumultuous, harmful, and dangerous.  They don't immediately meet and fall in love; in fact, Minerva wants nothing to do with him, and Robert can't see her in any other light than a mouse spinster.

However, as they get to know one another, they slowly grow in the other's esteem.  Minerva learns that not all men merit distrust and she finds that, sometimes, it's okay to make decisions for love and affection; Robert discovers that marriage doesn't have to be quiet, cold and hostile, and he learns that some people are worth risking everything.

I know how corny it sounds to say they learned to love again, but, in a way, they did.  Their relationship was built on mutual respect and a budding trust in the other.  They didn't simply jump into marriage and hope for the best; rather, it grew from Robert's appreciation of Minerva's intelligence and, eventually, her ability to trust him with her heart and well-being.

The Duchess War has believable relationship development.  That is, you can visibly see how Minerva and Robert are drawn together.  Their love isn't spontaneous; it takes time and effort and more than a few bumps and bruises.  I loved that aspect of Courtney Milan's novel, and I honestly couldn't wait to read more from her.

The Bad
Admittedly, The Duchess War does get a little explicit.  If that's not your cup of tea, it's pretty easy to just skim over.

The Ugly
I'll admit, it's kind of hard to read about Robert's childhood under his abusive and controlling father, and Minerva's betrayal at the hands of the father she loved most in the world.  I mean, they were both screwed over by the people who were supposed to care for them--and it's kind of heart-wrenching to watch.