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onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
3.0
Really like the main characters and their connection.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 9/3/18.
The Diamonds in the Rough series continues! (And it will go on, even though Julie is the last Matthews sibling--Florian's brother's story is next! Yay!)
The Illegitimate Duke is another slow burn romance, much like the two series books that came before it. Juliette isn't at all sure she even likes Florian, though she has a lot of respect for his capabilities as a doctor and his dedication to his patients. Since she was sickly as a child (and especially after their youngest sibling died from illness) she's always been very conscious of the help that those less fortunate need, especially medically. A bout with the measles and her desire to make a difference throw her right into Florian's path, and at first neither of them is too sure they appreciate the encounter. (Which of course made them that much more fun!)
But Florian has his own secrets--and the biggest is related to the suspense plot from the previous book ([b:The Duke of Her Desire|34847515|The Duke of Her Desire (Diamonds in the Rough, #2)|Sophie Barnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497618883s/34847515.jpg|56082629]; yep, he's back)--which again felt a bit extra. I don't know that we needed to see the scenes from the villain's POV--it really didn't make him feel like a more fleshed out character; he still seemed to be of the mustache-twirling variety--honestly there was enough going on with the typhus outbreak and all, the danger to London as a whole and Julie's best friend in particular.
But still...I enjoyed seeing who Julie ended up with and how, what was going on with the first two books' characters, and the sneak peak into the next book. The Illegitimate Duke is the third book in the series, though other than not knowing the relationships going in (who Julie's siblings are and whom they're married to, mostly--they do get explained early on) you should do just fine if you pick this one up first. I can't guarantee you won't want more details about how a destitute eight-year-old responsible for the welfare of his three younger sisters came to be a duke later in life, though--be ready for your TBR pile to grow!
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The Diamonds in the Rough series continues! (And it will go on, even though Julie is the last Matthews sibling--Florian's brother's story is next! Yay!)
The Illegitimate Duke is another slow burn romance, much like the two series books that came before it. Juliette isn't at all sure she even likes Florian, though she has a lot of respect for his capabilities as a doctor and his dedication to his patients. Since she was sickly as a child (and especially after their youngest sibling died from illness) she's always been very conscious of the help that those less fortunate need, especially medically. A bout with the measles and her desire to make a difference throw her right into Florian's path, and at first neither of them is too sure they appreciate the encounter. (Which of course made them that much more fun!)
But Florian has his own secrets--and the biggest is related to the suspense plot from the previous book ([b:The Duke of Her Desire|34847515|The Duke of Her Desire (Diamonds in the Rough, #2)|Sophie Barnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497618883s/34847515.jpg|56082629]; yep, he's back)--which again felt a bit extra. I don't know that we needed to see the scenes from the villain's POV--it really didn't make him feel like a more fleshed out character; he still seemed to be of the mustache-twirling variety--honestly there was enough going on with the typhus outbreak and all, the danger to London as a whole and Julie's best friend in particular.
But still...I enjoyed seeing who Julie ended up with and how, what was going on with the first two books' characters, and the sneak peak into the next book. The Illegitimate Duke is the third book in the series, though other than not knowing the relationships going in (who Julie's siblings are and whom they're married to, mostly--they do get explained early on) you should do just fine if you pick this one up first. I can't guarantee you won't want more details about how a destitute eight-year-old responsible for the welfare of his three younger sisters came to be a duke later in life, though--be ready for your TBR pile to grow!
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
shell74's review against another edition
4.0
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
The Illegitimate Duke was a charming, slow burn historical romance that had me hooked right away. How could it not, with its delightful characters, a diabolical villain, and even a bit of a medical drama that unfolded?
I’ve been looking forward to Florian and Juliette’s romance since I finished reading the previous book, The Duke of Her Desire, which was Juliette’s sister Amelia’s story. I just thought the pairing of a stoic, highly talented physician and an intelligent, do-gooder woman who had just come up in Society sounded intriguing. And Sophie Barnes did so well with this book, creating the perfect amount of awareness and tension between Juliette and Florian without losing the other threads of the storyline. Read More
The Illegitimate Duke was a charming, slow burn historical romance that had me hooked right away. How could it not, with its delightful characters, a diabolical villain, and even a bit of a medical drama that unfolded?
I’ve been looking forward to Florian and Juliette’s romance since I finished reading the previous book, The Duke of Her Desire, which was Juliette’s sister Amelia’s story. I just thought the pairing of a stoic, highly talented physician and an intelligent, do-gooder woman who had just come up in Society sounded intriguing. And Sophie Barnes did so well with this book, creating the perfect amount of awareness and tension between Juliette and Florian without losing the other threads of the storyline. Read More
cakt1991's review against another edition
5.0
Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/review-of-the-illegitimate-duke-diamonds-in-the-rough-3-by-sophie-barnes/
tapsandtomes's review against another edition
4.0
Not as sexy as other avons, but well researched and a good love story.
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