Lady Beatrice has always sworn she’d never marry but instead spend her life and her inheritance fighting for women’s rights. She’s happy to provoke the duke even if he does claim to agree with her own beliefs, as she firmly believes all dukes are inherently her enemy. She can’t account for the pleasure she derives from her verbal sparring sessions with the duke. As subtle as the gin is, the whole composition is in itself. It is perceptible all day long, but never disturbing, thanks to the pure character of this rose. There is no rose water piercing the nose, no grandmotherly rose soap, and no spices that some might like and others might hate. Maybe it is these missing corners and edges that gave the impression of a boring water at the beginning, but it is exactly the absence of them that makes "Portraits - Much Ado About the Duke" work so well and is also liked by others. I ended up liking a lot about this story! Sometimes I can dislike the stories that really focus on the suffragette battles because the romance has gotten lost for me on a few of them. But I thought this has a nice balance. It really gave the characters more depth and passion and I felt like I was more invested in their happiness. Most of the focus around the couple and joining forces for women’s rights (no mystery/villain focus)

The Tragedy of Lord George and Much Ado About the Duke have animal-head bottle caps and these animals supposedly represent the personalities of the lord and duke (ho-hum fellas with no connection to stags or dogs, unless there's some "hunt" suggestion). What am I saying? None of the PR makes sense! The shiny bottle caps look cheap to me and I wonder why someone didn't suggest a matte or verdigris finish, "bronze" or faux stone instead.

This heroine was just incredibly arrogant in her own ignorance and the hero didn’t hold up well against her. I wanted to see a partnership and some actual romance, and I never felt like we really got that here. Nonetheless, that’s merely my take on things and I think there are tons of readers who will, and clearly already do, love this incredibly headstrong, feminist heroine, it just didn’t quite do it for me. I adore how much Will supports, admires, and encourages Beatrice and feel like this makes him even more swoon-worthy! He is such a good man, and his genuine interest in Beatrice’s thoughts and ideas is refreshing to her. He really listens to her and respects her, which she is not used to when talking to men. Like Beatrice, he is forward-thinking and willing to fight for causes and people he believes in. And throughout the story, he shows Beatrice just how much he believes in her. I love this fragrance as it works amazingly as a cool rose scent that could be worn by ladies and gents equally and its a fragrance i have had lovely complements for wearing too However, I didn’t think I’d be losing my mind at hand-holding, but here we are. I also hope we get to see her pregnant/with kids in the next book(s) because I want to see them both absolutely lose their minds over a cute little spitfire baby.

She did not seem to notice, and he felt a wave of ridiculous disappointment. Of course she hadn't noticed. What a ludicrous fool he was... I had to DNF this title at 12%. I rarely DNF a title, but I couldn't listen to any more of this book.I swear I just kept picturing the genie from Aladdin and the sound effect of his jaw hitting the ground:

Stands in my opinion very well guys who are dressed daily either with suit, chinos and shirt or in Britain tweed...that's why I have it...;-) In chapter 2, we find out that the duke secretly admires Lady Beatrice. Then the entire second half of the chapter, we were treated to a play-by-play of his first time seeing her. I think the word 'magnificent' was used two or three times. If you’re a Shakespeare fan, particularly Much Ado About Nothing (I do hope you saw that one coming lol), there are plenty of references. I also loved the Ancient Greek mentions and the flow of the narrative. I was immediately hooked and read the book super fast because I never wanted to leave them. The statement comes from my dear mum and if something suits her hypersensitive nose, it is more than just a knighthood for a perfume. In this case, however, it was not wanted or bought. First of all, I wanted my Kurkdjian at all costs (if the corresponding online shop would finally keep its promises) and secondly, in the case of "Portraits - Much Ado About the Duke", the price is also the price. I can't create such an expensive wish list in good conscience. At some point, it's just over and besides, I already have a first-class rose in my collection. Any analytical-olfactory skills, which I possess at times, have now said goodbye and I'm not even trying to identify anything here.I'm a real fan of the scent of roses (in my youth my mother had Paris from YSL. I found "the hammer") but the rose is not exactly the first thing you come across as part of a men's fragrance. Nevertheless the rose is included in - as I think - more and more men's fragrances. Ok so this book is a bit difficult to rate, so I'll jot down my thoughts and then decide on a rating. Much ado about the Duke - if you are looking for a fragrance that is Quirky slightly eccentric and androgynous then I think this is a perfect fit perfectly crisp and fresh but also with a beautiful woddy/vetiver base this is a fragrance that will hold to the skin well and will not overpower you I was not impressed that Beatrice was such a staunch defender of women and seemed so educated about everything that she could be – I just felt like the fact that she had never touched her own body and doesn’t even know what an orgasm is to be a bit unbelievable in this particular story. I think it would have fit her character a bit better if she had at least explored her own body (I get not being to achieve orgasm but to know NOTHING...)

Eva Devon, a refreshing author in this, the only second book I’ve read by her, has made a mark on this reader. “Much Ado About Dukes” is a standalone novel that is quite the entertaining and enjoyable Shakespearean story that takes the tropes of enemies-to-friends-friends-to-lovers to another level. Not to mention throwing in a marriage of convenience. I love historical romances, particularly ones with dukes;) They're like palate cleansers—a feisty female protagonist, a brooding duke (or lord, viscount, prince, etc.), and the unique circumstances of that time in history. But this book didn't fulfill its promise to the reader. Beatrice, we shall make London quake underneath our polished boots, for you and I can make the world sit up and take notice. Nothing will ever be the same." Dog head? Uh... Is that supposed to mean something to me? I don't think it smells like dog right now.

Scopri tutto in anteprima

Much Ado About Dukes draws loose inspiration from Shakespear’s Much Ado About Nothing, loose enough to keep the intrigue going but inspired enough to recognize some character dynamics and plot points. The edge of his hand touched hers ever so slightly. So slightly that it might have been but an illusion.