[Livro] My Fair Duchess, de Julie Johnstone

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Título em Português:--
Série:Once Upon a Rogue #1
Autor(a): Julie Johnstone
Editora: Night Shift Publishing
Páginas: 350
Data de Publicação: 29 de Setembro de 2014

Sinopse:

After years of playing the rake to hide a dark family secret, the Duke of Aversley feels tainted beyond redemption and cynical beyond repair. Never does he imagine hope will come in the form of a quirky, quick-witted lady determined to win the heart of another gentleman. Thanks to a painfully awkward past, Lady Amelia De Vere long ago relinquished the notion she was a flower that had yet to blossom. But when her family faces financial ruin and the man she has always loved is on the verge of marrying another, she’ll try anything to transform herself to capture her childhood love and save her family―including agreeing to participate in a bet between her brother and the notorious, dangerously handsome Duke Of Aversley. Bound by the bet, Amelia and Aversley discover unexpected understanding and passion beyond their wildest dreams, if only they can let go of their pride, put trust in each other and chance losing their hearts.

~ Recebemos este livro directamente da autora Julie Johnstone. Obrigada! ~

Opinião:
Recebi este livro num passatempo da autora e este foi a minha estreia, apesar de aqui no blog já estar outra crítica – o outro foi um eArc em troca de uma opinião honesta com data para publicar, daí ter sido primeiro.

Este livro teve para mim um único contra, que foi o que acabou por dar o mote a todo o livro, apesar de não o estragar: o herói, o Duque de Aversley, praticamente odeia as mulheres, tudo por causa de uma promessa que o pai dele fez (e que ele não sabe) – o que estragou a relação com do Duque com a sua mãe, não falando da relação dos pais que ficou completamente destruída.

Aversley passou o tempo a ouvir falar de Amelia De Vere através de cartas que o seu melhor amigo, o irmão de Amelia, lhe mandava, a contar as suas peripécias. Quando a conhece, a imagem que tem na cabeça de uma menina um pouco desastrada e tímida, desaparece por completo.

Para ajudar o seu melhor amigo com problemas financeiros, Aversley faz uma aposta com este sobre Amelia, se ela irá desabrochar e tornar-se naquilo que, segundo Aversley, todas as mulheres se tornam ao saberem que são desejáveis, ou se Amelia se manterá fiel a si mesma.

E é durante o desenrolar desta aposta que Amelia e Aversley se aproximam e ele começa a perceber que ela não é como ele pensa. Amelia ajuda-o a ultrapassar os problemas do passado e Aversley ajuda-a a tornar-se a melhor versão de si mesma, mantendo a essência de Amelia igual.

Foi uma história amorosa, muito romântica, que se lê com facilidade e nos dá exactamente o que promete: um romance histórico querido.

Title: My Fair Duchess
Serie: Once Upon a Rogue #1
Author: Julie Johnstone
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Pages: 350
Publication date: September 29th 2014

Synopsis:

After years of playing the rake to hide a dark family secret, the Duke of Aversley feels tainted beyond redemption and cynical beyond repair. Never does he imagine hope will come in the form of a quirky, quick-witted lady determined to win the heart of another gentleman. Thanks to a painfully awkward past, Lady Amelia De Vere long ago relinquished the notion she was a flower that had yet to blossom. But when her family faces financial ruin and the man she has always loved is on the verge of marrying another, she’ll try anything to transform herself to capture her childhood love and save her family―including agreeing to participate in a bet between her brother and the notorious, dangerously handsome Duke Of Aversley. Bound by the bet, Amelia and Aversley discover unexpected understanding and passion beyond their wildest dreams, if only they can let go of their pride, put trust in each other and chance losing their hearts.

~ We've received this book directly from the author, Julie Johnstone. Thank you! ~

Review:
I received this book in a giveaway done by the author, and this was the first book I’ve read of hers, even though there’s already a published opinion of one of her books here, in the blog – the other one was an eArc received in exchange for an honest review, and it had a publishing date, that’s why it had to be written first.

This book had a big no for me, which was what gave the book its motto, but it did not ruin it: the hero, the Duke of Aversley, pretty much hates women, all because of a promise his dad made (and that he doesn’t know about) – which ruined his relationship with his mother, not even mentioning what it did to his parents' relationship.

Aversley spent his life reading about Amelia De Vere, through letters his best friend, her brother, sent him, telling him of every incident and weird situation she got herself in. When he meets her, the image he had of the little girl who has a bit clumsy and shy, vanishes.

To help his best friend, Aversley makes a bet with him, about Amelia. He bets that when Amelia blossoms (with his help), she will become what desirable women always become (cheating women, and vain, etc.), while her brother bets that Amelia will stay true to herself.

And as the time goes by, Amelia and Aversley become closer and he starts to realize that she is not like what he considers other women to be like. Amelia helps him overcome the problems of his past, and Aversley helps her become a better version of herself, keeping her essence the same.

It’s a love story, very romantic. Easily read, it gives you exactly what it promises: a sweet historical romance.