Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Review of His Duchess at Eventide by Wendy LaCapra

His Duchess at Eventide

(A Legend to Love, #11)
(Mythic Dukes #2)
by Wendy LaCapra

Lovers reunited, a dukedom reclaimed—the Regency meets the Odyssey
Lord Cheverley, son of the Duke of Ithwick, never wanted to go to war, but when he eloped against his father’s wishes, the furious Duke forced him to choose—either take a naval commission, or have his marriage annulled. Devastated physically and emotionally by seven years of war, a shipwreck, and six years in the captivity of a brutal pirate, Cheverley returns to England to find that the courts have declared him dead, and his wife is entertaining suitors. Should he demand his rightful place, disrupting his family’s lives, or should he return to sea, seeking vengeance against the pirate? He sets out to find the answer in disguise.

Penelope once believed in love, but then the man who swept her off her feet deserted her, leaving her and her unborn child utterly alone. Now a widow, she will do anything to protect her son, including enlisting the aid of a mysterious sea captain to uncover the true intentions of her devious suitors. When the captain awakens something in Penelope she thought long dead, she begins to suspect he is no stranger. But, as they peel back the layers of a deadly plot, can this broken family heal their wounds in time to save what really matters?

I have an intentional habit of not reading the description of a book before I read it, so I was in for a lovely surprise with His Duchess at Eventide. It is the second book in the series Mythic Dukes but reads well as a standalone. His Duchess at Eventide is a tale that is all things fabulous, mythical and epic.

This is such an emotional book with amazing characters. Lord Cheverley the hero and Penelope the heroine are complex interesting characters that have been through trials over an extended period of time before the book even starts. Cheverley has been lost at sea tortured, imprisoned and unable to return to his wife and son. Penelope has been home dealing with the hostile manipulative relatives of her husband, as well as managing her husbands estate and raising her son without his father.

Once Cheverley returns home in disguise the intrigue begins. Chev isn't sure if and when he should reveal himself to Penelope. He has suffered terribly in both body and mind in the time away from his family. Penelope on the other hand has grown from a young woman into someone who handle just about anything. Penelope is a terrific strong character and how she handles the conflict that she faces is really clever. One of my favorite lines is when she says, "You always told me never to accept a challenge you did not define."

The romance is bittersweet but tender. The attraction between Cheverley and Penelope has not dimmed and how they come together is handled beautifully.

The Odyssey theme is underlying but you don't need to have read the Odyssey to enjoy this book. If I have read the Odyssey it's long forgotten. Who am I kidding, I've never read it! You do get a sense that this story is epic and that the challenges the characters face are part of a bigger picture. The authors notes at the end of the book fill in any gaps for the curious and I really enjoyed reading where Wendy's ideas and research came from.


His Duchess at Eventide is absolutely a terrific read. It reminds me of one of my favorite John William Waterhouse paintings, Miranda -The Tempest. A complex, emotional and romantic read on many levels. This is the first book that I've read by Wendy LaCapra but it definitely won't be the last. I'd love to listen to it in audio, because it so lyrical and Wendy has such a beautiful way with words. I know Chev, Penelope and their romance will have a firm place on my ebook keeper shelf and in my memory. I'm looking forward to back tracking and reading the first book in the Mythic Dukes. If you are a stickler for reading order look for look for Her Duke at Daybreak (Mythic Dukes #1).

5 Stars
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Reviewed by Kixcatmom ,
ARC provided by author/publisher
Image: John William Waterhouse [Public domain]

Historical Romance Author Wendy LaCapra has been reading romance since she sneaked into the
adult section at the library and discovered Victoria Holt & Jane Aiken Hodge.  From that point on, she dreamed of creating fictional worlds with richness, intrigue and passion. Her stories have placed in several contests, including the Romance Writers of America®’s RITA® and Golden Heart®. She lives in NYC with her husband and loves to hear from readers. For new release and sale alerts, sign up at http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews



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