The Day of the Duchess

I hadn't read any of the previous books but the hero's hypocrisy in the first few chapters infuriated me. Nope.

I was so mad at seraphia when they were having sex dude (forgot his name) pulled away, very distressed and asked if this was real. She says yes all the while thinking that she's going to run right after. Wtf?!? I couldn't after that. 1 star plus one for Sarah's writing.

This book is more bittersweet than most romance novels. The time slip storytelling beautifully weaves together the rise and fall of Sera and Malcolm's marriage. Watching the characters grow through love, loss, grief, and pain is worth the read. Sera's sisters are a hilarious bunch that wonderfully counterpoint the heartache of Sera and Mal.

4.5 stars. MacLean does it again. I loved this book, and it felt so much more complex than a mere romance novel. It deals with issues and problems that most can relate to, and it feels almost contemporary in its handling of trust and betrayal. I found the ending predictable but delightful nonetheless. One caveat – most of MacLean's novels can be read out of order, but I think this one is best if you've read Sophie and King's story The Rogue Not Taken.

Infidelity is one of my hard limits in romance, but what made this book work for me was the fact that Haven hadn't yet told Sera he loved her when it happened. She hadn't told him either. That, to me, makes all the difference in the world. They had a brief whirlwind courtship, were caught together and forced to marry. Taking the circumstances into consideration, I had to give Haven and the story a chance.