Judith’s review of I Married the Duke (The Prince Catchers #1) by Katharine Ashe
In a brand new series, three sisters are bound by a profound love-and one of them needs to catch a prince!
In a creative and actually very different kind of historical romance novel, author Katharine Ashe begins a new series that feature three sisters, all of whom want to discover their roots, find out their family history, and see if the Gypsy fortune-teller is right: one of them will marry a prince. Arabella, the middle sister, is the hero of this first book and she is a sassy, stubborn, determined and bound-up young woman who works very hard to keep body and soul together, has built a reputation for herself as a woman who knows how to train a young aristocratic woman to make a more than successful launch into society in order to secure a wealthy and titled husband. To be launched by Arabella has now become a feather in a young woman’s cap. Yet Arabella herself is still searching for that elusive prince she was told would marry either her or one of her sisters. So far, no prince. But there is a French comte aka English lord on the horizon, masquerading as a uncooperative and reclusive sea captain and one who was, at one time, a celebrated pirate.
This is a story about two of the hardest headed characters I have encountered in quite some time, and Ms Ashe has put them together into a story that will capture the reader’s imagination and constantly have one wondering if Arabella and Lucien will every find their “sync.” There are many characters that assist in the telling and all in all it is a colorful and brilliantly played cast of players, all of whom seem intent on helping these two find their mutual stride and some peach and happiness together. Passion is certainly not lacking and it is all woven together like a marvelous tapestry, all the threads weaving in and out so that one never knows when that thread of the story will once again make its appearance. All in all, there was a sense of frustration on my part as I worked through the text, wondering how Arabella would finally find the inner acceptance of seeing her future bound up with a duke and not with a prince.
Readers who are looking for a historical romance that isn’t just a run-of-the-mill, same-ole-same-old kind of story should latch on to this one. The author has certainly come up with an ingenious plot and developed this first story in a skillful way. It is a joy to read fiction written by someone who apparently knows what she is doing. And it is a joy to read novels that keep one awake, on the edge of the seat and who use excellent language skills doing so. Some may be a bit put off because the story does start off a bit slow. But never fear–it definitely heats up and there are a goodly number of surprises that will make the wait well worth it.
I give this excellent novel a rating of 4.25 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place
This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.