Whitley’s review of Why Dukes Say I Do (Wicked Widows #1) by Manda Collins.

Even in London society—where everyone knows what you did last season—you never know who’s next in line to walk down the aisle, in Why Dukes Say I Do…

TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND

With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But when her godmother asks her to pay a visit to her bachelor grandson in Yorkshire, Isabella can’t refuse. It behooves her to please the old dowager, since she harbors one of Isabella’s most scandalous secrets. So off she goes to see the newly-titled—and notoriously rustic—Duke of Ormond…

WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

Trevor Carey doesn’t care about what goes on behind ballroom doors. He is content with the simple life—and isn’t ashamed to admit it to a society flirt like Lady Isabella. But the country air brings out a different side of Isabella—one full of longing and passion. Can her sophistication be hiding a desire for love? When a blackmailer from the city arrives to threaten Isabella, Trevor will shield her from harm—even travel to London. Can the duke tackle the ton on Isabella’s behalf …and manage to keep her all to himself?

The first in a new trilogy, Why Dukes Say I Do was a sweet, solid book that filled my every duke-snaring expectation.  I’d been in a bit of a rut when I picked up this book, and it got me right out of it.  I loved (almost) every bit of this book, from the scandal that set it off to the duke’s sweet little sisters.

Trevor was a leading man after my own heart: down to earth and unassuming, solid, respectful.  He’s a country gentleman through and through and even when he puts his foot in his mouth it’s only because he’s trying to do the right thing.  I have to admit, I find it exceedingly sexy when a man has such a large…work ethic. 😛  I very much enjoyed his interactions with Isabelle and his sisters, the way he did his best to navigate the female sphere of society for their sake even though it made him thoroughly uncomfortably.  So adorable.

I also enjoyed that Isabelle had an astute understanding of gender dynamics.  That wasn’t the focus of the novel, but it still warmed my heart when she’d snidely point out male privilege to Trevor.  They were small moments — this isn’t a book about first wave feminism — but they were very welcome.  But they did lead to my one complaint about the novel: Isabelle and Trevor have a very frank conversation about power, and the lack of it that women have and Isabelle’s issues with it in particular.  It’s a great scene, and Trevor expresses his willingness to respect Isabelle’s needs.  And then…yeah, that gets thrown out the window a few scenes later.  *sigh*  Well, I’ll just pretend she set him straight afterward and enjoy all the rest of this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book is available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.  You can purchase it here or here in e-format.  This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.