Much Ado About Dukes

In Devon’s second “Never a Wallflower” Regency romance (following The Spinster and the Rake), the Duke of Blackheath does not want to marry, and neither does Lady Beatrice Haven. She is far too busy campaigning for the rights of women, and she particularly dislikes Blackheath, who never responds to her pamphlets and letters. When they meet, because they are about to become in-laws, perceptions and ideas shift. Slowly the two become something close to colleagues, and when Beatrice’s world collapses, his offer of marriage seems a smart solution. Devon sprinkles in nods to Shakespeare’s play, but her central focus is the way the couple think and feel about the world they live in and about each other. The point of view shifts often, allowing both to reflect on their encounters. While that helps Devon make her points about respect and equality, the effect is often to slow the pace and repeat events.