Mythic Dukes #1
Wendy LaCapra
Historical Romance
Published: October 17, 2017 [requested review]
H/h - The Duke of Ashbey/Lady Alicia Stone
Setting: Regency.
Read in October, 2017.
My rating:
[spoiler alert]
Wendy LaCapra's triumphant return to the HR writing is a lovely story full of love and yearning. Her Duke At Daybreak, is a novella and the first in her new Historical Romance series, Mythic Dukes.
It’s
been 2 yrs. since I’ve read and loved Wendy’s debut the Furies series.
So when I recently learned of the upcoming release of a new novella, I
was beyond thrilled. I’d say the wait was worth it. Wendy didn’t
disappoint cause I loved it to bits! :) I generally have what I like to
term as “the novella syndrome” with a short story, where it feels like
something is missing or everything is rushing fast towards the end. Very
few authors can pack any type of emotional punch in those short few
chapters, let alone build any satisfactory connection between the main
characters. Even though I would've loved a few more chapters just to
enjoy Ash and Alicia together, IMO Her Duke at Daybreak was perfect as it was.
Duke
of Ashbey is our typical ‘angsty’ Duke. He lives mostly as a recluse
because of a so-called curse and the bad name on his family due to a
murder that happened years ago. Ashbey, whose nick name is not known (at
least I can’t remember he was called anything other than Ash) always
wears a façade of dark and somber. Even his mistresses would leave
unsatisfactory even if he was a generous benefactor. Not because he was
bad in bed, quite the opposite in fact, but because they thought he’s
incapable of any emotional attachment. Not even a little bit of
affection. His long deceased wife Rachel would vouch for it cause she
seemingly couldn’t stand his presence. A MOC, Ash wasn’t married for
long before his marriage was in shambles. Rachel judged him based on the
bad name attached to his family, believing in the curse. She made sure
he knew how much she despised him before dying in a fire that killed his
father too. Another reason why Ash believed himself cursed without any
salvation.
Lady Alicia Stone, recently widowed, hasn’t had the
best of marriages. In fact, as far as marriage goes, hers was rotten
with an adulterous husband who chose his mistress over Alicia, dumping
pretty much since the liaison. Alicia was brought up in a Caribbean
island her Englishman father. The famous Admiral Octavius Stone was
there at a time when she was alone and needed help. Octavius wooed the
beautiful and young Alicia, married her and brought her back to England.
She was even happy for the first few years of her marriage. There was
no child but Alicia could’ve lived happily knowing she had married the
man she *thought* she loved; someone who returned her affections. But oh
how wrong she was! Octavious found love with The Countess, a widow
known for her beauty and charm, made her his mistress and forgot about
Alicia. They even had a child, a girl, whom he lovingly named after
himself. Alicia’s torment was complete, knowing there was no way she’d
ever have her errant husband back. After a few years, I don’t think she
wanted him back either. I mean who would, after such a travesty of a
marriage?
The author’s note will explain what inspired Wendy to
write about this love triangle but I wished there was more background to
Alicia’s marriage. Maybe it was for the best that there wasn’t. I’d be
heartbroken for her. I don’t care that Octavius found love, or how he
and the Countess were devoted to each-other. He trampled another woman’s
feelings to get what he wanted, and they both ruined her life. It was
simply selfish; not a light offense in my eyes.
When the story
begins, a few years have passed since then and Octavius recently passed
away in a battle. It seems though, whatever Alicia had felt or how hurt
or humiliated she’d been, she hadn’t really hated her husband. Neither
could she hate the Countess who, by all intents and purpose, is a nice
and kind lady. Their lovestory was a legendary tale. No one remembered
Alicia. And if they did, as she’d find out later, it was with contempt.
Why didn’t she die and let the Admiral marry the love of his life? *SMH*
Don’t know what to say, it was that horrible. Alicia had resented how
Octavius treated her but she had nowhere to go. She was still living
with his aunt and had communications with his younger brother, Simon,
the new heir to Octavius’s legacy. Alicia could only imagine how her
life would be from now on. Would she ever find a little peace? A little
happiness unmarred by such misery?
One day, one of Ash’s long
lost buddies return. Chev or Cheverley is also a Duke but he had been
MIA for quite a few years and everyone thought him dead. I’m still not
quite clear about his background, but he seems to be in the Navy as
well. We also are introduced to Ash’s other friend, the other Duke,
Hurtheven. Whereas Ash seemingly has no feelings or interest in
anything, Chev is quite serious about everything. And Hurtheven seems
like a jolly fellow with a biting sarcastic trait. I really liked them
both, most especially how they made joke of Ash’s ‘angsty’ state and
wanted him to go out with them and have fun. To make him realize that
life isn’t as gloomy and sad as he makes it out to be. But his childhood
(there’s a backstory that you get to learn later) made a profound
impact on Ash, and the collective effect of how his life has been so far
always made him see things through a veil of unhappiness and despair.
I’d say he was quite depressed, would also drink when he couldn’t cope
with it.
When his life was in such disarray, Ash couldn’t ignore
that call of the siren, namely to check out an angelic widow. Chev had
talked about her with such deep reverence that Ash felt this visceral
need to seek her out, grab her and run somewhere, where he can
thoroughly debauch her. Blacken her angelic aura with his own dark
shadows. He knew a bit of Alicia’s ruined marriage but he’d never meet
her in person. Then he gets a glimpse of her, which pretty much strikes
him down right there. On spot. He was totally, utterly besotted with
Lady Stone and he wanted her like he’d never wanted anything before.
He’d do anything to gain her favor, even if for a short period of time.
Even if it was for 3 heavenly days. But would someone so prim and proper
like Lady Stone would even consider his offer, let alone grant him his
most fervent wishes?
Well, Ash was pretty desperate so he makes
certain Alicia was in his debt and couldn’t refuse. She, on the other
hand, had no idea at first. Only that she was extremely attracted to the
Duke, have been since the very day saw a glimpse of each-other. They
had a moment and she wanted it back. ‘Him’ back (she didn’t know who Ash
was then). So when he, quite straightforwardly, lets her know he wants
her in his bed, Alicia had a difficult choice to make. She wanted to be
with Ash, but she was already burned by a man thoroughly. She was also
not used to having affairs so there was that. And if she agrees, and
when it was over, would she be able to come out of this liaison
emotionally alive? Because the Duke made it quite clear it’ll be a
business deal of 3 days and nights. Yet how could she turn him down when
he promised a lifetime of fidelity even when they aren’t together
anymore? Alicia wanted to feel alive after years in a broken marriage
where she was so totally unwanted that she forget she could be wanted by
someone, even in a purely physical sense. It was an offer just too
tempting...
I’d say the moment they saw each-other marked their
fate. Ash knew it wasn’t simple lust he felt because he felt he was hers
from then on. Alicia was in doubt, and I can understand why she felt
that way but she was the first to acknowledge her feelings for Ash even
if secretly. Personally, I’d go as far as to say it was love at first
sight, just not your typical flowers and sunshine. All they needed was
to acknowledge this feeling through a physical, and emotional,
connection that neither of them had experienced with another partner. If
I read his monologues correctly, Ash had some specific sexual needs
that he was comfortable exploring only with his mistresses. Not
surprised cause the hints of that made his wife disgusted. Nothing
untoward or too perversive but he needed total control in lovemaking. He
was worried how Alicia was going to react to this side of him, her
being a proper widow and all that. So there were concerns on both sides.
When they turned out to be compatible in bed, there were
misunderstandings that kept them apart for a while.
But fear
not, it was nothing too melodramatic that’d make you want to tear your
hair out in frustration. I loved how everything came together in the end
that made me grin from ear-to-ear. I mean, I had no doubt Ash and
Alicia were meant to be together and their chemistry super hot. I also
know I’m rambling along but I just had to express how much I loved this
story and can’t freakin’ wait to read Chev and Hurtheven’s! The only
thing I mourned when the story ended was the fact that the next
installments will be out in 2018 and 2019. :( Long wait ahead of me.
Sigh.
But don’t let it keep you from trying The Duke at Daybreak out now! Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.
ARC received from the author, thanks Wendy! x
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