An Unusual Bride for the Beastly Duke by Emma Linfield

An Unusual Bride for the Beastly Duke Reviews

• 
  TheMadHatter

  Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
  
  I am a sucker for Beauty and the Beast re-tellings so was excited to pick this up in a kindle sale.
  
  While I thought the re-telling twist was good (regency romance where the leading male character is scared in the war), I didn't gel with the storytelling/dialogue/pacing.
  Things just jumped from terse words to instalove with absolutely no justification. The whole "cursed family" was a bit cheesy and the leading lady was incredibly dense. Yes, let me drink this concoction that was left for me with herbs that I have never seen before and yes, let me have a second glass. Then she is shocked she is poisoned?
  
  We all have a style that we like, especially with romance books, unfortunately this one was not my style. Not a bad read - just not a read for me.
  
  Reading Challenge
  Aussie Readers 2022 COVID Challenge: read books with titles that spell out Outbreak (U = Unusual)
• 
  Phylis Collins

  heartache and finding a lasting love
  
  This was one of those books that I kept telling myself one more page. A remarkable story that touches the heart with fear, betrayal, deceit, lies, and heartache and finding a lasting love.
  
• 
  Coco.V

  🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/12/2020)! 🎁
• 
  Maria

  FREE today (May 13, 2020) on Amazon.
• 
  Elizabeth Connor

  This story was a variation on the theme of Beauty & the Beast, a story I happen to love. Of course, the author threw in a bit of a mystery with someone out to get Vincent, determined to use Olivia to hurt him. All of the clues were there, so it wasn't a total shock, but it was a little too far-fetched for me. The lengths this person would go to seek vengeance for something he didn't experience firsthand were hard to believe. The scheming and planning were extreme.
  
  There were some wonderful descriptions in the book. Battle scenes were so well-described, I felt nauseated. There’s an evocative description of rain at Vincent’s home near the beginning that was divine, even using personification for the building with “hollow eyes” and the “open-mouthed statues” with “silent screams directed upward to a god who had all but abandoned this place.” Some of the depictions of the rooks in the abandoned parts of his home were equally note-worthy. Olivia’s impression of her cold and somber new home upon her arrival in the darkness was also exceptional, the light casting “startling shadows upon the floor, almost sentient in their movements,” and darkened doorways reaching out “like clawing hands.”
  
  The book is not without its problems, which is why I’m only giving it 4 stars. It went on too long and I found myself begrudgingly reading after I felt it should have ended. A few times, the narrative veered too much into the realm of being didactic and I felt as if the author stopped just short of saying, “The moral of the story is…” If a story has been told well (and, in this case, I felt it had been), telling the reader the moral of the story is both unnecessary and insulting. Additionally, generally, I’m in favor of epilogues, but I seldom see the need for extended epilogues. At that point, it seems like the author is either trying to pad the word count or just doesn’t know how to tie up loose ends by the end of the actual story. Perhaps this is a requirement of being a part of Cobalt Fairy publishing, since it seems to happen consistently with these authors, but I don’t like it. Overall, however, I appreciated the book and the inconsistencies were insignificant compared to my enjoyment.
• 
  Space Cowgirl

   Is it the Kingham Curse💔?
  
  Regency Era Romance💕 and Mystery🔪🔫
  The first third of this book is sad and grim. Vincent🐺Kingham, the Duke of Ilderton, has seen nothing but sadness and grief in his adult life. He was from a family of seven, with three older brothers and a younger sister. They are all gone, dead. His sister's tragic fall from the Scottish castle's🏰 turret roof trying to save her 🐱kitten in a storm, haunts him most every 🌙night in his nightmares. The rest of his nightmares consist of horrible battles💣🔥🔪🔫 against the French, when he is severely injured🔪 and loses his eye, among other grave injuries.
  
  He feels as if his life has been cursed, and he has been spared death in order to be an unwilling witness for the future. He locks himself away in the huge dark Ilderton castle🏰, as it slowly crumbles down around him.
  
  Olivia💃💋 is the daughter of an English Earl, her tragedy of literally being left at the altar👰 by her betrothed causes her to retreat into herself. The family of her once betrothed spread rumors among society, and put the blame on her. Three years later, at 25, her mother talks her into going to a ball, but it all is stirred up again. She will never find a husband, and has resigned herself to bring a sad, unhappy spinster.
  
  Her father knows she must marry👰, as she only has one brother to inherit, and he has taken himself into the war with France, too. Not knowing if his son will survive, her father does what he must to insure Olivia's future. He makes a business deal with the Duke🐺. Vincent will marry Olivia👰 in exchange for her huge dowry💰. He can certainly use the 💰money to repair the castle🏰.
  But how can two broken lives💔 ever be repaired? How can two reclusive strangers even find enough friendship to tolerate each other? Vincent🐺 has no expectations of an heir, he doesn't even know if Olivia💃💔 can even come to stand the sight of him.
  
  All this sorrow and the horror of war🔫🔪💣🔥 takes up the first third of the book.
  
  ARC Provided by Bookfunnel🌀
  I also got this ebook with KU.
• 
  Kaye

  ONE NAILBITING BLOCK BUSTER!!!
  Ah snap! Emma unleashes this incredibly compelling, flawlessly composed delectable treat, laying out one thrilling storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. One heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, nailbiting, page flipping, block busting bombshell, propels this gem to a whole new level. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and delivering one chart topping delight. Braided, bound and entangled, displaying the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's strength and awe inspiring in it's depth. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, booting this gem into a tempest, bursting it into a frenzy with an life-changing culmination. Rolling with the drama intrigue turmoil underlying threats abduction danger spiraling suspense and precarious situations along with a boatload of determination, you have one mind-blowing masterpiece. The attraction and chemistry builds as each layer is peeled back exposing an undeniable connection, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Awesome job Emma, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
• 
  Joan Osborne

  Beautiful!
  
  Words can not express what a beautiful love story this was. The story had a Beauty and the Beast type theme with a Duke named Vincent who was injured during the war and came back with facial and body scars. Vincent was such a wounded soul and had suffered so much tragedy and loss in his life that he refused to love again for fear of losing that person too. Vincent had erected up walls and if not for a death bed promise to his Father to rebuild their family estate, he would not have gotten married at all. Olivia had been jilted at the alter and her reputation was in ruins through no fault of her own so her father arranged a marriage with the Duke to try and give his precious daughter some happiness. It was tough going between these two wounded souls who both were so deserving to be loved. There was a bit of intrigue as well that added to the story. This was a clean romance with no sex scenes and only some kissing. I usually like my romances with a lot more spice but this one kept me interested throughout. Thumbs up! I highly recommend it!
  
• 
  Cyndi

  I loved this story.
  The details of the wedding prepartions , the jilting of our fair miss...her rejection from society all could well have occured...
  
  Our hero, his self imposed seclusion at his family home, the disfigurement to his person and the pain of all he had endured ,truly were such poignant and heartwrenching emotions that i have no doubt that this man could have done as was written in these pages.
  
  
  
  
  I could truly believe the characters written , the dilemmas they each found themselves in abd the measures taken by our leading lady 's parents to ensure her wellbeing in the event of her parents (, namely her father ) death(s).
  I thought the backdrop for both our hero and heroine were extremely possible. Her , being jilted on her wedding day...him ,trauma both physical and emotional from war, were very believable .
  Well done , Miss Emma!
• 
  isa

  The book is a nice and quick read. The plot is good and I loved the flow of the events. The character development between characters I loved as well. Though to me it felt like when Olivia finally realized she was falling in love with Vincent it just kind of happened. Before this book I finished reading “The Duke I thought I knew” also by Emma Linfield. There were a lot of parallels between the two actually, but Clayton and Anastasia’s relationship made more sense. You actually saw their relationship grow instead of just throwing it in there. I knew Olivia and Vincent would eventually love each other but I felt like they really had no steady romantic development and it was just all of a sudden love. Besides that though the book was an enjoyable read and I love how much they care for each other <3.
• 
  Dawn Herrera

  This was one fantastic story that captured me from the prologue, Emma Linfield has written a story that has heartbreak, danger, mystery, and love. The characters are well developed and so darn easy to fall for.
  Lady Olivia is a young woman who was left at the alter and has only suffered from the harsh gossip, until her parents announce she is to marry a Duke. Vincent Price Duke of Kingham is a man who has guilt and nightmares he is said to be a cold and ruthless man, he is now to marry Lady Olivia. This is just the start of a great storyline that will have you hooked and turning the pages has quickly as you can to see what waits around the next corner. I loved this book and I highly recommend it.
• 
  Diane Horne

  An Unusual for the Beastly Duke By Emma Linfield, Cobalt Fairy
  
  Four stars, cute story, both Olivia who came from a good home but jilted on her wedding day, during that time she was considered ruin .. Then the Duke Vincent was scarred, and carried lots of baggage. .. They got married, she went through a lot with him and whoever was trying to hurt her.. But love prevails and it ends happily.
• 
  Carol Guthrie

  I liked the author's creativity in finding a way to re-write Beauty and the Beast. This rendition portrays a wounded man who has mostly given up on life, a beauty who is unwanted among her peers, and an antagonist who creeps the reader out. I am still unsettled by who the evil man turned out to be, as well as his reasoning. I would give the book a four-star rating if it didn't have so much filler.
• 
  Elizabeth

  True Gothic Romance
  
  True Gothic romance including a crumbling castle, ghosts of the past, a haunted Duke, and sinister suspect. The Author creates a perfect backdrop for Olivia and the Hero. The dialogue runs smoothly and characters have depth. While characters develop, it is logical. Excellent book.
• 
  Gerri Johnson

  I haven't read an historical romance in awhile but I enjoyed this one. It's full of anger, loneliness and suspense. Vincent is a badly scarred ex-soldier who is convinced he is bad luck and Maggie thinks she is bad luck and no one would want to marry her.
• 
  Kathy Parish

  A surprisingly pleasant take on the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story. Well developed characters and plot line. Nice plot twists and the expected fairy tale ending. I thoroughly enjoyed as an escape from day to day stress.