Review: The Duke Alone by Christi Caldwell
“He glared at her, a black, menacing look that reached all the way across the streets and space separating them. Daring her to stay. Urging her to leave.”
The Basics
Title: The Duke Alone (The McQuoids of Mayfair #1)
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published: 2022
Publisher: Montlake — Amazon
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Historical fiction, Regency fiction, Holiday, Romance, Historical romance, Regency romance, Holiday romance
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Book Synopsis
Having always felt a tad forgotten by her family, Myrtle McQuoid is not entirely surprised when they accidentally leave her behind in their London townhouse when they head to Scotland for the holidays. She is, however, taken aback when they fail to return for her later that day…or the next day…or the next. Desirous of company and unwilling to spend the holidays by herself, she attempts to befriend the only other person in the neighborhood who has not removed themselves from the city for the season: Val Bancroft, the prickly duke who lives next door.
Val, however, is quite keen to pass this Christmastide in solitude. Since the death of his wife four years ago, he has been loath to be around anyone this time of year, so every Christmas since her passing, he has locked himself away in his townhouse, dismissing all but a couple of his servants. Needless to say, Myrtle’s overtures of friendship are most unwelcome, but try as he might, he cannot rid himself of her. She is seemingly nonplussed by his gruffness, and eventually, she does the impossible: make him feel again…But a danger lurks in the shadows, threatening to make him lose the happiness that he has only just found.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: An imperfect but still enjoyable holiday romance.
Warning: Slight spoilers ahead
The Duke Alone might not be the best holiday romance that I have read, but it is enjoyable nonetheless. Its plot is a mix of Home Alone and Bridgerton with a healthy dash of coziness and wintertime allure. It is the type of book that you want to curl up with next to a fireplace or if you are fireplace-less like me, read while snuggly tucked under a warm, fuzzy blanket.
Part of what makes it such an enticing and pleasant read is its setting. The story takes place in Regency London in the days leading up to Christmas. With the vast majority of aristocrats having withdrawn to their country estates for the holiday season, the upper-class neighborhood in which the story is set transforms from a bustling, urban locale to a tranquil, snow-covered hideaway. Pair that serene desolation with firelit rooms and howling winds, and you have not only an incredibly cozy setting but also a seductive backdrop for the story’s romance.
Freed from the prying eyes of society, Val and Myrtle are able to develop their relationship unbridled by social etiquette, quickly forming an intimacy that might otherwise not have been possible. In a short amount of time, they come to trust and depend upon one another, and in their own respective way, they each complete the other. Myrtle, with her sunny disposition and vivacity, lifts Val’s spirits and draws him out of his self-imposed solitude. With Val, Myrtle finds acceptance; she is able to be her true self around him. Her intelligence, forthrightness, and curiosity, which normally invite scorn from others, intrigue him. Their opposing but complementary personalities also provide entertainment in the form of humorous exchanges, which had me smiling and laughing throughout the book.
In addition to this emotional intimacy, their unchaperoned time together fosters physical intimacy. There are a few steamy scenes; although, they are generally PG-13 in nature. There is one sex scene toward the end of the book, but it is fade-to-black, cutting away before anything too explicit begins.
With regard to the writing, it is not particularly remarkable, but it suffices. The narrative is well-paced, easy to follow, and features a dual point of view (Myrtle and Val). This latter aspect enhances the story by allowing us to gain an equal understanding of the two protagonists.
The not so good
Owing to her gift of the gab, Myrtle can be a touch annoying at times. She has a tendency to prattle on; I found myself wondering on more than one occasion when she would cease flapping her gums. Val is not without his faults either. He runs rather hot and cold, showing Myrtle affection one minute, only to demand she leave the next. It’s enough to give a person whiplash.
Also leaving something to be desired is the subplot pertaining to the burglars. From the very first pages, there is a sense of foreboding and buildup to when they will return and break into Myrtle’s house, but when they do finally show up, it is incredibly anticlimactic. Their attempted robbery is over before it even begins.
Two additional shortcomings relate to the book’s prose. Certain words, such as minx, are overused, and some of the steamy scenes feature cringey descriptions (e.g., “tasting of that moist cavern,” p176).
Lastly, while not inherently flawed, the epilogue is not what I had hoped it would be. I wanted the closing pages to provide a glimpse into Val and Myrtle’s married life – what I got was a brief peek at their wedding held a week after the events of the story.
Overall
Is The Duke Alone a perfect book? Absolutely not. Will I ever read it again? Likely not. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it for what it is: a cozy, holiday romance.
Have you read The Duke Alone? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments section below!
