Say No to the Duke: The Wildes of Lindow Castle (The Wildes of Lindow Castle, 4)

I've so enjoyed the first four books in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series, becoming more invested in this family with each book published. Each featured couple brings something unique and special to the series but Betsy and Jeremy just may be my favorites. I adored these two!

In this book, James has created two characters with an enormous amount of emotional baggage. Both Betsy and Jeremy have been impacted by events from their past. In Betsy's case, it's the actions of her mother, a woman who abandoned her family for a lover, by whom Betsy is now (unfairly) judged, that have shaped Betsy's actions in society. For Jeremy, who lost all of his men on the battlefield, survivor's guilt is a daily struggle. Both carefully control what they allow others to see and, consequently, very few really know them. Only with one another do they eventually let those masks slip and once they do...let the fun begin!

I couldn't turn the pages of this book quickly enough but then, once I had finished, I returned to the beginning and read it again, this time slowly savoring each delicious word. The banter between Jeremy and Betsy is fast, fun, and plentiful, and the intimate scenes are filled with emotion and heat. The rawness of Jeremy's anguish is so vivid as is the PTSD he battles but the fears Betsy has dealt with most of her life are no less real. All of that is dealt with head-on but James infuses plenty of sass, humor, and passion to keep the story from becoming dark or angst-ridden. And romance. The declarations between these two are so deeply romantic, it was impossible to not sigh with sheer, heart-tugging delight.

kinda muddled. like a bit of a bait and switch plot wise. the kinda backed down on the PTSD

I was a little afraid this book would be a bit of a letdown for me, because I loved the previous book in the series so much. And while Betsy and Jeremy aren't quite up there with Parth and Lavinia for me, this was a great addition to the series. As always, Ms. James's writing is strong--the characters are well-developed, the dialogue is fantastic, and the prose works--no clunkers here. I am wondering if we'll see more of Thaddeus; might he still become connected to the Wilde family? I hope so, if for no other reason than I want to see his mother and Aunt Knowe go on more adventures!

Not sure what happened to this author. When she is great, she is phenomenal. Her last few, all the "Wildes" were pretty much a bust for me. What happened? Silly, shallow and a disappointment. First of all, these two hated each other in the previous book and from the start of this one, they were practically in love in minutes. I did not like the heroine. She was a twit. the hero could have been so good, much better and she didn't deserve him. So sick of these Wildes. Move on already. Is anyone else totally sick of Aunt Know?! I mean come on. Enough with her already. Can you make her meet someone and run off to get married? Get rid of the annoying old biddy. Lastly, what is up with over 250 pages before a love scene. This is a romance book.

There is nothing quite like an Eloisa James book, and Say No to the Duke continues the fine tradition. Betsy is a young lady who is constrained by the society of the time and also by the shadow of her mother's elopement with a Prussian some years before. Betsy, a Wilde, receives a proposal of marriage from a viscount, but she is intrigued by the returned soldier who is recovering from his tour of duty in 'the colonies'. How this all plays out keeps you turning the pages till the very end. I enjoyed every minute of it!

Lady Betsy is afraid of becoming like her mother, who left her father and her children to run away with her lover. So, Betsy becomes perfect, at least to the outside world. Jeremy suffers PTSD, in that he can't forgive himself for his men all dying as he was leading them in battle. These two make an unlikely pair, but they have empathy for each other, know each other, and finally realize, have a wild attraction to each other. The side characters are essential for Betsy and Jeremy getting together, and there is an unexpected twist. Great book!

Absolutely love this series! Buy them all!!

Scandalous behavior in the "season" has a very assured young lady being courted by a Duke. Lots of witty banter and scandal sure to make them the talk of the town.

Just acquainting myself with all of the Wilde family and seeing all the plot turns as sequels are published and a pleasant, enjoyable reading experience for me.

I was really excited about this book. But I'm not gonna lie I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. I readed until chapter 6 then I just couldn't take it an more. Plot was so boring and choice of words were poor.