The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

Ms. Milan is starting to really climb on my favorite author list.  She writes consistently good books and this is no exception.  The prequel novella, The Governess Affair, was amazing and I was more than ready to embrace Robert, Oliver and Sebastian as the next heroes in my life.

I loved Robert as a hero.  He is the ultimate Nice Guy who turned out that way by the Grace of God because it sure wasn't his parents' influence.  His father was a horrible specimen of a man and I really wish he had died alone.  His mother wasn't much better, but Robert was able to make peace with her.  In fact, I think his interactions with her made me love him even more since he gave her chance after chance to do the right thing and in the end he was rewarded.  (I won't give it away, but the epilogue was AWESOME!  It may surpass my all-time favorite from Promise Me Forever by Lorraine Heath).  I didn't love Minnie as much at the end.  I think she freaked out a little at her great-aunts unnecessarily when everything was coming to a head and it kind of colored my opinion of her.  She did redeem herself eventually, mostly by being completely reasonable and supportive of Robert's decision at the end.  Oliver and Sebastian continue to be great characters and I loved seeing Hugo and Serena again.  I think Serena's reaction to Robert the first time was a little bit out of character for her and I wish that there had been resolution about that sooner, but I still love them.

The only slight quibble I had with the story that kept this as a 4 1/2 star book and not a 5 Star offering was the ending court drama.  I understand why she had it work that way since it gave an opportunity for all the loose ends to be tied up...I just didn't like the way it broke up the warm and fuzzy feelings I was having with Robert and Minnie in Paris.

I recommend this book whole-heartedly.  I do suggest reading the prequel first, though.