Lesser Evils by N. L. LaFoille
November 11, 2019
After her father’s gambling debts tarnished the family name, Miss Eliza Radcliffe desperately considers marrying a much older widower who’s looking for housekeeper and heir-bearer more than a companion. Resigned to the knowledge that she could not afford the luxury of a romantic coupling, she swore to do everything in her power to patch up their family’s reputation.
Even if that meant accepting the hand of a mysterious recluse, Eliza is determined to preserve her younger sister’s chances at a decent marriage. But her husband-to-be harbors a dark, aberrant secret that threatens to destroy both of their hopes of salvation.
Duke Undying is a regency vampire romance (a cross between my two favorite genres)! One of my favorite tropes, a marriage of convenience, sets the emotional landscape for a sensible, pragmatic FMC and a tortured, despondent vampire MMC. Karloff crafted an excellent prologue as well, which further fueled my belief that thorough enjoyment awaited me between the pages. And this story did not disappoint!
Karloff’s polished prose and erudite vocabulary kept me engrossed from cover to cover. She continually showcased a professional understanding of writing mechanics, such as employing sensory imagery to elevate the gothic atmosphere, creating the type of immersive experience I crave. Karloff executes the romantic arc flawlessly, fulfilling every genre expectation with a master-level efficiency.
I typically enjoy my romances with a little more spice, but I can hardly blame the author for something that’s a matter of taste. My only complaint with the reading experience was how rushed the resolution felt which accounts for the 1/2 star deduction.
But overall, this was a perfect weekend read and I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who’s a fan of Pride and Prejudice and/or looking for a clean romance palate cleanser.
With a 4.5/5 star rating, I would take the chance of blindly purchasing the rest of the Season of Shadows series.
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Learn more about C. Karloff and her other works here.
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