Helpful Score: 12
She did it! She did it! Eloisa James pulled off the impossible. She took three characters with the most sadly frustrating storyline in recent memory and pulled them into the light with grace, humor and kindness.
This latest installment of the "Duchess Series" was released yesterday. I bought my copy in the afternoon, opened it after supper and read it straight through.
It's that good.
The tangled web of innuendo, rumor and misunderstanding between Jemma & Elijah, the Duke & Duchess of Beaumont, and quasi-antagonist Leopold, the Duke of Villiers, wove throughout each preceding tale in the Duchess Series. It was convoluted, rather dark and quite difficult to like, although it grew intriguing after awhile and turned grudgingly into a true love/hate relationship with the reader. I admit to cracking open this book with a wince, afraid to see what was in store for this bruised & jaded threesome. My worries were groundless as this was superbly told and easily one of the author's best to date.
Yes, it's that good.
It's warm and witty and loving and ... human. It almost made me cry. That simply never happens.
The Duke of Villiers adventure is next and looks to be a typical fun Eloisa James romp and I eagerly look forward to it's release later this summer. But, tonight I'm seriously considering opening this book and reading it again. Slowly. To savor it.
Truly. It's that good.
This latest installment of the "Duchess Series" was released yesterday. I bought my copy in the afternoon, opened it after supper and read it straight through.
It's that good.
The tangled web of innuendo, rumor and misunderstanding between Jemma & Elijah, the Duke & Duchess of Beaumont, and quasi-antagonist Leopold, the Duke of Villiers, wove throughout each preceding tale in the Duchess Series. It was convoluted, rather dark and quite difficult to like, although it grew intriguing after awhile and turned grudgingly into a true love/hate relationship with the reader. I admit to cracking open this book with a wince, afraid to see what was in store for this bruised & jaded threesome. My worries were groundless as this was superbly told and easily one of the author's best to date.
Yes, it's that good.
It's warm and witty and loving and ... human. It almost made me cry. That simply never happens.
The Duke of Villiers adventure is next and looks to be a typical fun Eloisa James romp and I eagerly look forward to it's release later this summer. But, tonight I'm seriously considering opening this book and reading it again. Slowly. To savor it.
Truly. It's that good.
Helpful Score: 7
Eloisa James built up to this over the course of many other novels - and sadly, presented a story so medically silly I could hardly finish it. Banged head on wall. Warning for those with medical experience or background: it was painful.
Rebecca D. (floridagirl) reviewed This Duchess of Mine (Desperate Duchesses, Bk 5) on + 103 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Hands down this is the BEST book in the Duchess series. My favorite romance novel has always been The Raven & The Rose by Virginia Henley (favorite for the past 15 years). This one took its place. I laughed and cried throughout the whole book and sometimes I was doing both at once. I seriously can't even find words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. The characters were present in all the Duchess books but I never imagined their story would be so good. Awesome Awesome Awesome book.
This is the first of James's Duchess books I've read, and I have to say that I was disappointed.
******THIS IS NOT A STAND ALONE BOOK******
I have nothing against series books, but I felt like I'd missed fully half the story and most of the character development by not reading the prior books in the series. All the way through the end of the book there were numerous allusions to activities, characters and relationships (presumably) from prior books that were never explained. Since James apparently thought she'd sufficiently developed the main characters in prior novels, they were a bit one dimensional in this one.
As it is, I feel like I only got the second half of one book, and a lead in to another. While I can applaud this from a purely mercenary marketing standpoint, I don't particular relish being the unknowing consumer.
My advice is not to read this book unless you're willing to make the investment of time and money to read all of the proceeding novels in the series.
******THIS IS NOT A STAND ALONE BOOK******
I have nothing against series books, but I felt like I'd missed fully half the story and most of the character development by not reading the prior books in the series. All the way through the end of the book there were numerous allusions to activities, characters and relationships (presumably) from prior books that were never explained. Since James apparently thought she'd sufficiently developed the main characters in prior novels, they were a bit one dimensional in this one.
As it is, I feel like I only got the second half of one book, and a lead in to another. While I can applaud this from a purely mercenary marketing standpoint, I don't particular relish being the unknowing consumer.
My advice is not to read this book unless you're willing to make the investment of time and money to read all of the proceeding novels in the series.
