Disciplining the Duchess

by Annabel Joseph

Over five seasons, Miss Harmony Barrett has managed to repel every gentleman of consequence and engineer a debacle at Almacks so horrifying that her waltzing privileges are revoked. If shes not in the library reading about Mongol hordes, shes embarrassing her family or getting involved in impulsive scrapes.

Enter the Duke of Courtland, a man known for his love of duty and decorum. Through a vexing series of events, he finds himself shackled to Miss Barrett in matrimony.

But all is not lost. The duke harbors a not-so-secret affinity for spanking and discipline and his new wife is ever in need of it. Will the mismatched couple find their way to marital happiness? Or will the duke be forever Disciplining the Duchess?

Genres: Historical Romance, BDSM, Historical, Romance, Erotica, Regency, Erotic Romance

242 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2013

About the author

Annabel Joseph is a NYT and USA Today bestselling BDSM erotic romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is recognized for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem real--even flawed--so readers are better able to relate to them.

Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the name Molly Joseph. You can sign up to receive Annabel's newsletter here: http://wordpress.us7.list-manage.com/...

Some of Annabel's favorite authors are Laura Kinsale, Judith McNaught, Jo Beverley, Flannery O'Connor, Molly Weatherfield, and Anneke Jacob.

Annabel Joseph loves to hear from her readers at annabeljosephnovels(@)gmail.com.

Reviews

[Ivy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of this novel were so hot that I needed a shower to cool down ! Or, maybe a relaxing bath:


I am also a teeny bit ashamed to admit that I enjoyed this novel. I don't usually go in for the BDSM type of romance but this wasn't BDSM really. It was just the bottom spanking scenes and the author didn't allow the spanking thing to overshadow the rest of the story. I appreciated that a lot because many smutty romances tend to focus too much on the smutty sex, to the detriment of the actual plot. I enjoyed the general storyline and the characters were well crafted, with highly defined and entertaining personalities. The heroine Harmony is the young, beautiful bluestocking daughter of a viscount.



She's been unsuccessful during all her seasons because she's too clumsy and preoccupied with her History books. But she's not one of those boring, judgemental type of bluestocking heroines who are always frowning at everyone or trying to make the world a better place by championing some charitable venture etc. She's just a simple girl who wants to be left alone to enjoy her books. I totally identify with that because not everybody is cut out for world saving. Harmony's also got the bad habit of saying whatever comes out of her mouth and the other young women in her circle tend her to make fun of her or bully her a lot because of it. These other ladies are all obsessed with snaring the best husband and so it's no surprise to learn that they're all intrigued by the dashing sexy H, the Duke of Courtland:



There's a funny scene at the beginning where these women are all gossiping about the notorious H and there's talk about his penchant for "dark" stuff. The women all claim that they're going to ignore him when he arrives at the house party, but it's obvious that they're all obsessed with gaining his attention. During one of these conversations, the heroine puts her foot in her mouth again by making a comment that the others view as indelicate to their tender ladylike sensibilities:


Harmony sighed as the young women joined hands, promising to protect one another from the terrifying menace of his wiles.
“Perhaps it is only that he drinks too much at dinner,” Harmony drawled. “Or eats too much, and belches loudly and repeatedly. That would be an uncomfortable habit indeed.”
As usual, all the girls looked at her as though she were mad. Which she nearly was, after days of listening to them natter on about the stupidest subjects. She stared back at them until they all looked down at their plates.

Annabel Joseph. Disciplining the Duchess (Kindle Locations 83-87). Scarlet Rose Press. Kindle Edition.

Harmony was an adorable, klutz of a heroine. The first scene where she meets the H is one of the most memorable I've ever encountered in a romance novel. She's hiding in the library searching for a book on the Mongols and Court discovers her under the desk:

Ah, but it felt damn good to stretch his legs after so many hours in the coach’s cramped interior— But then his foot contacted some soft, resistant surface that emitted a feminine squeak. He leaned down to find a pair of wide blue eyes staring back at him, framed by mussed blonde curls. At first he thought a child had escaped the nursery, but a glance at her bodice dispelled that notion. She was a woman—a beautiful woman—inexplicably crouching at his feet.
“What are you doing under there?” His voice sounded sharp.

Annabel Joseph. Disciplining the Duchess (Kindle Locations 167-171). Scarlet Rose Press. Kindle Edition.

Court tries to avoid Harmony for the first few days because he's uncomfortably aware of the raging lust he feels for her, but the heroine isn't easy to ignore because she's always underfoot or at the center of some little group's discussion. His mother dislikes her intensely because Harmony's become infamous for a certain incident on the dance floor; that embarrassing incident led to Harmony being banned from ever participating in a waltz at Almack's. The dowager duchess is not amused at all the attention the pretty little klutz is getting from her only son. Court was really sweet to Harmony when he asked their host to allow the heroine to spend all her time in the library. He felt sorry for her when he had seen how unhappy she had been in the company of the other bitchy women. The MC's end up in a compromising situation due to Harmony's obsession for History and adventure. The heroine took it upon herself to hire a donkey cart ( complete with a surly, unwashed and scheming peasant cart driver ) to take her to visit Hadrian's Wall in Newcastle upon Tyne:



The donkey cart's driver took the heroine only a short distance before absconding with her money and leaving her all alone on the road ! Our intrepid heroine is not vanquished by this though. She did start bawling like a baby but she decided that she was going to see Hadrian's Wall even if she had to walk to get there. The H caught up with her while she was walking and he was so mad that he gave her a little spanking. Harmony was mad but also a little turned on too. The compromising situation meant that they would have to get married in order to save Harmony's reputation. The heroine did object and was selfless enough to admit that it had been her stupidity that had caused them to be compromised, but the H had already decided that he wanted her badly enough to marry her. Of course, everybody at the house party is stunned and I just laughed at all the jealous junior hagbitches who had been hoping the H would pay attention to them:



The MC's marriage began on a somber note but the sexy times soon made it quite sizzling in and outside of the bedroom ! I couldn't stop laughing at the many funny situations that developed as a result of Harmony's new role as a duchess. She was a complete social failure and Court had to hire experts to teach her how to converse in social situations, how to dress like a duchess, how to dance, how to behave at the dining table etc. It was hilarious ! I really enjoy it when an author is able to keep my interest after the half point marker of a novel. Court grew to adore his young duchess and that adoration soon blossomed into love. There was one spanking scene that got a bit out of hand due to the H's jealousy; he'd been angry because one of her instructors had become a bit obsessed with her and the oblivious Harmony hadn't been aware of it. The MC's also become estranged for a short while after Harmony ruined a special dinner party when she chased a muddy dog into the dining room. This incident not only caused an uproar among the guests, but the dowager duchess got a sprained wrist by trying to avoid the messy dog:



Harmony withdraws into herself after this embarrassing incident and there's some emotional distance between the MC's as well. The H did eventually fix the situation by grovelling and begging for forgiveness:



The dowager duchess also changes her attitude when she herself finds love with Harmony's father ! In the epilogue, the MC's are visiting Hadrian's wall with their 3 young sons and the H is very adoring towards his wife. I loved seeing how much more mature Harmony had become:


The nursemaids finally settled the children and brought them over to share a picnic lunch. Henry, the oldest, was dark like him, while Arthur and young James favored his wife, down to their heads of raucous blond hair.
“Use your manners,” she chided when they poked at one another. “You must grow up to be refined gentlemen like your papa. See how politely he eats.”
Comically, all three boys began to ape him. They straightened their backs and used flawless manners, not for fear of reprisal, but for love of their mama. It occurred to Court they also probably did it because they admired him and truly wished to be like him one day. It was an affecting thought. He looked at his wife, who had been, from the start, such a serene and proficient mother. He would never have imagined it. He would never have imagined any of this magic in his life.

Annabel Joseph. Disciplining the Duchess (Kindle Locations 4020-4026). Scarlet Rose Press. Kindle Edition.


Motherhood seemed to have done wonders for her and she's been truly cherished, spoilt and cossetted by Court. They've just returned from visiting Greece and he is the perfect husband because he indulges his bluestocking wife's love of History:

“I wonder,” he said after a moment, “if someone ever lay here and fell in love with an impulsive young woman who was not at all the thing?”
“Hmm.” Harmony’s voice held a tender note. “A duke perhaps, falling in love with a mere ‘miss’ who was very poorly behaved?”
“Yes, something outrageous like that. I wonder if such a thing has ever happened, quite near this spot. Perhaps in this very place where we lie.” She grinned at him, rising up on one elbow. “I’m certain it’s happened at least once in the vast history of the earth. Quite certain, in fact.”
“Well.” He tapped her chin. “You are the historian. I shall take your word for it.” He kissed his wife, long and deep, here in this place he’d first come to know her, here where the earth rocked them both to a fragile understanding, then a blessed marriage and three strong sons.
Fate?
Chance?
No. Magic. It had to be.

Annabel Joseph. Disciplining the Duchess (Kindle Locations 4034-4041). Scarlet Rose Press. Kindle Edition.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a five star book to me until he caned her, the second time! The first one broke my heart, the second one slayed me. I hated him and I don't care what happened after that, I personally could not forgive him. I cried. Alot. The pain was not what upset me. It was the way he made her feel. Inferior, lacking and totally unworthy of love. Abuse is not okay. It remains inside you and never goes away. I didn't mind the so called 'spankings'. That was a game. The canes were another matter entirely. He totally abused her. I was so mad after all that, her leaving, him following, and the whole 'come to Jesus' moment where he declared his remorse and love, and there was another spanking scene with a twig and a 'ginger fig' (don't even ask). He still had the canes too for some reason and I was just over it. I Loved the first 46% of the book and was so enthralled and ready to give it five thumbs up and then the scene with the cane. And then the second more abusive scene with the cane and I just couldn't. At the epilogue he had three sons and I just worried that they would be abused too and I know I am being silly but believe me I know what abuse is and it cannot be soothed with sex or words of love. Maybe at first but eventually you die inside. Just like she did. I am glad there was an HEA but I just could not get past the 2nd caning. The writing was amazing and this is no insult to the author at all. Just not for me. Sorry.

[sraxe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Originally, I was prepared to give this book nothing less than a two because I felt that it wouldn't be fair of me to rate it a one since I'd gone in knowing it had physical discipline. In the end, though, I've decided to give it a one because of the abuse and how it was readily excused and accepted. Honestly, I probably won't be reading another book that has physical discipline elements because it just screams abuse to me. It's just not the genre for me.

I was enjoying the novel up until Courtland first took her to his father's study. It didn't sit well with me at all. However, I did like that Harmony became closed off afterwards. I thought it was a proper response towards what he did. However, then he takes her to the study again and that's when the book mostly fell apart for me and I didn't feel it redeemed itself. He was angry and jealous when he caned her claiming discipline and she forgives him the next night. I thought she'd be given more time and that he'd have to work back into acceptance...but that's not what happened.

Really, disciplinarian is just another word for abuser. It gives the abuser an excuse to mete out physical punishment under the guise of discipline. The whole "I don't enjoy punishing you so severely. It's difficult to hurt the ones we loved." is just another way of saying I don't mean to hit you but you made me do it. It's just another justification abusers use to shift guilt and victim blame. It works successfully because she does feel she deserved it and that it's justified. When Courtland leaves her after the first trip to his father's study, she later reflects that "she was not yet forgiven" and wonders if she ever will be and also fears that she may truly be "beyond help." It even plays a part into a later decision. It even goes to him consoling her and telling her that "I do love you, Harmony," which is just another thing abusers say after hitting their partners.

What I liked, though, was that when he did say that stuff, she didn't respond to it. She was cool and stand-offish towards and with him the following week and I fully supported that. It annoyed me that he didn't feel he had done anything that needed forgiving and that he was going to "seduce her back into his good graces," when, really, he should be groveling to get back into her good graces.

His mixed signals didn't help at all, either. He wants her to be one thing and basically beats her into submission...but then doesn't like the result he gets so he wants her to change back and go back to the way she was...while still not being her. He takes her to see more ruins and is disappointed when she doesn't climb atop a giant rock. However, we all know that he would've probably disciplined her if she had done it. It's just...what in the hell does he want?

When Courtland canes her in anger and jealousy, much of the "reasoning" behind it is imagined. I cheered her for calling him out and telling him that he was "exhibiting a prime example" of the reason she'd been upset with him in the first place. Yet, he still drags her to the study, telling her that "this time, hopefully, [he] will teach [her] a lesson [she] won't forget."

Although I felt he abused her the first time he took her to the study, this time it was definitely abuse. I was definitely with Harmony when she said that she didn't want Courtland to "fix" her (and he says "I can fix you, and I am going to fix you"). It was at this point that I gave the book a one because, unlike the first time, she wasn't given the time away from her abuser. She forgives him less than two days later and we're given a childhood sob story for Courtland on top of that. What's worse, though, is that the author has Harmony pretty much justify his abuse. He says he'll stop with the physical discipline, but she argues against it. She feels that, just as parts of her make her who she is, his physical discipline--physical abuse--makes him who he is and he's not him without it ("I don't want you to change to suit me"). He says that he doesn't "want [her] to get the idea that [she is] not good enough as [she is]." Where could she possibly have gotten that idea?? Couldn't have anything to do with him shouting that he can and will fix her, could it?! She argues it and says that she does she wouldn't "know what to do with [herself]" and that she'd be "an utter mess."

Her father shows up, too, and argues that there are "other ways to enforce discipline" and I cheerd him for that. However, Harmony, the victim of the abuse, still argues on behalf of Courtland and how she needs to be abused--err, I mean...disciplined to be kept in line.

How ridiculous.

Physical discipline/abuse just doesn't sit well with me. If that's going to be a part of a relationship, it should go both ways, to be honest. Where was Courtland being physically disciplined for constantly threatening his wife over imagined future affairs? Doesn't he deserve to be disciplined for not trusting her? Trust is the foundation of any lasting relationship. He should've definitely be "disciplined" for physically abusing--caning her multiple times--his wife while in a jealous rage over an imagined infraction (which she tried to clarify and clear up immediately).

[Michael Dunellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some reviews I want to tempt people into reading the book without giving away crucial plot details and others I really want to discuss the book so I kind of have to. This is one of the latter.

Regency spanking fiction from Annabel Joseph? I thoroughly enjoyed Pleasing the Colonel a while back (and I have since become a Downton Abbey fan) so I was so there.

What I didn’t expect to find was a book that made me think so much of Club Mephisto only in how very opposite it was. Molly spent all her day reading books; for Harmony, that would have been a kind of dream existence. Only, unlike Clayton, Court couldn’t allow his wife to run and hide from the world (or lock her away in a gilded cage) - you can decide which one of those applies. She had to learn to be a Duchess and take her place in society whether she wanted to or not.

In the end, I felt like this wasn’t really a regency novel. It was a story that required a regency setting to tell because it just wouldn’t have worked very well in the present but it worked perfectly by setting it in that time and place.

I also really like both Harmony and Court all the way through. Every time she made a mistake she didn’t do it willfully. And every time he made one, and there were a couple of huge ones, he never meant to hurt their relationship the way he did. I also have to give her credit for pulling off one of the moments of Perfect Submission (see The Warrior Challenged) to show him that was not what he really wanted.

So a really interesting novel in a fun setting that thoroughly explores some solid BDSM themes in a thoughtful way.

[Julz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was between 4 and 5 stars, and since it left me in a good mood, why not 5.

This is a story about a ditzy chick (she was supposed to just be bookish, uncultured, and misunderstood, but she really tended towards being an airhead) who, through her refusal to recognize the consequences of her actions, causes her and the H (a duke, of course!) to have to get married. Oh...and the H has a spanking fetish (Woot!)

What I liked about this book is that, even though it's unapologetically a spankfic, and is even advertised as in the bdsm genre, the telling of the actual story didn't have the feel of being just a backdrop for cheap, erotic, D/s thrills. I would've liked it even without the smut. The spanking in this story just made the H come across as a hardass controlling alpha (which I just love!) but with a soft side so you don’t totally hate his guts. His character in the book was actually ridiculed and shunned by the marriageable set because word of his proclivities got out. There were lots of whispers and fun being poked at the H&h (as well as concern by those who cared for the h) because they all knew she was getting her ass beat by her tyrant of a husband (He wasn’t that big of a tyrant, though…just for a scene or two.)

There was a perfect OW who was promised to the H until she freaked and ran to marry someone else rather than be subjected to that side of his nature. Naturally, the h was compared to her at every turn, especially by the hateful old mother of the duke, which always makes for fun times.

The end got kinda nicey nice but what are you going to do, especially if you like HEAs (hope you don’t hate that I gave away the ending ;D). So, if you like your spankfics coupled with your historical romances (can’t believe how many I’ve found recently…Squee!), this one is fun and well done.

[Leena Aluru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an unexpected book. My first by this author but definitely not the last. Marriage especially the first year is so hard for the couple and for everyone around. This book does an exemplary job of describing the joy of getting to kn ow each other , the pain and anguish at the misunderstandings that are so magnified by the world around. One says and acts so stupidly then , but thankfully Court reins himself and starts making amends.

This book is Courts. His cynical quips to his mother are really funny and then how he rescues heroine time and again. His declaration of love is really something else.

Harmony is an idiot. Well read but ignorant to the ways of the world. My heart broke after the entire disciplining act. She's inconsiderate but sure of her husband's support always and that makes her do things one would think twice before doing.

This book has very disturbing scenes of physical violence towards a wife , sister and child. The hurt and embarrassment a wife goes through when there's only sympathy abounding but no help is portrayed well. It's such a common phenomenon, so hatleful and demeaning- the worst part is that it doesn't matter whether the lady's educated or not, comes from a socially better strata - the shame of acknowledging it is immense. Its avery lonely battle. Annabelle Joseph has got all these emotions i
In beautifully.

Overall, a very unexpected read but I'm happy that i went ahead with it.J will definitely recommend it but be warned its definitely not a pleasant rosy read but an extremely thorny one.

Recommended: 👍👍

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author,I ended up really enjoying this book more than I expected to.There was a section of this book that disturbed me,but I kept on reading and was glad that I did.Very nice grovel by the hero by the way.4****

[Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok..ive got to say..i love you, harmoney ...

BUT COME ON ! HOW MANEY TIMES WILL YOU LET HIM SPANK YOU THE SHIT OUTTA YOU AND FORGIVE HIM EVERY DAMN TIME !!! I MEAN COME ON ! THAT IS JUST UTTER BULL !



FOR GOD SAKE be a woman and stand up to him will you ?!

AND YOU COURTLAND, YOU seriously need a much DESERVED -SPANKING from me young man !




seriously i was starting to love you and this book ! so DAMN MUCH !!! AND THEN YOU HAD TO GO AHEAD AND FREAKIN RUIN IN ! HUMPH ! :/ But sadley there is NO WAY in hell i can give this one less that a 3.5 star it was just sooo good.....

the beginning part anyway :P

[Lady Nilambari Reads HR · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars!

I have mixed feelings about this book, not with the light BDSM genre but this story in particular.

Plot Summary
Harmony is everything opposite of her name, chaotic. The Duke of Courtland is formidable and put together, always. When Harmony's antics land them in a compromising position at a house party, there is no choice but to marry. Court has some peculiar proclivities that will see Harmony disciplined every time she fails to be the proper Duchess and sometimes, just for fun.

My Thoughts
- This is my first book from this author. And fair warning, I am not an avid reader of this genre.
- The story was written well. For the most part, it was an almost sweet romance, not an erotica, until it was.
- What I realised was that the reader's point of view matters greatly with this genre. If you read it from an independent, self-sufficient female perspective, understanding the heroine's submissive aspect may be difficult, and you may end up disliking the book, which can be unfair to the story & the author.
- Having said that, what I greatly disliked was that the discipline aspect was rooted in Harmony's punishment for her improvement and not in fun. The birching and the caning deeply disturbed me, not the acts themselves but the reasons behind them. It took away from the purity of a D-S relationship, psychologically speaking.
- This story put forth a love-hate-love position with everything. It started with me loving the hero & the story but hating the heroine, then loving the heroine, hating the hero & where the story was going, and finally me making peace with whatever scraps were thrown to make it seem romantic.
- The characters, were different, interesting from a psychoanalytical standpoint and seemed paradoxical to me.
- Harmony's unruly naivete stopped being charming and became stubbornness for the sake of stubbornness. But my heart still broke for her. Courtland was great initially, then the birching happened and I lost my respect.
- My biggest problem with this book was that the romance got packed up, put in the back seat, then in the trunk and was thrown out of the door, only to be magically retrieved? I have trouble believing how quickly they reconciled and that she forgave him in mere hours. I would not have been this lenient considering there was shockingly little grovelling.

My Recommendation
It had 50 Shades of Grey elements, it was interesting to read the DS perspectives specifically from a professional therapist's standpoint but this genre is not for me. Hence, regretfully I cannot make a recommendation.

[carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and was pleasantly surprised by the historical accuracy of the representation of Regency society, particularly the aristocracy. The story is about a minor aristocrat and young lady Harmony, who has developed a passion for reading and history, and had far more freedom growing up with her overindulgent widowed father than most of her counterparts. However, her brother has taken it upon himself to alternately guard her honour, whilst laughing and bullying her as she travels from house parties and balls in forlorn hopes by her brother of procuring a suitable husband for his non conventional sister.
She meets the Duke, Courtney first hiding beneath a desk reading. I liked the fact Harmony didn't fit the mould society expected. Then through unconventional behaviour, the Duke as protector, finds himself having to marry her in order to save her honour yet again, despite the fact that she is well beneath his social status and title in the marriage contract stakes of Regency England.

Harmony certainly doesn't fit in with the Dowager Duchess, and what she'd hoped and expected for her son and heir. Harmony is very much at odds with taking her place in society as one of the leading families of societies Ton. When the Duke begins carrying out Domestic Discipline there came a time where he lost his temper and I was so sorry for Harmony as the disciplinarian becomes an abusive, vindictive and cruel man, for faults that in today's society he would be seen as wrong to blame her for. Times were different then and a woman no matter what her station was under the rule of her husband his chattel to do and treat as he wished. This shows this situation well. Yet despite the lowest points, Annabel Joseph turned things to be the right outcome for most readers and of course for her characters.

Parts of this were very erotic. I was pleased with the ending. This story shows well the differences between abuse, domestic discipline and erotic discipline. It is well written and edited, and quite different from the other BDSM books I have read by Annabel Joseph. I considered this for 4 and 5 stars and opt for just 5 stars based on quality and accuracy of this historical period as well as the sexual and disciplinary content, plus good standard of edited English.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmmm..I wanted to like this book better, but I just didn't/couldn't.

Initially what put me off was that Harmony seemed way too over-the-top ditzy. I just didn't buy that she didn't know or care about the consequences of her actions. Whether it was walking to the Roman ruins, using the wrong flatware, letting the dog into the dining room, etc. It didn't make her seem free-spirited, it made her seem like a stupid airhead.

Then what put me off was Court! Someone please remove the stick from his ass, and then beat him with it! What a monumental jerk. I understand that early in their marriage, Harmony agreed to go along with Court's need to 'discipline' her. However, he broke that basic rule -- he lost his temper -- and he beat her...That's not allowed. I never got the sense that his character understood how terribly wrong it was, or that he changes in any real way.

So..1 star.

[Serial Romance Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Book Q & A***

* How did the book make you feel?: Although there were parts of this book that greatly frustrated me, I enjoyed it.

* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The plot was well-paced. The characters, setting, and dialogue were all well-written and entertaining. I enjoyed this author’s take on regency romance.

* What did you think about the main characters?: I liked Court until he became overly heavy-handed (many would argue abusive). Also, I wished he had groveled more. I wanted to like Harmony, and I liked her for standing up for herself, but I didn’t like that she was often TSTL. Her impulsiveness could’ve killed her TWICE without Court’s intervention. The dog thing was absolutely absurd too. I was rolling my eyes!

* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: I enjoyed the angst. I also enjoyed how the evil MIL came around. She became one of my fave characters.

* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: wallflower bride, shotgun wedding, h doesn’t think she’s good enough for H

* What did you think about the ending?: I enjoyed it, but I was a bit disappointed in Harmony for insisting that Court should continue disciplining her harshly after everything! I also needed more grovel from Court.

* What is your impression of the author?: I definitely would like to read more.



Possible Triggers and Safety: physical abuse

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always such a comfort to tuck into a Regency romance, where I can be sure to read about the oddities of the season, the capricious opinions of the ton, and invariably end up at one or more balls and/or house parties. These things don't occur in my life, for which I'm very grateful, but they make for great reading.

On the downside Regency romances can get stale after reading several hundred of them. It isn't unusual to have feelings of deja vu while reading one.

Disciplining the Duchess combined the comforts of Regency life with several twists that brought fresh air to an often stale genre. I liked both Court and Harmony - particularly Harmony. I particularly enjoyed their dialog which was often quite humorous. Harmony is irreverent, intelligent, and exceedingly impulsive. Harmony lacks discipline. Court is diligent, dedicated and a Duke with all the discipline the role requires. Court lacks joy and enthusiasm for life. Together these two both complement one another and share a very deep love.

I particularly enjoyed the honesty in their relationship - the willingness to make mistakes and own up to them. The solution this couple found for their seemingly insurmountable problems was refreshing, romantic and really, really hot!

I recommend this book to those who like Regency romances, domestic discipline, erotic spanking, and/or light BDSM books with imperfect characters, some laugh out loud moments, and a very satisfying HEA.

[Books&Brews · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 85% because I couldn’t stand to read another word of this book.

Light bdsm and consensual discipline is one thing in a book, but abuse and trauma is another entirely different thing. There were some rather enjoyable scenes early on in this story, but then out of no where I felt like I was reading an ENTIRELY different novel. In a matter of one scene, the discipline was no longer consensual or productive but instead traumatizing and deeply uncomfortable to read in a ROMANCE BOOK. There is NOTHING romantic about abusing your wife to the point that she becomes a shell of herself in fear of what you will do next.

To top it all off, this book’s abrupt acceptance of the MMC’s actions and complete forgiveness was disturbing and dangerous. After that, I couldn’t stomach another word of that story. I was waiting for her to leave or to get the chance to confront her ABUSER, but that moment was exchanged for a sex scene…disgusting. No one should accept abuse (physical or emotional) from their partner, and it certainly should not be portrayed as a romantic thing in a book. This went far beyond the very real and normal ups and downs involved in marriage and love. This went far beyond consensual bedsport. This was abuse.

[KatieV · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was better than much of what you see in this genre. There was real emotion. But, the hero never made up for his brutal behavior in the caning. He recognized it was brutal and did say "I am sorry" but that just wasn't enough for me. I felt sorry for her. I don't believe she ever thought she was good enough for him when it was clearly the other way around.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read!
When the intellectual spinster Harmony's impulsive nature leads her to be unintentionally compromised by the duke Court, they are forced into marriage by society.
How he tries to mould her into a duchess, while spanking her both for fun and her misdeeds forms the story.
I really liked the interaction between the H and h before the wedding.
After it, the couple were passionate with some really good angsty moments.
Harmony was a kind, gentle klutz who got into trouble more often than normal, and the way she adjusted to her married life was a pleasure to read. Her fascination with life and history and nature and animals..it really made her a great heroine.
Court tries to change his wife, but at the same time, keeps falling more in love all the while understanding how her nature is what makes her special. I loved their sex as well as tender moments- and the last 3/4th of the book is my favorite.
Safe read
4/5

[Beck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh...I found Court to be an arse & it annoyed me that Harmony forgave him so easily...to make the transition from bully to loving disciplinarian somewhat believable, there needed to be more introspection & personal development on the the part of Court & Harmony should have required more than a quick diddle to rekindle her love. This was my first foray into m/f romance in over a year & it has me scurrying back to the m/m genre with alacrity.

[Kiki]

You can like this book. However in that case, I don’t agree with your opinion. My opinion is exactly opposite of yours. Well have to agree to disagree.

My view is exactly the same for a D/s relationship or any controlling relationships where one party feels they have the right to discipline and as per this book “fix” the other . I am an accountant, not a psychologist. However I do have commonsense and I usually do apply it. And this is where my common sense is leading me and I’d like to know if “I just like to control” would cut in a psych eval.

However you’re entitled to your opinion and your choice of lifestyle as long as its consensual.

But every time someone says “I don’t like to do this to you, you make me do this, this is for your own good, you deserve this”, whether consensual or not, please do remember these are the trademark dialogues of an abusive partner, and a rapist. The similarities are uncanny, and I personally don’t really believe in coincidences.

This review pretty much nailed my point of view on this book and the content.

Read sraxe's 1-star review of Disciplining the Duchess by Annabel Joseph
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Aղցela W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler Ahead This was an ok read that was kind of slow in the beginning. Miss Harmony Barrett has managed to repel every gentleman of consequence and engineer a debacle at Almack’s so horrifying that her waltzing privileges are revoked. I like reading historical reads and I read Ms. Joseph's "Spanked Series" and I liked all of the books in that series and I thought that this book would be like that one. The Duke of Courtland, a man known for his love of duty and decorum. He is an only child that had been raised with the responsibility and duty that all dukes face only more so. The marriage between the two is due to another one of Harmony's scrapes, and the Duke ends up in a compromising situation with her. While Harmony doesn't care at all, the Duke is very conscious of his reputation and does the right thing by marrying Harmony. Harmony finds that this particular type of foreplay is something she likes very much. Both fall in love with each other for many reasons, but the largest is Harmony finally feels safe with Court, and Court finally feels he can be himself with Harmony. This book reminded me of books two and three in the spanked series. The sex scenes were ok. Overall this was an ok book.

[Jannockj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel

It is often the case while reading a historical romance novel set in ye olde England that there are complaints against the modern use of language or perhaps an Americanism that just wouldn't be used in England at the time. For example, my one pet hate is the use of 'British' instead of 'English' or 'Scottish.' I am leading up to a point here, while reading the Disciplining the Duchess I had problems leaving my modern sensibilities behind and fully going with the concept
that a husband would discipline to correct behaviour. I understand that the novel is in the sub genre BDSM and there were elements of the kinky spanks that you would expect from this genre. The corrective thing though? This was new.

I decided early on though that I would allow the author to take me along this journey, I admit I was intrigued. How was Annabel Joseph going to justify this domestic abuse. Is it domestic abuse? How would Joseph present the Hero so I didn't despise him?

Harmony Barratt is presented as an impulsive oddity whose circumstances is greatly changed caused in part by an ill thought out expedition attempt. Constantly berated by a brother for causing embarrassment, made fun of by her so called friends.

Harmony never quite feels good enough and this is essential to understanding why she would allow her husband to discipline her.

It is the guilt and sorrow Harmony feels that the author uses to justify the first disciplinary spanking, there is a distinction since Courtland, the duke likes the other kind of spanking too. The first spanking is a surprise to Harmony but she strangely feels like more at peace with her actions. This is pretty much the theme the novel takes. The spanking sessions are due to just behaviour itself, but also a way for Harmony to make peace with herself. She never fully feels like she deserves a duke and is constantly guilty that he has had to settle.

“Thank you for making them respect me today,” she said. “For saving me from ruin. For marrying me. I’ll—I’ll try to be—to be a good wife for you.”

At times, it was uncomfortable reading about how Harmony acted, she is cited to being in her early 20's but there are times where her immaturity presented her as younger and Courtland as some sort of stern father figure.

Annabel Joseph did a good job in creating characters where this behavior strengthened them rather than making them completely unbelievable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked that Harmony grew to resent Courtland after a particularly intense session, it made her seem more real. I liked that Courtland admitted that he loved her pretty early on in their marriage, no angst for him. I liked that he appeared frustrated by Harmony's reactions. I liked that they talked to each other, something that is actually rare in this genre. Yes, the idea of disciplining a spouse was an uncomfortable notion to start with but lets not forget the time in which this novel is set. Where women were very much the possession of her husband, to do as he pleased. My job, as the reader was to try and not thrust upon these characters my modern ideals, much like it is the job of the author to make me able to forget those strongly held, I might add, ideals.

Annabel Joseph just about succeeded

[Wicked Nyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book!

Once upon a time, I read historical romance by the wheelbarrow-ful, and this book reminded me why I loved some of them.

The synopsis is not entirely accurate, as the compromising situation was not stumbled upon blindly - at least not by the Duke of Courtland. He saw that he had a choice and chose to step into the situation, fully and completely aware that to do so, meant he would be marrying Harmony. While it is not spelled out in the book, I believe he continued on because he truly wanted to marry Harmony, but she was so thoroughly unsuitable for a man of his rank that the only possibility of the match had to happen through the rules and strictures of the society they inhabitted.

I loved Harmony and her bookish ways, probably because I identify with both her intellectual pursuits as well as her social akwardness. Her mother died when she was very young, and her father was absent and indulgent, so she never had cause or chance to develop the social skills that the other young ladies of her set did in childhood. She knows that she does not fit, but also believes if she can manage through this last season she will be settled in the country to study and read and not be expected to continue with any activities of the ton. She truly does not understand that the compromising situation truly will force a marriage between herself and the Duke, and when she does, she is horrified at saddling someone of his station with a wife like herself. Her guilt and her belief that he will someday come to despise who she is, is both completely believable in context and palpable to the reader.

Court, unlike so many heroes in this genre of fiction, is not perfect. He is delightfully flawed, without the overwhelming angst of so many written about today. He makes mistakes, and in his desire to have Harmony be accepted by the ton he attempts to "fix" her, without realizing that "fixing" her will make her not be the Harmony that he loves.

The secondary characters are interesting as well, and flawed as they should be. So often the secondary characters in this genra are one-dimensional, either good or bad with no gray area in their actions. The secondary characters in this book are multi-dimensional and the reader can see them as real people, not just props to show the primary characters good or bad qualities.

Yes, this is a domestic discipline themed book, but it is also a wonderful story of two lonely people who find each other when neither was looking or expecting it.

[**Manjula ♥ Books** · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 DUKE OF COURTLAND STARS

I fell in love with this book, every single page of it. Not a boring bit in between. It's one of my favorites this year. I don't know if I can do this book justice in a review, I'll try my best though.

I cried. I cried for Harmony. I cried at the injustice. I cried happy tears when Court reclaimed their love. 'Disciplining the Duchess' has more of 'Domestic Discipline' than any other form of BDSM. I think people nowadays consider this to be a part of TTWD (This thing we do). There is a fine line between DD and abuse. Sadly, more often it's abuse.

This book is romance at its zenith. Court and Harmony, such a lovely couple. I absolutely loved Harmony's spirit. And Court.... What a striking personality! Their chemistry was off the charts and the sex - can't even begin describing it. So freakin' hot!

Truly one of the best historical romances I've ever read.

Highly recommend it to everyone who likes romance and doesn't mind a bit of spanking.

[Vzolin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had potential but it's simple hard do go thru the abuse scenes.
The male lead was abused when he was a child and in turn abuses his wife. The transition from abuser to loving disciplinarian happens so fast that the ending doesn't seen to be a ending at all.
I was left with the impression that the books ends in a period of calm. There is no doubt in my mind that His Grace will start abusing her again. The child she gives him in the last chapter will probably be a victim too.

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

Disciplining the Duchess was my second Annabel Joseph novel. I’m a sucker for Erotic Historicals but BDSM stories always make me a little uncomfortable, not knowing how far ‘things’ will go etc. But I must admit I enjoyed this much better than the author’s other EHR, Lily Mine. Got me hooked right from the beginning and I felt the need to know what’s going to happen next. This book also made me very emotional at the most unexpected moments. Why, I’ll try to explain in the following...

At the beginning of the story, our h, Harmony, a spinster almost on the shelf, is attending the country house-party of a prominent family, the Darlingtons. She’s rumored to be ‘odd’. Harmony is not from a very rich family, being the daughter of a shy baron who was never very good at socializing himself. But it’s mainly because Harmony doesn’t know the practiced coyness and ‘arts’ of banters that young ladies her age or the debutantes are so good at. Moreover, she rather smart! Harmony can’t stand the girls with whom she is forced to act as ‘friends’. Most of them aren’t kind to her, with veiled barbs and sweetly-packed jabs coming her way at every opportunity. All Harmony can do is roll her eyes at their activities and try to stay away whenever she can.

I liked Harmony right from the start because she was, indeed, smart... for the first couple of chapters anyway. She had pale blonde hair, blue eyes and a curvy body, yet she thought she’s not beautiful enough to catch a suitor. Her elder brother, Stephen, is also attending the party. He’s a good-looking young rake but very insensitive. He’s selfish and isn’t kind to Harmony most of the times. He’s also determined to marry her off with this old, fat guy who has been sniffing about her for a while now. Well, that man is titled, so that worked for Stephen no doubt! But Harmony will not have it. She’s determined to dodge these attempts, which is how she was introduced to our hero, Court or the young Duke of Courtland.

The girls have been twittering about Court since day one. There are rumors about his ‘uncomfortable habits’ all through the Ton parlors, spoken behind the fans with giggles and blushes. The rumors are outrageous and Harmony didn’t believe a single thing. Yet it was obvious that the girls were also very intrigued by this young Duke who doesn’t mingle with many. The gossips about him joining the house-party also have been abound, and when he does step into the parlor one day, Harmony can’t take his eyes off of him. The Duke of Courtland is exceptionally tall, broad-shouldered with dark hair and a pair of eyes of undeterminable color; blue or green or blue-green, changing always. Those eyes seemed kind, not the types the gossips talk about. Before that though, Harmony and Court meet at the Darlington’s library for the first time, not knowing each-other’s identity. It was an awkward meeting both didn’t forget. But Harmony captured Court’s attention and interest on spot. It was only funny to realize later that she is that same ‘odd Barrett girl’ his mother has been trying to warn him about. Not that Court cares. He cares about his responsibilities and knows he must marry soon but his mother can be too much sometimes, always talking about keeping the noble blood intact by marrying an heiress of their standard. Court is tired of her nagging, and so, maybe just to rile her up even more, he begins to pursue Harmony... Or maybe not!

It was also obvious that the girls are now very interested in him now that they’ve seen him in person, but that doesn’t deter them from saying bad things about Court. Harmony, whom Court very unexpectedly (to her) saved from one of Stephen’s reproaches, has been having this odd notion about defending him. After their ‘official’ meeting, Court and Harmony begin to meet at outings and walks together, one including a visit to the Darlington’s art gallery. Her knowledge on various arts instantly impresses Court. He can imagine that a well-read girl would have trouble getting suitors. But he can’t stop imagining lurid things about Honorable Miss Barrett that just might include his fetish; the discipline and spanking he’d so love to mete out on her lovely backside.

Court’s own life hasn’t been a sweet little story either. His father was a controlling, ill-tempered man who loved doing whatever he wished. He was horrible to everyone, including his own wife, treating her badly and cheating on her often. This a$$hole wanted his only son and heir to be molded into his own lofty sense of perfection. As a result, a young Court grew up under staunch discipline that included caning whenever he displeased his father and without any close friends whatsoever. He doesn’t even know how to express intense feeling without... well, his ‘unmentionable habits’. He has been discreet so far in his carnal endeavors but the gossips about him are horrendous. Even Court is embarrassed by those. He’s bad, oh yes, but not as bad as they make him out to be. He is obviously not very close to his mother either, and so, after meeting Harmony, the feelings Court begin to have for her were not very unexpected. It was obvious that he felt at ease with Harmony.

It was one of Harmony’s jaunts that led them to a disaster of sort. You see, Harmony wanted to see this Roman Wall that can be visited much more easily from Darlingtons’ country house than London. Stephen never took her there, she’s not allowed to do it on her own. The History geek in her wouldn’t let it be, so she gathers now is her chance! Once, Harmony expressed her wishes to Court but even Court never thought she’d take it up on herself to set out all alone. When he finds out, something inside him forces him to go look for her. No one yet knew of her absence, but Court knew that the journey back and forth will take at least a day, which means they’ll have to spend the night at an inn. It also means words will go out and they’ll have to marry... But Court couldn’t let something bad happen to Harmony because, by now, he knows her brother wouldn’t really bother. He finds Harmony on her way, walking alone and on the verge of tear. She’s left by the man she hired to take her there. Court is exasperated but Harmony is determined to go, on foot if that is what it takes! I felt that Harmony needed to feel a little self-worth, to prove that she can do it on her own. But the world is not a safe place for a lone woman, and so, Court has little choice but to give into her demand.

It was a little immature of Harmony to think that they wouldn’t require marriage once everyone found out. She thought she’d never marry, and she certainly didn’t think Court would offer for her at any case. The ‘jaunt’, if you can call it that, didn’t turn out entirely bad. Harmony got to see the Roman Wall and their conversation spoke of budding intimacy, with a lot more on Court’s side. He was already thinking of asking for her hands.

It was at the inn where Harmony got her first experience of Court’s ‘uncomfortable habits’ aka a sound spanking because she was being so stubborn, without any discipline and made Court run after her. I would’ve been a little, um, uncomfortable but apparently, Harmony was not. She’s convinced, even thru her embarrassments, that she needed this to curb her ‘wild’ behavior. You’ll find this throughout the story, as if all was Harmony’s fault and Court wasn’t being a jerk at all. *sigh*

Even though Harmony tried to deter the inevitable, Court proposes and they’re married very soon, to Court’s mother, the Dowager Duchess’s utter dismay and horror! She’s forever whining that Court just sullied their aristocratic blood by marrying the likes of ‘that Barrett girl’. But Court is more than satisfied; after all he wanted Harmony since the day he saw her. The first few weeks are blissful, even with Court introducing her to sex and smaller dosages of spanking; first by hand, then using switches. Harmony is intrigued, and it turns her on to be spanked by her husband. Some of the so-called punishments were mainly for very frivolous (to me) ‘wild, undisciplined’ deeds and Court, of course, needed to ‘punish’ her to rightness.

I enjoyed those because those had a quality of playfulness and nothing over the top. Even though I don’t care for switches, normal spanking by hand is fine with me. However, as the story progressed, I saw things I didn’t feel entirely OK with. But what surprised me the most was Court being very disappointed in Harmony and her so-called ‘undisciplined’ ways. The things that bugged him were the very same things that enchanted him before marriage! He didn’t like her conversing as if she’s actually intelligent, anything that relates to her knowledge of History and Art, her frank words and straightforward ways. He wanted to mold her in a ‘perfect Duchess’ with perfect deportment, which I thought was hypocritical. I could also see that marriage had somewhat addled Harmony’s brain. She became clumsier and, I don’t know, stopped using her brain somewhat. It was emphasized that she liked her ‘punishments’ so much (since those were followed by intense lovemaking) that she did crazy stuff intentionally.

My reaction: eyeroll.

But things went genuinely downhill when the Dowager announced that the yearly Courtland ball is going to be cancelled because, obviously, the new Duchess is not nearly as able to carry it through as a real Duchess. But Court is not going to hear any of this. He’s determined. He’ll hire people to train Harmony and she’ll be The Duchess everyone, including him and his mother, would be proud of! Harmony WILL do it! I was so annoyed by Court’s presumptuous a$$ that I begin to shake my head at his lofty ‘announcements’, which obviously addled Harmony’s brain even more. She was obviously in love with Court and wanted to make him happy, proud of her. She was always made aware by him (before that, was her brother) that she’s no good in anything related to graceful comportment or charming manners. She knew she can’t really achieve this lofty goal and forcing her to do so didn’t sit well with me. I mean dude, you saw her before, she even warned you about how she’s not lived a life like that, why did you marry her if she’s not the type of Duchess you so obviously wanted? But Court says it’ll be done, so it’ll be done, no matter what! Ugh.

Harmony begins to train but... Well, nothing was really going as planned. Her punishments were now talking place weekly. Things were a bit shaky in their relationship, but not yet that bad. In the meanwhile, Harmony forms a friendship with an elderly scholar through letters. She knew Court wouldn’t be happy to know about it, after all the man is not even a family member. And she’s doing it without his permission. But Harmony wanted an outlet for her scholarly persona and those letters provided her with some sort of solace.

At that point, some new guests are invited for dinner, main reason is to introduce the new Duchess to them. One of them was Court’s ex-fiancée with whom he was engaged for a long time. But she left him hearing those gossips of his ‘uncomfortable habits’ and married another. Harmony knew of her and this woman was another of her vulnerabilities. After meeting her once on a walk, she was misguided into thinking that this woman is what Court obviously wanted in a wife. And he probably was in love with her. Harmony knows she’d never be as graceful and charming like her but she wants to try, just to make Court happy. This is what I meant by Harmony’s addled brain, she had a very swift personality transformation and I didn’t know if I liked it or not, not to mention Court’s own behavior.

On the day of the dinner is when disaster happened. I don’t even know why Harmony would chase an injured dog herself after being pinned up for the dinner, when there were plenty of servants to do so. But she does, and shames Court and the Dowager in front of the guests when the dog barges into the house, followed by a muddy, dirty Harmony in a torn gown. That was a disaster, yes, but Court loses his temper. And what he does to her in the cold, dark study of his late father, a place of his own humiliation, was NOT disciplining her. He beat her a$$ sore with a cane, I have no other subtle way to explain it. It was so awful to read, I begin reconsidering my rating.

This also creates a big gap in their relationship. Harmony becomes subdued, sort of a puppet, not as lively and spontaneous as before. She didn’t know if she can endure another of those ‘sessions’ if she does something wrong. They also stop sleeping together. I, for once, was happy that she didn’t just lie there and let Court ‘have his way’. Harmony was avoiding Court as much as it could be done politely. I enjoyed reading Court’s own tormented thoughts because he understood that this time he went too far, which mattered to me. I thought he was an arrogant and abusive boor but his own musings were enough. Court was very unhappy about not being able to undo this wrong because he had no idea what to do to. It was plain that he was missing the Harmony before this unfortunate change. He tries his best to take her out on walks, to museums but Harmony is largely listless, without enthusiasm. Can’t blame her dude. After what you did to her, I probably would’ve broke the cane on your head!

One of the best things happens at this point between Harmony and her MIL, who has been the bane of her existence since she came into Court’s life. Then, there was her injured arm, a result of Harmony’s less-than-graceful entry on that fateful dinner. Harmony thought all hopes for any support from this area were forever lost. But one day, while writing letters for the Dowager (one of the things Court made her promise while caning her) things change. The Dowager, it seems, has softened towards Harmony after spending time with her for the last couple of weeks. I loved how the whole thing started. How it’s revealed that the Dowager knew exactly the type of Harmony’s misery, only her own pain was much more intense that her DIL’s. We get a glimpse of the Dowager’s past with an abusive, cheating husband who never cared for her, ever. Worse was, she loved him anyway. I couldn’t even imagine what she went through, but all her blustering was a part of self-preservation, nothing else. The Dowager asks Harmony to not let go of whatever feelings she and Court shared, until it’s too late. I almost cried when I read that part and I was really happy when she found her own HEA too. This improved things between them because now Harmony and her MIL shared a common ground. Now she could understand where all those bitterness came from.

Even though, after sometimes, things change a little and Court is able to convince her that he was wrong and wants this to end, the next day, finding her letters with that scholar, Court is angry... again. He wouldn’t let her explain, being as pompous and assumptive as ever, dumping all the blame on her. How dare she exchange letter with another man not her husband or relative? Court was forever riddled with what’ll people think if they see/hear. He begins acting like a jealous douche. After another bout of word-exchange, Harmony is dragged back to that room... again, for another sound beating. OMG. I was SO MAD. WOW! I wanted to kill Court. That was NOT DONE jerk!! These two scenes marred quite a bit of my impression of Court, though initially I thought he’s just a misunderstood guy with a fetish not many understood, let alone talked about.

It was the way he later on sort of desperately works to mend things between him and Harmony that surprised me. It was quite well-written as if I could practically feel Court’s desperation to win his wife back because in his loco way, he loved Harmony. And he wanted to hear Harmony say the words back. He realized, ashamed, that he has done very wrong, the echo of his a$$ of a father’s actions haunting him. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to offer her to give up his spanking just so things are not that bad again. But, I’m not sure I agree with the kind of ‘middle ground’ they reached so that Court didn’t have to give up his spanking and Harmony can enjoy it too, with consent if I might add. I didn’t really like that chapter before the epilogue all that much. Ginger, really? That was just............. *blinks and shakes her head*

In the end, all I can say that this book made me feel things; emotions, good or bad doesn’t matter. And I like to feel. Personally, I’d only recommend this book to someone who isn’t bothered by the things I mentioned in my review. 4 stars.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written exceptionally well. The h (Harmony), at multiple times, did really foolish things for which the H (Court) felt the need to discipline her.

According to the era in which this story takes place, an unmarried woman is not allowed to travel without a chaperone, so when the h decides to travel alone to Newcastle to view some ancient Roman wall, the H accidentally finds her, while walking, when she tries to hire a wagon in order to take her there, naturally, the H is absolutely strict and gets angry with her for not having a chaperone or even her brother with her. He knows from the get go that if he goes to the Roman walls to protect her from travelling alone, he will have to marry her as she would be ruined.
And hence our story unravels with a childish at times very very foolish h and a very very strict but patient H. Her inability to understand the world they lived in really astonished me. But she was endearing and the best part was when she wanted to rescue and safely send home an injured and sweet dog. But the consequences of doing that were dire.

Overall a really good read and I recommend it.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I'm not into historical romances. They make me think of stiff dresses and stiff ladies and stiff sticks up peoples' a$$e$. I don't go picking up historical romances, it's just not my thing... That's what I kept telling myself. But when Annabel Joseph came out with Disciplining the Duchess, I had to buy it and I had to read it. Because ... Annabel Joseph. Duh. (Okay, so I’ll confess that I had already read Lily Mine and Cait and the Devil by this point and loved those too, so I knew this would be another great story. In fact, I've kind of turned on to reading some more historical romances because of these books.) She made this book so fun to read. The characters just came to life, they were realistic, stayed true to their time period in a believable way, yet managed to put themselves into some really funny situations... Well, Miss Harmony did. And it was quite fun to watch her squirm.

Harmony is a bit of a screw up. She’s so caught up in her books and her own antics that she forgets about her other responsibilities and just hopes for the best. But as the reader, I still loved her and hoped she wouldn’t ever lose that passion for life and love and her childlike views. And when she screwed up, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about her getting her bum warmed by the ultimate hotness – Court, the Duke.

Court is the epitome of the Alpha male. He holds a prominent position of power as a peer of the realm, he’s older than Harmony and has been around the block and knows what he’s doing in and out of the bedroom. Yet, even with all that it’s so easy to see him as a real person... he has flaws. Cause being dominant and rich doesn’t mean being perfect. Court deals with the same issues other people deal with – making mistakes, being too harsh, too soft, dealing with guilt…

What I really liked is that the love story was developed in relative real time. Harmony and Court might have been thrown together rather quickly, but their journey took time. They don’t magically fall in love at first sight and everything falls right into place… They have struggles, they both screw up and then grow up a bit and I, as the reader, went through the journey with them and laughed and cried right along with them… maybe even changed my panties a few times when they got hot and steamy.

It also really helped that the spanking and discipline scenes were very hot and fun and the dynamic was right on. Everything just flowed so well.

Another point for this book is that there was a storyline that did not revolve around the sex. Don’t misunderstand – the sex was HOT, but it’s also nice when the story itself is interesting and holds you captive, so you’re not thinking, “when is the next sex scene?” Instead, you can’t wait to find out what happens next, period. It’s just really nice when the erotica part is seamlessly integrated into the story and Annabel Joseph definitely succeeds with that.

I highly recommend this book - it has everything you can ask for - humor, romance, HOT sex, HOT discipline, loveable characters, and, while last, probably also most important is that the book has an interesting story!

If you found this review helpful and would like to read more of my reviews please go to haydeereviews dot blogspot dot com.

[Ela (Mouse333) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book, but it felt like Court and Harmony didn’t suit each other at all.

The beginning was fine, but the book started to drag a bit as nothing really happens. Court and Harmony get married and for most of the book it shows how everyone disapproves of Harmony, and Court and Harmony sleeping together.

The thing that made me dislike this book was how Court was apparently attracted to Harmony and how different she was, but when they got married, after he got over them sleeping together, he wanted to change her. He called it ‘improving her’, which I didn’t understand as the things he found interesting about her, were also the things he wanted to get rid of now. For a part of the book, he forgets about the fact that his wife is a person and listens to the ton and his mother when they say that she is a disgrace.

Also, I didn’t like how one of the scenes show a family dinner where Court’s mother scolds him for how he was treating Harmony. She was the one who told him that it was humiliating to have Harmony as a daughter in law and that he has embarrassed her in front of the ton by marrying a nobody like Harmony. I really didn’t like Court’s mother, and the fact that she takes no responsibility for her actions annoyed me.

I thought that this book would be interesting, but I didn’t like the characters and I thought that Court and Harmony’s relationship shouldn’t have happened. They wanted different things and Court wanted Harmony to still be interesting but also change so that she would fit into society.

[Yingtai · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with Annabel Joseph, my libido enjoyed the book up to where the hero loses control and abuses the heroine, and then it kind of threw up and shut down when the hero decided he was perfectly within his rights to beat a depressed and fighting wife. Only the contrast was much greater this time, because I *really* enjoyed the couple when they were getting along. And because the abuse came earlier in this book than in most of Annabel Joseph's books, with a more episodes of good sex afterwards, I found out that things really were completely ruined for me even when the consent had been long repaired.

To be fair, the hero does realise he was wrong, but that evidently wasn't enough for my subconscious. I've come to the conclusion that Annabel Joseph, like E. L. James and Cherise Sinclair, actually enjoys borderline bad consent. And since they are so popular, I am reluctantly starting to suspect that an awful lot of readers like it too. Honestly, it's strange that I don't, since I really enjoy fic with really bad consent, but something about these milder cases squicks me hard - where consent was given for something else, and then withdrawn for the act that the hero insists on, and the author seems to be siding with the hero during the episode itself. Even when the hero realises his mistake at the time or later, as with Annabel Joseph and E. L. James.

[Mey Buentipo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well the first BDSM book that I read. Honestly I got hooked from the characters of the h/h. I loved the start of the book, the flow and then I got disturbed when the spanking started. At first, I can't understand why, some men will do that. As I go on reading the book and keeping an open mind, I thought on myself that some people find pleasure on there partners pain. Spanking for pleasure is one thing, but when the spanking for punishment and using a stick for it... Well that I can't imagine. I felt pity with the heroine who suffered from too much spanking. This is the part that bothered me from this story. Why the hero abused the heroine,and I can't understand if the heroine liked it or not.

I had very mix feelings while reading this book. I am happy that the heroine left the hero and then sad the she found her. I don't know what will I picture of the hero... Is he villain or a hero of the book.

This is a book that all through the story, I have to keep an open mind. I just to face facts that some partners like pain and pleasure together.

For my first book of BDSM I giving it 3.5 starts.

[ies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gw bacanya baper dong, pas mbaknya ditabokin sama masnya pengen gw bales tabokin masnya ahahahahaha lagian segitu susahnya apa nerima mbaknya apa adanya, trs pas masnya galau mbaknya berubah gw tambah kesel! lah gimana sih.. itu yg die arepin, tp pas berubah kaga terimaaaaaa... huh huh huh.. #ngebul

Jadi.. asal muasalnya tu Harmony Barret, anak earl dan ude 5 season tu die gak bisa memikat lord satupun, karena tiap kali di ajakin ngobrol si Harmony ini terlalu pinter dan sering ngomongin sejarah, dan bikin para lord nya males trs die sll dipandang lady yg aneh. Harmony sendiri si ude gak ngarep merit, bapaknya gak masalah jg.. die jg di supply banyak buku sama bpknya, masalahnya itu kakaknya yg pengen banget die merit, dan kadang kebangetan gt lah.. ini si mbak di ajakin ke pesta country nya salah satu temen bapaknya sama kakaknya, bapaknya ude mengundurkan diri di estate dan semua urusan keluarga kakaknya yg ngurusin. jd mau gak mau ya Harmony nurut deh sama kakaknya, apalagi di deket estate lord yg mo ada pesta ada reruntuhan dinding romawi dan Harmony pgn banget kesono. Pas lagi menyelinap di perpustakaan, si Harmony gak sengaja amprokan sama lord yg ganteng banget.. meski dingin dan barter obrolan masalah sejarah dst dst, taunya pas makan malem tu lord gak laen adalah Duke of Courtland, Duke dingin yg kata ton ditinggalin tunangannya kr punya kelakuan "aneh".

Duke of Courland, namanya Benedict kl gak salah.. tp gak pernah dipanggil Benedict dari die lahir ude dipanggil gelar marquess nya dan pas die jd Duke umur 14th semua orang manggil die Courtland / Court bahkan ibunya pun begitu. Court dibesarkan dgn disiplin yg tinggi, die anak tunggal dan ude pasti bakalan jadi Duke kan.. bapaknya gak segan2 buat mukulin die sedari kecil. si Court ini dari kecil kayak ude dijodoin sama Gwen anak tetangga gt, masalahnya Gwen trs jatuh cinta sama salah satu lord dan mereka merit karena cinta. Semua ton membicarakan kalau Court di tinggalin sama Gwen karena kelakuan "aneh" nya. Yup, si Court demen spank gt kl sama courtesan tp die jg tau tak mkn spank Gwen, tp ya sudah.. Gwen ude merit dan hepi die jg akan cari istri buat die sendiri.. toh Duke butuh heir kan. Nah pas sampai di country estate salah satu lord (gw lupa) buat pesta gt, si Court yg males ngeliatin lady2 pada lemah gemulai milih ke perpustakaan dan ketemu Lady yg kocak, karena bisa ngomongin sejarah dst dst.

Nah Harmony ude diwanti2 sama lady2 temennya, jgn pernah mau sama si Duke, die menyeramkan dan si Court ude diwanti2 emaknya gak boleh deket2 sama Barret Girl karena die aneh dari awal sebelum mereka ketemu makanya pas setelah insiden di perpustakaan dan mereka sadar siapa satu sama laen malah susah buat menghidar (makin dibilang jangan kan makin pengen LOL). Duke nya beberapa kali nolongin Harmony pas lg terdesak, dari dance sampai jalan keliling lake gt.. yg sampe di sindirin sama banyak orang dan emaknya si Duke jelas-jelas gak suka. Puncaknya tu pas HArmony nekad ke reruntuhan sendiri kr kakaknya gak mau anter dan Duke nya niatnya mo nolongin, akhirnya spend the night together meski gak bobo bareng, si Duke nya kissu aja enggak.. nahan diri banget pokoknya.

Sampai di estate tuan rumah lagi kan.. Harmony ruined pasti dan si Duke bilang mo meritin kok dari awal, dari awal nolongin si Harmony Court ude mikir gak punya pilihan laen pas balik selaen meritin si lady, masalahnya Harmony nya gak mau.. gak adil banget katanya, kasian si Duke nya hanya karena kesalahan die malah terjebak, ditambah mbaknya gak bakalan bisa jadi Duchess yg di harapkan Court dan mereka jg gak ngapa2in, Harmony jg yakin gak bakalan nikah sama siapa2, bakalan tinggal di country saja sama bapaknya buat mempelajari sejarah dan Courtnya kesel.. trs kissu2 mbaknya dgn heboh. Ya sudah merit deh...

Nah ya gituuu... emaknya Court jelas2 gak setuju sama Harmony dr awal, Court jg ngarep Harmony bisa jadi duchess yg die mau, dari dikasih tutor dst dst yg bkin si mbak begah banget.. puncaknya pas Gwen sama suami dan ortunya di undang makan malem trs Harmony bikin petaka dan di tabokin sama masnya. Mbaknya sampe nangis2 dan mohon2, sampe bilang "lo pgn istri kaya Gwen, lo pikir gw kaga mau jd Gwen, kalau bisa gw jg mau jadi kaya Gwen!" tp masnya yg lagi kesel gak mau denger gitu lah... ttp aja ditabokin. Sebenernya mereka jg sering tabok2 an lah.. tp tabokan pemanasan gt.. kl yg ini ditabokin beneran.. gw kesel!. Abis itu si lady nya jadi diem.. seminggu cuma ngomong yg penting2 doang sama si Duke, emaknya si Duke jg mulai simpati sama mbaknya.. mbaknya berubah kalem dan masnya kesel, gw lebih kesel lagi bacanya! masnya maunya apa sih!! kwkwkwkwkw...

Kali berikutnya pas masnya dapetin mbaknya surat2an sama scholar gt, ngomongin sejarah dan si scholar mo minta dana exspedisi dan si mbaknya jg mau ngomong kan ke suaminya, eh ketauan duluan.. masnya cemburu, mbaknya di gebukin lagi.. mbaknya sampe jerit2 "I hate you!" kali ini.. dan masnya jg ngerasa bersalah banget, karena die nabokin bkn untuk pelajaran tp kr die cemburu. Emaknya si Duke nanya ke mbaknya apa masnya sering mukilin die gt, dan bilang kl mbaknya lebih menyenangkan pas ceria seperti sebelumnya.. trs kasih tau kl Court dr kecil digebukin bapaknya dst dst.. tp Harmony nya sudah engap, die kaga bakalan bisa jadi istri yg di harapkan Court mo seberapa pun besar cintanya si mbak. Harmony minta pulang, kerumah papa nya yg langsung ditolak mentah2 sama Court, dan Courtnya galau.. ngerasa bersalah tp gengsi minta maap.. huh! trs di omelin emaknya.. jgn sampe kek papa nya die katanya. eh.. pas mo minta maap si mbaknya kabur...

Gregetan dan pgn ngakak gw pas si mbaknya ude kabur malah gak tau jalan dan tersesat... duuuhhhh... kwkwkwkw bahkan pas masnya nyusul dan mbaknya kekeh mo pulang ke rumah papanya si masnya bilang "kl lo emang beneran niat minggat, setidaknya lo apalin dulu jalannya!" trs masnya sujud2 minta maaf sih.. dan gak perduli Harmony mo jd duchess kek apa, yg penting jgn tinggalin gw lagi! ya sudah HEA deh... tabok2annya jadi terjadwal LOL

Kenapa tetep 4 bintang? karena gw kesel bacanya buahahahahahahahaha