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A Duchess for All Seasons #2
The Spring Duchess
A WALLFLOWER WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A DUCHESS…
An eccentric bluestocking with an affinity for hedgehogs, Eleanor Ward never had any dreams of grandeur when it came to making a good match. Perfectly content to become a spinster, she already had her cottage in the country picked out, complete with a barn for her menagerie of rescued animals. Until one night a lost hairpin and an arrogant duke ruin everything. Now she’s the Duchess of Hawkridge, the last thing in the world she ever wanted to be. And her husband? Well, he’s nowhere to be found.
A DUKE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A HUSBAND…
Furious at being tricked into marrying a woman who keeps a hedgehog in her pocket, Derek couldn’t get away from Eleanor fast enough after their vows were read. It’s been a year since he’s seen her, and he has no plans to change that anytime soon. Until his scheming cousin shows up and declares the union a sham. Now Derek has exactly one month to woo a wife he never desired and consummate a marriage he never wanted.
A MEANS TO AN END…OR A NEW BEGINNING?
It seems like a simple enough task, especially for a man whose romantic conquests are the stuff of legends. But nothing is simple when two stubborn hearts are involved, especially when Derek begins to see Eleanor in an entirely new light. With time ticking down, can a cynical duke convince his unconventional duchess their marriage is worth saving? This spring, only one thing is certain…love is definitely in the air.
The Spring Duchess is a Regency novella of approximately 35k words.
An eccentric bluestocking with an affinity for hedgehogs, Eleanor Ward never had any dreams of grandeur when it came to making a good match. Perfectly content to become a spinster, she already had her cottage in the country picked out, complete with a barn for her menagerie of rescued animals. Until one night a lost hairpin and an arrogant duke ruin everything. Now she’s the Duchess of Hawkridge, the last thing in the world she ever wanted to be. And her husband? Well, he’s nowhere to be found.
A DUKE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A HUSBAND…
Furious at being tricked into marrying a woman who keeps a hedgehog in her pocket, Derek couldn’t get away from Eleanor fast enough after their vows were read. It’s been a year since he’s seen her, and he has no plans to change that anytime soon. Until his scheming cousin shows up and declares the union a sham. Now Derek has exactly one month to woo a wife he never desired and consummate a marriage he never wanted.
A MEANS TO AN END…OR A NEW BEGINNING?
It seems like a simple enough task, especially for a man whose romantic conquests are the stuff of legends. But nothing is simple when two stubborn hearts are involved, especially when Derek begins to see Eleanor in an entirely new light. With time ticking down, can a cynical duke convince his unconventional duchess their marriage is worth saving? This spring, only one thing is certain…love is definitely in the air.
The Spring Duchess is a Regency novella of approximately 35k words.
101 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2018
767 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Eaton
89 books488 followersJillian Eaton has written over forty historical romances and is known for finding the perfect balance between "intense emotions, sizzling chemistry, and light-hearted humor" (Swept Away by Romance). She grew up in Maine and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their three boys on a 17-acre farm where they rescue and rehabilitate senior horses.
When she isn't writing, working at the barn, or playing a cutthroat game of Harry Potter Monopoly with her family, Jillian enjoys gardening, hiking, and being an adjunct professor at her Alma mater, Delaware Valley University.
If readers are new to her books, she always suggests the following:
Sweet and Swoony Romance: Duke at First Sight
Spicy and Mysterious: A Dangerous Seduction
All Around: Bewitched by the Bluestocking
Bit Darker: The Duchess Takes a Lover
When she isn't writing, working at the barn, or playing a cutthroat game of Harry Potter Monopoly with her family, Jillian enjoys gardening, hiking, and being an adjunct professor at her Alma mater, Delaware Valley University.
If readers are new to her books, she always suggests the following:
Sweet and Swoony Romance: Duke at First Sight
Spicy and Mysterious: A Dangerous Seduction
All Around: Bewitched by the Bluestocking
Bit Darker: The Duchess Takes a Lover
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
May 5, 2018
3.5 STARS.
Eleanor, the feisty, funny, animal collecting, independent minded, intelligent and sweet heroine of this novel was the star of this story ! She's the main reason I can give this novel 3.5 stars in spite of the H's lack of celibacy during their estrangement period. Eleanor hates the London Season and the loathes having to attend balls and dance with arrogant, vain dandies and aristocrats. At the start of the story Eleanor has a plan to ensure that her mother's scheme to marry her off to a suitable husband will fail. She's also got the most unusual cute pet: a little hedgehog called Henny ( full name is Mrs. Hensworth )
The heroine deliberately exaggerates all of her flaws ( especially her poor dancing skills ) and makes herself appear so clumsy and awkward that the finishing school instructor judges her to be a lost cause:
“There is a girl in my class with a wooden leg who moves more gracefully than your daughter,” Mrs. Ascot declared.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 133-134). Kindle Edition.
Eleanor's adorable and goofy; she always seems to get herself in one madcap situation or another, and, her poor mother is at her wits end after 5 seasons have passed with no offer of marriage for her pretty but clumsy daughter:
Eleanor takes Henny to a ball and the presence of the little hedgehog in her pocket leads a dance partner to almost swoon with unmanly shock. The heroine runs off to hide in one of the empty rooms of the house and it is here that she meets the surly, rakish H Derek, the Duke of Hawkridge:
Derek is searching for his slutty married mistress Vanessa and he enters the room to see a shapely female bottom stuck in the air while its owner's head is lodged under a low table. It's all Henny's fault because the little, mischievous hedgehog decided to play hide and seek, causing Eleanor to scramble around on the floor in an ungainly manner while searching for her pet. Derek thinks it's Vanessa shaking her ass in the air so he goes behind her and caresses her flanks and butt. Eleanor screeches and he is shocked but he stays to help extricate the heroine from her stuck position beneath the table. Lady Ward, the heroine's mother, walks in on this and it looks really bad ! They're positioned as if he's dry humping her butt ! It was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing. The hapless heroine is even more clueless because she fails to understand the implications of the situation:
Derek is MAD because he knows he's been trapped into an unwanted marriage. Eleanor is doubly angry because she hates him, finds him intolerable and tells him off in no uncertain terms:
“I don’t care who he is,” she said, and was rewarded for her bold statement when the duke’s smug smirk was abruptly replaced by a hard, narrow-eyed scowl.
“I’ve done nothing but call a donkey a donkey.” Her head tilted thoughtfully to the side. “Or in this case an ass an ass.”
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 447-449). Kindle Edition.
Needless to say, the H is offended !
The MC's are forced into a mutually unwanted marriage and both dislike each other intensely. This is the only reason why I was still able to not reduce the rating on this novel even though the H was not celibate during their initial separation. They both hated each other and she was more than happy to have an unconsummated marriage because it meant that she would be able to live in the country, at the magnificent ducal estate Hawkridge Castle, with all her beloved pets. I usually rate novels lower due to lack of celibate status on the part of one or both MC's but sometimes a situation needs to be judged on its own special merit. Other readers will obviously not agree with me and that's fine because everyone has her own measuring cup for the various triggers that sometimes turn up in romance novels. I will say though, that I did hate the fact that the author chose to include a little scene with Derek and the skanky married mistress Vanessa. He ended up dumping her in that scene, but it still left me feeling a bit disillusioned with the H.
That one scene was the only thing I disliked about this entire novel. The rest of the story was entertaining and wonderful and it's all due to Eleanor. Derek turns up after a year in London because his gold digging cousin ( who's next in line to the duchy's wealth ) wants to prove that the MC's marriage has not been consummated. There's an ironclad clause in the H's late grandfather's will which states that if he is not legally married at the end of the current year, then he will lose all the money he has inherited. The MC's reunion is an eye opener because Eleanor is wet, muddy and the odor of her pet barn animals still clings to her gown. They start off by arguing and I loved how she insulted him and was so annoyed that he had disrupted her happy life by returning to the castle. Eleanor honestly wished he would just go back to London and it was fabulous to see how this perplexed the haughty manwhore H, who was used to having all women swoon at the merest sign of a smile from his handsome face.
They were one of the best odd couples I've encountered in a romance novel. He tries to woo her with jewellery and gowns but she doesn't respond well to these gestures. He gives her flowers and she feeds it to the barn animals ! The single chivalrous gesture that made her happy was when he placed his expensive coat across a muddy pool so that she could step on it. Eleanor wasn't even happy because of his chivalry; she was happy in a mean girl sort of way because she was gleeful to see his deluxe coat become stained and ruined. That cracked me up a lot because it showed just how hard Derek had to work to get into the good graces of his spirited bride. He does gain some points for firing the rude housekeeper who treated Eleanor disrespectfully. When he eventually kisses her for the first time, he blown away because it's the most spectacular experience in his entire life:
One glancing kiss. That was all he had intended. But from the first moment he first tasted the sweet honey of her lips he’d wanted more. He’d craved more. And he didn’t know why. Eleanor was by no means experienced. He wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to learn that was her very first kiss. Yet despite her innocence, she’d entranced him like no other woman before her. Bracing his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward and buried his head in his hands. It just didn’t make any bloody sense. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to desire his own wife. No, not desire, he corrected himself grimly. Desire was too weak of a word. Yearning came close, but it was still insufficient. There was no word in the English language to describe what he’d felt. The power of it. The thrall. The ache. All of his mistresses combined had never made him feel even an ounce of whatever the hell it was he’d felt with Eleanor. And that was the bloody point. He didn’t want to feel. Feeling led to emotions, emotions led to disorder, disorder led to chaos.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 955-963). Kindle Edition.
Their lust eventually becomes too much and their relationship is consummated. Derek starts to change and become a rather loving and sweet husband. He starts to fall in love with Eleanor and just when everything is going so well for them, his nasty cousin turns up and the heroine hears all about the late grandfather's will. He does have to prostrate himself at her feet and beg her forgiveness before she relents and accepts his avowals of love. She does make him promise to get a few more hedgehogs for the spoilt and lonely Henny:
“Anything,” he said instantly.
“Henny has been feeling rather lonely lately–”
“No,” he said, already shaking his head.
“That hedgehog has already caused enough damage. We’re not getting another.”
“That hedgehog is the only reason we’re together,” she countered. When she put it that way…
“Very well. You can have as many hedgehogs as your heart desires.” Lifting her chin, he grinned crookedly down into her beaming face. “But only if you kiss me first.”
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 1556-1560). Kindle Edition.
There's a lot to enjoy in this novel, especially if you're an animal lover like me and the cute epilogue ( set 5 yrs in the future ) reveals that the MC's have a 4 yr old, pet loving daughter and a toddler son:
First Olivia and then Byron, now eight months old and growing like a weed. Fatherhood had also had the added benefit of making him an even better husband. Gone was the arrogant cad she’d married. In his place was a man who valued family first and foremost. A man who understood what was important in life. A man who finally knew that love wasn’t an inconvenience, but a gift. The most precious gift a person could give or receive.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 1586-1589). Kindle Edition.
Eleanor, the feisty, funny, animal collecting, independent minded, intelligent and sweet heroine of this novel was the star of this story ! She's the main reason I can give this novel 3.5 stars in spite of the H's lack of celibacy during their estrangement period. Eleanor hates the London Season and the loathes having to attend balls and dance with arrogant, vain dandies and aristocrats. At the start of the story Eleanor has a plan to ensure that her mother's scheme to marry her off to a suitable husband will fail. She's also got the most unusual cute pet: a little hedgehog called Henny ( full name is Mrs. Hensworth )
The heroine deliberately exaggerates all of her flaws ( especially her poor dancing skills ) and makes herself appear so clumsy and awkward that the finishing school instructor judges her to be a lost cause:
“There is a girl in my class with a wooden leg who moves more gracefully than your daughter,” Mrs. Ascot declared.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 133-134). Kindle Edition.
Eleanor's adorable and goofy; she always seems to get herself in one madcap situation or another, and, her poor mother is at her wits end after 5 seasons have passed with no offer of marriage for her pretty but clumsy daughter:
Eleanor takes Henny to a ball and the presence of the little hedgehog in her pocket leads a dance partner to almost swoon with unmanly shock. The heroine runs off to hide in one of the empty rooms of the house and it is here that she meets the surly, rakish H Derek, the Duke of Hawkridge:
Derek is searching for his slutty married mistress Vanessa and he enters the room to see a shapely female bottom stuck in the air while its owner's head is lodged under a low table. It's all Henny's fault because the little, mischievous hedgehog decided to play hide and seek, causing Eleanor to scramble around on the floor in an ungainly manner while searching for her pet. Derek thinks it's Vanessa shaking her ass in the air so he goes behind her and caresses her flanks and butt. Eleanor screeches and he is shocked but he stays to help extricate the heroine from her stuck position beneath the table. Lady Ward, the heroine's mother, walks in on this and it looks really bad ! They're positioned as if he's dry humping her butt ! It was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing. The hapless heroine is even more clueless because she fails to understand the implications of the situation:
Derek is MAD because he knows he's been trapped into an unwanted marriage. Eleanor is doubly angry because she hates him, finds him intolerable and tells him off in no uncertain terms:
“I don’t care who he is,” she said, and was rewarded for her bold statement when the duke’s smug smirk was abruptly replaced by a hard, narrow-eyed scowl.
“I’ve done nothing but call a donkey a donkey.” Her head tilted thoughtfully to the side. “Or in this case an ass an ass.”
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 447-449). Kindle Edition.
Needless to say, the H is offended !
The MC's are forced into a mutually unwanted marriage and both dislike each other intensely. This is the only reason why I was still able to not reduce the rating on this novel even though the H was not celibate during their initial separation. They both hated each other and she was more than happy to have an unconsummated marriage because it meant that she would be able to live in the country, at the magnificent ducal estate Hawkridge Castle, with all her beloved pets. I usually rate novels lower due to lack of celibate status on the part of one or both MC's but sometimes a situation needs to be judged on its own special merit. Other readers will obviously not agree with me and that's fine because everyone has her own measuring cup for the various triggers that sometimes turn up in romance novels. I will say though, that I did hate the fact that the author chose to include a little scene with Derek and the skanky married mistress Vanessa. He ended up dumping her in that scene, but it still left me feeling a bit disillusioned with the H.
That one scene was the only thing I disliked about this entire novel. The rest of the story was entertaining and wonderful and it's all due to Eleanor. Derek turns up after a year in London because his gold digging cousin ( who's next in line to the duchy's wealth ) wants to prove that the MC's marriage has not been consummated. There's an ironclad clause in the H's late grandfather's will which states that if he is not legally married at the end of the current year, then he will lose all the money he has inherited. The MC's reunion is an eye opener because Eleanor is wet, muddy and the odor of her pet barn animals still clings to her gown. They start off by arguing and I loved how she insulted him and was so annoyed that he had disrupted her happy life by returning to the castle. Eleanor honestly wished he would just go back to London and it was fabulous to see how this perplexed the haughty manwhore H, who was used to having all women swoon at the merest sign of a smile from his handsome face.
They were one of the best odd couples I've encountered in a romance novel. He tries to woo her with jewellery and gowns but she doesn't respond well to these gestures. He gives her flowers and she feeds it to the barn animals ! The single chivalrous gesture that made her happy was when he placed his expensive coat across a muddy pool so that she could step on it. Eleanor wasn't even happy because of his chivalry; she was happy in a mean girl sort of way because she was gleeful to see his deluxe coat become stained and ruined. That cracked me up a lot because it showed just how hard Derek had to work to get into the good graces of his spirited bride. He does gain some points for firing the rude housekeeper who treated Eleanor disrespectfully. When he eventually kisses her for the first time, he blown away because it's the most spectacular experience in his entire life:
One glancing kiss. That was all he had intended. But from the first moment he first tasted the sweet honey of her lips he’d wanted more. He’d craved more. And he didn’t know why. Eleanor was by no means experienced. He wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to learn that was her very first kiss. Yet despite her innocence, she’d entranced him like no other woman before her. Bracing his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward and buried his head in his hands. It just didn’t make any bloody sense. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to desire his own wife. No, not desire, he corrected himself grimly. Desire was too weak of a word. Yearning came close, but it was still insufficient. There was no word in the English language to describe what he’d felt. The power of it. The thrall. The ache. All of his mistresses combined had never made him feel even an ounce of whatever the hell it was he’d felt with Eleanor. And that was the bloody point. He didn’t want to feel. Feeling led to emotions, emotions led to disorder, disorder led to chaos.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 955-963). Kindle Edition.
Their lust eventually becomes too much and their relationship is consummated. Derek starts to change and become a rather loving and sweet husband. He starts to fall in love with Eleanor and just when everything is going so well for them, his nasty cousin turns up and the heroine hears all about the late grandfather's will. He does have to prostrate himself at her feet and beg her forgiveness before she relents and accepts his avowals of love. She does make him promise to get a few more hedgehogs for the spoilt and lonely Henny:
“Anything,” he said instantly.
“Henny has been feeling rather lonely lately–”
“No,” he said, already shaking his head.
“That hedgehog has already caused enough damage. We’re not getting another.”
“That hedgehog is the only reason we’re together,” she countered. When she put it that way…
“Very well. You can have as many hedgehogs as your heart desires.” Lifting her chin, he grinned crookedly down into her beaming face. “But only if you kiss me first.”
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 1556-1560). Kindle Edition.
There's a lot to enjoy in this novel, especially if you're an animal lover like me and the cute epilogue ( set 5 yrs in the future ) reveals that the MC's have a 4 yr old, pet loving daughter and a toddler son:
First Olivia and then Byron, now eight months old and growing like a weed. Fatherhood had also had the added benefit of making him an even better husband. Gone was the arrogant cad she’d married. In his place was a man who valued family first and foremost. A man who understood what was important in life. A man who finally knew that love wasn’t an inconvenience, but a gift. The most precious gift a person could give or receive.
Jillian Eaton. The Spring Duchess (A Duchess for All Seasons Book 2) (Kindle Locations 1586-1589). Kindle Edition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2023
Another moc with cheating husband. But it doesn't entertain. Too paint by numbers except her menagerie.
Cute and fluffy is good but so many silly things and mistakes..
A sweet, animal loving Regency miss might sound like a cute idea but there's a difference between equine and canine love and a whole menagerie. Should a duchess be running around wild, in dirty clothing, probably smelling worse (okay maybe they didn't bath as often anyways), spend most of her time in barns looking after the animals. and have zero social skills whether in London or in the country? She sounded most ungracious to me. Carrying her hedgehog everywhere in her pocket and threatening to let her loose on people. Shaming her parents in such a fashion.
No, not an adult woman in any age.
The H (bravely) confesses to a fear of mice and she promptly dares him to hold a pygmy shrew? Ummm no, telling him how they are different from mice makes no difference. I'd hate such a person.
She's too annoying for me to even focus on the H's foibles.
And then some good sex and all is pink ponies between them (minus the one teeny weeny mu)?
Cute and fluffy is good but so many silly things and mistakes..
A sweet, animal loving Regency miss might sound like a cute idea but there's a difference between equine and canine love and a whole menagerie. Should a duchess be running around wild, in dirty clothing, probably smelling worse (okay maybe they didn't bath as often anyways), spend most of her time in barns looking after the animals. and have zero social skills whether in London or in the country? She sounded most ungracious to me. Carrying her hedgehog everywhere in her pocket and threatening to let her loose on people. Shaming her parents in such a fashion.
No, not an adult woman in any age.
The H (bravely) confesses to a fear of mice and she promptly dares him to hold a pygmy shrew? Ummm no, telling him how they are different from mice makes no difference. I'd hate such a person.
She's too annoying for me to even focus on the H's foibles.
And then some good sex and all is pink ponies between them (minus the one teeny weeny mu)?
May 29, 2018
Cute and frothy read. The heroine is funny and feisty with her menagerie and her total lack of interest in the Duke. I can't do any better than Ivy H's review which is here...I actually enjoyed her review more than the book in some parts.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Warning: The H does cheat on the heroine after the marriage, but they've known each other for about ten minutes and he ships her off to his estate immediately. I just closed my eyes and put my fingers in my ears at that point.
I can't believe I am going to say this, but I wish we had had little more of the evil OW and the bad guy. Of course, they get a comeuppance, but I'm feeling ruthless and would like to have seen more drama.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Warning: The H does cheat on the heroine after the marriage, but they've known each other for about ten minutes and he ships her off to his estate immediately. I just closed my eyes and put my fingers in my ears at that point.
I can't believe I am going to say this, but I wish we had had little more of the evil OW and the bad guy. Of course, they get a comeuppance, but I'm feeling ruthless and would like to have seen more drama.
March 22, 2019
What happens when a naive girl is accidentally compromised?
Funny novella about a girl that has no interest in boys, forced to marry a rake that has no interest in marriage.
A little twist in his inheritance of the Dukedom forces this rake to bed his wife. He never expects to want more!
Funny novella about a girl that has no interest in boys, forced to marry a rake that has no interest in marriage.
A little twist in his inheritance of the Dukedom forces this rake to bed his wife. He never expects to want more!
June 1, 2019
Just as the previous book in this serie a very nice little story.
March 21, 2023
.
2.5 stars rounded up because it kept me entertained on the seabus.
cute but kinda empty.
Very little historical accuracy, which normally wouldn't bother me. But the author doesn't even bother to make an attempt at it. So it was vaguely annoying.
Eleanor and Derek, the Duke are married because her clumsiness leads to them being compromised. They have absolutely no respect for each other and make no attempt at civility.
He parks her at the country estate and returns to London for a year with his latest mistress. The mistress plays no part in the story so I don't know why we are 'treated' to an intimate scene with them together. To Illustrate how little sex means to him?
The Duke must consummate the marriage before he turns 30 in a few weeks, so he returns to the country to 'get to know' his wife, who is quite content without him.
The story is quite short and so much is glossed over. The Duke's feelings changed too quickly to be believed... and that was that.
Safety is so-so
Soooo, cute fluffy historical.
2.5 stars rounded up because it kept me entertained on the seabus.
cute but kinda empty.
Very little historical accuracy, which normally wouldn't bother me. But the author doesn't even bother to make an attempt at it. So it was vaguely annoying.
Eleanor and Derek, the Duke are married because her clumsiness leads to them being compromised. They have absolutely no respect for each other and make no attempt at civility.
He parks her at the country estate and returns to London for a year with his latest mistress. The mistress plays no part in the story so I don't know why we are 'treated' to an intimate scene with them together. To Illustrate how little sex means to him?
The Duke must consummate the marriage before he turns 30 in a few weeks, so he returns to the country to 'get to know' his wife, who is quite content without him.
The story is quite short and so much is glossed over. The Duke's feelings changed too quickly to be believed... and that was that.
Safety is so-so
Soooo, cute fluffy historical.
August 11, 2021
Such a big disappointment 😞
The "hero" was a crowned ass, a cheater and a neer-do-well. I don't care that he reformed in the last 5 pages and the epilogue. He cheated and completely ignored the heroine for a whole year. Big no-no for me.
The "hero" was a crowned ass, a cheater and a neer-do-well. I don't care that he reformed in the last 5 pages and the epilogue. He cheated and completely ignored the heroine for a whole year. Big no-no for me.
July 26, 2019
..
This was a very humorous tale, especially for the era in which it was depicted. The unconventional heroine was a bit of an oddity, funny, and true to her convictions. I was certainly amused by the unique humor!
A WALLFLOWER WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A DUCHESS…
An eccentric bluestocking with an affinity for hedgehogs, Eleanor Ward never had any dreams of grandeur when it came to making a good match. Perfectly content to become a spinster, she already had her cottage in the country picked out, complete with a barn for her menagerie of rescued animals. Until one night a lost hairpin and an arrogant duke ruin everything. Now she’s the Duchess of Hawkridge, the last thing in the world she ever wanted to be. And her husband? Well, he’s nowhere to be found.
Her best friend, a hedgehog, escapes and she gets herself in a pickle trying to capture it before anyone finds out. she becomes trapped in a shameful position and is discovered by a Duke. After an initial misunderstanding, he gallantly sets out to assist her, but her mother barges in during the rescue process and *BOOM* it's an automatic marriage proposition, that neither party are the least bit excited about. Of course, the momma is GA-GA about her daughter's future!
Was it serendipity when Eleanor escaped to an empty room during a ball?
A DUKE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A HUSBAND…
Furious at being tricked into marrying a woman who keeps a hedgehog in her pocket, Derek couldn’t get away from Eleanor fast enough after their vows were read. It’s been a year since he’s seen her, and he has no plans to change that anytime soon. Until his scheming cousin shows up and declares the union a sham. Now Derek has exactly one month to woo a wife he never desired and consummate a marriage he never wanted.
Marriage and the close proximity of a couple certainly changed many minds about one another during that era. After the initial shock, these two individuals became better acquainted with one another.
A MEANS TO AN END…OR A NEW BEGINNING?
It seems like a simple enough task, especially for a man whose romantic conquests are the stuff of legends. But nothing is simple when two stubborn hearts are involved, especially when Derek begins to see Eleanor in an entirely new light. With time ticking down, can a cynical duke convince his unconventional duchess their marriage is worth saving? This spring, only one thing is certain…love is definitely in the air.
This is not a clean and wholesome book, so those offended by that type of content should avoid it. It has mild profanity with a lot of adult body language. It did have many redeemable qualities as well. It is able to stand on its own and will entertain most readers satisfactorily.
Plus, the series is available through the Amazon Prime Kindle Unlimited program at this time.
.
This was a very humorous tale, especially for the era in which it was depicted. The unconventional heroine was a bit of an oddity, funny, and true to her convictions. I was certainly amused by the unique humor!
A WALLFLOWER WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A DUCHESS…
An eccentric bluestocking with an affinity for hedgehogs, Eleanor Ward never had any dreams of grandeur when it came to making a good match. Perfectly content to become a spinster, she already had her cottage in the country picked out, complete with a barn for her menagerie of rescued animals. Until one night a lost hairpin and an arrogant duke ruin everything. Now she’s the Duchess of Hawkridge, the last thing in the world she ever wanted to be. And her husband? Well, he’s nowhere to be found.
Her best friend, a hedgehog, escapes and she gets herself in a pickle trying to capture it before anyone finds out. she becomes trapped in a shameful position and is discovered by a Duke. After an initial misunderstanding, he gallantly sets out to assist her, but her mother barges in during the rescue process and *BOOM* it's an automatic marriage proposition, that neither party are the least bit excited about. Of course, the momma is GA-GA about her daughter's future!
Was it serendipity when Eleanor escaped to an empty room during a ball?
A DUKE WHO DIDN’T WANT TO BE A HUSBAND…
Furious at being tricked into marrying a woman who keeps a hedgehog in her pocket, Derek couldn’t get away from Eleanor fast enough after their vows were read. It’s been a year since he’s seen her, and he has no plans to change that anytime soon. Until his scheming cousin shows up and declares the union a sham. Now Derek has exactly one month to woo a wife he never desired and consummate a marriage he never wanted.
Marriage and the close proximity of a couple certainly changed many minds about one another during that era. After the initial shock, these two individuals became better acquainted with one another.
A MEANS TO AN END…OR A NEW BEGINNING?
It seems like a simple enough task, especially for a man whose romantic conquests are the stuff of legends. But nothing is simple when two stubborn hearts are involved, especially when Derek begins to see Eleanor in an entirely new light. With time ticking down, can a cynical duke convince his unconventional duchess their marriage is worth saving? This spring, only one thing is certain…love is definitely in the air.
This is not a clean and wholesome book, so those offended by that type of content should avoid it. It has mild profanity with a lot of adult body language. It did have many redeemable qualities as well. It is able to stand on its own and will entertain most readers satisfactorily.
Plus, the series is available through the Amazon Prime Kindle Unlimited program at this time.
.
May 10, 2018
Do Not Recommend!
A Duke due to his own misbehaviour, and the stupidity of Eleanor, winds up marrying her. Does he give up his Mistress? No! Does Eleanor care? No! She uses profanity, which no well brought up lady would have done. She is a feminist! That is great, however, it is the wrong Century! This is by an Author I like, it proves to me, that Publishers, and Authors are determined to shove this down our throats! Not mine, if you want to write a Contemporary Novel, then write it, don't distort History, thinking we do not have the intelligence to see it for what it is!
I do not Recommend! Thank you!
Carolintallahassee 👒
A Duke due to his own misbehaviour, and the stupidity of Eleanor, winds up marrying her. Does he give up his Mistress? No! Does Eleanor care? No! She uses profanity, which no well brought up lady would have done. She is a feminist! That is great, however, it is the wrong Century! This is by an Author I like, it proves to me, that Publishers, and Authors are determined to shove this down our throats! Not mine, if you want to write a Contemporary Novel, then write it, don't distort History, thinking we do not have the intelligence to see it for what it is!
I do not Recommend! Thank you!
Carolintallahassee 👒
May 30, 2018
Vintage's and Ivy H's reviews say it much better than me, with excellent pictures too!
A roomful of Hedgie Bonuses at the end and the love story was great too!
A roomful of Hedgie Bonuses at the end and the love story was great too!
June 2, 2018
I enjoyed this so much more than the first in the series, but it still is problematic in that
1) the author is clearly not representing the time period
2) this needs to be about 50 pages longer to add some interesting depth to the plot and characterization.
My second point is a little unfair, in that I'm not a fan of shorter stories, or novellas. When I finish them, I just feel cheated.
1) the author is clearly not representing the time period
2) this needs to be about 50 pages longer to add some interesting depth to the plot and characterization.
My second point is a little unfair, in that I'm not a fan of shorter stories, or novellas. When I finish them, I just feel cheated.
September 29, 2018
I’ve read on the plane. It was very good. Ivy’s review is very good and detailed. :)
April 6, 2025
Summary:
I just finished The Spring Duchess by Jillian Eaton and I’m giving it 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2. I feel like I got whiplash reading this. Jillian Eaton really seems committed to writing heroines who cry a lot and forgive everything, and once again, we’re supposed to buy it as a believable love story. Spoiler: I didn’t.
Characters:
Eleanor: Eleanor was adorable on paper—I loved her affection for animals and her gentle spirit—but Eaton clearly wanted her to be a “strong” heroine, and she just wasn’t. She had no backbone when it mattered. Every time she started to show some spine, she’d immediately cave, and I couldn’t root for that.
Derek: Derek was Derek-ing from start to finish. He spent 90% of the book being rude, cold, and just plain unlikeable, and then we hit the 90% mark and suddenly he’s like “oh no, I have feelings.” It’s the same arc we got in The Winter Duchess, and it didn’t work there either.
Overall Thoughts:
This was a slight improvement over book one, but it’s still a mess. The couple hated each other the entire book, and then Eaton pulls a time jump out of nowhere—just skips thirteen whole days where they apparently go from enemies to lovers. We don’t see the development, we’re just told it happened. Then comes the betrayal, which is genuinely upsetting, but within seconds of his “sowwy,” Eleanor is ready to forgive and forget. I was left staring at my e-book like… that’s it?
This story had the kind of premise that needed to be a full-length novel. There wasn’t enough time or depth to make the romance believable, and Eaton keeps repeating the same character dynamics with no real payoff.
Rating:
★★☆☆☆ (2.5 stars, rounded down)
I just finished The Spring Duchess by Jillian Eaton and I’m giving it 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2. I feel like I got whiplash reading this. Jillian Eaton really seems committed to writing heroines who cry a lot and forgive everything, and once again, we’re supposed to buy it as a believable love story. Spoiler: I didn’t.
Characters:
Eleanor: Eleanor was adorable on paper—I loved her affection for animals and her gentle spirit—but Eaton clearly wanted her to be a “strong” heroine, and she just wasn’t. She had no backbone when it mattered. Every time she started to show some spine, she’d immediately cave, and I couldn’t root for that.
Derek: Derek was Derek-ing from start to finish. He spent 90% of the book being rude, cold, and just plain unlikeable, and then we hit the 90% mark and suddenly he’s like “oh no, I have feelings.” It’s the same arc we got in The Winter Duchess, and it didn’t work there either.
Overall Thoughts:
This was a slight improvement over book one, but it’s still a mess. The couple hated each other the entire book, and then Eaton pulls a time jump out of nowhere—just skips thirteen whole days where they apparently go from enemies to lovers. We don’t see the development, we’re just told it happened. Then comes the betrayal, which is genuinely upsetting, but within seconds of his “sowwy,” Eleanor is ready to forgive and forget. I was left staring at my e-book like… that’s it?
This story had the kind of premise that needed to be a full-length novel. There wasn’t enough time or depth to make the romance believable, and Eaton keeps repeating the same character dynamics with no real payoff.
Rating:
★★☆☆☆ (2.5 stars, rounded down)
December 14, 2020
Enjoying these novellas and this one is very nice. Looking forward to the next.
June 13, 2020
Tú eres mi tormenta, Eleanor. Y no te tendría de ninguna otra manera.
La duquesa de primavera de de Jillian Eaton libro 2 serie Una duquesa para cada temporada
Mí humilde opinión:
Una duquesa por accidente...
Eleanor Ward no es la más dotada de las damas, no se le da bien bordar, pintar, tocar un instrumento y mucho menos bailar. Ella está mejor entre los animales que rescata o los libros en una biblioteca.
Esta más que bien si no se casa, no le importa si queda soltera para siempre.
Entonces después de fallidas temporadas para encontrar marido la encuentran en una posición comprometedora con un hombre.
Y no cualquier hombre. Derek, el duque de Hawkridge. Sin intención, Eleanor termina siendo una duquesa por culpa de su erizo!
Una esposa para mantener su herencia...
Derek no esperaba casarse tan pronto. Su abuelo había puesto una ridícula cláusula en su testamento de que debía casarse antes de los 30 para heredar. Y debía hacerlo sino quería que su derrochador primo Norton se quedase con todo.
Pero allí estaba esa mujer debajo de una mesa atrapada buscando su inusual mascota y ambos habían caído en una situación que ninguno de los dos quería.
Ella es un medio para un fin. Su esposa no es una dama fina, le gusta pasearse por los campos como campesina.
Sin embargo, cuando Derek vuelve al campo para consumar su matrimonio se encuentra enamorándose poco a poco de esta salvaje pelirroja.
Adoré la historia!!! Muy, muy linda.
Breve pero disfrutable.
Eleanor no es una mujer que tenga un comportamiento de una dama. Ella es más excéntrica y eso me atrapó de su personalidad.
Derek es un arrogante duque que se va ablandando de a poco con Eleanor y estuvo muy lindo ver todo ese desarrollo hasta caer enamorado de ella.
Una historia de amor muy bonita y dulce con un epilogo aún más dulce.
Hasta ahora es el libro que me gustó más de la serie.
May 18, 2018
I have read many books by Jillian & always liked her writing... so was disappointed with this book ... i didn't connect with this book ... it had a humorous bend to it & was a Regency Romance but didn't feel connected with it ... The romance didn't come across, the characters were drifting apart nobody had a purpose ...it was a superflous book with no direction ... sorry this book was not for me ..
"I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
"I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
June 18, 2018
I loved this enchanting story..The Duke, did not want to marry, but his grandfather had put a special clause into the will. No scandals, and married by thirty. Eleanor had no use for a husband, in truth she was a bluestocking, but each year she was put before the Ton, on parade at constant balls, and gatherings. I will not spoil the way these two meet, or just how it goes from there. Expect some steam in this one, but it goes with the story. Did I mention that she tends to wounded animals, and birds, and especially hedgehogs. It was really wonderful, and it had an epilogue which gave us a peak into their future. I loved it. 5 stars because it was so different, yet in such a good way..
May 23, 2018
Total rubbish.
The heroine was meant to be a bluestocking but she was a complete idiot (there’s naïveté and then there is just stupidity). Oh and the pet hedgehog thing got on my wick right from the get go as it was a blatant rip off of love in the afternoon heroine Beatrix.
The hero was a massive tool with no redeeming features to speak of other than his hard body or some such. He continued to be an utter tool until the night he stumbled into the heroines room and dipped his wick. (Why oh why did she let that happen? Oh yeah his hard body - really this girl is a wally)
Then suddenly it skips to two weeks later after a whirlwind courtship that apparently happened after the magic of her vejayjay gave him a personality transplant that very night: erased all his grandaddy issues, wankerish attitude and generally turned him into a love struck swain. Seriously?!
What an utter pile of rubbish.
The heroine was meant to be a bluestocking but she was a complete idiot (there’s naïveté and then there is just stupidity). Oh and the pet hedgehog thing got on my wick right from the get go as it was a blatant rip off of love in the afternoon heroine Beatrix.
The hero was a massive tool with no redeeming features to speak of other than his hard body or some such. He continued to be an utter tool until the night he stumbled into the heroines room and dipped his wick. (Why oh why did she let that happen? Oh yeah his hard body - really this girl is a wally)
Then suddenly it skips to two weeks later after a whirlwind courtship that apparently happened after the magic of her vejayjay gave him a personality transplant that very night: erased all his grandaddy issues, wankerish attitude and generally turned him into a love struck swain. Seriously?!
What an utter pile of rubbish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2019
I hate using the word 'nice' but.... well it was a nice story. Funny in parts. I did love Eleanor's character. She was a creature-loving woman with a mind of her own. She did what she wanted to do.
I just wished the story was a little longer.
3.5☆ (rounded up to 4☆)
I just wished the story was a little longer.
3.5☆ (rounded up to 4☆)
June 8, 2020
Well that was utterly vile.
March 20, 2023
Ok... After a bad book I was in the mood for something short and light. And since I quite liked the other books in the series and by this author, I picked this.
Eleanor was the worst heroine ever... Gosh, I hated her!
I didn't find her quirky, funny, adorable or headstrong. Just a dumb woman-child who didn't seem all there. I mean, her parents' titles were never mentionned but they were a lord and a lady so I would assume she was raised properly for that time, and for someone of her station.
But wow! Animals everywhere... The dumb girl was carrying a hedgehog in her pocket, all the frkin time! She even took that thing to a ball and shoved it in her dancing partner's face because he was stepping on her foot or something -_-
No manners whatsoever... Her reasonning was she didn't want to get married, wanted to be a spinster and live in the country with an erderly aunt while raising a bunch of animals!
Being a feminist doesn't mean being stupid and uncouth Eleonor, no...
Anyways, now the duke. He wasn't really impressive. His parents when he was 12 and he was raised by his mean grandpa who terrorized him and added a condition in the will about marriage and all...
So when he is found in a compromising situation with Eleanor, he is like ''why not, I have to marry anyway, even if she is stupid, extremely slow with no manners, she can definitely be my duchess why not'' -_-
Things happen to bring them together after 1 year apart and they fight, reconcile, fight again, kiss a lot then they have sex. A last piece of drama at the end before the final reconciliation and an epilogue.
The story was so-so, it is short so there is no real character development and all, Eleanor remains stupid and that's it lol
Also, there is a lot of things not making sense. Like when Derek went into the parlor, he LOCKED the door but then Eleanor's mother simply opened the door to find them? Short story yeah but still lool!
Eleanor was the worst heroine ever... Gosh, I hated her!
I didn't find her quirky, funny, adorable or headstrong. Just a dumb woman-child who didn't seem all there. I mean, her parents' titles were never mentionned but they were a lord and a lady so I would assume she was raised properly for that time, and for someone of her station.
But wow! Animals everywhere... The dumb girl was carrying a hedgehog in her pocket, all the frkin time! She even took that thing to a ball and shoved it in her dancing partner's face because he was stepping on her foot or something -_-
No manners whatsoever... Her reasonning was she didn't want to get married, wanted to be a spinster and live in the country with an erderly aunt while raising a bunch of animals!
Being a feminist doesn't mean being stupid and uncouth Eleonor, no...
Anyways, now the duke. He wasn't really impressive. His parents when he was 12 and he was raised by his mean grandpa who terrorized him and added a condition in the will about marriage and all...
So when he is found in a compromising situation with Eleanor, he is like ''why not, I have to marry anyway, even if she is stupid, extremely slow with no manners, she can definitely be my duchess why not'' -_-
Things happen to bring them together after 1 year apart and they fight, reconcile, fight again, kiss a lot then they have sex. A last piece of drama at the end before the final reconciliation and an epilogue.
The story was so-so, it is short so there is no real character development and all, Eleanor remains stupid and that's it lol
Also, there is a lot of things not making sense. Like when Derek went into the parlor, he LOCKED the door but then Eleanor's mother simply opened the door to find them? Short story yeah but still lool!
June 5, 2018
A bit light on the plot 2.5* rounded up for being mostly painless.
This is a very quick and easy read. There were some serious errors in the timeline but otherwise the writing was fine. Eleanor has no desire to get married and so has been working towards not getting any decent offers. Her parents are indulgent and it has been several seasons (book gives different numbers but between 3 and 6) when Derek finds himself forced into marriage with her through circumstances both could have avoided if they had been using any sense at all. Eleanor is not young but she comes across as extremely childlike and a bit stupid. As soon as the ceremony is over Derek drops her at his country home and goes back to his mistress. Eleanor is reasonably happy to never see him. It is hard to even see this as cheating as they have zero relationship. Yes they are married on paper but that is it. When Derek decides he has to bed his not so new wife he returns home and then things just zip along. It was ok but nothing I would write home about.
This is a very quick and easy read. There were some serious errors in the timeline but otherwise the writing was fine. Eleanor has no desire to get married and so has been working towards not getting any decent offers. Her parents are indulgent and it has been several seasons (book gives different numbers but between 3 and 6) when Derek finds himself forced into marriage with her through circumstances both could have avoided if they had been using any sense at all. Eleanor is not young but she comes across as extremely childlike and a bit stupid. As soon as the ceremony is over Derek drops her at his country home and goes back to his mistress. Eleanor is reasonably happy to never see him. It is hard to even see this as cheating as they have zero relationship. Yes they are married on paper but that is it. When Derek decides he has to bed his not so new wife he returns home and then things just zip along. It was ok but nothing I would write home about.
December 15, 2021
This was funny and adorable! The special mention goes to the hilarious circumstances under which our duke and duchess met as well as the scene where Derek walks in on his wife naked and stammers out of the room... Only to proceed to return in a fit of annoyance bc he realised he's forgot to complain about her not showing up at dinner 😂❤
*SIGH*
I just wish it had the benifit of the extra 200pages that come with a proper full lenght novel... Which will be a thorn in my side when it comes to these books it seems 😅
*SIGH*
I just wish it had the benifit of the extra 200pages that come with a proper full lenght novel... Which will be a thorn in my side when it comes to these books it seems 😅
February 11, 2024
Such a cutesy short, period romance. As with the previous book we get a very slow burn, arranged married and just a tiny sprinkle of spice. The MMC begging as an insufferable cad and ends as a hopeless romantic.
Their arguments were very amusing, and her love for animals totally unladylike, but it all contributes to the overall cuteness of the story.
Great narration
Free on audible subscription
Their arguments were very amusing, and her love for animals totally unladylike, but it all contributes to the overall cuteness of the story.
Great narration
Free on audible subscription
September 9, 2019
I picked this one up mostly because I happened to need a book featuring an unusual pet for a challenge and Eleanor's pet hedgehog fit the bill. To my pleasant surprise, this turned out to be an unexpectedly delightful read - sweet, funny, and quite adorable.
March 3, 2019
3.75 stars
January 16, 2020
3.5-4 stars - Historical Romance
January 17, 2019
Alas not as satisfying angst payoff as the previous book
May 10, 2018
It has its moments of humor and I do not have any problem with the storyline, though it has a distinctly American feel to it. Derek and Eleanor quarrel like present day Americans and the use of the word 'tad' which is historically an American word meaning (along the Regency Timeline or even before) small child or tadpole very different from present day context. So WRONG timeline and WRONG country thus adding to the already dubious authenticity. This is something to be enjoyed while it lasted but I can definitely say I will forget it when I am engrossed on another book.
PS ~ re~Derek's age, if he came to live with his grandparents when he was 11 years old (see Chapter 4) and he was the heir to the Dukedom for 23 years after his parents' deaths and all that time being taunted that he was not good enough to inherit (the reason why I can not fathom or was unclear) plus it could not very well be that his grandfather started disparaging him of his inadequacy from the cradle? Add another 5 years from the time of the old Duke's death (and Derek became the Duke of Hawkridge) and his dead grandfather could not be present to berate him of his failings. At 39, he would have not fulfilled the will's requirements and would have lost the Dukedom. Another thing, at the time of Derek and Eleanor's meeting, Lady Vanessa was already his mistress (see Chapter 2) so it could not be that Ellie and Derek's marriage was more than a month longer than the 7 months affair with Vanessa. The length of the affair should be longer than their marriage.
PPS ~ "I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
PS ~ re~Derek's age, if he came to live with his grandparents when he was 11 years old (see Chapter 4) and he was the heir to the Dukedom for 23 years after his parents' deaths and all that time being taunted that he was not good enough to inherit (the reason why I can not fathom or was unclear) plus it could not very well be that his grandfather started disparaging him of his inadequacy from the cradle? Add another 5 years from the time of the old Duke's death (and Derek became the Duke of Hawkridge) and his dead grandfather could not be present to berate him of his failings. At 39, he would have not fulfilled the will's requirements and would have lost the Dukedom. Another thing, at the time of Derek and Eleanor's meeting, Lady Vanessa was already his mistress (see Chapter 2) so it could not be that Ellie and Derek's marriage was more than a month longer than the 7 months affair with Vanessa. The length of the affair should be longer than their marriage.
PPS ~ "I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review."
April 6, 2020
eleanor was entertaining yet very naive.
derek was unlikable from beginning to end.
sidenote: since when is kissing/sucking on ones ear lobes considered sexy? this is the 3rd bk where ive read about it and it's just cringe inducing. hard fucking pass.
derek was unlikable from beginning to end.
sidenote: since when is kissing/sucking on ones ear lobes considered sexy? this is the 3rd bk where ive read about it and it's just cringe inducing. hard fucking pass.
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