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Duchess Quartet #1
Duchess in Love
DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A VERY PROPER DUCHESS DECIDES TO MISBEHAVE.
A DUKE IN RETREAT
Gina was forced into marriage with the Duke of Girton at an age when she'd have been better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom. Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant.
A LADY IN THE MIDDLE
Now, she is one of the most well-known ladies in London ... living on the edge of scandal --- desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to any one.
A DUCHESS IN LOVE
Finally, Camden, the Duke of Girton, has returned home, to discover that his naive bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton. Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love --- with his own wife!
A DUKE IN RETREAT
Gina was forced into marriage with the Duke of Girton at an age when she'd have been better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom. Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant.
A LADY IN THE MIDDLE
Now, she is one of the most well-known ladies in London ... living on the edge of scandal --- desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to any one.
A DUCHESS IN LOVE
Finally, Camden, the Duke of Girton, has returned home, to discover that his naive bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton. Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love --- with his own wife!
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
663 people are currently reading
3391 people want to read
About the author
Eloisa James
123 books9,535 followersNew York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
September 26, 2017
*** 3.25 ***
I love Eloisa James's writing, but for some reason I find her books hit and miss. This one was mostly a miss, unfortunately and it had nothing to do with the writing style, but with the countless string of cheating... Trust me, I am not a prude and some flirting and even the incidental extramarital affair or stepping out on a boyfriend don't usually bother me. However, not only did everyone in four main couples cheated, a supposed best friend slept with her friend's fiancee, which is to me an even bigger betrayal than the one between lovers... I liked the main couple, both of them very flawed but still lovable. The overall atmosphere was lively and the sexy times were fun, so it was not a complete bummer, but I really wish for the times when the plot, as complicated as you would expect from a Historical Romance, would match the otherwise very pleasant prose. ...
The Duchess and her absent Duke have never consummated their marriage 12 years after they were pressured into getting hitched. The Duke lives as a free sculpture in Greece when his wife summons him back to England in order to get an annulment. She has found a Marquis who would make a great, actual husband. But once the missing Duke sees his wife, he realizes he is not very keen on giving her up to someone else. While attending a house party, the two of them have to sort out their feelings while their friends are dealing with their own marital problems. Many little comedic and tragic incidents occur. But this is a Romance and we do read them for the Happily Ever Afters, don't we? 😉
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!
I love Eloisa James's writing, but for some reason I find her books hit and miss. This one was mostly a miss, unfortunately and it had nothing to do with the writing style, but with the countless string of cheating... Trust me, I am not a prude and some flirting and even the incidental extramarital affair or stepping out on a boyfriend don't usually bother me. However, not only did everyone in four main couples cheated, a supposed best friend slept with her friend's fiancee, which is to me an even bigger betrayal than the one between lovers... I liked the main couple, both of them very flawed but still lovable. The overall atmosphere was lively and the sexy times were fun, so it was not a complete bummer, but I really wish for the times when the plot, as complicated as you would expect from a Historical Romance, would match the otherwise very pleasant prose. ...
The Duchess and her absent Duke have never consummated their marriage 12 years after they were pressured into getting hitched. The Duke lives as a free sculpture in Greece when his wife summons him back to England in order to get an annulment. She has found a Marquis who would make a great, actual husband. But once the missing Duke sees his wife, he realizes he is not very keen on giving her up to someone else. While attending a house party, the two of them have to sort out their feelings while their friends are dealing with their own marital problems. Many little comedic and tragic incidents occur. But this is a Romance and we do read them for the Happily Ever Afters, don't we? 😉
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!
November 21, 2012
More like 2.5 stars
This is my first EL book. I was not thrilled about it because I was didn’t like how the book ended. I won’t, however, judge her other books by this and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt since she’s so highly recommended by GR members and Julia Quinn. I’ve already read some synopsis of her other books and I still have high hopes.
There are three stories in this book. 1) Camden & Gina, 2) Tuppy & Carola, and 3) Esme’s story. The only couple without a trace of infidelity is Tuppy & Carola – which is why it’s no surprise that it’s my favorite storyline, however minor.
When I don’t give the book serious considerations, I would say that I liked it well enough because I was entertained. It was diverting and it kept me amused [and awake] during my hours on the train commuting to/from work. However, when I do give it some consideration the only couple I wholeheartedly like is Tuppy & Carola...because when I think about the other two H/h, there’s quite a bit I find frustrating.
What I didn’t like:
1)The Cheating, Dishonestly, and the Betrayal:
I hate when people do bad things and essentially get away with it. Even if – actually, especially if – they are the H/h and do something low, they need to do something to redeem themselves. They didn’t here.
I liked Cam & Gina and I wanted them to be together, but she was a cheater (and Cam was her accomplice.) – I mean she was with Sebastian for a while and they were engaged! Therefore, even though I wanted her and Cam to have a HEA, I couldn’t root for them 100% since they got together upon betraying another – though the person who is being betrayed is also a [stick-in-the-mud, condescending] cheater! Just because Seb assumed – yea, assumed..not confirmed – that Gina was going to stay married to Cam, they are still engaged and committed ergo seducing Esme is cheating!
I HATE Esme. First, because she betrayed Gina, what’s worse is how casually Gina forgave her. Esme should have come forward the very next day after she and Sebastian kissed, but she didn’t. Instead she proceeded to flirt and deceive her closest friend. It wasn’t even that she was caught up in the passion either because she and Sebastian were at it all night. Secondly, I felt like Esme broke up her husband from his love by dangling the idea of an heir. Lastly, she let Sebastian take all the blame and punishment for something that she was equally responsible for.
Is Sebastian the villain? Were we supposed to hate him and only him? Really? That’s arguable because I dislike him just as much as Esme. No, I dislike Esme more, to be sure. Sebastian tried to be too good for too long that when he finally did, he went bust and it happened the night he was with Esme. I felt bad for the bastard actually, I think he got a worse punishment than he deserved.
What the heck happened? EL wrote these characters to be good people and then half way through they all lost their senses and respectability by listening to their loins instead of their conscience. Actually, what conscience? None of them felt any real guilt about cheating. They just felt shame because they were caught.
As a reader, I didn’t like that we were supposed to let the whole thing go since in the end the H/h got their HEA. Are we just supposed to forget that a significant breach of trust occurred? It felt like in the end, even though we get to the HEA..I didn’t have closure, at least not a clean one because I felt that at some point all four of them (Cam, Gina, Sebastian, and Esme) needed to repent – to say to each other “I’m sorry I was a deceitful friend. I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, never mind that you betrayed mine..”
2)The Ending – what a mess!
So, are Cam and Gina are no longer married right? They’ve been playing house while in Greece? With all the rules of propriety, why wasn’t this a concern.
What was the point in killing Lord Rawlings? He was such a nice man! Though I think his death served a purpose for a future book. It’s as if EL realized she only had 50 pages to wrap it all up and rushed the whole thing but still had crazy plot lines to squeeze in. Too much happened (the Aphrodite explanation, the brother reveal, Rawlings death, the annulment, trip to Greece, Seb's fake marriage license, etc) and it wasn’t written to transition well from one to the other..much of it just didn’t make good sense.
3)The Love Scenes – another mess!
Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Lisa Kleypas, but EL’s love scenes are – the best way I can describe is – at times unclear, muddled, and/or badly choreographed/described. I don’t know what’s happening, because the descriptions aren’t communicated well and when the reader doesn’t know what’s happening – well, it’s hard to get swept up in the moment. EL tries to be artsy in her description and it just does not work. Even basic things such as who is standing where? For example, when they were in the bath. One second they were kissing in the tub, then Cam laid Gina on her back..but where? In the water? On the floor next to the tub? against the tub? on the stairs? in the chaise? There are small details like this that I think EL assumes we can fill – which we can but then she describes something that doesn’t quite work. It feels like EL wants to be explicit and descriptive with fancy wording, but on some parts she changes her mind so she’s vague (forcing the readers to fill in the blanks.) It creates a disconnect and it’s distracting. I don’t personally need explicit love scenes to make the stories good – but if they are there, they need to be good. Don’t do it half way.
What I liked:
To end on a positive note, I positively loved Tuppy and Carola. They were sweet characters and adorable (and in the bedroom they were adorably awkward - haha.) Their story made me smile, laugh, and say “aww” more times than I care to admit.
This is my first EL book. I was not thrilled about it because I was didn’t like how the book ended. I won’t, however, judge her other books by this and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt since she’s so highly recommended by GR members and Julia Quinn. I’ve already read some synopsis of her other books and I still have high hopes.
There are three stories in this book. 1) Camden & Gina, 2) Tuppy & Carola, and 3) Esme’s story. The only couple without a trace of infidelity is Tuppy & Carola – which is why it’s no surprise that it’s my favorite storyline, however minor.
When I don’t give the book serious considerations, I would say that I liked it well enough because I was entertained. It was diverting and it kept me amused [and awake] during my hours on the train commuting to/from work. However, when I do give it some consideration the only couple I wholeheartedly like is Tuppy & Carola...because when I think about the other two H/h, there’s quite a bit I find frustrating.
What I didn’t like:
1)The Cheating, Dishonestly, and the Betrayal:
I hate when people do bad things and essentially get away with it. Even if – actually, especially if – they are the H/h and do something low, they need to do something to redeem themselves. They didn’t here.
I liked Cam & Gina and I wanted them to be together, but she was a cheater (and Cam was her accomplice.) – I mean she was with Sebastian for a while and they were engaged! Therefore, even though I wanted her and Cam to have a HEA, I couldn’t root for them 100% since they got together upon betraying another – though the person who is being betrayed is also a [stick-in-the-mud, condescending] cheater! Just because Seb assumed – yea, assumed..not confirmed – that Gina was going to stay married to Cam, they are still engaged and committed ergo seducing Esme is cheating!
I HATE Esme. First, because she betrayed Gina, what’s worse is how casually Gina forgave her. Esme should have come forward the very next day after she and Sebastian kissed, but she didn’t. Instead she proceeded to flirt and deceive her closest friend. It wasn’t even that she was caught up in the passion either because she and Sebastian were at it all night. Secondly, I felt like Esme broke up her husband from his love by dangling the idea of an heir. Lastly, she let Sebastian take all the blame and punishment for something that she was equally responsible for.
Is Sebastian the villain? Were we supposed to hate him and only him? Really? That’s arguable because I dislike him just as much as Esme. No, I dislike Esme more, to be sure. Sebastian tried to be too good for too long that when he finally did, he went bust and it happened the night he was with Esme. I felt bad for the bastard actually, I think he got a worse punishment than he deserved.
What the heck happened? EL wrote these characters to be good people and then half way through they all lost their senses and respectability by listening to their loins instead of their conscience. Actually, what conscience? None of them felt any real guilt about cheating. They just felt shame because they were caught.
As a reader, I didn’t like that we were supposed to let the whole thing go since in the end the H/h got their HEA. Are we just supposed to forget that a significant breach of trust occurred? It felt like in the end, even though we get to the HEA..I didn’t have closure, at least not a clean one because I felt that at some point all four of them (Cam, Gina, Sebastian, and Esme) needed to repent – to say to each other “I’m sorry I was a deceitful friend. I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, never mind that you betrayed mine..”
2)The Ending – what a mess!
So, are Cam and Gina are no longer married right? They’ve been playing house while in Greece? With all the rules of propriety, why wasn’t this a concern.
What was the point in killing Lord Rawlings? He was such a nice man! Though I think his death served a purpose for a future book. It’s as if EL realized she only had 50 pages to wrap it all up and rushed the whole thing but still had crazy plot lines to squeeze in. Too much happened (the Aphrodite explanation, the brother reveal, Rawlings death, the annulment, trip to Greece, Seb's fake marriage license, etc) and it wasn’t written to transition well from one to the other..much of it just didn’t make good sense.
3)The Love Scenes – another mess!
Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Lisa Kleypas, but EL’s love scenes are – the best way I can describe is – at times unclear, muddled, and/or badly choreographed/described. I don’t know what’s happening, because the descriptions aren’t communicated well and when the reader doesn’t know what’s happening – well, it’s hard to get swept up in the moment. EL tries to be artsy in her description and it just does not work. Even basic things such as who is standing where? For example, when they were in the bath. One second they were kissing in the tub, then Cam laid Gina on her back..but where? In the water? On the floor next to the tub? against the tub? on the stairs? in the chaise? There are small details like this that I think EL assumes we can fill – which we can but then she describes something that doesn’t quite work. It feels like EL wants to be explicit and descriptive with fancy wording, but on some parts she changes her mind so she’s vague (forcing the readers to fill in the blanks.) It creates a disconnect and it’s distracting. I don’t personally need explicit love scenes to make the stories good – but if they are there, they need to be good. Don’t do it half way.
What I liked:
To end on a positive note, I positively loved Tuppy and Carola. They were sweet characters and adorable (and in the bedroom they were adorably awkward - haha.) Their story made me smile, laugh, and say “aww” more times than I care to admit.
February 27, 2015
I'm not sure how to explain this book or my reaction to it. It was energetic and scattered and not entirely off-putting. It was saved, for me, by Gina. I just liked her, even if I couldn't take her seriously as a character. There were too many inconsistencies both with the era and her background to really immerse in the novel but I found myself liking her anyway.
Most of the other characters were a dead loss. Well, not so much Cam. He was sweet, too. Which is nice as he was the romantic hero. But the others all had Gina's lack of being able to take seriously but without her charm. I felt like the author wanted me to care about them (I'm guessing they feature in the other books in the series) but it was too much for the story to hold and kept diverting me away from the parts I was enjoying.
A note about Steamy: On the high side of my tolerance, though not quite out of it. Probably a half-dozen explicit scenes that went on a bit. And this story element also suffered for having to include the other characters. If it had been just Gina and Cam it would have been both fewer and more meaningful.
Most of the other characters were a dead loss. Well, not so much Cam. He was sweet, too. Which is nice as he was the romantic hero. But the others all had Gina's lack of being able to take seriously but without her charm. I felt like the author wanted me to care about them (I'm guessing they feature in the other books in the series) but it was too much for the story to hold and kept diverting me away from the parts I was enjoying.
A note about Steamy: On the high side of my tolerance, though not quite out of it. Probably a half-dozen explicit scenes that went on a bit. And this story element also suffered for having to include the other characters. If it had been just Gina and Cam it would have been both fewer and more meaningful.
July 10, 2020
4 Estrellitas. Me ha gustado bastante, pese a no saber qué iba a encontrarme. Es un libro rápido y fluido que engancha fácilmente. Empezó muy bien, aunque hacia la mitad pierde algo de fuelle, pero lo recupera hacia el final.
En "Duquesa enamorada" no tenemos sólo la historia de Gina y Camden, si no que conoceremos al cuartero de duquesas, todas amigas, casadas, desgraciadas en sus matrimonios, algunas escandalosas y otras dispuestas a rehacer sus vidas.
La historia de Gina y Cam no es distinta, ellos crecieron pensando que eran primos, hasta que el padre de él lo sacó de Oxford con 18 y lo obligó a casarse con Gina, de sólo 11 años. Ése mismo día averiguaron que Gina no era su prima, si no la hija ilegítima de sus tíos, y aún así Cam huyó a Grecia donde con los años se ha labrado una reputación como escultor.
Han pasado doce años y Gina quiere rehacer su vida, tiene un pretendiente con quien le gustaría casarse, y con tantos años separada de Cam es obvio que su matrimonio puede anularse. Así que, mientras Gina y sus amigas están en la fiesta campestre de Lady Troubridge, comienzan a llegar los maridos. Entre ellos Cam, dispuesto a firmar los papeles de la anulación.
Pero todo se complica cuando Cam descubre a su ahora adulta esposa y empieza a desearla. Gina es ésa persona alegre e inteligente que ha estado administrando el ducado de Girton durante la ausencia de Cam ¿Qué se ha perdido Cam en éste tiempo? Ahora será cuando recapacite y se de cuenta de que puede tener un futuro en Inglaterra, ya lejos de la influencia de su tiránico padre que falleció hace años.
El libro empieza muy bien, pero para mi gusto pierde un poco cuando la historia de los protas se estanca, y entran en escena las historias secundarias de las amigas, sus líos con sus maridos, amantes y las posibles reconciliaciones, que sin duda se verán durante los siguientes libros, que son las historias de las amigas.
El desarrollo de la trama está muy bien, historias ligeras, ingeniosas, con líos de faldas y enredos durante todo el libro. En general me ha gustado y lo recomiendo y cuando me pique la curiosidad, veré qué ha sido de las amigas.
En "Duquesa enamorada" no tenemos sólo la historia de Gina y Camden, si no que conoceremos al cuartero de duquesas, todas amigas, casadas, desgraciadas en sus matrimonios, algunas escandalosas y otras dispuestas a rehacer sus vidas.
La historia de Gina y Cam no es distinta, ellos crecieron pensando que eran primos, hasta que el padre de él lo sacó de Oxford con 18 y lo obligó a casarse con Gina, de sólo 11 años. Ése mismo día averiguaron que Gina no era su prima, si no la hija ilegítima de sus tíos, y aún así Cam huyó a Grecia donde con los años se ha labrado una reputación como escultor.
Han pasado doce años y Gina quiere rehacer su vida, tiene un pretendiente con quien le gustaría casarse, y con tantos años separada de Cam es obvio que su matrimonio puede anularse. Así que, mientras Gina y sus amigas están en la fiesta campestre de Lady Troubridge, comienzan a llegar los maridos. Entre ellos Cam, dispuesto a firmar los papeles de la anulación.
Pero todo se complica cuando Cam descubre a su ahora adulta esposa y empieza a desearla. Gina es ésa persona alegre e inteligente que ha estado administrando el ducado de Girton durante la ausencia de Cam ¿Qué se ha perdido Cam en éste tiempo? Ahora será cuando recapacite y se de cuenta de que puede tener un futuro en Inglaterra, ya lejos de la influencia de su tiránico padre que falleció hace años.
El libro empieza muy bien, pero para mi gusto pierde un poco cuando la historia de los protas se estanca, y entran en escena las historias secundarias de las amigas, sus líos con sus maridos, amantes y las posibles reconciliaciones, que sin duda se verán durante los siguientes libros, que son las historias de las amigas.
El desarrollo de la trama está muy bien, historias ligeras, ingeniosas, con líos de faldas y enredos durante todo el libro. En general me ha gustado y lo recomiendo y cuando me pique la curiosidad, veré qué ha sido de las amigas.
October 13, 2025
This was so much fun! One of the best EJ books I read. I really like her style.
There was so much going on in this book. 3 romances and a mystery.
I love that there was no cartoonish villain and that our hero was not overly sensitive but intelligently rolled with the punches
The pace has not slowed down one bit, the energy was high on every page.
Relationships very complicated yet true to the messy human character.
Cam and Gina were two firecrackers together and not just in bed but in conversation and in quickness of their minds.
But there was also deep longing between them that was not expressed and led to misunderstanding.
But what I loved the best is when Cam inadvertently asked Gina to sleep with him. It was so well written.
I would love to see it as a romcom movie.
And I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I am also confused by the reviews because I don’t understand what is there not to like about this book.
Could it be because the sex scenes are not described in detail? There are no descriptions of throbbing cocks or tight pussies.
Or could it be because all relationships seem so adulterous and involve love triangles?
There was so much going on in this book. 3 romances and a mystery.
I love that there was no cartoonish villain and that our hero was not overly sensitive but intelligently rolled with the punches
The pace has not slowed down one bit, the energy was high on every page.
Relationships very complicated yet true to the messy human character.
Cam and Gina were two firecrackers together and not just in bed but in conversation and in quickness of their minds.
But there was also deep longing between them that was not expressed and led to misunderstanding.
But what I loved the best is when Cam inadvertently asked Gina to sleep with him. It was so well written.
I would love to see it as a romcom movie.
And I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I am also confused by the reviews because I don’t understand what is there not to like about this book.
Could it be because the sex scenes are not described in detail? There are no descriptions of throbbing cocks or tight pussies.
Or could it be because all relationships seem so adulterous and involve love triangles?
June 1, 2023
There are two kind of books EJ writes: one focused on the main couple with some secondary characters and one where the main couple shares its focus with other characters.
This is the second type and the one I love less.
The heroine married the hero when she was 11 and he 18, he left after the ceremony and came back 13 years later because she asked for annulment, because she wanted to marry another man.
Those two grew up together and thought they were first cousin, of course having fraternal feelings and nothing more.
They are quite friendly to one another and the hero accepts the annulment without any issue.
He hates his father and never wanted to be a duke.
He wants to stay in Greece where he’s lived for years without a care for his wife and his property.
But of course he falls in instanlust as soon as he sees his all grown up wife.
And the heroine of course begins to feel strange near his ex bff now husband all grown up.
Her fiancé is a bit cold and proper, there is no passion and he seems to be more interested in her bff.
It’s quite messy because the heroine’s girlfriends are two married and unhappy women, whose husbands are with their mistresses, while they have other suitors too.
There’s a mix and the heroine’s fiancé ends I’m bed with her bff, while she has sex with her husband but finds out their marriage has been annulled two days before.
The third friend manages to reconcile with her husband, but I really wasn’t interested in all this mess that seems to me only fit to fill more pages and I was about to DNF the book.
But I was really good because I could finish it!
In the end the hero remarried the heroine and decides it’s time he went back and become a man.
At thirty and something.
High time, dude.
I extremely disliked this hero, he behaved like an irresponsible and selfish useless man, the typical useless gentleman of old, that doesn’t want to behave like a man and turns his back to even the least of his responsibilities.
Quite unsexy, the exact opposite of the alpha man who rules among the other. No matter if he cusses and is rude and impolite, this is exactly that: being rude and impolite, not a real alpha man.
The continuous reminder of his mistresses in Greece and their physical attributes is pointless and annoying, and he’s not even ashamed of reminding them in front of his wife.
Ok I didn’t expect him to be celibate after all he married a child and he thought her to be his cousin, so it’s ok he had ow and didn’t lust after a child but he could have avoided pointing out he had ow. Crass.
His wife managed his estates for eight years, since she was barely 15, while he fucked and partied like mad, just the adult man.
And he also refuses to the heroines request to stay in England and take care of his estate, because hey nobody tells him what to do. Wait. Is this my 14yo son talking? No! It’s a man more than twice his age. Very manly and attractive. Not so.
Thank god in the very end his lawyer, an old and honorable man, tells him exactly what he is and what he thinks of him, and he’s a bit ashamed of himself and decides he will be a husband to his wife.
Too little too late.
Un redeemable.
The heroine’s bff who sleeps with her fiancé before they break up their engagement and when she had decided to go back to her husband and have a son with him… awful. A real slut.
The other two bff are two unresolved snd insecure women that we could do without.
So, nope I don’t really recommend this book because EJ can do much better.
This is the second type and the one I love less.
The heroine married the hero when she was 11 and he 18, he left after the ceremony and came back 13 years later because she asked for annulment, because she wanted to marry another man.
Those two grew up together and thought they were first cousin, of course having fraternal feelings and nothing more.
They are quite friendly to one another and the hero accepts the annulment without any issue.
He hates his father and never wanted to be a duke.
He wants to stay in Greece where he’s lived for years without a care for his wife and his property.
But of course he falls in instanlust as soon as he sees his all grown up wife.
And the heroine of course begins to feel strange near his ex bff now husband all grown up.
Her fiancé is a bit cold and proper, there is no passion and he seems to be more interested in her bff.
It’s quite messy because the heroine’s girlfriends are two married and unhappy women, whose husbands are with their mistresses, while they have other suitors too.
There’s a mix and the heroine’s fiancé ends I’m bed with her bff, while she has sex with her husband but finds out their marriage has been annulled two days before.
The third friend manages to reconcile with her husband, but I really wasn’t interested in all this mess that seems to me only fit to fill more pages and I was about to DNF the book.
But I was really good because I could finish it!
In the end the hero remarried the heroine and decides it’s time he went back and become a man.
At thirty and something.
High time, dude.
I extremely disliked this hero, he behaved like an irresponsible and selfish useless man, the typical useless gentleman of old, that doesn’t want to behave like a man and turns his back to even the least of his responsibilities.
Quite unsexy, the exact opposite of the alpha man who rules among the other. No matter if he cusses and is rude and impolite, this is exactly that: being rude and impolite, not a real alpha man.
The continuous reminder of his mistresses in Greece and their physical attributes is pointless and annoying, and he’s not even ashamed of reminding them in front of his wife.
Ok I didn’t expect him to be celibate after all he married a child and he thought her to be his cousin, so it’s ok he had ow and didn’t lust after a child but he could have avoided pointing out he had ow. Crass.
His wife managed his estates for eight years, since she was barely 15, while he fucked and partied like mad, just the adult man.
And he also refuses to the heroines request to stay in England and take care of his estate, because hey nobody tells him what to do. Wait. Is this my 14yo son talking? No! It’s a man more than twice his age. Very manly and attractive. Not so.
Thank god in the very end his lawyer, an old and honorable man, tells him exactly what he is and what he thinks of him, and he’s a bit ashamed of himself and decides he will be a husband to his wife.
Too little too late.
Un redeemable.
The heroine’s bff who sleeps with her fiancé before they break up their engagement and when she had decided to go back to her husband and have a son with him… awful. A real slut.
The other two bff are two unresolved snd insecure women that we could do without.
So, nope I don’t really recommend this book because EJ can do much better.
March 2, 2022
3.5 stars Main couple: Gina and Cam with Sebastian as her finance. Side couples: Esme and Gina's finance Sebastian, Esme's husband and his mistress, Esme and her husband in order to try and create a heir, Carola and Tuppy, and Helene and her musical husband who threw her out of her own home and has since placed his mistress there after some other scandalous people.
There is a lack of honor in this group of friends. Esme flirts with anything that moves and is male, Cam flirts with Esme, Tuppy has cheated on his wife since she moved back in with her mom, Helene's husband is cheating on her with his current mistress, Esme betrays Gina by having sex with Sebastian, Gina cheats on her finance-Sebastian with her husband Cam, Sebastian cheats with Esme while still engaged to Gina. Cam is a jerk in front of Gina by asking Esme if she would sit for him so he can make a statue out of her. (He currently uses his ex mistress as his model for his statues). What a sucker punch thing to do to Gina.
So as you can see above the story is pretty convoluted. I was disappointed with Gina that after her and Cam had sex that she still was not sure which guy to pick. I sort of felt cheated when Gina and Cam's big get together was done off page. I was bummed that Gina had to chase after Cam instead of Cam fighting for her. Also, convoluted was their annulment- that came through before they had sex. The rumor that Sebastian started to protect Esme that he and Gina were married via special license. Also, while in Greece for a few months with why hasn't Cam told Gina he loves her? Why did Gina have to meet his ex mistress Maria and befriend her? Lets also not forgot the solving of the mystery on her lost half brother.
However, unlike the Ugly Duchess the author gives this couple a lovely ending chapter where they sort of work through a fight and a sweet epilogue starring their son Maximillian.
There is a lack of honor in this group of friends. Esme flirts with anything that moves and is male, Cam flirts with Esme, Tuppy has cheated on his wife since she moved back in with her mom, Helene's husband is cheating on her with his current mistress, Esme betrays Gina by having sex with Sebastian, Gina cheats on her finance-Sebastian with her husband Cam, Sebastian cheats with Esme while still engaged to Gina. Cam is a jerk in front of Gina by asking Esme if she would sit for him so he can make a statue out of her. (He currently uses his ex mistress as his model for his statues). What a sucker punch thing to do to Gina.
So as you can see above the story is pretty convoluted. I was disappointed with Gina that after her and Cam had sex that she still was not sure which guy to pick. I sort of felt cheated when Gina and Cam's big get together was done off page. I was bummed that Gina had to chase after Cam instead of Cam fighting for her. Also, convoluted was their annulment- that came through before they had sex. The rumor that Sebastian started to protect Esme that he and Gina were married via special license. Also, while in Greece for a few months with why hasn't Cam told Gina he loves her? Why did Gina have to meet his ex mistress Maria and befriend her? Lets also not forgot the solving of the mystery on her lost half brother.
However, unlike the Ugly Duchess the author gives this couple a lovely ending chapter where they sort of work through a fight and a sweet epilogue starring their son Maximillian.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
Once again, Eloisa James has dragged me out of my reading slump with a beautifully written historical romance that I couldn't bear to put down.
July 21, 2018
I once had lunch with Eloisa James, in a little café in Westminster. In person, she's elegant, charming, self-possessed, occasionally impish--and remarkably like the heroine of Duchess in Love.
That might be one of the reasons I enjoyed this EJ more than others I've ventured on in recent years. It's a sweet little story, at least on the surface. Gina, impossibly married to Camden when she was 11 and he 18, has grown up in the 12 years since he (understandably) ran away from the abusive father who forced them into the union. When Camden returns - a good-natured care-for-nothing - to cheerfully annul their marriage so Gina can marry the upright uptight Marquess of Bonnington, he decides to amuse himself by seducing his own wife.
The best bits of the book are his encounters with Gina: both amorous & clear-sighted, Gina's a delightful heroine - mature, self-aware, hard-working, empathetic and funny. Someone you'd like to have lunch with. But not, it has to be said, a particularly convincing 23-year-old virgin brought up by a manipulative mother & an abusive bullying father-in-law, and abandoned to her fate by her irresponsible husband. Who has now decided to play dice with her chances of getting the annulment she's asked for (and the family life she dreams of), in order to play hide the salami.
The rest of the plot is fairly typical EJ - 2-D secondary characters for whom EJ cares little (Tuppy and Carola's situation doesn't deserve to be sent up), and several sub-plots that will be resolved in subsequent books.
Eloisa James has written a couple of books I really rate (When Beauty Tamed the Beast and A Duke of Her Own). They are ones where both H & h have a real emotional investment in the outcome, and where the focus is on the MCs and their situation. It's a pity she doesn't use that formula more often.
That might be one of the reasons I enjoyed this EJ more than others I've ventured on in recent years. It's a sweet little story, at least on the surface. Gina, impossibly married to Camden when she was 11 and he 18, has grown up in the 12 years since he (understandably) ran away from the abusive father who forced them into the union. When Camden returns - a good-natured care-for-nothing - to cheerfully annul their marriage so Gina can marry the upright uptight Marquess of Bonnington, he decides to amuse himself by seducing his own wife.
The best bits of the book are his encounters with Gina: both amorous & clear-sighted, Gina's a delightful heroine - mature, self-aware, hard-working, empathetic and funny. Someone you'd like to have lunch with. But not, it has to be said, a particularly convincing 23-year-old virgin brought up by a manipulative mother & an abusive bullying father-in-law, and abandoned to her fate by her irresponsible husband. Who has now decided to play dice with her chances of getting the annulment she's asked for (and the family life she dreams of), in order to play hide the salami.
The rest of the plot is fairly typical EJ - 2-D secondary characters for whom EJ cares little (Tuppy and Carola's situation doesn't deserve to be sent up), and several sub-plots that will be resolved in subsequent books.
Eloisa James has written a couple of books I really rate (When Beauty Tamed the Beast and A Duke of Her Own). They are ones where both H & h have a real emotional investment in the outcome, and where the focus is on the MCs and their situation. It's a pity she doesn't use that formula more often.
June 29, 2012
The only time this book caught my interest was when I read the Author's Introduction at the end. I didn't know Ms James was a Professor of English Literature and found it difficult to reconcile her academic expertise with this lack-lustre historical romance.
The main story was cute: a reluctant Duke forced to marry an 11-yr-old girl whom he thought was his cousin. Within hours of the marriage he flees to Greece, where he enjoys an idyllic life sculpting nude statues of Greek goddesses.
He returns to England with the intention of annulling his unconsummated marriage with Gina, who seems to have already chosen a new fiancé. Things don't work out that easily, however. Close childhood friends until the enforced marriage, Camden and Gina are still fond of each other and this fondness continues to grow.
The down side of this book is the fussy handling of the gaggle of Gina's merry lady friends. Within a page or two I was unable to sort out who was courting or seducing whom, and Gina's continuing attachment to the complete asshole she plans to marry once the annulment is settled is a mystery.
The story-within-a-story device of having Much Ado About Nothing performed at a country house party added a little zest to the story, but not much. In other places Ms James indulged in long passages of descriptive writing that slowed the narrative to a pedestrian plod.
The main story was cute: a reluctant Duke forced to marry an 11-yr-old girl whom he thought was his cousin. Within hours of the marriage he flees to Greece, where he enjoys an idyllic life sculpting nude statues of Greek goddesses.
He returns to England with the intention of annulling his unconsummated marriage with Gina, who seems to have already chosen a new fiancé. Things don't work out that easily, however. Close childhood friends until the enforced marriage, Camden and Gina are still fond of each other and this fondness continues to grow.
The down side of this book is the fussy handling of the gaggle of Gina's merry lady friends. Within a page or two I was unable to sort out who was courting or seducing whom, and Gina's continuing attachment to the complete asshole she plans to marry once the annulment is settled is a mystery.
The story-within-a-story device of having Much Ado About Nothing performed at a country house party added a little zest to the story, but not much. In other places Ms James indulged in long passages of descriptive writing that slowed the narrative to a pedestrian plod.
July 31, 2022
Another trope flipped on its head by the queen Eloisa James 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The whole “I’m engaged to this person but actually in love with this person” trope freaking sucks. I just read one recently (A Groom of One’s Own 🙄) that I haaaated. In the depths of my book despair I ran to Eloisa James and was surprised to find that same trope! Done correctly!
I loved all the characters and all the storylines. This isn’t always true for EJ, but found myself loving everything that was happening. Gina and Cam are still the main driving force for the story and I loved their friendship and the easy way they had with each other. Despite the fact that they’re married and have been estranged for 12 years, it wasn’t second chance romance. She was ELEVEN when they married and I personally appreciated Cam heading for the hills. I loved that Gina wanted an annulment to finally have a family of her own and the romance just blossomed and made perfect sense. The reasons she wanted to marry Sebastian despite their obvious incompatibility made sense, her hesitancy to stay married to Cam MADE SENSE. I believed the tension and the ending was all the sweeter for it.
And the side stories!!!!
Carola and Tuppy are a RIOT! Omg, I loved this little addition so much.
Sebastian and Esme! This broke my heart but omg I can’t wait for book two.
Helene and Rees?! This was the smallest hints to book four and I’m terrified if EJ will pull it off or if it’ll be a huge miss. A hero who flaunts his mistresses so appallingly?! 😰 I’m shook but you know I’m gonna read it.
The whole “I’m engaged to this person but actually in love with this person” trope freaking sucks. I just read one recently (A Groom of One’s Own 🙄) that I haaaated. In the depths of my book despair I ran to Eloisa James and was surprised to find that same trope! Done correctly!
I loved all the characters and all the storylines. This isn’t always true for EJ, but found myself loving everything that was happening. Gina and Cam are still the main driving force for the story and I loved their friendship and the easy way they had with each other. Despite the fact that they’re married and have been estranged for 12 years, it wasn’t second chance romance. She was ELEVEN when they married and I personally appreciated Cam heading for the hills. I loved that Gina wanted an annulment to finally have a family of her own and the romance just blossomed and made perfect sense. The reasons she wanted to marry Sebastian despite their obvious incompatibility made sense, her hesitancy to stay married to Cam MADE SENSE. I believed the tension and the ending was all the sweeter for it.
And the side stories!!!!
Carola and Tuppy are a RIOT! Omg, I loved this little addition so much.
Sebastian and Esme! This broke my heart but omg I can’t wait for book two.
Helene and Rees?! This was the smallest hints to book four and I’m terrified if EJ will pull it off or if it’ll be a huge miss. A hero who flaunts his mistresses so appallingly?! 😰 I’m shook but you know I’m gonna read it.
February 8, 2015
Too much drama at the end, but, overall, this was the best balanced of the James's books I've read in that I was into ALL the storylines.
I also liked that it depicted the reality that ton marriages weren't always that great, lots of married people didn't live together, slept with other people. Don't get me wrong, I love my happy romances, but that realism is something I've missed in a lot of Regency romances.
And it was an interesting take on the estranged marriage trope. This was a about a couple who never had a real marriage, so it was about falling in love for the first time. With your spouse. Which was fun!
I think I would've given it five stars if it had had a strong ending.
I also liked that it depicted the reality that ton marriages weren't always that great, lots of married people didn't live together, slept with other people. Don't get me wrong, I love my happy romances, but that realism is something I've missed in a lot of Regency romances.
And it was an interesting take on the estranged marriage trope. This was a about a couple who never had a real marriage, so it was about falling in love for the first time. With your spouse. Which was fun!
I think I would've given it five stars if it had had a strong ending.
October 31, 2010
Oh dear me what a mess this book was!
A more fitting title would have been Desperate Housewives of the Ton!
The flow was very jumbled and I found myself going back and rereading sentences a lot. The excessive dialogue between numerous characters got very tedious. Somehow James lost my connection to these characters.
The one and only character that I believe had some depth and interest was that of Esme. Her and Miles story left me so sad.
I would give James a 2nd chance and perhaps Esme has a book! I so hope she finds a happy ending!
A more fitting title would have been Desperate Housewives of the Ton!
The flow was very jumbled and I found myself going back and rereading sentences a lot. The excessive dialogue between numerous characters got very tedious. Somehow James lost my connection to these characters.
The one and only character that I believe had some depth and interest was that of Esme. Her and Miles story left me so sad.
I would give James a 2nd chance and perhaps Esme has a book! I so hope she finds a happy ending!
October 29, 2025
I enjoy reading Ms. James as an author and did enjoy this story but it was a bit too slow burn where I found myself skipping through some chapters...too many and too drawn out. The plot reminds me of the classic move called "The Women". Will try the next in this series and hope it is a bit better.
March 1, 2021
Nice story.
August 4, 2024
A Duchess, a Desert, and a Desperate Lack of Drama
This novel is the literary equivalent of a lukewarm bath: pleasantly inoffensive but utterly devoid of invigorating bubbles. A duchess, dazzlingly beautiful and inexplicably bored, is married to a man who, with an admirable lack of commitment issues, promptly disappears after the vows. Years pass in a state of blissful, if somewhat lonely, independence, until the errant husband returns, only to find his wife being courted with all the subtlety of a herd of stampeding elephants.
One would expect a tempestuous showdown, a duel, perhaps a heartfelt plea. Instead, we are treated to a polite exchange, as emotionally charged as a cucumber sandwich. The husband, it seems, has developed a peculiar fondness for emotional detachment, while the duchess has perfected the art of serene indifference.
If you're seeking passion, intrigue, or even a decent villain, look elsewhere. This book is a tranquil pond in a world desperate for a hurricane. It’s a story that whispers when it should roar, and tiptoes when it should stomp. In short, it’s as exciting as watching paint dry, but with prettier clothes.
This novel is the literary equivalent of a lukewarm bath: pleasantly inoffensive but utterly devoid of invigorating bubbles. A duchess, dazzlingly beautiful and inexplicably bored, is married to a man who, with an admirable lack of commitment issues, promptly disappears after the vows. Years pass in a state of blissful, if somewhat lonely, independence, until the errant husband returns, only to find his wife being courted with all the subtlety of a herd of stampeding elephants.
One would expect a tempestuous showdown, a duel, perhaps a heartfelt plea. Instead, we are treated to a polite exchange, as emotionally charged as a cucumber sandwich. The husband, it seems, has developed a peculiar fondness for emotional detachment, while the duchess has perfected the art of serene indifference.
If you're seeking passion, intrigue, or even a decent villain, look elsewhere. This book is a tranquil pond in a world desperate for a hurricane. It’s a story that whispers when it should roar, and tiptoes when it should stomp. In short, it’s as exciting as watching paint dry, but with prettier clothes.
May 10, 2022
De esta autora he leído otra serie y me gustó pero esta me ha aburrido muchísimo y no me ha gustado el estilo de esta historia en particular (no sé si es la traducción ya que la leí en español).
July 26, 2013
I don't even know what to say. This should have been an introductory novella to this series. Instead, it was a full length novel with a serious identity crisis. The supposed main characters - Gina and Cam - were uninteresting at best, and often quite annoying. With Gina's constant blithering back and forth about whether she wanted to stay married to her husband (Cam) or have her marriage annulled and marry Sebastian (who practically recoils at her slightest touch). But this only when the reader is actually involved in the 'main' characters' story line, which amounts to only about 60% of the book. The other 40% is spent telling the stories of all of Gina's annoying girlfriends (who are also all involved in scandalous/disastrous marriages and who all behaved in ways that were pretty unbelievable for their time period).
I cannot for the life of me figure out why we're supposed to believe that Gina and Cam were really in love. Cam starts out in this story as an uncouth, uncaring reprobate sculptor, who is living the good life in Greece and vows to never return to stuffy England and all of her rules. But Gina is just so damn sexy, and she screams so loud when she orgasms, and he falls so hard for her that he is suddenly willing to give all of that up. Oh sure, if the story and characters had been allowed the time to truly unfold properly, I think Eloisa James could have written this in such a way that it was believable. But with spending time on Esme and Sebastian and Carola and Tuppy, and so many others, there simply was not enough space left to really develop the primary characters.
Too much stuff crammed into too little space, and absolutely zero chemistry for the main couple. Plus, I found the characters so insufferably irritating and unbelievable that I can't rate this higher than one star.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why we're supposed to believe that Gina and Cam were really in love. Cam starts out in this story as an uncouth, uncaring reprobate sculptor, who is living the good life in Greece and vows to never return to stuffy England and all of her rules. But Gina is just so damn sexy, and she screams so loud when she orgasms, and he falls so hard for her that he is suddenly willing to give all of that up. Oh sure, if the story and characters had been allowed the time to truly unfold properly, I think Eloisa James could have written this in such a way that it was believable. But with spending time on Esme and Sebastian and Carola and Tuppy, and so many others, there simply was not enough space left to really develop the primary characters.
Too much stuff crammed into too little space, and absolutely zero chemistry for the main couple. Plus, I found the characters so insufferably irritating and unbelievable that I can't rate this higher than one star.
August 31, 2020
Tenía muchísimas esperanzas en este libro y esta autora.. pero no.
Creo que lo mejor que tiene el libro es lo original que es en cuanto a tocar el tema de las mujeres casadas en esa época y a lo que tenían que enfrentarse.
- Matrimonios por conveniencia con un marido en el extranjero
- matrimonios con hombres mucho mas mayores donde no fluía una relación pasional
- matrimonios dónde el sexo no funcionaba
Eso bien, me ha parecido interesante, igual que el tema del divorcio, tener amantes y de más.
Para mí el problema está en que teniendo todo eso.. no me ha gustado como lo desarrolla. La manera de narrar y la construcción de personajes está bien, muy bien. pero el resto no.
La trama de la protagonista principal no me la he creído y su enamoramiento con su marido, del que se divorcia, pero no, para casarse con un capullo, que todo el libro es un capull.. pues meh. Además él más que enamorado estaba caliente, todo el rato, y el sexo que tenían.. era metesaca sin más.
Luego tenemos a la que tiene amantes y el marido está enamorado de su amante. Que su trama estaba bien, hasta que habla de ella misma como una puta, una vergüenza y no sé cuantas cosas más... y encima meten el drama del siglo al final, que mira NO.
Y la tercera amiga con el marido.. era mi esperanza que lo hicieran bien, pero no. Supuestamente se separaron porque pra ella era un suplicio atenderlo en la cama. Y ahora quiere volver, porue ella lo sigue queriendo -lo pone celoso y montan una escena de flipar, que no me gustó nada- pero cuando se ponen a hablar del tema que les concierne, primeor que me dolió que él diera por hecho que era una adúltera.. y luego que si antes no funcionaba, si no lo hablas no va a cambiar. Y es como que se arregla todo por arte de magia, porque no conversan, ni se dicen la verdad, ni "aprenden" mutuamente del otro.
No sé, me ha decepcionado.
Creo que lo mejor que tiene el libro es lo original que es en cuanto a tocar el tema de las mujeres casadas en esa época y a lo que tenían que enfrentarse.
- Matrimonios por conveniencia con un marido en el extranjero
- matrimonios con hombres mucho mas mayores donde no fluía una relación pasional
- matrimonios dónde el sexo no funcionaba
Eso bien, me ha parecido interesante, igual que el tema del divorcio, tener amantes y de más.
Para mí el problema está en que teniendo todo eso.. no me ha gustado como lo desarrolla. La manera de narrar y la construcción de personajes está bien, muy bien. pero el resto no.
La trama de la protagonista principal no me la he creído y su enamoramiento con su marido, del que se divorcia, pero no, para casarse con un capullo, que todo el libro es un capull.. pues meh. Además él más que enamorado estaba caliente, todo el rato, y el sexo que tenían.. era metesaca sin más.
Luego tenemos a la que tiene amantes y el marido está enamorado de su amante. Que su trama estaba bien, hasta que habla de ella misma como una puta, una vergüenza y no sé cuantas cosas más... y encima meten el drama del siglo al final, que mira NO.
Y la tercera amiga con el marido.. era mi esperanza que lo hicieran bien, pero no. Supuestamente se separaron porque pra ella era un suplicio atenderlo en la cama. Y ahora quiere volver, porue ella lo sigue queriendo -lo pone celoso y montan una escena de flipar, que no me gustó nada- pero cuando se ponen a hablar del tema que les concierne, primeor que me dolió que él diera por hecho que era una adúltera.. y luego que si antes no funcionaba, si no lo hablas no va a cambiar. Y es como que se arregla todo por arte de magia, porque no conversan, ni se dicen la verdad, ni "aprenden" mutuamente del otro.
No sé, me ha decepcionado.
February 27, 2012
3.5 stars. This would have been 4 stars but for a couple of things. At the very end there's a scene between Gina & Cam on the staircase that became a confused jumble in my mind. I tried reading and rereading it but it seemed like the author got shy and only wanted to infer what was happening and so the characters seemed to be lying down one minute (on the steps no less) and the next they were standing and then . . . but you get the idea. There's also the scene on the ship where the Gina suddenly appears, again with only an implied transition and no explanation about why she would come aboard in disguise. (At least, that's what I think she did.) The other thing that keeps this from being better in my eyes was the Marquise. He was fine as "the other man" because he was a self-righteous prig, but casting him in that role made it more than difficult for me to understand what Esme could see in him. If there's going to be a book that focuses on them, I think I'll skip it.
What was fun was that parts of this read like a bedroom farce. Though Gina is the heroine-apparent, her three closest friends all have marital problems and a fair amount of focus landed on them. On the whole, I enjoyed this as I've enjoyed other Eloisa James novels. I will continue to read her books.
What was fun was that parts of this read like a bedroom farce. Though Gina is the heroine-apparent, her three closest friends all have marital problems and a fair amount of focus landed on them. On the whole, I enjoyed this as I've enjoyed other Eloisa James novels. I will continue to read her books.
tbr-later
November 27, 201527 November 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
27 February 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
27 October 2014: $1.99 on Kindle
27 February 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
27 October 2014: $1.99 on Kindle
February 4, 2012
A more pathetic, mocking excuse of a friendship I have yet to come across.
At least I managed to finish this one. Yippee.
At least I managed to finish this one. Yippee.
Read
October 11, 2022Definitivamente abandono en la página 100. Para mi no tiene ni pies ni cabeza este libro.
July 1, 2025
God these regency stories are like therapy to me right now
March 16, 2019
This plot trope is ultra corny but Eloisa James writes it well!
September 22, 2020
3.5 stars
November 30, 2016
First I want to say it took me a long while to finish this book because I was busy adjusting to my work (I'm new at it^^)
You can say I didn't have any practically favorite characters, but instead I had favorites stories. From my perspective I divided the book to 3 segments, one is the main story that's focused on the main couple, our esteemed Duke and his Duchess. Two was about her best friend Lady Esme and the fiancee the Marquess, three is her other friend Lady Carola and Tuppy. I liked the first and last ones. It was nice to see the development between the married couple, like the main ones who were married for 12 yrs! but havent seen each other all this time, only to realize that each one became a paragon of beauty in each other's eye. the Third couple was the most adorable and foolish couple, and I liked how the author shed light of the other couples without stealing the light from the main ones. However the second couple were the one I honestly found distasteful, not from a story or writing perspective, but from a personal one, like I can't imagine my fiancee being together with my own best friend! since the beginning I hated the Marquess, he was such a hypocrite and oh-so-self-righteous like it was fine for him to flirt with the best friend but it wasn't fine for his betrothed to flirt with her own husband?!
- Oh yeah one of the most amusing and awkward scenes that kinda stuck to me was the introduction, since then I kept wondering didn't the heroine feel awkward introducing the men to each other one as her husband and the other as her fiance?
- I have to say the scene when Esme's husband died I shed couple of tears and literally couldn't see what I have been reading.
I way things ended were nice and smooth, I liked the epilogue and it showed us that Esme had her baby like Gina ^^
Overall, *thumbs up*
You can say I didn't have any practically favorite characters, but instead I had favorites stories. From my perspective I divided the book to 3 segments, one is the main story that's focused on the main couple, our esteemed Duke and his Duchess. Two was about her best friend Lady Esme and the fiancee the Marquess, three is her other friend Lady Carola and Tuppy. I liked the first and last ones. It was nice to see the development between the married couple, like the main ones who were married for 12 yrs! but havent seen each other all this time, only to realize that each one became a paragon of beauty in each other's eye. the Third couple was the most adorable and foolish couple, and I liked how the author shed light of the other couples without stealing the light from the main ones. However the second couple were the one I honestly found distasteful, not from a story or writing perspective, but from a personal one, like I can't imagine my fiancee being together with my own best friend! since the beginning I hated the Marquess, he was such a hypocrite and oh-so-self-righteous like it was fine for him to flirt with the best friend but it wasn't fine for his betrothed to flirt with her own husband?!
- Oh yeah one of the most amusing and awkward scenes that kinda stuck to me was the introduction, since then I kept wondering didn't the heroine feel awkward introducing the men to each other one as her husband and the other as her fiance?
- I have to say the scene when Esme's husband died I shed couple of tears and literally couldn't see what I have been reading.
I way things ended were nice and smooth, I liked the epilogue and it showed us that Esme had her baby like Gina ^^
Overall, *thumbs up*
January 3, 2023
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, I had watched a Booktuber review this and they talked a lot about how much attention was on the side characters. I didn't think that would interest me but I really liked the side couples (though many of them didn't go the way I wanted...but I have hope for the rest of the series that some things might get resolved). I liked the group of girls and the men. Everyone was amusing and a little ditzy, definitely wouldn't call many of these people smart.
July 7, 2017
Leído en Septiembre 2009
Buen arranque de la serie con este primer libro.... me gustó la trama y tuvo buenos personajes
Buen arranque de la serie con este primer libro.... me gustó la trama y tuvo buenos personajes
March 16, 2018
Whew! Those were some steamy scenes! Absolutely loved rediscovering this author, she does a great dance of witty dialogue, world and character building, and great love stories.
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