Customer Reviews

Only a Duke Will Do (School for Heiresses Series)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The most interesting character in this novel, was the hero's pet monkey Rajii! That summarizes my view of this book. I'm glad I only borrowed it from the library.

Others have already summarized the plot so I will not rehash. I will say that the political backdrop was intriguing and very informative. The chemistry between the protagonists was lacking- of course when Simon could actually convince Louisa to let her guard down , it was steamy but their interactions as a couple lacked the spark I like in a romance.
I actually felt sorry for Simon for landing such a querolous wife.

I for one love the independant female, however I really think many heroines are not realistically rendered. I totally understand Louisa's devotion to her prison reform, and wanting a radical candidate and I understand Simon's balking at it- what I don't understand is why Louisa thinks this is abnormal from her husband, a DUKE with POLITICAL asperations.

There was also the scene where she got pelted by a rock (yes, a ROCK!) at the prison, however even though she got knocked out, she is adamant tonot have a doctor. Like I mentioned earlier, I don't mind independent heroines, I just dislike the borderline stupid ones.

The hero and heroine of this book just never convinced me that they really loved each other. Since there was a lot of political machination going on between these two, they were always one upping the other when it came to advancing their own agendas. This was a tedious. I never understood how Simon, the hero, was so forgiving of Louisa. When she discovered that he was stringing her along in a courtship she had him sent to India for seven years. She was in no way compromised, they shared one kiss. This was glossed over and Simon said he deserved his banishment. This novel would have been more interesting if revenge had been part of the plot. Also, a deeper background into Simon's past in India would have fleshed out his charachter. He was one dimensional.

Louisa was stubborn but so was Simon. I really was tired of her reapeating to herself, "A pox on Simon, a pox on her husband."

Both were secretive but to the author's credit, they did not let misunderstandings go on throughout the entire novel. Once a secret was revealed, they discussed it and moved on. This book rates 2 ½ stars. The political backdrop with prison reform was fresh and inventive but the hero and heroine were not.

I generally like Jeffries, but I must admit that this book didn't live up to my expectations. Generally, when I pick up a book by the time I read the first chapter, I am hooked. I can't not finish the book. I am addicted to reading. However, I had to work to finish this book. I found myself skipping pages or skimming whole chapters.

I honestly don't know if the problem was the plot and that it has been done over and over and over again, and that in my opinion nothing much has been done to make this stand out, or if it was that the characters just seemed to be repeating themselves. For example, the first time Simon and Louisa got involved he betrayed her. It was to further his position with the king. Second go round, and once again, Simon is betraying Louisa to get in better with the king. To be honest, another thing that bothered me is it seemed only Louisa's brother could see through Simon. He was the only one that wasn't pushing her to marry him and to forgive him. Simon's sister, who is supposed to be Louisa's best friend never once in my opinion supported her friend. She just kept saying that Simon's changed and he won't betray you again... which was wrong. And further when Simon's sister does find out that Louisa's been betrayed again, she says she'll have a talk with him. I felt that this book made the majority of the women out to be strong on their own, but as soon as it came to Simon they turned to mush.

If you are a huge fan of Jeffries you should probably read the book to keep up with the series, but maybe you should get it from the library. I guess that would be my recommendation for anyone if the book looks interesting. So many people loved the book, so maybe I missed something, but just in case, why not check it out of the library in stead of possibly throwing away money?

I have read several of her other books and enjoyed them. I found myself having a few minutes to read, picking up the book, then doing something else. I wish that I had read the reviews before. Borrow the book if it appeals to you.

[..]The hero is Simon, the Duke of Foxmoor and the heroine is Louisa, sister to a Viscount married to the hero's sister. She and the hero met 7 years previously, and they were attracted to each other, but had a falling out in which Simon was "banished" to India. He arrives back at England, ready to get back into the political machine as he has been groomed by his maternal grandfather for political aspirations (namely, prime minister).

They encounter one another at a birthday celebration for her brother and sparks fly (of course). Simon is approached by the king during the party (Louisa and her brother are his bastard children) in which the king demands Simon's help in reigning his daughter in. It seems Louisa is a bit of a fiery reformer for women in prison. She is a member of a ladies club that champions for the poor and abused prison women and she's causing something of an uproar among the lords in Parliment with all her public actions and rhetoric. The king wants Simon to do something about it, though Simon is hesitant to help the king again (as that is what got him shipped to India in the first place!), but he is still intrigued by Louisa and agrees to court her again.

Well, now that the backdrop for the story has been described let me give a little of my opinion about what I didn't like about this book.LOL. I couldn't get engaged into the story. The hero, and especially the heroine, lacked....*something*. Yes, a lot of sparks and tempers fly between the two, but that wasn't enough to show me they truly *loved* one another. There weren't any big misunderstandings, but the many clashes the hero and heroine have grew quite tiring and frankly annoying. I didn't like how the heroine would argue with her hero just because she knew he was/could be right and she was wrong. She didn't like being wrong and it grated on her nerves. Well, her inability to give and be mature about it grated on *my* nerves. I didn't like how they always juggled for the upper-hand and control in the relationship. Louisa was as bad about it as Simon.

I like a good strong, independent, and smart heroine as much as the next romance reader [..]Louisa didn't come across as an independent and strong women, but as a tempermetnal shrew that had to have her way or the high-way.=P

I also felt the political story interwoven into the novel overshadowed the romance element. I think that portion should have been toned down, and the focus should have been more on the hero and heroine's relationship (for instance, what exactly happened during that short interlude 7 years before? Maybe it could have been described in a prologue chapter).

[..]

Nothing special or interesting enough for me. Characters not realistic. Simon's personality didn't fit with my view of a politician's personality. I was bored and wanted the book to be over. This was my first Sabrina Jeffries book and will probably be my last. Sexual content: moderate.

I'm sure you can read a general synopsis of the plot in other reviews, so I will just give my opinion. I just couldn't make myself finish the book. It wasn't horrible, or badly written, but all the main characters did was bicker. I didn't see any real (other than physical) connection between the characters. I liked the addition of the monkey, but other than that, the book couldn't hold my interest.

I will refrain from summarizing,except to say that the love scenes were wooden, and there was little wit and no heat.
I think my trouble is that any romance that gives the couple a second chance at 'love' is not going to have the same build up to falling in love.
And if they were really in love, how did they get it so wrong in the past.
The plot, the betrayal, his demeaning treatment of her, his conspiracy with her father, all show why they failed as a couple, so there is no magnetism, build up, that depiction of the breathless anticipation of falling in love and finally making love.
This is a page turner in the sense you can skip a lot of them and still not miss much, with some mildly amusing parts with the monkey, but the political material goes on far too long--her research definitely shows, it is not seamlessly woven in.

I am sorry but I expected so much more from this book perhaps due to the number of stars. I have tried to read this book at least 4 times and still it does not seem to keep my interest; Ohh just pure monotonous boredom. I do not feel any chemistry between the chacters. I am truly sorry for I hate to give any romance book a bad rating. I am a little scared to go out and buy another one of Ms. Jeffries book. This is the first book that has taken me this long to finish ughh the agony of trying to finish this. I will try to give her a second chance after this catastrophy of a book.

Some background:

Those of you familiar with The Royal Brotherhood series remember Louisa North as Marcus's, the 'dragon' viscount, sister. The naive 19yr old Louisa was led to believe that Simon, Duke of Foxmore, who was courting her, loved her and wanted to whisk her away to Gretna Green. Meanwhile he claimed so only to get her away from her brother and into the clutches of Prinny (her and her brother's real father). Prinny wants her to come to court, Marcus is against it because he can't forgive him for wrongs done against him and his family. Simon is the pawn to lure Louisa and it works, but later he (Simon) is banished to India for going too far in the charade in hopes of securing Prinny's backing as the prime minister.

Fast forward seven years to Only The Duke Will Do:

Simon returns from India after a seven year stint as the Governor General. In London he is recognized as the hero, but he knows the truth and is haunted by the actions and decisions which he failed to make resulting in uneccesary deaths. He is now determined more than ever to work his way back into English politics and become the next prime minister. This is where the king (formerly Prinny) steps in and makes him another dubious offer.

No longer a naive child, Louisa North, 26, is now an independent woman and member of the London Ladies Society. A group which, for one, supports prison reform for the women and children at Newgate. The group is considered semi-radical by some and they believe that the society is getting too powerful by backing their own candidates sympathetic to their own agenda. The king gets word of his daughter's activities. There is substantial pressure from the various members of parliament to rein her in. So the king comes up with a plan.

Sensing that Simon still has feelings for his daughter, the king offers to remove the current prime minister and back Simon in his place. As part of the bargain, Simon must get Louisa to marry him and then curtail her efforts with the London Ladies Society. Simon, although wary of being used again by the king, makes some of his own demands. Negotiations are settled and Simon begins his pursuit.

Louisa doesn't know whether to be flattered or run for the the hills when it comes to Simon's consistent courting. She wants to believe that her cares for her after all these years and that he really wants to help with her society, but she's been burned badly by him before. So she's cautious and avoids his attempts at seducing her, but a woman can only take so much. And one thing leads to another and they're married. (you'll have to read to find that one out!)

Tragically its then when she finally finds out about the little arrangement between her father and Simon. Louisa is devastated and Simon has the impossible task of convincing her that he didn't marry her just because of the arrangement. Simon is also forever haunted by the ghost of his horrible grandfather, former prime minister, Earl of Monteith and his 'teaching' methods, one of which was never to be ruled by your passions. Simon believed that he was incapable of love.

So its amidst the political backdrop that both Simon and Louisa have to decide if power and reform is worth more than love and marriage. Its a roller coaster ride for awhile. Simon has to make some tough decisions and redeem himself over his past as well as banish the ghost of his grandfather who's words constantly taunt him. Some revelation and some sacrifices later Simon and Louisa see that anything worth having doesn't include compromising love.

I really didn't like Simon at the beginning, but he really comes full circle at the end of the book and you can't help to fall in love with him especially when you find out what he's been through. I have to agree with the other reviewer, this is a great redemption book. If you liked any of the Royal Brotherhood series, you'll like this one too. Well written and drawn-out characters as well as Jeffries signature love scenes (plenty! ;) )