The Very Daring Duchess (Sonnet Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Miranda Jarrett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sonnet Books | Publication Date: August 28, 2001

Escaping the invasion of Napoleon's army, Francesca Robin seeks to flee Italy on an English ship. When Francesca -- an artist whose risque paintings are much desired by wealthy gentlemen buyers -- learns of Admiral Lord Nelson's decree that no lady may gain passage on an English ship without a husband, she dares to do the unthinkable: find an eligible English bachelor and marry him at once.

Estranged from his noble family, Captain Lord Edward Ramsden has built a stellar naval career. Proper and upstanding, he shocks himself by impulsively exchanging vows with this forward and flirtatious lady in distress. But in London, their mock marriage is turned upside down when Edward is unexpectedly named a duke -- and Francesca his unlikely duchess -- stunning the genteel "ton. Their newfound social status invites danger and scandal -- and now the duke risks all to win the heart of the woman he loves madly -- his bold-spirited duchess.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, Jarrett (Star Bright) spins a formulaic romance between a conservative Naval officer and an exotic arts dealer. After winning a victory against the French army, Captain Edward Ramsden, the unwanted fourth son of the Duke of Harborough, and a fellow officer decide to explore Naples and enjoy its diversions. Their first stop is the illustrious Signora Francesca Robin's studio d'artista, an eclectic museum containing a number of bogus art pieces as well as a large display of lewd paintings. Edward is more intrigued by Francesca's striking appearance and forward manner than her collection, however, and his awareness of her fraudulent dealings doesn't dampen his attraction. When the French army threatens to invade Naples, the Royal Navy prepares to evacuate all English citizens, but Francesca is denied passage because she is half English and half Neapolitan. Fearful of what may happen to Francesca after he departs, Edward volunteers to marry her. The story escalates with the promise of intrigue and sexual tension but, unfortunately, Jarrett packs her tale with maudlin dialogue and clich‚d commentary. Although Jarrett's sex scenes are steamy and descriptive, her characters are little more than cardboard.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Miranda Jarrett takes readers on an exciting sea voyage in THE VERY DARING DUCHESS." -- Romance Reviews Today - Debbie Gilbert

"THE VERY DARING DUCHESS offers historical pageantry and romance from the first page to the last." -- Romantic Fiction Forum

"You can always count on Ms. Jarrett to gift us with something intelligent, new, and vibrant." -- Romantic Times -Kathe Robin

"[Miranda Jarrett's] characters are flawless, and her knowledge of seafaring is fantastic. She is a shining star in romantic fiction." -- The Belles and Beaux of Romance - Suzanne Coleburn

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (August 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743417925
• ISBN-13: 978-0743417921
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,780,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The artist and the captain........love discovered at sea, September 10, 2001

By 

Debbie K. Gilbert (North Central, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Daring Duchess (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting: Naples 1798

Francesca Robin makes a living running her art gallery, she adds works of art by famous artists by reproducing their paintings. She also displays her father's scandalous paintings to visitors from around the world. She is a talented artist in her own right but her work doesn't make enough income to maintain her small home. Being the daughter of an English artist and his Italian model makes her neither truly English nor Italian in the eyes of either country. When the English navy is about to pull out of Naples as the French march in Francesca fears for her life. She begs the English Admiral Nelson to allow her to travel on one of his ships, but because she is Neapolitan he refuses until one of his captain steps forward to offer to marry her.

Captain Lord Edward is the fourth son of the Duke of Harborough. At ten years of age his father gaves him over to His Majesty's Navy. After years of hard work and loneliness, he has risen to the rank of captain to sail his own warship the Centaur. A battle at sea has forced Edward to dock his ship at Naples for much needed repairs. One of his men talks him into a visit to Signora Francesca's gallery to see her deceased father's lewd bordello paintings. He is both intrigued and disgusted by Francesca. She is extraordinarily beautiful and he is draw to her but he knows she preys upon the sailors and other visitors by selling them counterfeit art.

When it is time to leave Naples Edward finds he can't leave Francesca in the hands of the French so he proposes a marriage of convenience. Both Edward and Francesca must learn to live with each other when for most of their lives they have been alone. As members of the ton and the other naval officers disapprove of Edward's hasty marriage to a foreigner and Francesca learns she has made a blackmailing enemy, they must stand together or lose their new found love.

Miranda Jarrett takes readers on an exciting sea voyage in THE VERY DARING DUCHESS. The story is fast paced as she moves readers from one sea port to the next.
I was charmed by Edward and Francesca as they become friends before lovers during their heady sea adventure.

Debbie Gilbert
Reviewer for Romance Reviews Today

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, August 28, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Daring Duchess (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1798 Naples, English sea Captain Edward Winterworth meets Naples Signora Francesca Robin at her art gallery. They are immediately attracted to one another, but Edward acts nasty and somewhat aloof towards her believing she is just another local con artist scamming His Majesty's sailors.

When Napoleon threatens Naples, the English fleet decides to evacuate the area. A half-English person like Francesca is in jeopardy if she remains behind when the French arrive. She knows she must leave Naples immediately, but Admiral Nelson refuses to take her with the Navy, ignoring even Lady Hamilton's plea. Edward volunteers to marry her so she can accompany him. Desperate, she accepts and once married they seem happy together until the Admiralty summons Edward back to London. There he learns that he now is a Duke and no longer part of the Navy because his aristocratic rank requires him kept safe. A frightened Francesca runs away feeling inadequate to be the wife on a noble, leaving it to Edward to prove he loves her and needs her by his side.

Miranda Jarrett is known for her historical romances especially those set in the Colonial, Georgian, and Regency periods. Her latest tale THE VERY DARING DUCHESS centers on a typical Regency theme starring two likable lead characters. However, the descriptions of Naples right before Napoleon provides a rare freshness and depth that turns this into a strong Regency romance that any fan of a historical tale will fully cherish.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent but not great, September 28, 2001

By 

Shawna Lanne "Shawna" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Very Daring Duchess (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a decent but not engrossing read. The charecters were just not that compelling and while the storyline was original in that it did not recycle the same naive miss for the zillionth time it lacked a certain spark. It's a bad bookjust not engrossing. Still it's a decent read with likeable if somewhat shallow charecters and a fresh story line.