Customer Reviews

When the Duke Returns

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I will start out by saying this was so much an improvement over the last book in this series I can't believe it includes many of the same cast of characters. The conversations in this one were much more clever and more meaningful. It was just written much better and this is definitely a recommended read.

The hero and heroine in this story have been married by proxy for many years while the hero (the Duke of Cosway) is traveling abroad. The heroine is 23 years old and is tired of being a married virgin so she forces the return of her husband, who turns out to be a virgin as well. He has found peace in his life (after a tumultuous childhood)and does everything he can to avoid any form of chaos. This includes abstaining from sexual encounters, even with his wife for the time. They go back and forth in determining whether they are meant to be together and whether they should stay married or should follow through with an annulment. There are moments that are a bit silly, but the strength of the book overall outweighs them. The eccentric hero and the impulsive heroine are charming in their attempts to learn how to properly love one another. I would have liked to have seen a little more of the growth of the emotional love between the two but it was still pleasurable.

Very enjoyable in the book as well is the interplay between the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont. I enjoyed their interactions and found them as entertaining as those between the hero and heroine. I can't wait to read their story and Villers' as well (This Duchess of Mine, out in May, 2009 and A Duke of Her Own out in July, 2009). It definitely leaves you wanting more.

I read another review from a reader stating that James's "Desperate Duchesses" series improves with each book. I think she finally hit her peak with this one. It really was the perfect historical romance with a hot blooded Italian and an eccentric, reluctant duke who runs about the countryside in short trousers (oh, the scandal!).

I loved that our heroine, Lady Isidore, was completely unwilling to compromise her beliefs, opinions, and ideas because a man and--more specifically--her husband told her to do so. At every turn, she frustrated and irritated our hero, Simeon. My suspicion was that he was frustrated because what he loved most about her turned his life upside down. Feisty, beautiful, and incredibly bright, Isidore was a woman before her time. And she's a little bit of what every woman strives to be.

Simeon, on the other hand, is intelligent, thoughtful, and stubborn to a fault. He has his own ideas about this proxy marriage of his and feels that Isidore should bend to that will even if she doesn't agree with it. He spent years traveling abroad and gathering up unique experiences like a bouquet of flowers and yet knows little of the ways of the world.

What I loved most about this particular novel is that it was unusual in that very early in the book, we discover that not only is Isidore a virgin (of course) but that Simeon is also a virgin. I've read tons of romance novels over the years, and this is the first one that identified the hero as a virgin...and he's proud of it! What a refreshing change! Isidore is shocked and actually assumes that something must be wrong with Simeon. But it's revealed later on that he had several very good reasons for maintaining his own innocence.

I truly loved this story and loved it even more as it progressed. Definitely one of James's best!

Every once in a while one of my favorite authors writes a perfect book. This is one such book! The story is romantic, funny, and quick paced. Each chapter brings more to the characters. I read the book the same day I received it from Amazon and it was over way too quickly.

I wanted more of this fabulous heroine and hero. I loved that she wasn't the same old same old English lady. She's a hot blooded Italian and she's more than a match for this adventurer hero.

Go to the author's website if you want an excerpt from the book.

I read on average 20-25 romances a month and this is by far the best in a long while. I wish it had been published in hard back! But its a keeper next to my other favorite Eloisa James novels.

I don't mind series books-what I do mind is different storylines for the series running throughout the book. Write a story -tell THAT story!!!
Why write Jemma's book? Half this book was her storyline. I found this book boring, with no character development. This whole series has been that way. I definitely recommend her other series which aren't as bad.

I've read all of James' books and I do love her, so it's kinda painful to post this review.

While I have absolutely no problems with virgin heroes, this one was really difficult to imagine/hard to sympathize with for some reason. (Eloisa has done the virgin man before, and with better success I think - Sebastian, anyone?)

The plot was thin, and while I enjoy her plots usually because there aren't any particular "villains" - this one seemed, well, flat. I actually liked the previous book in this series better (Lord Strange) - I thought the plot was more interesting.

I'm still a fan of Eloisa but this book felt like a placeholder. I find myself desperately excited to read the last book in this series (Villiers!!) - but the rest of the characters, not so much.

Good points in this novel:
1. any romance that can work horrendous smelly toilets into the plot is unique!
2. I found Simeon's parents to be interesting
3. Villiers is in there, although it's just a cameo. :)

Reading this book gave me the impression that Eloisa James had done extensive research on 18th century plumbing, and wanted to make the most out of that knowledge. Page after page is devoted to discussion of the disgusting, malodorous water closets. At one point our intrepid hero, the duke, is too repulsed to hit a man covered with poo and so he instead delivers him a roundhouse kick to the face. One of several roundhouse kicks to the face the duke uses to take down bad guys. I actually had to read that part aloud to my husband, so he too could partake in the ridiculousness. This is not a book I would recommend.

I can't believe all the good reviews this book got! Where can I start? They talk a LOT about the sewer needing to be cleaned and it permeating the house, all the bills his father didn't pay, his father being nuts, his mother being nuts......blah blah blah blah blah. Boring, strange, uninteresting story line. This has got to be the WORST story I have EVER read! So glad I took it out of the library and didn't waste my money on this. It wasn't even romantic! No build up of that romantic tension that can be so enjoyable to read! I got so sick of hearing about the water closet being broke and full of crap! I mean really! I still can't believe all the high reviews! (shaking head).

The series continues to improve with this book. Isidore and Simeon, married for years by proxy, finally meet, and while we pretty well know the ultimate outcome, we are regaled with Ms. James' usual witty diaglog, spot on descriptions of the period, and complexities of plot and character development. The previous book, beset with the usual problems inherent in plots using the "girl dressing as boy" conceit, was the weakest of the series. This, by far, is the strongest. The sub-plot of Jemma, Elijah, and Leopold grows more intricate as well and the author promises the next book to be Jemma's story. I'm a little concerned about it's outcome, considering the hints being thrown out, but it just makes me want to learn more about the duchesses. Not the mundane family saga of siblings lined up to be presented with their sagas by turns; these are people who have established relationships, know the real rules of their society, don't speak in anachronisms, and come to life. Highly, highly recommended.

Actually my first book by this author. It was a pretty good story when she concentrated on the main characters. The main problem is that every other chapter she switched over to two secondary characters that you need to have the previous book in the series to appreciate. Also, it became clear very quickly that she was writing a sequel with those same characters. Why bother - she spent 1/2 of this book telling their story already! very annoying to read, as I said if she contrated on the main story - it was a pretty interesting story (although I learned more about bathroom drains than I really wanted to know)

For the most part I enjoyed this book immensely.
I'll start with what I didn't like. The beginning was extremely slow, in fact, the hero and heroine are living apart for awhile at the start. So naturally I would rush through those chapters, the anticipation of their witty interactions getting the better of me. Which was fine for me, as I didn't miss much storyline anyway. After that, the story flowed nicely, building up the tension, emotion, etc.

The other major problem was the secondary story between Villiers/Jemma/Elijah. It was boring for me, so I skimmed through that too.. they were uninteresting filler chapters. That storyline felt like it was battling to be the main one, which it shouldn't. If you have to set the foundations for future sequels, add it very briefly. Not every second chapter or so. It can be annoying especially if the main story (Isidore & Cosway) is entertaining enough alone, and they were. I couldn't wait to see their relationship thrive and how their feelings grow toward one another.

I actually thought at the start while I was reading that this was going to be a boring book and I'll struggle with finishing it. But after the first quarter I was really engaged and couldn't put it down. Even had a few tears at the end, the characters really endeared themselves to me. Not only is this book emotionally gripping but had parts where you'd be laughing out loud at Isidore's naivety. I loved how she was openly vain and honest about her good looks/fortune, and wasn't some withering, petite wallflower type with no opinions. And Simeon with his 'wild' modern ways, running around town in shorts, etc. Hilarious.
This was my first Eloisa James book and I'll now be reading all her others.