I’m going to start this review by saying that Marie Force is one of my favourite contemporary romantic suspense authors, and someone I deeply respect in the writing world.
But with that said, I really, really wish she hadn’t tried her hand at historical romance because this is a hot mess. It’s got some absolute clangers in terms of historical inaccuracies and a hero who tells continued and repeated lies to the heroine and then tries to tell her it’s all for her benefit. While refusing to allow her to sleep apart from him because ‘she’d never forgive him if he gave her too much time to think about the many ways he’d done her wrong’ and basically forcing himself on her even when she told him she wanted him to leave.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with the historical and geographic inaccuracies. Set in 1902, mostly at the Duke of Westwood’s Essex estate. However, it reads more like a Regency romance than an Edwardian one; the only thing non-Regency was ‘collar and tie’ on the gentlemen rather than cravats. The duke, Derek, and his love interest Catherine elope to Gretna Green to get married hastily… which is the first thing I scowled at. In 1856 the law was changed to stop the scandalous Scottish marriages taking place, requiring at least one member of a couple wishing to marry to be resident in Scotland for 21 days prior to a marriage. Which didn’t happen. So in 1902, no couple from England are running off to Gretna and getting married on the day of their arrival.
Which brings me to another point. In 1902, the journey from Essex to Scotland could have been managed in a couple of days, as Derek and Catherine did - but certainly not by horse-drawn carriage, which would have been a 6-day journey at least, but nobody would do it that way. Trains ran the length and breadth of Britain by that time and they would only have taken a carriage as far as the nearest station. Guess what else isn’t even mentioned in the book? That’s right. No trains. The Duke’s carriage magically transports them from Essex to Scotland with just one overnight stop.
Historical and geographic inaccuracies aside, I thoroughly disliked the plot of this book. Derek flat-out lies to Catherine about who he is and continues to do so even after they’re married until he’s caught out, which is dubious consent in my book at the very least. And then he refuses to allow her to be righteously angry because he’s afraid she won’t forgive him, which would frankly be the least of what he deserves.
Oh, and did I mention the sex? This pair are at it like rabbits within a few days of meeting, before getting married and afterwards, and not content with them, Force also writes in a romance between the duke’s cousin and Catherine’s younger sister and writes a whole separate story in which they get married and have sex too. There were so many sex scenes I started skimming them after a while. This is NOT supposed to be erotica.
I almost quit reading this at the 70% mark, but I don’t believe in critiqueing something without full and informed knowledge, so I soldiered on. Shortly after that Catherine did finally read Derek the riot act properly, saying she couldn’t reconcile the goodness she saw in him with the man who repeatedly lied to the woman he claimed to love. At which point he went off in a sulk and took off to London for three days, letting her find out about it from the housekeeper.
Guess what? The genuinely epic grovel this story desperately needed never, ever happened, Catherine decided sex with Derek was good enough to not care about his lies and when he fell ill with influenza, blamed herself for putting stress on him, and SHE apologized to HIM. Self-gaslighting was a new low even for this book.
I honestly can hardly believe a writer with as much talent as Marie Force wrote this utterly dreadful drivel. Please, please go back to writing contemporary suspense, ma’am. Or maybe get a sensitivity reader and an editor knowledgeable about the historical period you’re writing about to clean up the horrible mess of inaccuracies and dubious consent before you publish the rest of the series.
I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I cannot possibly give this awful story any more than one star.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
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Duchess by Deception (Gilded Book 1) Kindle Edition
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Marie Force
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PublisherZebra Books
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Publication dateJanuary 29, 2019
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File size2631 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for Duchess by Deception by Marie Force:
"Force has crafted a masterpiece with the perfect amount of romance."
-Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
"A vividly described, deeply erotic romance."
-Booklist"
"Force has crafted a masterpiece with the perfect amount of romance."
-Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
"A vividly described, deeply erotic romance."
-Booklist"
About the Author
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 70 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler,Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. All together, her books have sold 6 million copies worldwide. Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can, and to never be on a flight that makes the news. Please visit her online at marieforce.com.
--This text refers to the mass_market edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B07CWDR4PS
- Publisher : Zebra Books (January 29, 2019)
- Publication date : January 29, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 2631 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 338 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1420147854
- Lending : Enabled
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Best Sellers Rank:
#35,130 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #315 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
- #345 in Historical British Fiction
- #483 in U.S. Historical Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
254 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019
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87 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
I’m a big fan of historicals and haven’t read Marie Force before. I usually read books from Kindle Unlimited so the price was a little Bit high for me, especially because I didn’t love it.
What I liked.
Very well written and edited. Not one misspelling that I can remember.
The plot flowed pretty well.
The characters seemed well developed enough for me to root for them.
The back story for all the characters made sense.
The dialogue was well done, but overly sweet by the end.
Sex scenes were well written.
The bad guy was well written and truly despicable
What I didn’t like. Spoilers ahead. Skip to the end for the wrap up
They fell in love too fast for me. The nice thing about historicals is the slow build. She barely recovered from a fever and had only met before she got sick, yet they were both so inlust they couldn’t wait for marriage. Kind of a big deal back then. Also his cousin gets a love story in this book and it’s the exact love at first sight scenario. Ugh.
Also, I felt like a girl from this era who had almost been raped might have at least some trauma and have reservations rather than pushing him for pre-marital sex.
Derek was not a strong lead. I like my book boyfriends to be flawed, but not IDK what the right word is........slimey, weak willed, ?
He was terrified to tell her the truth and let it go on far too long. Then seduced her into physical relations even though she asked him for space. He came off as desperate, needing for her to forgive him, but he didn’t act honorably or contrite enough for me.
By the end of the book the dialogue ran on and on with how much they loved each other and were so lucky, and how happy they were, etc. it got old fast. I stopped reading with only a little of the book left, to go to sleep, and usually I will finish a book when I’m that close. I was pretty sure how it would wrap up, and I wasn’t wrong. The epilogue was mostly about setting up the next book.
there were a few modern phrases that didn’t seem to fit in this era.
Wrapping it up
All in all I found this an ok read, not great but not horrible. A weak Hero, but he was likable enough. The Heroine was semi-strong but not much in the way of strong will. I guess it’s not her fault for being deceived.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes the old fashioned sweet historicals with a little spice. There are fairly graphic sex scenes if you aren’t into erotica, then you won’t love those. Not much angst or sexual tension.
I will NOT be reading the rest of the series nor do I have any interest in reading more from this author.
What I liked.
Very well written and edited. Not one misspelling that I can remember.
The plot flowed pretty well.
The characters seemed well developed enough for me to root for them.
The back story for all the characters made sense.
The dialogue was well done, but overly sweet by the end.
Sex scenes were well written.
The bad guy was well written and truly despicable
What I didn’t like. Spoilers ahead. Skip to the end for the wrap up
They fell in love too fast for me. The nice thing about historicals is the slow build. She barely recovered from a fever and had only met before she got sick, yet they were both so inlust they couldn’t wait for marriage. Kind of a big deal back then. Also his cousin gets a love story in this book and it’s the exact love at first sight scenario. Ugh.
Also, I felt like a girl from this era who had almost been raped might have at least some trauma and have reservations rather than pushing him for pre-marital sex.
Derek was not a strong lead. I like my book boyfriends to be flawed, but not IDK what the right word is........slimey, weak willed, ?
He was terrified to tell her the truth and let it go on far too long. Then seduced her into physical relations even though she asked him for space. He came off as desperate, needing for her to forgive him, but he didn’t act honorably or contrite enough for me.
By the end of the book the dialogue ran on and on with how much they loved each other and were so lucky, and how happy they were, etc. it got old fast. I stopped reading with only a little of the book left, to go to sleep, and usually I will finish a book when I’m that close. I was pretty sure how it would wrap up, and I wasn’t wrong. The epilogue was mostly about setting up the next book.
there were a few modern phrases that didn’t seem to fit in this era.
Wrapping it up
All in all I found this an ok read, not great but not horrible. A weak Hero, but he was likable enough. The Heroine was semi-strong but not much in the way of strong will. I guess it’s not her fault for being deceived.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes the old fashioned sweet historicals with a little spice. There are fairly graphic sex scenes if you aren’t into erotica, then you won’t love those. Not much angst or sexual tension.
I will NOT be reading the rest of the series nor do I have any interest in reading more from this author.
14 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
I gave this a3 star rating because it really is just like the books "I used to read." Sort of. While Marie explains she started this book a decade ago, it is very much like the old Harlequin Romances that I loved in the 80's and 90's. I have to admit I liked the plot but hated the whole "ton" part of the book. Although the sex was explicit - because that is where we are NOW - for the books I used to read, the plot was always the same - rich man disguises himself, finds himself a virgin, falls madly in love -- and through tradition is a gentleman until he marries her and claims her virginity in a very prudish way. Given this story was started almost 10 years ago, I felt that for the type of series this is, it is an appropriate rating. Did I love it? NO! It is too mixed up with contemporary and historical writings. It is always amazing how the "poor virgin who never had sex" is able to perform as a modern day woman with tons of experience. Somehow, the story line is all confused between historical and contemporary. Would I recommend this? Sort of. I love a lot of Marie Force's other books/series and was very curious to see what she would try and do with this type of book. So, my curiousity is satisfied, but I have absolutely no interest in pursuing a second book in this series.
20 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
I generally love Marie’s books, but this book is more in line with her erotica novels and less about regency romance. Marie is an exceptional author, but I don’t believe this is the genre for her.
21 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2019
Verified Purchase
Outstanding first Historical Romance. Ms. Force writes in her usual style that engages you with her characters from the first page. She in the same ranking with my favorite historical writers such as Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Tessa Dare. I can't wait for more in this series although it can stand alone. Amazing and the intimacy is HOT.
11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

peggy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not get best.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2019Verified Purchase
I enjoy the authors contemporary novels but this book, her first attempt at a historical novel didn't impress me. The story line was very far fetched, ridiculous in parts. The speed at which the main characters relationship develop, and then the sister and nephew is unbelievable. I can't imagine a member of the English aristocracy referring to his wife as 'Honey' or a Duke being named ' Derek.'. The book is full of historical inaccuracies and it appears to have been written with very little research or knowledge of the era or the Nobility. Downtown Abbey it certainly is not.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2019Verified Purchase
I've read all of Marie's contemporary books and love how she draws you into the stories and makes the characters feel like old friends. This is her first historical novel and although it is set in a different time period to her other books, it still had the same feel, and you quickly come to care about the main characters and also want to learn more about the side characters. I'm looking forward to the next book and hope this will develop into a longer series where we will revisit Derek, Catherine, Simon and Madeleine and get to see their friends find their HEAs.

A Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Derek and Catherine's connection is not to be missed
Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2019Verified Purchase
I haven't read many historical romances therefore I'm not looking for a "history lesson", I'm looking to be entertained. Duchess by Deception totally fits the bill.
I was excited to read Duchess as soon as Marie told her readers about its acquisition.
Our Duke Derek Eagan is dreamy, smart, compassionate and a real visionary. Derek wants to find a wife who has more depth than most of those he's met in London.
Catherine McCabe is an amazingly strong and sure heroine (like all those Marie writes). Catherine is fleeing from the man she's been promised to and is on a mission to find the lost key to a Hepplewhite chest left to her by her Grandmother and she won't let anything or anyone stand in her way.
Derek finds Catherine digging on his land and their unlikely connection begins. They take us along, on what turns out to be a very bumpy but enjoyable ride.
Duchess contains super hot, steamy scenes between Derek and Catherine as well as a secondary couple, that are not to be missed. A 5 star read in my books.
Very excited to go to Newport, Rhode Island in the second "Gilded" story Deceived by Desire later this year.
I was excited to read Duchess as soon as Marie told her readers about its acquisition.
Our Duke Derek Eagan is dreamy, smart, compassionate and a real visionary. Derek wants to find a wife who has more depth than most of those he's met in London.
Catherine McCabe is an amazingly strong and sure heroine (like all those Marie writes). Catherine is fleeing from the man she's been promised to and is on a mission to find the lost key to a Hepplewhite chest left to her by her Grandmother and she won't let anything or anyone stand in her way.
Derek finds Catherine digging on his land and their unlikely connection begins. They take us along, on what turns out to be a very bumpy but enjoyable ride.
Duchess contains super hot, steamy scenes between Derek and Catherine as well as a secondary couple, that are not to be missed. A 5 star read in my books.
Very excited to go to Newport, Rhode Island in the second "Gilded" story Deceived by Desire later this year.

RMA
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging read
Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2019Verified Purchase
I was hooked on the story from the first page. Historical novels are not usually my thing but I enjoy Marie Force's writing style so gave it a try. I was happy to find that this story was focused on the people and not the time period. Loved it. Can't wait for the next one in this series.

Gaildonella
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gilded glamour
Reviewed in Australia on January 29, 2019Verified Purchase
Not normally a reader of historical romance but Marie Force has written a real page turner with this one.
Fell in love with Derek and other characters in this book, will definitely be reading the next one.
Was not a wishy washy story it seemed real and you could imagine all the events taking place.
Loved it.
Fell in love with Derek and other characters in this book, will definitely be reading the next one.
Was not a wishy washy story it seemed real and you could imagine all the events taking place.
Loved it.
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