Helpful Score: 11
There's method to her madness.
No, this certainly isn't my favorite series by Eloisa James (you'll be hard pressed to find more fun than the stories of the Essex sisters: Much Ado About You, Kiss Me Annabel, The Taming of the Duke and Pleasure For Pleasure), but this chapter of the Duchess series is much closer to one of her usual fun romps.
Unlike the previous stories in the Duchess series, here the main characters, Isidore and Simeon, are innocents. Yes, even the hunky hero is an innocent! This makes for some interesting reading as Simeon tries to push through an annulment of their marriage-by-proxy while Isidore firmly tries to push the envelope! There are some great moments.
The ongoing sub-plot in the series concerning Jemma & Elijah, the Duke & Duchess of Beaumont, and Leo, the Duke of Villiers, continues to escalate and actually becomes rather intriguing, albeit still frustrating and sad. I don't know how the author will pull these three into the light without the entire premise blowing up in her face, but the next chapter in the series will tell. I can't honestly tell you if I'm looking forward to their story or not!
Ah, well. That's for another time in another year!
Although When the Duke Returns is from my least favorite series by the author, it is the BEST of the series so far, and remains a fun romp of a tale with some wonderful moments.
No, this certainly isn't my favorite series by Eloisa James (you'll be hard pressed to find more fun than the stories of the Essex sisters: Much Ado About You, Kiss Me Annabel, The Taming of the Duke and Pleasure For Pleasure), but this chapter of the Duchess series is much closer to one of her usual fun romps.
Unlike the previous stories in the Duchess series, here the main characters, Isidore and Simeon, are innocents. Yes, even the hunky hero is an innocent! This makes for some interesting reading as Simeon tries to push through an annulment of their marriage-by-proxy while Isidore firmly tries to push the envelope! There are some great moments.
The ongoing sub-plot in the series concerning Jemma & Elijah, the Duke & Duchess of Beaumont, and Leo, the Duke of Villiers, continues to escalate and actually becomes rather intriguing, albeit still frustrating and sad. I don't know how the author will pull these three into the light without the entire premise blowing up in her face, but the next chapter in the series will tell. I can't honestly tell you if I'm looking forward to their story or not!
Ah, well. That's for another time in another year!
Although When the Duke Returns is from my least favorite series by the author, it is the BEST of the series so far, and remains a fun romp of a tale with some wonderful moments.
Helpful Score: 4
I love Eloisa James. This one left me confused in the beginning. At first I found Isadore to be too much "Duchess like." She thought herself to be "above" too many things. But as the book went on, you really start to admire her strength and courage. Simeon to me is likable from the beginning. He "thought" he knew what he wanted in a wife, until he spends time with Isadore and finds she is too irresistable. Watching them both grow through intimacy - both are virgins - her because it is expected and him because he didn't want to bring disease to his "biddable wife." The way they explore itimacy together is cute and reminds you of "your own first time." Yet she still thinks he should bow down to her as men have always done. He refuses, because to him it makes a man weak. I really enjoyed her conversations with Jemma and Isadore's realization that she wanted Simeon not another. She doesn't want an anulment just Simeon and love.
This story is wonderful in that Simeon isn't afraid to come and get what he wants and she isn't afraid to challenge him to believe that sometimes being "out of control" is a good thing when it is with someone you love and trust.
I can't wait to see how the next book in the series explores Jemma and Elijah's romance and also to see what is in store for The Duke of Villars.
My only complaint with this book is that she brought the other 3 characters into it, but didn't really explore Villars or Elijah enough. There wasn't enough depth in those three for me. But I still would recommend this book to any Eloisa James fan.
This story is wonderful in that Simeon isn't afraid to come and get what he wants and she isn't afraid to challenge him to believe that sometimes being "out of control" is a good thing when it is with someone you love and trust.
I can't wait to see how the next book in the series explores Jemma and Elijah's romance and also to see what is in store for The Duke of Villars.
My only complaint with this book is that she brought the other 3 characters into it, but didn't really explore Villars or Elijah enough. There wasn't enough depth in those three for me. But I still would recommend this book to any Eloisa James fan.
Helpful Score: 1
interesting twist on the same topic. there is a lot of background into child mariages as well as the relationships of the nobility of the time.
