Desperate Duchesses: Amazon.co.uk: Eloisa James: Books

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Publishers Weekly

`If Shakespeare had written an 18th-century romantic comedy, it might look something like this . . . colourful, spirited romance that will leave readers desperate for a sequel' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

'So full of dashing cads in breeches that it's guaranteed to get me hot under the collar . . . Bravo for Eloisa' (Fiona Walker on Much Ado About Nothing )

'Romance writing does not get much better than this.' (People Magazine on Eloisa James )

'I found myself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar' (USA Today on Eloisa James )

'Great fun. I couldn't put it down!'

(Daisy Waugh on Much Ado About Nothing )

'Hurrah! Romance is back in fashion. No grisly body count, no lurking serial killer. The only four-letter word is love. Choc-full of romantic heroes that would give Darcy a run for his money. Sheer joy from beginning to end.'

(Carole Matthews on Much Ado About You )

'If Shakespeare had written an 18^th-century romantic comedy, it might look something like this . . . colourful, spirited romance that will leave readers desperate for a sequel'

(Publishers Weekly ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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8 Reviews

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4.1 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining stuff, 26 Jun 2007

By	CJ (London, UK) - See all my reviews

Eloisa James writes very well and wittily. I recommend this story if you like good and entertaining writing. The plot is reasonably predictable with quirky bits. Girl falls for wrong man, Mr Right tries to show her the error of her ways and eventually they end up together when she finds out that the superficial attraction of her first crush is nothing in comparison to the real lurve and friendship she finds with the right man. Its well done and its fun. You can see the other relationships set up for the rest of the series in the course of the book.

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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and entertaining, 20 Aug 2007

By	LEP "LEP" (Halesowen, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Like the Duchesses trilogy this new trilogy has a pivitol couple who look as though they will be central to all four books; presumably their problems only being resolved in the last book. This series is set in the time period of George III, 1780's.

Here we have Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont and her husband who have been estranged for eight years. Betrothed at an early age, Jemma and Elijah wed when she is about twenty and he is twenty five. Unfortunately, upon getting married Elijah doesn't bother to dismiss his mistress and Jemma walks in on the pair in action, as it were, very soon after her marriage.
Shocked, hurt and angry, Jemma leaves for Paris where she lives for the next eight years living a fairly decandent life style and having affairs of her own, largely in order to spite her husband. She returns to London when Beaumont, a senior parliamnetary minister, collapses while delivering a speech in Westminster. Beaumont is 33 and his father died of a heart defect when he was 34 years of age. So Beaumont feels that time is creeping up on him and he needs an heir. Jemma is willing to do her duty but needs time to get used to the idea of being intimate with her husband again. Underneath, she is still hurt and angry with him and their relationship is like a fencing match.

Beaumont is somewhat self-righteous and up-tight and there is the man/woman double standard thing going on of it's okay for him to have mistresses, but not for her to have admirers/lovers. The one thing he can't have in his position in parliament, is a breadth of scandal. Unfortunately for him the antics of his wife in Paris are well known in England. Jemma adds to this by inviting her brother, Damon the Earl of Gryffen, and his six year old illegitimate son, to stay with her at Beaumont house. She also brings with her her French secretary Caro, who is an expert at arranging novel events for the Duchess. The latest one is a gold painted, pearl encrusted naked woman with a mechanical peacocks tail in her bum, as the centre piece for a welcome home ball that Jemma is planning. There you have the pivitol theme which from the reviews of James's next book in the series, I guess will run through them all, as Jemma is a friend of all the duchesses who will appear in the next books.

Then you have the central couple, or trio, in this first book. Lady Roberta St.Giles, Lord Gryffen and the Duke of Villiers. Lady Roberta is the daughter of the poet Marquess of Wharton and Malmesbury. The Marquess, who is very flamoyant, writes dreadful poetry, and loves his only child with a desparation which constantly embarrasses her. Bursting into tears in public and falling on his knees and declaring his love for her; taking his mistress, Mrs Grope, to balls and other events thrown by the local gentry and insisting that Roberta has her dresses made by the incompetent village dressmaker, so that she, the dressmaker, can feed her children. The last straw comes when attending a local ball, Roberta is not asked to dance because the local gentry are incensed at her father bringing his "strumpet" along. However, at this ball Roberta spots a lavishly dressed gentleman, the notorious rakehell the Duke of Villiers, who later mistakes her for a maid, due to her dreadful dress. He appears to be nothing like her father in character, is not a poet, would never burst into tears in public and declare his love for her and has a controlled 'don't give a damn' attitude. She decides that he is just the husband for her and decides to persue him to London.

Roberta manages to persuade her reluctant father to allow her to go to London to stay with her distant cousin Jemma, Duchess of Beaumont. So there you have the link between the two. Jemma agrees to be Roberta's patroness for the Season; although both she and her brother Damon are dismayed to find out who Jemma believes she is in love with. Damon is instantly attracted to Roberta and wants her for himself, so is determined that she will not throw herself away on the degenerant Villiers.

Chess was apparently very popular during the Georgian period and thoughout the book you have a chess match taking place between Jemma, the best woman chess player and Villiers the best chess player in England, who hopes to get her into bed and another chess match between Jemma and her husband.

The book is very witty in the best James style and extremely enjoyable.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Start to the Series, 24 May 2009

By	Book Gannet (Devon, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperate Duchesses (Paperback)

Roberta St. Giles wants to get married. The trouble is her father is not only known as 'The Mad Marquess', he's also prone to obscure poetry, falling to his knees and bursting into tears in public - as well as falling in love with unsuitable ladies.

But Roberta is twenty-one, and no matter how much she loves her father, she cannot imagine living the rest of her life in the country with him. Nor face marrying a man like him either.

So when she meets the Duke of Villiers at a Christmas party she knows instantly what she wants: him. Cool, collected and exquisitely dressed, Villiers is not a man to ever make unseemly public displays of emotion.

According to Damon Reeve, Earl of Gryffyn, Villiers wouldn't even feel them in private either. Roberta doesn't care. Villiers is everything her father isn't, which makes him perfect. Now, how to make him marry her?

With the help of the scandalous Duchess of Beaumont, a game or two of chess and sparkling wit, Roberta astonishes even herself by getting what she wants. Except Damon's kisses are really rather enjoyable, and the prospect of a cool, emotionless spouse might not be as pleasant as she first thought...

Welcome to the decadent era of Georgian England, where men wear high-heels, everyone dresses to excess and powder and patches are the norm. James begins her new series with her trademark cast of intriguing and amusing characters. In fact, at times Jemma (Duchess of Beaumont), with games of chess against both her husband Elijah and the Duke of Villiers threaten to overshadow the main love story. While the brief glimpses of the Mad Marquess almost steals the show altogether.

Yet Damon's bemusement over Roberta's love for Villiers, and his attempts to win her anyway (while she determindly tries to convince herself that Villiers is her perfect match) keep the central romance spinning. And for me, the burgeoning friendship between Teddy and Roberta is what keeps me from dsmissing her as completely hopeless.

In this series James truly comes into her own, with complex, fascinating characters beautifully balanced by wit, romance and a lot of research. She truly brings the Georgian era to life, and makes chess much more than a game of strategy.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Ducheses
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but please can The Duchess series be put in chronological order, I have 5 Eloisa James books and I seem to be going back and forth.

Published 7 days ago by Mrs. Jean R. Livingstone

4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse of your new family
I absolutely adore Eloisa James' books. This one is the first in the duchess series, followed by An Affair before Christmas, Duchess By Night, When the Duke returns and This... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Anette B

4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining
very predictable story but its entertaining in its own way. although the show is stolen by Damon (our hero) little boy teddy, who at six years old is obsessed with all things... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Lindymck

3.0 out of 5 stars Great if you like chess
The plot of this book was drowned in chess. James's researcher worked overtime and the author put in probably everything she discovered, being fascinated by the game. Read more

Published 21 months ago by normally a fan

4.0 out of 5 stars Synopsis
A marquess's sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a game player of consumate skill, a notorious... Read more

Published on 29 Jul 2007 by R. Wright

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Desperate Duchesses (Mass Market Paperback)

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