A Duke of Her Own (Desperate Duchesses, #6) in Ask Eloisa James

Jun 14, 2009 Manda Collins rated it it was amazing

Shelves: georgian-historical

Fabulous. Read it in one sitting. Stayed up waaaaaaaaay past my bedtime. But worth it:)

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Mar 31, 2011 Vicki rated it liked it

Romance books are kinda new to me. I always feel the need of a disclaimer, and this is probably the last one. Last disclaimer, that is, not last Romance. I got hooked on these authors at the ALA's Isn't It Romantic panel that the Friends and Trustees put together annually. I heard Eloisa James on a panel a couple of years ago. These authors are all unique, but they share characteristics of charm, wit, and a phenomenal work ethic...they are churning out the books like nobody's business!!

And the b Romance books are kinda new to me. I always feel the need of a disclaimer, and this is probably the last one. Last disclaimer, that is, not last Romance. I got hooked on these authors at the ALA's Isn't It Romantic panel that the Friends and Trustees put together annually. I heard Eloisa James on a panel a couple of years ago. These authors are all unique, but they share characteristics of charm, wit, and a phenomenal work ethic...they are churning out the books like nobody's business!!

And the books are fun to read. Eloisa's specialty is the Regency Era, in the late 1700's, and she has gotten so caught up in the lives of her characters that 5 or 6 books emerge over time which feature some of the same characters...sometimes background, sometimes the protagonist.

This particular book features the headstrong confident Duke of Villiers, Leopold Dautry, who is looking for a wife and he needs one pretty quick. Over the last decade or so, you see, he has fathered 6 children, paid off the mothers and sent his kids to various country homes where he can support them without having them underfoot. That plan came to a shocking halt when he came to realize that the solicitor he had paid to handle the details was a crook who had failed to pay the support to the families and thus had lost touch with the whereabouts of the children. He has determined to find them all and bring them into his own household.

So Villiers is on the hunt for a woman who is good with children and who is the daughter of a duke so that she can teach the children the manners and confidence they will need. He is also looking for his last "misplaced" children, a set of twin girls. Coincidentally enough, Eleanor, elder daughter of the Duke of Montague, has declared that she will consider no offers from prospective husbands who are less than dukes. But Eleanor, who knows a little about being headstrong and confident herself, is looking for love.

Villiers wastes no time setting his sites on Eleanor, and they meet again soon at the country home of Lisette, the daughter of the Duke of Gilner. Villiers is there because a near-by orphanage might be where he is to locate the missing girls. Lisette also fits his criteria as a daughter of nobility and she is beautiful. If he can overlook the gossip that she is mad as a hatter, she seems to have the inside edge as a child-like caregiver who seems to care enormously for children, orphans in particular, that is, until something else captures her attention and she is off on another tangent.

Eleanor and Lisette were childhood friends, and Eleanor's mother, her married younger sister, and Eleanor set off to visit Lisette in her country home at the same time Villiers will be there. Mom and sis are plotting to unite Eleanor and Leopold, that is until her mom gets word of the illegitimate brood. Things definitely get interesting, There is lots of sexy romance and incredible misunderstandings to keep this story moving along at a quick clip. There is clever dialog, interesting characters, lots of glimpses into the Regency life and the contrasting difficulties of the poor commoners and the vulnerable children housed in the orphanages.

This was a quick read with a satisfying ending...took me way too long to pick it up and savor Ms. James' great story-telling. ...more

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Apr 11, 2011 May rated it it was amazing

This is one of my favorite books of all time. The reason that I like it? It's because of the heroine. She's honourable, intelligent, courageous and finally learned to stand up for herself at the end. Best character IMO. :) ...more

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