Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Hi!
Lorien and I are reading Desperate Duchesses series for our series challenge. Feel free to join anytime for the buddy read or discussion.

Desperate Duchesses Series

Welcome to a world of reckless sensuality and glittering sophistication...of dangerously handsome gentlemen and young ladies longing to gain a title...of games played for high stakes, including—on occasion—a lady's virtue.

We finished reading book#1 Desperate Duchesses and planning to read book#2 An Affair Before Christmas, sometime in April.

An Affair Before Christmas


Magic under the mistletoe...

One spectacular Christmas, Lady Perdita Selby, known to her friends and family as Poppy, met the man she thought she would love forever. The devilishly attractive Duke of Fletcher was the perfect match for the innocent, breathtakingly beautiful young Englishwoman, and theirs was the most romantic wedding she had ever seen. Four years later, Poppy and the duke have become the toast of the ton... but behind closed doors the spark of their love affair has burned out.

Unwilling to lose the woman he still lusts after, the duke is determined to win back his beguiling bride's delectable affections...and surpass the heady days of first love with a truly sinful seduction.

Lorien, I am ready to start reading whenever you are ready.

I have been so busy this last couple of weeks with work and volunteer activities I just found this thread.
I've got the 2nd book on my night stand and ready to go.
Seems appropriate to read a christmas book with all of the extra snow we just got.

I have my book ready. I will start reading tomorrow. Are we reading at our own pace and discuss or are we reading a few chapters per day? I can read either way but prefer the first option.
Your choice.

Let's do own pace then.

I'll probably try to start tonight and at least read the first chapter depending on when I finish up with work.

Okay. Starting today.

So small spoiler, there is a party in the beginning and I assume Roberta from the first book was there, but she's only mentioned as Damon's fiancé. I'm beginning to feel like the whole series are to set up Jemma's story.

Lorien wrote: "So small spoiler, there is a party in the beginning and I assume Roberta from the first book was there, but she's only mentioned as Damon's fiancé. I'm beginning to feel like the whole series are t..."

Jemma’s and Villier’s. All the books feature these two and I felt EJ gave as much importance to them as she gave to Roberta and Damien in the first book.

I'm finding it hard to believe that after 4 years Fletch couldn't convey what he was looking for in the bedroom.
I think I'm at chapter 19. Some of them are very short.

Lorien wrote: "I'm finding it hard to believe that after 4 years Fletch couldn't convey what he was looking for in the bedroom.
I think I'm at chapter 19. Some of them are very short."

I started it yesterday, but couldn't find time to read today. I am way behind. I will catch up tomorrow.

Lorien wrote: "I'm finding it hard to believe that after 4 years Fletch couldn't convey what he was looking for in the bedroom.
I think I'm at chapter 19. Some of them are very short."

I am at Ch.9, but I understand what you mean. She is oblivious of his needs/wants and thinks herself happily married. Fletcher is mean to air his marital displeasure in front of his friends. I blame Poppy's mother as much as Fletcher. Her mother trained her to be too proper that she couldn't think of intimacies at all. I wonder if Poppy is frigid.

I find this premise interesting. Hero who failed to teach his wife in four years of marriage.

No mom is definitely to blame.

Ch.32 : I loved the way Fletch expressed his love to Poppy. He just put it in simple words and right from his heart. Finally I see some hope here.

Oh now I've got to catch up to you.
I spent my weekend crocheting.

Lorien wrote: "Oh now I've got to catch up to you.
I spent my weekend crocheting."

Crocheting! My mum used to do that and she taught me too, when I was young. But I never took it seriously.

I thought you might have finished the book!

Are you bored by Jemma and Villiers' story taking up an important part at times?

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Poppy found her desire! All it took was to defy her mom. That woman is horrible. (hide spoiler)]

No I'm not quite half done, when I do manage to pick it up it goes quickly.
Poppy has been living with Jemma 5+ months and I'm surprised she hasn't figured out anything about sex yet. She has started to realize how controlling her mother is, and maybe as a grown woman she doesn't have to listen anymore.

I don't mind Jemma and Villiers' story, but I feel like the books main couple are just there to help theirs along. Like they are secondary in their own books.

Priya wrote: "Crocheting! My mum used to do that and she taught me too, when I was young. But I never took it seriously."

I mostly knit and spin, so I've had to rip out this crochet blanket twice already because I'm not very good. So I've waisted HOURS.

Lorien wrote: "Poppy has been living with Jemma 5+ months and I'm surprised she hasn't figured out anything about sex yet."

It took her all that time to get used to the absence of her mother:)

Like they are secondary in their own books.

Exactly!

On page 185. Mother just described how beautiful women are compared to men. I'm thinking she is a lesbian and has no way to know it.

Lorien wrote: "On page 185. Mother just described how beautiful women are compared to men. I'm thinking she is a lesbian and has no way to know it."

Wow! Good observation. Also, Mother thinks ‘that part of men’ is ugly and intercourse unbearable. She could be have been a lesbian.

Okay, finally finished.
Was it me or did it have like 3 or 4 endings?
I was happy for Poppy, but I really wish she'd spent more time developing how Poppy grew and developed away from her mother than on the other romances going on. Like that woman really messed with her.
Plus I found myself more invested in the Villars, Charlotte and his heir triangle by the end. Like that was better written the the rest of the book.

I like Eloisa James books. I just do not care for Susan Duerden as the narrator of her books.

I did like her at one point, but of late there is something in her narration the doesn’t agree with me.

Lorien wrote: "Okay, finally finished.
Was it me or did it have like 3 or 4 endings?
I was happy for Poppy, but I really wish she'd spent more time developing how Poppy grew and developed away from her mother t..."

Ditto!

I was more interested to know about Charlotte's story than Poppy's by the end. It felt like an anthology with interconnected characters.

Well I'm going to finish the series out of shear stubbornness. But I have 3 more books to read this month, plus I need to finish my silly Viking book. So I'm planning on starting the next beginning of May.

Lorien wrote: "Well I'm going to finish the series out of shear stubbornness. But I have 3 more books to read this month, plus I need to finish my silly Viking book. So I'm planning on starting the next beginning..."

I am behind in my reading. I have yet to finish my Regency, Viking and 2 more books, this month.
I am good with starting the next one in May.
Let me know when you are ready to read.

Want to start in the next week or so?

Yes. Good to start next week.

Duchess By Night


One night's disguise could lead to a lifetime of passion...

A Mischievous Charade...

Harriet, Duchess of Berrow, is tired of her title and the responsibilities that come along with it. Enough with proper tea parties and elegant balls; what Harriet really wants is to attend an outrageous soiree where she can unleash her wildest whims and desires. But to attend such an event—especially if the event in question is Lord Justinian Strange's rollicking fete, filled with noble rogues and rotters, risqué ladies and illicit lovers—would be certain scandal. That's why she must disguise herself . . .

Looking forward to a night of uninhibited pleasure, Lord Strange is shocked to discover that beneath the clothes of a no-good rake is the most beautiful woman in the room. Why is a woman like her risking her reputation at his notorious affair? And can he possibly entice her to stay . . . forever?

I'm going to try to start tonight, but I don't think I'll get very far this week. Going to be so busy.

I just finished another book. I can start tomorrow. I too might go slow.

Just pulled the book from my shelf. I read it sooo long ago. I didn't write a review of it then so I'll re-read it. Looks like another great book by Eloisa James. Finishing up another book. I'll start it tomorrow!

Jean wrote: "Just pulled the book from my shelf. I read it sooo long ago. I didn't write a review of it then so I'll re-read it. Looks like another great book by Eloisa James. Finishing up another book. I'll st..."
Hi, Jean. Welcome to the BR.

Only a few chapters in and again I'm already finding myself more interesting in a side story than the main again. Isidore seems way more fun than Harriet.

I am at Ch.9 and I am still finding it difficult to get into the story. I hope it gets interesting. After all they joined the notorious house party. It should get interesting.

I am at Ch.13 and I like Eugenia. Now, I want to read her book, but it is the last one in the series.

Do you find the story slow paced? I finished 1/3 of the book and nothing interesting happened. I am surprised that (view spoiler)[ Jem couldn't find out Mr.Cope is a woman when his stableboy found out in the first meeting (hide spoiler)]

I read and absolutely ADDOOORREE this series just for Viliers, Jemma, and Elijah. The godamn best love triangle ever. I mean this from the bottom of my heart when I say this, God bless Eloisa for writing this love triangle lol!
I know I’m pretty much an absolutely disturbing freak when it comes to this love triangle out of all of the dozens of HRs I’ve snoozed through. I think it strikes on a personal level for me. Idk.

Ever since I read it at the age of 15 (five years ago), I’ve actually been going back to the entire series periodically for re-reads, and just re-reading EVERY SINGLE interaction and thought regarding the three of them. My soul comes alive lol.

Yes, I’m crazy enough to go through FOUR whole books just for about two dozen interactions between three people, with no sexy times at that. Don’t worry, I’ve bookmarked the relevant pages and skip everything else now haha!

And what a tribute Dangerous Liasons this was!! THANK YOU ELOISA! Made my soul come alive again! Why can’t more romances be like this??

I couldn’t care less for the “main characters” in these books, but I was more than glad to patiently wait for those precious Jemma/Elijah/villiers interactions. I forgive Eloisa completely for whatever shortcomings her main characters’ love stories had, but they also weren’t that bad either honestly. I really liked Duchess by Night. I was cracking up at some scenes.

Lol yes I know Eloisa has rendered me a mad woman.

You know there are certain books that when you’re done with them and put them down, you feel like a piece of your soul is missing?

I quite literally became an obsessed person.

Disclaimer:
For all that I just wrote about the three of them, after “When the Duke returns”, I feel like they’re stories came to a graceful end, but Eloisa brought back the dead with “This Duchess of Mine”. Unnecessarily dragged out, but I’m still utterly grateful for this series, and the scant few interactions for this love triangle, so no way in hell am I complaining!

Thanks Eloisa!!

Is there any sort of discussion where I can open my heart about the 101 way I will always adore Jemma/Villiers/Elijah’s story?

You can always discuss here or if you would like a separate thread, you can start a new one in 'The Ton'.
But if there are going to be spoilers, just alert us.

Aren’t you guys finding Duchess by night Hilarious?
and who’s Eugenia?

Pheobe wrote: "Aren’t you guys finding Duchess by night Hilarious?
and who’s Eugenia?"

Eugenia is Strange's eight yr old daughter and later the heroine of Seven Minutes in Heaven.

I am at Ch. 27 and it got interesting. A few funny incidents and some romance happening.

Pheobe wrote: "Aren’t you guys finding Duchess by night Hilarious?
and who’s Eugenia?"

Oh thats neat

I've fallen behind, I got caught up in another book.

Priya wrote: "I am at Ch. 27 and it got interesting. A few funny incidents and some romance happening."

I know this is a desperate Duchess’ Group read, but I’m really wondering, what’s your opinion on At the Bride Hunt Ball, (if you’ve read it)

(I’d have started the DD group read with you guys had I tuned into this group earlier)

Lorien wrote: "Pheobe wrote: "Aren’t you guys finding Duchess by night Hilarious?
and who’s Eugenia?"

Oh thats neat

I've fallen behind, I got caught up in another book."

I don’t blame you, I found robertera’s and Isadore’s romances worthless. But I enjoyed the entire series immensely because of the 18th century voice EJ has. She makes me feel like I’ve been to Dangerous Liasons, and not like I’m just reading regency characters in a georgian series.

The flirting, the frivolities, the extramarital affairs, the vulgarity, the frankness, the boldness, the bawdiness, the typical 18th century restraint, the backward thinking, the leisurely games. I don’t usually find authors writing such playful, unadmirable characters, at the risk of readers not liking them for their actions.

I love reading just the way these characters act and who they are. I picked up these novels for a good romance, and instead found that I loved her 18th century characters so much that I couldn’t care less about the lukewarm romances.

But still I liked Harriet’s novel because it was a bit unique, and poppy’s because of Fletch’s patience, declarations of love, and poppy’s innocent, endearing sexual awakening. I don’t want to drop any spoilers about poppy and fletch if you haven’t read it.. have you?

Pheobe wrote: " I know this is a desperate Duchess’ Group read, but I’m really wondering, what’s your opinio..."

I didn't read At the Bride Hunt Ball. So, I cannot comment on that.

You still can join us in the DD buddy read. It is never late. We are at the third book now. If you are interested, you can join us for this or the next one.

Lorien wrote: "

Oh thats neat

I've fallen behind, I got caught up in another book."

I finished reading today and (view spoiler)[ I am not sure if I liked it or not. There are parts of the book I liked and I loved Eugenia. I understand that Harriet wanted to be loved, but I didn't get why she asked Strange to leave his estate behind and go with her. Usually women move in to Men's home, especially in those days. Also, it is not like she is going to be a Duchess forever. Her nephew is going to take over the estate. That is why I gave it a 3 stars.
I am happy to know that Charlotte married Villier's cousin.

Is it just me or do you think the name Jem sounded too feminine for Strange? (hide spoiler)]

I will wait for you to finish reading.