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Desperate Duchesses
Eloisa James has become my favorite romance writer. She does historicals, this one set in 1799 England.
Thorn Dautry is the bastard son of a Duke, and grew up on the streets until he was taken in by the Duke and his stepmother. It is time for him to marry, but despite his power and wealth, his parentage is a burden.
He meets LaLa, an exquisitely beautiful, sweet young society woman whose father has some financial troubles. He decided she is exactly what he wants in a wife, and needs to win over her snobby mother to make his case.
He purchases a country home in hopes of impressing LaLa and her family, but it is in serious disrepair so he hires the famous Lady Xenobia India St. Claire, daughter of a deceased marquess, who solves all decorating and servant problems. But she has never taken on an entire house before, especially one with a three week deadline. She decides this will be her retirement project, because she has earned enough money for a substantial dowry and it is time for her to marry.
India is a bright, independent woman and she and Thorn butt heads regularly. But he is intrigued by her, and in working together to fix up his home they fall in love – but neither will admit to it. She’s convinced he is madly in love with LaLa, and he thinks LaLa is the type of wife he needs and tells himself that India is just a friend.
Their letters back and forth about the work on the house add an additional layer to this already multi-layered story. James excels at creating believably complex, well developed characters and richly imagined stories. People magazine said, “Romance writing does not get much better than this,” and I agree.
4/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X by Eloisa James. Avon (March 25, 2014). ISBN 978-0062223890. 400p.
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