When The Duke Returns

I haven't been too impressed with the Desperate Duchesses series by Eloisa James. And I probably should have stopped reading the series, but I just cannot say no to Eloisa James.

Here's the blurb for the fourth book of the series, When The Duke Returns:

The Duchess of Cosway yearns for a man she has never met . . . her husband.

Married by proxy as a child, Lady Isidore has spent years fending off lecherous men in every European court while waiting to meet her husband. She's determined to accept him, no matter how unattractive the duke turns out to be. When she finally lures Simeon Jermyn back to London, his dark handsomeness puts Isidore's worst fears to rest—until disaster strikes.

The duke demands an annulment.

Forsaking his adventuresome past, Simeon has returned to London ready to embrace the life of a proper duke, only to find that his supposed wife is too ravishing, too headstrong, and too sensual to be the docile duchess he has in mind. But Isidore will not give up her claim to the title—or him—without a fight.

She will do whatever it takes to capture Simeon's heart, even if it means sacrificing her virtue. After all, a consummated marriage cannot be annulled.

Yet in forcing Simeon into a delicious surrender, will Isidore risk not only her dignity—but her heart?

I have good news and bad news.

Bad news first: Still not what I expect of the author. After reading The Pleasure Trilogy, The Duchess Quartet, and the Essex Sisters...my expectations are high.

Good news: I actually enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the characters, really liked Simeon and Isidore - he is completely different from the what we would expect from a English Duke and she is a hot/quick tempered not a docile English lady. Their chemistry was believable and the way they discovered their feelings and needs was very entertaining. I could have done without some of the sub-plots like the water closet debaucle, and I couldn't stand the dowager Duchess.

It's looking promising for the next book of the series. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

When The Duke Returns by Eloisa James (3.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (12/2008); Series: # 4, Desperate Duchesses; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (40); Romance Reading Challenge (3);