Duchess By Night (Desperate Duchesses, #3)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Duchess By Night (Desperate Duchesses #3)

by Eloisa James (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 3,351 ratings · 202 reviews

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, fil...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 24th 2008 by Avon (first published June 2008)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Dukes... Bring 'em on!

38th out of 262 books — 328 voters

My Favourite Historical Romance

168th out of 1,132 books — 1,404 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 18, 2013 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series-in-progress, historical-fiction, romance, src-spring-2013, zz-american-author, setting-england

I enjoyed Duchess By Night more than An Affair Before Christmas (Book 2), but it still wasn't as good as Desperate Duchesses (Book 1).

Using the cross-dressing trope to get Harriet to find herself again really worked for me, her self-discovery seemed more genuine than Poppy's.

I did think Strange's attraction to Harriett/Harry was a bit, well, strange. His mindset seemed to be something along the lines of "I think this guy is attractive, I must be turning gay in my old age."

I'm also really star...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 ѕєяєηιтι rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, historical-romance

4,25

Kesinlikle serinin en beğendiğim kitabı bu oldu. Diğer ilk iki kitabın bazı yerlerinde çok sıkılmıştım ama bu kitapta öyle olmadı tamamını beğendim diyebilirim. Beklentim düşüktü belki o yüzden iyi gelmiş olabilir:)

Isidore kocasını eve getirebilmek için adını skandala karıştırmak istiyor Lord Strange'in evi de tam bu işe uygun bir yer olarak görülüyor Harriet'ta macera peşinde hemde Isidore'e refakat etmek istiyor. Villiers var birde araya kaynayan hala iyileşememiş durumda ne zaman iyileşec...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2011 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the genre, series, author, etc

Recommended to Anzu by: Aly (Mircea) Basarab

Shelves: d-oh, reviewed-2011, romance-historical

After reading too much paranormal romance I decided to take a break and try something else, you know, change the air and all that, and I thought that a historical romance will do just fine. Having already started this series I was a bit reluctant at first because I got a bit meh towards the previous book, An Affair Before Christmas, and I was afraid that this one won’t be so good also. A friend of mine insisted on it and told me a bit about what happens in the story and I became more excited. No...more After reading too much paranormal romance I decided to take a break and try something else, you know, change the air and all that, and I thought that a historical romance will do just fine. Having already started this series I was a bit reluctant at first because I got a bit meh towards the previous book, An Affair Before Christmas, and I was afraid that this one won’t be so good also. A friend of mine insisted on it and told me a bit about what happens in the story and I became more excited. Now, after finishing it, I have to admit that I loved it.

The aspect I love most in this book was the same that made me start reading it: a woman going under disguise as a man. I always thought it would be fun doing something like that and I wished many times that I could be able to “infiltrate” an all-male crew and just spy on them for a couple of days. Maybe even join in. Oh the fun! The story went really well with this, there were many moments where Harriet got herself in really funny situations and it was so enjoyable. I respect and admire Eloisa James for her unique writing skills and her great talent of creating the best set of dialogues I’ve ever encountered so far. Her humor is just great and her stories, even though they’re simplistic, manage to suck you in and entertained you from start to end.

Duchess by Night, as you can tell, is the story of Lord Strange and Harriet. Now my first reaction when I saw that Lord Strange was the hero in this book was to scream EEEEEWWW at the walls. I was thinking why would I ever want to read a story about such a freaky guy? Harriet is an interesting woman, she deserves better than this. To explain my reaction better I will show you a picture of what I thought Strange looks like:

Just looking at him makes me have shivers. And not in a positive way.

After reading more of the book I found out that he looks like this:

Yeah, I know…. It’s exaggerated but this is how my mind pictured him so that’s how he’s going to stay. Period.
After my mind morphed Strange into the goodie illustrated above, the story got even better. Yes, call me shallow. I love pretty things. I’m an artist after all.

In the end some of my favorite quotes from this book:

“Well, I didn’t want Avery to die,” Loveday Billing explained. “I just wanted to marry John, that’s all. I couldn’t stop myself. I was that tired, and lonely, and he…he sat with me of an evening.”

“Vanity, thy name is woman”

“Thank God you’ve taken pity on me,” he said. “I’m thinking of hobbling to the window and throwing myself out into the snow from pure ennui.”

“I kiss men often,” Villiers said. “Just to make them flustered. Remind me to kiss you on our next meeting, Strange.”

(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2010 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of: Georgette Heyer; Georgian period; Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire; historical romance

Shelves: fiction-historical, fiction-romance

Eloisa James is one of a handful of authors of historical romance (read: 'bodice rippers') who can engage my attention for the length of a novel, let alone sustain it through an entire series. Not that I have a deep acquaintance with the genre, but the few times I have tried a book that falls into this category, more often than not they amount to little more than soft-core porn, with a two-dimensional plot and no character development.

Not so Desperate Duchesses. Despite the salacious covers, muc...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 10, 2008 Loralee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: july-2008, 2008-books

While I like this book, I wasn't wowed by it.. not like I was in the other two.

There wasn't as much interaction between the friends and I missed that. I also didn't expect Harriet to be dressed as a boy, or at least for it go on over half the book, before she's discovered. It's not one of my favorites plot lines, and it threw me off at first, but I think EJ made it work. There were some very funny parts, and I could tell when Lord Strange realized she was girl, even though he didn't come out and...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 05, 2009 Cameron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Oh god. This book is dumb, but it draws you in and makes you read it and for some reason it makes you like it. It's not that it's great, but that all the characters are so endearing.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2008 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads

Eloisa James tends to be hit and miss with me and I'm pretty bummed that "Duchess By Night" was a miss. I thought the premise of a Duchess dressed as a man and privately exposed (definite pun there) was a winner, especially when the Duchess in question was Harriet whose boring husband offed himself after losing a game of chess! But this one seemed very confusing to me. I think maybe it was just too much going on and too many characters. Maybe it was the over-layered plot, but whatever...I really...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 16, 2009 Brownbetty rated it 2 of 5 stars

Nothing special, but, noteworthy for the genre, at no point made me whack myself in the head with the paperback, or throw it across the room.

(Whack myself in the head = "Why is this character still alive when clearly she is too dumb to live?"

Throw it across the room = "Ew, you got misogyny/patriarchy in my dumb entertainment reading.")

Well, maybe at one point there was some mild head-whackage, but that's practically a pass.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 05, 2012 Carrie Olguin rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this continuing soap opera style romance series, we get to know Harriett, the widowed Dchess of Berrow. We learned perviously that her husband committed suicide after losing a game of chess to the Duke of Villers.

She wants a bit of adventure without losing her reputation, so she accompanies Villers and another Duchess (who wants to create a scandal to force her missing husband home from Africa, to finally claim his husbandly rights eleven years after their proxy marriage) to the never-ending-...more

like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

I really liked this next installment of Desperate Duchesses. Even more unusual, Jemma, the lady who held the first two books together, was barely in this one.

The heroine of this book is Harriet, Duchess of Berrow. She was introduced in the first book, heartbroken over her husband's suicide and desperate for revenge against Villiers (who had defeated her husband in a chess match, embarassing him and leading to the suicide). At the beginning of this book, she's just starting to come out of her gr...more I really liked this next installment of Desperate Duchesses. Even more unusual, Jemma, the lady who held the first two books together, was barely in this one.

The heroine of this book is Harriet, Duchess of Berrow. She was introduced in the first book, heartbroken over her husband's suicide and desperate for revenge against Villiers (who had defeated her husband in a chess match, embarassing him and leading to the suicide). At the beginning of this book, she's just starting to come out of her grief (although it's been 2 years) and has realized that she's bored. She doesn't feel beautiful like the other women of the ton and feels that she is in danger of living the rest of her life alone.

Enter Isadore, Duchess of Cosway, who was also desperate - but she was desperate for her husband (of an uncomsummated marriage) to return to England and take his place as her husband. So far, she had been unable to tempt him to come home from his exploration of Africa.

So Harriet, Isadore and Villiers hatch a scheme to go visit the most ill-reputed home in England, the estate of Lord Strange. Villiers by invitation, Isadore to risk her reputation tempt her husband, and Harriet for a change. But Harriet can not risk her own reputation. She holds the Duchy while her nephew grows up. She has responsibilities. So, Harriet goes in disguise - as a man.

(view spoiler)
It becomes a very sweet love story (and a lot hotter than a lot of James' books). I enjoyed this book almost as much A Kiss at Midnight and The Ugly Duchess (her best two from those I've read, hands down). It was interesting to see more of the male perspective in terms of activity and dress.

It's going to be hard to read something other than book 4 next.(less)

like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 May Mostly Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Duchess by Night ของอีลอยซ่า เจมส์

แม็กซ์เกิดความรู้สึกอยากอ่านเล่มนี้ทันทีที่ได้ยินพล็อต เรื่องของนางเอกที่ปลอมตัวเป็นผู้ชาย และพระเอกที่ปิ๊งเธอตั้งแต่แรกเห็น แม้จะคิดว่าเขาผิดปกติชอบผู้ชายด้วยกัน แต่เพราะเล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่สามในชุด Desperate Duchesses แม็กซ์ก็เลยหลงผิดคิดว่า น่าจะเริ่มอ่านตั้งแต่เล่มแรก (ที่แม็กซ์ซื้อมาดองเค็มไว้ข้ามปีแล้ว)

แต่ขอบอกตามตรงว่า เล่มแรกในชุดเรื่อง Desperate Duchesses (ชื่อเหมือนชื่อชุด) มันไม่เวิร์คอย่างรุนแรง แม็กซ์พยายาม พยายาม แล้วก็พยายาม แต่ก็ทำใจให้อ่านต่อจนจบไ...more Duchess by Night ของอีลอยซ่า เจมส์

แม็กซ์เกิดความรู้สึกอยากอ่านเล่มนี้ทันทีที่ได้ยินพล็อต เรื่องของนางเอกที่ปลอมตัวเป็นผู้ชาย และพระเอกที่ปิ๊งเธอตั้งแต่แรกเห็น แม้จะคิดว่าเขาผิดปกติชอบผู้ชายด้วยกัน แต่เพราะเล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่สามในชุด Desperate Duchesses แม็กซ์ก็เลยหลงผิดคิดว่า น่าจะเริ่มอ่านตั้งแต่เล่มแรก (ที่แม็กซ์ซื้อมาดองเค็มไว้ข้ามปีแล้ว)

แต่ขอบอกตามตรงว่า เล่มแรกในชุดเรื่อง Desperate Duchesses (ชื่อเหมือนชื่อชุด) มันไม่เวิร์คอย่างรุนแรง แม็กซ์พยายาม พยายาม แล้วก็พยายาม แต่ก็ทำใจให้อ่านต่อจนจบไม่ได้ ก็เลยเกิดดวงตาเห็นธรรมคิดได้ว่า ถ้าอยากอ่านเล่มนี้ ก็อ่านสิวะ

และก็ได้ผลสรุปว่า ไม่จำเป็นเลยสักนิดที่จะต้องอ่านเล่มก่อนหน้าในชุดเพื่อที่จะสนุกไปกับเรื่องนี้

อย่างชื่อชุด หนังสือเล่มนี้เล่าเรื่องราวของแฮเรียต ดัชเชสม่าย ผู้ซึ่งสามีฆ่าตัวตาย ตลอดเวลาเธอใช้ชีวิตอยู่อย่างสงบเสงี่ยมสมกับเป็นดัชเชส เธอไม่ได้ใช้ชีวิตห่าม ๆ อย่างที่เพื่อนเหล่าดัชเชสด้วยกันใช้เลย จนกระทั่ง ไอสิดอเร่ เพื่อนดัชเชสคนนึง (ซึ่งจะเป็นนางเอกเล่มสี่ในชุด) เกิดไอเดียเด็ดที่จะยั่วให้สามีของเธอหึงด้วยการไปร่วมงานปาร์ตี้ที่บ้านของลอร์ดสเตรจน์ ซึ่งขึ้นชื่อในเรื่องมีงานปาร์ตี้ที่สุดเหวี่ยง

แฮเรียตฝืนกฏเป็นครั้งแรกยอมไปเป็นเพื่อนกับไอสิดอเร่ แต่เพื่อรักษาชื่อเสียงของเธอไว้ แฮเรียตปลอมตัวเป็นผู้ชาย และเมื่อได้พบกับลอร์ดสเตรจน์ หรือเจม (คนที่มีชื่อเต็มที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากทีสุดชื่อนึง -- ขนาดคิดว่าถ้าได้สามีเป็นฝรั่งก็จะเอามาตั้งชื่อลูก นั่นคือจัสติเนี่ยน) ก็ทำให้เกิดเรื่องวุ่นวายหัวใจหลายอย่าง

นั่นเพราะเจมเกิดอาการปิ๊งหนุ่มน้อยนามแฮรี่เข้าอย่างจัง และเมื่อเขาถูกฝากฝังให้ดูแล และนำทางหนุ่มแฮรี่ให้รู้วิธีการใช้ชีวิต มันก็ยิ่งทำให้พวกเขาใกล้ชิดกันมากขึ้น เขาสอนการขี่ม้า ฟันดาบ และเป็นครูในเรื่องผู้หญิง เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้เน้นฮา หรือถ้าใครหวังว่าจะออกแนวเรื่อง Seduced ของเวอร์จิเนีย เฮนรี่ก็คงผิดหวัง เพราะโดยแกนหลักของเรื่องแล้ว ก็ยังเป็นโรแมนซ์ ไม่ใช่การสอนเรื่องเซ็กส์

แม็กซ์ชอบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเจมและแฮรี่ (หรือแฮเรียต) ไม่นับความฮานะคะ แม็กซ์รู้สึกถึงความต่อเนื่องที่สองคนนี้มีต่อกัน แฮเรียตที่ได้ใช้ชีวิตอย่างที่เธอต้องการเป็นครั้งแรก รู้สึกว่าตัวเองงดงามเป็นครั้งแรก ความรู้สึกเหล่านี้เกิดเมื่อเธออยู่ภายใต้เครื่องแต่งกายของผู้ชาย เรื่องนี้มันเป็นการเดินทางเพื่อค้นพบตัวเองของแฮเรียต และการกลับมาสู่โลกแห่งการมีชีวิตแท้จริงของเจม เพราะตลอดชีวิตเขาใช้ชีวิตเหมือนการเล่นเกมส์ ไม่เคยจริงจับกับอะไรสักอย่าง จนกระทั่งแฮเรียตเดินเข้ามาในชีวิต

แม็กซ์ชอบกระทั่งเด็กในเรื่อง ปกติจะไม่เคยชอบเด็กนะคะ ไม่ใช่นางงาม แต่ยูจีเนียลูกสาวของเจมก็มีเสน่ห์ของเธอเอง และเป็นส่วนประกอบที่ขาดไม่ได้เลย และช่วงเวลานึง (สปอยล์) แม็กซ์เกือบจะคิดว่าอีลอยซ่าจะใจร้ายแล้วนะคะ แม็กซ์หยุดอ่าน แล้วคิดว่าถ้าอีลอยซ่าเลือกแนวคุณทม (แบบที่ทำในนิยายเรื่องค่าของคน) แม็กซ์จะรู้สึกยังไง เพราะในเวลานั้นแม็กซ์ชอบหนังสือเล่มนี้มาก ๆ แต่ถ้าเกิดอะไรขึ้นกับยูจีเนีย ความเป็นคนโรแมนติกของแม็กซ์คงทำให้ความสนุกในเล่มนี้ลดน้อยลง โชคดีที่มันไม่เป็นอย่างนั้น

ได้อารมณ์ครบกับการอ่านเล่มนี้ค่ะ จากยิ้ม ไปถึงหัวเราะ แล้วก็ร้องไห้ จะหาอะไรที่มากกว่านี้ไปกับหนังสือเล่มนึงล่ะค่ะ คะแนนที่ 80 (less)

like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Choi Tang rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I had picked this up due to the fact that Eloisa James had dedicated it to Georgette Heyer, thinking well if the author likes GH enough to dedicate a book to her she must be ok, and she was indeed! Nothing spectacular, but an enjoyable Regency romance all the same. I was glad that rather than try to imitate GH, James seems more to pay homage to her through her own style (thank goodness! How rare it is to find a historical fiction that doesn't inevitably picnh GH's ideas).

A scandalous house party...more

like · see review

Jan 22, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, library

This one is definitely my favorite of the series so far (though I'm still really anxious to get to Jemma and Elijah's story! Am remaining strong, though, and not going to skip poor Isobel). I'm not sure why I didn't realize before reading that Harriet was going to have to dress as a man for an extended period of time--I guess I read "party" in the 21st century sense rather than "Georgian house party" that goes on for days, but oh my goodness am I glad it went on for as long as it did! I'm not su...more

like · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Yenny toh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Buku Eloisa James yang ini tentang Harriet,seorang janda yang ditinggal mati oleh suaminy,matinya mengenaskan pula,bunuh diri gara2 kalah Catur..
Harriet yang bosan dengan kehidupan yang dijalaninya,ingin mencicipi sedikit kebebasan dengan menghadiri pesta jem,pesta yang terkenal dengan skandalnya,menyamar sebagai laki2
menemani isidore yang sengaja menciptakan skandal agar suaminya pulang dari negri ntah beranta,mengaku sebagai saudara Villiers,Villiers meminta jem buat menjaga harry dari ganggua...more

like · see review

Oct 02, 2011 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

This was a fun novel and had a lot of imagination-different than most romances. Harriet's late husband committees suicide and life has become tiring of title and responsibilities. Her friend Isidore wants to bring her husband home from traveling to consumate the marriage so chooses to visit Lord Justianian Strange's home. Strange known to have the party house seems like a great distraction for Harriet too and she disguises herself as Henry a young man seeking the opportunity to be lead into beco...more

like · see review

Jan 13, 2010 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

At last, nearly three weeks after its release in the United States, I have completed the latest release from Eloisa James, one of my all-time favorite romance novelists. This book, the third in her Desperate Duchesses series, tells the story of Harriet, Dowager Duchess of Berrow, whose dead husband Benjamin has featured in the previous two installments of the series. In order to look after her new friend Isidore, she tags along to a party at the country home of the scandalous Lord Strange. Of co...more At last, nearly three weeks after its release in the United States, I have completed the latest release from Eloisa James, one of my all-time favorite romance novelists. This book, the third in her Desperate Duchesses series, tells the story of Harriet, Dowager Duchess of Berrow, whose dead husband Benjamin has featured in the previous two installments of the series. In order to look after her new friend Isidore, she tags along to a party at the country home of the scandalous Lord Strange. Of course, Strange -- like any good romantic hero -- is not nearly so scandalous as he seems. In fact, he is the loving father to an eight-year-old girl -- and God knows I have a weak spot for a man with children.

There is, of course, a catch. Harriet becomes "Harry" to preserve her own reputation. And Strange becomes enamored with "him" while trying to help "him" lose his virginity. Whoops. Based on the plot of Twelfth Night, Strange spends half of the book kicking himself for falling in love with a man. Clearly, this is the direction of modern romace -- together with Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Phillander, this is the second novel about gender confusion and sexual identity that I've read in the last month.

I've always liked James for her willingness to veer away from the norms of romance writing, and this book is no exception. The plot is quirky (if not unique), there's no unnecessary 'crime' plot (thank God), and the characters are lovable. The writing is quick and witty and the sex scenes are, frankly, rather hot.

So what's the bad news? Well, to begin with, there are some absolutely glaring factual errors -- errors initially pointed to me by that Certain Reader before I had even started the book. I simply don't understand how hard it can be for novelist -- particularly one with a day job at a respected university -- to walk down the hall and ask "Is this Latin?". Because it's NOT Eloisa, it's NOT. Besides the factual errors, this was the most poorly edited Eloisa James book I've ever read. On top of all that, it just didn't strike me in the same way that some of her finer books -- Your Wicked Ways, The Taming of the Duke, Pleasure for Pleasure, An Affair Before Christmas -- did. The climactic scene of Duchess By Night was, frankly, a poor reflection of a similar scene from An Affair Before Christmas -- and yet, I was still left crying.

Still, the good points far outstrip the bad. As the third in a set of six (SIX!) books, this one is in a bit of an awkward position. We're no longer engulfed by meeting new people and discovering a new world, and yet we still aren't reading about our favorite characters -- the Beaumonts and Villers come to mind. This being said, I was vastly entertained -- and I simply can't wait for more. The next in the series, When the Duke Returns is out on November 25. While I fell in love with the Duke of Cosway within one chapter of Duchess By Night, I'm a bit worried about how similar this book's plot sound to that of Duchess In Love, an old Eloisa favorite. After that, there will be two more titles in the series most likely one about the Beaumonts and then a final one about Villiers -- and I simply can't wait for these.

Final Opinion: If you liked the other Desperate Duchesses books, you'll like it. Hell, you'll like it anyway. Now scamper off and buy it!
(less)

like · see review

Jan 07, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-love, hott-spots, 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a long book. Some parts I thought could have been taken out or shortened. But I've always said I like a through story, I hate for things to be left out or have questions unanswered. So this was definitely fulfilled all those wants.

I don't have a whole lot to say other than I LOVED the scene at the end. After finding out she was Duchess he got mad and walked out on her. When he came to his senses and realized he needed to go to her. She came into the room in all her Duchess glory and tot...more This was a long book. Some parts I thought could have been taken out or shortened. But I've always said I like a through story, I hate for things to be left out or have questions unanswered. So this was definitely fulfilled all those wants.

I don't have a whole lot to say other than I LOVED the scene at the end. After finding out she was Duchess he got mad and walked out on her. When he came to his senses and realized he needed to go to her. She came into the room in all her Duchess glory and totally gave it to him. He left her because of her rank so she acted every bit of that rank when he came to apologize. I loved reading from his point of view when he saw her in a dress for the first time. In fact I'm just going to type it all out because if I come back and reread my review in the future I'm going to want to know what I'm talking about so here it goes.

All of a sudden the door opened. The Duchess of Beaumont. And . . . the Duchess of Berrow. Two gorgeous women of the very highest rank, bedecked and bejeweled, dressed in silk and satin.

Jem called Eugenia to him and bowed.

Harriet was exquisite as a woman. Her hair was piled on her head, all the curls tamed. In a gown she was even more sensual than in breeches. Now she didn't have a cravat under chin, but a gown that plunged in front to show creamy skin, her small waist . . . her gown's billowing skirts made him long to tip her over, uncover her secrets.

Her eyes met his with all the curious welcome one might give a mere acquaintance. "Lord Strange," she said, holding out a hand to be kissed. "You do me too much honor. I had not expected a visit at such short notice." Then she turned to Eugenia and gave her a true smile. And a true kiss.

Eugenia leaned in and said something in Harriet's ear.

"Of Course!" Harriet said, and without a glance in his direction, she took Eugenia's hand and led her away. "The kittens are in the barn," she said, as she left.

HA! I love that! I LOVE that she brought all her duchess airs with her into the room when he obviously came to apologize.

One character I really loved was Villiars. His comments cracked me up. I think it was because of the time period in which this was written. I loved that he and Harriet talked so frankly with each other. It was so unheard of at that time, but because of the situation they put themselves in, her dressing like a man and all, it sort of removed the barriers that normally would have stopped them from talking so freely. Anyway, he made me laugh almost every time he was present. I haven't checked yet, but I sure hope that Eloisa James has written a book about him in this series.(less)

like · see review

Feb 20, 2011 adventurat rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, e-book, fiction, historical, romance

As with the first two books in the Desperate Duchesses series, I enjoyed this book, though it's a bit of a different animal from the first two. The strengths of the previous books - historical research, worldbuilding, characterization - are still solidly present, though some of the language used ("this [situation] won't work for me", for one) struck me as more modern than was strictly appropriate. That's a very minor niggle, though, rather than a criticism.

There was less of the female cameraderi...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Destiny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1700s, england, historical-romance, romance, cross-dressing

After reading the first book in the Desperate Duchesses series I was looking forward to reading the second book. Unlucky for me though I hadn't bought it, although I thought I did, it turns out I missed it.

But I didn't want to wait to read more of the series, so I thought "Why not go ahead and read the third book?" I felt terribly bad because I usually like to read my books in their order, but I just couldn't help it as the promise of reading about the hijinks of all the duchesses prevailed.

So...more

like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Ceren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Eloisa James'in yazdığı Yüreğimdeki Arzu bitti. Kitap güzeldi, akıcıydı. Bir gece de okundu. Uykusuz kalmaya değecek bir kitap bu. Fakat fazla aşk yoktu. Onun yerine eğlenceli diyaloglar, okumaktan bıkmayacağın süslü anlatımlar vardı. Yazarın değişik bir stili var ama sevilmeyecek gibi değil.

Berrow Düşesi Harriyet biraz eğlenmek ve sorumluluklarından kurtulmak için erkek kılığında bir gece partisine katılır. O, oradaki en güzel erkektir fakat hiçte erkek gibi davranmamaktadır. [neden acaba:)] Ev...more

1 like · like · see review

May 03, 2009 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, ebook-own

I think that after Jemma, Harriet is my favorite Duchess in this series. She was kind of boring when she was mentioned in the previous books, but she came to life in this one.
Overall it was a good read, but there were some things that bothered me. Not so much with the set-up for the story, but on the issue of widows and widowers. To me, it would have been better if Jem and Harriet's love didn't have the constant comparison their own respective dead spouses. Whenever Harriet inwardly cringed or f...more

like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 Rhapsody rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Another light and enjoyable read. This story follows the Duchess of Berrow, Harriet, and her time at Lord Strange's ongoing house party in the disguise of a man. She is disguised as the Duke of Villier's second nephew, Mr Harry Cope and I found the interactions between Lord Strange and Harry Cope to be most funny. I found myself chuckling out loud during the parts where (view spoiler)...more

like · see review

Jun 07, 2011 Rebecca (everyday reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Being proper and reserved has been Harriet's life, until now. She goes to a well-known, improper house party dressed as a man, and the host, Jem, is greatly disturbed by the fact that he finds himself attracted to another man. Until he finds out the man is really a woman and is free to lavish attention on her. Scandals, proper behavior, a little girl, and untamed passion. Great read!!

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2010 Natalie K rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2010, romance

I'm a big fan of Eloisa James and she didn't disappoint me once more. This is what romance novels are all about. A Duchess in a man's diguise who visits the house of a notorious Lord. I liked that her gender wasn't discovered by the hero right away, it made the book more exciting than an instant reveal. The story, the secondary characters, the house itself are all fully fleshed out and they all add more than a chuckle or two to the novel.

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I wish th...more

like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 MNLO rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A tall, dark, brooding stranger with an ugly past.
A naive woman who uses a dress up to discover a new world (and gets gorgeous sex).
Sex scenes that are kinda hot.
A happy ending with some babies.

Shortly put, this could have been 50 Shades of the 18th century. But THIS ONE is well written, entertaining and as I said before, pretty hot from time to time. And with deliciously horrible sappy quotes.

"He looked as if he belonged in the golden light of a wheat field. [..] His chest looked powerful."

"H...more

like · see review

Oct 15, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-story, historical, romance, part-of-a-series

Harriet has been the perfect Duchess ever since her husband died. Everyone knows that, despite her friendship with the notorious Duchess of Beaumont, Harriet has remained faithful to his memory. But like any good romance heroine, she is longing to break out of her shell, she wants to do something wicked. So she enlists the help of her friend Isidore (who wants to attract her own recalcitrant husband back home) and the notorious Duke of Villiers to help her attend one of the house parties of Lord...more

like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Lita Bouquard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Harriet is like the Katherine Hepburn of duchesses, wearing man pants, and scorning feminine garb. Widowed and bitter over her husband's suicide, Harriet is finally coming back to life. She travels with her friend to visit and unusual duke. He struggles with with attraction to a "man" and she discovers the freedom of living with the constricting wardrobe of a duchess. The strange duke has a bohemian life style with theater people and unusual activities and oddities. The normal part of his life i...more

like · see review

Dec 24, 2011 Suzie Quint rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers of historical romance

Shelves: romance-historical

This was an enchanting story. I love the woman-dressed-as-a-man troupe when it's done well, and this one is. My favorite moment in the story is when Gem figures out that "Harry" is really a woman. This is shown from Harry's viewpoint and, since Gem initially keeps his new knowledge to himself, the scene has a subtlety to it that's just delightful.

Gem's daughter is also delightful. A unique child with a logical turn of mind but with a childish wonder, she adds a lovely dimension to his character....more

like · see review

Dec 26, 2012 Deanna Knippling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Duchess Harriet, who performs the judicial duties alongside the drunk judge who's basically "off with her head" no matter what comes along, decides that her dead husband is dead and it's time to move on.

Scandalously.

She dresses up as a man (a not terribly manly man) to get into Lord Strange's degenerate theatrical house party. Lord Strange takes her under his wing in order to teach her to be a real man - to ride, fence, and quaff.

I liked this, but not as overwhelmingly as I've liked other Elois...more

like · see review

Dec 26, 2008 Dancer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (14)

More editions...

Genres

Romance

258 users

Romance > Historical Romance

247 users

Historical Fiction

34 users

Regency

19 users

Historical Romance > Regency Romance

15 users

Adult

5 users

Historical Romance > Georgian Romance

4 users

Adult Fiction

4 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

3 users

Trans > Cross Dressing

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Eloisa James

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeat...more

More about Eloisa James...

Books by Eloisa James

When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Fairy Tales, #2)

A Duke of Her Own (Desperate Duchesses, #6)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Duchess By Night

4 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Duchess By Night

“I shouldn't think I'll have the slightest problem playing a man," she said. "I shall merely remember to rearrange my breeches in front at least once an hour, thereby drawing attention to the padding I carefully placed there in the morning, and I'll blend in perfectly.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Duchess By Night
avg rating	preview: Duchess By Night Goodreads rating: 3.92 (3351 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2283547.Duchess_By_Night?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348368352l/2283547.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2283547.Duchess_By_Night?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Duchess By Night by Eloisa James[/url]

Duchess By Night (Desperate Duchesses #3)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website