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Christmas with the Duchess
Nicholas St. Austell's Christmas Wish List
-An invitation to a holiday house party
-A shiny gold pocket watch
-An introduction to Emma, the Duchess of Warwick
-Roasted chestnuts
-A dance with Emma
-A new pair of Hessians
-A kiss from Emma under the mistletoe
-Christmas with the Duchess...
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 30, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 12, 2017
(2.5 stars) If you're looking for a heartwarming Christmas-themed romance, this isn't it. No Christmas cheer here. No, this book by Ms Lejeune is more of a Regency house party romantic farce, which takes place over three Christmases, in 1814, 1815 and 1816. As for the romantic leads, we have role reversal for the H and h. She's the experienced, slightly jaded and seemingly rakish older woman. He's about 10 years younger, somewhat naive and innocent not only sexually (he's a virgin) but also in the ways of the ton, that superficial, self-centered, vapid upper class, of which our heroine Emma is a member as the Duchess of Warwick, widow of the late duke and mother of the adolescent present duke.
Our hero Nicholas has just recently come into an earldom after a life at sea as a naval officer. He's brought to the first Christmas gathering by his newly-met aunt Anne and uncle Hugh and their four marriage-hungry daughters. Poor young innocent Nicholas doesn't fit in at all well with the manipulative, greedy, self-centered relatives and friends gathered there. Struck by Emma's beauty, he falls in love with her in spite of the fact that she is manipulative herself, but not necessarily greedy nor self-centered. More to the point, she's focused on her children and trying to regain guardianship of them from uncle Hugh.
It's pointless to summarize the plot. Suffice it to say that we have lots of bedhopping, conniving, deception, manipulation, scheming, etc. by most all those gathered together. I didn't find myself liking anyone but Nicholas. Not even the duchess' young sons had admirable qualities. They came across as spoiled and arrogant. Perhaps heroine Emma shows a bit of a softer side at the end but you have to look hard at her to find something very admirable in her either.
All that said, however, it was an entertaining plot, what with all the above-mentioned conniving, deception, scheming and bedhopping and the book is well written. The problem is that you may find yourself entertained yet very annoyed at the same time by how horrid and useless all these people are.
Our hero Nicholas has just recently come into an earldom after a life at sea as a naval officer. He's brought to the first Christmas gathering by his newly-met aunt Anne and uncle Hugh and their four marriage-hungry daughters. Poor young innocent Nicholas doesn't fit in at all well with the manipulative, greedy, self-centered relatives and friends gathered there. Struck by Emma's beauty, he falls in love with her in spite of the fact that she is manipulative herself, but not necessarily greedy nor self-centered. More to the point, she's focused on her children and trying to regain guardianship of them from uncle Hugh.
It's pointless to summarize the plot. Suffice it to say that we have lots of bedhopping, conniving, deception, manipulation, scheming, etc. by most all those gathered together. I didn't find myself liking anyone but Nicholas. Not even the duchess' young sons had admirable qualities. They came across as spoiled and arrogant. Perhaps heroine Emma shows a bit of a softer side at the end but you have to look hard at her to find something very admirable in her either.
All that said, however, it was an entertaining plot, what with all the above-mentioned conniving, deception, scheming and bedhopping and the book is well written. The problem is that you may find yourself entertained yet very annoyed at the same time by how horrid and useless all these people are.
May 2, 2013
Buku ini mengecewakan kalau dari tokoh karakter hero dan heroine nya... dimana hero nya jatuh cinta teramat dalam sebagai pemuda hijau yang pikiran dan otaknya serendah rumput dan heroine nya adalah janda berpengalaman dalam hal skandal.
Yang menghibur cuma tokoh Colin Grey, saudara sang duchess yang homoseksual tetapi narsis... gw gak tahan ngakak baca komentar-komentar dan penyangkalan dari Colin.
Yang menghibur cuma tokoh Colin Grey, saudara sang duchess yang homoseksual tetapi narsis... gw gak tahan ngakak baca komentar-komentar dan penyangkalan dari Colin.
February 2, 2011
*Received, read and reviewed for "The Season for Romance".
Emma Fitroy, Duchess of Warwick is staying at Warwick Palace for the Christmas holiday where she hopes to be reunited with her two young sons who were taken away after her husband’s death. As family begins to arrive, she meets Nicholas St. Austell, the newly appointed Lord Camford. Ten years her junior, Emma certainly has no intentions of getting romantically involved with Nicholas.
Nicholas just recently came into the earldom after having spent most of his life at sea as a naval officer. Orphaned at a young age, the Royal Navy is the only home he has known so he is very apprehensive about his newly acquired title, property and family members. He is taken under the protection of Uncle Hugh whom he quickly learns is not so benevolent and actually has ulterior motives. Uncle Hugh wants Nicholas to marry one of his five marriage-hungry daughters and make one of them the next, Lady Camford. Nicholas is completely blind to his uncle’s schemes – especially when he meets the beautiful Emma. He quickly falls under her spell, although no one (not even the reader) understands why.
I really wanted to like “Christmas with the Duchess”, but sadly that did not happen for me. Other than the novel taking place over the course of three Christmases, there isn’t any Christmas spirit or cheer in this story. It plays out as more of a Regency farce than a romance.
As for our main characters, we have role reversal with the heroine being the older, slightly jaded, seemingly rakish woman and the hero being more boy than man with his naiveté and lack of experience both sexually and socially. Unfortunately, I felt no connection or attachment to any of the characters. I found Emma to be manipulative, conniving, self-centered and sometimes cruel. Nicholas, one of the few characters with any redeeming qualities was kind-hearted and sweet but far too innocent and awkward. The rest of the “family” was just as catty, manipulative and self-serving as the heroine so Nicholas’ inability to fit in with the rest of the characters made sense, although I felt the author made him seem like a simpleton most of the time.
The premise of the story seemed to have a lot of promise and the plot, although not entirely original could have been far more interesting if the story hadn’t been so convoluted with a cast of horrid and mostly useless characters.
On a positive note, the writing was well done and there were a few humorous moments that lightened the tension a bit.
Sadly, this is not a story for those seeking some holiday cheer but rather those who are not looking for a warm and fuzzies and who don’t mind being entertained yet annoyed at the same time.
Emma Fitroy, Duchess of Warwick is staying at Warwick Palace for the Christmas holiday where she hopes to be reunited with her two young sons who were taken away after her husband’s death. As family begins to arrive, she meets Nicholas St. Austell, the newly appointed Lord Camford. Ten years her junior, Emma certainly has no intentions of getting romantically involved with Nicholas.
Nicholas just recently came into the earldom after having spent most of his life at sea as a naval officer. Orphaned at a young age, the Royal Navy is the only home he has known so he is very apprehensive about his newly acquired title, property and family members. He is taken under the protection of Uncle Hugh whom he quickly learns is not so benevolent and actually has ulterior motives. Uncle Hugh wants Nicholas to marry one of his five marriage-hungry daughters and make one of them the next, Lady Camford. Nicholas is completely blind to his uncle’s schemes – especially when he meets the beautiful Emma. He quickly falls under her spell, although no one (not even the reader) understands why.
I really wanted to like “Christmas with the Duchess”, but sadly that did not happen for me. Other than the novel taking place over the course of three Christmases, there isn’t any Christmas spirit or cheer in this story. It plays out as more of a Regency farce than a romance.
As for our main characters, we have role reversal with the heroine being the older, slightly jaded, seemingly rakish woman and the hero being more boy than man with his naiveté and lack of experience both sexually and socially. Unfortunately, I felt no connection or attachment to any of the characters. I found Emma to be manipulative, conniving, self-centered and sometimes cruel. Nicholas, one of the few characters with any redeeming qualities was kind-hearted and sweet but far too innocent and awkward. The rest of the “family” was just as catty, manipulative and self-serving as the heroine so Nicholas’ inability to fit in with the rest of the characters made sense, although I felt the author made him seem like a simpleton most of the time.
The premise of the story seemed to have a lot of promise and the plot, although not entirely original could have been far more interesting if the story hadn’t been so convoluted with a cast of horrid and mostly useless characters.
On a positive note, the writing was well done and there were a few humorous moments that lightened the tension a bit.
Sadly, this is not a story for those seeking some holiday cheer but rather those who are not looking for a warm and fuzzies and who don’t mind being entertained yet annoyed at the same time.
May 12, 2014
What is it they say? The path to true love is a rocky one? That is definitely the case here! I do have to say that this is one of the best romances that I have read this year!
Nicholas (a career navy man) has recently become the 4th Earl of Camford. He is green grass. Usually, it is the female protagonist who is unsure in the world of nobility. Not here! It is interesting to watch the interactions between Nicholas and Emma, the Duchess of Warwick. And the supporting cast of characters are a riot! I especially love the antics of Emma's twin, Lord Colin and Lady Harriet, an old spinster aunt (by marriage) to Emma, who by the way is a widow.
Nicholas (a career navy man) has recently become the 4th Earl of Camford. He is green grass. Usually, it is the female protagonist who is unsure in the world of nobility. Not here! It is interesting to watch the interactions between Nicholas and Emma, the Duchess of Warwick. And the supporting cast of characters are a riot! I especially love the antics of Emma's twin, Lord Colin and Lady Harriet, an old spinster aunt (by marriage) to Emma, who by the way is a widow.
December 11, 2011
I'm not sure I would classify this as a romance, as in a focus on two people falling in love, but it was a lot of fun. The house party each year with such scheming and conniving people...I'd love to see this made into a movie! I know Lejeune is a midlist author at best, but I think her books are really underrated. Her covers and book blurbs don't really let a reader know what to expect from her: screwball comedies. I for one am really glad I found her and i hope she continues writing for a really long time
October 21, 2014
I have no idea why I finished this. It was like a train wreck, I suppose. I couldn't look away. It was not romantic and not Christmassy. The characters all drove me nuts. Two stars only because I did manage to finish it. Glad I got it for only 50 cents.
December 23, 2015
I wanted to like this one more than I did. Unfortunately, the main characters didn't really appeal. The saving grace, though, was found in the quirky secondary characters-they kept me reading. I liked the interplay between the heroine's twin brother and their spunky spinster aunt.
July 30, 2016
A Romance?
OMG! That is what I first thought about this book. This may be the worst romance ever! For starters, it is not terribly romantic. But that is only the beginning.
The particulars: The book is about Emma Grey Fitzroy, Duchess of Warwick, her gay twin brother, his lover, their unspeakably mean Aunts and Uncle, and their other relatives, all of whom are highly unlikable. Even the "Hero" of the book, Nicholas St. Austell, the Earl of Camford, is unlikeable. He is young-20 at the time of the book, 10 years the junior of the "heroine", Emma-a virgin, and unskilled at the art of romance.
This entire book reminded me of "Married....with Children" mixed with a bad reality show. I could easily see this as "The Real Royals of England." (Not to give Bravo any ideas for more salacious "reality" tv shows, but I could easily see Tamara Lejuene, the book's author, watching stuff like that while writing this.) The book is at times very funny. However, it is classified as a romance, and there is nothing whatsoever in this book that is even remotely romantic. Some reviews have classified this book as a farce. It certainly is that; whether that is intentional or unintentional, only Ms. Lejuene knows for certain.
What I do know, however, is that this is hardly romantic. There is no romance at all, none of the characters are in any way likable, and I feel like I wasted my time reading this.
OMG! That is what I first thought about this book. This may be the worst romance ever! For starters, it is not terribly romantic. But that is only the beginning.
The particulars: The book is about Emma Grey Fitzroy, Duchess of Warwick, her gay twin brother, his lover, their unspeakably mean Aunts and Uncle, and their other relatives, all of whom are highly unlikable. Even the "Hero" of the book, Nicholas St. Austell, the Earl of Camford, is unlikeable. He is young-20 at the time of the book, 10 years the junior of the "heroine", Emma-a virgin, and unskilled at the art of romance.
This entire book reminded me of "Married....with Children" mixed with a bad reality show. I could easily see this as "The Real Royals of England." (Not to give Bravo any ideas for more salacious "reality" tv shows, but I could easily see Tamara Lejuene, the book's author, watching stuff like that while writing this.) The book is at times very funny. However, it is classified as a romance, and there is nothing whatsoever in this book that is even remotely romantic. Some reviews have classified this book as a farce. It certainly is that; whether that is intentional or unintentional, only Ms. Lejuene knows for certain.
What I do know, however, is that this is hardly romantic. There is no romance at all, none of the characters are in any way likable, and I feel like I wasted my time reading this.
September 13, 2011
Looks like we have a winner in the "replacing The Snow Queen as the worst book Eileen has ever read" contest!
February 4, 2022
Holiday house parties always provide great settings for romance among the aristocracy. This was an enjoyable book with interesting characters.
October 18, 2012
Marked as finished, because I didn't make it to reading the 3rd chapter.
November 9, 2017
Appallingly bad - terrible unlikable characters, confusing storyline, supposedly a Christmas story - definitely not. It may have been set at Christmas but Scrooge had more Christmas spirit BEFORE the ghosts arrived.
June 9, 2025
A very entertaining Regency house party farce. My favorite character was Colin, the duchess’ twin brother. Tamara Lejeune is a very good writer and her wit and sense of humor is always a delight and never more so than here.
January 4, 2014
Wish I could give it zero stars because it is the dumbest historical romance I ever read. Liked the cover art though. The characters were unlikable or ignorant and despicable to family, friend and foe. Only finished it because I couldn't believe how it got more ridiculous with each chapter. Couldn't root for the main couple either and the love scenes were horrible. Characters constantly discuss sex but no one has a romantic love scene. Will never read anything by this author again. I will stick to Tessa Dare, Karen Ranney, Karen Hawkins, Mary Balogh, Nora Roberts, etc. for great romance novels.
October 12, 2011
I started reading this book. It started slow and was getting interesting until, the hero Nicholas started talking. First, I think he's too young been in the Navy since 9 and don't know nothing. The Duchess is worldly and sophicated and the mother of 2 sons. Why would she fall for him. I couldn't take his talking, and he kept saying he was ignorant. Didn't like it I couldn't get pass Chapter 3
October 24, 2011
I bought this book last year to get me in the "holiday mood" spiked with a little romance, but sadly I was disappointed. I thought that the main characters were unrealistic, which took away the pleasure of an otherwise nicely written book.
September 30, 2013
This book was hysterical but I'm not sure that it was funny on purpose. The characters were all so horrible and unlikeable and did such stupid things, that the author had to have had a satire in mind. Right?
May 26, 2014
menurut saya buku ini memiliki cerita yang unik dan tentu saja lucu.
dan, saya sangat menyukai tokoh Colin dengan dialog-dialog lucunya yang sanggup membuat saya tertawa dan dialog putra sulung Emma yang sungguh luar biasa kikirnya.
dan, saya sangat menyukai tokoh Colin dengan dialog-dialog lucunya yang sanggup membuat saya tertawa dan dialog putra sulung Emma yang sungguh luar biasa kikirnya.
November 17, 2010
This book was ... different. A sort of bedroom farce, set over three Christmases, without the saving grace of being uproariously funny. Mildly amusing, in spaces.
December 9, 2015
I honestly do not know how to rate this book, it is somewhere between one star for being totally a farce and 4 stars because it reminded me of the kitchen sink running away with the toilet.
May 23, 2015
Boringgggg
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews