This Duchess of Mine (Desperate Duchesses, #5) in Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn

Dec 03, 2011 Zumbagirl rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, forgiveness, georgian-romance, sweet-and-steamy-romance, misunderstandings, friendship, big-separation, hero-with-affliction, problem-marriage

Well, I've been dying to read Jemma's story - but I have to say, I was a little disappointed. While this book was engaging - read it in one day - the silly subplots took away from the story rather than making it better. Jemma and Elijah have decided to finally consummate their marriage - again - after nine years of separation. But, of course, they are both very insecure and struggle with how to handle their new arrangement. Elijah has been working himself almost to death at his job and Jemma wan Well, I've been dying to read Jemma's story - but I have to say, I was a little disappointed. While this book was engaging - read it in one day - the silly subplots took away from the story rather than making it better. Jemma and Elijah have decided to finally consummate their marriage - again - after nine years of separation. But, of course, they are both very insecure and struggle with how to handle their new arrangement. Elijah has been working himself almost to death at his job and Jemma wants him to cut back. She discovers his heart condition one day and is immediately panicked - even refusing to sleep with him because she fears he's going to die and leave her all alone. She also decides she wants Elijah to enjoy himself more and laugh, so she decides she's going to get her nemesis to flirt with Elijah - like that somehow is going to make Elijah love her? She is still flirting with Villiers, but they have both come to terms with the fact that they cannot have each other. Villiers wants to help Elijah as a friend, especially with his heart condition, trying to find him a doctor who can treat him. Also, Villiers is trying to gather all of his illegitimate children together, wants to raise them in his home, and desperately needs to find a wife.

So with Elijah seemingly on the brink of death, Jemma is unsure what to do with her marriage, but they start "courting" each other - and finally, finally get together over a blind-folded game of chess. That was interesting. Honestly, even though I love Ms. James writing, I though the focus should have been more on the building up of their marriage - more interactions and dialogue between them as a couple - all of the ridiculous problems and ideas were just too distracting. Not that his health problem was ridiculous; I meant the other issues with their lack of communication skills and all the baggage they had to work through. They would be having a love scene while talking about Elijah's previous mistress - it was just weird.

But the ending was very sweet and I was glad to see things work out for this couple. They both deserved their HEA. ...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Madu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical

4,5 stars
The beginning was really weird..I thought that I would not love the book so much, but after their "chess match", everything was perfect ...more

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