The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales, #4) in Ask Eloisa James

May 28, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it liked it

Shelves: family-issues, historical, betrayal, angsty-read, steam-level-steamy, adultery-or-infidelity, plain-heroine, estranged-lovers-or-marriage, 2012-read, classics-retold

This book broke my heart, in more ways than one.

I wanted, so badly, to love it. In fact, up until a certain part, I was certain I'd be rating it 4.5-5 stars!

Unfortunately, there's so much infidelity that I just couldn't get past it. Yes, he had pretty excuses, but... *queasy*

I LOVED Daisy/Theo. Loved her. And in some ways, I loved James as well. The betrayal early on was absolutely delicious, and up until the point where he dipped his wick in some foreign widow, I was hooked! But the very blat ...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Lisarenee rated it really liked it

Notes: I read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of the book.

Once upon a time there was a young heiress and young Earl who were best friends. They could tell the other anything and everything. Their parents had been best friends, as well, and when Theo's father passed, James' father took Theo and her mother in. They were raised as brother and sister living under the same roof. Then one day James' father, the Duke of Ashbrook, did something that would change everything....

“You’ll have to marry her. I Notes: I read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of the book.

Once upon a time there was a young heiress and young Earl who were best friends. They could tell the other anything and everything. Their parents had been best friends, as well, and when Theo's father passed, James' father took Theo and her mother in. They were raised as brother and sister living under the same roof. Then one day James' father, the Duke of Ashbrook, did something that would change everything....

“You’ll have to marry her. I don’t care if you think of her as a sister: from now on, she’s the Golden Fleece to you.”

James Ryburn, Earl of Islay, and heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, opened his mouth to say something, but a mixture of fury and disbelief choked the words.

His father turned and walked toward the far wall of the library, acting as if he’d said nothing particularly out of the ordinary. “We need her fortune to repair the Staffordshire estate and pay a few debts, or we’re going to lose it all, this townhouse included.”

“What have you done?” James spat the words. A terrible feeling of dread was spreading through his limbs.
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They say secrets have a way of revealing themselves at the most inconvenient moments and that is what James was afraid of when he decided to go through with his father's plans to marry Daisy (aka Theo). So as you can guess that's precisely what happened. But this secret wasn't revealed in a normal way. It was revealed in such an embarrassing and humiliating way that it could scar a person. It also left James and his father packing and Theo's heart breaking in its wake.

James truly cared for Theo and would never wish to do anything to hurt her. At first he refused to give in to his father's plan, but once he realized the extent of what his father had done, he reluctantly gave in. He'd planned to disclose all to Theo eventually, but sometimes things don't work out as planned. Additionally, Theodora Saxby didn't live up to the standard mitigated by the ton for beauty--her face was too angular, her chin too strong and her nose too long. It was for those reasons that shortly after their marriage, the papers declared her 'The Ugly Duchess'. So two days into her marriage she felt betrayed, used, humiliated, ugly and abandoned as she lost not only her husband, but her best friend as well.

This was a great story, but I kept wishing the time between the couple splitting and being reunited was shorter. Seven years is a long time. Additionally, some people may take issue with the fact that while married but separated, one of the two has an affair.

I liked how Theodora and James reinvented themselves during their separation, each growing up a little. Theo became a woman to be admired while James became a pirate and gained a better sense of himself and what he wanted. I believe it was his pirate nature as along with other events that finally made him decide to invade Theo's world and try to plunder the bounty of her heart. Let me just say I loved the way he went about it.

I loved the chemistry between Theo and James. It sizzled and scorched the pages as passion encapsulated the two. Hmm...perhaps I should have used a different metaphor that tied in the pirate theme? How about James shivered Theo's timbers. *smirk* I must say the man had me swooning.

While pirates have been around for a long time in romances I can't help but wonder if this marks the beginning of a new invasion of them into our romances? This is the second or third romance I've recently read with a pirate hero. I'm definitely crossing my fingers.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. The book had me hooked from start to finish and left me smiling in its wake. I loved the way Ms. James tied the Ugly Duckling story into this book and made it her own. I loved both James and Theo and wanted to throttle James' father. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
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Jun 30, 2011 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: eloisa-james, edelweiss, historical-romance

When James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, learns what his father has done to his best friends money, he is furious. He is even more furious once his father tells him he must marry the girl to keep the scandal at bay. James can not fathom marring Theodora Saxby, and not because of her unusual features, but because she is his best friend, a friend that grew up with him like a sister under his father's guardianship. But duty abounds and he makes Daisy, as James calls her, his wife and toget When James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, learns what his father has done to his best friends money, he is furious. He is even more furious once his father tells him he must marry the girl to keep the scandal at bay. James can not fathom marring Theodora Saxby, and not because of her unusual features, but because she is his best friend, a friend that grew up with him like a sister under his father's guardianship. But duty abounds and he makes Daisy, as James calls her, his wife and together them seem to find a mutual passion and hope for their future. Theo is stunned when James suddenly proposes but she believes his heartfelt declaration and goes into the marriage with her heart. Her heart is quickly broken when the truth of the whole ordeal is revealed and she tosses James out and tries to find solace in mending the estate. Seven years go by with no word from James and she makes the decision to have him declared dead so she can move on with her life. To her utter shock, James returns and so do a host of feelings that had been left unresolved for so long. Leaning the truth about James infidelity almost becomes the last straw. How can James save this marriage that started off so wrong but feels so absolutely right now?

I am so torn about this book! It started off wonderfully with love, passion and angst but then James left and took the seas and cheated even though he swore he never would. Yes, he truly believed his marriage was over and he planned to stay away forever and let Theo move on with her life but....still....sigh. When James is almost killed it finally puts his life into perspective and he returns home, in a dramatic manner, and we get more angst as Theo and James come to terms with this new relationship. But for me, the ending was a bit rushed. I felt like Theo had grown into herself when James was away into a strong, confident woman who grew to rise about the ton's nasty nickname of The Ugly Duchess. She forgave James just a bit to easily for me and I would have liked a bit more groveling I guess. I liked how Theo decides to re-enter society...as a swan which brings in the bit of the fairy tale. I'm not quite sure why Theo was considered ugly as I believe she just had strong features but I did enjoy how James always thought she was beautiful and he is able to make her realize that again even after all their years apart. As for James, I had a hard time warming up to him in the second half but his life at sea changed him forever and I liked seeing those changes...I just wanted a bit more. Overall, not my favorite Eloisa James but it still has her trademark wit, passion and beautiful writing. 3 1/2 stars

I received this eARC from Avon via edelweiss books.
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Feb 18, 2013 Shan ~A~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

Wow!! I have been a fan of Eloisa's for years and her books keep getting better and better. I could not make myself put it down. It was very entertaining and very easy to read. Also very funny. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments.

This Fairy Tale of Eloisa's obviously got it premise from The Ugly Duckling. She has a very original and unique way of retelling a traditional fairytale.

Theo/Daisy is a refreshing change to most of the heroines that we read about. She is relatable becaus ...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Keri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-historical, 2010s-read

4.25 Stars. Theo or Daisy as James like to call her wasn’t your typical English rose..heck..she wasn’t even your typical bush. But she did have a sense of unique style, but unfortunately at 17 she wasn’t allowed to show that style. Instead it was white, pink and lots of ruffles for her. Luckily she had James, the man she had grown up with and the man that was always in her corner. Except James now has a problem, his wastrel gambler of a father and a poor one at that has gambled away not only his 4.25 Stars. Theo or Daisy as James like to call her wasn’t your typical English rose..heck..she wasn’t even your typical bush. But she did have a sense of unique style, but unfortunately at 17 she wasn’t allowed to show that style. Instead it was white, pink and lots of ruffles for her. Luckily she had James, the man she had grown up with and the man that was always in her corner. Except James now has a problem, his wastrel gambler of a father and a poor one at that has gambled away not only his inheritance, but Daisy’s as well. In order to keep him from going to prison the only thing to do is marry Daisy. The whole thought of doing that to Daisy makes his gut churn, but he does it. For a brief time him and Daisy seem like they may make it until his dad catches Daisy and James in a compromising position and Daisy runs in embarrassment. Daisy overhears a conversation and now the truth is out and kicks James out of her life.

Being only 19 himself he takes her seriously and takes to the high seas to become a prolific buccaneer with the help of our next hero and a cousin of James. James finds out while he is gone that his dad passed away and he is now the Duke, but he still can’t forgive himself for what he did to Daisy and decides to let James die. He becomes Jack Hawk and pretends that he has no cares, but coming close to death makes him realize that he can’t let Daisy go and it is time to go back and fight for the woman he loves. Daisy for her part has become a rigid, self-contained woman. No messy emotions or anything to mar her serene life. The day arrives when it is time to declare James dead and on the day of the proceeding and who should walk into court, but James himself. Daisy faints in disbelief as this huge, scarred and practically bald man claims to be her James. James for his part proceeds to apply his pirate ways and storms her battlements and refuses to let her retreat with her heart. If society thought that he was going to stand by and let them say things about his always beautiful wife, his fist was going to do some talking as well.

I really enjoyed the book, but here is what I had problems with, long separations in this case 7 years is a pet peeve of mine. Also Jack Hawk’s 3 slips was an issue for me and the fact that Daisy acknowledged in her head that what she and James were caught doing, wasn't a dirty thing, I wanted proof that she no longer felt that way. Although I do think that the separation helped to mature James and Daisy, I don’t feel that he groveled enough for basically being a coward and running from Daisy and leaving her to deal with the fall out. However having said that, it was still extremely entertaining and I can’t wait for the next book. The set up for that one sounds fun. An older woman, younger man and a frightened member? What is a ex-pirate…err…buccaneer to do?

ETA: I went back and reread the ending and it does appear that Daisy "blew" through the issue as it were, but it wasn't as highlighted as I would have wanted it to me. That is just me. :-)
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May 18, 2012 Janga rated it it was amazing

Ugly Duckling tales have long been popular among romance readers with a fondness for fairy tale motifs, but Eloisa James offers readers a fresh take on the fairy tale with The Ugly Duchess, Book 4 in her Happily Ever After series. An ugly duckling transforms herself into a swan with still tender scars underneath her glorious feathers and, in a reverse move, a handsome, popular swan transforms himself into a scarred ruffian shorn of his feathers.

I loved this book! See my full review at Heroes and ...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Lisa Rivera rated it it was ok

I'm not sure what I thought about this book but the fact that I skimmed most of it should tell you something.

It wasn't the cheating that bothered me or the lies. I appreciate good plot twists. It was just... none of it was really well done and the reconcilliation happened SO fast. There was barely any tnesion between our heroine and hero and I just found the story rather implausible.

Of course, there's always a certain amount of suspension of disbelief but this was just... ridiculous.

They were o ...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, historical

I loved the first part of this book--it was wonderful how we got to see this young love develop. They were so into each other, like you are at the beginning of a relationship and James captured this perfectly. I was so happy that we were treated to 125+ pages of this--I think maybe I could have read a whole book like that. I don't know, maybe it would get too boring if there is no real conflict in a book, so it probably wouldn't work, but still... Anyway, this book would have gotten 5 stars from ...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Donna Jo Atwood rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: england-fiction, romance, pirates, fairy-tale-knock-off, 2012-fall-challenge

I was not as enchanted with this book as I'd hoped to be. It was slow getting started and I got tired of getting hit over the head with the idea that Thea was considered ugly by everyone--I got it the first time--and the second--and the third--after that it was just an irritant.
Still, I liked the fact that both Thea and James were flawed and both had to work at changing their behavior. And I do wonder about Sir Barry's story. ...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Christy rated it liked it

Shelves: 1-own-it-kindle

3 stars
Spoilers ahead
I really liked the first part of the book, until their separation. However, I don't much like either pirates or fashion so it got pretty boring after that. I wouldn't mind reading about what happens with his pirate buddy though. Will there be a novella perhaps? ...more

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