BR - Desperate Duchesses Series by Eloisa James

[Lorien]

Oh now I'm really behind, I'll finish it this weekend. :)

[Jean]

I just finished "Desperate Duchesses" by Eloisa James. I didn't finish it the first time I read it and I realized why not. The immorality of the characters and lack of self control when it comes to sexual urges is disgusting. Adultery was seen as the norm and affairs weren't even of the heart but just acts of lust. I could not identify with any of the characters. Roberta in her innocent naivety was the only one but even she succumbs to the seduction of Damon. This book was written in 2007 and description of sexual activities has even gotten worse recently. We all know what goes on so PLEASSSE let off the details repeatedly stated in so many of the books today. This book is not going to be a keeper for me. So sad as I really like Eloisa James' writing.

[Phoebe]

Aww.. lol.

[Lorien]

So I finished last weekend like I said I'd try.
I liked it better than the last.
I thought it was kind of a flimsy comparison between Benjamin's love of a game, chess and Jem's running of the Game. That Harriet just wanted to be chosen over a game. Jem's was just called a game, it was really governing going on.
(view spoiler)[I can see why Jem would move to live with her while she still run's the duchy, but you'd think her nephews family would have booted her out and a chaperone would be running it or something. I'm not 100% sure how succession works all of the time. But it's always seemed to me that with no heir the wife losses everything.
I'll admit I enjoyed the Mr. Cope thing. And while it was a little odd Jem didn't catch on. He was smart, but not really in a people watching way. He seemed more caught up in his own head. I think it was said in the book, men see what they want to. (hide spoiler)]
I felt this was overall better than the last, the heroine made a little more sense to me, her emotions and motivations better explained. Villar's is becoming more rounded as a character. Jem fell a little flat because they saved all his stuff for the end.
Maybe it's the time period she's trying to write, but I'm finding it hard to connect with any of the characters. They seem to morph and change to suite each story arch or even just a chapter.

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "So I finished last weekend like I said I'd try.
I liked it better than the last.
I thought it was kind of a flimsy comparison between Benjamin's love of a game, chess and Jem's running of the Gam..."

You summed it up accurately! If you write a review, please post the link. I would love to read your review.

[Priya]

I liked the second book better than the first and the third book better than the second. I hope the trend continues. I remember reading the fourth one a few years ago and I am sure I liked it.

Any plans for reading the fourth one?

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: "I liked the second book better than the first and the third book better than the second. I hope the trend continues. I remember reading the fourth one a few years ago and I am sure I liked it.

An..."
I'm hoping for the forth to get better too.
Want to plan on starting the next early next month?

[Priya]

Yes. Shall we start in the first week of June?

[Phoebe]

I pretty much hated the first book.

Roberta was my least favorite character. Eeks!
But the Jemma-Villiers interactions were super rich in the first book. Solid.

Does anyone else adore Villiers?

Each and every flirtation and exchange between Villiers and Jemma.
A-M-A-Z-I-NG.

And though I’m a fan of troubled marriages finding passion and love, I can’t deny that I was most happily rooting for Villiers in the first book. And usually I hate reading love triangles. I felt like the attraction was real and solid between Jemma and Villiers, and not an eyewash... like Villiers wasn’t some unnecessary, unwanted, inconvenient, third party character inserted in there.
Jemma and villiers were totally perfect for each other in every way. It’s like they had their own little land where only they could understand each other.

But Elijah. Ohhh.. Elijah. Hahaa. 😍
God I love me some Elijah. LOL
(Can I just say the title “This Duchess of Mine” couldn’t describe the beautiful Jemma-Elijah relationship any better. It’s by far my favorite HR title. EVER.)

I’ve never so equally wanted both men for one woman in any other love triangle. Many authors always make it SOOO easy for us to prefer the hero, and not the other love interest at all. A lot of authors don’t take chances for fear of their reader not liking the hero/heroine. They make it too easy for us.

But not Eloisa.. And I honestly and completely felt Jemma’s indecision myself, as the reader. In fact, I felt MORE indecision than her.

And at the same time, I had no hard feelings when the Elijah and Jemma’s relationship started strengthening faster than jemma-Villiers, no matter how much I still wanted her to experience love with Villiers instead. I still loved all three unique characters as much as the each other.

(In fact, I actually wanted to see Jemma-Villiers consummate their relationship and have an affair before she found her way back to Elijah. I know, adultery is the biggest sin in HR land. Sue me. But I actually like reading adultery in my HR’s because it was such a real thing back then. It makes the historical aspect more real for me. Aristocrats were far from perfect back then.)

Isn’t it crazy that Eloisa at one point had me rooting for the guy I KNEW wasn’t going to get an HEA with Jemma? Even though I had loved Elijah from the start?(starchy hero’s are my weakness)
I always grasp for cookie cutter simplicity, but that wasn’t the case here at all.
................
I was actually typing up some of my favorite parts of the 1st and 2nd books, but realized I don’t know how to hide spoilers yet. Lol

[Lorien]

"Priya wrote: "Shall we start in the first week of June? "

Yes sounds like a plan

[Lorien]

Pheobe wrote: "I was actually typing up some of my favorite parts of the 1st and 2nd books, but realized I don’t know how to hide spoilers yet. Lol
..."
Just click that tiny link over the text box that says "some html is okay" It'll show you what to put into the tags.

I don't know if I'd say adultery is the biggest sin, or is never in romances. Classically it's been done by the hero not the heroine. While the heroine stays a virgin and/or faithful. Which is pretty easy to understand why a lot of people wouldn't like it. And while it hasn't happened in the books themselves, Jemma was having affairs in Paris. So I don't think it'd be out of character for her to do it again, but she's come home for the purpose of having an heir with her husband. Having an affair at that point would be questionable on her part.

[Priya]

Jemma had those affairs when she thought her husband didn't bother to come after her and I think she wanted him to actually notice her. Even if it because of the scandals she caused. Now that she is back and promised Elijah to make a heir, it would be against her character to have an affair.

[Phoebe]

Yeah, I guess I’m just recently sick of perfect little romances where everything is so predictable, and everyone stays according to storyline, not offending or even confusing any readers with their actions.
Has anyone ever read an enjoyable novel where you couldn’t predict or expect what the characters were going to do? Why the hell they did certain things? Where you had to work hard to understand them? Why don’t we have more of these in HR?
Maybe it makes me an odd, unrelatable kind reader. But honestly I must have read at least 80+ predictable HRs, so can anyone blame me? LOL (it’s really not many novels at all,, but still feels like a lot of novels for me)
I really do love the typical HR formulas, but sometimes I want to see something different and unpredictable and confusing and frustrating! (And maybe even a bit inconsistent)

Side note: That’s why the desperate duchesses series kind of frustrated me a little too. It’s a bit different for the sake of being different, which I appreciated, but I wanted more! I wanted it not to conform, and to just go all the way! (Has anyone else read dangerous liaisons? Or watched the movie)?)

ANYWAYS, the reason why I haven’t been discussing specific scenes from the DD series is because my novels are back home, and I’ve been visiting India the last 2 months.

Did anyone else enjoy the chess matches?

Ps. And how the hell do you add a spoiler in here?? Lol

[Lorien]

Ps. And how the hell do you add a spoiler in here?? Lol



<spoiler>Type these tags and put your spoiler in here</spoiler>

[Lorien]

I was thinking of starting this weekend does that work for everyone? Read at your own pace.
I think this is the one book in the series I was most curious about.

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "I was thinking of starting this weekend does that work for everyone? Read at your own pace.
I think this is the one book in the series I was most curious about."

Ready for the weekend.

[Lorien]

Got a few chapters in over coffee this morning.
Wow, (view spoiler)[ They didn't beet about the bush with the him being a virgin. (hide spoiler)] I thought they'd drag that out a bit more.

So far I like the hero, quite a bit. And I already kind of liked Isidore a bit. So, so far this book seems more promising that the others.

[Lorien]

I'm close to about 50% done and the side plots are really throwing this off for me. I'm into the main romance/story.
I don't really want to hear about what Jemmna and her husband are up too. Or Villars. So every time she puts in a bit about the others, it just slows the whole thing down. I'm not a skimmer, but I am sooo tempted to just skip those chapters.

[Priya]

I am at Ch.27.
I liked both the MCs and their frank conversations about annulment and finding their respective spouses. It is amusing too:)

I agree with Lorien about the side plots.
While I like that finally Elijah and Jemma are getting together, I would have appreciated their office- kiss scene better in their book and not here. Their romance is pulling me away from the main story.

[Phoebe]

I TOTALLY agree! That’s why I had just read This Duchess of Mine for the sake of reading it, but for me, Elijah and Jemma’s romance reached climax and resolution in When the Duke Returns. For me, their story actually happens from book one through book four.

They’re own novel just wasn’t that powerful for me, but I still enjoyed the last chess match.

Honestly, I purchased all the novels JUST for the Elijah/Jemma/Villiers story, and skimmed the main romances. They were a total bore for me, except for maybe some parts of An Affair Before Christmas and Duchess By Night. but I was more than happy and satisfied to spend my money on E/J/V, Gomes chapters, even if that means I spent four novels worth on what was really half a novel LOL.

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: "Their romance is pulling me away from the main story. "
Which is a bummer, because I'm enjoying these two more better than the previous couples. I feel like she's doing a much better job of explaining each of the main couples thoughts and motivations. Like I'm getting to know them better.
If I recall we spent nearly no time in the hero's head in book 1.

I'm also enjoying the old house with it's issues and the crazy mother-in-law. I keep meaning to look up 1700 water closets so I can better understand that part :P

[Priya]

EJ did a lot of research for this book. Water closets, indoor plumbing, architecture, furniture etc...

@Lorien, if you are interested, just have a look at EJ's website. She has some book extras called 'Inside take'. Interesting trivia about the books.

[Lorien]

Okay finished, I think I'll give my brain a night before I write any reviews.

[Phoebe]

Can’t wait to hear what you guys thought about Jemma and Elijah in this novel!
I definitely consider When the Duke Returns their sweet little HEA “conclusion” rather than their own novel which just drags things.

[Dotti]

I really loved the whole series. I personally enjoy when more than one romance is going on in a novel. When that happens reading the series is like watching a soap opera. :)

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "Okay finished, I think I'll give my brain a night before I write any reviews."

I too finished reading and I liked it more than the last time.

[Priya]

Any plans for the fifth book?

I am thinking first week of July.

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: "Any plans for the fifth book?

I am thinking first week of July."
Sorry just getting back from a road trip with little cell service.
I need to finish up two books from June I didn't get to finish, so are you okay starting around the 7th?

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "Sorry just getting back from a road trip with little cell service.
I need to finish up two books from June I didn't..."

I hope you had a nice trip.

I am fine with 7th or later.

[Lorien]

Great! I wanted to start the groups BOTM next.
I'm honestly a little excited to get Jemma's story out of the way.

[Lorien]

This Duchess of Mine

No man can resist Jemma's sensuous allure . . . Except her own husband!

Wedding bells celebrating the arranged marriage between the lovely Duchess of Beaumont and her staid, imperturbable duke had scarcely fallen silent when a shocking discovery sent Jemma running from the ducal mansion. For the next nine years she cavorted abroad, creating one delicious scandal after another (if one is to believe the rumors).

Elijah, Duke of Beaumont, did believe those rumors.

But the handsome duke needs an heir, so he summons his seductive wife home. Jemma laughs at Elijah's cool eyes and icy heart—but to her secret shock, she doesn't share his feelings. In fact, she wants the impossible: her husband's heart at her feet.

But what manner of seduction will make a man fall desperately in love . . . with his own wife?

[Lorien]

You know, we can just keep at this series at one a month and finish on time.

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "You know we can just keep at this series at a month a finish on time."

Yes! 5 books in 6 months.

[Priya]

I started reading 'This Duchess of Mine' today.

[Lorien]

I just finished my boddice ripper today so I'll be able to start on this tomorrow (or tonight) with only like......... 6 other books going!

[Lorien]

So I mad it to chapter 5 last night, very exciting beginning. And then it just came to an sudden stop. And I really don't understand the plan Jemma and her friend cam up with to educe her husband. I think shes going to get another women to flirt with him??? So she can fight for him?

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "So I mad it to chapter 5 last night, very exciting beginning. And then it just came to an sudden stop. And I really don't understand the plan Jemma and her friend cam up with to educe her husband. ..."

Stupid, right? He didn't have a mistress for years and he already chose her. Why does she even need to seduce him? I didn't like that she is using the marquise for her own gain.

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: " I didn't like that she is using the marquise for her own gain."

Finished chapter 9, Now they are arguing because (view spoiler)[she doesn't want him to work himself to death and spend some time with her and he wants his life to mean something so he has ignore her and work himself to death. (hide spoiler)] Basically neither of them are listening to the other.

[Priya]

Usually, there would be misunderstandings due to lack of conversation. Here, they both aren't listening to each other. What is the point of their conversations?

So far, I feel like I am reading this because it is a part of this series and I want to put Elijah and Jemma's romance away. I hope the story gets interesting.

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: "Usually, there would be misunderstandings due to lack of conversation. Here, they both aren't listening to each other. What is the point of their conversations?

So far, I feel like I am reading t..."

Ditto. I just keep thinking "You two just need to go bang it out." But then the book would be like 100 pages top.

I'm also starting to look forward to Villiars story because almost everyone else will be done and we can (hopefully) just focus on his story. As a character he's has the most growth and development out of just about anyone.

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: " .I just keep thinking "You two just need to go bang it out." But then the book would be like 100 pages top. ."

I couldn't stop laughing after reading this comment. I agree with you. They should have done it and the book would be just 10 chapters long!

[Priya]

I finished reading.
I didn't like this book as much as the last one. There are a couple of remarkable scenes. My favourite is in Ch.23-(view spoiler)[The day after their first sex ( after getting back together), when she realised that she could have had more time with Elijah, if he had told her about his heart earlier. She cried and cried in his lap. That was quite emotional and beautifully written. I felt sorry for them both. And those scenes in the Roman baths. Romantic. (hide spoiler)]

Villiers(view spoiler)[ rounding up his bastards. I know she is setting the scene for Villiers' story, but I don't want to be distracted by Villiers' search while the Beaumonts' search for the doctor is more interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Now, I am eager to read Villiers' book. I want to see who brings that peacock to his knees.

[Lorien]

Priya wrote: "Lorien wrote: " .I just keep thinking "You two just need to go bang it out." But then the book would be like 100 pages top. ."

I couldn't stop laughing after reading this comment. I agree with you..."
I'm only half way done. Hope to finish by this weekend.

[Lorien]

SO I'm almost done and so far I agree with you, this one is not as good as the last 2. The MC just keep going in circles, the thing with Villiers is kind of a non-issue. Like it's a pretty one sided interest. Jemma just really wants her husband. Elijah won't do anything for his own health, and doesn't believe her that she cares.
I'm enjoying the Villiers side story more than the main plot. The side stories are consistently distracting from the main story in this series.
I'll finish in the next couple of days. But I could have skipped this one I think and not really missed much.

[Priya]

Lorien wrote: "SO I'm almost done and so far I agree with you, this one is not as good as the last 2. The MC just keep going in circles, the thing with Villiers is kind of a non-issue. Like it's a pretty one side..."

That is true. We could have skipped this one without missing anything. Except how Villers found his eldest bastard.

[Phoebe]

this is just a super quick comment, but i loved the scene where (view spoiler)[elijah shatters Jemma's chess board, starting with each chess piece, one by one. (hide spoiler)]
all four novels he the exhibited utmost restraint of emotion, and by that scene he just couldn't handle his jealously anymore. so that entire fight scene between them is definitely an iconic moment for me.

It happened in the 5th novel.

[Lorien]

I'm thinking of starting the next book on the first weekend of August. Does that work for everyone else?

[Leigh-Ayn]

Love this series!

[Phoebe]

Dotti wrote: "I really loved the whole series. I personally enjoy when more than one romance is going on in a novel. When that happens reading the series is like watching a soap opera. :)"

Leigh-Ayn wrote: "Love this series!"

Finally! Someone else in the same boat!! I ADORE this series. It's super fun and light to read, and I find the mockery of the 18th C hilarious!! The romances themselves were lukewarm, but the vibe of the entire series was priceless for me.

[It's similar to how I didn't enjoy four of the Bedwyn romances at all (Rannulf, Freyja, Alleyne, and Morgan), but I happily read them for the vibes they created.]

Plus, the troubled marriage trope and the Georgian era are my two ABSOLUTE weaknesses, so I totally feel like this series was made for me!

There are without question, much, much better HRs written out there. Of course. Novels which I think are most definitely MUCH better technically speaking. But this is one series which I can't stop thinking about constantly since I've read it. It's not the best set of novels I've read, but they're personally the most memorable ones for me, because they reach out to my 18th C weakness so well.

(It's sad how often I re-watch the same Georgian period dramas, haha. It's an obsession!)

This series is kind of like Sex and the City meets Dangerous Liasons! Isn't it?

[Phoebe]

@Lorien and Priya

I hope you guys have better luck with the last two books than I did. The book 5 romance was frustratng for me because Jemma and Elijah just went around in circles until they finally just sleep together (like the should have in the beginning! I swear somebody should have just locked them up in a room together!!)

In my head, I just considered them having achieved their HEA in the end of book four.

Sometimes when authors try to create a rich background for couples by writing about them in earlier novels, they run out of material by the time the get to their own novels.

I also feel like this happened with two of LK's Hathaway novels. (Seduce Me at Sunrise and Married By Morning)

IMHO, it would have been better if after book 4, their romance had continued as a side-romance in villiers book, without having their own book devoted to them. But that's just me.

And as for the last book, i kind of felt like that Georgian vibe was waning by then, with Jemma(a quintessential 18th century heroine) not mentioned, and Villiers reforming, and becoming less foppish.. so aside from my weaknesses for the Georgian era, It's an average romance for me. But you guys might like it better. The heroine is refreshing.