Historical Romance Book Club discussion
Gaol/BOTM
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BOTM 1 - January 2021 - A Duke of Her Own
I usually read a series in order, but I really did not like Desperate Duchesses. Maybe I'll join in as a standalone.
Ive not read this one,so definitely looking forward to it.
I am in for this read. I have had it for at LEAST 5 years in a pile of books in the closet.
This is the push I needed to finally read Eloisa James. I have started the audio already and I'm at 61%, I'm still unsure on if I like it or not.
Topastro wrote: "This is the push I needed to finally read Eloisa James. I have started the audio already and I'm at 61%, I'm still unsure on if I like it or not."Gosh I hope that's not the reason its been on the shelf in my closet for so long. I don't remember starting it.
I actually liked this book best of the whole series. I really didn't like the heroine of the first book, but I thought they improved with each one. If nothing else, the covers were beautiful.
I started reading this and I am currently up to chapter eight and can't say I'm exactly hooked. Villiers is ... rather bland up to this point and I've only met Eleanor who doesn't seem a hoot and a half either. (view spoiler) This might be a little too old school for my taste but the writing is nice.
I finished the books last week and I really enjoyed the narrator but the book was not my favorite. Chapter 1
Both the MCs are coming off very unlikable. I’m hoping I’ll warm up to them but the duke (view spoiler) By chapter 12 Villiers and Eleanor are a little more likable but I’m still not connecting with anyone. I’m not sure what to make of this book, I don’t think this author is for me.
Mod
I was wondering whether anyone else has read the first 5 books - and whether I should read 4 and 5 before embarking on this BOTM (which is book 6)
This is my first book that I am reading in the series. I am enjoying the way the author is setting up the characters. I also understand what Ana is referring to in that none of the characters are very exciting. Susan it may help that Villiers is a more vibrant character in the other books. So far he is not fleshed out yet. But I am only up to chapter 8. Not bored with it. Which can be high praise.
I read this series earlier in 2020, so I don't think I will be reading it again. I enjoyed this book and thought the development of Villiers throughout the series was interesting!
I have finished the book and gave it a full 4 stars. It would have been a five if only it had taken a little less to get on with the story. I have not read the other books so did not have any feelings for Villiers going into this but eventually he becomes interesting. I had a difficult time through the stories about the orphans, I don't know if they were accurate descriptions of how life was for them, I have a feeling it was much worse. Lisette really pissed me off, more than any villain ever in romance. I have no idea if she was supposed to be suffering from a real condition but she was just a self-centered b...h most of the time and I had zero sympathy for her (view spoiler). I can't understand why she wasn't in an institution or why Eleanor considers her a friend. If you think of how much indulgence she got and how the poor orphans lived in the same time it's really upsetting. I have a few other books in this series and I will probably give them a shot.
I picked up this book from the library before the start of the month, but I'm not usually a fan of EJ. I didn't want to start the new year off with a book I won't like, but it seems many are enjoying this one. I'll probably start soon.
I am up to chapter 14 and am enjoying the book. I think it was chapter 12 or 13 where the brief description of Lisette betrothal since birth is described at dinner that I have enjoyed the most. The book is written in the Georgian time.
Was initially not so sure about this book as I did not enjoy the book when the duke returns of the same series. But what a surprise!! Such a delightful read. Thoroughly enjoyed it
I just finished the book and really enjoyed it. It was witty and there was crazy and the good guys win in the end!
Mod
Oh dear - you are correct it is not available on Kindle in Australia. I have just had the same problem. However I did find it at apple books and downloaded a copy for only $2.99 to read on my iphone. Given that I usually end up reading my kindle books on my iphone anyway, this is probably cheaper than it would have been if I had bought it through Amazon.
I have found it in Apple Books on my mobile.This will be my second read, and he is one of my favourite Dukes. I gave it a 5 last time. Though I did read the series in order last time.
Ana wrote: "I have finished the book and gave it a full 4 stars. It would have been a five if only it had taken a little less to get on with the story. I have not read the other books so did not have any feeli..."Lisette was awful. I'm not sure why every one was so patient with her and why Elanor was convince she had a good heart despite her eccentricities.
I'm still unsure of why Villiers thought Lisette was the best choice of mother for his children. (view spoiler) I don't think his explanation of why he thought this cut it. Overall(view spoiler)
Okay I have just started this and it is already driving me crazy...WHO DOES HE CHOOSE?I cannot go on amother page if I don't know with whom does he end up with
Amy wrote: "Okay I have just started this and it is already driving me crazy...WHO DOES HE CHOOSE?I cannot go on amother page if I don't know with whom does he end up with"Its okay, Villiers didn't know who he would choose either. ;)
I have just finished reading this for the second time. Keeping my 5 stars from the first read. I think it was Book 5 . Where Leopold first starts looking for Tobias and his other children . Leopold is in quite a few of the earlier books. By the time I read his story . He was already a favourite Duke.
I’m up to chapter twenty, and I have to say, something about this book is just odd to me. Like, I feel like everyone is acting really strangely and saying the most absurd things. Of course Lisette takes the cake in that department. (view spoiler)I have not had much luck with Eloisa James lately. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past, but I can’t say that to be true for a few years now. I think it may be that I prefer her Regencies to her Georgians, which is a problem since she seems to mostly write Georgians!
I understand your feelings on Lisette. I was trying to tie a diagnosis to her behavior and other peoples reactions to it.
My e-copy from my library just came available, so I'll be starting this one soon! I have felt detached from my beloved HR in the last year or so, so this year I've resolved to read one of the BOTMs every month!
I finished. It got a little better, but still full of issues. I think the overall feeling of the book, that I couldn’t put a name to before, was emotionally detached. (view spoiler)Lisette (view spoiler)
Thoughts on the physical relationship: (view spoiler)
I liked the book and I loved Leopold. however, I felt too many situations were very convenient, to produce Aah effect but she doesn't follow through.
Lisette,ive not understood the author introducing a mentally unstable competition to Eleanor. Almost as though she was convinced Eleanor wouldn't stand a chance against Lisette.
I finally read chapter 1. It didn't draw me in. Might only read a chapter a day. What an unpleasant sister relationship!
I was confused about who is the heroine. After reading a few comments minus the spoilers, I guess this is a true love triangle (which I usually hate); and neither H or h were introduced?
Topastro wrote: "I finished the books last week and I really enjoyed the narrator but the book was not my favorite. Chapter 1
Both the MCs are coming off very unlikable. I’m hoping I’ll warm up to them but the d..."
I came here to say exactly the same thing! I don't care for anyone I've been introduced to in this book after the first few chapters.
Mariana wrote: "I finally read chapter 1. It didn't draw me in. Might only read a chapter a day. What an unpleasant sister relationship!
I was confused about who is the heroine. After reading a few comments mi..."
Eleanor's sister is so awful! She just wouldn't stop.
I read chapter 2 today, and I don't think I'm going to be able to finish. A man with six children by four women who didn't even know where any of them were and didn't realize his soliciter was pocketing their money is not my kind of hero even if he does have money and a title. EJ doesn't have a good track record of redeeming her heroes either.Plus there are too many characters. Including the ones on and offstage, I feel I need to have read and enjoyed the predecessors in the series to have any idea what is going on.
I read book 1 and don't remember anything other than I didn't enjoy it.
Patti wrote: "I finished. It got a little better, but still full of issues. I think the overall feeling of the book, that I couldn’t put a name to before, was emotionally detached. [spoilers removed]Lisette w..."
That is just what I felt!
As a hero of his own book, I didn’t like him! He was better in the previous books.
I just didn’t like this at all. I found it hard work to read - there were too many characters, and I was unsure of who the heroine was, and the hero did not engage my interest at all. In fact it was all a bit unemotional and boring! None of the main characters were particularly attractive and the length of time it took for Villiers to realise who was best suited for his proposition was simply ridiculous. I have never read any Eloisa James before and this was not a good introduction to her work. I am very fond of Lisa Kleypas, Emma Leech and Julia Quinn’s work. Perhaps I was simply unlucky with this one?
Pravana wrote: "Patti wrote: "I finished. It got a little better, but still full of issues. I think the overall feeling of the book, that I couldn’t put a name to before, was emotionally detached. [spoilers remove..."EJ seems to have that problem a lot from what I’ve seen and heard. Side characters who we love in previous books get their own story and become unrecognizable and/or unlikeable.
I'm not 100% sure yet (I think I'm at about 87% surety right now), but I may hate this book. The characters are just so flighty and wishy-washy and selfish and...inconsistent. The plot doesn't make any sense to me.
(view spoiler)
Don't even get me started on Eleanor's mother and sister...Ugh this book! I just can't get excited to read about people who are seemingly awful and doing things for stupid reasons. At this point (29%), Eleanor should just go home and find someone who doesn't have a crap ton of baggage and that she isn't picking only because he's literally the only option once she applies the duke filter to her search engine.
ETA- If you liked this, please do not be offended by my ranting. This is just not doing it for me.
Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I just didn’t like this at all. I found it hard work to read - there were too many characters, and I was unsure of who the heroine was, and the hero did not engage my interest at all. In fact it wa..."Although I have not finished as you seem to, this feels like typical EJ to me. She frequently has lots of characters and plenty of sexual promiscuity before or during the story but little emotional depth. I did moderately enjoy her Fairy Tale series because I love fairy tale retelling, and I think they lend themselves well to simple characters. Other than those, which I rated 2, 3, 4 stars, I don't think I've enjoyed her other work.
I went through the books I read, and I actually rated one Fairy Tale 1 star, but I enjoyed a book outside of that series by her - A Gentleman Never Tells.
I am about halfway through this, and for some reason I cannot put into words, I'm determined to finish it. At this point, I surmise that this was probably rushed to put out as the (5th?) title in a series, and while it should have probably gone through several more rewrites, it was put out anyway. It's just so full of inconsistencies, and the plot is so loose- there's no motivation on the part of really anyone, except Villiers "needs" a wife for his illegitimate children. Eleanor doesn't "need" to marry anyone, much less specifically a duke. She's only clinging to that out of stubbornness, and also (view spoiler) Lisette has said she both (view spoiler) If Villiers finds these two not suited, he can literally go pretty much anywhere else. He's not 'really' stuck choosing these two. I've taken copious notes in my Kindle throughout this read, but the amount of times characters say one thing and then contradict it themselves in a matter of a few pages is staggering. It's just badly done. I think if there had been established a real impetus for any of these characters to marry from this tiny pool, or marry ASAP, and made the women true foils and rivals that stayed consistent, this could have been something. As it is...how am I only half done?!
Mariana wrote: "I went through the books I read, and I actually rated one Fairy Tale 1 star, but I enjoyed a book outside of that series by her - A Gentleman Never Tells."You know what....I just did the same, and I realized I have never liked an Eloisa James book. The highest I've ever rated one is 3 stars, and that was rounded up generously. In fact, another one of the worst-plotted HR's I've ever read was by her...My American Duchess. So this is on me. After this, I'm done with her books. They're just not for me.
Lindsay wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I went through the books I read, and I actually rated one Fairy Tale 1 star, but I enjoyed a book outside of that series by her - A Gentleman Never Tells."You know..."
Yep. I'm with ya.
I thought it was just me about the Eloisa James books. I couldn't stand the heroine of the first duchess book. She was just totally unlikeable. Some of her later books in the series I did enjoy, but they don't have the same immersion factor as Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean. Yet, someone must love her because she's an Avon Superstar.
Mariana wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "I just didn’t like this at all. I found it hard work to read - there were too many characters, and I was unsure of who the heroine was, and the hero did not engage my in..."Mariana, I have to agree with you. This is typical EJ and her books. On this one I rated it a 3 when I read it, however I listened the second time and rated it much higher because I enjoyed the narrator. The one thing I liked was that the hero took responsibility for his illegitimate children.
Series I do like by EJ are her Pleasures, Essex Sisters, Fairytales and Wildes. I can say that there are days when novels are hit or miss with me by EJ, however I do like her as an author along with a few others such as Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn, Kerrigan Byrne, Elizabeth Hoyt and Elizabeth Boyle.
I started reading few days back. At the beginning, I like the spunky, straightforward dialogue but now I’m 20% in and the story and characters lost my interest. From reading your comments I gathered that it is not clear who the heroine is and who is he going to choose. So I'm not sure if I'm going to keep reading.
If anyone has any words of positive encouragement for me to continue this book, I would love to hear it.
Petra wrote: "I started reading few days back. At the beginning, I like the spunky, straightforward dialogue but now I’m 20% in and the story and characters lost my interest. From reading your comments I gather..."
Nope Petra.
I don’t have any words of positive encouragement for you..
It’s because I’m a compulsive book finisher that I forced myself to finish reading the book.
In fact it’s thanks to this book and the series that I realised that I had some serious pet peeves myself!!!!!
I have finished this book. In the beginning, I was not feeling very excited about this book. But I figure it might just be good for me since I am busy right now and can only read few pages a night.
Oh boy but did that change? Last night I started up till 1 am even though I had to wake up at 4 am.
When our MCs start to interact at Lissette's place things got hot 🔥.
I enjoyed the book. I like Eloisa James because she tries to do things differently. I loved the dialogue, all the dialogue, even when they talked about the dresses. I hoped in to this book from Viscount who loved me by Julia Quinn and I could not stand the dialogue in that one. Heroine always repeats the sentence as if she was deaf. This was smart and refreshing to me.
Also kudos to the author for portraying a heroine that is sexually experienced and open about her desires. The cultural shadow of passionate female energy was very well handled as well. I like to see the exploration of sexuality in romance books that go beyond virginal heroine.
Use Villiers could have “woken up” earlier but the drama made the story that much sweeter.
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Joanna Loves Reading, Bluestocking of HR novels
(last edited Jan 21, 2021 08:45PM)
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In the beginning, I was not feeling very excited about this book. But I figure it might just be good for me since I am busy right now and can only read few pages a night..."
She’s obviously very popular! I always have felt there was a dry, dark humor under layer that didn’t quite work for me, but I have definitely read plenty that I liked by EJ, just never found one I loved. I felt similarly about LK, tbh, until I found one that just really clicked for me.
I am glad you enjoyed this one!
Historical Romance Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
A Gentleman Never Tells (other topics)A Gentleman Never Tells (other topics)
A Gentleman Never Tells (other topics)
Desperate Duchesses (other topics)
A Duke of Her Own (other topics)
Happy Reading!
A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James
A DUKE MUST CHOOSE WISELY...
Leopold Dautry, the notorious Duke of Villiers, must wed quickly and nobly—and his choices, alas, are few. The Duke of Montague's daughter, Eleanor, is exquisitely beautiful and fiercely intelligent. Villiers betroths himself to her without further ado.
After all, no other woman really qualifies. Lisette, the outspoken daughter of the Duke of Gilner, cares nothing for clothing or decorum. She's engaged to another man, and doesn't give a fig for status or title. Half the ton believes Lisette mad—and Villiers is inclined to agree.
Torn between logic and passion, between intelligence and imagination, Villiers finds himself drawn to the very edge of impropriety. But it is not until he's in a duel to the death, fighting for the reputation of the woman he loves, that Villiers finally realizes that the greatest risk may not be in the dueling field...
But in the bedroom. And the heart