Four
Nights with the Duke
Desperate Duchesses # 8
Nights with the Duke
Desperate Duchesses # 8
By: Eloisa James
Releasing March 31st, 2015
Avon
Blurb
As
a young girl, Emilia Gwendolyn Carrington told the annoying future Duke of
Pindar that she would marry any man in the world before him-so years later she
is horrified to realize that she has nowhere else to turn.
a young girl, Emilia Gwendolyn Carrington told the annoying future Duke of
Pindar that she would marry any man in the world before him-so years later she
is horrified to realize that she has nowhere else to turn.
Evander
Septimus Brody has his own reasons for agreeing to Mia’s audacious proposal,
but there’s one thing he won’t give his inconvenient wife: himself.
Septimus Brody has his own reasons for agreeing to Mia’s audacious proposal,
but there’s one thing he won’t give his inconvenient wife: himself.
Instead,
he offers Mia a devil’s bargain… he will spend four nights a year with her.
Four nights, and nothing more. And those only when she begs for them.
he offers Mia a devil’s bargain… he will spend four nights a year with her.
Four nights, and nothing more. And those only when she begs for them.
Which
Mia will never do.
Mia will never do.
Now
Vander faces the most crucial challenge of his life: he must seduce his own
wife in order to win her heart-and no matter what it takes, this is the one
battle he can’t afford to lose.
Vander faces the most crucial challenge of his life: he must seduce his own
wife in order to win her heart-and no matter what it takes, this is the one
battle he can’t afford to lose.
My Review
4 Stars!
I had a lot of fun reading this book! I have had Eloisa James on my radar for quite
a while but somehow never have read one of her books. I did read a novella length piece by this
author several years ago and really liked the writing style. I think I even bought a couple of her books
that are patiently waiting for me to get to the chance to read them. I wish I could tell you why I waited so long
to finally read a full length novel from this prolific author but I honestly
don’t have any kind of valid reasoning. I
can tell you that I sometimes will go long periods of time without reading any
historical romances. I like the genre
but usually only pick one up when I need a break for another kind of book.
a while but somehow never have read one of her books. I did read a novella length piece by this
author several years ago and really liked the writing style. I think I even bought a couple of her books
that are patiently waiting for me to get to the chance to read them. I wish I could tell you why I waited so long
to finally read a full length novel from this prolific author but I honestly
don’t have any kind of valid reasoning. I
can tell you that I sometimes will go long periods of time without reading any
historical romances. I like the genre
but usually only pick one up when I need a break for another kind of book.
This story opens when Mia and Vander are
15 years old. The pair have a rather
unusual connection – Vander’s mother had a long term affair with Mia’s
father. Vander has in his possession a
love poem written by Mia about him. They
don’t see each other again for many years until Mia shows up at Vander’s home
to propose marriage. She makes sure that
her offer is one that Vander cannot refuse and the pair are quickly
married. They each bring conditions to the
marriage. Vander will spend four nights
per year with Mia if she begs for those nights.
He thinks that she is still infatuated with him after all those years
and does not realize that Mia has no intention to ever beg for a single night.
15 years old. The pair have a rather
unusual connection – Vander’s mother had a long term affair with Mia’s
father. Vander has in his possession a
love poem written by Mia about him. They
don’t see each other again for many years until Mia shows up at Vander’s home
to propose marriage. She makes sure that
her offer is one that Vander cannot refuse and the pair are quickly
married. They each bring conditions to the
marriage. Vander will spend four nights
per year with Mia if she begs for those nights.
He thinks that she is still infatuated with him after all those years
and does not realize that Mia has no intention to ever beg for a single night.
I was a little worried when I started this
book that I might be lost since it is listed as the eight book in the series
but it reads just fine as a stand-alone novel.
I liked the characters a lot in this book. Mia had a lot of love to give and was willing
to sacrifice herself in order to protect those she loves. She wasn’t the kind of character that waited
for other people to come and save her or complain about a situation. She took care of herself and worked to change
situations that she didn’t like. She
only came to Vander for marriage when she saw no other choice. Vander is equally likeable. He is determined to make the most of his
situation. He is really a good man who
knows that sometimes the best way to change a situation is to teach others to
take control of their own lives. I
absolutely loved the secondary characters in this book, especially Vander’s
uncle and Charlie.
book that I might be lost since it is listed as the eight book in the series
but it reads just fine as a stand-alone novel.
I liked the characters a lot in this book. Mia had a lot of love to give and was willing
to sacrifice herself in order to protect those she loves. She wasn’t the kind of character that waited
for other people to come and save her or complain about a situation. She took care of herself and worked to change
situations that she didn’t like. She
only came to Vander for marriage when she saw no other choice. Vander is equally likeable. He is determined to make the most of his
situation. He is really a good man who
knows that sometimes the best way to change a situation is to teach others to
take control of their own lives. I
absolutely loved the secondary characters in this book, especially Vander’s
uncle and Charlie.
I liked Mia and Vander as a couple even
thought I initially wanted to smack them both for their thoughts and
behaviors. They eventually came around
and I really liked the chemistry between them.
Since this is a romance novel, I knew going in that they would most
likely fall for each other but I still enjoyed how everything played out. There were a few other things going on in the
story that kept me very interested. The
pacing was perfect and I just loved the dialog. I will admit that I was not a fan of the
pieces of Mia’s book that started out most of the chapters. I didn’t feel like the inclusion of the notes
and drafts of Mia’s book added much of anything to the story except to maybe
show that she had the means to support herself financially if the need
arose. Other readers may enjoy those
parts but I would have preferred for the novel to stay focused on the story.
thought I initially wanted to smack them both for their thoughts and
behaviors. They eventually came around
and I really liked the chemistry between them.
Since this is a romance novel, I knew going in that they would most
likely fall for each other but I still enjoyed how everything played out. There were a few other things going on in the
story that kept me very interested. The
pacing was perfect and I just loved the dialog. I will admit that I was not a fan of the
pieces of Mia’s book that started out most of the chapters. I didn’t feel like the inclusion of the notes
and drafts of Mia’s book added much of anything to the story except to maybe
show that she had the means to support herself financially if the need
arose. Other readers may enjoy those
parts but I would have preferred for the novel to stay focused on the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who
enjoys historical romance. This was a wonderfully
written novel that I think will appeal to a large audience. I definitely plan to read more from Eloisa
James very soon.
enjoys historical romance. This was a wonderfully
written novel that I think will appeal to a large audience. I definitely plan to read more from Eloisa
James very soon.
I received a copy of this book from Avon via Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an
honest review.
honest review.
Author Info
A New York Times
bestselling author, Eloisa James is a professor of English literature who lives
with her family in New York, but who can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy.
(Her husband is an honest to goodness Italian knight!) Eloisa’s website offers
short stories, extra chapters, and even a guide to shopping in Florence. Visit
her at www.eloisajames.com.
bestselling author, Eloisa James is a professor of English literature who lives
with her family in New York, but who can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy.
(Her husband is an honest to goodness Italian knight!) Eloisa’s website offers
short stories, extra chapters, and even a guide to shopping in Florence. Visit
her at www.eloisajames.com.
Rafflecopter
Giveaway (Print Bundle of the entire backlist of the Desperate Duchesses
series, books 1 – 7, Including, Book 1: Desperate
Duchesses; Book 2: An Affair
Before Christmas; Book 3: Duchess By Night;
Book 4: When the Duke Returns; Book 5: This Duchess
of Mine; Book 6: A Duke of Her Own; Book 7: Three Weeks
With Lady X)
Giveaway (Print Bundle of the entire backlist of the Desperate Duchesses
series, books 1 – 7, Including, Book 1: Desperate
Duchesses; Book 2: An Affair
Before Christmas; Book 3: Duchess By Night;
Book 4: When the Duke Returns; Book 5: This Duchess
of Mine; Book 6: A Duke of Her Own; Book 7: Three Weeks
With Lady X)
James is one of those authors I really need to read more of. I've only read a few of her books but I've really enjoyed the ones I read. I like the premise for this even though I can see where their behavior would get annoying at times. Great review!
Thanks, Katherine! I need to read more from this author. This book was well done so I look forward to others. I feel the need to smack characters quite often in romance novels so that was really nothing new for me.
Thank you for hosting FOUR NIGHTS!
Thank you for letting me be a part of the tour!
Avon Books got great histroms, that's for sure. Speaking of which, in due for another one soon.
They do publish a lot of wonderful historical romances. I just love reading this genre every once in a while.