Lawson’s review of Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses, Book 1) by Eloisa James
Historical romance released by Avon 29 May 07
Though the title is Desperate Duchesses, neither lead in this novel is a Duke or a Duchess, though the desperate duchesses in question do make an appearance. This, the first in a new series by James, is the story of Lady Roberta St. Giles and Damon Reeve, Earl of Gryffyn.
Roberta is the victim of a melodramatic, poet father and his mistress, an actress named Mrs. Grope. Though she is well cared for, she has no marital prospects due to father’s unorthodox behavior, and thus at one of the few balls she attends falls in love with the Duke of Villiers because she knows he’s a cold, unemotional chess master and will never embarrass her in public.
Roberta flees her home for London to stay with her (very distant) cousin Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont and meets Damon, who falls for her, nearly at first sight, even though Roberta is sure she is in love with Villiers. Damon then spends the rest of the book convincing Roberta that she is wrong and she should marry him. In very subtle moves, much like a chess master himself.
The writing style is excellent. James knows her way around a story and how to flesh out the right parts. The characters are also vivid and well drawn, especially Villiers and Roberta. Damon is somewhat a mystery as a character, besides his motives and caring for Roberta, up until the last part of the book.
Desperate Duchesses had too many characters and sub-plots going on they seemed to overshadow the main story. Chess and various chess matches are focused on throughout the novel, especially those between Jemma and Villiers and Jemma and her husband, the Duke of Beaumont.
There is also Roberta’s father and his mistress Mrs. Grope, Harriet, the Duchess of Barrow, one of the other desperate Duchesses, Teddy, Damon’s illegitimate son, Miss Charlotte Tatlock, Bridgette Jemma’s French maid . . . The list can go on. Each of these characters is so richly drawn it takes away from the whole story of Roberta and Damon.
Jemma is a hoot though, and it makes me wonder if she will get a story, or if her and Beaumont’s story will be told throughout the series. The other Duchesses are not given much attention, in fact only Jemma and Harriet show up during the course of the book.
It is explained why the Duchesses are desperate, though perhaps it should not have been the title for this book.
Grade: B-
Summary:
A marquess’s sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a chess player of consummate skill, a notorious rake who shows no interest in marriage — until he lays eyes on Roberta.
Yet the Earl of Gryffyn knows too well that the price required to gain a coronet is often too high. Damon Reeve, the earl, is determined to protect the exquisite Roberta from chasing after the wrong destiny.
Can Damon entice her into a high-stakes game of his own, even if his heart is likely to be lost in the venture?
Read an excerpt.
