Lawson’s review of This Duchess of Mine (Desperate Duchesses, Book 5) by Eloisa James
Historical romance released by Avon 26 May 09

James’ Desperate Duchesses series and the first book start with meeting Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont. From the first book through the fourth (has there really been four books in this series? . . .it seems like fewer than that, ah the sign of a good series . . .) Jemma and her Duke, Elijah, have danced around each other since her return from Paris at Elijah’s summons. Jemma has helped her friends as best she can find their happiness in the other books, and now it’s her turn. I know I have been waiting for this book as I really like a good reunion of husband and wife story.

But let’s start with what we know so far from previous books. Jemma fled England to France after a month of marriage because she found Elijah in his chambers at the Inns of Court with his mistress. She’s come back to England because Elijah wants to have an heir. The year before Elijah has collapsed in Parliament and is suffering from a heart ailment he believes he got from his father and his friend, the Duke of Villiers knows of his condition. Jemma on her own (with some subtle manipulation by Elijah) has come to the realization that she and her husband should be in love and it’s time for the heir begetting to start.

The story starts off right where When the Duke Returns ends, on the party on the King’s yacht. Elijah is coming to rescue Jemma, as he is late for the party and sees the riots starting in the streets of London. After whisking Jemma to safety, the return home to hopefully go to bed. But when Jemma, after getting ready, comes to find Elijah seemingly unconscious and waking him up, she’s learned the truth about his heart. Elijah asked her back because he knows his heart is going to give out and he needs to continue his line.

Jemma then instead of giving in, wants to seduce her husband. She wants him to have fun, as he’s too straight-laced and good and should have some fun in his life. She wants to also find any medical answer and hopefully a cure for his heart. Even though they’d spent nine years apart, she’d always thought of him and wanted him to come get her and admit his mistake with his mistress.

What ensues is a small plot by Jemma, Elijah seeing through it and by extension teaching her a small lesson, some reconciling and some great steamy chemistry, and a hope for their future where Elijah doesn’t die and early death due to his heart. Jemma and Elijah are both intelligent characters and talk to each other. In the other books in the series the evolution of the relationship is shown from when Jemma first comes back through her forcing her pride behind her to go after what she wants, which is her husband.

Probably one of the best parts of this book is the fact that the reader has read about Jemma and Elijah for four books before, so the characters are well known. I’m sure this book would stand on it’s own well, but having read the whole series already makes this book better. There’s a history there the reader knows and doesn’t have to be told and so there’s more time spent in the present.

Jemma has been a character that is so likable. She’s smart, fashionable, and likes to talk to anyone. Most of what she does has been to get attention from Elijah and even though she hurt herself by not swallowing her pride sooner, she also became a strong woman who knew that she had to make her husband ask her back. Over the course of the series Jemma has changed some, doing less of the things she did in Paris. She still plays chess a lot, but as she convinces Elijah to play with her more, she bring him out from behind his own staid facade.

Elijah is one of the most unique heroes I think I’ve read. He’s trying to make his mark on the government and those around him because of the legacy of his father. Though he’s staid, he’s not stodgy and he does put many things before his own well-being, which is why he ended up collapsing in the House of Lords. When Jemma does find out about his heart instead of running scared, she is very understanding and has a normal reaction to the news and his attitude about it (she cries, and what woman wouldn’t?). Jemma’s exuberance and spontaneity compliment Elijah’s practicality and fights for political change.

I’ve got to say too the scene that makes the book a winner is the moment when they come together in bed for the first time in many years. It’s real and it’s sexy and it showed how these two people have had to overcome so much to get to the point where they can truly be themselves. Sweet, touching moments like these keep me coming back to James’ romances and she always makes them ring true for each character.

Included in the story is more about Villiers and his decision to change his life from how he was in the first book. The next book is finally Villiers story and it will come out in August and I must say that I can’t wait. I’ve enjoyed seeing Jemma, Elijah and Villiers grow and change over the course of the series. I’m also glad that the characters don’t waiver from what we’ve seen before and the changes they’ve made are genuine and part of the story in the best way possible.

Grade: A

Summary:
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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).
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Elijah, Duke of Beaumont, did believe those rumors.
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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.
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But what manner of seduction will make a man fall desperately in love…with his own wife?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series: