"The Duke is Mine" By: Eloisa James Review

"The Duke is Mine"

By: Eloisa James

Synopsis from Amazon:

Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can’t he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear.

Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion…Until, in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love.

To win Olivia's hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul…

Unless it’s already too late.

My Thoughts: 

           Wow! Eloisa James does it again. I am so incredibly impressed by "The Duke is Mine," a retelling of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." I have loved the fairy tale books Ms. James has offered us lately, and this one is no exception.
      "The Duke is Mine" tells the story of Olivia, a debutante who has been engaged to a nincompoop since before she was born. Her betrothed can't help the way he is, but nonetheless he's in direct contrast to her sharp wit, intelligence, and straight forwardness. Yet she is loathe to put off the engagement due to familial obligations and not wanting to hurt any one's feelings.
      Enter into the picture, Olivia's perfect hero, Tarquin. I wasn't hip on the name, but 'Quin' is a wonderful counter to Olivia. He's incredibly smart, but doesn't understand people's feelings...while Olivia is sensitive to people's feelings and mood swings. Quin has led a fairly reclusive life at his country estate due to his past and has decided to let his Mother choose his next bride. Olivia and Quin meet when Quin is actually supposed to be assessing Olivia's sister as his future duchess.
      "The Duke is Mine" is an incredibly funny, smart, and well written romance novel. While fairly long, it needs that length to develop the characters, the story, and the emotions. Another favorite of mine, Ms. James usually features an animal character. Lucy, a small terrier and perhaps my favorite character, always comes in when a little comic relief is needed. The romance is wonderful and when they finally declare their love for one another, you will shout, "Finally!" 
      Run out and pick up this new romance by one of my favorite authors. You won't be disappointed in the least. There is even a wonderful short story released a few weeks before this book called "Winning the Wallflower" featuring one of Olivia's friends. Great companion books would be "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" and "A Kiss at Midnight." 


Book Details
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date of Publication: December 27, 2011
Pages: 400