The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales)

It is a common enough theme in romance novels where the lucky couple get together briefly, have some fun, become tragically parted, and then regroup a few years later, older and wiser. I think the best of these books have a quick introduction line that says something like "Ten years later . . ."

Ms. James' book instead goes over the seven years that this couple is apart laboriously. The ugly duchess starts several successful businesses, while her erstwhile husband is playing pirate with another lord-cum-brigand who really doesn't get fleshed out enough to be anything more than "the confiding friend" prop. It was weird.

The almost ex-husband pirate of course shows back up, and a quick wrap-up to get the happy couple back together ensues. It didn't feel very realistic or satisfying. While I would give the first part of the book an enthusiastic thumbs up, the way the story wanders off in the middle just left me cold overall. It's a shame - it had such promise!

I think this was my first Eloisa James novel, I've been on such a reading kick I cannot be 100% sure of. What I am sure of is that I'm sorry I paid for this book. Some spoiler ahead, nothing too drastic though.

James and Theo have grown up together since she was James' father's ward. However, due to the father's gambling he forces James to propose to cover up the fact he spent some of Theo's dowry. James is upset but then realizes he loves her anyway and is willing to do it. Then, Theo finds out, james leaves and SEVEN YEARS LATER comes back.

Ok, it's an interesting plot. But the execution was way off. She talks more about fabric choices and ceramics than she does about their feelings for one another. It is all way too fast. One minute James doesn't want to marry her and the next he is like "omg I love her and have since I was like 11". And then Theo is like "omg, I love him and always have, forget the other guy I was mad about for the first part of the book". So, maybe she could have fudged that part since sometimes it just hits you that you love someone. But it gets ruined after she finds out why he initially proposed. He leaves.

But then, 7 years later he comes back and being a "privateer". In all of like...2 days (if that) she stops being frigid and realizes that sex isn't horrible and dirty and she should have lots and lots of it with her prodigal husband returned.

It's just really unrealistic because there is no true character development and while a lot of time passes, it happens without the two main characters together. I mean, I think we can all agree the way we felt at 19 is different than the way we felt at 26 so, there should have been more time for the characters to get to know each other again. Also, he leaves her for 7 years (though she isn't innocent in that decision) and she's mad at him for one day before they get their happily ever after? I just don't buy it.

Most of the book included pages and pages of what they did during those seven years, it was so tedious.

Anyways, I love historical romances. I did not love or like this one. I was very disappointed.

Theo is not beautiful on the outside, but she has a fortune, and has been James Ryburn's best friend all his life. James's father is Theo's guardian, and when he embezzles her fortune, he forces James to marry her to protect the family. James hates deceiving his Daisy, but gives in. Society is shocked at the marriage, but they are happy...until she finds out he married her for her money...she kicks him out, and spends the next 7 years re-making herself and finding a new life...James runs off to sea and becomes a Pirate, and, also moves on, feeling his marriage and life as he knows it are over.. An injury brings him home, just in time, and they work to overcome the past and find a future, together... I loved Daisy and James, and felt that this was a solid novel in Eloisa James's Fairy Tale series. A fun read!

I would have liked this book a lot more if he hadn't cheated. Even if she did say the marriage was over, I know that this is a romance novel and that they're going to get back together. He'd had sex with the h and professed his love, and even if she kicked him out, I still don't want him to be sleeping with other women. The heroine managed to control herself, so why are heroes incapable of doing the same? (Actually, if the heroine had had an affair or two, I think I would have liked this book better.)

I actually quite liked the hero in the beginning, but not so much after he became a pirate.

Also, he "only" slept with three women in his seven years as a pirate. Now, while this may not seem like all that many, especially compared to your average rake, if you take away the two or three years when he was Earl and the year and a half that he was recovering, that leaves three years, most of which was spent at sea. Makes it seem like quite a bit more. ಠ_ಠ

Anyway, I am usually a fan of Eloisa James, and the book was amusing at times, but I just couldn't get over the cheating, and ended up not liking it all that much, mostly for that one reason.

Yeah, I didn't have the problems others did with this one. Who cares if the heroine is ugly? Most of us are ugly. So what? But it was my first Eloisa James and I was basically really surprised how well it was written and how these were kind of real people instead of the idiots usually peopled in these things by the milksop writing-class types who are the only ones to attempt this kind of genre fiction. So I was pleased. But then the hero went away and became a PIRATE! Wha? The whole thing began to dissolve like a sugar-cube Vatican replica in a rainstorm. It was so silly I couldn't take it seriously. But ironically, I wanted to, because this woman is a real writer, and I loved that. I chalked it up to: I kind of liked the first half a lot but not the rest, and instantly looked for another book by this author. I was NOT disappointed with that one.

This was not my favorite of Eloisa's books but I did enjoy reading it. I found parts of the book to be realistic - the growing up together then suddenly seeing the other person in a different, romantic light - but other parts just didn't sit well. The change in attitude when Theo decides to remake herself over - it just didn't seem to match up with the character that was described before. And the ending to me fell flat - I was actually talking to the book and asking Theo what she was doing by allowing him back!

All in all, I actually did enjoy the book. I am a big fan of Eloisa's and I enjoy her writing immensely. Even with all the parts of the book that didn't work for me, I still read the entire book in less than 1 day because I could not put it down. I am not sure if I was looking for the strong characters I am used to with her books or if it was just because I had nothing else to do at work other than read and that was the only thing I had with me. All in all, I enjoyed reading The Ugly Duchess but I think I was looking for a bit more with Eloisa's name on the cover.

Love is a fickle thing, and if you want to marry for it then time is usually needed. In Theodora Saxby's case, no time is given since her best friend kissed her at a ball and they were discovered. James Ryburn, Early of Islay truly loves Theo, or Daisy as he calls her, with or without her dowry. But paradise is fleeting when Theo discovers James father's embezzlement of her funds. Feeling betrayed she banishes James and from there the long road to reconciliation begins.

I'm a super fan of Eloisa's fairy tale re-telling line. I love her ideas and the way she ties in the original fairy tale to her stories. Her characterization is phenomenal and she has a way of dragging my emotional reactions to the surface. Dialogue is another area that Eloisa excels in and my favorite moment of this book was where James proclaimed his initial desire to have Theo for himself

"I love Daisy. I am going to marry Daisy."
Theo's mouth fell open. James was glaring at her mother, his voice grating a little. "You want to marry her to another man, but she's mind, she's always been mine."

Theo drew in a breath, and he swung to her. "Do you remember when I had an eye inflammation when I was twelve and you were ten? And you read to me all that summer in a darkened room because my eyes were weak?"

She nodded, looking up at him in a daze, aware of their audience, and yet trying to ignore them.

"I didn't know it, but you were mine."

Those lines, the possessiveness raised the hairs on my arms. I expected so much conflict and strength from James that wouldn't be denied; essentially I wanted an alpha hero.

So why the mid-range rating? I felt cheated. There is a ton of suffering in this story. Challenges that both hero and heroine are put through to help them grow beyond the problems they faced in younger years and through the first couple of years of their separation. I felt cheated because only the last quarter of their book involved the reconciliation, and James is not the alpha male I thought he was.

Now character, plot, and storyline they all fit together and I was able to ride the waves of both Theo's and James' journey's feeling their loneliness and suffering. Theo is definitely the ugly duckling turned swan. In her swan state she's not a nice person and very controlling. She's so rigid that everything must be completed in a perfect way or else she'll freak out. When James arrives `back from the dead' he has to break down this rigid wall. Unfortunately, the wall isn't much of a challenge.

James is a different man too, no longer the angelic beauty he's bald, tanned, and stocky. Life on the ship changed him drastically, but he's still in love with Theo. I found the parts containing James' journey to be a bit upsetting. He didn't really embody the hero aspects I would normally fall for. Did I want him and Theo to figure things out? Yes, but he took some actions during his seven year disappearance that made me doubt his love and devotion.

Theo and James coming back together again after he's been a pirate for 7 years, and she's iced over with grief, betrayal, and indignation. This should have consumed more the story. I couldn't believe they could resolve all their issues in just a few short chapters. It seemed unreal or more of fairy tale. In Eloise's stories thus far, even with the fairy tale element, the gradual growth of romance is always present; not sudden.

Overall, I loved the tension, the challenges the characters faced. I loved Eloisa's way of creating multi-faceted people from a fairy tale. I enjoyed the journey, but felt it could've been pieced together a bit better; less time spent divulging what happened when they were apart and more time spent on breaking down their troubles and solving them.

Reviewed by Landra

Heat Level: 4(Hot)

This review was originally posted on The Season site (theseasonforromance dot com)

Eloisa James is hit and miss for me. When she's on, I adore her. For the first third of The Ugly Duchess I thought this would be one of my favorite EJ books ever. By the middle, I still felt it was very good. The end was a complete mess but yet a vast improvement on the end of other recent EJ books. The Ugly Duchess is a forced marriage of deception tale. Theo is the sort of gawky and insecure young heroine romance loves. Theo's bank account has been raided by her guardian, the father of our soon to be Duke, James. James must marry Theo to obscure his father's crime. As it happens, James and Theo are already in love yet unaware of it. Here I thought James did a wonderful job of showing teenagers in love. Soon the bubble bursts. Theo is left abandoned, alone but for her mother (she apparently had no friends but James) and her money. She sets herself to rebuilding his estates and repressing everything about herself that James loved.

James falls in with pirates. At first it's just for the thrill of it but later (when he needs to make things right with Theo) he reveals his true calling was freeing slaves. Because of course it would be. Never mind that when he decides to embark on piracy it's nothing at all to do with slavery. We rejoin James and Theo as a couple when seven years have passed. Theo is preparing for her new life as a legal widow. James has had a sudden revelation and returned. Instead of the warm and passionate woman he left, James finds a repressed woman who finds the idea of sex unpleasant. Theo goes from frigid to fire with haste. The love they had for each other as children is pasted onto the adults they became then used as an excuse to wipe away the intervening years. One moment a character doesn't ever want children, the next they adore babies. One moment the thought of sex inspires self contempt, the next it's bloomers in the bushes.

The Ugly Duckling gets five stars for it's first half and one star for it's second. Overall, it's a three star read. I really liked aspects of it but I couldn't buy into who Theo became as an adult, nor the couple's reunion.

I was disappointed. I've enjoyed some of Eloisa James's other books and this one had excellent reviews. I liked the idea of a couple being married and then running into difficulties rather than the book focusing on courtship. I liked Theo a lot but James never seemed real enough even to like him or dislike him. He just seemed like a crazy combination of things. I know it's a romance but the pirate/privateer section was just too much to believe. The resolution was way too swift. It also annoys me that Theo isn't ugly at all, and James had never thought so; she was just not the type of woman celebrated at the time. (I would like to read about a woman who is actually ugly or plain, like Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. But that's not the story Eloisa chose to write.) I'm going with 3 stars because I liked Theo so much and wanted to see how things worked out for her.

Ever since I started reading Eloisa James's books, I have loved every one. I love that the characters are not perfect, how they learn to love each other, flaws and all. This book starts with the male protagonist forced into a hard decision to marry a childhood friend, one raised by his side, almost like a sister. Due to his father's bad management of the estate, he must marry his father's ward for her fortune. I like how when she finds out she tells him to leave, but I could not believe he actually did it! I was glad though, because it gave her a chance to become strong on her own, to find her worth in herself, not her husband. This book ended just the way I wanted it to as well. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I recommend reading all of the Fairy Tales books, they are fabulous! I can't wait to read her next one!

This book was sooooo goooood. I found myself with a day off, sick home from work, not wanting to leave bed and Eloisa James has been in my TBR forever. So I grabbed the Ugly Duchess, and wow. I cried at least three times, couldn't put the book down and finished it in a few hours. I just had to know how in the world she was going to get these two characters, who so obviously belonged together, actually, you know, together.

Love it, putting this author on my favorite, must by authors shelf and scurrying back to the library to get the rest of the books in this fairy tales series as quick as I can.

Gah, how ever did I wait so long to read this author. I've missed years of enjoyment. Years!

A very clever retelling of the Ugly Duckling set Regency England, a setting Eloisa James knows and does so well. Theo is a fabulous character, smart, but unsure of herself, truly relatable to most women, certainly me. In the early part of the book, I was more unsure of James -- yes, he was a nice guy, but without the kind of real experience that makes a man grow up and be a man. At that point, he was more of a boy. Then the break up (well detailed in other reviews) and he goes off and becomes a man by earning his way through life. And yes, he does get the "other" kind of experience, too, but I figure that in seven years if he didn't, there was something wrong with him and she didn't want him anyway. The reunion was great and touching. All in all, a fun read. Two thumbs up.

Well, I don't agree with the bad reviews though they make valid points. This is another lovely story from Eloisa with superb characterization. Keep in mind at their marriage, they are 17 and 19 (or there abouts,) and they react like the young people they are. Seven years was a long time to be apart but when they got back together it was even more worth the wait. I did not mind the contrast between Daisy and James as they changed during the seven years. But I thought having James be a pirate is yet another reason to like the way Eloisa writes her stories - not a typical historical that plays out in ball rooms. Don't miss it.

I typically can't wait for an Eloisa James novel to come out - if only they came out on Fridays instead of Tuesdays so I could spend the next day reading it! I enjoyed this book, but I found certain parts of it to be a little slow, which is not typical of one of Eloisa's books. The story itself was good, I liked the pirate parts. I especially liked that Theo was turned from the "Ugly Duchess" into a swan. While she grew into her face, more important to me was her reinventing herself into a sophisticated, elegant woman. We don't see enough heroine's like Theo! All in all, another excellent book by Ms. James! I'd really like to read Griffin and Poppy's story...

What an amazing book! I am never disappointed when I pick up one of Eloisa's books. Theo is one of those characters that you can not help but to relate to. How many times have we looked out ourselves and made comparisons to the Ugly Duckling? Most romance novels have the perfect English rose type girl and I love how she has stepped out of that mold and made someone realistic. James is a man that sees beyond what lies on the surface and appreciates Theo for the beauty that she holds within. Even though their marriage does not start out as it should and a lot of conflict, hurt and pain follows, love will rule out in the end. I love these two amazing people and hope that she includes them in stories to come!

3.5 Stars
Reviewed by SUZANNE & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Theodora Saxby and James Ryburn, Earl of Islay and next in line for a Dukedom are the match of the season, no one expected the ugly and mannish Theo to bring the handsome James up to scratch, with such a romantic proposal, not even Theo. But she falls in love and they marry...only to be separated two days later when she throws him out after discovering that James, her oldest friend and the man she loves only married her for her dowry.

I find myself a little uncertain if how to rate this book, there were things I really liked about it, but other aspects that didn't sit very well, overall I think it was good, but for me not the kind of book I will remember long are I have finished it. However, I love the idea rewriting fairy tales, something this series is based on, and the story of the ugly duckling who then blossoms into a beautiful swan is something that appeals to me as someone who loves a plain Jane kind of story.

The problem I had with this book wasn't the characters who I did really like, especially the Theo she was a strong, funny heroine who I enjoyed reading about, and James and Theo had great chemistry, not only sexually but I felt that the love they had for each other, even when they were angry, shone through.

It was the pacing, it was very odd and I didn't like it. It started off really well, introducing the characters and their relationship with one another, but then when they get separated it really slows down and skips through 7 years of time giving you brief glimpses into their lives, then at the very end when they are reunited it picks up again, but it seems to end rather quickly. It was almost like a really long novella, and I think it would have almost been better off as one, starting from when they were reunited and maybe telling the story of how they came to be married in flashbacks, it wouldn't have had this large and slightly tedious section in the middle then.

It was an enjoyable read though, the characters were likeable and the love story was sweet but full of some really good steamy sensuous scenes.

*ARC provided by publisher

Romantic, heart breaking and at times frustrating. Oh boy FRUSTRATING- I wanted to pull my hair out when he was sent away. I was inner screaming for this to stop...see frustrating. But then there were moments so beautiful and sweet.
The lady was not the prettiest according to societies' check points. They tagged her The Ugly Duchess after her wedding, in every newspaper. This was the beginning of the end and of the start of something. The Duke, sexy and hot, had his path altered and both husband and wife ventured on a new journey. The trials they face and overcome are not easy.
A wonderful retelling of this classic tale. I stayed up all night reading to find out what happened.

I borrowed this book from the library not expecting anything more than an easy read. While it was that, it was also a lovely romance about two people destined to be together but still with a whole lot of growing up to do. The author did a wonderful job of showing the reader how young and inexperienced both characters were in the start of the book. They were sweet and bumbling and 'in-love' but they were also true to that awkwardness that is always there when one is young. As they grew up and into their roles that they carved for themselves, the awkwardness fell away but the love remained...even though fears of inadequacy never left. The hero did an excellent job of convincing his lady of the truth of his love and his regard. At the end of the book, I felt a rightness in the strength of these characters and in the strength of their bond. Always, when I read a book I like, I feel like I want to read more about it's subjects. This was the case in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

2.5 stars- A middle of the road affair.

I love Eloisa James, and always look forward to her new books. I was particularly excited about this book, as it spans years and involves pirates and betrayal of childhood friends, etc etc etc. The first half of the book was good- the lead up and betrayal and 7 years apart- but the resolution chapters fell a little flat. In truth, there wasn't much to resolve, (though it felt like maybe there should have been a little more residual bitterness keeping them apart... reasonably mature characters are not always conducive to romance-novel-level dramatics), and at points I felt the author seemed to be adding 'problems' for the sake of making a longer story. These pseudo-problems didn't add anything to the overall effect of the book, and, at least to me, didn't really get appropriately discussed. They were kind of mentioned/introduced, but then ended up being sort of brushed aside in a love-conquers-all way. SPOILER~~I especially felt that the OCD tendencies of the heroine were either overstated initially, or they were not realistically addressed. I think it takes a little more than one night to overcome years and years of needing to be totally in control.

Overall, I felt it was just a little flat and generic, and I didn't really get the satisfied, wow-that-was-well-done-or-at-least-acceptably-entertaining, feeling I usually get when finishing an entertaining book. The characters were there- a duke-turned-pirate and an ugly duckling?? SUPERB. But the 'action', so to speak, just seemed to drag on. I think the story would have been much more successful as a condensed novella, like the companion novella about Griffin, (I think called Seduced by a Pirate). I was disappointed that such promising characters and premise ended up feeling sort of one-note.

I have seen the reviews and It took me a long time to read this book. The reason for this is because I love reading books were the H and h are faithful and I just know that the road to happily ever after is bump free.
I LOVED this book although the H and h made some mistakes along the way. I understand the reasons why. Being young and insecure probably makes some people act crazy.I just regret it took me this long to read the book. It was great and some scenes were funny and steamy. I really had a hard time putting it down and when I did all I could think about was to see what happens in the next chapter.
What are you waiting for? Have a great read.

I'm a massive fan of Eloisa James's Happily Ever Afters series, I have enjoyed all of the previous books and novellas so couldn't wait to get started on The Ugly Duchess. Unfortunately I was really disappointed with this book, it just didn't meet up with the standards of the earlier stories and I think that is mainly because I have such an issue with people who cheat on their partners. I'm afraid that this review will contain spoilers because I don't think I can fully explain my issues with the book without going into more detail than I usually would so consider yourself warned before you continue reading.

The story starts off well, Theo and James have been friends since they were children and I loved how close they were to each other. Theo has always been considered very plain amongst the members of the Ton but she has a sizeable dowry which has attracted her fair share of suitors. When James's father practically bankrupts the family he tells James that he must marry Theo to secure her dowry - well, what's left of her dowry because his father has been illegally spending that too. James is horrified by his father's actions and doesn't want to marry Theo, not because he doesn't care for her but because he doesn't want to lie to her.

As much as you know Theo is going to be devastated when she finds out the truth I really liked the way James comes to realise how much he genuinely does love her. They make such a sweet couple and the attraction between them is intense. There is a huge fanfare surrounding the wedding though, nobody would have expected a future Duke to marry such a plain bride and it earns Theo the title of The Ugly Duchess. Not long after the wedding Theo discovers the truth behind James's marriage proposal and is rightfully furious. Her insecurities about her looks don't help because she never felt like a deserving wife for James but I think anyone would have been as mad as she was though so I wasn't at all surprised when she tells him to get the hell out of the house and not come back. What did surprise me was that James immediately complies with her wishes, he doesn't even give her time to calm down and come back to try and talk to her - he just walks away from her and sets off to sea where he becomes a pirate.

As much as I was irritated that James wasn't man enough to fight for the woman he loved I could probably have dealt with him walking away if it hadn't been for the cheating. He is gone for nearly seven (yes SEVEN!) years during which time he has not just one but multiple mistresses. We spend the majority of the novel watching him reinvent himself as a pirate while Theo is left at home facing humiliation because she was so ugly her husband couldn't even bear to live with her. I admired Theo for how tough she was, she moves abroad and reinvents herself and I think in time she could have moved on and met someone new. Unfortunately at the point where she is about to have James declared officially dead he decides it would be the perfect time to return and try to win back the affections of his wife.

I don't think I've ever read a romance before where I wanted the heroine to tell the hero to get lost and for her to find someone else to have her happy ever after with but that is what I was desperately hoping for here. James comes back and expects Theo to welcome him with open arms, he admits to having mistresses and blames her because she is the one who told him to leave in the first place - it's not like she didn't have a reason to be mad, he knew he was in the wrong! She has remained faithful to him even when she believed he was dead, she has had her life made miserable by the gossips who love to talk about her and yet she forgives him within days. It just didn't feel believable to me, perhaps if she had made him work for his forgiveness I might have come to forgive him too but as it was I was left hating him and almost hating her for letting him walk back into her life so easily.

I was so disappointed with the way The Ugly Duchess turned out, I loved the characters in the beginning and had such high hopes but by the end I was ready to throw the book across the room. I do still love Eloisa James's writing though and I do love all the other books in this series so I'm definitely looking forward to reading Once Upon a Tower when it is published next year. I would say that if you don't have a major issue with cheating spouses then you'll probably enjoy The Ugly Duchess a lot more than I did, unfortunately for me that coloured my entire reading experience with this book.

Romantic, heart breaking and at times frustrating. Oh boy FRUSTRATING- I wanted to pull my hair out when he was sent away. I was inner screaming for this to stop...see frustrating. But then there were moments so beautiful and sweet.
The lady was not the prettiest according to societies' check points. They tagged her The Ugly Duchess after her wedding, in every newspaper. This was the beginning of the end and of the start of something. The Duke, sexy and hot, had his path altered and both husband and wife ventured on a new journey. The trials they face and overcome are not easy.
A wonderful retelling of this classic tale. I stayed up all night reading to find out what happened.

I borrowed this book from the library not expecting anything more than an easy read. While it was that, it was also a lovely romance about two people destined to be together but still with a whole lot of growing up to do. The author did a wonderful job of showing the reader how young and inexperienced both characters were in the start of the book. They were sweet and bumbling and 'in-love' but they were also true to that awkwardness that is always there when one is young. As they grew up and into their roles that they carved for themselves, the awkwardness fell away but the love remained...even though fears of inadequacy never left. The hero did an excellent job of convincing his lady of the truth of his love and his regard. At the end of the book, I felt a rightness in the strength of these characters and in the strength of their bond. Always, when I read a book I like, I feel like I want to read more about it's subjects. This was the case in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

2.5 stars- A middle of the road affair.

I love Eloisa James, and always look forward to her new books. I was particularly excited about this book, as it spans years and involves pirates and betrayal of childhood friends, etc etc etc. The first half of the book was good- the lead up and betrayal and 7 years apart- but the resolution chapters fell a little flat. In truth, there wasn't much to resolve, (though it felt like maybe there should have been a little more residual bitterness keeping them apart... reasonably mature characters are not always conducive to romance-novel-level dramatics), and at points I felt the author seemed to be adding 'problems' for the sake of making a longer story. These pseudo-problems didn't add anything to the overall effect of the book, and, at least to me, didn't really get appropriately discussed. They were kind of mentioned/introduced, but then ended up being sort of brushed aside in a love-conquers-all way. SPOILER~~I especially felt that the OCD tendencies of the heroine were either overstated initially, or they were not realistically addressed. I think it takes a little more than one night to overcome years and years of needing to be totally in control.

Overall, I felt it was just a little flat and generic, and I didn't really get the satisfied, wow-that-was-well-done-or-at-least-acceptably-entertaining, feeling I usually get when finishing an entertaining book. The characters were there- a duke-turned-pirate and an ugly duckling?? SUPERB. But the 'action', so to speak, just seemed to drag on. I think the story would have been much more successful as a condensed novella, like the companion novella about Griffin, (I think called Seduced by a Pirate). I was disappointed that such promising characters and premise ended up feeling sort of one-note.

I have seen the reviews and It took me a long time to read this book. The reason for this is because I love reading books were the H and h are faithful and I just know that the road to happily ever after is bump free.
I LOVED this book although the H and h made some mistakes along the way. I understand the reasons why. Being young and insecure probably makes some people act crazy.I just regret it took me this long to read the book. It was great and some scenes were funny and steamy. I really had a hard time putting it down and when I did all I could think about was to see what happens in the next chapter.
What are you waiting for? Have a great read.

This is one of Eloisa James's best novels. There are so many levels in this story-one could spend days and days comparing it to the classics. I love the deception Theo is forced to face while embracing her own naïveté (Jane Eyre anyone?) or the escapism James pursues (Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights?). True, clear writing with the spin that only Eloisa James can deliver results in an exemplary story. The characters and the emotions expressed are deep and timeless. Eloisa James is a master of weaving a tale that makes one think days and days after finishing. It's a true romance novel hangover. There are very few authors in my opinion that can write at this level. No wonder she is a celebrated storyteller.

Don't wait. If you're a fan of great stories and terrific writing, you need to read this unique story. It's one you will want to read over and over again. James has a way of writing a story with clear crisp prose that leaves you wanting more.

THE UGLY DUCHESS by Eloisa James is an interesting Regency historical romance. It is Book #4 in the "Fairy Tales" series,but can be read as a stand alone. See, "A Kiss At Midnight","When Beauty Tamed the Beast",and "The Duke Is Mine". While, I have enjoyed this series, "The Ugly Duchess" is not my favorite. It is a remake of "The Ugly Duckling" fairy tale with a twist. This is the tale of Theodora Saxby,society outcast and named "The Ugly Duchess" after her marriage to the handsome, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook,James Ryburn.Best friends and raised as sibling until James' does the unthinkable,than James must step in and save the day. After only two days of wedded bliss,Theodora over hears the truth of her wedding. James,disappears and becomes a pirate. After seven years of separation,Theo is ready to have James declared dead. James must win Theo's heart again and the two of then soon learn that all fair in love."The Ugly Duchess" gives insight into how a few spoken words can harm a person's ego,damage their heart,and hurt their self respect. A powerful story,but has little of none of Ms. James' usual witty banter. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Above The Treeline. Details can be found at the author's website,Avon Books,an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing Group and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR,My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

While it took way too long for James to realize he needed Daisy/Theo, at least the time as a pirate made him more of a man. He became much more decisive. But he shouldn't have left in the first place, even if Daisy/Theo did kick him out. Theo spent her time well, making a success of the duchy, the businesses, and herself. However, she became too rigid in her pursuit of success and an attempt to shield herself from ridicule. The hero and heroine were not perfect. In fact, they really made a mess of things. The time apart was painful, but that just made their reunion even sweeter when it finally happened!

In most novels, the hero and heroine are brought together by shared, stressful experiences. Forced proximity leads to conflict resolution and a happy ending. James switches that in this book. This couple is driven apart and spends a third of the novel separated. Separateness provides the conflict. In the end, it is the experience of separation that brings them back together.

It was an intriguing approach and anxiety inducing to read. But I loved it. James is a college professor in her other life. This book had elements of literary fiction. It's not typical for this genre, and that made it that much better.

I am not going to go into the synopsis of the book, it has been done in many reviews. I want to state why this book is 5 stars since a few have issues with it. And I know from reading reveiws myself, I wonder, should I listen, is this book really what they say...so here is a different kind of take.
When you are sitting here looking at stars and saying 4-5 , 4-5 4-5 and thinking that hard and your mind is going to so many places in the book, then you know what? THAT is a 5 star book. Yes, it makes you think. Eloisa James writes unlike many authors...she writes characters, she writes depth and she writes damn good, no make that GREAT dialogue. She does NOT fail here.
This book made me angry, this book made me sad and yes, this book made me glad too.....
Eloisa made me cringe in the beginning (poor pathetic "ugly" Theo), she threw me for a loop in the middle and yes, she gave me all that I needed in the end. All those emotions, how can you say this kind of book is not 5 stars? I think about it, I talk about it, I discuss this book, often and with great emotion...THAT is the sign of a good deep complex book. This book is more defined by birth and growth of character's personalities and relationships, this book follows the "death" of some acceptable norms...this book helps you to fall in love with the characters at different times..and yet make you scream at their faults throughout some of it.

It is based on The Ugly Duckling but Theo is not, she is young and unique and needs to find that in her...James also had to grow beautiful because as a gorgeous man, he had no beauty...but as a desperately in love man, he had much. The characters are very human, the emotions real and the story, a good one!

So bottom line: if you really want a happy ever after to have some sort of meaning and to be believable and for the characters to seep into your blood and to make you feel good when they feel good, make you cry when they are sad, this is the book for you. For me, what is important these days is depth in a book, deep meaningful characters and circumstances, THIS is that kind of book.

I agree with most of the other reviewers and was very disappointed in this book. If I would have just put it down after the first few chapters, I would have been happy. I actually thought to myself after the two main characters got together and seemed so happy so early on that I was going to have issues with this book.....and I did. Theo was built up as such a strong female character which I appreciated, but after seven years apart and the utter turmoil this girl went through, I can't accept that she would just take James back so easily. It was completely unbelievable and went completely against the character that the author had been trying to build up. The fact that James spoke openly during their lovemaking about his former mistresses and Theo was totally okay with this was also ridiculous. I bought this book at an airport before boarding without looking at reviews. Shame on me. I won't be that silly again. Hugely disappointed.

Throughout this book, I could't help wondering what was going on in Eloisa James' life while she was writing this. Few HR authors go on a totally unique path and most times I love it and think what geniuses they are (i.e. Courtney Milan, Meredith Duran). This one, I kept wondering if she was experiencing a lot of life's difficulties while making such bizarre choices. (Not unlike a few authors who used to be my favorites.) She starts out with two H's who really for all intents and purposes are brother and sister - EEWW! The hero is 19, spineless and a liar - EEWW! Then he leaves her for SEVEN YEARS, becomes a BALD pirate, has MANY mistresses, gets a facial tattoo, and only returns to fulfill his own needs. He doesn't respect any of her wishes, requests, pleas. He brags to her about his mistresses/offers from women and justifies them by saying she was the one who ended the marriage. When it benefits him, he demands that they are still married. He decides he won't LET anyone else be intimate with her when she decides to actually end the marriage. Knowing she has issues with control, he makes messes, lets most of the staff go and hires more "journalists" to keep her imprisoned. All written in a "wink-wink/nudge-nudge attitude". After she's been crying, he ignores her demands and then pleas to leave her alone, makes her strip naked, he strips naked, lies about his erection, and bathes her. She then loses all her dignity, backbone and any respect I had for her when she gives it all up for his sexual touching. All the while, he's lying to her about what he truly feels and tries to act like someone else so she will open up to him sexually. While intimate, he tells her about wanting to kiss his first mistress' va-j-j but he likes hers better. REALLY??!! On top of all of that, she gets MADE WRONG because after being ridiculed, humiliated, lied to, stolen from, abandoned, left with having to rebuild a duchy, suffering from the death of her mother, all while remaining faithful and alone for SEVEN YEARS, she's become a bit anal. What is going on in Eloisa James' head? This is a professional woman writing this? This and Fifty Shades leaves me wondering what is happening to womankind?

This book started out really good and stayed that way until about three-fourths of the way through. Then it was like it became another book. The self-sufficient heroine became manipulated by the hero and I just couldn't believe this would happen. I knew that Eloisa James would have to bring about a happily ever after but it was like the ending was forced upon these characters that I really liked.
Eloisa James can write stunning romances with delicious protagonists and this would have been one except for the ending.

This is the best historical romance I've read in a while. I fell in love with the characters in the beginning. They are so young and likable although they still have some growing up to do. They both make mistakes and don't have an easy road. Why do I like books where things look so bad that you don't see how it could possibly work out? Maybe it makes the happy ending sweeter? This book just about killed me and I wanted to speed to the end to make sure everything turned out alright. I recommend for any fans of historical romance, who don't mind a lot of angst.

When I read this book for the first time, I found it very different from the other fairy tale stories that Eloisa James has written recently. As many comments have mentioned, the beginning is like a classic romance tale, a heroine who thinks she is ugly and realises that her handsome suitor finds her beautiful. If the story had ended here, I think most people would have been happy!

I think that the long gap and the time apart were necessary, so that in the third part, Theo and James could meet again and make a commitment as adults. They are really extremely young in the first part and know little of the world and even about themselves.

For me, the whole story revolves around the definition of beauty, which is, of course, different according to the epoque, and also about how we see ourselves. James is classically beautiful as a young man and very strange-looking for good society when he comes home, although for modern readers, a tall, sunburnt, muscled pirate might be a dream come true. Theo is considered ugly because she is too tall and thin and has high cheekbones, which is a pretty good description of many boardwalk models in the 21st century. This novel is thought-provoking and makes us question how we see ourselves and the importance or not of what other people see... It is not a classic romance, and this message may be a bit disturbing for some readers, who were not expecting to feel such ambiguity towards the hero and heroine.

This review will be quite spoiler heavy. I liked the Ugly Duchess. More than I thought I would. It's not a perfect book, but I'd read the reviews here before getting the book and so I was prepared for...

(SPOILER)

...the hero's Seven Year Pirate venture. And the fact that the 'ugly ducking' never became a traditional 'swan'. And how quickly she forgave him. But this falls under Eloisa James' "Happily Ever After" series and so even without any mention of magic, there's still a dusting of fairy dust over her 'Happily' plots. I don't read this series with the same logic that I approach her other novels.

The complaint, then, is this: in essence, this was two books, not one. But I'll get to that in a minute.

The first plot details. Half of the book deals with teenage Theodora and James. Simply put, they're adorable. Theo (or Daisy, as James insists) is seventeen. James is nineteen. Both are being shoved into the marriage mart, Theo with a good deal more willingness than James. She wants to get married, though she's never thought of marrying him. As for James, from the reviews it seems some people disliked him because his Father's insistence that he (James) marry Theodora for the money, manipulating Theo for the benefit of a failing estate.

Yes, someone did order James marry Theo. But does James spend the rest of his time plotting to get Theodora down the altar? No. Quite the opposite. He doesn't want to do it. He hates the idea. He chaffes against his father's plan. James makes no effort to get this plot into action. He only marshals Theodora around town because Theodora insists that James accompany her to make another suitor jealous. He seems to fall in love with her quite accidentally. He kisses her in a moment of blind passion, and only after he's blurted out a spontaneous and heartfelt (and VERY romantic! Well done, Author) proposal does he even realize what he's done. Fallen into the very plot his father demanded.

But he loves her, that's quite obvious. If he has to marry, he wants to marry her. He says his vows solemnly, he protects her from the press, he entails half the estate *to* her, he offers her the operation of the estate.

As for Theodora, she's not what I expected her to be, and I just adored that my expectations were subverted. She's intelligent but not at all shrewish. She's clever but innocent. She's not considered pretty, her profile 'looks like a boy' (whatever that means? there's no concrete description of her) but despite her face she's quite feminine. She LOVES clothing, and color and design. I loved watching Theodora and James stumble into love.

So where does the book weaken? Pirates.

Not that I have anything against pirates. I like pirates. I even knew they were coming. But instead of feeling like an organic plot development, it seems to have been shoehorned in. Shoehorned, shoved and finally hammered until the book nearly broke. The logic of the plot, such that it is, becomes muddled.

I understand why Theo becomes angry when she hears that James' was 'ordered' to marry her. I don't understand why this was an irrevocable break. It's so obvious he loves her, whether he was told to marry her or not. It doesn't make sense that she abruptly tells him not just to leave, but to take the ship with him. Or why James, hot tempered and able to stand up for himself, willingly left.

Lastly, surely I'm not the only one who felt the James the Pirate thing was a random development. Earlier in the book we're told that James was an 'active' sort, that he went to Eton and was quite clever but hadn't the patience for numbers or books. That he'd rather be hoeing a field. Great. But there's a huge difference between working in the field of his estate, or living on a boat. Maybe I skimmed past the (non existent?) section that said how fond James was of boating, but as far as I can tell there was exactly one mention of this family boat prior to his departure, and that was the meeting with the estate manager.

It just felt...random. There's no other word for it. There was no lead up to James becoming a pirate. He doesn't ramble on about the Navy, he doesn't think about fishing, he doesn't talk longingly about 'the family boat'. Up to that point I didn't even know he could swim. And now he's a pirate? And how improbable was it that in the West Indies he just happened to come across another pirate who happened to be his third cousin, an Earl. The more logical thing would be for him to write letters to his cousin the Earl Pirate and then suddenly decide to become a pirate too. Or to remember he had a cousin Earl Pirate and then seek him out. But no he just stumbles into him and decides to join the pirating--I mean, privateering. This seemed the weakest part of the book, not just in terms of logic but in terms of pacing. The book cuts between James the Pirate and Theodora in England and well..it's a bit dry.

Seven years pass. Theodora's ready to declare James dead. Suddenly James shows up. Now the plot starts getting interesting again. At this point we're a solid two third of the book by the way. By now James barely resembles the teenage protagonist in the first half, both physically and emotionally. He's become a hard, strapping, tan pirate man. Great. That's interesting.

The problem is Theodora and James are not given enough time to bridge the gap between the teenage lovers they were and the adults they've become. They resolve their past mistakes in a matter of days (I wasn't counting at this point. Was it two?).

I wants to see Theodora forgive him. To understand who James had become. Fairytale or not there were huge trust issues on Theo's part that weren't addressed, grievances she had for him basically desserting her for seven years. James search for identity--his brush with death, his reappearance, the man he'd grown into--I liked those ideas. But the shift between the young lord at the start of the novel and the man he becomes is so BIG that I would have liked more time to understand who he was and how he and Theodora fell in love again.

Again, this is not to say I didn't like the book. I loved both scenes where he sings to her. It seems rare now to find sweetness in a romance novel and this has it. I *loved* the proposal scene and the sweetness of two young newlyweds fumbling their way through a grown up marriage as they learn how to operate an estate. I even loved the idea of who and what James becomes. He's harder, rougher, darker. In one scene Theodora feels a split second of fear at the sight of him. How interesting that would have been to explore, what an unusual book it would be.

This is what I mean. There are two books here. The sweet young couple and the wounded passionate one. Either idea would have been a wonderful fully fleshed novel. Both together could have been fantastic, if given the time to make their reconciliation convincing. What's offered instead is still a fun read. I'm just not sure the author successfully bridged the two parts. But is the book worth reading? I still think so, especially if you know what you're getting. I always read an Eloisa novel with high expectations. She moonlights as a romance novelist but um..daylights (?)...among the literati a professor of Shakespeare. What she offers, what brings me back, is the originality. I still look forward to reading the sequel.

In the past 5 years, Eloisa James has become my favorite romance author for one reason: her ability to write fully formed complex characters. With The Ugly Duchess, she's done it again. I think that even if you don't like the characters, there is no denying that they are emotionally fully formed.

Theo/Daisy has been called or known that she was ugly all her life. This insecurity doesn't go away easily, regardless of whether or not you play to it. I think that Theo's spunk comes from the fact that she faces her reputation and fear every time she makes a scene even though she's quaking inside. Furthermore, I really like the fact that her transformation does not have its downsides. In conquering her insecurities, she has to make sacrifices. She's not perfect, just like the rest of us. Theo/Daisy and James make a good couple because he demands the best of her. He loves her for what she gave up and challenges her to be both the woman she thinks she should be and the woman he thinks she should be.

On James the hero's side, he is just as human. Eloisa James makes a point of showing us that at the beginning of the book, these character are YOUNG. I work around 18-22 year-olds and I can easily imagine any of them making a similarly bad decision for the right reasons. A 20 year old guy would let his father dictate who he marries and desperately hope she never finds out he married her for financial reasons and to try to protect her instead of love. A 17 year old girls would also make rash declarations that a 20 year old guy would follow past the point of reason. Martyrdom feels real for many 18-20 year-olds. I know that Eloisa James also works with 18-22 year olds in her day job which probably gave her a lot of insight into the minds of young adults, but I also wonder how much her own son's decision making processes sneaked into this book.

I think think that as avid romance readers, we often expect and read about perfect people in our books. Heroines are flawed but easily cured. Heroes are stubborn by easily swayed. Eloisa James doesn't use these easy characterization tropes. Her characters are true to themselves and the situations they are put in until the last pages. The actions of her characters show their personalities instead of third person dialogue, which happens in many romance novels. This is why she is my absolute favorite romance author.

Now I do think there are some flaws in this book. I have gone between giving it a 5 star review and a 4 star review, ultimately deciding on a 5 star review because of the characterization of the hero and heroine. The main problem I have with this book is that the reconciliation is too short. It's like Eloisa James put so much into showing and proving how these characters work, she ran out of time to have them fall in love again. I would have loved to see a prolonged process. In my mind, the first half, when they were happily married for 2 days, could have been shortened so that they could fall in love again at the end. By the end, they are much more interesting people, let them really work out how they fit together as a couple after 7 years.

The other point I am not so keen on is the wonky plot, but this is something I have felt for all her fairy tale books. Eloisa James doesn't just rewrite fairy tales, she truly re-imagines them. In doing so, she also re-imagines romance novel tropes. Here we have a pirate story WITHOUT an abduction, and even without the heroine ever stepping foot on a boat! While this means that her characters get into weird, highly implausible situations, I am impressed that she is telling this type of story this way. It's important that media genres stretch their limits and I think Eloisa James is doing an excellent job of doing just that.

I took another chance on a historical romance and this one was a delight. The characters of Daisy and Theo were strong and different and their story, while typical in the boy meets girl, boy marries girl under false pretenses,etc. plot, did have enough differences to make for compelling reading.

Daisy was not a great beauty - at least to those who didn't really get to know her but she showed them. Theo knew soon after he married her for her money that she WAS the girl for him but didn't know how to tell her. Their time apart was slow reading for the most part but once they got back together the book really started to sing again. Although, one does love a dashing pirate now and then.

I've not read any other of Ms. James's books but I am sure they would make for fun, fast reads just as this one did. I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up when I wanted an escape from the modern world and its worries.

Theodora Saxby knows what the image in the mirror shows her. Theo does not really care as she has never been about trying to disguise that she is not the most flattering flower in the vase. Theo has substance and a sense of style that no chit on the Ton could ever relate to or try to imitate. What Theo also has is the love of the most sought after bachelor James Ryburn, heir apparent to the Duchy of Ashbrook. What could be more wonderful that have James love her just the way she was.

Apparently, James did not love her the way he loved the money she had. After the truth is literally thrown in her face about the sham that was her marriage, Theo kicks James to the curb. James stays away for enough years to gain maturity, world experience, and become even more handsome, if that was even possible Theo thought he was dead, she wondered if he was ever coming back, she built a life all on her own knowing he might never return. Yet the minute she sees him again the past melts away and the future looks filled with love. How can she ever forgive him for the hurt he put upon her and know the awful rumors abound on why he disappeared?

When tender moments become nights of passion, and old wounds try to heal the beauty that James sees in his "Daisy" is shown to her repeatedly without hesitation. The past may never be washed away but when you wipe away the hurt, the healing does begin.

Eloisa James writes a colorful, imaginative, and wonderfully twisted story that delights on every page.

If you have ever felt selfconcious or unappreciated or "ugly" this book will really hit home. It's a very special retelling of THE UGLY DUCKLING fairy tale. Our heroine is a tall, skinny, small breasted woman with OCD. Our hero is a pirate Duke with a tatoo under his eye. After a huge misunderstanding after two days of marriage, it is a long and bumpy journey to happiness. But it is well worth the trip!!! This book made me cry and laugh and totally relate. I highly reccomend it.

I am so glad that Eloisa James has published a new book. I have read all the negative reviews and all I can say is that this is a great book, full of action and romance. I take it for what it is- a romantic novel. If I wanted to moralize about the conduct of the characters I would read a a religious book. If you have read any of James's previous books this book is just as good or better. You have all sorts of characters, pirates, young lovers and a great ending. You will love it.

I never really read Historical Romances until starting this blog, so this was the first Eloisa James novel I've ever picked up. I have only one word to describe her work. Amazing. A strong-willed woman plus a pirate equals pure, unadulterated bliss! Okay, so maybe I'm being a little biased. Anyone who knows anything about me knows how much I love pirates. I did have a pirate themed wedding after all.

Check out the rest of my review at my blog, Reading Until I Fall Asleep:
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I loved this book and Eloisa's way with words! Did you know she's an expert on Shakespeare? I think that knowledge shows in her work. I tried to see Theodora as "ugly" but I could not see her that way -- maybe because she was so sweet. And then when she and James were apart for a while...that made perfect sense to me. Both had much soul-searching to do, and that can't happen in a mere few days. I loved THE UGLY DUCKLING when I was little, and now, as a woman, I love THE UGLY DUCHESS! Beautifully done, Eloisa!

Both the H and h in the book are very likeable and dislikeable depending on which half of the book you read.
I really liked James and Theo in the first half. In the second half it was like I was reading another book.

Theo who is meant to be this kind person seems completely indifferent to where her husband went or that he may or may not be dead despite the fact that they were BFF before their wedding and that she recognises that his "betrayal" was not all his fault and that he really loved her. She also doesn't care when her mother points out that she may have been partially responsable for the death of her father in law. In fact she comes across as a fairly arrogant cold blooded creature.

James all of a sudden becomes an rough and tumble alpha male after seven years at sea suddenly comes home. WHO IS THIS MAN? Do they discuss what happened? Nope. Any really communication? Nope. I'm not asking for reality here but I would expect that after seven years apart they would require more than make up sex to sort things out.

The ending is rushed. I kept on expecting a few more pages before the big epilogue.

This was my first Eloisa James book. I didn't like it. Some stuff was so far fetched...which isn't always a bad thing...it just didn't add anything to the plot or the story. The book drags in several places. The characters just weren't defined enough for me to really get a bead on their personality or character. I didn't feel anything for the characters. I didn't sense their love for each other.

It definitely wasn't a page turner but I did finish it so it wasn't too horrible. If I hadn't read the reviews for Eloisa James on the store, there is no way I would try another of her books. However, it sounds like I should give her another shot. So I will. Fingers crossed!

I was horribly disappointed in this book. There flat out was no hero--only a selfish, hurtful boy who threw a SEVEN-YEAR long temper tantrum. While cheating on his abandoned wife!!! As for the heroine, she was likeable (but somewhat depressing) until the errant husband came back--at which time she lost all the strength and independence she had fought to gain in the first place. I would have cheered on the heroine running the hero over with her carriage instead of forgetting all about how he destroyed and humiliated her. It was almost as bad as an abused wife going back to a man who beat her! What on earth happened here, Ms. James?

I'm a big Eloisa James fan but this latest offering is just disappointing. Despite an interesting premise neither the heroine or her hero is interesting enough to add any intestest to the story. I really wanted to care more about them but just couldnl't muster up enough sympathy for either of them based on their character descriptions and actions. The hero commits adultery which is a major turn-off for me. Considering the era they lived in and the sort of women he cheated with (more than one) he would likely have some type of venereal disease. YUCK. The heroine is supposed to be ugly but every description of her makes her sound rather striking so it seems ridiculous to have everyone call her ugly. She starts out rather interesting but quickly turns into a cold super-intelligent, micro-managing, control freak who thinks of no one but herself. Her internal dialogue is really quite sickening. For example she is amazed when it occurs to her than the small wooden stool she makes her servant sit on would be more comfortable with a padded seat. I kept reading this story waiting for something intersting to happen but it never does. He lies to her, he cheats on her, she kicks him out, and she takes him back (although why he wants her is anybody's guess).

This book was terrible. As a rule, I don't think most people read romance novels because they wish to hold up a mirror to their own lives (albeit in pretty, pretty costume), lives where parents and friends can selfishly break one's heart, strangers and even social acquaintances can be cruel, one can be emotionally and physically abandoned, loneliness can make one's heart stop, and one can love another so unworthy, that one no longer has the fortitude to love and protect and value oneself. It is the escape, and the Happy Ending that is not abruptly achieved at the cost of any good will the reader may have for the characters, we are chasing. For shame, Ms. James; smart need not be so depressing. We your readers DO have a mirror up to life, and don't need it in our escape. That said, to other readers, please read the other books in the Duchesses or Fairy Tales series and forget this book happened. You won't be disappointed.

Hmmm. So I really liked the beginning of the book. I thought it had a lot of promise. I liked how the characters were with each other, how they started to have feelings for each other, etc. I even liked the premise. Where I started to dislike the story and started skimming was the big breakup. First of all, most of the reviews are putting the blame on James. But I really disliked Theo's character. She tells him to get out, leave, get on the ship and go. But when he does, she's mad that he didn't come back. He was only doing what she told him. Second, the seven years went by so quickly- it was mostly just the author telling what happened with the two, which is boring and doesn't really move the plot along. She could have stated that in less time- she spent quite a few pages telling what they'd been up to even though a few sentences would have worked- and more time with the characters together after James comes back. When he does come back, I liked how he was so upfront about his life, and how when she told him to get out, he did, etc. She acted like she was the victim but really, he was the one who was forced to leave his life because she wanted him gone- she got the estate and the life she was going to lead anyway- he had already told her she could be in charge of the finances, etc.

I wish that the original premise had stayed, the beginning chapters had stayed, even maybe him being gone, but once he was back, she should have taken more blame. I really wish that they had just stayed together and worked on the issue. I know he was gone for seven years so they could both mature but that's where the story got flat and uninteresting to me.

I usually like Eloisa James's stories but this one was poorly executed. 75% of the book was (mostly unnecessary) establishing back story. While the actual story between the two main characters seemed a hurried through after thought. It's almost like she wrote it as a short story & tacked on the first parts to make a full novel. I really hope this isn't indicative of a creative direction she's moving in.

The story started out strong but drags in the middle. I don't even think this book can be categorized as romance because a good portion of the time and of the book itself, the hero and heroine are apart and do not even communicate with one another. They don't even maintained romantic relationships with other ppl to hold u over till later or to add conflict later in the story.

I didn't finish the book. I got half way through before I threw in the towel. I want to read a romance novel. I'm looking elsewhere.

Rating: B+ ... Heat: Hot

Theodora Saxby has been the ward of the Duke of Ashbrook, James' father, since her own father passed away. Growing up together, Theo and James have always had a brother-sister relationship. They were playmates, confidantes, and best friends since childhood. And probably would have remained so, if not for the Duke's spendthrift ways.

The Duke, having squandered away nearly everything not entailed, is in big trouble--out of desperation, he has stolen from Theo's dowry. To avoid scandal and possibly gaol, he forces James to marry Theo. After a battle of wills with his father - and a battle of ethicality versus his growing lust - James gives in.

And thus begins their torrid, angst-riddled, harrowing romance that spans time and distance... and changes both of them forever.

The Theodora of Part One is young and vivacious. She is angular where other girls are curvaceous. Unique-looking, perhaps, instead of beautiful. And completely held back by the ruffles and lace and constant hues of white. For her, marriage equals freedom of dress. If she could only dress herself, she could turn her uniqueness into elegance.

The James of Part One is hot tempered and restless. At nineteen, he is inexperienced in matters of the boudoir and the heart. He has no purpose, no drive, no goals. He's not interested in the ton or their drama. He's a bit of an unmoored boat. Drifting.

Together, the two of them are playful and passionate and curious. Every touch is new, every feeling is multiplied. I loved that they were pretty much on equal footing when it came to sex. Both very green and eager. It was sweet and tender.

And then it isn't. The middle of the book was... gut-wrenching. There were parts that made my stomach flip and flop and turn sour. It was disheartening how easily they both simply gave up. It felt like Theo completely abandoned and forgot their decade of friendship... and James doesn't even put up any fight. And it truly wasn't easy to read about James' infidelity, no matter how justified or understandable.

Once reunited, the Theodora of Part Two and the James of Part Two are very, very different from the beginning. Theo is now rigid and closed off. Set in her ways and nearly emotionless. James is rough and coarse and in control. Seasoned and scarred by the sea. It was frustrating and rewarding to see them rediscover parts of their past selves. Rediscover their friendship and their passion and their love.

And Eloisa James - hands down - writes the best epilogues. Might sound crazy, but I always look forward to them. This one was no exception. It warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

The Ugly Duchess is another incredible installment in the Fairy Tales series. It is a sumptuous and sensual tale of young love growing into adult passion--with that special touch of whimsy (James does become a pirate, after all) that the series is known for.

Favorite Quote:
She hesitated. "Is that a reference to the size of his male organ?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I should think small would be a benefit. I'm certain most women would prefer it. They should boast about those nicknames."
A little laugh exploded from his mouth. "Am I to take it that you're sore from last night?"
"Yes," Theo admitted. "I wish you had a periwinkle."

--A Romantic Book Affairs Review

When James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, learns what his father has done to his best friends money, he is furious. He is even more furious once his father tells him he must marry the girl to keep the scandal at bay. James can not fathom marring Theodora Saxby, and not because of her unusual features, but because she is his best friend, a friend that grew up with him like a sister under his father's guardianship. But duty abounds and he makes Daisy, as James calls her, his wife and together them seem to find a mutual passion and hope for their future. Theo is stunned when James suddenly proposes but she believes his heartfelt declaration and goes into the marriage with her heart. Her heart is quickly broken when the truth of the whole ordeal is revealed and she tosses James out and tries to find solace in mending the estate. Seven years go by with no word from James and she makes the decision to have him declared dead so she can move on with her life. To her utter shock, James returns and so do a host of feelings that had been left unresolved for so long. Leaning the truth about James infidelity almost becomes the last straw. How can James save this marriage that started off so wrong but feels so absolutely right now?

I am so torn about this book! It started off wonderfully with love, passion and angst but then James left and took the seas and cheated even though he swore he never would. Yes, he truly believed his marriage was over and he planned to stay away forever and let Theo move on with her life but....still....sigh. When James is almost killed it finally puts his life into perspective and he returns home, in a dramatic manner, and we get more angst as Theo and James come to terms with this new relationship. But for me, the ending was a bit rushed. I felt like Theo had grown into herself when James was away into a strong, confident woman who grew to rise about the ton's nasty nickname of The Ugly Duchess. She forgave James just a bit to easily for me and I would have liked a bit more groveling I guess. I liked how Theo decides to re-enter society...as a swan which brings in the bit of the fairy tale. I'm not quite sure why Theo was considered ugly as I believe she just had strong features but I did enjoy how James always thought she was beautiful and he is able to make her realize that again even after all their years apart. As for James, I had a hard time warming up to him in the second half but his life at sea changed him forever and I liked seeing those changes...I just wanted a bit more. Overall, not my favorite Eloisa James but it still has her trademark wit, passion and beautiful writing. 3 1/2 stars

I don't even need to read the synopsis of the story, I have placed Eloisa James on my auto-buy list. And, as is always the case, she delivers once again. This story is engaging, heart-wrenching, sexy, and completely engrossing. I love how Eloisa never writes down to us, her reader. Nothing is ever "dumbed-down" in her books. While she delivers a dramatic, romantic story, she also draws you in with lots of clever details about the time period. Before you know it, you've read a sexy romance novel and also learned at least a few things about the time period. Love, love, loved this book. Not least of all because there was a pirate:)

This book was amazing. Skillfully written with only one or two errors that I recall, the author tells an enchanting story that has several twists and turns. Slightly predictable like most romance novels, there was still a bit of mystery and intrigue.

Eloisa James is a very talented author but this book just left me cold. I loved the beginning and felt if the Earl was older when his father forced him to marry they could have drawn out the first part of the book and deleted the entire second half. First I loved the earl in the beginning. He was sweet, cared for his friend Daisy and was just starting to become responsible but then all too soon sweet Daisy finds out he lied and dumps him. Okay appearenlty telling him the marriage is over gives him permission to abandon her and become a pirate. If that isn't bad enough he cheats on her because he no longer considers himself married and she turns into a cold person, he literally sucked the joy out of her. What i didn't get was why did he suddenly decide to throw the fabric over the side of the boat and become Jack? Because his dad died? it didn't seem true to his earlier character. Honestly, if James fleshed out the first part of the book, maybe made it a little harder for the earl to get Daisy to fall for him or maybe even had him fall for her and tell her the truth or even extend the courtship and happy marriage a little longer she could've had a whole book without including the pirate crap, which didn't make the hero grow up; it just made him an arrogant man who cared for no one but himself. I honestly wanted Daisy to get back at him and divorce him or maybe embarrass him in public as he has her. She didnt get any revenge even though he made her life hell. Not one of of her best and it made me sad to read it, which is not a feeling i like get when i read romances.

I thought this book was a well written spin on a classic tale. Theo and James were raised as sibling but they knew they were not related. When his father loses most of her money he blackmails James into marrying Theo. James feels forced and flees two days after the ceremony. Seven years pass and in the meanwhile he has been living as a pirate and she remakes herself into a remarkable force to be reckoned with. In the end he realizes what he's missed out on and they end up together. I just love pirates and happy endings.

I don't even need to read the synopsis of the story, I have placed Eloisa James on my auto-buy list. And, as is always the case, she delivers once again. This story is engaging, heart-wrenching, sexy, and completely engrossing. I love how Eloisa never writes down to us, her reader. Nothing is ever "dumbed-down" in her books. While she delivers a dramatic, romantic story, she also draws you in with lots of clever details about the time period. Before you know it, you've read a sexy romance novel and also learned at least a few things about the time period. Love, love, loved this book. Not least of all because there was a pirate:)

This book was amazing. Skillfully written with only one or two errors that I recall, the author tells an enchanting story that has several twists and turns. Slightly predictable like most romance novels, there was still a bit of mystery and intrigue.

Eloisa James is a very talented author but this book just left me cold. I loved the beginning and felt if the Earl was older when his father forced him to marry they could have drawn out the first part of the book and deleted the entire second half. First I loved the earl in the beginning. He was sweet, cared for his friend Daisy and was just starting to become responsible but then all too soon sweet Daisy finds out he lied and dumps him. Okay appearenlty telling him the marriage is over gives him permission to abandon her and become a pirate. If that isn't bad enough he cheats on her because he no longer considers himself married and she turns into a cold person, he literally sucked the joy out of her. What i didn't get was why did he suddenly decide to throw the fabric over the side of the boat and become Jack? Because his dad died? it didn't seem true to his earlier character. Honestly, if James fleshed out the first part of the book, maybe made it a little harder for the earl to get Daisy to fall for him or maybe even had him fall for her and tell her the truth or even extend the courtship and happy marriage a little longer she could've had a whole book without including the pirate crap, which didn't make the hero grow up; it just made him an arrogant man who cared for no one but himself. I honestly wanted Daisy to get back at him and divorce him or maybe embarrass him in public as he has her. She didnt get any revenge even though he made her life hell. Not one of of her best and it made me sad to read it, which is not a feeling i like get when i read romances.

I thought this book was a well written spin on a classic tale. Theo and James were raised as sibling but they knew they were not related. When his father loses most of her money he blackmails James into marrying Theo. James feels forced and flees two days after the ceremony. Seven years pass and in the meanwhile he has been living as a pirate and she remakes herself into a remarkable force to be reckoned with. In the end he realizes what he's missed out on and they end up together. I just love pirates and happy endings.

I hated James. He was cruel and was way too easy about his infidelity. In the last chapter (chapter 30) he still was talking about his mistresses. COME ON!! It made me angry. YES, okay, now I know you had mistresses and one of them didn't want to be touched 'down there'. The constant blabber about this was childish. I never disliked a hero in a book this much.
He also didn't made sense to me. He wants to convince Daisy/Theo he is sincere and then when he goes see her he acts detached, which made her feel insecure.
A book with the theme An ugly duckling could be a very beautiful story about the journey of a woman who isn't beautiful and is called ugly all her life and then realises it isn't all about the way you look, but also about your character and how you treat people (and yourself). Too bad.
Maybe it's because I've read Sweet deception by Heather Snow before this book (in which the characters are very well written) and that's why I'm dissapointed, but I expected more. No more Eloisa James for me.

I wanted to strangle James. I really disliked him especially when he decided the marriage was over and he could do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted. I had just finished reading Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas Not Quite a Husband and the male lead was the total opposite of James in similar circumstances. So the contrast was more acute. The UD made me so mad I wanted to scream so I did.

And now I am a huge fan! Her writing is wonderful, her characters well developed. I am not usually a fan of regency romance simply because well behaved women are rarely interesting, and I like more steam, but Eloisa James’s stories are entertaining and delightful, her females rarely well behaved or perfect, and that much more interesting because of it. She does not close the door on sex, but it is not the be all and end all, just a part of the story.

Excellent read. Pithy. Funny. Compelling protagonists. Divergent development of heroine and hero yields characters with stronger personalities, stronger sense of self. Loved the relationship, the friendship, the personalities.

Liked the book. Not the mistresses though. 7 years was a little too much. I felt really bad for Theo. I'm happy they got back together in the end. Unfortunately, during that time period men had mistresses. Women too. I don't like or believe in mistresses.

Normaly, I give pretty decent reviews. I am not one to find alot of fault with books, but this time I just could not bring myself to like this book. The writing was fine, not terrible but not great. What really anoyed me about this book was that the plot was pretty good, but the charecters weren't at all fun to read about, care about or pay for. Theo was the one that really anoyed me, she went from this fun loving girl to this dour, stuck up women who thought that apearences was everything and was tottally self-absorbed. In my opinion if you dont have interesting charectors then you dont have a good story. Save your money and buy a different book.

This book was extremely disappointing as I am a huge Eloisa fan. The first 3 chapters were really good and I really loved the book until then but after that it just went downhill. The fact that James left Theo for 7 years and didn't give her a single thought just doesn't sit well with me. If he loved her so much, how could he just let her go without a fight? And then he decides he wants to come back and she has to accept him. What rubbish! And then come his mistresses! Oh dear, it is so annoying that James just wants her to accept them and move on. If the book had gone in different direction, I am sure I would have loved it. I am giving this book 1 and 1/2 stars just for the insipid plot.

I'll be upfront; I didn't really care for the book. I found the story to have an "outside of the box" premise and it never jelled for me to the point where I could lose myself in the story. I read the entire book because it was exceedingly well-written and I was a little fascinated to see where the author was going with this strange premise.

The storyline in brief- James, the hero, is nineteen (he turns twenty somewhere in the narrative but he did not magically mature.) Theo, the heroine, is seventeen. They have grown up together since she was an infant and shared a nursery together. At the start of the book, they view themselves as siblings. James is forced by circumstances outside his control to marry Theo. Apparently everyone, but James and Theo's mother, think Theo is ugly and are appallingly vocal about it. Theo thinks she is ugly. Failing to be told otherwise, Theo assumes James is marrying her for love. He isn't but he does actually love her as she is his best friend. She finds herself in love with him. Theo finds out in a particularly humiliating way that their marriage was not precipitated by love. She kicks him out while James barely attempts any defense. James follows in the footsteps of Peter Pan and plays pirate for years. Theo, already a somewhat mature character, grows up and takes the world by storm with her elegance- even though she is still plagued by thoughts of her ugliness. She and James are reunited. Theo refuses reconciliation for a brief time though she still loves him. James thinks she is beautiful and desirable, however, he "acts" all amused and distant though he loves her, too. She gives in and they have a happily ever after.

My main problem with the book is the ages of the hero and heroine. Eloisa James is an excellent writer and her characterizations of the hero and heroine are fabulous- they resemble real teenagers. However, I found them off-putting. For the first 127 pages of the book, a third of the book, they were youngsters who were really, really hormonal. I know it is historically accurate to marry a girl off at seventeen; however, it was still off-putting. I cannot help that I, the reader, bring my own modern sensibilities to the book. I couldn't get past the fact that she was little more than a child and they had viewed each other as siblings not so very long ago. I found the early sex scenes particularly awkward. Like an un-chaperoned Young Adult book that got really out of hand. And James! I simply could not stop rolling my eyes at him. I'm sorry but teenage boys are annoying to everyone except teenage girls. Good Lord! All the energy and frustration and emotions and hormones rolling off of him! He seemed like a giant exposed nerve in that he reacted to everything in the most outrageous and dramatic manner. His enthusiasm for sex, being a mostly sheltered kid, was understandable yet very, very awkward. I just cannot find a teenage hero- and then a hero who still acts like a teenager- at all appealing. I sympathized or cringed for her and I just felt uncomfortable with him. It is hard to get into a book that way.

Even after the characters had grown up seven years or so, it wasn't much better. Theo was already mostly mature and shrewd as a teenager but she still had some moments of astonishing naiveté and insecurity. There were times in her adult years that she was as unworldly, uninformed, and immature as a very sheltered teenager. James, on the other hand, had almost no real emotional growth. His maturity meant he accepted the fact that he wasn't a very good gentleman, I think. All in all, they were still pretty young and immature.

The "Ugly" thing. I'm not sure exactly what the author wanted us to think. I presume the moral of this story was that beauty is irrelevant in love because your beloved finds you beautiful because he knows you and loves you for who you are? I had two problems with this. One, I never got a good feel for her looks. Was she actually ugly? Was she simply cast outside society's preferred beauty? The author left it somewhat vague. I liked Theo and I see her as little more than a child- I wanted her to be not ugly or, at least, happy with her looks. And all the ugly comments got tedious and mean. It just seemed like her looks were always going to be an issue for her, personally. She was never going to get away from the comments and the insecurity. The second problem I had with it is that I was left with the impression that James, a man-child, deserved Theo, a worthy heroine, solely because he found her beautiful which is total nonsense and is contrary to the moral of the book. This leads to my third criticism of the book.

The reconciliation was pretty unsatisfying- again, I was reminded of how very young they are. I had hung on through their teenage years and their years apart, and I got an unworthy hero who was never forced to beg or crawl or grovel. Yes, she still loved him so her easy capitulation was realistic. Nonetheless, this is a woman who has had to learn to have a steel spine because so many people have been spiteful to her over the course of her entire life. Yet, he left her and let her think he was dead. His best friend. He had a tantrum, when he was in the wrong, and epically failed her for years. And, she forgives him far too easily. I couldn't help but think he did not deserve her. I kept thinking that as soon as she really understood her own worth, regardless of looks, her dependence upon James' affection would wane. Then, he would have to really work to become the man she deserved and could respect. Yeah, not so much. Apparently, sex is a great equalizer because that seems to be mostly what James brought to the table, aside from seeing past Theo's looks which I don't feel the need to congratulate him for, and it is deemed sufficient. I found that unsatisfying and confusing.

It was really well-written but I just couldn't get past the premise. It made me uncomfortable and I couldn't look at the characters without instantly discounting everything because they were so very, very young. Perhaps, if I had gone into this book with a clear mind-set and not expected a romance, I could have been more open-minded. Unfortunately, the entire romance story was demolished, for me, because of James at nineteen. It was like being privy to the sex lives of kids I had babysat as toddlers. Altogether awkward.

ugh i wish i would have waited to read reviews before i bought this. basically i found this a boring and irritating book. im not a james fan and this one seals the deal on me no longer buying her book. aside from the fact that more than half the book reads like a summary of events and u feel ur waiting for the book to start i had major issues with the lack of emotion theo displays at having her loser husband back. seven years of being a criminal and whoring andhe comes back because he almost dies and rethinks HIS life and what he is missing out on. he doesnt even think its a big deal. he isnt sure why theo is mad not that she shoes it. all that wedgewood should have been flying. at the least insults should have been hurled. this whole book just felt like watered down soup. bland and tastelss. total jip

But I would take a three star Eloisa James book over almost any other Regency romance author out there. There were some very enjoyable scenes, and the steamy bits were just about right for my sensibilities. But it all felt a little too contrived. Some of that is, admittedly, just part of the genre.

This book had the potential to be really great. I loved the idea of the friends falling in love. However, he's gone for years and shows up, they have sex, and all's forgiven. Really? She doesn't really try to find him, and he never even checks to see if she's okay. But, they apparently love each other so much. It's laughable. It could have been really good, but it just wasn't for me.

Ugly Duckling tales have long been popular among romance readers with a fondness for fairy tale motifs, but Eloisa James offers readers a fresh take on the fairy tale with The Ugly Duchess, Book 4 in her Happily Ever After series. An ugly duckling transforms herself into a swan with still tender scars underneath her glorious feathers and, in a reverse move, a handsome, popular swan transforms himself into a scarred ruffian shorn of his feathers.

Theo and James are heartbreakingly young and vulnerable when they part. Seven years is a long period of separation, but it's needed to make the changes these two undergo credible. I've enjoyed all of the Happily Ever After books, but this one is my favorite. I especially loved that Theo is responsible for her physical transformation, it comes at the time she chooses, and she uses her own sense of texture, line, and color to effect it. After she has captured Paris, she conquers London. That she does so in a gown of "pearly pink silk taffeta" and a cape that "gleamed under the light, soft and lustrous" and made of "gorgeous swansdown" are perfect touches.

James was able to tell the story of the ugly duckling in a fresh and sympathetic style, with humor, But instead of a duckling, we have a duchess who is ridiculed by the "ton'' and the press. Only her husband sees her beauty, which is more than skin deep. How their romance plays out is the plot of this delightul tale.

If you are a junkie for a fairy-tale romance, this is your fix! Combine all the necessary ingredients : 1 heroine who shines under pressure , 1indecently hot AND vulnerable alpha hero, 1evil villain, and a "ton" of aristocracy to reach the inevitable HEA. Blend perfectly together to form a sweet treat for romance fans.
Ok, enough with the food metaphor. Seriously, Eloisa James taps into at least 3 fairy tale classics to bring us one surprisingly original story. The book begins with an obvious nod to The Ugly Duckling. Theo is not society's idea of a beauty, however it is her strong will and intelligence that make her an outcast among the ladies of the London season. Her best friend James is gorgeous, but has no interest in the eligible "belles" being thrown at him. When he is forced to marry Theo by his father, he realizes he actually loves her. Theo. is swept off her feet (aka Cinderella) Ms. James characters come alive as the two discover lust and love do exist. The romance is bittersweet and short-lived. Almost immediately after the wedding night, James' secret reason for proposing is revealed in a cruel and humiliating scene. The following pages follow the two of them on opposite paths as she becomes a true beauty both inside and out, and James becomes the "Beast", changing his name and sailing the seas as a notorious pirate. Let me just say, I like pirate James....a lot! And Theo is way ahead of her time as a business woman!
The amazing thing about this book is that both hero and heroine have life- changing experiences that leave them vastly different from their former selves. When they finally reunite, they are like new characters that fall in love all over again. All of these elements combined could easily get confusing, but Eloisa James' seamless storytelling pulls it all together for a wonderful and intriguing tale. Fairy tale fans won't be disappointed.k

Loved the idea that he always saw her brand of beauty and that she didn't fall apart when he left.....that showed some strength of character. I knew he would return just in the nick of time. Great story!

Theodora Saxby suffers no illusions. She's heard the whispers, knows very well what she looks like. Theo has no qualms about acknowledging that her profile is mannish and she does not have the plushest of physical attributes that are gracing the ballrooms this season. She's adjusted as best she can, crafted her wit to snag a husband who could at least find her interesting.

All she needs is a polite introduction to the one on whom she's set her sights. After all, she's not without benefit to a potential suitor. She'll inherit a vast wealth and her dowry will be substantial. And Theo has long-range plans. As soon as marriage has given her some freedom, she'll immediately set about dressing as befitting her form and coloring. That alone should help, though she knows she'll never be beautiful.

She needs the help of her childhood friend, the boy - now a handsome young man - with whom she had been raised. His father the Duke had kindly taken in both Theo and her mother after Theo's father, the Duke's best friend, died. Now, as soon as she convinces James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to introduce her to the dashing man she wants as a husband, everything will be just fine.

Theodora Saxby had no idea that it would be James, her dear, beloved James, the same James who persists in calling her Daisy no matter how hard she tries to get him to stop, who would sweep her off her feet and marry her while her head is still spinning. She didn't know that two blissful days as his wife would be the very best time of her short life. And she could not possibly have guessed, or ever, ever imagined, that it would end in such a brutal fashion, betrayal flaying the heart from her chest, cruelly stripping away everything in her life that she had thought was good, true, and honest.

Leaving nothing in its path but the broken wings and ravaged plumage of one ugly Duchess.

~*~

This book gave me fits. Eloisa James is proven in her craft, writing sweeping, emotional historical romance. She can certainly tell a captivating tale. Still, several elements of this story didn't sit well with me at all. There were moments early in the book when I thought it was going to be okay, when I saw James and Theo's relationship as they first married. I felt comforted by the genuine love between them, even knowing it would have to come crashing down at some point.

Of course I loathed the Duke and think he should have been gut shot and left to bleed out slowly, but regardless of the horrendous betrayal that's disclosed in the opening chapter, James did love Theo, and despite his guilt, did marry her with true feelings in his heart. That went a long way with me. And I liked Theo, too. I appreciated her forthright honesty and her sense of humor.

Then it exploded in a hail of emotionally devastating bad choices made by all.

From the moment Theo finds out about the theft of her inheritance all the way through to the end I had my jaw clenched and my hands fisted on my Kindle. And honestly, maybe even surprisingly, not all of my animosity was pointed at James.

Oh, don't get me wrong, quite a lot of it was, but not all of it.

James Ryburn was a hideous emotional coward who lacked the testicular fortitude to stand up for what he believed in or fight for who he loved. He then compounded that egregious character flaw by embracing his inner reprehensible narcissist, spending seven long years gallivanting around the high seas like some hapless cad, thinking only of himself.

Then again, Theo kicked him out and told him quite clearly that she never wanted to see him again, even informed him that he should remove himself from the country. He took her at her word, so she was certainly not blameless. She was also not always a completely endearing character. For all that she felt horrible when labeled rudely for her looks, she was known to be rather sharp-tongued and openly critical of others. After the betrayal her personality often seemed unappealingly cold and biting.

Of course, James does return to England eventually. Problem is, when he is face to face with Theo again he is an arrogant, contemptible, cavalier ass, lacking in even the merest glimmer of contrition or apology for past bad acts. Sure, he spouts some romantic drivel about Theo being the other half of his soul, but by that point all I could do was gape in astonishment, because he continues to regard his seriously bad judgement and worse actions as inconsequential.

He also seems to suffer from the unconscionable belief that everything will be just fine between him and his wife as soon as he can toss her skirts up once or twice.

For all that I detested the man at that point in the story, there were still moments when Theo and James together was a good thing, even moments (however brief) when their romance worked for me. And honestly, I'm glad they found their way to a Happily Ever After. I'm just disappointed - and in some cases, horrified - about how it all developed. I needed more than what the book provided to help me get over all the horrendously bad choices and actions. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Avon Books publisher HarperCollins Publishing via Edelweiss. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

Another brilliant hit by Eloisa James! The characters are multi-dimensional and real, and remain entertaining and charming throughout. The story is super romantic, and the bonus short was juicy. LOVED IT!!! Didn't want it to end!!!

I know there have been mixed reviews about this one but I loved it. I liked how James and Daisy had been friends their entire lives so it was believable that they could still love each other after the 7 years James is gone. They both needed to grow up in that time and it made their love story better. For me, this was another great Eloisa James book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes her other books.

I found this book both heart wrenching and romantic. For five hours I was totally sewpt away by the story. Maybe it's because I can relate to the story from my own ugly duckling experience. For those of us who have been ugly ducklings this is a must read.:

I adored this book. So, so good. This was my first Eloisa James' novel, and I am not a big fan of regency era historicals, but she just hit the mark with this one. It definitely had a fairy tale quality about it, and I absolutely loved the aristocrat turned pirate hero. Will be reading more from Ms. James.

Read this book you won't regret it. The story is unusual and exciting and the characters are great. I loved James and all what he went through. You feel for Daisy and all the ugly comments she put up with.

I'm a massive fan of Eloisa James's Happily Ever Afters series, I have enjoyed all of the previous books and novellas so couldn't wait to get started on The Ugly Duchess. Unfortunately I was really disappointed with this book, it just didn't meet up with the standards of the earlier stories and I think that is mainly because I have such an issue with people who cheat on their partners. I'm afraid that this review will contain spoilers because I don't think I can fully explain my issues with the book without going into more detail than I usually would so consider yourself warned before you continue reading.

The story starts off well, Theo and James have been friends since they were children and I loved how close they were to each other. Theo has always been considered very plain amongst the members of the Ton but she has a sizeable dowry which has attracted her fair share of suitors. When James's father practically bankrupts the family he tells James that he must marry Theo to secure her dowry - well, what's left of her dowry because his father has been illegally spending that too. James is horrified by his father's actions and doesn't want to marry Theo, not because he doesn't care for her but because he doesn't want to lie to her.

As much as you know Theo is going to be devastated when she finds out the truth I really liked the way James comes to realise how much he genuinely does love her. They make such a sweet couple and the attraction between them is intense. There is a huge fanfare surrounding the wedding though, nobody would have expected a future Duke to marry such a plain bride and it earns Theo the title of The Ugly Duchess. Not long after the wedding Theo discovers the truth behind James's marriage proposal and is rightfully furious. Her insecurities about her looks don't help because she never felt like a deserving wife for James but I think anyone would have been as mad as she was though so I wasn't at all surprised when she tells him to get the hell out of the house and not come back. What did surprise me was that James immediately complies with her wishes, he doesn't even give her time to calm down and come back to try and talk to her - he just walks away from her and sets off to sea where he becomes a pirate.

As much as I was irritated that James wasn't man enough to fight for the woman he loved I could probably have dealt with him walking away if it hadn't been for the cheating. He is gone for nearly seven (yes SEVEN!) years during which time he has not just one but multiple mistresses. We spend the majority of the novel watching him reinvent himself as a pirate while Theo is left at home facing humiliation because she was so ugly her husband couldn't even bear to live with her. I admired Theo for how tough she was, she moves abroad and reinvents herself and I think in time she could have moved on and met someone new. Unfortunately at the point where she is about to have James declared officially dead he decides it would be the perfect time to return and try to win back the affections of his wife.

I don't think I've ever read a romance before where I wanted the heroine to tell the hero to get lost and for her to find someone else to have her happy ever after with but that is what I was desperately hoping for here. James comes back and expects Theo to welcome him with open arms, he admits to having mistresses and blames her because she is the one who told him to leave in the first place - it's not like she didn't have a reason to be mad, he knew he was in the wrong! She has remained faithful to him even when she believed he was dead, she has had her life made miserable by the gossips who love to talk about her and yet she forgives him within days. It just didn't feel believable to me, perhaps if she had made him work for his forgiveness I might have come to forgive him too but as it was I was left hating him and almost hating her for letting him walk back into her life so easily.

I was so disappointed with the way The Ugly Duchess turned out, I loved the characters in the beginning and had such high hopes but by the end I was ready to throw the book across the room. I do still love Eloisa James's writing though and I do love all the other books in this series so I'm definitely looking forward to reading Once Upon a Tower when it is published next year. I would say that if you don't have a major issue with cheating spouses then you'll probably enjoy The Ugly Duchess a lot more than I did, unfortunately for me that coloured my entire reading experience with this book.

spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not about ms James who writes quite well but i have a huge issue with her plot, thought process and bringing characters to life! this like her previous book wants us to accept that an ugly woman in the eyes of others can be deeply loved by the person who loves her and that of course is logically !!!!!however,my issue is why is this only successful when the male is drop dead gorgeous in her books ??????that for me is double standards!!!!the other issue i had with this story is the appalling shocking treatment of the farther ,the man hardly did a crime borrowing money from a child he raised as his own since birth !!!EVEN HER OWN MOTHER TOLD HER SO!!!!if the heroine really loved hem all as stated she would not at 17 throw out her farther in law ,the only father she knew, the man that opened his home to her and her mother ,a duke ,and with the cruelest of words !!!!it just did not connect just two days after marriage!!she throws out her husband too and he is forced to leave risking his life CONTINUOUSLY over the year nearly getting killed himself!!! and missing out on his fathers final years!!!all i could see her as is an UGLY heart, though she was mentioned ugly so often,and like a man that you are left with a depiction of circus freak rather than just not pretty , there was nothing endearing about her apart of course from her boobies as mentioned by author in a regency ,dear heaven above!!!!! ,i just could not see why the hero loved her she filled his life with saddens and misery!!!! She reminded me of woman that some poor guys are saddled with and you know there life will be miserable with them!!!!What are the chances that the only heir of a Duke would run off to become a pirate which we were told he was not !!!!more of a privateer but still had booty but still called a pirate yet his dad was screamed at as a criminal,just because he found ways ,though unsuccessful ,to keep his estates together,and this son of a duke who becomes a pirate ran off at the words of a seventeen year old yelling at him after two days of marriage for her money to a family she supposedly loved as her own -you would think she would say'' i love you all, i do not care i am glad you used my money since you needed it and besides we married now!!???'' ok so there is the issue that he married her only for the money and her ego was bruised but how does it excuse the fact that after two days she tells the man that took her in as a baby get out!???and the husband she felt as a brother all her life(another cringe factor)leave!!!!!!just unrealistic as hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!then of course he shows up 7 years later and again in two days they both realize all those 7 years wasted ,risking one's life ,not being with dying farther, basically sending him to an early grave ,sad ,they ,in one day decide they absolutely love each other too bits because the physical attraction is just to painful to resist.Where is the depth to these people??? and to cringe further she needs to stand up often to straighten the sheets ,i felt like reaching through the pages and slapping her hard on the face ,a few pages later their first fight is about him bumping over a sculpture , by now i gave up really!!!!!?????really??? really????you idiot female you nearly got him killed ,you are the reason his father passed away alone and sad!!!!!!statues and sheets!!how can this thing be lovable !!??? Ms James i do not know what other readers look for when choosing regencies but I look for romance, realistic characters and believable plots!!!! throwing out dukes by 17 year old's ,cliche forced pirates,and sex is all that defines us scenarios, are pure let downs for me at least!

What is so great about Eloisa james's books is that you can never predict what's going to happen. They are always surprising and sexy and incredibly well written. No one else writes like her and this book is a great example. The heroine Theo is not your standard perfect beauty, and the hero is a pirate with a sense of humor. I love it that their love story has so many twists and turns, and that their path to a happy ending isn't easy. That ultimately makes the story really satisfying.

I am such a fan of Eloisa James and this did not disappoint. I loved how it was so different. He was gone for SEVEN years, they grew up, things changed. Yes, there were some uncomfortable spots but that just make it into a fantastic novel. Brava Ms James!

I find that when I need a good read that isn't too heavy and can make me smile, I reach for Eloisa James.

This story reminds one that true love is true no matter the opinions of those around the love.

I had the amazing opportunity to read an e-Galley of "The Ugly Duchess." I think it is the best of her fairy tale series so far!
The book is a take on Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, " The Ugly Duckling." I do not want to summarize the plot for you and give anything away. So I will just say that this is a must read for anyone who loves romance!
On another level, I have to say that Eloisa approaches this story in a way that is very new and fresh. It's a bit different from her previous books, and I mean this in the most positive way. It is as if she has reached into a deeper part of her vast talent to retell a fairytale in a very realistic way. You won't need to suspend disbelief with this book. It will appeal to both your heart and mind.