Want a NOOK? Explore Now
How can she dare to imagine he loves her . . . when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess?
Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion.
Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months.
Theo would have given it a lifetime . . . until she discovers that James desired not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry.
Society was shocked by their wedding . . . and is scandalized by their separation.
Now James faces the battle of his life, convincing Theo that he loves the duckling who blossomed into the swan.
And Theo will quickly find that, for a man with the soul of a pirate, All's Fair in Love—and War.
A New York Times bestselling author, Eloisa James is a professor of English literature who lives with her family in New York, but who can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. (Her husband is an honest-to-goodness Italian knight!) Eloisa's website offers short stories, extra chapters, and even a guide to shopping in Florence.
I fell in love with Theo and James! Theo is a warm hearted practical soul who realizes she is never going to fit the set “standard” of English beauty; she just wants to be liked for her own good qualities and wishes her peers would get to know her before dismissing her for lack of looks. James is Theo’s best friend and one of the only people besides her mother, that doesn’t see her as ugly. In fact, it bothers him greatly when people refer to her in that way. Unfortunately, James is also a confused young man trying to grow out of his father’s shadow; he has watched his father make a mess of their fortunes and generally fail James in every possible way. When James realizes that his father has betrayed his Theo as well, his first instinct is to protect Theo but, unfortunately, he doesn’t know how to betray his own father in the process. Meanwhile, his feelings for Theo are changing as the instinct to protect her grows; he suddenly realizes that he’s thinking of her as more than a friend. Suddenly, both Theo and James are in a mess not of their own making; and in steps his father, to break things even further. Theo feels betrayed and in a fit of heartbreak orders James out of her life; James in a fit of guilt does as she asks and goes. When James left Theo, I was crying for them both! The story develops a wonderful twist at that point; everything hinges on whether or not James can learn to grow up and fight for what he wants, Theo. I loved this book, the characters were well developed and engaging and the story was just wonderfully romantic. I highly recommend The Ugly Duchess!
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SuperBookish
Posted September 5, 2012
I Also Recommend:
Great romantic book with great story line. Kept me entertained
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.R1FL
Posted September 4, 2012
I was so excited for this book to come out. I read all of Eloisa James books The Ugly Duchess was Just my cup of tea (or so I thought). What an amazing start, then........ 7 years? Pirate? Scar/tattoo? Such a disappointment, I found myself skipping through most of the middle of the book. It could have been such a fantastic book, well if you take out the middle. I didn't even like the hero anymore. So sad that my dreams of a tug at the heartstring romance only lasted a few chapters.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 3, 2012
Started out pretty good and then went downhill. Why do romamce writers think that killing numerous amounts of people and being disfigured is romantic....NOT! Why is being married to an older gentleman better than being maried to a young virile man. This book got 2 stars only because of the first part of the book. $7.00 is a lot to pay for a book that does not deliver. A Duke who is a pirate.....REALLY???
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.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.
5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.vanessasgram
Posted September 3, 2012
In almost every Historical Romance--they get married, and that's the end but in this book, it's only the begining of a great book and a wonderful read. I hardly ever give full 5 stars but this one deserves a special place!
This is one of those books that I could not put down and against Doctor's orders (mac. degeneration) I read the whole book in two days!
The characters grab you and you really feel their feelings and want them to find the key they need for happiness together.
There are some elements in this book that make it special and unique and I don't want to spoil it for anyone---all I can say is after the last page---I wanted to know when Eloisa James' next book will be out!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 2, 2012
I love Eloisa James and I have been looking forward to The Ugly Duchess release. But compared to most of her books (I've read them all) I found this one disappointing. I think it was partly the way the book was structured and partly that the characters, especially the heroine, Theo, were hard to empathize with over the course of the entire book. I loved both characters when they were first introduced, but after a whirlwind faux courtship ended by the trite convention of being caught in a compromising position, their marriage lasts a mere two days before Theo throws her husband James out and the characters are separated for 7 years. James' conversion to a pirate was a bit of a stretch for me, even in a fairy tale. Both characters undergo personality changes during their seven year separation, but the description of their experiences during those years and the way they are changed by them was quite truncated. Theo turns into a cold and rigid character, interesting but not endearing. I really didn't understand what the changes to James' personality were. He returns home in the nick of time to prevent his being declared dead and he and Theo are together another couple of days before the story ends (except for the epiloge, of course). The naritive includes less than a week's worth of days over a period of 7 years that the lead characters are together, but experience huge shifts in their feelings and relationship. Didn't work for me. This is not a book I will read and reread as I have several of her others, but no book written by Eloisa James is without its pleasures and much superior to most romances,, so my rating of "good" is relative.
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Janga
Posted August 28, 2012
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.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 2, 2012
Let me preface this review by stating that I love Eloisa James's books. I own them all and reread them frequently. That being said, I had read so much pre-release hype that I was expecting this to be the best book she has ever written. Unfortunately, it's not. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It's just that so much of the book is spent with the two main characters living their own lives, that it's hard to figure out why two strong individuals would want to get back together. And then when they do reunite, it seems like the first 24 hours were awkward, then they fell back into happily ever after. The beginning of the book is excellent. The middle is very good because it develops the characters' personalities. The ending is disappointing. It feels very rushed, like the editor made drastic cuts to get the book under the page limit. I'm not disappointed I bought it, but I probably won't reread it either.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FLORATHEREDMENACE
Posted August 28, 2012
One of Eloisa James' Best! 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.
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2012
I just dont know what to say. First of all I didnt like the hero since he was a cheater and he had so much to make up for but he chose to act like it was his right and get over it already. Second I dont know any woman whose husband have left them for seven years and had string of affairs and they forgive him in two days. The ending was so rushed compare to the pirate story in the middle. I dont know what is up with the name of hawk for pirates. I wish the story was more about the hero trying to make up for his mistakes rather than running away. When it comes to piret name James with the nickname hawk no one does it better than Johannah Lindsey and her Mallory family. Now that pirate is a loveable one.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jadeen
Posted August 31, 2012
I loved this book. The story was unusual and exciting. The characters were interesting and I especially loved James, he isn't your typical hero. I highly recommend this book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 31, 2012
Both main characters were strong. I was drawn into it from the beginning.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 30, 2012
Eloisa James' books are always a delight for the heart, mind and soul. However, The Ugly Duchess surpasses her already high standard of a GREAT reead.
Her characters are so thouroughly written you feel as if you know them, you actually feel FOR them! I sarted it and could not put it down!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am just going to state it plainly, It is a great book as are all of Eloisa's books. Get out there and pick up this book. Love Daisy.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
I challenge any reader to find a dumber book
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 12, 2012
I could take this book or leave it. It didnt hold my attention for very long. It was ok. But nothing to write home about. The story line was ok and so were the characters. It just want that good in my opinion.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 10, 2012
Cleaverly written romance with a retelling on an old tale. It was sweet, funny, and allowed for a very detailed story all in all. I enjoyed reading this book as well as some of her others. I am so glad we have these gifted writers to rely on for unique story telling. I will be keeping this one for several repeat readings in the future.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CorcegaBeach
Posted September 4, 2012
I enjoyed the story line. Easy, light read. I enjoyed the contrast between characters james and theo. While the historical aspects agree with timeline, I thought a rogue duke with a tattoo, actively involved in the peerage, reached deep within a creative imagination. Nevertheless, I'm a sucker for a good romance! It's a cute story.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Stella_L
Posted September 3, 2012
Theo has been raised with James, the Earl of Islay, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, since birth. Unfortunately, her guardian, the Duke of Ashbrook, who was her father's best friend, has absconded with her fortune. The Duchy will be ruined unless drastic measures are taken. It leaves her guardian's son, James, to make amends. However, James sees no resolution to his father's deception except to marry Theo after they are caught in a comprising position.
Theo and James are married. The ton and press call Theo the Ugly Duchess. Why? Because her manly features don't match the beauty of James. How could James stand to be married to such a person? Theo believes James marries her for love. But, after Theo finds the real reasons for the marriage, she throw James out and repairs the damage her father-in-law has wrought to her inheritance and the estate. James can't face what he's done and disappears for 7 years. Finally, he shows up before being declared legally dead. But who is there to meet him? Theo of 7 years ago or the Countess of Islay, a beauty of refinement and elegance, who has found her own path through the trials and tribulation left in her husband's wake? Only James and Theo will discover if they can overcome all the obstacles of their past romance.
This is one of Eloisa James's best novels in my opinion. There are so many levels in this novel-one could spend days and days comparing this story to the classics. True clear writing with the spin that only Eloisa James can deliver. The characters and the emotions expressed are deep and timeless.
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 weaving a story with clear crisp prose that leaves you wanting more.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
How can she dare to imagine he loves her . . . when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess?
Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion.
Still, the tabloids give the ...