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The Duchess
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From Publishers Weekly
Mutual deception lies at the heart of this agreeable romp set in 1883 Scotland. American money (Claire Willoughby) is to snare a Scottish title (Harry, 11th duke of MacArran). But Claire's parents are bankrupt and spend Claire's dowry on their own lavish pleasures. Unknown to the Willoughbys, Harry's family is also penniless and counting on Claire's inheritance to upgrade their 12th-century estate, Bramley House. On a prenuptial visit, Claire meets an enigmatic rogue named simply Trevelyan. In fact, he is the true duke, Harry's older brother, and leads a spectacular double life as a Sir Richard Burton-esque explorer, Capt. Frank Baker. Recuperating from a debilitating illness, Trevelyan hides in a carefully concealed section of Bramley House. Claire, restless and inquisitive, stumbles through secret passageways and locates Trevelyan's exotic nook. Unaware that he is Harry's brother as well as the explorer whose books she has read with such eagerness, Claire strikes up what begins as a spirited friendship with Trevelyan. Soon Claire entertains second thoughts about Harry, who is far too devoted to his horses and to his mother, the sinister Duchess Eugenia. Written with a light touch and a quick wit, this latest offering by veteran romance novelist Deveraux ( Mountain Laurel ) contains numerous surprises in its final, exuberant chapters.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
More from the famed mistress of heartthrob (Mountain Laurel, 1990, etc.)--this time bogged down in 19th-century Scotland, where a host of silly, mostly unpleasant characters move sluggishly through a love story that never gets off the ground. Claire Willoughby, a big-bosomed American heiress, falls in love with mama's boy Harry Montgomery largely because he is blond and a titled duke. The dimwitted Harry wants Claire because she will inherit ten million dollars as soon as she weds a proper guy. Lusting for the dough--as well as the approval of his revolting mother, Eugenia--Harry whisks the buxom but bookish Claire, along with her childish parents and precocious sister ``Brat,'' to his Scottish castle, Bramley, where an odd bunch of family members roam in and out of dark passageways mumbling about horses and dogs. In this chilly atmosphere, Claire stumbles upon the cynical but sexy Trevelyan, who, she later learns, is her childhood hero, explorer Frank Baker, whose writings about the exotic and erotic have held her in a state of dire excitation all these years. Passion bubbles and festers, but there is so much mean-spirited jousting to and fro that by the time the two take the plunge no one cares. Finally, the highly emotional heiress grapples with a moral dilemma as it dawns on her that although she loves the lecherous Trevelyan, she must marry the boring Harry in order to secure her inheritance. The ever-so humdrum final twist reveals the real identity of Trevelyan/Baker, and leaves Harry right where he belongs--in the arms of the conniving little Brat. Fictional sludge. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
30/01/2006
This book was a great read! It has interesting twists I didn't expect. Vellie has a secret he is loath to share and then he falls in love--how much better can it get?
27/03/2004
duke relationship. The characters are really funny, and the story has a lot of twists and turns which certainly held my interest.
However, the main drawback of the story to me was this - Trevalyn, while certainly a most interesting character, has many flaws which I find hard to forgive, the main one being that, at the same time that he is becoming close to Clare, he is leading her to believe that he has other relationships at the same time. I've read through the book, and I never heard him deny it. How can he expect Clare to declare herself to him unconditionally when he doesn't make a single move to reassure her? Not only that, he seems to go out of his way to point out to her that he is not capable of a monogamous relationship. And even at the end of the novel, he never bothers reassuring Clare on that point. I have a problem with the hero of a romance novel acting that way.
I am surprised that no previous reviewer mentioned this, as Trevalyn actually said he might find it hard to stay in a monogamous realtionship - that really spoiled the book for me.
I am also surprised at the relatively high ratings this book received, with some of her newer books, which in my opinion are actually better, getting lower ratings.
09/01/2004
very different and I just adore him. Claire is also fun - I found her love of Scottland refreshing and interesting. The Scottish guy, whose name escapes me, was a treasure, I adored his scenes!!!
Negatives: Well, there are a few. If I did not love characters as much as I do, chances are I would not be too crazy about the book. 1. The ending chapter was terribly disappointing to me. I don't want to give it up for anyone, but I expected much more than the one sentence Claire and Vellie got. Even that sentence was a huge disappointment. 2. The plot - not very well developed in regards to Vellie's mother. Not developed at all, I should say. 3. I honestly expected more from the sex scenes due to the way Vellie was portrayed. They were good, especially the first time they kissed, that was amazing... but I expected more from the other ones.
Overall, I will always love this book. I wish, however, the author would take time to rewrite it and address some of the issues above!
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