The Ugly Duchess

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

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.

©2012 Eloisa James (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Seven years is too long

It appears to be a trend in romance novels to have plot devices involving separations between hero and heroine lasting not months, but years. I understand the reason behind the seven years, but that doesn't make it any less irritating to read.

In spite of the irritation, I have to say Eloisa has written a compelling story that kept me up all night to hear.

A TOTALLY IMPLAUSIBLE YET ENJOYABLE REGENCY ROMP

Nice fairy-tale based on The Ugly Duckling about a romance that was doomed from the start as the young lovers were just pawns in someone else's game. But seven years later, after much heartache between the two, they finally get to do it their way as the handsome Pirate returns to claim his Dukedom..... and his Duchess who has turned into a beauty but he always thought she was.

Thought the ending was a bit rushed - it should have taken her longer to forgive him than one dose of his 'helping hands' in the bath tub!!

Worth a credit? A typical E.J. book - enjoyable, entertaining and pure escapism - YES well worth it.

Okay

Eloisa James' new series based on a fairy tales is very interesting. I loved first two but this one was a little flat compared to them. Worth listening though.. Can't wait to hear which fairy tale she'll use next time

greatest use of a credit

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ugly Duchess to be better than the print version?

The audiobook was way better then the book . Susan Duerden gave the characters New life and I could visualize each and every scene . If it wasn't for her Awsome narration I would this was just an other book to pass time

Overly Depressing

I love the pure entertainment found in a well-narrated historical romance novel. I accept that these books follow a certain formula with misunderstanding, angst and reconcilliation. Sometimes the journey is humorous and sometimes the journey is sad, but the best books have a mix of both. This one did not.

I liked the premise of this book with the ugly duckling and the rich handsome hero who has the character to see past the surface. I didn't get too hung up on the fact that they were raised as siblings. I just couldn't get beyond the passive behaviors of supposedly strong personalities -- a take-charge woman and a successful pirate captain -- who wallow in misery for years. Even the life changing events are weak -- she says "get out" and he says "OK" and disappears for seven years.

I could have gotten past the plot weaknesses if there had been a touch of humor or quirky secondary characters. For my taste, the pendulum swung too far to extreme sadness and wallowing. I had to keep listening because I knew there would be a happy ending -- I just wanted to get past the many years of truly miserable lives. The books I enjoy tend to have some relief along the way, but this one required perseverance.

As usual, Susan Duerden does a stellar job of narration. It's always a pleasure to hear her performances.

My first E. James listen...Not my last

I was so pleased with this story and so well written it has made me a new fan of Eloisa James and I plan to read all I can find. The characters were easy to like and made me very interested how they would work things out. I was glued to this audio from the beginning to end.

And I thought Theo/Daisy was beautiful.

A definite relisten

I enjoyed this story based on the fairy tale of the Ugly Duckling. The characters and the story kept my interest, but I think I would have liked to have more of the courtship in both the before and the after. And I think the exposition was a little long, rather than having the story moving forward through action and dialog. I wanted the period of seperation between the protagonists to be less detailed, and more detail given to the life before that, and especially to the reconcilliation. Overall, a pretty good Eloisa James. As for the narration, I can easily say that Susan Duerden is one of my favorite readers. I haven't heard her read anything poorly.

Fairy Tale romance with some LOL scenes

Obviously following the fairy tale of the ugly duckling turned swan, an "ugly duckling" falls in love with a handsome Duke-to-be and marries him, only to discover that he apparently only married her to gain her dowry. Countess Theo develops a makeover style that is fabulously successful at the same time she "banishes" her treacherous husband from the land, and he becomes a pirate and privateer. The story involves some farfetched escapades and resolutions (which are appropriate for a fairy tale), but if you read this for no other reason, read it for the hilarious bathtub scene of attempted reconciliation between the couple after a 7 year separation.

Tedious

Skipped because it was just too tedious and the heroine was not likeable. Narrator saved this book.

loved

absolutely loved this book, was way better than I thought it would be. would recommend