The Duke and the Wallflower

The Unwanted Dukes, Book 1

By: Jessie Clever

Narrated by: Bridget Thomas

Shunned by a society that puts attractiveness above all else, Lady Eliza Darby’s wallflower status keeps her from getting the one thing she wants most, namely, to be a mother. But, when her scorned older sister returns home to see all of her sisters wed in happy matches, it may be Eliza’s only chance to secure a husband and have the children she so desires.

Jilted in a publicly humiliating display, Dax Kane, the Duke of Ashbourne, has sworn off love forever and has no wish to wed. But, when the title demands it, he selects the most perfect candidate for the position: Lady Eliza Darby, a wallflower so unattractive, he won’t be in danger of falling in love with her. But, the jilted duke will soon discover looks have nothing to do with love.

The Duke and the Wallflower is the first book in the steamy, heart-stopping historical romance series, The Unwanted Dukes. If you love sexy, spellbinding romance and heartwarming humor, don’t miss this captivating series from best-selling author Jessie Clever. Discover adventure and romance when you download The Duke and the Wallflower today.

©2020 Jessica McQuaid (P)2021 Jessica McQuaid

Not bad

Took me a minute to get into the story but not a bad read otherwise.

Simple unassuming story

I found the story to be simple and straightforward. The narrator was good.
I really love stories where I fall in love with the characters and in this story I missed that. I found the Duke to be weak in character and lacking in courage. The female character had good moments. Overall, the story was passable but not memorable and the grand gesture at the end fell flat.

A Must Read!

I loved the story and the characters especially Henry, the Collie. The characters were multi faceted and interesting.

Loved Henry

I loved this story, However Henry was my favorite character. That lovable hound was loyal.

Enjoyable

I actually enjoyed this. I thought the hero was a bit naive and kept making the same mistakes while the heroine was a strong woman. Good read nonetheless.

Loved it

This book stopped my slump
It sooo good I don't usually like miscommunication trop but this was done so. Well and the writing was very good

Poor Narration

The story was fine however the narration left me frustrated. She drawled out the characters speech unrealistically. And was not consistent in maintaining their personalities due to her fluctuating tones from one minute to the next.

The heroine strength and intelligence

Narrator's voice, The hero seemed a little too weak to me. And the narrator made him sound like an old man both him an sebastian.

Like listening to paint dry

This book is totally angst free and plotless. It’s about a butthurt ‘jilted’ hero and an ‘ugly’ heroine and the melodrama is excessive. The first half is weighted down with author’s descriptions of how everyone moves their limbs and facial features, and how they physically respond to stimuli. I hope you like human anatomy and reflex. It’s all “her lips plumped, his hand raised, she recoiled, he quirked an eye, her knees buckled, he tried to grasp her, she squirmed, his hands dropped, he left the room.” 😂.

Dax and Eliza hardly speak. I can’t count the number of times he screws 𝙝𝙚𝙧 over but soothes 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, lol - either with liquor or the ear of a good friend. How about, idk, apologizing??? fighting for her??? Nope. It’s a strange literary choice making a hero so weak and avoidant. Anyway, just as you think you’re about to scream because these two never! actually! communicate! anything! they head to his seaside home in Brighton and finally start to get closer and it was sweet (for about 5 minutes). Then the ow drama starts and they stop talking again. The handling of the ow at the end truly sucked.

Narrator lacking........

This was a great story of Dax ( the Earl) and Eliza ( the wallflower). Dax had been spurned a year ago , in the previous season. And as is the "ton's" usual, gossipy self - he had them been labeled lacking and ignored by most people. He still wanted a wife to continue the "line", shop he decided to marry an ugly woman so that he wouldn't fall in love with her. He was able to do the first half off his plan, but not the second! He marries a wallflower to find out that Eliza is so much more than just her visage. He falls in love with her. But back comes the woman who killed him to try to win him back. He was for a short time (long enough though to have his wife catch him kissing his old flame) but then discovers that her truly DOES love his wife! Her only hope in the marriage was to have a child and become a mother. While pregnant, she becomes a much more confident woman. I loved tre interaction between her and her husband, but it really bugged me the way the narrator made her speak! So oily and terrible! It would have made there story so much better if she had had a different voice!