The Ugly Duchess

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Riveting Storytelling and Characterizations

This fairy tale twist is a brilliant love story. The lead characters start out very young, and the "Ugly Duchess", Daisy, has distinctive issues and fears about her looks. She is one of those girls who, despite a good and glad heart, feels ugly and is constantly reminded by cruel comments and jokes from others.
The old duke, her guardian, while kind and generous enough in her upbringing, is a fat-headed big mouth with a foul temper that constantly provokes his son, James, who was raised alongside the girl as a brother.
They are best friends.
The old duke puts his son in a situation where he is forced to propose marriage to her, for financial reasons.
Then all Hell breaks loose.

The telling of Daisy's and James's growth and maturation as individuals is fascinating.
The climactic scenes towards the end are riveting. One can't help but feel the emotions of the characters, and for those of us in the world who have felt like "ugly duckling" during our formative years, it is heartbreaking at times.
It is a story one can't put down. The book is satisfying in it's length as well; the conclusion is not hurried or cut off prematurely.
I really like Eloisa James's epilogues at the end of her books. They give us a peek after the "Happily Ever After". Very satisfying.

Starts out great. Then boom!

characters develop an alternate personality. The story is amazing but then somebody must have taken over the writing because the characters change personalities so much the story is unbelievable and uninteresting. what a shame!

SIMPLY AWEFUL

What disappointed you about The Ugly Duchess?

Very disappointing! Hero is disgusting and leaves Heroine for SEVEN years and then decides he wants his wife back dispite his several mistresses etc....ugh!

Has The Ugly Duchess turned you off from other books in this genre?

no way

What aspect of Susan Duerden’s performance would you have changed?

Her villains voice is annoying

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not that I saw

Any additional comments?

Love the author but this was simply aweful

Books rating for content...R

I loved the first few chapters; however, it became rated R. So really I don't know how it ended. Why doesn't books have rating like movies do, especially when it has a fairy tale-ish name. :(

Author degrading to women

Stupid book,plot. Guy leaves for 7 years, comes back claiming they've always been married, except for when he screwed other women, then they weren't according to him. Daisy nothing more than an easy English whore for forgiving him. If he had always had feelings for her, he wouldn't have stayed away or screwed other women, he didn't even feel any guilt over anything. Seems like all James books contain an English a-hole who can't keep it in his pants and an English woman who is nothing better than a sleazy easy slut. Guess I'll save money, no more of this author