My Last Duchess

This is actually two novellas, both of which I was glad to see. I remember hoping that Wick would rate a story of his own, and though I hadn’t realized I wanted the story of the Duke and Ophelia’s romance, well, I was enthralled with that one as well. Eloisa James’ depth of understanding of and empathy for her characters are what made this book such a treat to read. I look forward to her next adventure.

This was a weird book. I believe it was unnecessary, I mean, I have nothing against prequels but if you are going to tell their story it had better be a great romance. This one didn’t seem to be. The Duke simply saw her and fell in love, it seemed contrived, I didn’t believe their declarations of love, they came to soon and too easy. Their interactions seemed awkward and the Duke came across (at least to me) as clumsy and not very bright. Like a big blundering child. That was the biggest issue I had with this book I didn’t like the hero and there was no angst, tension or chemistry. The characters act in unbelievable ways, like when the Duke invaded her carriage (after seeing her across and ballroom, without even being introduced) then proposes a few minutes after (?!) She, of course, says no. But then when due to the snow and the broken carriage, he has to sleep over at her house, she invades his bedroom and they “play around” but he refuses to make love to her because she had turned down his proposal.
Apparently he has this moral ethics that if they make love they have to marry, but he was carrying a condom. Why on earth would he be carrying a condom if he was just going to a ball and he apparently didn’t plan to have casual sex? Another thing that keeps bothering me about his sister “Lady Knowe” is the lack of explanation of her status. Is she a maiden? Is she a widow? We know that she has lived with them for a while, because she has mothered his children, and in the other books she continues to live with them, but what is her story? (Please I’m not asking for another unnecessary novella) just tell her story through the other books. Why is she called Lady Knowe? If she is a maiden shouldn’t she be called, as the daughter of a Duke Lady Louisa? And if she was married and is widowed, then why is that never mentioned? Seems kind of careless to me.