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Summary: I stayed up all night to finish it!
Review: I couldn't put it down and so I stayed up all night to finish it! I read it in one day because it hooked me. I have been a Jude fan ever since. Pick this one up and you will be too!
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Summary: one of my favorite Deveraux books
Review: I have read the other reviews on this book, and found them mixed. For the longest time, this was my favorite book from this author. I'm not sure why I loved it so much, for so many of her are probably considered better, but I think it was the fact that the heroine was smart, willing to take a risk, and not perfect looking. Claire was all of those things. She possessed her own mind, and was aware of the pressures of living up to her parents' expectations (who were extremely selfish in their motives, never taking into consideration her feelings at all). She was overshadowed by her beautiful sister Brat, who, while charming, was still a spoiled conniving girl who aptly lived up to her name. Treveleyan, in my opinion, was an engaging character. He never tried to pretend that he was anything other than what he was, a moody man with a mysterious and rather painful past. To me, it was romantic to see them drawn together because they were both such lonely souls that found companionship and comfort in each other (kind of reminded me of Eve and Roarke in the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb). While not a book of in-depth reading, I loved it, and wished that there were more stories involving their character (and especially having Brat grow up, not marry Harry, who was a moron and a mama's boy, and find some guy who was her equal). I don't think that this book was boring at all (unlike what some of the reviewers said), it was charming in it's own right. A definite must-read for a rainy day.
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Summary: great book - terrible voice
Review: I am new to books on tape and I really have been enjoying all of the Deveraux novels....the "Duchess" was delightful and I really enjoyed the plot....my great disappointment with the product(tape)was the narration....the actor reading the story- I am sure is a fine stage actor....but his voice did not belong to the female characters - just when the plot got interesting I found myself laughing and distracted at the horrible voices he used for this strong willed educated "Duchess"-to be. This is one case when a stong male voice really added to the story but lessen the role of Claire..really great story Ms Deveraux...but screen the voices better....
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Summary: Different, but romantic
Review: For some reason I enjoyed this book - although I can come up with many reasons why it would be disinteresting. Trevelyan was intriguing in the sense that I knew that he was both intelligent and handsome, although disturbingly Claire believed him to be an old man. I suppose it is due to the many eccentric or different characters that made this book good. Claire and Trevelyan are not your typical hero or heroine - but they are both interesting. Although, their are some parts in thie novel that are dull, their is not much adventure in this book. However, perhaps this adds to the story since it focuses mostly on the character development instead of the action.
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Summary: Something to read over and over again
Review: The only Jude book I had read before this one was The Heiress, and since I adored that one I wanted to read another of hers. I saw The Duchess sitting on a friend's bookshelf and for some reason I decided to make that my next reading project. I was not disappointed. Though, everytime I read it I tend to read only the Trevelyan scenes, I find it highly amusing. For Vellie is one of my favorite male characters, for he is unlike Jude's other Montgomery males. He isn't entirely gentle with females and does not worship them, like the others have done in her books. And Claire her self was rather entertaining. Definitely worth a reading.
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Summary: The Duchess
Review: This is one of Jude Deveraux's greatest works...This is my 5th time reading it and I get more and more into the chracters of the story;About Nyssa "The Pearl of the Moon", Claire the soon to be duchess, Sarah Ann , Claire's coniving, manipulative sister, Harry the "duke", and Trevelyan the dark, dangerous and handsome rightful duke of the Bramley house. I was touched by the love story, and the history involved in the book! It's a great read.
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Summary: The Duchess
Review: I have read several of Jude Deveraux's books and I have to say that this was the best. I am a slow reader and I had normaly disliked reading, but when I started to read the Duchess I could not stop, I read it all in one night. This is the best book I have ever read and I sugesst it to all.
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Summary: Not Bad, But Still Not the Best
Review: Although this book was interesting enough for me to read until the end and kept me up at night to finish, it wasn't as entirely absorbing or heartfelt as some of her other books, such as Knight in Shining Armor. The characters were colorful and interesting, although at times I found myself to be annoyed with Claire for being so closed minded about Nyssa's religion, and also for thinking she "should" love Harry when in fact its quite obvious she had a better and more open relationship with Trevelyan. I don't know, Claire wasn't the best character to me.. I didn't tend to Trevelyan was the typical male romantic hero: tall, dark, mysterious, a man who "gets all the ladies" but then gives them all up for his one "true love." For the most part, the plot was interesting enough, it was entertaining, however, it wasn't as funny, and the chemistry between them wasn't as passionate as it could have been. Deveraux has the potential to do so much better, but its obvious this isn't her best work. The ending was an utter disappointment. I was hoping for some closure, and I expected some kinda "thing" to happen to the old bag duchess. Instead, I get stuck with a hastily put together reunion and an even hastier epilogue. It left a lot of questions unanswered. I would reccommend this book if you're bored... it's not a boring book, its just a bit more bland than other books I've read. The plot kind of keeps you going, but you end up waiting for some big, emotional scene where you cry your eyes out... and it never happens. For books like those, i definitely and highly reccomend McNaught. But this isn't a review about her, is it? Oh well, this book has its good and bad points... take it or leave it, I guess.
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Summary: This is JD's best work
Review: I enjoyed this book and have read it over and over again. Claire is so real and Trevelyan is a character that jumps from the page. He is not your typical "romantic" hero. The scene where he admits to Claire he loves her is one I can hear spoken in real life. I can close my eyes and imagine that this conversation has been uttered between countless "real" couples. Ahhhhh, it is so refreshing and touching. The one theme that touched me deeply was the discussion of loneliness. So many time the heros and heroines of romantic fiction have so much going for them BEFORE they meet the "one" that it is hard to relate to. This novel is not that way. Everyone can relate to the universal theme of loneliness. Sure there are Scots, castles, murder plots, etc. but deep down this is a story of two lonely people finding eachother. Wonderful wonderful wonderful
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Summary: So-So Deveraux
Review: Jude Deveraux is a really good writer, but this is NOT her best work. The heroine, Claire, was fairly likable because she was such an educated woman. (I enjoyed the fact that she loved to read, read, read.) The hero, Trevelyn, was a disappoinment. I like a strong Scot, and he fell short. (He was plagued by malaria.) Deveraux did not spend as much time on detailing the characters as she usually does. Harry, Trevelyn's brother and Claire's fiance, is a total bore. There is also one scene with Harry's and Trevelyn's mother and Claire. You would think that if there is supposedly so much hate and anger in this woman that there would have been more than one scene with her. She just fades away later in the story. It's almost like Deveraux was told that she had to turn in her finished book right away, so she had to wrap up the ending right then and there. It's a shame. Don't waste your time on this book. Instead, read Knight in Shining Armor by this author. Now, THAT'S a keeper!
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