To say that I’ve been disappointed with the romance novels I’ve read of late would be an understatement. I don’t know if it’s a case of me struggling to evolve after having read the same authors for the past twenty years, but I’m seriously bummed out that I’ve not been able to binge on reading romances in the way that I used to. My latest attempt at falling in love with a romance came with reading Sophia Nash’s The Once and Future Duchess (2014). I’m sorry to say I did not fall in love and will need to court more authors.
The Once and Future Duchess tells the story of Isabelle Tremont, the Duchess of March, and James Fitzroy, the Duke of Candover, who are among a special group in the realm who have received missives from the Prince Regent to get married. While James (30) intends to disregard Princy’s demands, Isabelle (18) sees it as an opportunity to propose marriage to James, whom she has been in love with since she was a preteen. Problem is, James isn’t keen on marrying Isabelle because of their age difference and a promise he had made to her dying father. The story of how these two end up together is filled with other characters and backstories that make this story, for me, a hot mess.
To make sense of The Once and Future Duchess, it seems like the reader needs to have read a previous title (which I didn’t care to find the title of) because plot points involving two other characters whose story is intertwined with Isabelle and James’s story plays a prominent role. Allusions are also made to James’s previous “debauched bachelor party” gone wrong, which results in the Prince’s demands that certain members of his court settle into marriage. In addition, there’s Calliope, Isabelle’s 12 or 14 year old cousin going on 50 who dispenses “wisdom” while being an intrusive brat.
This story is a convoluted mess lacking focus. Isabelle was annoying, James lacked personality, and Calliope (meant as comic relief?) was just plain unrealistic. In addition, the two other characters who also seem to have been the focus of this story were just ridiculous. In all, the conflicts in this story were boring and not worth developing. The characters did not really evolve. And the “romance” was lacking. This story went no where and seemed incomplete.
I don’t know if this story is part of a continuing series. In the end, I didn’t care. I just wanted to be done with the book, for The Once and Future Duchess is very much forgettable.
More on my blog
Which authors do you recommend? I’m always looking for suggestions.
I’m sorry to say I’ve been much of a creature of habit (and a bland one at that) with my romance authors, so despite being a consumer for the last twenty years, my knowledge and recommendations are very limited. You already seem familiar with many of the old school authors that I have binged on for years: Amanda Quick / Jayne Ann Krentz, Judith McNaught, Catherine Coulter (Johanna Lindsey, Karen Robards and Nora Roberts to a lesser extent). You’re also familiar with the new(er) authors that I’ve read: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Sara MacLean, Julia Quinn. Other authors I’ve read but don’t remember or don’t care to recommend.
This is all to say that I can pitifully only recommend a couple of old school favorites I didn’t see listed on your “Complete Reading List”:
Judith McNaught: Perfect
Amanda Quick: Seduction
A more recent author who caught my attention is Jane Goodger. When a Duke Says I Do (2011), the only one of her books I’ve read so far, is pretty interesting. Never have I read a romance with a male lead quite like this one. I’ll leave you to draw an opinion about the writing, but I think I would love to hear what you have to say about this book.
There’s also Jade Lee who I’m not yet quite decided on but may be worth giving a try.
Lastly, the best I can do is recommend a website that you’re likely familiar with, but just in case you’re not, check out Smart Bitches, Trashy Books .
I am looking for the Goodger and discovered I can read it for free with my Amazon Prime. Woo!
I have tried Jade Lee and wasn’t impressed. I can’t look at Smart Bitches at work and when I do I feel like I don’t know where to start.
Does Amanda Quick do mysteries? I have that in my head.
Glad you’re giving that Goodger title a try. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Yes, Amanda Quick does romantic mystery/suspense under all her pseudonyms: Amanda Quick (historical romance), Jayne Ann Krentz (contemporary), and Jayne Castle (paranormal/futuristic). I’ve never read her Jayne Castle novels because I’m not into that paranormal/futuristic fantasy stuff. She has always been a fun and stable read for me as both Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz, though her newer titles can be hit or miss. I think that may have to do with her trying to branch out into hardcovers a la Catherine Coulter and Nora Roberts.
If you’re willing to give her a try, I recommend you start with the title I recommended above or start with her first Arcane Society novels (which she writes under both names and which deal with characters with a type of psychic ability, I guess. They’re the type of paranormal I can do, I guess). In any case, your best bet is to start with her 1990s-early 2000 titles. You’ll find that under each name she has a distinctive pattern/formula to her stories. I really hope you give her a try.
I understand what you mean about Smart Bitches.