When the Duke Returns

December 15, 2008
Simeon Jermyn, Duke of Cosway, long absent on a globe-spanning spiritual quest of his own, is called home by his wife, Isidore, to take care of his sadly neglected ducal duties, including the husbandly ones. But Simeon and Isidore were married by proxy when she was 12 and have never met. The last thing she expects is a virgin hero who wants to wait until they have a "real" wedding to consummate their marriage. Values, cultures, and conduct clash in this intense, electric romance as two disparate people learn the real meaning of love. James ("Duchess by Night") has given readers another smart, bawdy Georgian tale, the fourth in her popular "Desperate Duchesses" series. She lives in the New York City area.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2008
Eleven years after their wedding by proxy, Lady Isidore, Duchess of Cosway, finally meets her husband, Simeon Jermyn, Duke of Cosway.Simeon had left Englandfor a life of adventure and travel in the Middle East and India. Now he has returned and intends toclaim his wife. Isidore had hoped for agenuine marriage, but Simeon is nothing like what she expected. Not only does her surprisingly sexy husband have the audacity to comment on her lack of domestic skills buthe seems more than willing to give Isidore an annulment if she wishes to end their marriage. But Isidore isnt about to give up on her dreams of a life together, and she is willing to fight anyone, including Simeon, to see them fulfilled. James puts a clever spin on a classic romantic plot in the latest scintillatinginstallment in her superbly entertaining Georgian-era Desperate Duchesses series, once again beguiling readers with wonderfully original characters, wickedly witty writing, and lusciously sexy romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)