An Affair Before Christmas

I have read most of Ms James books and generally believe her writing style is descriptive and rich in exploring human emotions. In this particular novel I loved the hero.He was uncomplicated and very sure of himself ,his identity ,sexy,down to earth and very human.I liked the fact that he was sure of his feelings and love for poppy and never wavered from them.It was the heroine who had to undergo self-exploration and change to overcome all the sexual complexes her horrible bitter mother had instilled in her and to finally free herself to demostrate her love to Fletcher. The supporting cast of relationships within this circle of Desperate duchesses and their men is very interesting filled with humor and impending intrigue.
The intensity of feeling between the heroine and hero and the cademerie between them was very well executed and realistic.
A truly enjoyable read-I finihed it in one sitting ,looking forward to what happens to the Duke Villiers.

Once again........... (4/4 people found this helpful)

Eloisa James delivers another fun and fantastic read.
I love the bi-play between all the characters, and in both of her Duchess books I have found myself more and more fascinated by Villiers, although I am hoping that Jemma and her Duke work things out.
Eloisa's character Villiers, for me, is the most enthralling, I can't wait for him to finally meet his match, he thoroughly deserves it!
For anyone who has never read an Eloisa James book, you can't go far wrong with these Duchess series, there is laughter, tears and intrigue, not to mention wonderful romance.

Let me just say that I almost missed reading this book. (10/15 people found this helpful)

Anyway this book made me love EJ even more than I did before. She has a real talent for making unlikeable people more palatable. Under normal circumstances Jemma would be a character I would hate, but I love her parts almost more than I loved the main heroine. The Duke is getting more interesting to me too. He cheated years ago, but his ultimate integrity and relative patience with an embarrassing wife really makes him likeable. He is also the character most likely to admit his faults, the others seem to have a problem with this. Fletch was a great hero, sometimes better than the heroine deserved. Poppy was annoying at times, but mostly likeable. She did not have good introspection at all. Another reviewer commented on this already, but Poppy seemed to have a real problem admitting her contribution to the disintefration of her marriage. She blamed Fletch for everything and even at the end doesn't really understand that their problems were partly her fault. This fact is just glossed over. She also says something to him (don't want to spoil it)that hurt him that he really did not deserve. This book was page turning and fast, though I admit to skipping the Villiers parts myself. I am not necessarily tired of his character, but he seems to be the Wolverine to everyone elses Cyclops. He always wants or attracts the women that belong or should belong with someone else!!! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it. I'm loving this one.

2nd book in the series (11/13 people found this helpful)

This is the second in this new Duchesses series. Like the first book it carries on the story of Jemma and Beaumont and the chess match with Villiers.

In this story the duchess in the main story frame is Poppy, the very young wife of the Duke of Fletcher. Fletch and Poppy meet and fall in love in Paris, the Christmas of 1778 and marry. Then the problems start. Deeply in love with his young wife Fletch has been looking forward to his marriage night, however even before they are married Poppy seems strangly repulsed by an intimacies such as kissing. She keeps telling him that her Mama says that ladies of quality don't do that sort of thing. This does not bode well for the wedding night.

Four years later things have not progressed very far in the bedchamber and Fletch is fed-up and deeply hurt that his beautiful wife does not seem to want him. So he decides to take a mistress. Their story progresses from there.

Meanwhile, Villiers has been injured in a duel by Jemma's brother (from the previous book). His health seems to deteriorate over the months to death's door, so of course the chess match has to be postponed. Meanwhile Villiers decides to play matchmaker with Charlotte Tatlock who is half in love with the Duke of Beaumont, Jemma's husband.

A light, frothy, fun read.

An Affair Before Christmas

Eloisa James

Reader Reviews:

I really loved the hero (0/0 people found this helpful)

Once again........... (4/4 people found this helpful)

Let me just say that I almost missed reading this book. (10/15 people found this helpful)

2nd book in the series (11/13 people found this helpful)

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