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Reviewed by Cecelia Hopkins for Readers' Favorite
The Duchess Takes a Lover by Jillian Eaton commences with a delicious rumor that Mara Buxton, the Duchess of Southwick, plans to attend London for the season and find a paramour to amuse her. The rumor quickly spreads until it reaches the ears of her husband. The Duke, Ambrose, initially laughs at the audacious gossip but decides to go home to his country estate to stop the Duchess's scheme. Communication between the couple stalled at a crucial moment over a year ago. The current crisis forces them to talk and reassess their relationship. Could a loveless society marriage still hold the seeds of passion?
The Duchess Takes a Lover by Jillian Eaton is a historical romance that features a heroine with a liberated attitude. I enjoyed Mara and was gratified to discover that she was more innocent than the title led me to expect. I admired her working in the gardens and showing charity toward the Duke's tenants. Ambrose also came across as a reasonable human being who had been conditioned to entitled expectations by society. The alternating points of view made it clear that both the hero and heroine were survivors of childhood abuse and added emotional depth. The sex scenes became progressively intimate, but it took a while for the couple to overcome their trust issues. The narrative timeline cleverly flashes back to the courtship, revealing more about their history. I enjoyed the descriptions of Southwick Castle, which provided an attractive setting. If you like steamy historical romances, The Duchess Takes a Lover will entertain you.
