#TBRChallenge Reading: My American Duchess by Eloisa James

2017 TBR Reading Challenge
Book: My American Duchess
Author: Eloisa James
My Categories: Regency Historical Romance
Wendy Crutcher's Category: New-to-You Author

I really enjoyed the book till the hero and heroine get married and then I felt it went flat for me from there. But the first three-fifths were great with snappy dialogue, great characterization, and a good plot.

Merry Pelford is an American heiress on the catch for a titled English gentleman. So far, she has fallen in and out of love easily, and she has jilted two American men. Despite being a Cabot of Boston, she has gained a reputation as being fickle. So her Aunt Bess and Uncle Thaddeus have bundled her out to her mother's homeland, England, where she may have a clean slate and a wide selection to choose from.

When the story begins, Merry has just been proposed to by Lord Cedric Allardyce, the twin brother of the Duke of Trent. Cedric is a virtual Pink of the Ton and very persnickety in his tastes. However, he also drinks heavily, gambles heavily, and spends money heavily. As a result, he's in need of an heiress bride, even if she is American. Merry has some idea that she's being courted for her money, but she's captivated by Cedric's good looks and fine address and believes him to be sincerely fond of her.

However, the same night of the proposal at Lady Portmeadow's ball, Merry has a run-in with the Duke of Trent. Neither knows the other out on the darkish terrace. And what ensues then in them revealing their true selves to each other in a refreshingly fresh, witty repartée. Merry does not try to hide her American-ness or her abiding interest in facts and figures, and Trent does not hide behind an aloof ducal hauteur. They also find that they have instant chemistry.

The minute they part, Merry hates herself for her capriciousness in constantly being enamored of the homme du jour. She determines to be true to Cedric to whom she has given her word. Meanwhile, the proper Trent is amazed that he is captivated by a woman who's the opposite of who he would consider as his wife and a fit duchess. However, by the time their conversation draws to a close, he has decided that he will have no other to wife.

Imagine his horror then when he finds out a few minutes later that his heart's delight is recently engaged to his brother!

And then follows the constant tug of war between Merry and Trent's growing attraction and feelings for each other, Merry and Cedric's growing disenchantment with each other, and Cedric and Trent continuing sibling hostility, almost all emanating from Cedric. Trent warns Merry to watch out for Cedric's penchant for drunkenness, while he believes that Merry could be Cedric's salvation to a normal life. He tries to stay out of the way of the affianced couple, all the while being unable to help himself for being unable to do so.

At Lady Verker's ball, Trent starts out consoling Merry but they end up in their first passionate moment when both acknowledge to themselves and each other that they were meant to be; anything else would be a travesty. Unfortunately for them, Cedric is hidden in the library, while this is going on. After Trent leaves to fetch Aunt Bess, he rakes Merry over the coals for her inconstancy and insists, vehemently, that none other than he would marry her.

Merry and Trent are in deep despair for two days till the wedding. Then comes an ex deus machina and Trent ends up married to her with Cedric off to the Bahamas. (It's a bit, um, wonky.)

And this is where the story went downhill for me. The story came to an utter standstill with repeated love scenes. There was no advancement of plot or characterization other than the fact that they were having a lot of sex and were getting emotionally involved. In between the love scenes, there was a lot of telling to show passage of time and how much the two of them shared their thoughts with each other and grew as a couple. There was no showing, only telling. It got to the point that when the black moment came, I didn't care very much.

What a pity! The story had such heart, such promise in the beginning. It felt energetic and organic. By the end, I felt the HEA was being pulled together.

Having said all of this, I have loved many of Eloisa James's books, so I will always try her next one.

(May I just say what a gorgeous cover that is? !!)