New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Wildes series with a prequel about the Wilde children’s parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley.Every Duke needs a Duchess… Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children—and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband. Hugo takes one look … Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband.
Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn’t want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage.
Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one.
Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life.
He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven.
When a duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?
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This prequel novella to the Wilde series is a fun quick read. Hugo and Ophelia’s fast courtship had me smiling throughout. Lady Knowe is a blast, as usual, and the kids are endearing. As with the other books in the series, the members of the household staff are acknowledged and respected.
What an excellent start to this series! Although I’ve read a few of the others, this was the best of the Wildes. With well-crafted lead characters Hugo and Ophelia and a cast of supporting players that include some children, the story zips along to a very satisfying conclusion.
Sweet INSTA-love or perhaps lust novella between a very nice and hunky Duke with the super swimmers of a Superhero (he has eight children already) and an equally nice widow with just one little chick…for now.
Lots of Von Trapp-ish kid interaction from all sides so those readers that don’t care for children in there stories beware.
As per usual with Eloisa James, this is set in Georgian England.
The manly hero wows the heroine in an embroidered pink silk coat.
I enjoyed this novella length story. It is actually a prequel to the other Wilde books, so it was fun to see the heroes of those books as children.
Love the Wilde series. It was great to learn more about the Duke.
1 or two years ago, the author provided an unpublished short story to members of her newsletter about the romance of Hugo and Ophelia. This is a longer version. Since the series started several years ago when the older sons were grown, it was a little difficult trying to picture them as youngsters and remember exactly who was who in the later books. Still it was a sweet romance, filling in the blanks from the later books and remember that Wilde men fall in love at first sight.
In addition, there is a really cute novella included.
This is an author I truly adore. This is one of my favorite of her series so far, and this prequel did not disappoint! The relationship between Hugo and his sister is wonderful. It’s fun reading about characters we enjoyed as adults, when they were children. The scene with Ophelia and the children in the sleigh is priceless. The epilogue is another favorite, you can just see the entire blended family gathered in the master suite and enjoying themselves and each other. I look forward to the next book, and hopefully a few more in the series before we have to say goodbye.
*Re-release with new title. First published in 2017 as “Wilde in Denial”.
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Hugo, the duke hero, fell for Ophelia, the heroine, at first glance. He laid it all out on the line very shortly after seeing her for the first time. Yeah, it might have been OTT rushed, but I still found it romantic, folks. She, however, had become self-reliant, content just being with her two year old daughter. I liked that aspect about her. She was the opposite of a gold digger or social ladder climber. It truly made sense why she was taken off guard, but ultimately they both made knuckleheaded rushed judgements/decisions that soon kept them apart.
As a lover of relationship angst, I certainly could handle that inevitable aspect. Including the other woman I knew would ultimately end up being of no consequence. Not to worry though. These two only have eyes, lips, and hearts for each other. The writing flowed seamlessly, and I enjoyed seeing him come to realize Ophelia was it for him.
Title: My Last Duchess, Series: The Wildes of Lindlow Castle (Book .5), Author: Eloisa James, Pages: 432, pub date: 10/27/20, stand-alone but part of a series, widowed now recently officially divorced duke hero with a large premade family, widow mom to toddler heroine, falls for her at first glance, past spousal comparisons, OW drama, some steamy scenes, some relationship angst.
Book .5 – Wilde in Denial/My Last Duchess
Book 1 – Wilde in Love
Book 2 – Too Wilde to Wwed
Book 3 – Born to Be Wilde
Book 4 – Say No to the Duke
Book 5 – Say Yest to the Duke
Book 6 – Wilde Child
(I voluntarily read and reviewed a library edition of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author, publisher, or PR firm.)
Eloisa James is a favorite of mine. I love her books and this is my Introduction to her Wilde series. It works well as a stand alone and I’m so excited to read more now!
Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has lots of children. Eight in fact spanning from 18 years to 2 years old. He lives in a Castle that is mentioned quite frequently (I hope another book in the series takes place there) with his kids and twin sister. His twin, Louisa is trying to talk him into remarrying… so off he goes to London.
Ophelia, Lady Astley, has recently come out of mourning and this is going to her first society event with her cousin. She is a devoted mother to her two year old daughter.
I loved every minute of this short novel. We have instant love on one side of things. It is light, fluffy and delightful. There is some delicious steam! It has depth of feeling, passion and some magic in the snow. It is a perfect December read.
Thank you so much to Avon for granting my wish to read this on Netgalley!
#EloisaJames #MyLastDuchess #NetGalley #Avon
Eloise James is wonderful
I had read all the other books about the Wildes of Lindow Castle and it was wonderful to find out about the Duke and his “last” duchess. I loved Hugo and Phee.
MY LAST DUCHESS is a prequel of Eloisa James’ The Wildes Of Lindow Castle series. Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, needs a duchess for his eight children, but Lady Ophelia Astley is not interested. MY LAST DUCHESS was a serialized novella available exclusively to Eloisa’s newsletter subscribers that is now a stand-alone book of 255 pages. It is a delightful romance filled with witty banter, and the secondary characters are, adults and children alike, add depth and humor to the story.
Eloisa James adds a bonus story: STORMING THE CASTLE, a fairy-tale novella. Not every fairy tale begins with a prince or a princess…when Miss Philippa Damson runs away from home to Pomeroy Castle, she is far from a princess but an extraordinary beauty with ordinary dreams—to live a quiet life as a nursemaid. Jonas Berwick, rakish son of a grand duke, has vowed never to wed, so he offers Philippa everything–but his hand in marriage. STORMING THE CASTLE is a sweet, funny, romantic story.
I finished it in one setting. Please give Lady Knowe her own love story.
Hugo has eight children and has been married twice. His first wife was the love of his life and she died. His second wife was only interested in his money and he divorced her after she left their children and ran off with another man. Now, he needs a wife to help with his younger children. He is immediately smitten with the widow Ophelia, but she refuses him. She still mourns her last husband, she has a daughter to raise, and she doesn’t need the duke nor his money. Will Hugo be able to convince Ophelia that marrying again will be worth it?
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, steamy, historical romance novel. It has likable, engaging characters, wit, humor, a heart warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. It can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, as a prequel to Ms. James’ other outstanding Wilde novels, or after reading each amazing Wilde story, which I have done. Ms. James never disappoints her readers!
Loved it! Eloisa is the best.
Another entertaining story from Eloisa James.
Always love Eloisa James’ books. Her characters seem very human and endearing.
I just adore the Wildes! Excellent prequel to the series!
a truly great read. Nice to know more about the parents who raised these Wilde children.