Their wedding was the event of the season…A shy wallflower, Caroline hasn’t the faintest idea why the Duke of Readington chose her to be his bride. She could ask, but that would mean speaking to him…and truth be told she’d rather have a conversation with the devil. Her new husband may be one of the most powerful men in all of England – not to mention the handsomest – but he’s also cruel, … cruel, callous, and has a heart colder than ice.
But it was never meant to be a love match…
Eric married Caroline for one simple reason: he wasn’t in love with her. Having seen firsthand how love can bring a man to his knees, he’s determined not to make the same mistakes his father did. Which is why he’s going to spend just enough time with his new bride to assure himself of an heir before he leaves her and returns to London. At least that was the plan until a winter storm leaves them stranded. Now every time Eric turns around he finds himself stumbling over the wife he never wanted…but is slowly beginning to desire.
….or was it?
As cold winds howl outside the manor, inside of it a duke’s heart is finally starting to melt as he finds himself falling for the one woman he was never supposed to love…but can she love him in return?
“JILLIAN EATON FINDS THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN INTENSE EMOTIONS, SIZZLING CHEMISTRY, AND LIGHT-HEARTED HUMOR.” – Swept Away by Romance
The Winter Duchess is a Regency holiday novella of approximately 30k words.
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This was a good emotional story of two people who knew nothing of each other when they married. Eric is a man who let his past rule his life. Caroline is a shy meek woman who did as she was expected until she’s had enough. Sparks fly when Caroline seeks what she wants and Eric fights his feelings.
3.5/4 Stars
An enjoyable regency romance read. As with most marriages at this time, there’s was not a love match. He is full of himself, she is shy and scared. Slowly but surely they fall in love and it is sweet.
Occasionally a story-teller comes along whose talent leaves me awestruck. Jillian Eaton is such a writer. I adored everything about The Winter Duchess: the riveting prose, the splendid characters, the gripping romance…
This is one of those stories that stays with the reader long after the last page is read. I cannot wait to read more of this gifted author’s work. Truly amazing!
Apparently, I’m not quite ready to give up Christmas because I have been on a kick. I figure by Epiphany, I need to change over. But until then let me tell you that this was a cutesy and satisfying little romance! Its free with Prime, and I recommend it to anyone who is holding onto the Christmas warm fuzzies like I am!
Happy to recommend!
This is one of those books where I was reading away and then then story ended and I wished that it had just carried on. That is how much I enjoyed it.
It had an interesting theme with a hero who believes he will never be able to love and a heroine who finds herself caring more and more for this man who tries to deny both of them true happiness outside of the bedroom.
I love the way in which the story unfolds as well as the way it is told and am quite happy to recommend it.
This scraped to a 3 star. Loved the cover although I don’t think anyone wore gowns like this until the 1930’s.
Sweet, almost fantasy-fairy tale of a sweet and want-to-be-feisty heroine and the shutdown arrogant Duke of Jackass that her overbearing mother made her marry. The h wants love; the Duke wants an heir and to find a new mistress. He doesn’t, of course, but he thinks about it a lot ‘cause that’s what Peers do.
I almost DNF’d as the hero is such a prat. Initially he’s not even a fun grump to read. It takes him a couple of weeks to get around despoiling his virginal wife. However, at the 50% point, whoa, he puts his Rico Suave, Duke of Charm moves on the heroine and the book takes off. He still blows hot and cold, but luckily for the heroine and him he’s good in bed and can be quite the charmer so she puts up with his crap a little longer.
The heroine is pretty sweet and deserves a medal for putting up with his idiocy, and ultimately gets a nice Christmas present of a Duke all tied up.
My biggest complaints is I would have liked the bossy mother of the h as well as the slutty mother of the H to get more read time and some resolution.