THE UNCLAIMED DUCHESS

Author: Jenna Petersen ISBN:9780061934995 9/2010 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency

The life of a duchess has its ups and downs. Betrothed at birth to the heir of one of England's loftiest titles, Lady Anne Danvers has been raised to run grand estates and host glittering parties. Which leaves her ill-prepared when her husband of one week rides off without a word, with no intention of returning. Rhys Carlisle, Duke of Waverly, never wanted a love match—but he never dreamed he'd be abandoning his beautiful bride right after their blissful honeymoon. Alas, a terrible secret has shattered his world and he cannot face the truth . . . or the people he cares about most. To entice back the husband she's long desired but barely knows, Anne will employ any means necessary—a surprisingly pleasurable proposition for them both. But the dangerous swirl of lies, deceits, and blackmail surrounding them merely grows stronger as their hearts grow closer, threatening to tear apart the passionate love affair they've only just begun . . .

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I really enjoyed reading THE UNCLAIMED DUCHESS. Although the hero is not one of my favorites, he quite nicely redeems himself near the end of the story, while the heroine is stands tall all the way through.

When the world is turned upside down, some people find inner strength to fight for their desires, while others head into denial territory and try to run away from it all. Petersen manages to tell both sides of that struggle with clarity and precision, while forcing a romance to blossom. That is no small task to accomplish, and thank goodness, she does it well enough to keep me from thinking the hero is a complete milk-sop. Yes, I know he is trying to do the right thing; however, the way he goes about it most certainly detracts from his appeal, at least until his wife convinces him otherwise.

Giving depth and substance to a story that easily could have been bogged down in a brooding hero's stiffness of character, Petersen instead has a gem that shows just how real her characters can be, and how well she can entertain a reader. 

Shannon Johnson