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The Ugly Duchess Mass Market Paperback – Aug. 28 2012

by Eloisa James (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 2,094
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“Eloisa James is extraordinary.”
—Lisa Kleypas

“Nothing gets me to the bookstore faster than a new novel by Eloisa James.”
—Julia Quinn

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James gives the classic Hans Christian Andersen story of “The Ugly Duckling” a wonderful, witty, and delightfully passionate twist. The Ugly Duchess is another fairytale inspired romance from the unparalleled storyteller whose writing, author Teresa Medieros raves, “is truly scrumptious.” A sexy and fun historical romance, James’s winning tale of a glorious reawakening does not feature ducks and swans—rather it’s a charming story of a young woman unaware of her own beauty, suddenly duty-bound to wed the dashing gentleman who has always been her platonic best friend…until now.

Previous page
  1. Book 4 of 5
    Fairy Tales
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Avon
  5. Publication date
    Aug. 28 2012
  6. Dimensions
    1.27 x 19.3 x 12.95 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    0062021737
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0062021731
  9. See all details
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Product description

From the Back Cover

How can she dare to imagine he loves her . . . when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess?

Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion.

Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months.

Theo would have given it a lifetime . . . until she discovers that James desired not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry.

Society was shocked by their wedding . . . and is scandalized by their separation.

Now James faces the battle of his life, convincing Theo that he loves the duckling who blossomed into the swan.

And Theo will quickly find that, for a man with the soul of a pirate, All's Fair in Love—and War.

About the Author

Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon; Reissue edition (Aug. 28 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062021737
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062021731
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 220 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.27 x 19.3 x 12.95 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 2,094

About the author

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Eloisa James

Eloisa James

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Eloisa James is a New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.

For info about books, visit www.eloisajames.com and sign up for her Five Fabulous Things newsletter. Or ask a question on Facebook (where Eloisa spends entirely too much time): https://www.facebook.com/eloisajames

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
2,094 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Jenny Orelle
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book!
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2023
I listened to a review on YouTube that almost stopped me from buying this book despite loving Eloisa James writing which is so intelligent and funny. I’m so glad I got it anyway because I adored this book and think it must be true no two people read the same book. This is a book about perception, misperception and true beauty. This duckling is a beauty out of her own time or place (she’d have made a lovely flapper) - and her husband can see it before many others admire her grace and elegance. She’s a very admirable heroine - a talented and smart woman and entrepreneur who could have been a great designer or artist in another life. It is her wonderful confidence and originality that is part of her beauty from the start and this book makes the case that every woman can be absolutely beautiful in her own way. The world would be very boring if there was only one type of flower (diversity makes us stronger) and the people who can’t see her beauty only reflect their own small mindedness. It’s a lovely and uplifting story. The YouTuber who said she didn’t improve by the end missed the point. This duckling is a rare and exotic beauty and her inner beauty is even greater. She has no need to improve. She only maintains her confidence and stays true to herself which is everything. It may be one of my favourite tales by James - if I could even pick one. I love so many. Along with Quinn, Julie Ann Long and Tessa Dare and others she is one of my favourite historical writers if I could even pick one. Jane Austen perhaps but that wasn’t historical when it was written was it? xo Enjoy! Beautiful you!
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Rosewood
4.0 out of 5 stars PIRATE ALERT!!!
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2014
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Great storyline and very interesting book. In the beginning when Theo is betrayed by her husband and father-in-law you just feel her pain. James had been her life-line and best friend when all of London had started calling her the "Ugly Duchess" and then she had no one when he left. 7 years later when he comes back she's not sure she wants hiim back but he is sure going to try to woo her back into his bed.
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Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars A TALE OF TWO HALVES
Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2012
CONTAINS SPOILERS When James Ryburn Earl of Islay and heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, is forced by his father the Duke to marry his best friend Theodora Saxby. He is mortified. For Theodora was his father's ward, and had lived in their household with her mother, since the death of her father.

The current Duke, Jame's father had almost bankrupted the estate, and to make matters worse he had even stolen some of Theodoras dowry to fritter away on his hairbrained schemes. Although James struggles with the idea of deceiving Theodora, or as he calls her Daisy. He still goes ahead and marries her. Theodora had not realised that her feelings ran so deep for James until he had kissed her and asked for her hand.

But all good things must come to an end. In this case it is when Theodora overhears the Duke and James arguing, and she discovers why James really married her. Devastated she asks him to leave, and to never return, or she will see that his father goes to prison. But seven years later, just as Theodora was going to have James legally declared dead. Like he proverbial bad penny he returns. Expecting to reclaim his wife and position in society as though nothing had happened.

For the past seven years James had been a pirate "Jack Hawk" and he had not been living a celibate life either.

This book is in two parts, and to be honest it felt like two different stories. The first part I enjoyed, but the scond part was very disappointing, for a big chunk of it is spent on describing the H/h separate lives, I have to be honest and say that I skimmed a lot of that, it was boring. So that left the reader with a few chapters at the end to reunite the two leads. If the author had spent a bit less time on describing their lives apart, and more time on James reappearance, I might have liked this more. As it was the ending felt rushed. I thought Theodora forgave James too quick, it wasn't realistic. I also didnt like his excuse for having more than one mistress during his seven year absence. It was because Theodora told him never to return, but he had! So it did matter.
I usually enjoy this authors books but not so much this time. The story felt unbalanced and it didn't flow. I didn't warm to the characters very much either.
3 people found this helpful
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Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars I always enjoy reading Eloisa James
Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2019
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The book arrived quickly and has been added to my EJ collection
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Received on time and in very good condition.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
Not yet read this book but good expectations as I enjoy this author. Book in good condition
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Sophia_81&Paule
5.0 out of 5 stars Wenn die zweite Chance der großen Liebe noch aufregender ist als die erste
Reviewed in Germany on April 12, 2023
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Eines vorneweg: Ich bin absoluter Fan von Eloisa James und dieses Buch zeugt wieder davon, warum ich das bin. Sie schreibt so bildlich und historisch detailreich, dass ihre Worte zu einer aufregenden Geschichte in meinem Kopf werden und schafft tiefgreifende Protagonisten, die ich einfach lieb haben muss. Und selbst als Vielleser überrascht sie mich mit ihren Plot Twists und kreativen Liebesgeschichten, bei denen die Funken nur so sprühen. Theo und James sind Charakterköpfe, deren Lebens-und Liebesgeschichte so ungewöhnlich wie leidenschaftlich ist.

Ein echtes Lesevergnügen! 💕★👏
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Camila Antunes da Luz
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente livro e um dos meus favoritos!
Reviewed in Brazil on July 25, 2017
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Amei esse livro do início ao fim!
A história é dividida em três partes: primeiramente, mostra como James e Theo eram amigos de infância e se casaram por causa de um esquema armado pelo pai dele; depois, conta o que James e Theo fizeram de suas vidas enquanto ficaram 7 anos separados um do outro; e por fim, como eles se reencontram e percebem que ainda se amam.
Nesse livro que é uma nova versão do conto de fadas do patinho feio, Theo é "a duquesa feia", pois foge aos padrões de beleza da sociedade da época e se esforça para ser aceita, conseguindo dar a volta por cima com toda a sua elegância e seu conhecimento sobre moda. Porém, para James, que a conhece desde criança, ela sempre foi bonita e ele nunca ligou para a opinião dos outros. Os dois acabam se casando por causa de um esquema, mas percebem que se gostam de verdade e que talvez esse fosse mesmo o destino deles. Porém, a revelação do esquema faz James embarcar em um navio pirata e só voltar depois de sete anos, com a aparência física completamente diferente do que era antes. Theo (ou Daisy, como ele a chama) também está diferente, mais elegante e agora é respeitada pela sociedade que um dia debochou dela. James quer reatar o casamento, e Theo quer se separar. Minha única crítica a esse livro é que Theo mudou de ideia quanto a isso muito rápido, acho que ficou faltando um pouco mais de desenvolvimento para essa parte da história, qual seja, em que James reconquista Theo. Mas de resto, o livro é lindo, a melhor versão possível de o patinho feio.
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Judge Tabor
5.0 out of 5 stars Two Young Lovers Whose Dreams and Hopes Die are Given Another Chance
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
After reading this book, I very quickly perused some of the reviews and was stunned to see that the top voted reviews were negative. I then had to consider why I enjoyed it so much and could not put it down. This is what I have come up with:

James and Theo, or Daisy, if you prefer are both very young when they come together. Although their characters are established in most of the ways that are important, the manner in which disappointment, frustration, fear, hurt but mostly insecurities result in the loss of their dreams is very nearly heartbreaking. Only those who can vividly recall the insecurities of youth, mixed in with the hope, longings and then circumstances arising which result in the near death of those dreams and hopes will be able to understand what drove James and Theo to their respective behaviors.

Upon the death of Theo's father, she was left in the care of James' father, the Duke of Ashbrook. This resulted in James and Theo being raised somewhat like siblings. Even so, the fact they eventually fall in love was never offensive to me in any way, shape, form or fashion. In fact, for most of their lives, they simply considered themselves best friends. At some point, when James goes through puberty, he begins to see Theo as a real, live girl with breasts, but he never, ever treats her in a dishonorable fashion.

James is twenty and Theo is eighteen, when James' father reveals to James that he has managed the estates very badly and in fact has dipped into Theo's funds left to her by her father. James is livid, but eventually he is pressured to marry Theo once he realizes how dire the situation is. Concurrently, Theo is not known for her beauty - rather, the book paints a picture of her at that age as looking somewhat like a boy. It doesn't help that her mother dresses her in clothes that are too frilly for Theo. Even during this stage of Theo's life, the reader will understand that Theo has within her own soul the ability to come out of the portrait in which she has been placed by people who view her as nothing more than an ugly duckling and transform into a swan. This will take time, but we know it will happen.

To James' eternal credit, he thinks Daisy is beautiful and comes to realize he loves her. But... he isn't truthful to her about the pressure put upon him by his father to marry her. Unfortunately, after a very few sweet days of marriage, Daisy learns the truth. Things are said that can't be put back into the bottle resulting in Theo kicking James out - lock, stock and barrel. James is basically banished with only a ship at his disposal. He then spends seven years as a pirate-privateer partnering with his cousin, Sir Griffin Barry, whose story is featured in  Seduced by a Pirate (A Fairy Tales Novella) . During these years, Theo never hears from him, his father dies and James becomes very rich.

James returns home after 7 years partly because he's learned he will be declared dead, but also because he has faced near death which has resulted in a new outlook on life. One might say, he has regained some confidence but through it all he never, never, ever forgot his Daisy girl.

***Spoiler*** Beware: This books contains infidelity. James had mistresses while he was a pirate. But, what I read and perceived and how James recalled this period in his life, was like a death that he went through in which he had basically believed all his dreams as it related to Daisy and family were forever lost. He returned to England a stronger, older version of the beautiful young James willing to do whatever it would take to win back his Daisy.

I loved the book. I loved the young James as well as the older, wiser James. I loved the elegant Theo and I loved her as James always saw her - his Daisy. Favorite parts - when James was trying to prove to Daisy that he could control his passions and lusts toward her - that he was no longer driven by what drove him as a young man when they were first married. Yes, sure! That put a smile on my face.
23 people found this helpful
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Alison Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story line
Reviewed in Australia on August 4, 2018
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I really enjoyed this story. A bit different from your average romance but great characters. Not too fairy tale ish
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