Project Duchess by Sabrina JeffriesMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Two and a half stars.
Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt is summoned to his step-father's estate when he receives news that his step-father Maurice has died unexpectedly. His mother had married three Dukes and had five children, three of whom were now Dukes in their own rights (following the deaths of their respective fathers). Grey has never forgiven his family for sending him to England to live with his abusive uncle when he was only a young boy, leaving him to grow up alone.
When Grey arrives he mistakes his step-father's niece Beatrice Wolfe for a maid or a representative from the undertakers, he is arrogant and abrupt for which Beatrice cuts him nicely down to size.
Originally Grey intended to spend only a night with his family before returning to London, but when his step-brother Sheridan shares his suspicion that Maurice was murdered, and indeed that his brother Armie was also murdered before him, Grey feels compelled to stay and help with the investigations, especially when suspicion falls on Beatrice's older brother Joshua.
Meantime, Grey's mother is determined to present Beatrice at court when she presents her own daughter Gwynn, ashamed that Maurice's brother Armie didn't do more for his niece. She forces Grey and his brothers to help in coaching the girls in the etiquette of high society, including teaching them to dance.
At first Grey cultivates Beatrice's company to further his investigations into Joshua but soon he is intrigued by her honesty, her beauty and her wit. But his childhood has made him slow to trust others, especially with his heart, and a lowly woman with no dowry is not a suitable candidate for the role of Duchess of Greycourt.
I really enjoyed the start of this novel, the idea of a woman who had been married three times, the hint of mystery, the feisty heroine and the supercilious hero - catnip I tell you!
Unfortunately, all too soon the focus of the novel turned to page after page after page of heavy petting and sexual encounters with little to no plot development. On and on it went, full of florid language like his 'large staff' and references to 'ravishing' and 'plundering', it felt repetitive and frankly derivative. I was also massively disappointed by the end(view spoiler). This felt 'wrong', the heavy-handed use of historical words alongside the modern sexual attitudes just didn't sit right for me. Even the cover doesn't fit the novel, given that the family is in mourning and Beatrice is a poor relation.
I have only read one novella written by Sabrina Jeffries which I really enjoyed, maybe her writing style is more appealing to me in a shorter format.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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