This was not great. At all. So instead of making a list of things I didn't like about it, which I felt might be mean, I made a list of things I'm glad for about it. 1) I'm glad it was free on my library audio app! 2) I'm glad I listened to it. I would have DNF'd this if I had had to sit and look at the words for hours of my life. By listening to it, I was able to do constructive things, like laundry and cooking, so I didn't feel like I was totally wasting my time. 3) I'm glad this wasn't my first Eloisa James book, or it may have been my last. I like her books generally. 4) I'm glad that I was able to listen to this at 2x speed for the last 1/4 of the book. On one hand I wanted to be done already, but on the other I did want to find out if the side stories were going to be resolved (they were't. Sigh.).

Better than book 2 in the series, but still feels like more of a build-up to the Beaumont/Jemma/Villiers' stories. (I think I also read this in middle or high school, so it was vaguely familiar, but jumbled with other books.)

As far as romances go, Eloisa James has style that I can really appreciate. The outcome is predictably predictable, but the route she takes to get there is surprisingly forward.

Without giving too much of the game away, I'll say that the characters, for the most part, had a rather liberal notion of morals and social world views. Which was fine, given the circumstances, but it seemed a little out of character.

As always, I found James's technical aspects to be above and beyond the rest of the genre, and find her writing to be pleasantly un-distracting.

(Read as an ebook) 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was pretty terrible until the very end. I still find it hard to believe that someone wrote a romance novel that revolved around chess but I guess there is something for everyone. I am not sure I would read another one of her books.

I gave up on this. I just couldn't finish. It is not a book for me, but I'm sure it will be a book for someone else.

3.5-ish. The writing is nice and witty, but the story seemed more like a comedy of manners than a romance. It was amusing, but I didn't really care much about the characters or who got together with whom. A good book, just not my favorite kind of book, at least when it comes to historical romance.

This book took a few chapters before it drew me in so don't give up after the first few pages. There are A LOT of characters presented and it does become a little daunting trying to keep everyone straight. I have a preference for series verses stand alone novels but I have found that typically the first novel in the series is the weakest because the focus is on introducing multiple characters and story-lines and the main characters tend to get lost.

What I enjoyed most about this book was it focused more on the characters rather than silly plots that so many HR novels contain. While most HR novels revolve around misunderstandings and sprained ankles this novel takes a darker turn.

Roberta and Damon are the main love interests in this book but Jemma, Elijah, and Villiers are also heavily featured and continue to play a major role throughout the series. The other duchesses of the series are briefly mentioned. Rating the story strictly on Roberta and Damon I would have to only give it a 2.5. The love/friendship triangle between Elijah, Villiers and Jemma was what kept me reading.

This book started off really badly and I almost didn't finish it. It felt like all the duchesses were whining brats that were married but had affairs that weren't even secret from their husbands. In fact is was like it was expected! It felt like it was a Victorian age Melrose Place and it was a giant soap opera. Not really my thing. I would have given it one star but it did get a little better in the end and I was happy with the ending. I don't think I will be reading the rest of this series though.

3 stars = average; worth the time