Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James (Hodder & Stoughton)

This is a historical romance novel that’s a notch above the rest.

James manages to create flighty, delicate creatures of their time who also pack an erotic punch.

It’s nice to read that the damsels of the 18th century weren’t all fainting away for the love of a good man.

Jemma, Duchess of Beaumont, has just returned from a number of years in France; a kind of self-imposed exile after discovering her husband had a mistress.

Jemma took herself off to Paris and proceeded to make a ‘spectacle’ of herself with a number of lovers and extravagant parties.

She’s just returned to London after her husband, a dedicated member of the House of Lords and a mover and shaker in government, became ill.

Her, very distant, cousin, Lady Roberta St Giles, turns up on Jemma’s doorstep desperate for a husband and to escape her rather mad father.

The scene is set for a number of loves, escapades, marriage proposals and beautiful descriptions of luxurious clothes.

Running through the froth and bubbles is the game of Chess.

It seems that Jemma is not as stupid as she pretends and is a consummate chess player.

James has managed to create very likeable characters, with depth and emotion as well as the deriguer sex and romance.

There’s another novel in the wings set in the same period and with some of the original characters; can’t wait for that one.

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