My Last Duchess audiobook

The Wildes of Lindow Castle has been such a fun series. I adore all these Wilde siblings, but when I heard we’d be getting a story about the parents, Hugo and Ophelia, I couldn’t wait to read it! They are the much beloved father and mother/stepmother to these eight children. My Last Duchess turned out to be SUCH a sweet, feel-good read. If you love a pursuing hero who does everything he can to woo the heroine, you’ll love this one!Hugo, a Duke and father to eight motherless children, is in need of a wife. After being widowed by his first and divorced by his second, he doesn’t have much hope for a long-lasting marriage full of happiness and love, so he’ll settle for one that provides for his children. But when he sees Ophelia across the room at a ball for the first time, he’s smitten. It’s love at first sight, something the men of the Wilde family all experience, and he’ll do everything he can to show Ophelia he’s the right man for her.Ophelia is the single, widowed mother of Viola. She has money, a home, a loving daughter – what more does she need? She certainly doesn’t have any use for a Duke, even a gorgeous one who’s dead set on winning her heart. But maybe there is enough room in her heart for Hugo and his eight adorable children, because she ends up falling for all of them right back.My Last Duchess is quick, swoony romance that gives us insight on how Hugo and Ophelia met and fell in love all those years ago. We get to see the Wilde siblings as young children, including Horatio, and they’re up to no good, as usual. It was easy to enjoy this one – it’s low drama with a straightforward romance and a hero who has all the heart eyes for the heroine. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss this prequel. And if you’re new, this is a great introduction to the Wildes!

4.5 STARS! So wonderful! The scenes between Ophelia and the younger children were truly heartwarming. And of course there's always Eloisa James' incredible sense of romance. The only reason I'm not rounding up is because it was more novella length and the story could have been much more fleshed out.Also, I don't recommend this one be read as the first book in the series though. It will mean more to you if you get to know the 'children' first through their own books (#1-5).

This was 10000% instalove but.... I didn't care! I just thought this was lovely, charming, and exactly what I was in the mood for. I enjoyed the way it showed characters who really enjoyed being parents in a period where that class wasn't expected to be emotionally invested in their children to a big extent- not something I personally relate to, but it was well captured. And of course, some good mushy moments. Just a nice historical all around, and enjoyed having a less common period portrayed (1760s)

Title: My Last DuchessSeries: The Wildes of Lindlow Castle #6/0.5Author: Eloisa JamesRelease date: October 27, 2020Cliffhanger: noGenre: historical romance“We have a choice in every moment of life,” he said, his voice brushing her body. “I choose to spend every possible one of them with you, Phee.”I'm loving this series and the Wildes so much! Once again, Eloisa James has charmed me-this time with the Duke and Duchess of Lindlow. My Last Duchess takes us back in time to show us how the parents of the Wilde children met and fell in love. This was a simple and straightforward romance that allowed me to surround myself with the Wildes again and enjoy their endearing family dynamic. I'm so happy the author decided to give us this piece to the family's history. Hugo is a widower and recent divorcé with eight children in need of a proper mother. His last wife Yvette ran off after a scandalous affair and abandoned the family leaving him floundering. I've always had the deepest respect for Hugo, but now after reading his story and stepping into his perspective, you really see how deep his love goes for all of his children. He always puts them first above all else and makes their happiness and well being his #1 priority. After being betrayed horribly by his wife, his only goal is to find a new wife (which he really has no personal desire to attain) in order for his kids to have stability in their lives again. Not only does he show them all the love that they deserve, he treats them all equally. Even though he shares no blood with his ward Parth, and possibly Joan who is suspected to be fathered by another, no one is made to feel less. Naturally, if he's forced to marry again after his last disastrous marriage, he would look for a woman more maternal. A woman like Lady Ophelia Astley. You, his soul said. You too. It was the same feeling he had had after each newborn child was presented to him: the moment in which the world adjusted so that his heart could recognize one of his tribe. One of his beloveds.Ophelia is a recent widow with a young daughter whom she's intensely devoted to. Her marriage had been civil, pleasant, and probably more than a little boring. While mutual respect and friendship is more than a lot of aristocratic wives achieve in their marriages, passion and romance is certainly rare. Her marital relationship was satisfactory, but now she happily focuses all of her time and attention to Viola. Most women were not expected to take a hands-on approach to raising their children at that time. Nannies and other caregivers did the messy day to day work involved while they enjoy their freedom to socialize with the ton. Ophelia shuns the societal norm and revels in motherhood which I found to be really refreshing. So many historical romances feature feminist themes with heroines who want no part of marriage or children. They're brave, brash, and rare creatures of the time who want a career or the freedom to pursue other interests. Don't get me wrong, these are enjoyable. But sometimes it's nice to read an old fashioned romance that celebrates motherhood and the value that a mother has in her children's lives. When Ophelia steps into the Wilde childrens' lives, she gives them a home life that helps them grow into the wonderful adults we see later. It's essentially a case of love at first sight when the two of them meet at a ball. At least for Hugo, that is. From the moment he sets eyes on her, he starts to believe he's capable of having the love he found with his first wife Marie once again. His life had jerked to a halt with Marie’s death. In the years since, he took care of the estate, went through the motions of being married to Yvette, tried to be the best father he could to the children. But now, unexpectedly, strangely, with no more than the sight of a tantalizing woman . . . His heart was thumping in a rhythm he’d forgotten.Yes, it's an insta-love scenario, which I didn't mind in this case. While Hugo immediately goes into passionate pursuit, Ophelia backs off in retreat. They don't go from point A to point B in a heartbeat-it's a little more complicated than that. While Ophelia loves her role of being a mother, she doesn't feel the need to remarry again because she never really found fulfillment with her first husband. She has financial security, and the freedom to do what she chooses, when she chooses to do it. And yet...Hugo's passionate promises of a future together niggle away at her willpower to remain alone. The chemistry the two of them have is instantaneous, and for her, very unsettling. She was willing to share a passionate night together, and he wanted her promise to share a future together. After coming to a stalemate, they were forced to move on. Or were they? One of my favorite things about the Wildes is Hugo's amazing sister, Lady Knowe. She's smart, sassy, and hilariously keeps her brother and the rest of the family in line. I really enjoyed seeing her interact with the family again, and laughing over the witty dialogue. She knows her brother better than anyone else, and sometimes she has to give him a little nudge of encouragement in the right direction. The direction is heart is pleading with him to go. “Don’t tell me again that you made up your mind for her that she’d be better off without you. You have moments when I think the title has addled your brains, and this is one of them. Your job is to grovel at her feet and beg her for marriage. Do you hear me?”The children were just delightful as always, and the romance warmed my heart as I watched it take root and bloom. If you're a fan of the series, but hadn't decided if you want to read the parents' prequel, don't hesitate! It was such a light, fast, and sweet read that gave me the best historical romance feels. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

My Last Duchess is a prequel to the series where we get to see how Hugo and Ophelia first met and got together. It's a lovely romance, even if it gets serious very quickly. Then again, maybe that's less shocking given the time period. Ophelia is a widow with a very young daughter who she dotes on. Hugo is a widow and recent divorcee (his second wife ran off with her lover and left their children behind) with 8 children and a dukedom to manage. He intends to find a bride he's not romantically interested in to help his daughters debut, but instead he meets Ophelia. He's instantly drawn to her, but Ophelia is resistant to the idea of marrying again. I enjoyed seeing the development of their romance and how their mutual love for their children only enhanced the attraction between them. It's also fun to see younger versions of the characters we know from earlier books in the series. AND it is the perfect book for winter as their first meeting is during a snowstorm and they take the children to a winter festival. This is definitely worth a read. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I thought that this is a full-length novel based on the no of pages listed here but apparently it isn't. This is a novella. There's another novella in this e-book and it's for her fairy tale series. This was just okay for me. I expected more wooing from the hero, Hugo. Hugo saw Ophelia at a house party and was immediately smitten by her. He pursued her on the night itself and offered marriage, but Ophelia turned him down. He turned his attention to someone else (like immediately!) who is totally inappropriate to be a mother to his 8 children. They only got together due to Hugo's sister machinations. If you met someone whom you think could be the love of your life, shouldn't you exert all possible efforts to win the person? That's the part I didn't quite like. Sure, he thought about her at all times, but that's just it. Just thoughts and no action. I understand Ophelia's hesitation. She is a wealthy widow and is wary of giving up her independence. She definitely has a lot more to lose in the marriage. Furthermore, Hugo has a brood of children. That would definitely give anyone pause. The romance is a bit tepid for me. The writing is exquisite as usual and you get to read about the children as well who are featured in the next books. A nice introduction to this series. If you're looking for an hour or 2 to fill up your time, this is a decent read.

I quite enjoyed this.A solid 3.5

Wat een fijn begin van de serie . Ik ben blij dat ik gewacht heb met het lezen van deze serie tot ik dit boek ook in mijn bezit had . Het gaat hier weliswaar om wat oudere personen die beide al kinderen uit een vorig huwelijk hebben maar E.J. weet de magie van het hals over kop verliefd worden en dat het dus ook op latere leeftijd nog kan gebeuren mooi in een verhaal te vatten .

I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads5 Stars My Last Duchess is the prequel installment in the Wildes of Lindlow Castle series. Can it be read as a standalone? Should it be read as a prequel prior to the other titles? Yes to both questions. However, the emotional impact will be greater if you start at the first novel in the series, Wilde in Love. Why? The reader’s connection to the characters will be greater. It will also remove the sense of insta-love from this novel. After reading about Hugo and Ophelia for an entire series, the ultimate parents and grandparents, the family-oriented duke and duchess, we finally see how their romance unfolded. We’ve witnessed the coupling of their numerous children, witnessed the joy of the birth of their grandchildren, and nearly swooned from the undying passion of their mature love… now we get to experience it from their beginning. Many readers will think the journey too quick, too short, and the love too instantaneous. I’m one who advocates against insta-love at every turn. However, I think this truly worked for Hugo and Ophelia. We readers already know they’re happily married, the greatest support system for their ragtag grouping of children. We’ve seen it in the aftermath, now we had the pleasure of experiencing in the now. The Wilde men are known for falling hard at first sight, so why should their patriarch be any different? The duke’s sons notoriously wed women similar to their stepmother, so it was no surprise that Ophelia made Hugo work for it, made him sweat, made him nearly beg. She was a strong woman, independent but with a deep sense of longing to belong to something greater. Her maternal instinct was as big as her heart. Hugo was also surprisingly sentimental, lonely and needing the deeper connection of a love match instead of a contractual marriage. Read in one sitting, My Last Duchess was a joy to read. The warmth and happiness between a widow and widower infectious. The pages flew by, and suddenly I was finished, and then the desire to begin anew settled over me, the intense need to reread their children’s stories. Beyond recommend to fans of historical romance, especially to those who are fans of Eloisa James and the Wildes. I cannot wait to read whatever the author publishes next, always at the top of my recommend list for Historical Romance.

This was sweet and fun, I really enjoyed it. Wish there was more, or an epilouge. But we know it works out well. ;)

Important notes:1. This is a novella (maybe everyone else knew that)2. It ends at the 61% mark. The rest of the book is a preview for the first book in the series and ANOTHER WHOLE NOVELLA--Storming the Castle--which I don't think I'll read right now.Anyway! I liked this. I shouldn't, really, with the instalove and the hero (view spoiler)[ jumping into the heroine's carriage (hide spoiler)], but it's another case of sometimes James just WORKS for me.

A great prologue to the Wildes series. This is a fantastic prequel about the Wilde children's parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley. The writing phenomenal and immersive. An absolute joy to read over the weekend and fall in love again in this delightful and witty read my heart was swooning over! Well done Eloisa James!!