The Runaway Duchess by Jillian Eaton
Released: July 2013
Historical Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by May

In re-reading the blurb I was sent about this book I can see why I was so eager to read it. Marriage of convenience, commoner hero, free spirited heroine – heck I want to read it again just thinking about the set up. The problem is that in every possible way, this book was a fail for me. It was very nearly a DNF but I was curious enough about some aspects that I muddled through it. Let me explain.

This is the story of a young woman named Charlotte who finds herself engaged (without her consent) to a Duke more than thirty years older than her. There is more revealed – this old man it seems abused his wives, possibly even killed them. Her mother demands the marriage, physically abusing her daughter and shoving her into the old man’s path. Luckily for Charlotte, a handsome and untitled wealthy gentleman named Gavin is willing to elope with her in a marriage of convenience that will give him a wife with status, and her the funds that she needs.

To start, I disliked every character. It never felt justified that Gavin feels he can never love or be close to anyone. Charlotte comes across and a silly childish girl quite often, and physically assaulted more than one character. She gets that from her mother, who uses force on Charlotte. The old duke is creepy of course as he is meant to be the bad guy. There are other supporting characters, but none of them were interesting enough to even warrant a mention here.

The duke is shown right away as an impossible match for our young Charlotte.

“We are engaged to be married. Surely a simple touch here” – his fingers began to inch their way up her arm – “or there would not hurt anyone.”

Charlotte stood up so fast her chair was knocked sideways. The momentum pulled the duke halfway across the table before he let her go, resulting in a row of angry red marks on her skin from his bruising fingers. “Do not touch me!” She said sharply, clutching her arm to her chest.

And moments later…

“You stupid, foolish girl. Did you think it would be as easy as that? Did you think once I had you I would let you go? No.” He shook his head slowly from side to side. “NO, once gained I do not let my possessions slip through my fingers so easily. You are mine. You belong to me.”

Charlotte stiffened. “I belong to no one, least of all you!”

“Oh but you do, and I have the betrothal contract that says exactly that, signed by your mother.”

Do we get a satisfying conclusion to this plot line? No, it really is just there to get the ball moving and our hero to step in I believe. Moving on, the plot was so riddled with potholes and problems that I found it incredibly challenging to read. We jump from scene to scene in a spliced together way that made me feel like we had whole scenes or chapters missing. Not only that, but things were thrown into the end that in no way added to the story or resolved any of the plot lines left hanging.

I had a lot of problems with the lack of follow-through and plot details that seemed to be forgotten or replaced with other things. I do not wish to post spoilers, but I will tell you I never did figure out why this couple is in love or even more than in lust with each other, what ever happened to the old duke, why our hero was so bent on a non-physical ‘business relationship’ marriage, and a number of other things.

Bettina reached out her hand to detain her, and in a fit of temper Charlotte slapped it away. The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed in the sudden silence, and Bettina’s mouth dropped open.

“You struck me!” she cried.

“I am sorry Mother, but I fear I have had enough of being manhandled for one day.” Without another word she walked out of the room, up the stairs, and collapsed on her bed after making sure to lock the door.

I’ve mentioned it a few times – there is a lot of physical violence in this book for a historical romance. Charlotte knees her husband in the groin, slaps him, punches him – and he’s just one person she goes after. Is it justified since she also is attacked or assaulted more than once? No, no it was not ok. For me Charlotte’s attacks showed that she is an immature young girl, hardly a heroine.

She felt like a weak and simpering victim, someone who batted her eyes and used her beauty to get some other man to come and make her problems go away and fix it so she could have the happy life of wealth and privilege that she knows and likes. It would have been hard enough to like this book with her in the leading lady position, but any enjoyment was made impossible by the writing and story itself.

Grade: F

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