While THE DUKE IS MINE is undermined by its own heavy-handed metaphors, Eloisa James ultimately creates a pleasant, absorbing story. Loosely based on "The Princess and the Pea", the amount of fairytale similes bandied about is, at times, overwhelming and tiresome. Rather than the most overdone scenes involving long, torrid descriptions of connubial bliss, they instead are the tired mentions of Prince Charming, white knights, Sleeping Beauty, and so on.

While James is clearly tipping her hat to the wish fulfillment present in both her genre and in these tales, it comes across awkwardly. Her inspiration, while at least different from the overused tropes of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Cinderella", comes across as rather ludicrous, with our heroine, Olivia Lytton, playing the Princess and the "pea" being sadly all too literal.

However, this is not to say that the novel as an overall work is not enjoyable! Eloisa James is well into her stride as a romance author and it shows in this book as much as any other of her works. There are dashing heroes, well- developed side characters, witticisms, banter, unchaperoned jaunts in the sensual countryside and even wild rescues and mustache-twirling villains. Olivia, besides a tendency to focus overly-much on her atypically voluptuous figure, is a fun, mischievous young woman and her handsome paramour is cut from the usual brooding-aristocrat-with-heart-of-gold stock. There's also a scrappy dog, Lucy, who's missing half her eyelid and is adorably loyal. If you've enjoyed James in the past, you'll be more than pleased to spend another afternoon with her writing.

Book Summary

For Olivia Lytton, bethrothal to the Duke of Canterwick— hardly a Prince Charming—feels more like a curse than a happily-ever-after. At least his noble status will help her sister, Georgiana, secure an engagement with the brooding, handsome Tarquin, Duke of Sconce, a perfect match for her in every way...every way but one. Tarquin has fallen in love with Olivia.

Quin never puts passion before reason. And reason says that Georgiana is his ideal bride. But the sensual, fiery, strong-willed Olivia ignites an unknown longing in him—a desire they are both powerless to resist. When a scandalous affair begins, they risk losing everything—Olivia's engagement, her sister's friendship, and their own fragile love. Only one thing can save them—and it awaits in the bedroom, where a magnificent mattress holds life-changing answers to the greatest romantic riddle of all.