Name: My Last Duchess
ISBN: 9780063036352

Eloisa James

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Wildes series with a prequel about the Wilde children's parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley. Every Duke needs a Duchess... Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children—and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband. Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn’t want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage. Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one. Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life. He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven. When a duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?

My Last Duchess

Lover of Romance 

My Last Duchess is a book I read a couple weeks ago but just realized that I hadn't done a review for it so here we go here. 

I will say that this book, I am not sure I got the full version of to be honest. I read this through Libby but I don't see how I read 400 pages, because it felt like I read a novella...literally. Or I somehow just breezed through 300 pages that I don't remember ( I guess its possible but I am still so confused ....HAHA) 

The story of My Last Duchess was actually such a sweet story. It delves into an aspect of the heroine going on the run, because her fiancee is not a man she can actually marry. Our hero is the butler to a foreign residing royal family who is his brother but as he is a bastard, he has no standing or wealth to speak of and even though he is destitute he has a sense of honor. And if he can't find a way to be worthy of Ophelia, then he will have to let her go forever. 

I actually found this story to be so endearing and charming, I love these type of forbidden love tropes and seeing characters fight for each other, it makes the ending that much sweeter in them finding a way to conquer the obstacles. This is such a great prequel to the series and eager to see more of the Wildes in the near future.

Amanda J 

This was an enjoyable novella in the series. It adds more info about the head of the family that only gets a few on page moments. The whole thing was rather rushed and things happened really fast, but that's due to the length. It's just a fun read, but I would read it only if you've read all the other novels in the series first.

Lacey

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!

Lorena

Sara Piteira 

Haley Murray

Samantha Emery

Lauren Dowben

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Wildes series with a prequel about the Wilde children's parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley. Every Duke needs a Duchess... Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children--and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter--and no husband. Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn't want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage. Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one. Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life. He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven. When duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?