The Winter Duchess

A Duchess for All Seasons Series, Book 1

By: Jillian Eaton

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Their wedding was the event of the season...

A shy wallflower, Caroline hasn't the faintest idea why the Duke of Readington chose her to be his bride. She could ask, but that would mean speaking to him...and truth be told, she'd rather have a conversation with the devil. Her new husband may be one of the most powerful men in all of England - not to mention the handsomest - but he's also cruel, callous, and has a heart colder than ice.

But it was never meant to be a love match...

Eric married Caroline for one simple reason: he wasn't in love with her. Having seen firsthand how love can bring a man to his knees, he's determined not to make the same mistakes his father did. Which is why he's going to spend just enough time with his new bride to assure himself of an heir before he leaves her and returns to London. At least that was the plan until a winter storm leaves them stranded. Now every time Eric turns around he finds himself stumbling over the wife he never wanted...but is slowly beginning to desire....or was it?

As cold winds howl outside the manor, inside of it a duke's heart is finally starting to melt as he finds himself falling for the one woman he was never supposed to love...but can she love him in return?

Contains mature themes.

©2017 Jillian Eaton (P)2018 Tantor

Enjoyed the story very much

A good easy listen for a quiet evening. I’m Glad I stumbled across this author

DARLIBG

This is a darling love story that almost doesn’t happen, so refreshing to see a weak woman maturing to realize her worth in the suppressive 19 century England.

Warms the heart

I enjoyed the the romance --iI wished it had been a full length novel.
Caroline taught Eric how to love.The narration was very well done..
Am egerty awaiting the summer Ducthess..

Finding Love

Love the book! All he knew was he did not believe in love. He grew up watching his parents hate each other! He wanted a biddable wife and he saw that in Carolyn! But one they married she wanted to much more! Can her sweetness finally melt his cold heart!!

Amazing !

I donot usually like short stories but this one is simply perfect! The narrator makes it even better.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️strong character lady!

Thank you for such a wonderful story with strong character lady; I almost finish the serie.

The Winter Duchess

This was a really sweet book. The narrator was great. The only downside is that the story was a bit too short therefore the characters were not quite developed as I would have hoped and as a result felt rushed.

Really liked this book@!

Well Caroline was a very sweet girl whose mother was not much better than the Duke's mother.
Caroline was raised to be obediant in all things.

The world building at the estate was well done and the author captured the feeling of Christmas cheer!

I do think that the book should have been longer. They needed to include more of the wedding ceremony and how nervous Caroline was to be married off to a noble who had only danced with her once before he went down on his knee and asked her to marry him.
The book should have started with the Duke's search for his bride. How he carried himself like he was going to the meat market to buy a hunch of mutton.
We needed to see more of the breakdown of the Duke's emotional wall.
In other words I feel this story was heavily edited.
Yet it is still very colorful and interesting.

This is a passionate, intimate Christmas love

‘The Winter Duchess’ is a bittersweet love story, perfect in setting the mood for a romantic Christmas setting.

This story is about a man who faced his demons through unattached relationships until pressured into the need to create an Heir worthy of Dukedom when he was no longer able to continue in this obligation.

He searched out a girl he could marry but not become enamored with. This would be a marriage of convenience only... or so he thought.

The Lady the Duke chose appeared obedient, “mousy”, and undesirable.

With almost no courtship they were married and he wished her away to an out of the way country estate.

He would “bed her” until he was sure she was with child then find a new mistress in far away London.

This drama is quite predictable and is best for casual reading or listening to. Howev, narrator Mary Sarah is excellent in her dramatic performance and “voices”. She truly aids interest in the tale.

I would have enjoyed it more if the explicit sexual acts had been left out. There were a few intimate scenes with explicit details.

With the well written skill and the outstanding narration, I must offer a Five Stars rating.

I never like novellas, but I loved this!

Wish this was a full length,but honestly I don't feel cheated like I usually do with novellas. This was d@m* good. I loved it and would totally buy a full length if the author decides ever to expand on this one. Off to listen to novella #2!