Three Weeks With Lady X (Desperate Duchesses Book 7)

The bastard son of the Duke of Villiers, Tobias “Thorn” Dautry is one of the richest and most powerful businessmen in England and part of a loving and supportive family. But that wasn’t always the case and the young boy forced into a horrible life as a mudlark, risking his life diving for bits of treasure in the Thames, still lives deep within the man. When Thorn decides to marry – he loves children and wants some of his own – he approaches it as he would any business deal, selecting a sweet and lovely young woman from a socially prominent family who will give him children that will be accepted by London society. It matters not that the young woman is considered simple by the ton or that she rarely speaks in his presence. His only interest is bedding her and leaving her in the country to care for his children. He seeks a serene life and has no interest in a woman who will challenge him. His best friend warns he will be bored to tears but Thorn is set on his course and nothing will change his mind. Before he can ask for the young woman’s hand however, he must win the approval of her harridan of a mother and to do that he needs his newly purchased country estate restored to ton standards. His stepmother encourages him to engage the services of the incomparable Lady Xenobia India St. Clair, a woman who is decidedly not simple, makes far too many demands and ruffles his brawny feathers at every opportunity.India St. Clair may be the daughter of a marquess but she has not known a life of luxury and leisure. Her parents were what could be kindly called “free spirits,” absorbed in one another and frequently leaving their young daughter to fend for herself. Orphaned at age fifteen and left with nothing, India swore she would never be penniless, hungry or dependent upon another person again. Now, at age twenty six, she’s the most sought after decorator in England, independently wealthy and, after declining numerous marriage proposals, ready to finally set her career aside and choose a husband. It is only for her friend, Eleanor, the Duchess of Villiers, that she agrees to help Eleanor’s step-son, Thorn - an agreement she regrets from the moment they meet. This is no easily managed man. The too big, too muscular, much too intelligent Thorn has her every nerve ending bristling.From the first moment these two meet, you know it’s going to be a wild ride. It doesn’t take long for the reader to realize that these two characters are perfect for one another. It takes them – especially Thorn - much longer to reach this realization and the hills and valleys of the road they must travel bring tears, laughter, soul-shattering heartbreak and, finally, the joy and heart-melting satisfaction of a love that is meant to be. These are not simple characters. They are both complex, layered individuals who have been shaped by the circumstances of their lives. They are intelligent, hard-working, honorable and loyal to those they trust but that trust is not given easily. There are tender, vulnerable parts of their souls that are well guarded and it is only when those walls are lowered that they will know true happiness. The question is whether they will lower those walls before it’s too late.Thorn and India’s story cannot be told without the richly drawn secondary characters that surround them. There’s Rose, Thorn’s young ward who is wise beyond her years and whose presence allows us to see her guardian’s softer side. Let me go on record right now saying I hope we will one day be able to read her story. I appreciate the fact that Ms. James did not make Laeticia, Thorn’s prospective bride, either a throwaway character or the “evil” other woman. She’s a sweet woman in an untenable situation, misunderstood by society and deserving of both the evolution we witness and a happy ending. The Duke and Duchess of Villiers (hero and heroine of A DUKE OF HER OWN) make cameo appearances and while their roles aren’t large, they are pivotal. Of course, any appearance by Villiers is a good one in my opinion! Finally, there’s Vander – Evander Septimus Brody, future Duke of Pindar – Thorn’s best friend since their days at Eton. A man with secrets in his past (and hints of a tormented childhood), Vander plays a critical role in this story. I can’t say more than that without giving away spoilers but I will say that I want more of this character. Much, much, more. (Thankfully, I have learned that Ms. James is currently writing a book for Vander. Color me a very happy reader!)There is so much more I love about this book - such as the written notes that filled me with delight - but I'll stop now and let the readers who haven't read this book yet discover each delicious tidbit on their own.I have a corner of my keeper bookcase filled with books that have touched me in an extraordinary way. These are the books that I return to time and time again; stories of characters I can’t get enough of. Books with writing that wrings my heart, tickles my funny bone and floods my soul with pleasure. This is where THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X will reside…until I can’t resist its lure and once again immerse myself in the world of India and Thorn.~PJ AusdenmorePosted at The Romance Dish

I had so much fun reading this book . It's romantic and sometimes funny. I loved the characters. I definitely recommend it.

"She simply had to find a man who was sweet and kind, and smart enough to realize that she should be the one to run their household."THE STORY: Lady Xenobia India St. Claire is the daughter of a Marquess. Orphaned and penniless, India has made her own fortune by working as an interior designer and organizer of households. While she has done well to preserve her reputation despite her "unfortunate" occupation, India has decided to retire and find a husband. She agrees to one last job for her friend the Duchess of Villiers: to renovate the new estate house of Mr. Tobias "Thorn" Dautry, the bastard son of Duke of Villiers who wants the house ready for the woman he is wooing to be his wife. Thorn was abandoned by his mother and now wants a woman who has no ambition other than to be a wife and mother and will be a peaceful influence who will not disturb his life. Thorn and India are not peaceful at all immediately. Their meetings are contentious and also incredibly sexy. The two don't even apparently like one another in the beginning and then they travel to an odd friendship then lust and love.OPINION: I loved this book because it is filled with angst and a wonderful contentious relationship between India and Thorn. At times, these two stubborn people seem to be trying to do everything to sabotage their possible relationship. Both have abandonment issues from childhood and thus they have serious trust issues. Again and again, one or the other pushes the other away only to be helplessly drawn back.The pasts of both Thorn and India makes these characters have more dark spaces in their souls and make them incredibly complex. These characters make mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes are obviously destructive and sometimes they are only innocent mistakes in judgment. The inability of these characters to recognize their own patterns and missteps actually really works here.There is something incredibly beautiful of two people who can heal one another and build a strong relationship.Having read the entire Desperate Duchesses series, I was especially interested in how Thorn makes the same mistake his father does in choosing a wife. (The Duke of Villiers makes a significant plot turn for the book).Readers get to see a sweet side of Thorn that was evident in his childhood when he takes in the orphaned daughter of a childhood friend. Rose is precocious and funny and creates additional problems for the characters, but she also gives readers a chance to see Thorn's protective loving side at the same time he is fighting intensely with India.This book is filled with emotions. At times, I laughed at loud: Thorn catching India reading "naughty" books and the interesting decor of the house when India first arrives. At times, I was angry with the characters for their foolish decisions. At times, I was in tears at the deep painful emotions and at the intensely beautiful ones. One of those books that I can't help thinking about and wanting to re-read passages again, I know this is an enduring favorite.Another point in the book I really liked was the series of letters that Thorn and India send to one another: serious, funny, bawdy, impertinent these letters really allow the intellectual relationship between India and Thorn to grow.I also really loved how James allows the readers to see into the future of the characters through the Epilogue. I always end up smiling at these. At the end of this one I also ended up crying a little because it was so incredibly beautiful.WORTH MENTIONING: The hero of the next book in the series, FOUR NIGHTS WITH THE DUKE, is Vander Brody who plays an important part in this novel.FINAL DECISION: I loved this book. A hero and heroine who scratch and claw at one another, a seemingly doomed love, and a lyrical beautifully written story.CONNECTED BOOKS: THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X is the first book in the Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers series, which is also a spin off of the Desperate Duchesses series. Sometimes, THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X is also referred to as the seventh book in that series. THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X can be read as standalone. The hero, however, appears as a child in two of the Desperate Duchesses series: THIS DUCHESS OF MINE and A DUKE OF HER OWN. It is not necessary to read either of those books to enjoy this one, but they add to the story of Thorn.STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

It is a pity that the authoress felt this story needed so much sleaze. She has good plots and plenty of humour, yet as you progress through the books the "dirty talk" gets more prevalent. Also if she wishes to use such language, then stick to the modern period as like so many things language is period based. This means that a lot of the words were unknow durning the time they are based in. Perhaps she is worried she will not scintilla her audiences, but only confuse them by using the correct time based terminology. "Gay" is a typical word that has changed over a period of time, to my father a GAY person was easy go lucky and happy, to my children it means same sex relationships. I have one more book to read and I am not looking forward to it and will not bother with any others. In this way she is like Stephanie Lauren, started off good, ended up chapter after chapter just dedicated to sex etc and the story line gets totally lost.

Eloisa James' books are generally a good and easy read. I had some great chuckles in places when reading the letters between India and Thorn. This was a lively book that keeps a person entertained.

It was delightful to read Tobias' grown up story! I am such a fan of Ms James, and am hoping that all the Duke of Villiers offspring are getting their own books.I know that people give out about the Americanisms that slip into the text, but they are so, so few — the humour and the general heart-warmingness of this series more than makes up for it.

I couldn't wait for this book and it didn't disappoint. It has everything that makes a great book for me. Love lust romance heartbreak passion and heady sexual encounters. Eloisa James writes the best stories EVER !! She is a literary genius !! NEXT PLEASE !!!

This book contains so much humour and love that it made my heart burst! I adored it from start to finish.