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The Accidental Duchess
Jessica Benson Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Accidental Duchess
"

Pocket, Jan 2004, 6.99
ISBN: 0743463862

During the Napoleonic Wars, Gwen marries Lord Milburn the person she has been betrothed to since her birth. After the ceremony, she asks him what name she should use and he replies Harry. She is shocked to learn she married Lord Cambourne, Milburn's brother.

Gwen wants to know why Harry agreed to this ploy, but his response leaves her in further doubt as he tells her to talk to her bossy mother. When she learns that her parents blackmailed Harry into marriage since Milburn had not returned home, Gwen is despondent. However, as the scenario becomes even weirder with the return of Milburn and the brothers swapping identities, she realizes that Harry could not be made to do anything he would not want to. Could he love her as she loves him?

THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS is a strange but entertaining Regency romance that will remind readers of the Importance of Being Ernest or perhaps As You Like It, but obviously in a different setting. The story line can become confusing as to which brother is which, but fans will appreciate the errors as they will be as bewildered as the heroine is and enjoy every moment of it. Jessica Benson provides a fun historical though concentrate or you will root for the wrong brother to kiss Gwen.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Accidental Duchess
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - Regency era
Hidden Identity/Secret Motive Yes
Is really... - twin or lookalike

Main Male Character
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age/status: - 20's-30's
How sexual is this person? - very picky
How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How sexual is this person? - very picky
How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 70%
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to The Accidental Duchess
False Colours by Georgette Heyer
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After the Abduction by Sabrina Jeffries


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Jessica Benson Resident Scholar Profiles

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