Stolen Encounters with the Duchess

David Smith is on his way home, back from a long day in Parliament, when he hears a scuffle, and witnesses a woman being robbed by two men. He rushes to her rescue, swiftly disposes of her aggressors, then runs after the fleeing woman to see if she’s alright. To his astonishment, the victim is Faith Wellingford Evers, the widowed Duchess of Ashedon, David’s best friend from ten summers ago. David has been madly in love with Faith since then, but he knew marrying her was impossible: she an aristocrat, he a penniless farmer’s orphan. Even though David is now a respected politician and rather well-off, he is still not her equal in society. However, both miss that bygone enchanting summer, and decide to rekindle their friendship. David surmises that it’s better than nothing, but his feelings for Faith have never dimmed, and keeping it platonic will require more efforts on his part than he ever imagined. David is a very honourable man, and even if it weren’t for the malicious gossip, he wouldn’t consider an affair with Faith, however she is not averse to the idea. What to do? STOLEN ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DUCHESS is a very ingenious love story where the romance is directly related to the hero’s occupation and preoccupations. David is fighting to have the Reform Bill approved, which would also make it possible to marry Faith without any problem, especially since Faith had sons with her late husband. Ms. Justiss’ knowledge of the era’s political scene is staggering, as is her understanding of the class differences, and this makes for captivating reading from a historical point of view, but also how it affects Faith and David’s relationship. No matter how hard they try to convince themselves, the fires of passion still burn bright for Faith and David, but Faith’s sons and mother-in-law also live with her, which makes it very difficult to meet without doing anything publicly scandalous. Ms. Justiss has created in David a wonderful hero: understanding, upright, loyal and compassionate; he and Faith are an ideal match, as she is more adventurous and quite passionate but still respectful of society’s rules, at least in public. The author handles prickly situations very adroitly, and I loved the subterfuge when getting rid of a villain. Julia Justiss’ writing is as gorgeous as ever, measured yet lyrical; the dialogues are impeccable and always according to the era’s language. Readers who enjoy a tale of true love, where historical accuracy is paramount, will be delighted with STOLEN ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DUCHESS. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.