Distracting the Duchess

The writing is great. The premise is hilarious -- they meet when she thinks he's her figure model who's going to pose nude so she can paint him. There's a mystery. Lots of chemistry between the hero and heroine, and the heroine is really smart and independent. All my favorite qualities of an excellent romance! The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is the sex scenes aren't that great. They're a little stilted. Oh, well. The rest of the book more than makes up for any lack of passion between the sheets. :)

Emily Bryan is a pseudonym for author Diana Groe whose writing style was somewhat altered from her previous books, being more sexy and comedic in tone. The Duchess in 'Distracting the Duchess' is the widow Artemisia, an artist who has rather shocked polite society by painting nudes. When a man arrives in her studio she assumes he's the newly hired model and he goes along with this assumption; Trevelyn Deveridge is actually the second son of an earl and spy working at the Great Game in India against Russia. Artemisia's father was a former spymaster who unfortunately is suffering from dementia; Deveridge has been sent to try to find the list of his contacts to keep the people safe. He thinks that one way to find this list is to get closer to Artemisia and posing as her nude model certainly helps them to spend time together. However Artemisia is soon drawn into the plot against Russia when one of her employees is captured and she and Trevelyn have to work together to try to keep the list of spies' names from falling into enemy hands. This is a lighthearted book with some amusing moments. Historicity isn't its strong point and certain elements of the plot strain credulity but it's an enjoyable ride with appealing main characters and some amusing side-characters such as Artemisia's butler. There was nothing particularly new in this story but it is worth reading for those who like lighthearted historical romances. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Lady Artemisia, Duchess of Southwycke, may only be twenty-five-years-old, but she has already been a widow for two of those years. Knowing Society would snub a female in business, Artemisia does her dealings behind an alias. Artemisia's nom de guerre is Mr. Beddington. In her employ is one assistant, James Shipwash. James runs the day-to-day operations and does interference on the occasions someone tries to call on Mr. Beddington at the office. All goes well until her father, Angus, slips into dementia. The Honorable Trevelyn Deveridge, second son of the Earl of Warre, is in Her Majesty's Secret Service. The last coherent message received from Angus simply said "Beddington holds the key". However, no one can reach the elusive man. The key refers to a list Angus created of all his operatives. Should it fall into the wrong hands, many would die. When Trevelyn shows up at the Southwycke estate, Lady Artemisia assumes he is the new model she had sent for. Disrobing and posing nude for the lovely lady was not what Trevelyn expected, but he was not one to say no. It is not long before things start getting dicey, as espionage often does. As the intrigue deepens, as well as the passion they share for each other, Artemisia and Trevelyn must team up to figure out where the key is. ***** There are secondary plots, secondary characters, and foreign villains galore, but there was no way I could tell much more in the synopsis without giving away something vital and spoiling the adventure. The amusing mistaken identity at the beginning sure caught my attention and the suspense began quickly thereafter. The character of Artemisia is deeper than I could explain as well. She grew up in Bombay, where riding elephants and going on tiger hunts were considered the norm. Between her background and her stiff backbone, Artemisia is a force to be reckoned with. Trevelyn has his hands full with her. No faint-hearted miss here! I found this story to be downright engrossing and I cannot recommend it highly enough! Author Emily Bryan simply oozes talent! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

At twenty-five years old, the Duchess of Southwycke Lady Artemisia has been a widow for two years. Because of her Bombay childhood in which a female could be publicly active Artemesia runs a business; but to avoid becoming the Ton pariah, she uses the alterego of Mr. Bennington. Only her brilliant assistant James Shipwash knows otherwise and understands a key part of his job is to hide his employer's gender. When her father Angus recognizes that he is losing his mind, he sends a last note to Home Office Secret Service operative Lord Trevelyn Deveridge that says succinctly "Beddington holds the key". Trevelyn begins to search for the elusive Beddington, but no one seems to know who he is and Shipwash is vague and uncooperative. A desperate Trevelyn travels to Southwycke estate to see if Angus' daughter can help interpret the message. Immediately attracted to one another, she assumes he is the male model she hired to pose naked for her next painting. As they fall in love, someone else seeks the key that Beddington holds, but Artemisia has no idea what her father meant. This a much more complex historical espionage romantic suspense than that described above as there are several more key subplots that all converge into a fabulous tale. The fast-paced story line hooks the audience the moment that Artemisia mentally strips Trevelyn who almost immediately takes it off and never slows down until the final confrontation with some bad dudes. Fans will appreciate this exciting thriller as the adventures keep on coming. Harriet Klausner

"Distracting the Duchess" is the first novel by Emily Bryan, but not the last, which is good news! This is just the kind of romance that I enjoy most: interesting and individual characters, quickly enmeshed in a story which includes some suspense and a mystery in need of solving, with lots of spicy sexy interludes and a good dollop of humor and whimsy. Can't ask for much more than that, in my opinion! Artemesia is a wonderful heroine, determined to do her best by her family and also by the artistic gift she's been given -- both of which demand she behaves in a manner contrary to that of a 'normal' well-bred young widow. The "how and why" of her meeting with our hero immediately thrusts the reader into a fast-paced adventure, and sets the scene for these two fascinating peoples' journey toward a bliss that neither expects to find. Emily Bryan is the not-so-secret pen name of Diana Groe, also the author of historical romances set in Viking times. In each of those three books ("Maidensong", "Erinsong", and "Silk Dreams" -- if you haven't read them, I recommend them highly), I saw a distinct improvement and growth in her story-telling and her writing, and have been eagerly awaiting the next "rung on the ladder" of her talent. With the first Emily Bryan book, I see quite clearly that upward climb; and with more overt sensuality, characters of more subtlety and depth, and stories of more complexity and sophistication, I'm intrigued and satisfied. Ms Groe is clearly a writer of more than one story-telling voice, something not often found, in my experience. And in those authors who attempt to write in several genres and voices, it's even more rare to find one who can do so successfully and seamlessly. My guess is that there are several more "voices" gestating in Ms Groe's fertile mind right now, and I can't wait to hear them!