Review For AN AMERICAN DUCHESS by Sharon Page -4*

Title: An American Duchess

Series: Roaring Twenties #1

Author: Sharon Page

Genre: Historical Romance

Rating: * * * * 

Publishers: HQH Publishers

(Sept 29, 2015)

Paperback: 432 pages

ISBN: 978-0373789382

FTC Disclosure: From My Private Stash

New York Times bestselling author Sharon Page dazzles in this thoroughly modern tale of love and marriage in the Roaring Twenties 

Rebellious American heiress Zoe Gifford has done almost everything to break society's conventions—except get a divorce. Bound by her father's will to marry before she can access the fortune she desperately needs to save her mother, Zoe strikes a deal with charming British aristocrat Sebastian Hazelton—not knowing it will change the course of her life forever.  

Once in England, her foolproof plan to wed, inherit and divorce proves more complicated when Zoe meets the austere Nigel Hazelton, Duke of Langford. Still reeling from the Great War, Nigel is now staging a one-man battle against a rapidly changing world, and outspoken Zoe represents everything he's fighting against. When circumstances compel Zoe to marry Nigel rather than his brother, an unexpected—and uncontrollable—passion turns their marriage of convenience into so much more. But can a man fixated on the past and a woman fighting for the future find love in each other's arms?

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This was such a fun read and could have easily ended half way through and been a great HEA but the author did so much more with this story. It has a "Downton Abbish" vibe that had me missing the Grantham family but was so much deeper with the repercussions  of the War affecting so many characters in the book in tragic ways. It wasn't all fun, lavish parties and beautiful clothes, but a combination with the loss and horrors of the war. I love historicals from the 1920's  and you get to see England, New York and California during this era which is always fascinating to me.

My only fault with the book were the main characters, though I loved both Nigel and Zoe, I felt like both were a bit over the top. Nigel was deeply in love with Zoe but ended up hurting her time after time with his unbending upper crust British coldness when he was trying to "protect" her. Possibly as an American, I saw this as slightly abusive rather than protective. And Zoe was pretty unbending herself and rather selfish. Yes she was only 20 but I think the two of them could have compromised a bit more. But then alas, it is a story not real life.

Still, this book managed to captivate me over two days and ultimately one I'd definitely recommend. Off to snag a copy of book two, has a murder mystery with it.

American Duchess Series

0.5. The Heaven that is Home (2014)

1. An American Duchess (2014)

2.The Worthington Wife (2016)

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sharon Page sold her first book, an erotic romance novel A GENTLEMAN SEDUCED, in 2004. Since then, she has published more than 20 novels and novellas, both traditionally through NY publishers (Kensington, Random House, Harlequin), and on her own through self-publishing.

Sharon writes:
Historical romantic women’s fiction (AN AMERICAN DUCHESS)
Erotic historical romance (SIN, DEEPLY IN YOU)
Erotic paranormal romance (BLOOD RED, BLOOD CURSE)
Sensual historical romance (THE CLUB, ENGAGED IN SIN)
New adult contemporary erotic romance (The Yardley College Chronicles series).

Sharon’s books have won many awards including two RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Colorado Award of Romance, and the Golden Quill. Sharon was nominated by RT Book Reviews in 2013 for Career Achievement in Erotic Romance.

She graduated with a degree in Industrial Design (School of Engineering) and worked for years in the structural engineering field. Married, with two children, Sharon now writes almost full time.

Here’s a little of her story and why she writes so many genres:

I’m also a mother of two young children and wife of a terrifically supportive husband. Advised to get a ‘real job’, I studied product design at university, worked for many years in structural engineering, but I always dreamed of a career as an author. Now, I’m happy to say I get to write most days while still working part time in research and development management. And all those years in technical fields gave me a great perspective for writing from the male point of view.

My writing influences are varied. Mysteries were my first obsession. As a child, I devoured the Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew mystery series, and I was addicted to Agatha Christie. In my high school years, I discovered the novels hidden at the back of my parents’ bookshelves. After reading books like ‘Fear of Flying’ and ‘Blue Skies, No Candy’, I decided to write literary erotic stories (despite a certain lack of experience at that point). In pursuit of my dream, I penned some hot coming-of-age books, pounding them out on a clunky manual typewriter with a faded ribbon. But I never actually finished a book.

Finding Romance Writers of America, and my local RWA chapter, was the turning point for me. I’d highly recommend finding a chapter if you are an aspiring romance author. Not only did I learn about the business and craft of writing, I met great writers who have become dear friends. And I became determined to finish a book and sell.
Since I love creating sexy, wicked men who love pleasuring women, I gravitated to writing Regency set historical romances. Deciding to heat up these stories from sensual to erotic, I wrote A GENTLEMAN SEDUCED, which sold to Ellora’s Cave and was my first published novel. But my new identity as an erotic romance author was a carefully guarded secret—I wasn’t quite ready to tell my parents and mother-in-law.

Signing with Kensington’s Aphrodisia line was a whirlwind—my editor emailed two days after receiving my proposal. I had just come out of the hospital with my one-year-old son (it was a febrile seizure and my eternal thanks go to the paramedics and the hospital emergency team, who made sure my little guy ended up fit and well). My “call” ended up being on my answering message. Within one month, I sold 5 single titles and 1 novella to Kensington. At that point I couldn’t keep my secret from my family any longer. Since then I’ve published many books of erotic regency romance, and am launching a new series this year with Kensington: the Wicked Dukes. Book 1, DEEPLY IN YOU, is a June 24, 2014 release.

2014 marks my first foray into a genre I call historical romantic women’s fiction, with AN AMERICAN DUCHESS (to be published by Harlequin’s HQN line), set in England and the US in the 1920s.

AN AMERICAN DUCHESS developed when I became addicted to Downton Abbey. Since I first read the Great Gatsby in high school (years before it was assigned), I’ve been in love with the 1920s. I’ve read everything from Agatha Christie’s 1920s mysteries, to P.G. Wodehouse, to Gatsby, and through my background in product design, I’ve been long hooked on the fashion and design of that period. Women get the vote, start wearing the brassiere (patented in 1914), drive cars and fly airplanes!

I decided to write a romance set in the 20s. I created an American aviatrix heroine, who marries a staid but gorgeous English duke. The novel grew and expanded as I realized how much I wanted to touch on the changes in society and women’s lives during that period. Lots of research went in. I had the perfect excuse to read books on WW1; famous characters such as Zelda Fitzgerald, Edna St. Vincent Millay, heiress Consuela Vanderbilt; and books on the real “Downton Abbey”. Not to mention cocktail menus and cookbooks. Look for AN AMERICAN DUCHESS, Sept. 30, 2014!

As you can see, I am delighted to be writing romance, where I can share the power of love and intimacy with readers.