Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 
 Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors, and by favorite I mean I squeed so hard at her at RT that she may have taken out a restraining order. I may have peed a little. So when she releases a new book, I'm always excited and a little nervous because I'm filled with so much expectation. I am happy to report that My American Duchess was amazing and worked for me perfectly. 
 James is really great at writing married couples who think they are in love when they get married, realize it's more infatuation, and fall into a deeper, more permanent sort of love as a married couple. She writes couples who need to figure their shit out as a married couple, dealing with crap like miscommunication or no communication, misguided expectations, and not-so-amazing first attempts at intimacy together. It's realistic and also so well done. If you want more married-couple historical romance then try Once Upon a Tower or An Affair Before Christmas by James. 
 This is the reason I love James' books so much-there's a depth to her writing that takes the characters beyond external conflict and black moments to "can we really make this work for the next fifty years or so? Yeah, we love each other but can we operate a team?" Her couples learn to talk to each other in a way that's meaningful. 
 My American Duchess worked for me in all the ways. It was the perfect example of a book by an author I love so much in a style she pulls off magnificently. I'll be buying this one for my friends and giving it permanent space on my shelf. 
 - Elyse