‘Duchess’: A Historical Romance Set in the 1930s

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STORY: To have her name in lights is all Roxy Price wants, which is what leads her back to the man who broke her young, impressionable heart. To do this, she leaves behind everything; her family, her child… and her name, Rosie Worth. She forgoes her identity and becomes the blonde bombshell Dash’s studio wants her to be. Slowly, Rosie loses herself in pursuit of box office success, and then tragedy strikes. Unlike her dreams, this leads her to meet again with the one man from her past. Now, fighting against the Great Depression and larger studios, Rosie takes up the challenge of saving the company Dash starts but at what cost will her fame come? 


Duchess, by Susan May Warren | Book Review


REVIEW: If ever there were a time to describe something as “snazzy” but still full of tragedy, Susan May Warren’s historical series can pull it off. It’s meant as the highest of compliments as this is quite the saga. The gorgeously designed cover sparkles (the only flaw is a dark-hair actress instead of a blonde) and what’s inside is just as breathtaking. Duchess is a story that sweeps its reader up in the golden age of Hollywood, and an exciting, never-dull excursion to Europe.

‘Duchess’: A Historical Romance Set in the 1930s. A review of the 2013 historical novel by Susan May Warren. Text © Rissi JC
BOOK REVIEW | ‘Baroness’: A Historical Romance Set in the Roaring 20s

In past, I’ve described the books as “dark fairy-tales” and this theme pulls through into Rosie’s story. Everything about this book is spectacular. Warren weaves a story that keeps me glued to its pages, anticipating and wondering what comes next. Back in Baroness, Rosie and her cousin Lily, get equal space, but here her absence is duly noted. Still, there’s some compensation for this in the scenes between Rosie and Rolfe. Rolfe is perhaps the most interesting of the heroes specifically in this series.

Alarming to the reader who wants to savor the story is the time span this novel covers. Much like Heiress, there is a good fifteen years to cover in these 300-some pages. It’s an alarming amount of time that seems unnecessary to cover such an all-encompassing time span. Instead of fifteen years, the story still could have been told as effectively in half that time, and given the ending, perhaps more realistic.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m sorry to see this “Daughters of Fortune” saga come to an end. These pages transport me back to the 1920’s, 30’s and beyond in what seems remarkably authentic. Any classic film buff will also appreciate this. Best of all, everything collectively draws me in. There’s plenty of drama in this captivating saga that finally brings Rosie full circle. Something within its pages holds me spellbound from its intriguing beginnings to its tempered sorrows. Susan shows off just how talented her pen is by these alone, and they will some of the rare historicals to retain real estate on my overflowing bookshelves.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Summerside Press
Publication Date: 2013
Series: “Daughters of Fortune” – Book Three
Genre: Christian Fiction; Historical, Romance, Series
Add the Book: Goodreads
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Sincere thanks to Litfuse and the publisher for a complementary copy of this novel for the purpose of reviewing it; all opinions are my own.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

9 comments

    1. It is, Lydia! If you decide to read this one, check the first two books prior to reading this one since they are connected and are best read that way. :)

    1. Moi, gush about this series!? However did you pick up on that notion, Kara… ;)

      Yes, I will admit to finding this series wonderful and that's strange since usually I don't like any kind of tragic saga. Nonetheless, this will be one of my FAVORITE historical sets. Hope you like it if you end up reading them! :)

  1. I LOVED this book…and every one in the series. I mean, I adored it. And will be reading the whole series again. Susan May Warren is a master storyteller and yeah, I can't gush enough about the Daughters of Fortune series. I think it's my favorite historical fiction series ever. :)

    1. Yay! Another fan of this series. Everything you say, I totally agree with, Melissa. Susan IS a master storyteller and she writes every genre so well. I'm going to miss this family since Duchess is the last book. Guess that means I just have to continue gushing over how good the three books were! ;)

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