Review: Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 7, 2014
Book #0.5 in the lovely and beautifully written Fitzhugh Trilogy by Sherry Thomas.This is a short story about Christian, the Duke of Lexington’s stepmother;  Christian is the hero of Beguiling the Beauty.As he was growing up, Christian and Clarissa shared confidences and an easy-going camaraderie that provided a shield against his father’s grumpiness and infidelities. He was four and she seventeen when she married his father.As with many marriages of this time, it is merely an alliance of families, not a love match. Clarissa puts up with her husband’s mistresses, drinking, rowdy friends, and lengthy absences from Algernon House, the ducal estate.But at one house party, Clarissa meets Mr. Kingston, an enigmatic and handsome gentleman who shows her great kindness. They share lingering looks and, in a memorable moment, he defends her, but nothing comes of their attraction.Shortly afterwards, Clarissa begins a friendly correspondence with a young woman requesting some plant cuttings from the estate’s gardens.For four years, they correspond, even two years beyond the old duke’s death. When her mourning period ends, Clarissa holds another house party and invites her new friend. She also invites Mr. Kingston in hopes of rekindling old feelings never acted upon.As with any Sherry Thomas story, there is simply never enough. Her writing is so exquisite, almost spare. The words are carefully chosen and the emotions she conveys in few words are breathtaking.A sweet little morsel to savor until My Beautiful Enemy releases later this summer.