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The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1)
written by Julia Quinn
Studio : Avon
by Avon
Release Date : 2008-05-27
Publisher : Avon
Released : 2008-06-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780060876104
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 71 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $1.45
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Product Description |
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Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham. Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine . . . until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have . . . |
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The Lost Duke of Wyndham |
Julia Quinn is the best romance writer out there. Her use of humor is one of the reasons I enjoy reading her novels.
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THREE & A HALF STARS - Nice, Quick Read |
I guess on this one, I'm probably a middle of the roader. I don't think this book sucked as badly as the terrible reviewers feel, but I also don't think Julia Quinn is back on top, either.
This was a good quick read, but not an in depth character study.
As many have said, Grace was not a complicated person. I did understand (more than some), how she seemed to always be on the verge of laughter. I can relate to the nervous laughter, the mortified did-I-really-just-laugh-at-that laughter, the joyous, free laughter. Jack did pop off some really good one-liners, and I found myself laughing right along with them.
Jack was previously a highwayman. Justified in his own mind, he was still a thief. That's wrong. No matter how you clean it up, no matter that you're Robin Hood-ish, stealing is stealing, and it's hard to get past that. I guess the thing I liked about him (and what was not truly fleshed out enough to me), was his dyslexia. Having first-hand experience with it (my oldest son), and knowing that all folks with a learning disability are not idiots, it was refreshing to see a hero in a novel battle it and still be somewhat likeable. I think he could have been much more appealing if his background had been more deeply explained.
The Dowager Dutchess was a total W.I.T.C.H. I can't understand anyone having any loyalty to her. I also was disappointed that it was explained better what her draw was to Jack's father. Why was he the "favored son"? There's no explanation - and perhaps that's coming in the 2nd book, but it was annoying to not know in this one. I wanted her to be like Gareth's grandmother (James' Aunt in "How to Marry a Marquis") in "It's in his Kiss", but she wasn't. There really was nothing even remotely pleasant about her.
Thomas. Hmmm. I don't really know where everyone gets that he was a more interesting character in this book, though, because he spent most of it bickering (somewhat rightly so) with Jack - because Jack had the misfortune of being born to the favored son. Or he was drunk, or just plain out of the picture. I felt no spark between him and Amelia. I'm sure the next book will open that story.
So, an okay read, not her best, not her worst. I could have been happy to have gotten this one at a UBS. |
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"I do like a good love story" |
Near the end of the books, a background character says "I do like a good love story" and I agree. This is not as good as the Bridgerton novels (one of my favorite romance series ever) but it is a good love story and I enjoyed reading it.
It is not a particularly steamy love story so those readers who want sex scenes that start early and continue frequently throughout the book will be disappointed. Jack and Grace have several "make out" sessions but do not have sex until very near the end of the book. Because of that, the book is much more about feelings and circumstances and falling in love.
I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series about Thomas and Amelia and hope there is one after that about Elizabeth. |
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Bad News. Good News. Though mostly Bad. |
Sigh.
So it's not a fantastic Julia Quinn book. That's pretty much the bad news. The characters, especially our predictably lovely and frustratingly meek heroine Grace, are fairly run-of-the-mill. As in many romance novels, the characters are more than they appear. Grace is a companion to the local countess, an imposing and mercilessly self-centered woman. But, of course, Grace was actually the daughter of a respectable, though monetarily irresponsible, member of the local gentry who was forced to work for the countess rather than marry her foolish cousin (um...hasn't this plot twist been used before?). Jack seems to be a highwayman, though may be a duke who was forced to rob people on the road. Really? How is an educated, well-spoken, well-connected man get forced to successfully lead a gang of highwaymen? This is never really explained. The plot is fairly unbelievable and the romance fairly weak.
However (PS this is the good news), I do like how respective social standings of characters play a significant role in their actions. It's done believably and is delightfully heart-wrenching. Plus, being a Julia Quinn book, there is a certain...sparkle. All of her books sparkle, even those horrible last few in the Bridgerton series. This book, in my opinion, is better than those but not nearly as good as her earlier ones. Let's see, let's see. Oh, I also liked that Jack is a flawed man. Not flawed in the typical "bastard son of an earl living with eternal pain blah blah blah he just needs a woman to love him blah blah blah" way, but in a truer way that strikes a familiar chord. Another point, which could be either good or bad (I am going to take it as good because I prefer to dwell on hope rather than disappointment) is that this book sets up the next book in the series beautifully.
Can we talk about the cover for a bit? I know the author has little or nothing to do with it, but I must say...it's weird, right? That girl freaks me out. It's deceptive as well. She looks out form the cover directly, as though she's forthright and assertive. And she's not. Again, sigh.
I tried really hard not to read this book because the last Julia Quinn was so disappointing, but after weeks of denial, I broke down and bought it. It's really not as bad as I expected, but not nearly as good as I wanted it to be. I am moderately excited about the next book in the series, as those two characters were by far the most interesting in this book.
*A personal note to Julia Quinn, who probably does not read her amazon customer reviews but should because we have really good ideas: have you considered contemporary books? They would be hilarious and you wouldn't have to recycle characters and situations from previous novels. We would follow you anywhere, even to this book, even after wading through the dirty slush of the last Bridgerton novel. Or, if that seems too risky, how about characters that are not so pushed around by their circumstances? Bridgerton worked because the characters were refreshingly likable and genuinely amusing. Your strong point is your character interactions. So let's have more falling-in-love bits and fewer running-off-to-Ireland-to-track-family-records bits. |
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Publisher's weekly is wrong again!!!! |
This is Julia Quinn's finest work to date??????? Have they read any of the Bridgerton books??? I don't even believe this is Julia Quinn writing and how much is her publisher bribing Publisher's Weekly for this review? There have been several books by well known authors lately that have had rave reviews and the books are slop. To be fair I am only half through the book but I am still waiting for a story to develop!!!! I enjoy cheese better than this!!! I loved those Bridgerton books - I wanted more brothers and sisters so that it would go on and on!!!
Why do I buy these things?! I have given up on the double cover ones because you know they will be trash supreme and you cannot read them in public anyway if you have any self respect. You can't even go to the check out with them. They all read the same - porn for frustrated housewives. I thought at least this would be witty because she is so good at that, but so far - nothing.
Most disturbing are the false reviews. I would dearly like to meet the people who are swearing that this stuff is so wonderful. I would wager a great deal that a gift of some money was found under their tables. |
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