The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) | Julia Quinn

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) | Julia Quinn | How can it be so predictable, but so engaging?

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The Lost Duke of W...

	The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) Julia Quinn Avon, 2008 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 101 reviews view larger image
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Julia Quinn is amazing!

I just had to respond to all the negative reviews about this book. I fell in love with the characters from the beginning and never once got bored with the story. Grace is a sweet heroine, and Jack is fantastic! I even told a friend that he is right up there with James Malory, (hero of Johanna Lindsey's Gentle Rogue) with being an unforgetable hero. Since there has been some mention of a lack of steamy love scenes in the book, I have to say, I never noticed it because I was so into the story, but yes, if you normally like Cheryl Holt or Nicole Jordan love scenes, this book won't be your cup of tea. Myself, I can't wait for the next book about Mr. Cavendish, and may even pre-order it. Julia Quinn is the Jane Austen of historical romance. I have never been disappointed in her novels. Please take a chance and read it yourself. Don't listen to the bad reviews. What makes a great book to me is the characters, do I care about these people? Do I want to turn the page? Am I caught up in the romance? Yes to all those questions! I love a hero with a sense of humor!

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How can it be so predictable, but so engaging?

I'm not going to say that this book breaks any molds or is fundamentally different from any other romance novel - it still follows the prescribed romance story arc to a tee. However, it's the little things that make this book interesting and worth reading.

First off, the main character - Grace - is wonderful. She's really making the best of a bad situation and doesn't sit about moaning and wailing - she just rolls with the punches and keeps on going. Yes, the class distinction is played with a bit of a heavy hand, but that is more keeping with how those times would have been, and, yes, it's a bit important to the plot. Still, she comes across as a very likeable heroine, one you want to root for.

The hero - Jack - is a bit more cliché, and while not unlikeable, isn't particularly interesting. He doesn't add much to the story (well, other than the obvious!) but nor does he detract from it. He plays his part well, and even if his character is a bit trite his dialogue and interaction with the other characters is good.

Thomas and the dowager duchess, on the other hand, are far more unlikely romance novel characters. There's a bit of uncertainty about each of them. The dowager duchess is mean and rude, but there's something there... something under the surface, that keeps her interesting. Likewise, Thomas's character is not clearly defined. We see glimpses of a good man, but there are also some actions that are a little off. He comes across as a far more believable character, with his somewhat mercurial moods and manners. I am very much looking forward to reading his story in Mr, Cavendish, I Presume and hope it lives up to my expectations!

There are a few little interesting wrinkles in the plot, and maybe I do wish it had ended slightly differently, but it was still a fun read and a great way to pass an evening. I would highly recommend this book (and, indeed, most of Julia Quinn's other novels, especially the Bridgerton series) to anyone who likes romance novels.

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Proves again why she's consistently a NYTB author ...

Julia Quinn's magic is in characterization. She writes a clean, plot-light novel that always delights.

The hero, Jack, is a rascal. What he says and how he thinks are in sync, revealing him incorrigible. He's not a paragon. But ... he is polite, if you deserve it. He's generous, if you're truly needy. He's honorable, if you're worthy.

Grace, our heroine, is worthy. She's polite, even if you don't deserve it. She's patient, even if you're the most difficult creature in Britain to deal with.

Jack's freedom to simply 'be' (even a highwayman, if he chooses) appeals to Grace. Her witty repartee and appreciation of art and natural light set her apart from the countless other women who must have found Jack's rascally ways charming.

Summarize the plot? 'Tis simple enough. Jack Audley might be the true Duke of Wyndham, which would unseat the current Duke of Wyndham, who is a paragon. Grace, companion to the cantankerous and downright mean, dowager Duchess of Wyndham, is not of the correct social class to marry the Duke of Wyndham, whoever he may be. I thought I would easily guess the outcome, but as the Duke of Wyndham, and the possibly lost Duke of Wyndham entered the rectory to read the church registry, I just wasn't sure. And was surprised what happened.

There are plenty of surprises, revealed after you are so thoroughly invested in the hero and heroine. I found myself gasping and sighing, so pulled into Julia's world of idle romantic fancy.

Very satisfying, and I look forward to the next in the series. It's on pre-order.

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Good, But not her best.

For the last five years Grace Eversleigh has been content as companion to the very difficult (trying to be nice here) dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It's been a tireless and mostly thankless task of trying to keep the dowager happy with little break from a tedious routine....that is, until they were held up by a highwayman on the way home from a fete. A highwayman who has the deepest green eyes, very wicked and debonair smile, and steals a kiss that rocked Grace's world.

Jack Audley is a highwayman who often thinks of himself as a sort of Robin Hood. He rarely steals from anyone who he feels cannot afford it, and he does spread his spoils around to those less fortunate than himself. What he's never aspired to be is a peer of the realm, but when the dowager Duchess of Wyndham recognizes his voice, features and mannerisms of her favorite but long dead son she is resolute in proving Jack the legitimate heir and rightful Duke of the House of Wyndham.

*** Julia Quinn has always been an auto-buy for me having written some of the most fun-filled and romantic historical romances I've ever read. Consequently, I always have high expectations for anything with her name on it, and while this was entertaining, I found it to be a tad slow with little surprise as to the conclusion. In fact it took that long to unveil the lead characters true motivation and why Jack truly did not want to be a Duke. Quinn failed to induce much of an adventure nor any real mystery throughout the first three quarters of the book; in other words, I had no real motivation to stay up late to finish this book.

Grace was lovely and kind with no real prospects of marriage to anyone let alone one so high above her station and Jack had a bit more depth but still painted out as a charming rogue. Jack's secret was a clever twist, but nothing that kept you on the edge of your seat. However, and Quinn did a masterful job here, the dowager Duchess was painted as an overbearing tyrant with very little redeeming qualities. The dowager's treatment of her other grandson Thomas Cavendish, the present Duke of Wyndham, was ruthless and pitifully unkind. One hopes and I assume in the sequel, MR CAVENDISH, I PRESUME that Thomas gets his happily ever after story and the dowager gets her just dues.

Bottom line: THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is a light entertaining read, but not truly indicative of the brilliance I generally associate with Ms. Quinn's talent.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

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