Lawson’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 2008
This books starts the tales of the disputed Dukedom of Wyndham. The next in the series will come out in October and it’s called Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. I’ve always had a small fascination with Quinn’s titles, they tend to play on some different things and it’s rather fun. The first character we meet though is not one of the proposed Dukes, but rather the Dowager Duchess and her companion, Grace Eversleigh. And what a very non-Quinn character the Dowager is.
I say that for one reason only: usually embittered characters with no positive views of life are the villain of the piece in a Quinn novel. The Dowager is not really a villain, but just a woman who life handed a rough hand and as such she’s become kind of a viper. The fact that Grace puts up with her for so long with good humor and loyalty shows the best parts of her character. Grace has also had a difficult life, but with the Dowager’s meager largesse, she’s been saved from ruin and is rather comfortable, if not well cared for.
This is all thrown in upheaval when the Dowager and Grace are set upon by highwaymen on the way home from an assembly. The Dowager recognizes the highwayman as her possible grandson and, as it comes out later when he comes to the castle, the true heir to the Dukedom. Jack Audley is rather shocked by this information and then spends the rest of the book trying to get out of what could be a colossal mistake.
Jack, you see, has a secret he hides rather well. To give it away would be the height of spoiling things and what good hero doesn’t have some sort of secret he needs to overcome? Other than that, he’s a charming rogue, with an easy smile and a sharp wit that could melt a girls heart. Which he does very easily to Grace. Though she feels loyal to the Dowager and by extension her grandson Thomas, the current Duke, to see her fall for Jack is rather sweet.
By the end of the story, the reader knows who the true Duke is, but the story continues in the next book. Throughout there’s Quinn’s trademark humor and dialogue, but it seems a little hollow. At least until Jack comes clean with his secret and it helps to round his character. Will the Dowager seem less of a dragon in that one? Will the other contender for the Dukedom have a satisfying end to his life? It’s said it’s told concurrently, so we shall see the other side of the story.
Grade: B
Summary:
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 . . .
Read an excerpt.
I really enjoyed this book! Great review…I love me some Jack Audley and can’t wait for Thomas’ book! I didn’t think the book was hollow at all but then again, the last JQ book that I read, I didn’t like at all so this was a happy read for me! =)
Wasn’t the grandmother a big b word?
Jack was great, and Thomas, I think, will give a good story. It was a little hollow until the reader sees what Jack was hiding though. And the grandmother was just. . .ugh. But had to have her.
HEY! I liked the last book 😛
Lawson,
I see what you mean and it’s been a little bit since I read it so I may have forgotten about that. You’re probably right though, so hollow it is! =)
My bad Sybil, I lied. I wasn’t talking about the Miranda Cheever book as I haven’t read that one yet…I was talking about Gregory’s book from the Bridgerton’s series. I have the Miranda Cheever book in my TBR pile at home, I should pick it up and read it already but I have too many other books to read first.
Ugh.
I loved this book! It was my first Julia Quinn, and I can’t wait for Thomas’ story in October – I thought his relationship with Grace was nicely layered.