Sandy M reviews The Two Dukes of Wyndham Series by Julia Quinn
Historical romances released by Avon 27 May 08 and Sept 08

There’s been a lot of talk since the release of the second book of this duo, Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, about readers being disappointed it is only a regurgitation of scenes word for word that have already happened in this first book, The Lost Duke of Wyndham. I’ve read some pretty harsh comments from some folks about that fact. While I agree with the sentiment to a point, this second book is still a good story, even while told from another set of characters’ point of view. 

There is literally the exact same characters discussing the exact same issues in the exact same circumstances, but those scenes are interspersed with the hero’s and heroine’s thoughts and actions. That didn’t bother me all that much, mostly because I enjoyed the first book more mainly due to Jack, the hero, and also because that’s where all the action in the the arc of the story was. Ms. Quinn was obviously trying something a little different, and, for the most part, I think she succeeded.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (The Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1)
Released 27 May 08

As much as I liked Thomas, the current Duke in this first book, I liked Jack Audley the would-be duke, because he’s witty and rakish, which, of course, he has to be considering he’s a highwayman.  But he also gives his ill-gotten gains to the poor, keeping just enough for himself to get by on, so you know early on he’s not really a bad sort and has a wicked sense of humor.

Thomas is the usual straight-laced nobleman, respectable and responsible, which I usually like in a hero, but up against Jack, Thomas just didn’t stand a chance in my eyes.  Jack is just as dumbstruck as Lady Cavendish when it comes out that he is her grandson, although they show it in two absolutely different ways.  He wants nothing to do with the old woman, expect maybe her companion, Grace Eversleigh, and the Dowager Duchess wants nothing but Jack installed as Duke and will do anything and use anyone to get her way.  Jack goes kicking and screaming along for the nightmarish ride with only Grace to keep him sane.

The one thing that is needed in the whole farce is proof of Jack’s legitimacy, so at the Duchess’ insistence the lot of them, including Thomas’ fiance Amelia and her father, board an Ireland-bound ship to scour clergy records for the ironclad trap that will change both Jack’s and Thomas’ lives forever.  Even though we know Jack hasn’t told all concerning his upbringing, we see his reluctance and his nervousness at returning home the closer he gets to his homeland.  Of course, all is finally revealed there, all his secrets as well as the truth surrounding his birth, and his resulting emotions is what also caused me to love Jack’s character.  We’re also thrown an unexpected problem concerning Jack and it’s interesting how it all plays out.

I also really enjoyed Grace.  She’s an orphan of country-bred parents, was thrown out of her home by an evil and nasty cousin, which is how she came to be the companion of the Dowager.  She at least has a roof over her head, a slight income, and friends to enjoy in the very limited free time she gets from her duties to the woman, and, despite all that, she’s the only one who tolerates the old bat, as her grandsons call her.

This lady is a doozy.  Both Thomas and Jack stand up to her as much as possible, don’t let her get away with all of her antics, and now both look after Grace when the Duchess gets a little too mean.  But Grace always keeps her cool and does her job with an understated elegance and dignity.  She has a way of understanding everyone’s feelings and does her best to do right by them but never loses her integrity in the process.

I think Jack and Grace made a perfect fit for one another, and I knew I was right when I read the epilogue.  They complement each other in a way that keeps them strong and happy.  By the end of the book, we know that Thomas is in for the fight of his life and can only hope he opens his eyes sooner rather than later for the answer that will get him through his living nightmare.  I also loved the humor, of course, typical Quinn, inserted in all the right moments.

Grade: A-

Read Lawson’s and Devon’s reviews.

Summary:

Will the real Duke of Wyndham please stand up?

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.

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (The Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2 )
Released 30 Sep 08

Ah, Thomas.  He’s destined to be overlooked by a lot of readers.  That’s unfortunate.  He’s not nearly as rakish as Jack and is honest to a fault, which could make him boring, but I think he holds his own, considering what he’s put through with the appearance of his heretofore unknown cousin, who could take everything last thing from Thomas, including his identity, who he is, that which makes him him.  He learns a couple of lessons, though, once he’s just Mr. Cavendish.

We know from Lost Duke that Thomas has never really paid much attention to Amelia, really seen her in all the years and times they’ve been around each other.  Then finally when she decides to grow somewhat of a backbone, Thomas does sit up and really takes a look at his betrothed.  Thank goodness on both counts.  If Amelia hadn’t awakened as early as she did and decided to not let people, especially Thomas, trod all over her without regard for her wants and feelings, this would have been a very long story to get through.

And though Thomas finally looks at Amelia as a woman, that’s when all the dust is kicked up with Jack’s arrival and the dukedom is in question.  He feels if he has to give up his title, he also has to give Amelia up since she is to be given to the Duke of Wyndham, even though his feelings are certainly turning the corner where she’s concerned.  But if he weren’t so upstanding, he wouldn’t be Thomas, the Duke.  He has to learn to be Thomas, the man, and with Amelia he can do that, even though he doesn’t realize it.

Since there’s comparisons between Thomas and Jack, there have to be comparisons between Amelia and Grace.  Although Amelia does gradually become her own woman, it’s too little too late.  She’s always taken the dressing down she gets from the Duchess, always lets her father decide what’s best for her, and lets Thomas ignore her for far too long.  Of course, she’s been a pawn since her birth, so she does act according to her destiny.  She finally gets thrown for a loop with the two-Duke business, which is what she needs to start steering her own destiny.

Grace, on the other hand, received her eye-opening life experience much earlier and has had longer to deal with it, so she just has that extra strength and grace that Amelia is just discovering.  But Amelia eventually comes into her own just in time to get what she really wants, despite her father, the Duchess, and even Thomas himself.

As far as Quinn using the same dialogue for the same scenes in this book, I didn’t find it that disconcerting.  As long as she gave me extra thoughts and actions of Thomas and Amelia in those few places, I found that cast just a little different light on those scenes just from the change in point of view.  Granted, maybe the fact that I knew what was coming helped; I wasn’t tossed into it blind, thinking I was getting a totally new book when in actuality it’s only a partial new book.

Okay, spending good money for a partial new book isn’t the best of circumstances, but, again, I give Quinn kudos for trying it, despite the grumblings about it all.  It still works for what it is.  One comment I read that sticks out for me is that Thomas’ feelings weren’t delved into enough after he’s lost all, but I felt we got that all along.  We knew how he was feeling the moment everything comes to light when Jack first arrives in his life, and we get even more in this book.  His excessive drinking comes to mind, along with his erroneous thoughts that he can no longer have Amelia and other small details.  Even his reaction when the truth is confirmed, “I am Mr. Cavendish,” tells us a lot, especially when he has difficulty saying it.

So, as usual, I enjoyed both stories.  I preferred Lost Duke, as I said, but Mr. Cavendish deserves its due for what it turned out to be.  It started out as a one-sided love story that grew into a full-fledged one, albeit a little later than we’d normally like to see, but a nice one nonetheless.  I like that Ms. Quinn tried to step outside the box and give us something different and hope she continues to look at her craft in such different ways in the future.

Grade: B-

Read Lawson’s review here.

Summary:

There went the bride…

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting…for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all…

It’s true. He doesn’t. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her…eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love…with his own fiancée!

Read an excerpt.

Liviania’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 08

Julia Quinn writes fluff. Pure, unapologetic fluff. I love her for it. Her novels go down easy and leave me with a smile on my face. Some days I don’t need an issue, intrigue, or other complication to my romance. I just need a sweet, simple relationship between two sympathetic characters. The Quinns I have read deliver this fix.

Companion Grace Eversleigh and her employer, the dowager Augusta Cavendish, are robbed by a highwayman one night. But the dowager recognizes this highwayman’s features and the highwayman recognizes her ring. Since she believes him to be the son of her favorite son, the dowager kidnaps Jack Audley when he shows no signs of coming to her. If she has correctly determined Audley’s identity and his parents were married, he will be the Duke of Wyndham rather than her grandson Thomas Cavendish.

Actually, one of The Lost Duke of Wyndham‘s flaws is that it could use a bit more weight when addressing Audley’s decision to make his living as a highwayman. He dismisses it so quickly as more of a game than dangerous as illegal that he comes off more like a sociopath than Robin Hood. Yes, it would be yes fluffy if Audley admitted he was morally ambiguous; however, it doesn’t make him seem more like a romantic hero when he dismisses any implication of wrongdoing.

I cannot hold Audley too much against Quinn because I loved the other characters so much. Grace does nothing to break out of a typical romantic heroine mold, but she is neither a martyr, silly, nor stupid and I wanted her to get a happy ending. She does deserve one for dealing with the dowager, who is now one of my favorite characters ever. She’s a crotchety old woman, too set in her ways to change, but with enough life in her to fiestily battle anyone who opposes her will. I know at least one of my relatives after whom she could be modeled. The dowager is not likeable, but she is sympathetic. (The Outer Hebrides. Hee.)

She fights the most with her other grandson, Thomas Cavendish. Might I say I cannot wait to read the story through his point of view in Mr. Cavendish, I Presume? Straight-laced Thomas begins to let loose and forget about appearances once the bonds of duty loosen. Audley may hate him at first, but Grace’s POV helps show what a truly nice guy he is. Many scenes in the novel hint at his own adventures that Audley and Grace remain unaware of and I am fond of his projected love interest Amelia. They act awkward with each other in front of other people, which is quite cute to me.

I enjoyed The Lost Duke of Wyndham thoroughly. It is a great novel to relax with after a hard day. (Especially if the hard day was caused by a specific person. You can imagine them instead of the dowager every time the Outer Hebrides are mentioned.)

Grade: B-

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 all TGTBTU reviews and posts for The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Marg’s guest review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

Big sigh…. I just finished reading this book in a day. If I hadn’t had to go to work it would have been quicker, but apparently I don’t get paid to sit around and read.

I have again been reminded of how good Julia Quinn’s historical romances can be. One of the best things about reading one of this author’s better books is she has the ability to write a heartwarming, emotional story without any of the added fripperies so common in historical romances. You know the ones I’m sure. The mad cousin/uncle/stalker who has determined the beautiful young virgin must be theirs. The young virgin who yearns for a life of passion and adventure and will do anything to get it (secret spies anyone?) or the BIG misunderstanding. Those fripperies.

Don’t be mistaken by that statement though. There is plenty of drama throughout this book, mostly in terms of the question of who is the true duke, and what will the implications of that truth be. Along the way we find out what brought Jack to his current life of crime, and for at least one of the characters there is an emotional journey home, to deal with the events of the past. There was a big twist in the tail of this book which was emotionally touching, but did feel a little contrived in some ways.

When the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham and her companion, Grace Eversleigh, are held up by a masked highwayman whilst on the way home from the assembly, there is no way for the three of them to know their lives are about to change in an instant.

For the highwayman, Captain Jack Audley, his life of crime is about to come to an abrupt end, especially if the old lady’s claims are true and he should be the Duke of Wyndham. Jack doesn’t want the title for a number of reasons – one thing he does want however is Grace but if he is the Duke then she knows that he is far above her in the social strata and there can be no future for them.

Grace has been the companion to the extremely crotchety old Dowager for the past five years, having been left a penniless orphan. She is at the beck and call of the Dowager day and night, but she does know that without the position that she has been given in the Wyndham household, her life would have been a lot more unhappy.

As Jack and Grace come together, we are treated to a charming and sweet love story. Not cloyingly sweet, but the right balance of physical attraction, learning to know each other, lots of humour and lots of discreet glances and tender moments. I loved that Jack knew what he wanted, and was prepared to claim it, regardless of what society would think. Beneath his handsome visage, and underneath his flippant tones, there was a column of strength that shone through.

And what of the current Duke? As a man who has been raised to be a Duke, Thomas has a lot to lose. His reactions on being told of the possible loss of the title are not gracious, but then again, it would be unrealistic if they were. Thomas’s story is due out in October, and apparently is told concurrently with the events in this book. I must confess that I do find it a little strange that if the events are told concurrently that the books are not being released a bit closer together.

When reading this book it is impossible to forget that you are reading a Quinn book. All the trademarks are there in the witty dialogue, entertaining characterisations of two relatively normal people and a romantic love story.

Now I will just have to go back to those books I discarded so I could read this as soon as I got it.

Grade B+
You can read Devon’s review here and Lawson’s here. Our first Fly it Forward winner Elyssa Papa’s review is here.

From the back cover:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

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 here.

Elyssa Papa’s review The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

There are great romances and then there are great romances. Julia Quinn’s latest offering, The Lost Duke of Wyndham, is a great romance. What makes it great, you may ask?

Oh, reader, let me count the ways…

1. Meet the heroine: Grace Eversleigh, a companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. This is not a typical too-stupid-to-live-heroine. This one thinks, and she’s rational. Even after their coach is robbed by the delectable hero (see #2), Grace maintains a “grace” under pressure. She knows her lot in life and has accepted that this is her life-even though at times she’s not as happy about it as she may appear.

2. Meet the hero: Jack Audley, highwayman, soldier, charmer, etc. Jack Audley is not your typical Me-Hero, You-Woman. This one knows his charm and uses it to his advantage. Jack is going to have many women swoon at his words… his actions… him. It’s very hard not to fall in love with Jack, especially when he lets his vulnerability show.

3. Conflict: The dowager duchess thinks Jack is the son to her long-lost older son (now deceased) and that would make him the current Duke of Wyndham. Except… there’s Thomas Cavendish, the current Duke of Wyndham. Jack has no desire to be a duke for his own particular reasons, but since it means he can stay in the lovely presence of Grace Eversleigh, he agrees to remain in the dowager’s household.

4. Romance: Need I really go on here? Let’s just say Jack is hot. ‘Nuff said.

My list doesn’t do this book justice. Just know that when you read this book, you will be swept away. Julia Quinn manages to craft a story that not only engages you in what will happen next, but makes you invested in the book. I ended up caring about every single character in this book, even the waspish dowager Duchess of Wyndham. She makes you yearn for Thomas’ story, and she has the best ending I have read in a romance novel to date. Her development of Grace and Jack in the TLDOW is a masterpiece; Julia Quinn is a master chef at writing, and makes many look like mere apprentices.

I judge a book great by this alone: at the end of the story, how did I feel? Julia Quinn’s book made me feel as if I had just taken a long hot bubble bath and eaten a lot of chocolate from the happiness and contentment that was zinging through my body.

You ask… How great is this book? Well, let’s put it this simply:

If Julia Quinn doesn’t win the RITA next year, there will be need for a recount.

Grade: A+

You can read Devon’s review here and Lawson’s here.  Tomorrow we will have another Quinn review from another of our Fly it Forward winners!

From the back cover:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

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 here.

Devon’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

Julia Quinn is unusual in that she excels at writing nice people, and more importantly, making them interesting. Her heroines are women of the times. They don’t wear breeches, want to have adventures, or become lady novelists. They are practical, dutiful daughters who’d love to find happiness in marriage and children. Yet, Quinn always manages to imbue them with intelligence, strength of character and a sense of humor.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham’s Grace Eversleigh is such a heroine. The impoverished orphan of a country gentleman, she suffers numerous daily indignities as the companion to the hard-ass Dowager Duchess of Wyndham. She enjoys whatever tiny rebellions she can, and tries to keep her sense of humor hidden. But when an attempted robbery results in the Dowager claiming the highwayman as her long lost grandson, will Grace be able to keep her feelings for the dashing fellow hidden?

Even the most roguish of Quinn heroes can’t hide their inner decency. The possible true Duke of Wyndham, Jack Audley, is like the nicest highwayman that ever lived. He only steals from rich people, and gives much of his spoils to the poor. Jack is so charming and witty, so bright and affable, I couldn’t believe he had ever been a criminal. I completely put it out of my head.

Words like nice, pleasant, witty and charming are an apt description for The Lost Duke of Wyndham in general. I enjoyed it, it kept my interest, and I found the romance to be sweet and sexy, but I found it a bit lightweight. I fear I’ll forget the details really quick. To be honest, I found Grace and Jack’s relationships with the Dowager and Thomas (the other possible Duke) more interesting. The Dowager is a tough old bitch, and Thomas, who has been “The Duke of Wyndham” for a long time, is controlled, sarcastic and a bit mysterious. They provided a contrast to the charming and nice Jack and Grace, and provided much of the funny and the pathos.

Jack and Grace also have their private woes, which were a bit meh. Jack’s reasons for not wanting to return to Ireland and Grace’s belief that she couldn’t marry Jack were total historical romance clichés. I was like, get over it already. There was a twist late in the story concerning Jack which was a real surprise, but wrapped up so neatly and quickly, I found it odd.

All in all The Lost Duke of Wyndham was a fun read with a number of laugh out loud moments. It may not be one of Quinn’s most memorable, but it’s a pleasant way to while away a spring afternoon. And I am really looking forward to Thomas’ story, due in the fall.

Grade: B-

     From the back cover:

     Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

     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 here.

Take a LOOK!!!!!!!!!!

You can get a great peek at The Lost Duke of Wyndham AND for a limited time Avon is letting fans READ THE DUKE AND I FOR FREE! How much awesomeness is that?!!?

Lawson reviewed The Lost Duke of Wyndham yesterday and we have another review coming on the release day. Get your Avon goodies here!

So what do you think?

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

I can’t decide. I know shocking. So I need address for…

I wasn’t planning on flying ALL three. Two are ready to go now. One you will have to wait on, sorry. I will go in order of how the addresses come in. I will fly one out today. I think Devon is read and will fly one out (sorry Sandy you will have to wait for the finial, there there you get lots and lots of books to read early).This isn’t how the Fly it Forward was suppose to go but I will have a post on that later. And you guys can help us decide if we want to keep it like this or go back to how I wanted to do it before which would have the book be ‘flown’ to more people but would take a ‘bit’ of work on your part. (I have been told no no no to KEEP it simple or you won’t play)

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn will be our first ARC to Fly South for the Winter.

Well, that isn’t strictly true. I have no clue where yet to where the book will fly… THAT is up to YOU.

The contest starts NOW! Read on…

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn, blurb:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

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…

Here’s the contest:

1. Review [MUST BE A NEW REVIEW DATED FROM 4/1/08 - 4/6/08] one of Julia Quinn’s books;
2. Comment to this post by midnight SUNDAY, 6 April (technically, 12:00am US Central on the 7th) with one of the following:
   - your review (just write it or paste it into the comments field); or
   - a link to the review on your own site, mentioning TGTBTU and the FIF contest; or
   - the Amazon.com ‘permalink’ to your review, mentioning TGTBTU (you’ll see the permalink just below your review once it goes live on Amazon.com).
3. We’ll review your review and pick the one we like best. We’ll announce winners next week.

THE PRIZE:

• If we pick your review, you win the Lost Duke ARC! We will “fly” (a.k.a. mail) the ARC to you and you will get to read the book!!! RIGHT NOW. And it doesn’t come out until JUNE!!! We’ll also turn your review into an official TGTBTU review post with your byline and everything (short reference to your blog if that’s the way you play)!

THE FLY IT FORWARD PART:

• Then guess what!! Email us your review of Lost Duke by 27 May, and we will ‘fly’ you another ARC, of a different book, for review! And if you review that one by the release deadline, we’ll send you another ARC! And so on and so on and so on…

We’ll do this same Fly It Forward contest with several different books, so keep your eyes peeled every week for more Fly It Forward contests.

So get your wings a’ flappin’! This is gonna be a blast! (no, no, no, no… keep your mitts off my Ward)