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.
