The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) | 
| Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  63 reviews
Sales Rank: 643
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.7
ISBN: 0060876107
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780060876104
Publication Date: June 1, 2008
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Product Description
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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| Customer Reviews: Read 58 more reviews...
 No charm, no charisma, no good July 5, 2008
When Julia Quinn writes a funny book, she is outstanding. This book is not funny. It is not charming. It just plainly is not something that should be read.
The book is made up of "He thought" "she thought" pages and pages of what the characters thought. The author doesn't give her reader a chance to think for themselves about whether or not the characters are worthwhile.
It is an obvious precursor to a book about the deposed Duke Thomas and his erstwhile and long-suffering fiancee, Amelia. So much so, these two characters have scenes that are hinted at but not explained in this book. You are left dangling, and, in the writer and editor's views, wanting to read the next book in the series. Not so for me - while I think Thomas and Amelia might actually be a decent story, the story of Jack and Grace turned me off the series.
We are told repeatedly that Jack is funny and charming. I could not find either trait in his character. What he is, apparently, is a man out to seduce a woman in his grandmother's employ. That, in the end, he wants to marry her, doesn't excuse his efforts to ruin her.
And then there is Grace - a fine woman who falls for a highwayman who held a gun to her head... something tells me this wouldn't happen in real life. In giving up her virginity to this charming scamp (why charming, because the author says so, of course!) all she worries about is whether or not she will become pregnant. She doesn't care about her future except that no one else knows what she has been up to.
Apart from Jack clutching his heart and knowing that the pain there is love (and not heartburn), I ask you, where is the love in this book? Where is the romance? Where is the funny dialogue? Where is the reason for reading the book? Where, oh where, is Julia Quinn being held hostage and being forced to write this tripe?
I would have given this a one star but I do save that for the absolutely worst of books (just as I save five stars for the absolutely best - Heyer notably ranks five for me consistently.) I wish we could give a 1.5 as this would have scored it on the nose.
Nice build up, but a let down in the end. July 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
For the most part, the book was cute and a nice quick read, but a huge let down in the end. I was really disappointed by how long it took to get to the interesting parts of the story. Things were long, drawn out, and it took forever, about 300+ pages, to get to the climax. The conclusion was wrapped up so quickly and left so many unanswered questions. I understand the whole thing about leaving people wanting more (so they can read the next book) but geez can I get a real conclusion, where most of the characters aren't just left up in the air. I expected a lot more from this one.
Not convincing June 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Although a fan of Julia Quinn, her latest book THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM didn't inspire. There is much attention on the confusion about the identity of Jack, but his hesitation about becoming a duke is not quite convincing (it seems his main issue is that he's insecure about his inability to read and ability to lead). The love story seems almost secondary to this confused identity-theme and the chemistry between Jack and Grace is weak. Grace might be a good person, but she is also somewhat dull and the more interesting characters are thus the supporting roles of Amelia and Thomas, who will be the leading lady and lord in Julia Quinn's next romance MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME.
 Could not put it down! June 30, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Loved this book! Julia Quinn is my favorite romance author and I was so happy to get her latest book. I laughed and smiled from start to finish. She always creates fun and memorable characters. I've already preordered the second book.
Surprised this made the NY Times Bestseller List June 29, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I often rely on the NY TImes bestseller list to chose books, but this was disappointing. I read it and didn't hate it, but it just didn't capture me at all. It was also very predictable. I haven't read this author before so maybe she just isn't my cup of tea.
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