Sunday, November 21, 2010

Review -- A Duke's Temptation

A Duke's Temptation
Bridal Pleasures -- Book 1
By Jillian Hunter
Publisher: Signet Select
Release Date: November 2, 2010







Miss Lily Boscastle is soon to be married to her long-time friend, Captain Jonathan Grace. While Lily holds great affection for Jonathan, she does not feel an all-consuming love for him. She, Jonathan, and her cousin, Chloe, a viscountess, attend a literary masquerade where the gardens have been made to look like scenes from famous fictional works, such as Romeo and Juliet, Gulliver’s Travels, and the latest craze, The Wickbury Tales by Lord Anonymous. Lily is anxious to view The Wickbury Tales scene as she’s become engrossed with the gothic novels featuring the noble Lord Wickbury, the wicked Sir Renwick Hexworthy, and the fair Juliette who comes between them. When Jonathan goes off to play cards, Lily subtly flirts with a man disguised as Don Quixote. She is introduced to him a little while later and learns he is the unconventional Duke of Gravenhurst.

Samuel St. Aldwyn, Duke of Gravenhurst, is at the masquerade because it is hosted by his partner/publisher. Plus, he knows that his presence will guarantee that everyone is entertained since he is known by his peers as a radical and supporter of unpopular causes and does nothing to hide it. He is instantly intrigued by the lovely Lily . . . especially after they share a deep discussion about The Wickbury Tales and share a breathtaking kiss. Samuel is pleased because he is the mysterious Lord Anonymous, though very few people know it. Samuel is so taken with Lily that he has a marriage contract drawn up as soon as he returns home from the masquerade. Unfortunately, he finds out the next morning that Lily’s betrothal was announced after he had left.

Two weeks before the wedding, Lily, Jonathan and a couple of friends attend a play and on the way home Lily witnesses Jonathan and his friend murder a man. When she confronts them, they deny it, and because there is no body or any evidence no one believes her. Everyone, including her family, thinks she has gone mad, thus causing a scandal. Jonathan still wants to wed her, but Lily refuses to marry a murderer, so she seeks employment as a housekeeper away from London. She secures a position and is surprised to learn that she will be working for Gravenhurst. But while there, she discovers that there is so much more to him that what society believes—and that he holds many secrets.

This is my first Jillian Hunter book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Samuel was such a breath of fresh air. Yes, he is eccentric, but he is so much more than the clichéd “eccentric hero”. He generates false scandals about himself in order to further his secret career and to divert attention from his private life. Lily isn’t the type of woman that usually attracts Samuel and he’s smart enough to know that that was his problem—he’d been associating with the wrong kind of women. When she comes to his home, he immediately notices that she is not the same vibrant young woman he met at the masquerade. She’s been hurt and all he wants to do is return the light to her eyes and take care of her. I just love a protective hero! Lily is a straightforward, resilient heroine who takes a stand for what is right. She is accepting of and even embraces Samuel and his many quirks—and there are many. Samuel’s servants are wonderful secondary characters who are just as protective of him as he is of them. All of this combined with brilliant writing make A Duke’s Temptation a terrific historical romance that I highly recommend!

~Andrea


26 comments:

  1. Andrea

    Great review I have heard lots about this series and I have just about all of them on the TBR pile I do love a series I really just need more time to read LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  2. I like the sound of this book..... another one to add to the list LOL
    Barbara

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  3. Wow! MUST.HAVE.THIS.BOOK!

    Is it a part of a series? If so, is it the first book or do I have to read others before that? It sounds soooo exciting.

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  4. I've enjoyed the whole Boscastle family series!

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  5. Great review, Andrea! This book looks great! I'll have to read it sometime.

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  6. Thanks, Helen! I love a good series, too. I hope you enjoy it!

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  7. Thanks, Barb! Thanks so much for stopping by today! :)

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  8. Great review, Andrea! You've certainly piqued my interest with this one. What are the other books in the series? Should they be read in order?

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  9. Thanks, Antonia! Ms. Hunter does have a series about the Boscastle family, but this starts a new series. It's definitely not necessary to read the other series first. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

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  10. I hope you like this one, too, Laurie!

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  11. Yes, Trisha. You can borrow it anytime. :)

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  12. This is the first in a new series, PJ. I hope you adore Samuel as much as I did! He is awesome.

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  13. Great review, Andrea! I'll be downloading this one to my Nook today. :-)

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  14. Oh yeah, Jillian Hunter is an auto-buy for me. I searched out her back list and everything...LOL I love series that take in whole family and go with it.

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  15. Wow, a great review, Andrea! This will have to be added to my ever growing TBR pile. I have never read any of Jillian Hunter's books either, but it sounds like I need to start! The premise sounds so interesting, and I'm definitely intrigued by the Duke, and his secret career. And lol to the quirks and eccentricities. But I like that because to me, that's what helps makes characters real and human. After all, don't each of us have our own quirks and ticks too?

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  16. Ms. Hunter is an auto-buy for you, Dianna? I need to check out her backlist then!

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  17. Thanks, Lisa! I wholeheartedly agree...it's his quirks that makes him such a wonderful hero and so lovable! I hope you enjoy this one if you pick it up.:)

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  18. Great review, Andrea! I have read a few of her books, but this sounds like one I should make time to read.

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  19. Oh my gosh, I haven't been here for such a long time I feel like I've completely lost track of what's going on in Romancelandia. I had so little time lately but now that university's started and I've finally settled in I hope to be able to come here regularly again.

    And wow, this sure sounds like an unusual plot line and turn of events. I somehow like the hero already although I haven't even read an excerpt or something of this book. And that sure is a good thing. I hope I wont' be disappointed but I don't believe I will; if our dear Andrea made such a lovely review of it sure has to be good. :)

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  20. Thanks, Buffie! I hope you and yours get well soon so you CAN read!! :)

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  21. Welcome back, LisaK! We missed you. :) And thanks! When they're in Dartmoor (at Samuel's house) the story has sort of a gothic feel to it, which fits perfectly. I hope you'll enojy it!

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  22. Andrea said...
    Ms. Hunter is an auto-buy for you, Dianna? I need to check out her backlist then!

    Oh yes, absolutely, I have been following the Boscastle family for a while now I think the first one was published in 2005 but I can't swear to it, not enough brain cells left these days to remember what I had to eat for breakfast.

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  23. I have read her books over the years and enjoyed them. This sounds like another winner. I'll be looking for it.

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  24. Thanks, Dianna! I checked them out and it looks like an awesome series!

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