The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) | 
| Author: Julia Quinn
Publisher: Avon
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $1.41
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Avg. Customer Rating:  75 reviews
Sales Rank: 1700
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
ASIN: 0060876107
Publication Date: June 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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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 70 more reviews...
 Take a sabbatical! July 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you loved the Bridgertons' Series and love Julia Quinn as a rule, as I did...and want to continue to love her-then skip this book as well as "On the way to the Wedding". I never thought I would write one of these things but don't waste your time with this book.
BTW, what is with the disjointed look of the woman's face on the cover, it looks like a very bad photoshop import. If Ms. Pottinger wants to continue to write then the publishers need to edit her much more closely. I don't want to be mean, but this is just not a good book.
 Julia Quinn is amazing! July 21, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I just had to respond to all the negative reviews about this book. I fell in love with the characters from the beginning and never once got bored with the story. Grace is a sweet heroine, and Jack is fantastic! I even told a friend that he is right up there with James Malory, (hero of Johanna Lindsey's Gentle Rogue) with being an unforgetable hero. Since there has been some mention of a lack of steamy love scenes in the book, I have to say, I never noticed it because I was so into the story, but yes, if you normally like Cheryl Holt or Nicole Jordan love scenes, this book won't be your cup of tea. Myself, I can't wait for the next book about Mr. Cavendish, and may even pre-order it. Julia Quinn is the Jane Austen of historical romance. I have never been disappointed in her novels. Please take a chance and read it yourself. Don't listen to the bad reviews. What makes a great book to me is the characters, do I care about these people? Do I want to turn the page? Am I caught up in the romance? Yes to all those questions! I love a hero with a sense of humor!
 Proves again why she's consistently a NYTB author ... July 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Julia Quinn's magic is in characterization. She writes a clean, plot-light novel that always delights.
The hero, Jack, is a rascal. What he says and how he thinks are in sync, revealing him incorrigible. He's not a paragon. But ... he is polite, if you deserve it. He's generous, if you're truly needy. He's honorable, if you're worthy.
Grace, our heroine, is worthy. She's polite, even if you don't deserve it. She's patient, even if you're the most difficult creature in Britain to deal with.
Jack's freedom to simply 'be' (even a highwayman, if he chooses) appeals to Grace. Her witty repartee and appreciation of art and natural light set her apart from the countless other women who must have found Jack's rascally ways charming.
Summarize the plot? 'Tis simple enough. Jack Audley might be the true Duke of Wyndham, which would unseat the current Duke of Wyndham, who is a paragon. Grace, companion to the cantankerous and downright mean, dowager Duchess of Wyndham, is not of the correct social class to marry the Duke of Wyndham, whoever he may be. I thought I would easily guess the outcome, but as the Duke of Wyndham, and the possibly lost Duke of Wyndham entered the rectory to read the church registry, I just wasn't sure. And was surprised what happened.
There are plenty of surprises, revealed after you are so thoroughly invested in the hero and heroine. I found myself gasping and sighing, so pulled into Julia's world of idle romantic fancy.
Very satisfying, and I look forward to the next in the series. It's on pre-order.
Good, But not her best. July 19, 2008
For the last five years Grace Eversleigh has been content as companion to the very difficult (trying to be nice here) dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It's been a tireless and mostly thankless task of trying to keep the dowager happy with little break from a tedious routine....that is, until they were held up by a highwayman on the way home from a fete. A highwayman who has the deepest green eyes, very wicked and debonair smile, and steals a kiss that rocked Grace's world.
Jack Audley is a highwayman who often thinks of himself as a sort of Robin Hood. He rarely steals from anyone who he feels cannot afford it, and he does spread his spoils around to those less fortunate than himself. What he's never aspired to be is a peer of the realm, but when the dowager Duchess of Wyndham recognizes his voice, features and mannerisms of her favorite but long dead son she is resolute in proving Jack the legitimate heir and rightful Duke of the House of Wyndham.
*** Julia Quinn has always been an auto-buy for me having written some of the most fun-filled and romantic historical romances I've ever read. Consequently, I always have high expectations for anything with her name on it, and while this was entertaining, I found it to be a tad slow with little surprise as to the conclusion. In fact it took that long to unveil the lead characters true motivation and why Jack truly did not want to be a Duke. Quinn failed to induce much of an adventure nor any real mystery throughout the first three quarters of the book; in other words, I had no real motivation to stay up late to finish this book.
Grace was lovely and kind with no real prospects of marriage to anyone let alone one so high above her station and Jack had a bit more depth but still painted out as a charming rogue. Jack's secret was a clever twist, but nothing that kept you on the edge of your seat. However, and Quinn did a masterful job here, the dowager Duchess was painted as an overbearing tyrant with very little redeeming qualities. The dowager's treatment of her other grandson Thomas Cavendish, the present Duke of Wyndham, was ruthless and pitifully unkind. One hopes and I assume in the sequel, MR CAVENDISH, I PRESUME that Thomas gets his happily ever after story and the dowager gets her just dues.
Bottom line: THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is a light entertaining read, but not truly indicative of the brilliance I generally associate with Ms. Quinn's talent.
Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com
The Lost Duke of Wyndham July 18, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Julia Quinn is the best romance writer out there. Her use of humor is one of the reasons I enjoy reading her novels.
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