The Duke By Gaelen Foley

Summary

The Duke is, in all honesty, one of the best books I have read in quite some time. It contained many swoon-worthy moments, making it a truly romantic read, yet it also had enough angst and complexity to keep me on the edge of my seat, wondering how the author would pull off a happily-ever-after ending. I found the use of a courtesan, albeit a relatively innocent one, as the heroine, to be a rather unique element. I would not normally think of a "fallen woman" as heroine material, but in this case it worked for me because of the extenuating circumstances surrounding her choice of profession. I also found the details within the story about the lives of courtesans to be very interesting. I could appreciate the author's highlighting of the limited choices for women in that era, and it really made me think about what circumstances might lead a woman to make that kind of choice. I was quite impressed with the way Ms. Foley was able to deftly weave a number of real-life individuals, including some courtesans, into the narrative as secondary characters. I thought this added a great deal of depth and interest to the story. There were also some details of British politics of that time, but unlike a couple of other stories I read recently where I found the political element to be extremely dull, here I felt that it really added to the story in a rather profound but nuanced way.

In The Duke, Gaelen Foley has created a hero and heroine who were, in my opinion, both likable and memorable. I thought that Belinda was an incredibly strong, brave and courageous woman. Even though she had been victimized, she never allowed herself to be a victim, instead boldly facing those who had caused her harm, and in one case even showing compassion and forgiveness. Bel was a woman who had a tender heart and a deep sense of honor. Even when faced with becoming a courtesan as a matter of survival, she tried to maintain her dignity by upholding a certain moral code which I found admirable. I also loved that she would not bend that code even though it meant giving up the most important thing in her life, and ultimately, it was her resolve on this matter that led to Bel finally earning the respect that she so richly deserved. Robert was a kind, gentle and patient man with the heart of a romantic, yet he became Bel's protector not only in word but in deed as well. In fact, the level of fierceness that he reached to ensure Bel's protection, was rather surprising for this previously controlled and mild-mannered man. Robert was a man who was torn between love and duty, and as such, he could sometimes be a bit hard-headed. It was nice to see him grow and change, eventually breaking out of the mold he had been placed in by his father and the ton, allowing himself the freedom to experience his heart's desire. I absolutely loved the interactions between Robert and Bel. Their relationship was just thoroughly beautiful with each of them giving very generously, unselfishly, and in equal measure to one another, creating some very lovely and sensuous love scenes. I don't think I could have asked for a much more romantic and well-matched couple.

All in all, Gaelen Foley has an amazing writing style which contains so many wonderful nuances that make the reader feel as though they are actually experiencing the story as it happens. There were places in the narrative where I felt like she was holding something back, but after careful consideration, I think that it may have been intentional. I'm not precisely sure how Ms. Foley accomplished this, but as I read, I felt all the insecurity that I imagined Bel must have felt in her relationship with Robert, knowing that he was a duke and she a mere courtesan. There were times when I wasn't sure if I liked this, as I was expecting a grand and prefect romance, but I realized that it made me more aware of what a women in Bel's position might have really felt, making the story all the more realistic. Even though I wanted to be upset with Robert at times for his stubbornness and in one case, not seeing the obvious, I also understood his trepidation at the thought of further scandalizing his family name. When an author makes me think about and understand all the things that drive their characters to behave a certain way, I feel that they have done their job well.

I could not find much to truly criticize in this book, but one thing I thought could have been a bit stronger was the final reveal on the cause of Lucy's death. I felt that there was a bit too much justification surrounding it, and that it could have been written in such a way that this would not have been necessary. Overall though, it was a relatively minor part of the story that I was generally able to overlook. Also, the romantic in me would have liked Robert to come to his senses a little sooner or perhaps never have had to in the first place, but there were so many positive things that occurred during the time he and Bel were apart that I could hardly complain. Bel was able to regain her dignity and self-worth in full measure, while Robert was able to realize some very important things about Bel, as well as being able to reinvent himself and find freedom from his family's infamous legacy. As the end of the story approached, I was wondering how the author would redeem Robert's mistakes in a believable and forgivable way, but I needn't have worried. It ended with a grand romantic flourish and a two-for-one happily-ever-after that was absolutely breathtaking.

The Duke is the first book in the Knight Miscellany series. It briefly introduces Robert's brother Alec who becomes the hero of book #6, One Night of Sin, as well as their sister, Jacinda, and her companion, Lizzie, who become the heroines of book #4, Lady of Desire, and book #5, Devil Takes a Bride, respectively. Book #2, Lord of Fire, and book #3, Lord of Ice, feature twins, Lucien and Damien, respectively, as the heroes, and the final book #7, His Wicked Kiss has black sheep, Jack, as the hero. These three are also Robert's siblings and are mentioned by name in The Duke, but do not actually appear as secondary characters. I found The Duke to be a thoroughly engaging and romantic read that has earned a permanent place on my keeper shelf. It was the first book by Gaelen Foley that I have read, but certainly will not be my last. I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as checking out her other works.

Note: As a warning to sensitive readers, there is an incidence of rape in the first chapter. It isn't particularly graphic, but it is emotionally intense. There is also an instance of rather brutal violence when Robert takes matters into his own hands to avenge Bel.
Review provided by The Hope Chest Reviews