The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) - Julia Quinn

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) - Julia Quinn

Will the real Duke of Wyndham please stand up?

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...

Ok I cant help but be so excited about this book...its exactly what the blurb says. Grace is a companion of the dowager Duchess of Wynham. They are coming home one night and get robbed by a highwayman that the dowager ends up thinking is her long lost grandchild. Turns out he is...but did his parents get married...will he be forced into being the NEW Duke? And what about the current Duke Thomas?

Alright only touching on a few things b/c I dont want to spoil this book b/c I REALLY recommend it to yall!

First off that first night they get robbed by Jack...OM(Its my Snib Bit btw) but that entire part start to finish was WONDERFUL. Jack is such a charmer and steals more than jewelery from them...he steals a kiss from Grace! :o) And its her first ever kiss!!! AWWW!!!! From then the dowager tries to talk Jack into believing he is her long lost grandchild! He soon flees the situation but cant shake the entire night off.

Jack get KIDNAPPED by the dowager and Grace...TOO FUNNY BTW! And ends up agreeing to follow through with all their plans in finding out if his parents got married. B/c by then it is super apparent that he is his father child, they are a spitting image.

Grace and Jack end up totally falling for eachother but are torn b/c of their status. Grace cant marry a duke (if he is to become one) therefore Jack wants to ruin all plans of dukedom! lol

Like i said this book is amazing! Jack and Graces love is freaking out of this world. It does have some steamy parts but I must say I was totally more into the love they felt for eachother...so poetic! :o)

Snib Bit~
"Take her!" the dowager suddenly cried out, grabbing Grace's arm and thrusting her at the highwayman. "You may hold her hostage, with a gun to the head if you desire.”
Grace swayed and stumbled, the shock of the moment rendering her almost insensible. She fell against the highwayman, and one of his arms came instantly around her. The embrace was strange, almost protective, and she knew that he was as stunned as she.
Grace fought to breathe. Her back was pressed up against him, and his large hand rested against her abdomen, the tips of his fingers curling gently around her right hip. He was warm, and she felt hot, and dear heaven above, she had never --never-- stood so close to a man.
"She should not have done that." He sounded... gentle. Almost sympathetic. And stern, as if he did not approve of the dowager's treatment of her.
"I am not used to holding a woman such," he murmured in her ear. "I generally prefer a different sort of intimacy, don't you?"
She said nothing, afraid to speak, afraid that she would try to speak and discover she had no voice.
"I won't harm you," he murmured, his lips touching her ear. Her eyes fell on his gun, still in his right hand. It looked angry and dangerous, and it was resting against her thigh.
"We all have our armor," he whispered, and he moved, shifted, really, and suddenly his free hand was at her chin. One finger lightly traced her lips, and then he leaned down and kissed her.
Grace stared in shock as he pulled back, smiling gently down at her.
"That was far too short," he said. "Pity." He stepped back, took her hand, and brushed another kiss on her knuckles. "Another time, perhaps," he murmured.
But he did not let go of her hand. Even as the dowager emerged from the carriage, he kept her fingers in his, his thumb rubbing lightly across her skin. She was being seduced. She could barely think --she could barely breathe-- but this, she knew. In a few minutes they would part ways, and he would have done nothing more than kiss her, and she would be forever changed.

HOT DAMN this guy is so FREAKING charming! OMG! He's robbing them and yet he still seems to capture poor Graces heart...did I say POOR Grace...lol ya right! Jack could charm the pants off of me ANY day...literally! ;op

The second book is from Thomas's (the current Duke) POV and tells the story of his struggle with his life turning upside-down and possibly loosing his fiance! Its called Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2).


I give this book a total of...