The Lost Duke of Wyndham

by Julia Quinn

Series: The Two Dukes of Wyndham (#1)

Published by: Avon Books

May 27th, 2008

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Mass-Market Paperback

Source: Gift from Friend

Rating: 5 Stars

     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...

     For the past five years, Grace has been the companion to the dower dutchess of Wyndham and she is apparently the only one that can deal with the old lady and not run for the hills. When coming back from a ball they are stopped by highwaymen to be robbed and the old dutchess starts acting a bit crazy since one of the men looks like her dead son (or at least what she can see of him since he's wearing a half mask).

     Jack is a carefree man that has many secrets but always has a smile on his face no matter the problems he faces. He is charming and a rogue and he wastes no time in trying to seduce Grace at every turn.

     I love Grace and Jack. Both of them have tragedy in their pasts that puts them in the circumstances they find their selves in but at the same time they have a childhood full of love and caring family. Jack is a terrible flirt and I like that he has a warped sense of humor.

     From beginning to end this book is a fun, enchanting read that left me glued to the pages even when the ending was so glaringly obvious. I can't wait to read Thoma's book since there where a couple of scenes I'm curious about that I hope are told in his book (since both books are kind of on the same timeline).