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Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*'s Reviews > When You Give a Duke a Diamond
When You Give a Duke a Diamond (Jewels of the Ton #1)
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This is my first book by Shana Galen and I can understand why she is one of the foremost authors of Historical Romance. I loved this opposites attract story with its entertaining blend of romance and mystery.
To paraphrase the opening lines of ‘Hart to Hart’, one of my favourite TV shows:
This is William, the sixth Duke of Pelham. He is rich, powerful and influential. His world is one of order, decorum and punctuality.
This is Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance. She is a much sought after courtesan. Classically beautiful with pale blonde hair, she can break hearts with just a smile.
and when they meet….sparks are bound to fly!
“I would never be rude to a lady. You, madam, are not a lady. You are nothing more than a well-paid whore.”
Oh yes, William’s hero status is definitely a bit rocky at first, but as details of his early life are gradually revealed, I understood how his cold, heartless father had shaped him into the man he has become. Since birth, his father had drummed into William the principles he must adhere to…'a duke was never uncertain, never faltered, never showed emotion. And a duke was most certainly never late'…any failure resulted in a harsh retribution from his father. One of the delights of this book is watching William slowly emerge from his orderly existence to discover that he doesn’t have to be a prisoner of the past, that he can choose his own destiny.
Juliette is not everything she is perceived to be by the ton, who never know the real woman behind the façade. Divorced from an abusive husband, she still dreams of finding someone 'who loves the farmer’s daughter and the Duchess of Dalliance and everyone I’ve been in between'.
It is fun seeing how she completely disrupts Will’s (as she insists on calling him) orderly life and makes him realise that he can be both a man and a duke…that it is okay to laugh and have fun. Her refusal to conform to his rigid rules had some hilarious consequences such as when Will physically drags her out of bed because she’s late for breakfast! But Juliette is more than a match for him…
"Do you ever cease looking at that watch of yours? I think it must be permanently affixed to your hand.”
“Some of us must live our lives on a schedule,” he answered.
She lifted a plate. “Eat on a schedule, sleep on a schedule, walk on a schedule. Tell me, do you visit the privy on a schedule, as well?”
I felt that Will not knowing the truth about Juliette’s real situation made his willingness to declare his love for her in such a public way so romantic.
“But I’m a courtesan. I can’t be your duchess.”
“Juliette, you are my love. No other woman could ever be my duchess.”
I enjoyed the scene in Will’s club where he is joined by his friends, Lord Andrew Darlington and Warwick Fitzhugh. The banter between them is so amusing.
The plot had enough action and danger to hold my interest and the unresolved story thread involving the ruthless Lucifer neatly sets the scene for If You Give a Rake a Ruby, the next book in the series.
This was a wonderful introduction to Shana Galen’s books and I’m looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
The Jewels of the Ton series (click cover for more details):
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals blog:
http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...
To paraphrase the opening lines of ‘Hart to Hart’, one of my favourite TV shows:
This is William, the sixth Duke of Pelham. He is rich, powerful and influential. His world is one of order, decorum and punctuality.
This is Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance. She is a much sought after courtesan. Classically beautiful with pale blonde hair, she can break hearts with just a smile.
and when they meet….sparks are bound to fly!
“I would never be rude to a lady. You, madam, are not a lady. You are nothing more than a well-paid whore.”
Oh yes, William’s hero status is definitely a bit rocky at first, but as details of his early life are gradually revealed, I understood how his cold, heartless father had shaped him into the man he has become. Since birth, his father had drummed into William the principles he must adhere to…'a duke was never uncertain, never faltered, never showed emotion. And a duke was most certainly never late'…any failure resulted in a harsh retribution from his father. One of the delights of this book is watching William slowly emerge from his orderly existence to discover that he doesn’t have to be a prisoner of the past, that he can choose his own destiny.
Juliette is not everything she is perceived to be by the ton, who never know the real woman behind the façade. Divorced from an abusive husband, she still dreams of finding someone 'who loves the farmer’s daughter and the Duchess of Dalliance and everyone I’ve been in between'.
It is fun seeing how she completely disrupts Will’s (as she insists on calling him) orderly life and makes him realise that he can be both a man and a duke…that it is okay to laugh and have fun. Her refusal to conform to his rigid rules had some hilarious consequences such as when Will physically drags her out of bed because she’s late for breakfast! But Juliette is more than a match for him…
"Do you ever cease looking at that watch of yours? I think it must be permanently affixed to your hand.”
“Some of us must live our lives on a schedule,” he answered.
She lifted a plate. “Eat on a schedule, sleep on a schedule, walk on a schedule. Tell me, do you visit the privy on a schedule, as well?”
I felt that Will not knowing the truth about Juliette’s real situation made his willingness to declare his love for her in such a public way so romantic.
“But I’m a courtesan. I can’t be your duchess.”
“Juliette, you are my love. No other woman could ever be my duchess.”
I enjoyed the scene in Will’s club where he is joined by his friends, Lord Andrew Darlington and Warwick Fitzhugh. The banter between them is so amusing.
The plot had enough action and danger to hold my interest and the unresolved story thread involving the ruthless Lucifer neatly sets the scene for If You Give a Rake a Ruby, the next book in the series.
This was a wonderful introduction to Shana Galen’s books and I’m looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
The Jewels of the Ton series (click cover for more details):
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals blog:
http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...
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Reading Progress
December 6, 2012
– Shelved
March 27, 2014
– Shelved as:
own-must-read-historical-romance
May 24, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 1, 2014
–
Started Reading
October 10, 2014
–
Finished Reading
August 27, 2021
– Shelved as:
5-star-books
August 27, 2021
– Shelved as:
purchased
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Bespectacledreader wrote: "Carol, thank you for this review. Ohhhh, a courtesan. I thought she was raped that's why she became a courtesan :p"
No rape and Juliette's situation is not what it appears.
I haven't read any of her books yet, either, and I keep on saying I will. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction!
Eileen wrote: "I haven't read any of her books yet, either, and I keep on saying I will. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction!"Like me you just needed that gentle push, Eileen.
Hmm, nice review Carol, I haven't read any by this author either. Another added!
Wendy wrote: "Hmm, nice review Carol, I haven't read any by this author either. Another added!"Thank you, Wendy. :)
Lovely review, Carol!
Miranda wrote: "Lovely review, Carol!"Thank you, Miranda. :)
Ohhhh, a courtesan. I thought she was raped that's why she became a courtesan :p