NUMBER: 80TITLE: The Duke
AUTHOR: Gaelen Foley
STARTED: November 20, 2005
FINISHED: November 23, 2005
PAGES: 400
GENRE: Romance
FIRST SENTENCE: Many years ago, as a curly-headed youth on grand tour, he had fallen madly in love with beauty and so had stopped in Florence to take drafting lessons from a bonafide Italian master.
SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] Driven to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of his ladylove, the Duke of Hawkscliffe will go to any lengths to unmask a murderer. Even if it means jeopardizing his reputation by engaging in a scandalous affair with London's most provocative courtesan - the desirable but aloof Belinda Hamilton.
Bel has used her intelligence and wit to charm the city's titled gentlemen, while struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. She needs a protector, so she accepts Hawk's invitation to become his mistress in name only. He asks nothing of her body, but seeks her help in snaring the same man who shattered her virtue. Together they tempt the unforgiving wrath of society - until their risky charade turns into a dangerous attraction, and Bel must make a devastating decision that could ruin her last chance at love.
REASON FOR READING: I *heart* this series.
THOUGHTS: I should have read the series in order. This book, while a decent read, paled in comparison to the other books in the series, namely Lord of Fire and Lord of Ice. The plot was inventive and the characters were fine, but it just seemed lackluster. Not Foley's best work, but still enjoyable. Some of the scenes *coughlibrarycough* will stick with me merely because they were written quite well. Foley has a knack for writing emotions.
MISCELLANEOUS: Such an inventive title...
KEEP/SHARE/CRINGE(?): On to the PBS it goes.
RATING: 6/10 [Good]
CR: The Reluctant Bride by Leigh Greenwood
RN: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
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