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Neville Family & Friends #2
Never Deceive a Duke
They call her the porcelain princess...
With her fragile beauty and regal bearing, the Duchess of Warneham knows how to keep her admirers at a distance. Twice wed and twice widowed, Antonia has vowed never again to marry; never again to surrender her freedom. But when her husband's death is deemed suspicious, and his long-lost heir returns to seize control of the dukedom, she finds that fate has placed her future in yet another man's hands—but not just any man.
They call him a cold-hearted bastard...
Deep in London's docklands, Gareth Lloyd runs Neville Shipping with an iron fist. Unrecognizable as the starving orphan who was abandoned by his family and sent an ocean away from home, Gareth has put his troubled past behind him. That is, until the Duke of Warneham is murdered, and Gareth turns out to be the dynasty's last living heir. Wrenched from his solitude, Gareth neither wants nor needs the honors and obligations of nobility—especially the Duke's all-too-tempting widow...Or does he?
With her fragile beauty and regal bearing, the Duchess of Warneham knows how to keep her admirers at a distance. Twice wed and twice widowed, Antonia has vowed never again to marry; never again to surrender her freedom. But when her husband's death is deemed suspicious, and his long-lost heir returns to seize control of the dukedom, she finds that fate has placed her future in yet another man's hands—but not just any man.
They call him a cold-hearted bastard...
Deep in London's docklands, Gareth Lloyd runs Neville Shipping with an iron fist. Unrecognizable as the starving orphan who was abandoned by his family and sent an ocean away from home, Gareth has put his troubled past behind him. That is, until the Duke of Warneham is murdered, and Gareth turns out to be the dynasty's last living heir. Wrenched from his solitude, Gareth neither wants nor needs the honors and obligations of nobility—especially the Duke's all-too-tempting widow...Or does he?
397 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 24, 2007
69 people are currently reading
974 people want to read
About the author
Liz Carlyle
52books830followersDear Readers,
The awful truth about novelists is that we are mostly dull, introverted homebodies who only write in order to live our fantasies vicariously. I came to writing rather late in life, and I’m still amazed I can get paid for doing something I love, and that I get to stay home while I do it.
My favorite comedian Steve Martin once said, "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art. But if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot." I have never tried to create art, but I do try to tell one heck of a good story. Yes, I try to write with a hot iron, while the heat of the story is in me. And I try, always, to entertain my readers.
Regards,
Liz
The awful truth about novelists is that we are mostly dull, introverted homebodies who only write in order to live our fantasies vicariously. I came to writing rather late in life, and I’m still amazed I can get paid for doing something I love, and that I get to stay home while I do it.
My favorite comedian Steve Martin once said, "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art. But if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot." I have never tried to create art, but I do try to tell one heck of a good story. Yes, I try to write with a hot iron, while the heat of the story is in me. And I try, always, to entertain my readers.
Regards,
Liz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
January 2, 2009
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as everyone else did. This was my first from Carlyle, and I don't think I care for this author's style very much. She writes like a modern American writing a Regency novel, e.g. the hero Gareth keeps reiterating over and over the value of working and that life is meaningless without work, etc. This just would not have been present in England at that time. Likewise the heroine's many reflections on the situation of her fellow women, even as she explains to her servant that "she must behave appropriately" in a very June Cleaver fashion.
These moments kept jarring me from the storytelling, and the duchess came off as nothing more than an archetype, shallowly developed. We know she's resistant to her lot in life because this is conveyed not-so-subtly when she keeps becoming flustered and "flushing" or otherwise lapsing in the ladylike composure that is so obviously important to her. Needless to say, this cannot power a character through three or four hundred pages. We need a little more, a heartbeat perhaps, and I got the impression her flustered routine continued a long while. As anothe reviewer wrote, she's just needy (that's the entirety of her character). I liked Gareth, but he's misplaced here for the reasons I mentioned before.
I also thought if the author took the time to establish in flashbacks that Gareth comes from a partly Jewish heritage and that his childhood suffered because of it that the flashbacks should have been connected to the present at one point, perhaps mentioning his difficulties in the present, or else they seem somewhat aimless. It would have been more useful for the flashbacks to center around his ship experiences in that case, which seem to have affected him strongly (and to tell from his repeated mentions of it, continue to affect him).
The dialogue and some of the secondary characters felt as if the writer had done her research watching Disney's adaptation of the times. I can suspend disbelief, and I can read less faithful reimaginings of the period. I don't mind-- but it's a little difficult when a novel takes itself so seriously while an anachronism entirely powers a character's motivations. It's a little hard to ignore. Most likely, I wouldn't have caught onto this if the romance were less limp (or just the heroine), if there were heat, tension, whatever you call it. Gareth was too strong to credibly fall for this kind of heroine. But there you have it. Sorry, folks, I know a lot of people read her.
((Note: If you'd like to read an author who's done her research and, whether from exposure or from education and an open mind, can write British and French characters believably without them becoming caricatures, I recommend Joanne Bourne's The Spymaster's Lady. I'm reading it now and I love it.))
These moments kept jarring me from the storytelling, and the duchess came off as nothing more than an archetype, shallowly developed. We know she's resistant to her lot in life because this is conveyed not-so-subtly when she keeps becoming flustered and "flushing" or otherwise lapsing in the ladylike composure that is so obviously important to her. Needless to say, this cannot power a character through three or four hundred pages. We need a little more, a heartbeat perhaps, and I got the impression her flustered routine continued a long while. As anothe reviewer wrote, she's just needy (that's the entirety of her character). I liked Gareth, but he's misplaced here for the reasons I mentioned before.
I also thought if the author took the time to establish in flashbacks that Gareth comes from a partly Jewish heritage and that his childhood suffered because of it that the flashbacks should have been connected to the present at one point, perhaps mentioning his difficulties in the present, or else they seem somewhat aimless. It would have been more useful for the flashbacks to center around his ship experiences in that case, which seem to have affected him strongly (and to tell from his repeated mentions of it, continue to affect him).
The dialogue and some of the secondary characters felt as if the writer had done her research watching Disney's adaptation of the times. I can suspend disbelief, and I can read less faithful reimaginings of the period. I don't mind-- but it's a little difficult when a novel takes itself so seriously while an anachronism entirely powers a character's motivations. It's a little hard to ignore. Most likely, I wouldn't have caught onto this if the romance were less limp (or just the heroine), if there were heat, tension, whatever you call it. Gareth was too strong to credibly fall for this kind of heroine. But there you have it. Sorry, folks, I know a lot of people read her.
((Note: If you'd like to read an author who's done her research and, whether from exposure or from education and an open mind, can write British and French characters believably without them becoming caricatures, I recommend Joanne Bourne's The Spymaster's Lady. I'm reading it now and I love it.))
April 21, 2018
ME GUSTO MUCHO!!!!!
A pesar de que tuve que vencer algunos prejuicios:
1- La primera novela de la serie “Nunca mientas a una Dama� me había gustado más o menos. El prota masculino me resultó como muy a la vuelta de todo y no me enganchó. Y Gareth, el prota de esta, estaba como contrafigura masculina y me pareció aburrido, deslucido.
2- No me atraen los argumentos en los que un pobretón o un tipo común, resulta ser heredero de un Ducado, fortuna, etc. etc. Me parece demasiado traído de los pelos.
3- No me gustan los protas rubios. Gareth es rubio. Lo sabía por la novela anterior.
4-La protas medias histéricas y debiluchas no me atraen.
Pero, como no me enganchaba con nada, lo leí.
Bien, les adelanto que Gareth no es aburrido ni deslucido ni nada de eso.
La herencia del Ducado es perfectamente lógica después de conocer la historia pasada.
La prota, Antonia, está media loca pero sus razones tiene.
Me encantó el relato. En realidad, en el presente, solo se desarrolla el romance y el misterio de quién mató al viejo Duque y porqué. Y vamos conociendo la historia de ambos por sus conversaciones y por el recurso de la autora de poner un pequeño prólogo antes de cada capítulo donde nos va relatando la vida de Gareth cuando era pequeño. La historia pasada es muy dramática. Uds saben que no me gustan los dramas pero, como son hechos que ya pasaron, me engancharon mucho porque explican el presente.
Un poco de humor por medio del ambiguo Sr. Kemble, personaje que siempre aparece en los libros de Liz, y que en este tiene una gran participación en la investigación.
Ah! Cuatro o cinco escenas Hot (bien hot), quizá las últimas demasiado místicas para mi gusto, pero bueno, tampoco es una novela erótica.
A pesar de que tuve que vencer algunos prejuicios:
1- La primera novela de la serie “Nunca mientas a una Dama� me había gustado más o menos. El prota masculino me resultó como muy a la vuelta de todo y no me enganchó. Y Gareth, el prota de esta, estaba como contrafigura masculina y me pareció aburrido, deslucido.
2- No me atraen los argumentos en los que un pobretón o un tipo común, resulta ser heredero de un Ducado, fortuna, etc. etc. Me parece demasiado traído de los pelos.
3- No me gustan los protas rubios. Gareth es rubio. Lo sabía por la novela anterior.
4-La protas medias histéricas y debiluchas no me atraen.
Pero, como no me enganchaba con nada, lo leí.
Bien, les adelanto que Gareth no es aburrido ni deslucido ni nada de eso.
La herencia del Ducado es perfectamente lógica después de conocer la historia pasada.
La prota, Antonia, está media loca pero sus razones tiene.
Me encantó el relato. En realidad, en el presente, solo se desarrolla el romance y el misterio de quién mató al viejo Duque y porqué. Y vamos conociendo la historia de ambos por sus conversaciones y por el recurso de la autora de poner un pequeño prólogo antes de cada capítulo donde nos va relatando la vida de Gareth cuando era pequeño. La historia pasada es muy dramática. Uds saben que no me gustan los dramas pero, como son hechos que ya pasaron, me engancharon mucho porque explican el presente.
Un poco de humor por medio del ambiguo Sr. Kemble, personaje que siempre aparece en los libros de Liz, y que en este tiene una gran participación en la investigación.
Ah! Cuatro o cinco escenas Hot (bien hot), quizá las últimas demasiado místicas para mi gusto, pero bueno, tampoco es una novela erótica.
December 27, 2023
(Rating has been modified -it used to be 2.5 stars.)
Just as a note (I didn't have time to write a more detailed review)... As a general comment, (this novel was cited as an example of the problems I discuss in my complaint).
The following does discuss some adult topics... And I'm also rather shocked that I'm the only reviewer who has mentioned this -did I miss something or did I read a different book from everyone else???
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All right.
Something which really made me RAGE against this book: the 'hero' has sex with the main female character despite having a strong suspicion that she is not in her right mind at the time. But HE CAN'T HELP HIMSELF OFC.
Don't believe me? Have some quotes from the book!
(From chapter 5) "She was sleepwalking. Or a little mad, perhaps? Certainly she did not know where she was. Damn it, he had to get her off this bloody wall. A bolt of lightning was apt to strike them both dead. “Come inside, Antonia,� he said, tugging on her arm. “I insist.�
...Then about 3 pages later, while he is still trying to get her inside because she seems to have sleepwalked outside in a storm...
“It’s all right, my dear.� He tightened his grip around her waist and shoulders and felt her lush, womanly curves press enticingly along his body. She felt wonderfully warm despite the rain and the chilling remnants of what had been blind terror. Good God, what a pig he was! But her head was on his shoulder again, and she was still sobbing as if her heart might break."
...And two pages after that, this scene continues with the following.
He knew, of course, that it was wrong; that he was taking advantage of an emotionally vulnerable woman. And yet he was unable to stop himself. How could he? Antonia was kissing him back with a heated urgency, coming onto her toes, and allowing her breasts to press flat against him. She smelled of soap and rain, and of gardenia. The sodden nightgown clung to her every curve, lush and tempting, leaving nothing to the imagination. At that, he closed his eyes, and set one hand over the swell of her hip, telling himself it was what she desired.
...He actually goes on to have full intercourse with her at this point.
Just as a note (I didn't have time to write a more detailed review)... As a general comment, (this novel was cited as an example of the problems I discuss in my complaint).
The following does discuss some adult topics... And I'm also rather shocked that I'm the only reviewer who has mentioned this -did I miss something or did I read a different book from everyone else???
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
All right.
Something which really made me RAGE against this book: the 'hero' has sex with the main female character despite having a strong suspicion that she is not in her right mind at the time. But HE CAN'T HELP HIMSELF OFC.
Don't believe me? Have some quotes from the book!
(From chapter 5) "She was sleepwalking. Or a little mad, perhaps? Certainly she did not know where she was. Damn it, he had to get her off this bloody wall. A bolt of lightning was apt to strike them both dead. “Come inside, Antonia,� he said, tugging on her arm. “I insist.�
...Then about 3 pages later, while he is still trying to get her inside because she seems to have sleepwalked outside in a storm...
“It’s all right, my dear.� He tightened his grip around her waist and shoulders and felt her lush, womanly curves press enticingly along his body. She felt wonderfully warm despite the rain and the chilling remnants of what had been blind terror. Good God, what a pig he was! But her head was on his shoulder again, and she was still sobbing as if her heart might break."
...And two pages after that, this scene continues with the following.
He knew, of course, that it was wrong; that he was taking advantage of an emotionally vulnerable woman. And yet he was unable to stop himself. How could he? Antonia was kissing him back with a heated urgency, coming onto her toes, and allowing her breasts to press flat against him. She smelled of soap and rain, and of gardenia. The sodden nightgown clung to her every curve, lush and tempting, leaving nothing to the imagination. At that, he closed his eyes, and set one hand over the swell of her hip, telling himself it was what she desired.
...He actually goes on to have full intercourse with her at this point.
October 23, 2013
Finally finished.
That was not a very likable book. Each chapter of the book started with about 1.5 or 2 pages of reminders of Gabriel/Gareth youth, extremely insistent for the first chapters on his Jewish heritage. Then the whole of the chapter never had anything to do directly with this reminder. Sometime in the book, the reminders turned to be about things that we already had learnt in the course of the story, so it irritated me even more.
Now let's move to the romance. It was tepid at best, considering the two main characters. Anyway, they first have sex while not really knowing each other, under a storm. Then they decide not to and very slowly start to talk to each other, but always stop their dialogues at the first hint of unpleasantness or incomfort. So it takes chapters and chapters for them to start to reach a certain level of intimacy.
The heroine was a fragile little thing, prone to depressive disorders for at least a few years. I can't say how often she caught a headache, but it was always fortunately timed. Obviously I did not like her.
The hero could have been better, but he never seemed real.
The overall tone seemed anachronical; the fake valet real investigator was overplayed.
All in all, it was a huge miss and I'm still surprised I managed to like a further instalment in this series that I read earlier.
That was not a very likable book. Each chapter of the book started with about 1.5 or 2 pages of reminders of Gabriel/Gareth youth, extremely insistent for the first chapters on his Jewish heritage. Then the whole of the chapter never had anything to do directly with this reminder. Sometime in the book, the reminders turned to be about things that we already had learnt in the course of the story, so it irritated me even more.
Now let's move to the romance. It was tepid at best, considering the two main characters. Anyway, they first have sex while not really knowing each other, under a storm. Then they decide not to and very slowly start to talk to each other, but always stop their dialogues at the first hint of unpleasantness or incomfort. So it takes chapters and chapters for them to start to reach a certain level of intimacy.
The heroine was a fragile little thing, prone to depressive disorders for at least a few years. I can't say how often she caught a headache, but it was always fortunately timed. Obviously I did not like her.
The hero could have been better, but he never seemed real.
The overall tone seemed anachronical; the fake valet real investigator was overplayed.
All in all, it was a huge miss and I'm still surprised I managed to like a further instalment in this series that I read earlier.
December 18, 2014
Antes que nada debo contarles que son la persona más babas del mundo e inicie este libro sin saber que era el número dos de una serie y de verdad eso me molesto mucho pues a lo largo del libro hay pequeñas anécdotas que hacen referencia al libro uno y las cuales solo logré entender a medias.
¡Mendigas series que no vienen correctamente marcadas!
Contempló la rosa que sostenía aún en la mano. El rojo sangre de los pétalos
contrastaban con su pálida piel. Rojo sangre. Una palidez mortal. Como un cuerpo al que se le ha extraído toda vida, pero que sigue vivo. Durante unos momentos, observó la rosa, meditando en los enrevesados caminos del destino. Pensando en la muerte, y en los estragos que hace. En los cambios indelebles que provoca.
El libro nos cuenta la historia de Gabriel y Antonia. Dos almas desdichadas con un tormentoso pasado que ha dejado cicatrices en ellos.
Gabriel vivió una infancia tortuosa pues a pesar de que su padre era un noble ingles descendiente de una gran familia, su madre era una joven judía. El lado judío de Gabriel siempre le ha causado problemas ya que lo juzgan a pesar del título de noble que ostenta. Él no tiene en gran estima a su familia paterna, así que prefirió distanciarse de todos ellos, a tal grado que no tenía conocimiento que era el último descendiente vivo de su familia. Ahora ya no es el pobre primo judío, sino que un gran noble. Un papel que Gabriel no quiere jugar y menos porque trae consigo a la viuda de su primo.
Antonia es una joven viuda que ha tenido que enterrar a dos maridos. Hay rumores sobre ella. Algunos dicen que después de la muerte de su primer marido sufrió un gran trauma que obligo a su padre a someterla a tratamientos dudosos. También dicen que la duquesa está demente y el nuevo embuste cuenta que ella fue la culpable de la muerte de su segundo marido.
Gabriel no puede evitar sentir empatía por ella y decide que antes de renunciar al ducado demostrará la inocencia de la viuda, pero aunque sus intenciones son buenas, hay una extraña y enloquecedora conexión que complicara las vidas de ambos.
Gareth observó que Antonia le dirigía una última mirada. Era una mirada a la vez dulce y de complicidad. Él sintió que se derretía. Era un síntoma nefasto.
Nunca había leído nada de la autora, pero definitivamente pienso volver a probar su pluma (me seguiré con el primer libro de esta serie) pues su historia a pesar de ser simple, me resulto tierna sin caer en un mundo completamente rosado.
Los personajes me han parecido muy realistas y admito que me encariñe mucho con ellos. En especial de Gabriel (o Gareth para los cuates), pues al inicio de cada capítulo se nos cuenta una pequeña anécdota de la infancia de Gabriel.
Quizá no pudiera amarla como ella hubiera deseado cuando daba rienda suelta a sus pueriles fantasías, pero se preocupaba por ella. Y sí, la deseaba, por más que fuera un deseo que ella creía que era fruto de la ternura y de la preocupación que le inspiraba.
Lo único que no me he encanto, es que la cosa se puso un tanto predecible. Si, la historia es entretenida pero era más que evidente lo que iba a pasar.
¡Mendigas series que no vienen correctamente marcadas!
Contempló la rosa que sostenía aún en la mano. El rojo sangre de los pétalos
contrastaban con su pálida piel. Rojo sangre. Una palidez mortal. Como un cuerpo al que se le ha extraído toda vida, pero que sigue vivo. Durante unos momentos, observó la rosa, meditando en los enrevesados caminos del destino. Pensando en la muerte, y en los estragos que hace. En los cambios indelebles que provoca.
El libro nos cuenta la historia de Gabriel y Antonia. Dos almas desdichadas con un tormentoso pasado que ha dejado cicatrices en ellos.
Gabriel vivió una infancia tortuosa pues a pesar de que su padre era un noble ingles descendiente de una gran familia, su madre era una joven judía. El lado judío de Gabriel siempre le ha causado problemas ya que lo juzgan a pesar del título de noble que ostenta. Él no tiene en gran estima a su familia paterna, así que prefirió distanciarse de todos ellos, a tal grado que no tenía conocimiento que era el último descendiente vivo de su familia. Ahora ya no es el pobre primo judío, sino que un gran noble. Un papel que Gabriel no quiere jugar y menos porque trae consigo a la viuda de su primo.
Antonia es una joven viuda que ha tenido que enterrar a dos maridos. Hay rumores sobre ella. Algunos dicen que después de la muerte de su primer marido sufrió un gran trauma que obligo a su padre a someterla a tratamientos dudosos. También dicen que la duquesa está demente y el nuevo embuste cuenta que ella fue la culpable de la muerte de su segundo marido.
Gabriel no puede evitar sentir empatía por ella y decide que antes de renunciar al ducado demostrará la inocencia de la viuda, pero aunque sus intenciones son buenas, hay una extraña y enloquecedora conexión que complicara las vidas de ambos.
Gareth observó que Antonia le dirigía una última mirada. Era una mirada a la vez dulce y de complicidad. Él sintió que se derretía. Era un síntoma nefasto.
Nunca había leído nada de la autora, pero definitivamente pienso volver a probar su pluma (me seguiré con el primer libro de esta serie) pues su historia a pesar de ser simple, me resulto tierna sin caer en un mundo completamente rosado.
Los personajes me han parecido muy realistas y admito que me encariñe mucho con ellos. En especial de Gabriel (o Gareth para los cuates), pues al inicio de cada capítulo se nos cuenta una pequeña anécdota de la infancia de Gabriel.
Quizá no pudiera amarla como ella hubiera deseado cuando daba rienda suelta a sus pueriles fantasías, pero se preocupaba por ella. Y sí, la deseaba, por más que fuera un deseo que ella creía que era fruto de la ternura y de la preocupación que le inspiraba.
Lo único que no me he encanto, es que la cosa se puso un tanto predecible. Si, la historia es entretenida pero era más que evidente lo que iba a pasar.
January 21, 2012
I was really hoping to like this book. The plot summary appealed to me since I'm a sucker for tortured/damaged heroes and it was highly recommended on All About Romance review site.
This is probably a case of "it's me, not you" when it comes to why I didn't enjoy this book. My main problems with it were as follows:
1. Hero/heroine have sex very early in the book. It makes sense that this happens given how damaged both hero/heroine are but I prefer books where emotional intimacy happens before sexual intimacy.
2. There is a Who Dunnit mystery that takes up a LARGE percentage of this book. It's like reading an Agatha Christie novel in between a romance novel. And it is pretty ridiculous that the hero's "valet" is the main sleuth trying to solve the mystery.
3. So much telling versus showing when it came to the hero/heroine. Even though they both have very sad and tragic pasts, I didn't get very invested in either character since they mostly just sit around and swap sad stories and then "comfort" each other.
In the plus column, the writing style is nice and one or two scenes int the book had some nice romantic tension/sexual appeal. But they were just too few and far between to give this anything more than at 2 star.
This is probably a case of "it's me, not you" when it comes to why I didn't enjoy this book. My main problems with it were as follows:
1. Hero/heroine have sex very early in the book. It makes sense that this happens given how damaged both hero/heroine are but I prefer books where emotional intimacy happens before sexual intimacy.
2. There is a Who Dunnit mystery that takes up a LARGE percentage of this book. It's like reading an Agatha Christie novel in between a romance novel. And it is pretty ridiculous that the hero's "valet" is the main sleuth trying to solve the mystery.
3. So much telling versus showing when it came to the hero/heroine. Even though they both have very sad and tragic pasts, I didn't get very invested in either character since they mostly just sit around and swap sad stories and then "comfort" each other.
In the plus column, the writing style is nice and one or two scenes int the book had some nice romantic tension/sexual appeal. But they were just too few and far between to give this anything more than at 2 star.
June 2, 2014
En realidad serían 3.5 pero como no deja
A la parte romántica romántica le falta más desarrollo, o al menos, que los protagonistas compartan más escenas románticas. Entre ellos en seguida salta la pasión... pero el amor, es como si fuera una consecuenca del encuentro de dos almas que se encuentran solas... pero nada más.
La historia de ambos es dura, muy dura. La autora empieza algunos capítulos detallando el pasado de él... imposible no sentirse conmobido.
En general me ha gustado, sobre todo la parte de descubrir al asesino...
Aunque ambos protagonistas son totalmente atópicos y la historia no puede calificarse de corriente, no me ha gustado tanto como el primero, pero me ha resultado muy entretenido.
A la parte romántica romántica le falta más desarrollo, o al menos, que los protagonistas compartan más escenas románticas. Entre ellos en seguida salta la pasión... pero el amor, es como si fuera una consecuenca del encuentro de dos almas que se encuentran solas... pero nada más.
La historia de ambos es dura, muy dura. La autora empieza algunos capítulos detallando el pasado de él... imposible no sentirse conmobido.
En general me ha gustado, sobre todo la parte de descubrir al asesino...
Aunque ambos protagonistas son totalmente atópicos y la historia no puede calificarse de corriente, no me ha gustado tanto como el primero, pero me ha resultado muy entretenido.
October 28, 2017
There’s a LOT going on in this book, which is great if you’re easily bored, but not so much if you’re easily distracted or in need of plot lines you can follow to their resolution. There’s a murder mystery (or four), a trauma narrative (or 3), a love story, a fish out of water story, a forced proximity story... I’ve probably missed a few, because there’s just too much going on.
Also: If you are a person who has a hard time reading about sexual assault/trauma, child abuse, or spousal abuse, this book is NOT for you. I wish someone had warned me.
Also: If you are a person who has a hard time reading about sexual assault/trauma, child abuse, or spousal abuse, this book is NOT for you. I wish someone had warned me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
Tough book to read, but brilliantly written and deeply emotional.
Hero, Gareth (Gabriel) is far down the line of ducal succession and inherits the dukedom of Warneham after the previous men in line die.
Heroine Antonia is the late duke’s wife (# 4!)
Both of them have some of the most brutal baggage I’ve seen in historic romance, and that’s saying something in a genre rife with crazy parents, nutty exes and financial problems galore.
Aside from the crazy backstories for both of them, the most interesting thing about this book is that the hero is Jewish, a first for an 1800s English romance that I’ve seen. Most chapters lead with vignettes from Gareth’s childhood, from his upbringing with his Jewish maternal grandparents, to his terrible years in the ducal household as a child, to his continuing terrible life aboard a ship to the West Indies. To see him amount to something productive and good despite his tortuous childhood is incredible.
Antonia, while having led a much narrower life, as you’d expect for a woman of her class and upbringing, also has her traumas from a bad first marriage (the dead duke is her second husband). She is suspected of foul play in the duke’s death, but no one is going to accuse her out loud, of course.
The book charts their lives after Gareth comes to take over the dukedom.
Carlyle writes Gareth with a level of sensitivity, vulnerability and capability that is striking. It’s hard to write capable but vulnerable men, but she does this well.
Antonia, while protected, sheltered and deeply traumatized by her first marriage, is surprisingly tough, and knows what she wants, and is comfortable telling Gareth.
This book does suffer from a bit of leads at cross-purposes, each not knowing whether the other feels what she (or he) feels. This could have dragged the book down. Luckily the external events of the plot (unraveling how the late duke died) propel the last 20 percent of the book forward.
Well written as this was, probably not my favorite book—while I appreciate the themes of grief, trauma and redemption, this was bleaker than I’d like.
Hero, Gareth (Gabriel) is far down the line of ducal succession and inherits the dukedom of Warneham after the previous men in line die.
Heroine Antonia is the late duke’s wife (# 4!)
Both of them have some of the most brutal baggage I’ve seen in historic romance, and that’s saying something in a genre rife with crazy parents, nutty exes and financial problems galore.
Aside from the crazy backstories for both of them, the most interesting thing about this book is that the hero is Jewish, a first for an 1800s English romance that I’ve seen. Most chapters lead with vignettes from Gareth’s childhood, from his upbringing with his Jewish maternal grandparents, to his terrible years in the ducal household as a child, to his continuing terrible life aboard a ship to the West Indies. To see him amount to something productive and good despite his tortuous childhood is incredible.
Antonia, while having led a much narrower life, as you’d expect for a woman of her class and upbringing, also has her traumas from a bad first marriage (the dead duke is her second husband). She is suspected of foul play in the duke’s death, but no one is going to accuse her out loud, of course.
The book charts their lives after Gareth comes to take over the dukedom.
Carlyle writes Gareth with a level of sensitivity, vulnerability and capability that is striking. It’s hard to write capable but vulnerable men, but she does this well.
Antonia, while protected, sheltered and deeply traumatized by her first marriage, is surprisingly tough, and knows what she wants, and is comfortable telling Gareth.
This book does suffer from a bit of leads at cross-purposes, each not knowing whether the other feels what she (or he) feels. This could have dragged the book down. Luckily the external events of the plot (unraveling how the late duke died) propel the last 20 percent of the book forward.
Well written as this was, probably not my favorite book—while I appreciate the themes of grief, trauma and redemption, this was bleaker than I’d like.
February 6, 2018
“Perhaps, Antonia, to the right man,
a few broken pieces of you would be better than a whole and perfect someone else?�
August 23, 2008
They call her the porcelain princess...
With her fragile beauty and regal bearing, the Duchess of Warneham knows how to keep her admirers at a distance. Twice wed and twice widowed, Antonia has vowed never again to marry; never again to surrender her freedom. But when her husband’s death is deemed suspicious, and his long-lost heir returns to seize control of the dukedom, she finds that fate has placed her future in yet another man’s hands—but not just any man.
They call him a cold-hearted bastard . . .
Deep in London’s docklands, Gareth Lloyd runs Neville Shipping with an iron fist. Unrecognizable as the starving orphan who was abandoned by his family and sent an ocean away from home, Gareth has put his troubled past behind him. That is, until the Duke of Warneham is found dead, and Gareth turns out to be the dynasty’s last living heir. Wrenched from his solitude, Gareth neither wants nor needs the honors and obligations of nobility—especially the Duke’s all-too-tempting widow... Or does he?
I'm starting to think I may have a severe case of romance burnout. Carlyle used to be a sure bet. I didn't love all her books but they were always satisfying and pleasant to read.
In this Never Deceive A Duke I started out thinking that expressions like "exquisite breasts" or "ankles" or whatever body part is mentioned are just too unreal and frankly I've read them too many times already to feel anything else than bored. Then Antonia did indeed look like she wasn't very well in the beginning. She didn't look bad enough for me to think she had something clinical, nor did she have that type of recovery, but she seemed a bit out of this world. Like Gareth I was wondering if she knew who he was in that first scene when they are together and didn't that come a bit too sudden? Oh and Gareth is of course another tortured hero with a difficult childhood. Ok I could buy that (although I've read better) but he tells Antonia and then regrets it because she is too fragile to hear about the harsh facts of life?? Come on!! He had an horrible childhood but he is the one who ends up consoling her? He comes across as strong despite us being told that he should be tortured and she comes across as fragile and dependent even if in the end she is supposedly strong. I also didn't see how they fell in love, I think it was more a case of falling in lust. Regarding the mystery I must confess I was a bit uninterested, like the policeman I was happy to think that Warneham had received what was coming to him. The best part was to have Kemble (I love Kemble!) around for a while and those little bits of Rothwell.
As you can see I was never engaged in the story, I was always an outsider to which most of it did not ring true. Maybe it was me, maybe I'm really burnout and in need of a romance break! I still like Rothwell though and want to read his story!
Grade: C+ (because I still like Carlyle's writing)
With her fragile beauty and regal bearing, the Duchess of Warneham knows how to keep her admirers at a distance. Twice wed and twice widowed, Antonia has vowed never again to marry; never again to surrender her freedom. But when her husband’s death is deemed suspicious, and his long-lost heir returns to seize control of the dukedom, she finds that fate has placed her future in yet another man’s hands—but not just any man.
They call him a cold-hearted bastard . . .
Deep in London’s docklands, Gareth Lloyd runs Neville Shipping with an iron fist. Unrecognizable as the starving orphan who was abandoned by his family and sent an ocean away from home, Gareth has put his troubled past behind him. That is, until the Duke of Warneham is found dead, and Gareth turns out to be the dynasty’s last living heir. Wrenched from his solitude, Gareth neither wants nor needs the honors and obligations of nobility—especially the Duke’s all-too-tempting widow... Or does he?
I'm starting to think I may have a severe case of romance burnout. Carlyle used to be a sure bet. I didn't love all her books but they were always satisfying and pleasant to read.
In this Never Deceive A Duke I started out thinking that expressions like "exquisite breasts" or "ankles" or whatever body part is mentioned are just too unreal and frankly I've read them too many times already to feel anything else than bored. Then Antonia did indeed look like she wasn't very well in the beginning. She didn't look bad enough for me to think she had something clinical, nor did she have that type of recovery, but she seemed a bit out of this world. Like Gareth I was wondering if she knew who he was in that first scene when they are together and didn't that come a bit too sudden? Oh and Gareth is of course another tortured hero with a difficult childhood. Ok I could buy that (although I've read better) but he tells Antonia and then regrets it because she is too fragile to hear about the harsh facts of life?? Come on!! He had an horrible childhood but he is the one who ends up consoling her? He comes across as strong despite us being told that he should be tortured and she comes across as fragile and dependent even if in the end she is supposedly strong. I also didn't see how they fell in love, I think it was more a case of falling in lust. Regarding the mystery I must confess I was a bit uninterested, like the policeman I was happy to think that Warneham had received what was coming to him. The best part was to have Kemble (I love Kemble!) around for a while and those little bits of Rothwell.
As you can see I was never engaged in the story, I was always an outsider to which most of it did not ring true. Maybe it was me, maybe I'm really burnout and in need of a romance break! I still like Rothwell though and want to read his story!
Grade: C+ (because I still like Carlyle's writing)
November 17, 2015
Why do you suppose dukes are so popular in historical-romance? It must be the power and prestige of being the highest title. Better for publicity, probably. But it usually doesn’t make a difference story wise, like here. Nevertheless, I certainly enjoyed ’s .
Gareth Lloyd manages Neville Shipping in the London docks and suddenly inherits his dead uncle's title. All at once he acquires a dukedom and the recent widow, now his responsibility. Antonia, the beautiful Duchess of Warneham, has vowed never again to marry. They couldn't start further apart. And so the plot begins.
The story may be a little predictable at times, but there are good twists to it. It is well written, and I liked it. I recommend it for lovers of historical-romance.
Gareth Lloyd manages Neville Shipping in the London docks and suddenly inherits his dead uncle's title. All at once he acquires a dukedom and the recent widow, now his responsibility. Antonia, the beautiful Duchess of Warneham, has vowed never again to marry. They couldn't start further apart. And so the plot begins.
The story may be a little predictable at times, but there are good twists to it. It is well written, and I liked it. I recommend it for lovers of historical-romance.
April 8, 2013
I have NO idea what the title refers to, even after reading the book, but other than that and a somewhat rushed ending, I loved this book to bits. Hero is a shipping magnate, distantly related to the Duke of Wareham, whom he hasn't seen in years and whom he loathes. Until the old Duke turns up his toes without any closer heir than our hero. Heroine is the old Duke's widow, a young fourth wife, who is also possibly mad. There is a wonderful, dark, passionate romance, and a bit of mystery. This book pretty much showcases the difference between joylessness and angst. Both the hero and heroine are in a hardcore, neck-and-neck competition for the most horrific background, but the book, while occasionally very angsty, doesn't feel dreary in the least.
April 14, 2017
Wow, this one definitely lost its keeper status ... another favourite that bit the dust. What I usually love with Carlyle's books is her writing style, her hot PG-13 love scenes, her wonderful characterisations and unique plot ideas. Somehow nothing worked out for me this time which shows again how much my reading tastes have changed since 2009 (when I read this one). C- to D+, can't decide which one.
November 18, 2013
Never Deceive a Duke, Liz Carlyle - Though this is a Carlyle fan favorite, it didn't work for me as well as some of her others because the romantic plot is too contrived. Gareth Lloyd suddenly inherits his dead uncle's dukedom and is forced to confront past demons as well as the unpleasant task of finding a home for the newly-widowed duchess. He's so certain he'll despise her, but upon first meeting Antonia, he instead feels instant attraction and tenderness. I have to say that I really hate that they have sex on the first day they meet. No matter how much emotion, thunder and lightening, best to allow a romance to evolve at a more stately pace. I also didn't like that the hero refers to the heroine as "lush" and "perfect" six times in the first three pages of meeting her. And yet, despite Antonia's sheer perfection, theirs is a conflict-ridden relationship for much of the book, as both characters feel inadequate and cannot allow themselves to be loved. Gareth tells Antonia repeatedly that he's not good enough and vice versa, though it seems very apparent that they are both adequate and will figure this out eventually. The story also has a strange mystery surrounding unexplained deaths among the nobility on the estate that takes hundreds of pages to sort out before becoming entirely clear.
What I did like about this book is that Carlyle doesn't shy away from some very gripping and traumatic events that make both protagonists feel so unworthy. Both of their back stories were stirring and intriguing to read. I liked too the hero is Jewish and that ethnicity is central to resolving some of the conflicts here. And finally, I love Kemble; he figures quite prominently in this book. Liz Carlyle should write a story just for him as he's savvy and debonair and the stuff of heroes. Even if she doesn't write gay romance, she should just for him!
What I did like about this book is that Carlyle doesn't shy away from some very gripping and traumatic events that make both protagonists feel so unworthy. Both of their back stories were stirring and intriguing to read. I liked too the hero is Jewish and that ethnicity is central to resolving some of the conflicts here. And finally, I love Kemble; he figures quite prominently in this book. Liz Carlyle should write a story just for him as he's savvy and debonair and the stuff of heroes. Even if she doesn't write gay romance, she should just for him!
January 10, 2025
แม็กซ์อาจจะพูดได้ไม่เต็มปากนักว่า เรื่อ� Never lie to a lady ไม่สนุ� เพราะ 77 คะแนนก็ไม่ถือว่าน้อยเลยนะ แต่กับมาตรฐานของลิ� คาร์ไลล์ที่ส่วนใหญ่ต้องได้ 80 ขึ้นไป ก็คงต้องยอมรับว่� น้อยไปหน่อยนะสำหรับนักเขียนอย่างเธอ
และอาจเป็นเพราะเล่มที่สองในชุดนี้เป็นเรื่องราวเกี่ยวกับตัวละครที่ดูไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลยเมื่อเขาออกมามีบทบาทใน NLTAL ก็เลยทำให้แม็กซ์ยิ่งไม่คาดหวังอะไรมากกับเรื่อ� Never deceive a duke เท่าไหร แม้ว่าความอยากอ่านยังมีอยู่เต็มเปี่ย� ตามประสาแฟนหนังสือตัวยงของลิ�
โอเ� ขึ้นด้วยคำเตือนเช่นเดิมค่ะ แต่ขี้เกียจพิมพ์น่ะ ดังนั้นโปรดกับไปอ่านคำเตือนใน NLTAL แล้วกั� ใจความสรุปว่� แม็กซ์โคตรชอบลิซ คาร์ไลล์เลย ดังนั้นบางครั้ง��าจเกิดอาการชี้นกเป็นไม้ได้ง่ายได้
กาเร็� ลอยด์หุ้นส่วนหนึ่งในสามของบริษัทเดินเรือเนวิลล์ ถือว่าเป็นคนที่ประสบความสำเร็จในชีวิตอย่างยิ่� เมื่อคิดว่าเขามีจุดเริ่มต้นจากเด็กชายอายุสิบสามปีที่เริ่มทำงานในฐานะเด็กรับใช้ทั่วไปในบาร์บาดอส เขากลายเป็นหนึ่งในคนที่มั่งคั่งที่สุดคนหนึ่ง แต่เขาไม่ได้เริ่มต้นชีวิตที่บาร์บาดอส เขามีอดีตที่กำลังจะกลับมาเยี่ยมเยียนเขาอีกครั้ง
อย่างที่เคยบอกไ� กาเร็ธเป็นตัวละครที่ดูไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลย ยามที่เขาปรากฎตัวในเรื่อ� NLTAL เขาเป็นอดีตคู่รั��ของแซนเธี� นางเอกเล่มแรก ในเล่มก่อนหน้าเขาถูกปฏิเสธคำขอแต่งงานอย่างไม่เยื่อใย เพราะแซนเธียไม่ได้รักเขามากพอที่จะสูญเสียอิสระที่เธอแสนจะหวงแหนให้ได� ไม่สำคัญเลยสักนิดว่าเขารู้จักกับเธอมาตั้งแต่อายุได้ 13 ปี หรือว่าเขาเป็นผู้ชายคนแรกของเธอ เธอไม่เลือกเขา แต่กลับเลือกชายอีกคนที่เขาและพี่ชายของเธอไม่แน่ใจด้วยซ้ำว่าคู่ควรกับเธอ
เมื่อเปิดเรื่อ� กาเร็ธต้องทำใจยอมรับกับความจริงอันนี้ และรับปากว่าจะเป็นผู้ดูแลบริษัทในยามที่แซนเธียเดินทางไปฮันนีมูน แต่แล้วอดีตที่เขาคิดว่าจบสิ้นไปแล้วก็กลับมาอีกครั้ง
เขาได้รับแจ้งจากทนายความถึง ลา� ก้อนโต ไม่บ่อยครั้งนักหรอกที่ชนชั้นกลางที่ทำมาหากินด้วยแรงงานของตัวเองเช่นเขา จะได้รับสืบทอดบรรดาศักดิ์ดยุ� แต่ในฐานะทายาทคนสุดท้ายของตระกูลเว็นเนอร์ กาเร็ธก็กลายเป็นดยุคแห่งวอร์นแฮ� หนึ่งในบรรดาศักดิ์ที่ร่ำรวยที่สุดในเกาะอังกฤ�
และแม้ว่าเขาจะไม่ยินดีแม้แต่น้อยกับลาภที่ลอยมา แต่เขาก็ไม่อาจปฏิเสธหน้าที่ที่หล่นใส่บ่าของเขาได� เขาไม่อาจเดินไปจากความรับผิดชอ� เพราะบรรดาศักดิ์และทรัพย์สมบัติที่ได้รับล้วนแต่มีภาระที่เขาต้องทำ คนมากมายที่พึ่งพาเขาในฐานะของดยุคอยู� ซึ่งนั่นรวมทั้งดัชเชสม่ายคนปัจจุบันด้วย
แอนโทเนียเป็นตัวละครที่แม็กซ์มักจะเกลียดตั้งแต่แรกเห็� เธอเป็นความอ่อนแ� พึ่งพาตัวเองไม่ได้ ในฉากแรกที่เธอปรากฎตัวขึ้น แม็กซ์ไม่แน่ใจว่าเธอสติสะตังสมบูรณ์หรือไม่ ผู้หญิงที่โดนหนามกุหลาบแทงนิ้ว แต่กลับไม่รู้สึก ยืนนิ่งเหมือนไม่มีอะไรเกิดขึ้� บางอย่างในสมองของเธอต้องผิดปกติเป็นแน่
แต่ด้วยฝีมือของลิซ แม็กซ์ก็เริ่มเข้าใจเธอ รับรู้ถึงความทุกข์อย่างแสนสาหัสที่เธอต้องเผชิญ จนแอนโทเนียต้องหนีจากความเจ็บปวดด้วยการละทิ้งโลกภายนอก ตัดขาดจากทุกอย่างที่ทำให้เธอมีความรู้สึก เพื่อที่จะไม่เจ็บปวดอี�
และสำหรับกาเร็� หลังจากใช้เวลาเกือบค่อนชีวิตหลงรักผู้หญิงที่ไม่ต้องการเขาสักนิดในชีวิ� การได้พบกับแอนโทเนียก็เป็นการเติมเต็� แต่สิ่งที่ลิซทำได้ดีมา� � ก็คื� ไม่เลยสักวินาทีเดียวที่เธอทำให้แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่า แอนโทเนียเป็นตัวแทนแซนเธี� ผู้หญิงทั้งสองคนแตกต่างกันอย่างมาก และที่ดีไปกว่านั้น แม็กซ์ไม่รู้สึกเลยว่าแอนโทเนียด้อยกว่าแซนเธี� ทั้งที่แม็กซ์มักจะชอบบุคลิกของผู้หญิงอย่างแซนเธียมากกว่า เธอเขียนให้แม็กซืเข้าใจถึงเหตุผลที่แอนโทเนียเป็นอย่างที่เธอเป็� และตัวตนของเธอก็คือคนที่เหมาะสมกับกาเร็ธมากที่สุด
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทำให้แม็กซ์นึกถึงงานของแมรี่ โจ พุธเนีย์ในยามที่รุ่งเรืองที่สุดของเธอ หนังสือที่เล่าเรื่องราวของตัวเอกที่มีอดีตอันทุกข์ทรมาน แต่เติบโตขึ้นเป็นคนที่เข้มแข็� และไม่ปล่อยให้อดีตครอบงำ กาเร็ธมีชีวิตที่ยากลำบา� เขาเป็นหลานของชาวยิวที่โดนดูถูกและเหยียดยาม ที่มากไปกว่านั้น ด้วยวัยเพียงสิบสองปี เขาถูกญาติผู้มั่งคั่ง (ดยุคแห่งวอร์นแฮมคนก่อน) จับไปขายให้กับเรือเดินสมุทร ชีวิตนับจากนั้� คุณต้องไปอ่านเองนะ (แม็กซ์ยังตาบวมอยู่เลย) เขารักแซนเธียเพราะเธอเป็นตัวแทนของครอบครัวที่เขาถวิลหา เขาอยากเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของตระกูลเนวิลล์ ครอบครัวที่อ้าแขนรับเขาไว้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งในยามที่เขาไม่มีใครเลย
แต่เขารักแอนโทเนียอย่างที่ผู้ชายคนนึงจะรักผู้หญิง เขารักเธอมากพอจะปล่อยให้เธอเดินจากไปอย่างมีอิสระ แม้ว่าทุกอณูในกายเขาจะเรียกร้องให้เก็บเธอไว� ใครล่ะจะไม่รักพระเอกอย่างนี้
และที่ดีไปกว่านั้น ในเรื่องนี้เรามีนางเอกที่ฉลาดพอจะรู้ว่� เธอต้องการอะไ� เรามีพระเอกผู้เสียสละ แต่นางเอกก็ไม่โง่พอจะเข้าใจผิดแล้วเดินจากไป ส่วนประกอบที่ดีที่สุดที่โรแมนซ์เล่มหนึ่งจะมีได�
หนังสือเรื่องนี้ไม่มีอะไรมากหรอกนะคะ พล็อตเรื่องธรรมดาที่พระเอกไม่ใช่กระทั่งคนที่ไขคดีฆาตกรรมที่เกิดขึ้นในเรื่องด้วยซ้ำ (ซึ่งแม็กซ์คิดว่าแบบนี้เวิร์คกว่� เพราะว่าพระเอกไม่ต้องเสียเวลาที่จะใช้กับนางเอกไปกับการสืบคดี ปล่อยให้มืออาชีพอย่างเคมเบิ้ลเป็นคนสืบดีกว่า) เรื่องราวของคนสองคนที่ไม่สมบูรณ์แบบ แต่เหมาะสมกับกันและกันอย่างที่สุ� เรื่องราวของผู้หญิงที่คิดว่� ชีวิตของตนเองจบสิ้น (จนต้องฆ่าตัวตา�) แต่กลับพบว่าตัวเองมีโอกาสที่สอ� และผู้ชายที่พบกับคนที่เขารอคอยมาตลอดชีวิต
สุดท้ายเรื่องนี้อาจไม่เหมาะกับคนที่ไม่ชอบอ่านเรื่องที่รันทดสักหน่อยน� เพราะภูมิหลังของทั้งพระนางก็ผ่านอะไรมาเยอ� แต่สำหรับแม็กซ� น้ำตาที่เสียให้ ทำให้เรื่องนี้อาจจะเป็นหนังสือที่ดีที่สุดของปีนี้ค่ะ
คะแนนอยู่ที่ 95
และอาจเป็นเพราะเล่มที่สองในชุดนี้เป็นเรื่องราวเกี่ยวกับตัวละครที่ดูไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลยเมื่อเขาออกมามีบทบาทใน NLTAL ก็เลยทำให้แม็กซ์ยิ่งไม่คาดหวังอะไรมากกับเรื่อ� Never deceive a duke เท่าไหร แม้ว่าความอยากอ่านยังมีอยู่เต็มเปี่ย� ตามประสาแฟนหนังสือตัวยงของลิ�
โอเ� ขึ้นด้วยคำเตือนเช่นเดิมค่ะ แต่ขี้เกียจพิมพ์น่ะ ดังนั้นโปรดกับไปอ่านคำเตือนใน NLTAL แล้วกั� ใจความสรุปว่� แม็กซ์โคตรชอบลิซ คาร์ไลล์เลย ดังนั้นบางครั้ง��าจเกิดอาการชี้นกเป็นไม้ได้ง่ายได้
กาเร็� ลอยด์หุ้นส่วนหนึ่งในสามของบริษัทเดินเรือเนวิลล์ ถือว่าเป็นคนที่ประสบความสำเร็จในชีวิตอย่างยิ่� เมื่อคิดว่าเขามีจุดเริ่มต้นจากเด็กชายอายุสิบสามปีที่เริ่มทำงานในฐานะเด็กรับใช้ทั่วไปในบาร์บาดอส เขากลายเป็นหนึ่งในคนที่มั่งคั่งที่สุดคนหนึ่ง แต่เขาไม่ได้เริ่มต้นชีวิตที่บาร์บาดอส เขามีอดีตที่กำลังจะกลับมาเยี่ยมเยียนเขาอีกครั้ง
อย่างที่เคยบอกไ� กาเร็ธเป็นตัวละครที่ดูไม่น่าสนใจเอาเสียเลย ยามที่เขาปรากฎตัวในเรื่อ� NLTAL เขาเป็นอดีตคู่รั��ของแซนเธี� นางเอกเล่มแรก ในเล่มก่อนหน้าเขาถูกปฏิเสธคำขอแต่งงานอย่างไม่เยื่อใย เพราะแซนเธียไม่ได้รักเขามากพอที่จะสูญเสียอิสระที่เธอแสนจะหวงแหนให้ได� ไม่สำคัญเลยสักนิดว่าเขารู้จักกับเธอมาตั้งแต่อายุได้ 13 ปี หรือว่าเขาเป็นผู้ชายคนแรกของเธอ เธอไม่เลือกเขา แต่กลับเลือกชายอีกคนที่เขาและพี่ชายของเธอไม่แน่ใจด้วยซ้ำว่าคู่ควรกับเธอ
เมื่อเปิดเรื่อ� กาเร็ธต้องทำใจยอมรับกับความจริงอันนี้ และรับปากว่าจะเป็นผู้ดูแลบริษัทในยามที่แซนเธียเดินทางไปฮันนีมูน แต่แล้วอดีตที่เขาคิดว่าจบสิ้นไปแล้วก็กลับมาอีกครั้ง
เขาได้รับแจ้งจากทนายความถึง ลา� ก้อนโต ไม่บ่อยครั้งนักหรอกที่ชนชั้นกลางที่ทำมาหากินด้วยแรงงานของตัวเองเช่นเขา จะได้รับสืบทอดบรรดาศักดิ์ดยุ� แต่ในฐานะทายาทคนสุดท้ายของตระกูลเว็นเนอร์ กาเร็ธก็กลายเป็นดยุคแห่งวอร์นแฮ� หนึ่งในบรรดาศักดิ์ที่ร่ำรวยที่สุดในเกาะอังกฤ�
และแม้ว่าเขาจะไม่ยินดีแม้แต่น้อยกับลาภที่ลอยมา แต่เขาก็ไม่อาจปฏิเสธหน้าที่ที่หล่นใส่บ่าของเขาได� เขาไม่อาจเดินไปจากความรับผิดชอ� เพราะบรรดาศักดิ์และทรัพย์สมบัติที่ได้รับล้วนแต่มีภาระที่เขาต้องทำ คนมากมายที่พึ่งพาเขาในฐานะของดยุคอยู� ซึ่งนั่นรวมทั้งดัชเชสม่ายคนปัจจุบันด้วย
แอนโทเนียเป็นตัวละครที่แม็กซ์มักจะเกลียดตั้งแต่แรกเห็� เธอเป็นความอ่อนแ� พึ่งพาตัวเองไม่ได้ ในฉากแรกที่เธอปรากฎตัวขึ้น แม็กซ์ไม่แน่ใจว่าเธอสติสะตังสมบูรณ์หรือไม่ ผู้หญิงที่โดนหนามกุหลาบแทงนิ้ว แต่กลับไม่รู้สึก ยืนนิ่งเหมือนไม่มีอะไรเกิดขึ้� บางอย่างในสมองของเธอต้องผิดปกติเป็นแน่
แต่ด้วยฝีมือของลิซ แม็กซ์ก็เริ่มเข้าใจเธอ รับรู้ถึงความทุกข์อย่างแสนสาหัสที่เธอต้องเผชิญ จนแอนโทเนียต้องหนีจากความเจ็บปวดด้วยการละทิ้งโลกภายนอก ตัดขาดจากทุกอย่างที่ทำให้เธอมีความรู้สึก เพื่อที่จะไม่เจ็บปวดอี�
และสำหรับกาเร็� หลังจากใช้เวลาเกือบค่อนชีวิตหลงรักผู้หญิงที่ไม่ต้องการเขาสักนิดในชีวิ� การได้พบกับแอนโทเนียก็เป็นการเติมเต็� แต่สิ่งที่ลิซทำได้ดีมา� � ก็คื� ไม่เลยสักวินาทีเดียวที่เธอทำให้แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่า แอนโทเนียเป็นตัวแทนแซนเธี� ผู้หญิงทั้งสองคนแตกต่างกันอย่างมาก และที่ดีไปกว่านั้น แม็กซ์ไม่รู้สึกเลยว่าแอนโทเนียด้อยกว่าแซนเธี� ทั้งที่แม็กซ์มักจะชอบบุคลิกของผู้หญิงอย่างแซนเธียมากกว่า เธอเขียนให้แม็กซืเข้าใจถึงเหตุผลที่แอนโทเนียเป็นอย่างที่เธอเป็� และตัวตนของเธอก็คือคนที่เหมาะสมกับกาเร็ธมากที่สุด
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทำให้แม็กซ์นึกถึงงานของแมรี่ โจ พุธเนีย์ในยามที่รุ่งเรืองที่สุดของเธอ หนังสือที่เล่าเรื่องราวของตัวเอกที่มีอดีตอันทุกข์ทรมาน แต่เติบโตขึ้นเป็นคนที่เข้มแข็� และไม่ปล่อยให้อดีตครอบงำ กาเร็ธมีชีวิตที่ยากลำบา� เขาเป็นหลานของชาวยิวที่โดนดูถูกและเหยียดยาม ที่มากไปกว่านั้น ด้วยวัยเพียงสิบสองปี เขาถูกญาติผู้มั่งคั่ง (ดยุคแห่งวอร์นแฮมคนก่อน) จับไปขายให้กับเรือเดินสมุทร ชีวิตนับจากนั้� คุณต้องไปอ่านเองนะ (แม็กซ์ยังตาบวมอยู่เลย) เขารักแซนเธียเพราะเธอเป็นตัวแทนของครอบครัวที่เขาถวิลหา เขาอยากเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของตระกูลเนวิลล์ ครอบครัวที่อ้าแขนรับเขาไว้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งในยามที่เขาไม่มีใครเลย
แต่เขารักแอนโทเนียอย่างที่ผู้ชายคนนึงจะรักผู้หญิง เขารักเธอมากพอจะปล่อยให้เธอเดินจากไปอย่างมีอิสระ แม้ว่าทุกอณูในกายเขาจะเรียกร้องให้เก็บเธอไว� ใครล่ะจะไม่รักพระเอกอย่างนี้
และที่ดีไปกว่านั้น ในเรื่องนี้เรามีนางเอกที่ฉลาดพอจะรู้ว่� เธอต้องการอะไ� เรามีพระเอกผู้เสียสละ แต่นางเอกก็ไม่โง่พอจะเข้าใจผิดแล้วเดินจากไป ส่วนประกอบที่ดีที่สุดที่โรแมนซ์เล่มหนึ่งจะมีได�
หนังสือเรื่องนี้ไม่มีอะไรมากหรอกนะคะ พล็อตเรื่องธรรมดาที่พระเอกไม่ใช่กระทั่งคนที่ไขคดีฆาตกรรมที่เกิดขึ้นในเรื่องด้วยซ้ำ (ซึ่งแม็กซ์คิดว่าแบบนี้เวิร์คกว่� เพราะว่าพระเอกไม่ต้องเสียเวลาที่จะใช้กับนางเอกไปกับการสืบคดี ปล่อยให้มืออาชีพอย่างเคมเบิ้ลเป็นคนสืบดีกว่า) เรื่องราวของคนสองคนที่ไม่สมบูรณ์แบบ แต่เหมาะสมกับกันและกันอย่างที่สุ� เรื่องราวของผู้หญิงที่คิดว่� ชีวิตของตนเองจบสิ้น (จนต้องฆ่าตัวตา�) แต่กลับพบว่าตัวเองมีโอกาสที่สอ� และผู้ชายที่พบกับคนที่เขารอคอยมาตลอดชีวิต
สุดท้ายเรื่องนี้อาจไม่เหมาะกับคนที่ไม่ชอบอ่านเรื่องที่รันทดสักหน่อยน� เพราะภูมิหลังของทั้งพระนางก็ผ่านอะไรมาเยอ� แต่สำหรับแม็กซ� น้ำตาที่เสียให้ ทำให้เรื่องนี้อาจจะเป็นหนังสือที่ดีที่สุดของปีนี้ค่ะ
คะแนนอยู่ที่ 95
August 9, 2020
Gabriel Vertnor atau Gareth Lloyd adalah seorang pria berdarah setengah Inggris dan setengah Yahudi yang mana pada masa itu dianggap sebagai kaum buangan di London. Pada usia 9 tahun, ia telah kehilangan orangtua juga kakeknya sehingga neneknya membawanya kepada Duke of Warneham yang merupakan sepupu jauhnya. Namun, sebuah kecelakaan tragis yang menewaskan anak Sang Duke membuat ia dibuang kepada sekelompok penjahat dan mengalami penyiksaan yang tidak manusiawi. Kini, ia kembali sebagai seorang pewaris Gelar Duke yang mulia ini setelah kematian sepupunya. Misteri masih menyelimuti kematian sepupunya dan Duchess yang terakhir, Antonia, istri keempat sepupunya itu berada di tengah-tengah rumor buruk tersebut.
Gareth dan Antonia seperti terjebak dalam hubungan instan. Kedua orang asing ini tanpa direncanakan 'berhubungan' saat Antonia mendapat serangan cemas di tengah badai. Setelah itu, sambil menampik semua yang telah terjadi, mereka tanpa disadari semakin dekat dan saling membuka hati masing-masing sementara misteri kematian sang suami pun sedikit demi sedikit semakin menjadi jelas.
Saya memberikan rating dengan mengabaikan kekacauan yang terjadi pada versi terjemahannya dan pengeditan/pemotongan beberapa adegan yang mengurangi esensi chemistry di antara tokoh utamanya. Jujur, saya sangat kecewa di sini, namun tidak adil jika memberikan penilaian yang jelek padahal novel ini sudah ditulis sedemikian baik oleh author-nya. Untuk lebih memahami cerita, beberapa bagian saya baca dari versi bahasa aslinya.
Saya suka misteri dan aura kastil tua yang ada di novel ini. Tokoh Gareth juga cukup menarik, dengan banyak kenangan menyakitkan di masa lalu, ia akhirnya sukses dengan ketekunannya dalam bekerja. Saat hidupnya berubah dari seorang pengusaha menjadi seorang Duke, ia tidak bisa menerima pada mulanya. Latar belakang kelam ini membuatnya bisa memahami duka Antonia yang mengalami banyak kehilangan dalam hidupnya. Tokoh-tokoh pendukungnya seperti Baron Rothewell dan George Kemble yang eksentrik juga memiliki daya tarik sendiri. Berkat dukungan mereka, Gareth bisa menjalani transisi dari kehidupan biasa ke kehidupan sebagai Duke dengan cukup baik.
Sejak novel pertama Liz Carlyle yang saya baca berjudul A woman of Virtue, saya sudah menyukai gaya menulis beliau, dan ini adalah novel keempatnya yang saya baca. Saya selalu menyukai elemen kejutan yang beliau suguhkan dalam setiap novelnya juga chemistry yang kuat di antara hero and heroine-nya.
Gareth dan Antonia seperti terjebak dalam hubungan instan. Kedua orang asing ini tanpa direncanakan 'berhubungan' saat Antonia mendapat serangan cemas di tengah badai. Setelah itu, sambil menampik semua yang telah terjadi, mereka tanpa disadari semakin dekat dan saling membuka hati masing-masing sementara misteri kematian sang suami pun sedikit demi sedikit semakin menjadi jelas.
Saya memberikan rating dengan mengabaikan kekacauan yang terjadi pada versi terjemahannya dan pengeditan/pemotongan beberapa adegan yang mengurangi esensi chemistry di antara tokoh utamanya. Jujur, saya sangat kecewa di sini, namun tidak adil jika memberikan penilaian yang jelek padahal novel ini sudah ditulis sedemikian baik oleh author-nya. Untuk lebih memahami cerita, beberapa bagian saya baca dari versi bahasa aslinya.
Saya suka misteri dan aura kastil tua yang ada di novel ini. Tokoh Gareth juga cukup menarik, dengan banyak kenangan menyakitkan di masa lalu, ia akhirnya sukses dengan ketekunannya dalam bekerja. Saat hidupnya berubah dari seorang pengusaha menjadi seorang Duke, ia tidak bisa menerima pada mulanya. Latar belakang kelam ini membuatnya bisa memahami duka Antonia yang mengalami banyak kehilangan dalam hidupnya. Tokoh-tokoh pendukungnya seperti Baron Rothewell dan George Kemble yang eksentrik juga memiliki daya tarik sendiri. Berkat dukungan mereka, Gareth bisa menjalani transisi dari kehidupan biasa ke kehidupan sebagai Duke dengan cukup baik.
Sejak novel pertama Liz Carlyle yang saya baca berjudul A woman of Virtue, saya sudah menyukai gaya menulis beliau, dan ini adalah novel keempatnya yang saya baca. Saya selalu menyukai elemen kejutan yang beliau suguhkan dalam setiap novelnya juga chemistry yang kuat di antara hero and heroine-nya.
March 15, 2022
No sabía que esperar de este libro, cuando lo compré hace unos años me pareció interesante pero no había tenido el tiempo de leerlo hasta ahora.
La manera en la que percibí la historia fue mitad romance, mitad algunas personas tratando de resolver el misterio de las muertes del antiguo duque y las 3 duquesas anteriores.
No es que no me haya gustado, estuvo entretenido pero no conecté con ningún personaje, los capítulos fueron cortos al principio, después largos que ya me estaba dando flojera continuar. Al principio de cada uno podíamos ver un flashback de la vida de Gabriel, desde que era un niño que vivía con sus abuelos hasta que lo encontró u miembro de la familia Neville.
La historia se me hizo tensa y algo aburrida algunas veces, tuvo buenas escenas pero o las suficientes para que sea un libro inolvidable para mi.
Tiene escenas subidas de tono y debo de admitirlo, esas fueron mis partes favoritas aunque fueran contadas las veces y que al final Gabriel se arrepintiera. El romance entre él y Antonia pasó muy rápido y al mismo tiempo muy lento. Se acostaban, se arrepentían, se evitaban, volvían a hablar y era un círculo. Casi al final admiten que se aman y aún así Gabriel no quiere estar con ella. Eso fue lo que más me frustró.
Termina bien pero me falto más romance en la historia.
Eso no significa que la historia no sea buena o que no debería ser leída, para los que les gustan las novelas historias con investigaciones sobre asesinatos esta muy bien. Los personajes sí evolucionan y no son planos completamente.
Gabriel estaba lleno de traumas, sufrió demasiado pero aprendió de eso y salió adelante. Antonia creció con la idea de que estar triste estaba mal y que no debería mostrar sus sentimientos, nunca tuvo la oportunidad de elegir pero aun asi mejoró y tuvo la confianza pero sobre todo, la valentía de poder decidir lo mejor para ella. Y mi personaje favorito, Kemble, no me acuerdo de donde salió pero se armo toda una investigación y logro descubrir lo que muchos ocultaban. Su personalidad fue la mejor y era una sonrisa asegurada cada que se le metía algo a la cabeza.
La manera en la que percibí la historia fue mitad romance, mitad algunas personas tratando de resolver el misterio de las muertes del antiguo duque y las 3 duquesas anteriores.
No es que no me haya gustado, estuvo entretenido pero no conecté con ningún personaje, los capítulos fueron cortos al principio, después largos que ya me estaba dando flojera continuar. Al principio de cada uno podíamos ver un flashback de la vida de Gabriel, desde que era un niño que vivía con sus abuelos hasta que lo encontró u miembro de la familia Neville.
La historia se me hizo tensa y algo aburrida algunas veces, tuvo buenas escenas pero o las suficientes para que sea un libro inolvidable para mi.
Tiene escenas subidas de tono y debo de admitirlo, esas fueron mis partes favoritas aunque fueran contadas las veces y que al final Gabriel se arrepintiera. El romance entre él y Antonia pasó muy rápido y al mismo tiempo muy lento. Se acostaban, se arrepentían, se evitaban, volvían a hablar y era un círculo. Casi al final admiten que se aman y aún así Gabriel no quiere estar con ella. Eso fue lo que más me frustró.
Termina bien pero me falto más romance en la historia.
Eso no significa que la historia no sea buena o que no debería ser leída, para los que les gustan las novelas historias con investigaciones sobre asesinatos esta muy bien. Los personajes sí evolucionan y no son planos completamente.
Gabriel estaba lleno de traumas, sufrió demasiado pero aprendió de eso y salió adelante. Antonia creció con la idea de que estar triste estaba mal y que no debería mostrar sus sentimientos, nunca tuvo la oportunidad de elegir pero aun asi mejoró y tuvo la confianza pero sobre todo, la valentía de poder decidir lo mejor para ella. Y mi personaje favorito, Kemble, no me acuerdo de donde salió pero se armo toda una investigación y logro descubrir lo que muchos ocultaban. Su personalidad fue la mejor y era una sonrisa asegurada cada que se le metía algo a la cabeza.
September 30, 2018
Enjoyable historical romance.
She's the widow of the recently deceased duke.
He's the long lost and very reluctant heir.
There is backstory angst. Antonia has buried two husbands, and there is heartache and betrayal in her past. And, her family while not terrible isn't very supportive (in part because the times and sexism.) But she's basically had loss and her own demons, even if she is beautiful, rich, and from the upper class.
Gareth is a self made man who has basically been on his own since he was about 12 or 13. His earliest childhood was good -- loving grandparents and mother. But then his father died, and then his mother, and his grandfather lost his money, and the relatives who should have taken care of him did not. And that's just the start of it. He does not view being the duke as a good thing.
In addition to these two getting together, and helping each other, there is also a murder mystery!
I like that this touched on issues of class, and sexism, and the value of work, and responsibility. Honestly, the best part of "long lost heir" stories isn't the "and now I'm rich and powerful, wowza" bit but the "huh, there is responsibility here." Because, especially for this time period, being a duke is equivalent to being a CEO. And how most of these stories approach that aspect is to have the person take it seriously. (Bad guys and villians and bad fathers tend to focus on the "rich and powerful" part and irresponsibility leave the estates, and those dependent on it, in a terrible place.)
Other bits: Gareth's mother is Jewish, and the prejudices of the time are part of the story.
Also: Gareth spends time on a ship and there is abuse. Not a lot of detail about it, but a heads up because that's a big "no" for some readers.
She's the widow of the recently deceased duke.
He's the long lost and very reluctant heir.
There is backstory angst. Antonia has buried two husbands, and there is heartache and betrayal in her past. And, her family while not terrible isn't very supportive (in part because the times and sexism.) But she's basically had loss and her own demons, even if she is beautiful, rich, and from the upper class.
Gareth is a self made man who has basically been on his own since he was about 12 or 13. His earliest childhood was good -- loving grandparents and mother. But then his father died, and then his mother, and his grandfather lost his money, and the relatives who should have taken care of him did not. And that's just the start of it. He does not view being the duke as a good thing.
In addition to these two getting together, and helping each other, there is also a murder mystery!
I like that this touched on issues of class, and sexism, and the value of work, and responsibility. Honestly, the best part of "long lost heir" stories isn't the "and now I'm rich and powerful, wowza" bit but the "huh, there is responsibility here." Because, especially for this time period, being a duke is equivalent to being a CEO. And how most of these stories approach that aspect is to have the person take it seriously. (Bad guys and villians and bad fathers tend to focus on the "rich and powerful" part and irresponsibility leave the estates, and those dependent on it, in a terrible place.)
Other bits: Gareth's mother is Jewish, and the prejudices of the time are part of the story.
Also: Gareth spends time on a ship and there is abuse. Not a lot of detail about it, but a heads up because that's a big "no" for some readers.
November 16, 2019
blurb completely beyond the point, useless
continuing the Neville series, floodlighting Gareth Lloyd was an impressive and successful portrait of his place in the world and in the Neville family. Handled well were the formative years under his Jewish grandparents, and the repercussions that eventuated throughout his life. The ugly reality of the small child forced onto his fear of water in a hell hole ship, serving as boy whore was truly disgusting, but faithful to the reality. His place in the Neville family was his anchor into his adult life and purpose. Becoming the heir to his despised cruel family was the counterpoint to his 'duty' and those who now depended upon his success. His fall into love with the widowed duchess was unremarkable and poignant. Helping excessively was Kemble the ready save thy ass companion who held the story together. also Gabriel's sodden brother who sobered sufficiently for success of plot. Despite the deep angst of these titles without relief of wit, find them compelling enough to continue the series and have in hand the next two books. need a break however, between them. well done. again was taken with the introduction of Gabriel's upbringing in a Jewish community but not allowed to participate in it. Delicate geography here, as the Jews although the chosen people, are also god's scapegoat. Gabriel began his life as a child of caring, kindness and wisdom particular to the teachings of his grandparents, hidden by trauma, concealed during his life with the Neville's, emerging again with courage and understanding as he accepted who he finally became.
continuing the Neville series, floodlighting Gareth Lloyd was an impressive and successful portrait of his place in the world and in the Neville family. Handled well were the formative years under his Jewish grandparents, and the repercussions that eventuated throughout his life. The ugly reality of the small child forced onto his fear of water in a hell hole ship, serving as boy whore was truly disgusting, but faithful to the reality. His place in the Neville family was his anchor into his adult life and purpose. Becoming the heir to his despised cruel family was the counterpoint to his 'duty' and those who now depended upon his success. His fall into love with the widowed duchess was unremarkable and poignant. Helping excessively was Kemble the ready save thy ass companion who held the story together. also Gabriel's sodden brother who sobered sufficiently for success of plot. Despite the deep angst of these titles without relief of wit, find them compelling enough to continue the series and have in hand the next two books. need a break however, between them. well done. again was taken with the introduction of Gabriel's upbringing in a Jewish community but not allowed to participate in it. Delicate geography here, as the Jews although the chosen people, are also god's scapegoat. Gabriel began his life as a child of caring, kindness and wisdom particular to the teachings of his grandparents, hidden by trauma, concealed during his life with the Neville's, emerging again with courage and understanding as he accepted who he finally became.
July 8, 2017
Running from the pirates who had abused him on the ship, Gareth Lloyd was saved by Luke Neville. From that meeting, his new life began and he became a valued partner in Neville Shipping. One day he was visited by a barrister who had been searching for him. He is now the new Duke of Warneham and the last of the Ventnor family. The old duke had sold him to the press gang and he wants nothing to do with the Warneham name but feels he must go and look over the property at least. At the estate, he meets and is stunned by the beauty of the old duke’s widow, Antonia. Suspicious rumors about the duke’s death seem to indicate that she had something to do with the death and Gareth is determined to find out the truth.
Gareth's mother was Jewish and the duke held this against him. He was treated as an outcast even though he was a Ventnor. Due to a childhood accident, the duke's heir drowned and Gareth was blamed and sold to the press gang. With the Nevilles, he became part of a family and was treated as such. Antonia was beautiful but had had many tragedies in her young life, from the loss of her first husband and two children to the suspicions now being raised against her. She still seems a little flaky to me.
Gareth's mother was Jewish and the duke held this against him. He was treated as an outcast even though he was a Ventnor. Due to a childhood accident, the duke's heir drowned and Gareth was blamed and sold to the press gang. With the Nevilles, he became part of a family and was treated as such. Antonia was beautiful but had had many tragedies in her young life, from the loss of her first husband and two children to the suspicions now being raised against her. She still seems a little flaky to me.
January 28, 2020
En definitiva un libro diferente a lo que suele escribir Liz Carlyle pero que merece un aprobado por mi parte, pese a que le ha faltado ese amor incontrolable o esa protagonista valiente la historia es buena.
Reseña completa:
Reseña completa:
April 4, 2015
Second in the Neville Family historical romance series. The couple focus is on Gareth Lloyd, er, I mean His Grace, the Duke of Warneham, and the widowed Duchess.
My Take
Carylyle continues her unique take on the post-Regency period with her feisty women and rakish, but caring men. It was not a nice place with the old duke. I'd say the world is better off without him or his ideas. Now that he's dead, the duchess is determined to have a say in her life from here on no matter what her father demands---she has some very modern notions---while Gabriel is determined she shall be happy.
I did enjoy it for the warmth of the series' characters---and the addition of Antonia, although this was an odd story with some truly horrible people in it. And it certainly sounds to me as though Gareth getting press ganged did him a world of good---if only so he wasn't raised as a "proper" Ventnor. We do learn what happened to force Gareth onto the youthful path he had to follow. Could almost make you appreciate social workers and their interferences.
It's a lot of vague references for which Carlyle sometimes spills out additional information, dribble by dribble. The duchess' madness was one of those vague bits; Carlyle only hints at the possibilities. I'm certainly glad we've become more enlightened in our times about grief.
The whole rainstorm/sex encounter was rather odd. Almost as if Carlyle was looking for a different encounter from the usual and just gave up and used this one to help reinforce her desire to have Antonia appear mad. Another vague bit.
A lot of trouble caused by bullies, and we're still allowing them to get away with it today.
The Story
Seems Gareth Lloyd is really Gabriel Ventor, the new Duke of Warneham. A position he struggles against until Rothewell talks him into going down to Selsdon Court to see what's what only to find madness and too many mysterious deaths.
The Characters
Gareth Lloyd is who he became; Gabriel Gareth Lloyd Ventnor is who he was. He is an owner, along with Xanthia and Kieran Neville, of Neville Shipping.
His parents were Ruth and Major Charles Ventnor. Rachel and Malachi "Zayde" Gottfried were his Jewish grandparents (Zayde had some very practical ideas about life).
George Kemble is back and helping out down at Selsdon Court as valet/secretary/what-have-you. Is there anything this man cannot lay his hand to? Vicomte de Vendenheim-Sélestat works at the Home Office. Mr. Peel is the Home Secretary.
The Ventnors of Selsdon Court
Cyril is/was the son and heir. Coggins is the butler; Mrs. Musbury is housekeeper; Mr. Benjamin Watson is the estate agent; Metcaff is a discontented footman (and one of the duke's bastards); and, Statton is a pensioner who's come back to work in the stables with this quinsy going around. Howard Cavendish is the lawyer charged with finding the only remaining ducal heir.
The delicate, widowed duchess is Antonia Notting, the old duke's fourth wife (the old boy was desperate to get himself an heir); Nellie Waters is her maid. Lord Swinburne, the earl, is her father with a new young wife, Penelope. James, Viscount Albridge is her dissolute brother. Eric, Lord Lambeth, was Antonia's first husband. He and their three-year-old daughter Beatrice died.
Reverend Needles crammed Gabriel's head full as a child. Captain Larchmont of the Saint-Nazaire became the young Gabe's "protector".
Sir Percy (gay) and Lady Ingham; Dr. Martin Osborne, the village doctor (his mother, Mary Osborne died three years ago); and Rev. Hamm and his wife (whom the duke seduced) dine weekly at Selsdon Court. John Laudrey is the local justice of the peace. Celeste de la Croix was a high-flyer and the toast of London---and married to Jean de la Croix. Sir Harold Hardell is a barrister now and a former schoolmate of the late duke's. He and the bullying, lying Jeremy, Lord Litting, the first duchess' nephew, were guests that night the duke died.
Xanthia Neville is about to be married to Stefan, Marquess of Nash. Kieran Neville, Lord Rothewell, is her dissolute brother. Trammell is Rothewell's butler.
Knollwood Manor is the decrepit dower house that Gareth wouldn't wish on an enemy.
The Cover
The cover is a shower of yellows from the softly hazy background to Antonia's buttery yellow satin empire-waisted gown, falling off her shoulders.
The title is appropriate, for the culprits should never discount one's friends and Never Deceive a Duke, especially this one.
My Take
Carylyle continues her unique take on the post-Regency period with her feisty women and rakish, but caring men. It was not a nice place with the old duke. I'd say the world is better off without him or his ideas. Now that he's dead, the duchess is determined to have a say in her life from here on no matter what her father demands---she has some very modern notions---while Gabriel is determined she shall be happy.
I did enjoy it for the warmth of the series' characters---and the addition of Antonia, although this was an odd story with some truly horrible people in it. And it certainly sounds to me as though Gareth getting press ganged did him a world of good---if only so he wasn't raised as a "proper" Ventnor. We do learn what happened to force Gareth onto the youthful path he had to follow. Could almost make you appreciate social workers and their interferences.
It's a lot of vague references for which Carlyle sometimes spills out additional information, dribble by dribble. The duchess' madness was one of those vague bits; Carlyle only hints at the possibilities. I'm certainly glad we've become more enlightened in our times about grief.
The whole rainstorm/sex encounter was rather odd. Almost as if Carlyle was looking for a different encounter from the usual and just gave up and used this one to help reinforce her desire to have Antonia appear mad. Another vague bit.
A lot of trouble caused by bullies, and we're still allowing them to get away with it today.
The Story
Seems Gareth Lloyd is really Gabriel Ventor, the new Duke of Warneham. A position he struggles against until Rothewell talks him into going down to Selsdon Court to see what's what only to find madness and too many mysterious deaths.
The Characters
Gareth Lloyd is who he became; Gabriel Gareth Lloyd Ventnor is who he was. He is an owner, along with Xanthia and Kieran Neville, of Neville Shipping.
His parents were Ruth and Major Charles Ventnor. Rachel and Malachi "Zayde" Gottfried were his Jewish grandparents (Zayde had some very practical ideas about life).
George Kemble is back and helping out down at Selsdon Court as valet/secretary/what-have-you. Is there anything this man cannot lay his hand to? Vicomte de Vendenheim-Sélestat works at the Home Office. Mr. Peel is the Home Secretary.
The Ventnors of Selsdon Court
Cyril is/was the son and heir. Coggins is the butler; Mrs. Musbury is housekeeper; Mr. Benjamin Watson is the estate agent; Metcaff is a discontented footman (and one of the duke's bastards); and, Statton is a pensioner who's come back to work in the stables with this quinsy going around. Howard Cavendish is the lawyer charged with finding the only remaining ducal heir.
The delicate, widowed duchess is Antonia Notting, the old duke's fourth wife (the old boy was desperate to get himself an heir); Nellie Waters is her maid. Lord Swinburne, the earl, is her father with a new young wife, Penelope. James, Viscount Albridge is her dissolute brother. Eric, Lord Lambeth, was Antonia's first husband. He and their three-year-old daughter Beatrice died.
Reverend Needles crammed Gabriel's head full as a child. Captain Larchmont of the Saint-Nazaire became the young Gabe's "protector".
Sir Percy (gay) and Lady Ingham; Dr. Martin Osborne, the village doctor (his mother, Mary Osborne died three years ago); and Rev. Hamm and his wife (whom the duke seduced) dine weekly at Selsdon Court. John Laudrey is the local justice of the peace. Celeste de la Croix was a high-flyer and the toast of London---and married to Jean de la Croix. Sir Harold Hardell is a barrister now and a former schoolmate of the late duke's. He and the bullying, lying Jeremy, Lord Litting, the first duchess' nephew, were guests that night the duke died.
Xanthia Neville is about to be married to Stefan, Marquess of Nash. Kieran Neville, Lord Rothewell, is her dissolute brother. Trammell is Rothewell's butler.
Knollwood Manor is the decrepit dower house that Gareth wouldn't wish on an enemy.
The Cover
The cover is a shower of yellows from the softly hazy background to Antonia's buttery yellow satin empire-waisted gown, falling off her shoulders.
The title is appropriate, for the culprits should never discount one's friends and Never Deceive a Duke, especially this one.
Read
October 1, 2023TW: child sexual abuse, child death, miscarriage, suicide.
Probably not going to finish this one for all the above reasons.
Our heroine is frail, haughty and badly in need of some good therapy. This has been a depressing read and I'm not feeling the romance.
Probably not going to finish this one for all the above reasons.
Our heroine is frail, haughty and badly in need of some good therapy. This has been a depressing read and I'm not feeling the romance.
July 3, 2017
I liked this. Very readable. Good tension.
November 6, 2017
Though it was a little slow in the middle it was still an enjoyable book overall!
October 8, 2018
Overall enjoyable. Heroine had a personality. Hero was brooding, but it wasn't overdone. Some of the depictions of abuse in the flashbacks were hard to read, and didn't seem completely necessary.
May 6, 2019
Will look for more from her
June 24, 2019
Bonita. Con intriga
August 30, 2019
A detailed story of two wounded characters who find each other.
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