Tag: Two Dukes series

Retro Review: Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

Posted March 22, 2017 by Rowena in Reviews | 20 Comments

Retro Review: Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia QuinnReviewer: Rowena
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
Series: Two Dukes of Wyndham #2
Publisher: Harper Collins, Avon
Publication Date: September 30th 2008
Pages: 370
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four-half-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

THERE WENT THE BRIDE ...
Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting ... for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all ...
It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancee --- all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay --- and he does intend to marry her ... eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love ... with his own fiancee!

*****As part of our 10 year anniversary celebration, we’ll be re-posting old reviews that make us cringe, laugh or sigh all over again.

This review was originally posted on September 26, 2008.

This is the second book in the Two Dukes of Wyndham series. The first story follows the long lost son of John Cavendish, Jack Audley. John died before he could become the Duke, leaving his younger brother the Duke. Years later, John’s son, Jack tries to rob the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham who recognizes him as her grandson. John was the Dowager Duchess’ favorite son so she did everything she could to make sure that Jack became the true duke of Wyndham. The first book follows Jack and the Dowager Duchess’ ladiesmaid Grace while this book follows the other Duke, the acting Duke of Wyndham, Thomas Cavendish.

Thomas was made the Duke when he was very young and so being the Duke of Wyndham was all he knew, it was all that he was. So then this new guys comes in and might be the true Duke of Wyndham which means that everything he knows and everything he is will be stripped from him and in this book, we find out how he deals with it. The first book shows us Jack’s point of view. We see the story unfold and we’re in one duke’s head. This story tells us the same exact story, only in the other’s duke’s head.

When I was reading the first book, I often wondered what Thomas was thinking, why he did certain things he did. Reading the first book with all of these questions about Thomas made for some frustration moments but all of my questions were answered in this book and even though it was the exact same story, I really enjoyed it.

I wasn’t a big fan of Thomas in the first book. I liked him well enough but for me, it was all about Jack. The same could be said for Amelia. I wasn’t a big fan of hers, for me it was all about Grace but I can say with all certainty that I’m a fan of both of theirs now.

I really enjoyed both of their characters. In the first book, we don’t get to see much of what they’re thinking, what they’re feeling so it was really easy for me to overlook them but in this book, I got to know them, I grew to like them and I’m so glad to have the whole story in front of me. My nosy self is very happy right now. =)

I really enjoyed Thomas’ character. He was such a stand up guy, a very honorable man and I found myself growing to like him more and more. To have everything he was and everything he lived for stripped away from him by a long lost family member that he never knew existed had to have hit him like a freight train but he handled himself in such a way that blew my mind. He could have gone along with Jack but because of the kind of man he was, he didn’t. He almost lost the woman that he had come to love by giving up the title but he did what was needed to be done and then he made sure that Jack would honor his word, so that Amelia didn’t have to worry about her future.

So sweet.

The only thing I didn’t quite understand was why he waited so long to marry Amelia but whatever, he fell in love with her and that’s all that matters to me.

Amelia’s character kinda got on my nerves in the first book but I couldn’t fault her for being the way she was, she was engaged to be married and her fiance’ knew nothing about her. He didn’t care to get to know her and he completely ignored her. He kept saying that he would marry her but year after year after year she stayed unmarried. Having gotten to know her a lot more in this book, it made me like her so much more than I thought I would. I loved the way that she was with her sisters and I loved the way that she was with Grace and then how she stood by Thomas, I really liked that. She was a great heroine and the perfect match for Thomas.

This book was like getting the other pieces of the puzzle and putting them in place. Everything made sense and everything was made whole. It was a great story with great characters and I liked how even though I hecka loved Jack and Grace and loved seeing them again, I loved how JQ didn’t make them so great in this book that they took away from Thomas and Amelia. It was the perfect mixture of everything I loved about both couples and I really enjoyed it.

I still hated the grandmother, she was still a horrid grandmother and that didn’t change in this book, I didn’t care for Amelia’s father but they didn’t matter in the big scheme of things. What mattered was that Thomas was a great hero and Amelia turned out to be a fantastic heroines. I loved the scene at the end when Grace and Amelia, pissed as all hell start swapping curses, that was too funny. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great sequel.

Fans of JQ should definitely read this, it’s a good one.

four-half-stars


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Joint Review: The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn.

Posted May 27, 2008 by Rowena in Reviews | 9 Comments

Publisher: Avon, Harper Collins


Isabel is one of the biggest Julia Quinn fans I know. As soon as I read this book, I knew that she would enjoy this book, I’m so glad that she got to read this book and review it with me.

Thanks Izzy!

Hero:
Jack Audley
Heroine: Grace Eversleigh
Grade: 4.75 out of 5 and 4.5 out of 5

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 . . .

Rowena: The last Julia Quinn book I read was Gregory Bridgerton’s story and if I remember correctly, I didn’t like it very much….and I don’t know why I haven’t read another JQ book since then, maybe subconsciously I’m scared to read another book I’ll be disappointed in but man am I so effing glad that I read this book.

It was the one historical that I enjoyed the most in all the historicals that I’ve read in the past 3 months. Wow, seriously this book was just off the hooks good, I enjoyed the witty banter between Jack and Grace. I enjoyed the storyline with the whole lost Duke thing and I hecka enjoyed watching Jack and Grace fall in love. It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t rushed, it was just right.

What I really liked about this book was the hero, Jack Audley. I seriously heart this guy and right now, Izzy, I’m so staking my claim on this one, I’m taking it back to old school JGBB days, JACKISMINEDAMMIT! haha. What did you think?

Isabel: I was a little scared reading this book. Gregory’s book was just… not good at all. The Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever… it was ok. Wasn’t great but still passable. This book however, was really good though.

I loved Jack. I loved how smart @$$ and funny he was. Also loved how he didn’t really want to the dukedom because he knew it would complicate things with Grace.

Rowena: Speaking of Miranda Cheever, I still have to read that one and we don’t want to go there with Gregory’s story.
Jack was a fantastic hero. He’s the best kind of hero for me. My favorite kind. I love the kind of heroes that can charm the socks off of any lady from young virginal lady to old dowager hags! And then that name, Jack. So strong and solid and yummalicious! I love how he can make anyone laugh in any situation and how he doesn’t take himself too seriously until he needs to and I just love love loved him to pieces in this book!

For me, Julia Quinn knocked it out of the park with this one. I was invested in this story right from the very beginning. When we meet Grace and that bat shit crazy grandmother and then they get accosted by the highwaymen and instead of being scared out of her mind, grandma is barking out orders and when she tried to turn Grace over to them, I couldn’t believe it! I wanted to one, two jab her in the face! Ugh. But the characters are frickin’ awesome. I loved all of them and I’m anxious for Thomas and Amelia’s story. Alright, Grace…what are your thoughts on her? Love her or hate her?

Isabel: Don’t get me started on the dowager. UGH! She was a major bitch. She was just mean. How once she saw Jack, she could care less what happened to Thomas. I know Grace was her companion but she just was just so inconsiderate of her. She was just a hag. I loved when thomas said he bought grace a little cottage and provided her with funds so she didn’t have to work for the dowager anymore. Grace, I liked her. She really didn’t complain about Dowager. Was always grateful to her and defended her. Although she didn’t let the dowager walk all over her. She was able to stand her own with her. I thought she was perfect for Jack. I loved her.

Rowena: I totally agree. I loved how Grace couldn’t stand the Dowager and yet she was never disrespectful to her in company and she was still the dutiful lady’s maid. She was grateful but not a wimp. She spoke up when she needed to and I thought she was great because of it. Stronger because of her trials but smart because she wasn’t blind or naive to the Dowager, she was the right mix of everything and I could totally tell why Jack fell for her. She was great, just great.

What I liked about Jack and Grace together was their easy banter. They were at ease with each other and I loved how Jack spoke up for Grace. He didn’t let anyone disrespect her or even forget her in his presence. I loved how he sought to make her smile and laugh and how sweet he was with her. What I loved most about Jack was how lethal and steely he was beneath that smile and joking manner. It was sexy to me. I loved those kind of heroes, the heroes that can joke and laugh one minute and knock suckers out the next.

I love that stuff!

This book was a laugh a minute for me and it was just an easy read. Those are the reads that I enjoy the most, the ones where I can open the book and fall into with no problem right from the very beginning. This was one of those reads for me. I know that not everyone is going to appreciate Jack and Grace’s story the same way I did but I thank JQ for this story because so far, it’s been my favorite historical read in the past few months.

I’d give it a 4.75 out of 5.

What would you give it, Izzy?

Isabel: I agree with you about Jack. He was a great hero. Not fair you called dibs on him first.

I’d give this book a B+, which in Book Binge ratings would be about a 4.5 out of 5

Rowena: In conclusion, there are many reasons why you should check this new release by Julia Quinn. Too many to name, really. There was a great storyline, a delightful cast of characters and a hero and heroine that just worked well together. There’s plenty of laughs, plenty of entertainment and I’m sure everyone will enjoy it.

Read this book!

This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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