"Phenomenal romance!!"
1814, England Miss Belinda Hamilton finds her life torn apart within a
short time of meeting Sir Dolph Breckinridge. Her father
has been thrown into the fleet and she has been reduced to
selling oranges for pennies and living in a hovel. Unable
to pay the fee to the warden for her father's room, Bel has
to beg for extra time to come up with the money. That
night the warden accosts her in a dark alley and exacts
payment of another kind, leaving Bel abused and broken.
When sanity returns, Bel digs deep into her soul for
strength. The proud and strong beauty turns to the
infamous Wilson sisters and asks them to teach her the arts
of a Cyprian. Looking for a kind, gentle soul to be her
protector, Bel soon finds herself face to face with Robert
Knight. Standing at the grave of Lucy Coldfell, a woman he has
loved only from afar, Robert Knight, 9th Duke of
Hawkescliffe is informed by her aged husband, Lord Coldfell
that she may have been murdered. Robert vows to avenge her
death and bring to justice the suspected murderer, Sir
Dolph Breckinridge, who also happens to be nephew and heir
to Lord Coldfell's estate. He sets about to find Dolph's
weakness, planning to use it as a means to his end. Soon
he learns about Miss Belinda Hamilton, a Cyprian, with whom
Dolph is obsessed. Upon meeting her, Robert finds it quite
easy to get Bel to fall in with his plans since she detests
Dolph herself for all the pain he has caused her. Claiming
her as his own, Robert becomes her first protector, sure in
the knowledge that it won't be long before he has Dolph
exactly where he wants him. Yet, the time spent with Bel
becomes dangerous for Robert too. For while he may have
made a pact with a Cyprian, she soon earns his respect and
tears down the walls around his heart to take up residence
there. The first thought that entered my head as I finished the
first chapter of THE DUKE was 'wonderful'. By the end of
the second chapter, the world around me had faded and no
one but Robert and Bel existed. When I turned the last
page, I was speechless. THE DUKE is simply spellbinding. Gaelen Foley brings us strong complex characters with deep
emotions and intense conflicts. A breathtaking tale of
revenge, obsession and undeniable love, THE DUKE is
unforgettable. I adored Bel. This woman has a strong
backbone and yet she is so vulnerable and totally endearing
that you can't help but admire her. Her struggle to
survive and the pain she endures are so beautifully
depicted in the story that she didn't seem to be just a
character, but instead a real living breathing person. As
for Robert... ah, Robert. The hero to top all heroes.
Priceless. I fell in love with him the moment I met him at
Lucy's grave. Ms. Foley is definitely a master storyteller. I haven't
had the pleasure of reading any of this author's previous
works but I plan to remedy this oversight at the earliest
possible opportunity. THE DUKE is a love story that will leave you breathless.
The emotions are intense, the love scenes highly sensual,
and the romance itself is captivating. The characters are
sensational and the plot is certainly fast paced. Ms.
Foley skillfully blends all these ingredients with a dash
of intrigue and rich historical flavor that combine to make
THE DUKE phenomenal. THE DUKE, without a doubt, belongs on your keeper shelf.
Reviewed by Leena Hyat
Courtesy Heart Rate Reviews
Posted September 24, 2001
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