The Duke of Shadows
Pocket Star - Pocket Star
Release date: 2008-03-25
Mass Market Paperback
Author: Meredith Duran
Fiction, Fiction - Romance, Romance: Modern, Fiction / General, Fiction / Romance / General, Romance - Historical, Romance - General
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The Duke of Shadows
Date undefinedWhat an amazing debut! Upon first seeing this book on the store shelf, I had thought "The Duke of Shadows" was going to be a light and easy read. Another in a sea of soup opera romances. I started reading it for fun and quickly found myself captivated. I was hooked by the amount of devastation, hope, despair, triumph, and genuine love this new author was able to portray through her characters and overall story. Both the hero and heroine are smart, brave, and utterly "real". Both become forever changed by the horrors of the war they live through. In the end, they each have lost any semblance of naivete but they find a new chance to hope through their love for one another. Very powerful!
PART 1:
Julian has lived his life torn between loyalty to two waring nations. He is a mix of English and Indian. Never completely embraced by either, he has learned to accept being an outcast. His challenge is only eased by his English title, "Duke of Auburn".
The English have been slowly taking over Indian lands. More and more of English society have been moving to India to claim a piece of it for their own. Young and naive, Emma arrived in India to meet with her fiance. She has lost all of her family. The only thing keeping her in society is her huge inheritance. At a ball announcing her engagement, Emma meets the mysterious Duke of Auburn. Her fiance warns her to stay away from Julian, but Emma is intrigued. Julian can't help but feel charmed by Emma's willingness to thumb her nose at society.
The people of India are tired of being treated as slaves in their own land. A rebellion is rising. Julian has tried to warn English officials, but they arrogantly believe the Indian people won't dare to strike against English troops. When Hell brakes lose, Julian's first priority is to get Emma to safety. He will then return to help his Indian relatives escape the war zone.
While traveling together for several days, Julian and Emma fall in love. Leaving Emma to return for his family is the hardest thing he has ever done, but Julian is sure she is in a safe place with his friends.
The rebels are everywhere, slaughtering every English man, woman, and child. Emma is forced to run for her life. For months she travels with other English survivors, waiting for Julian to find her. He promised to come for her. He declared his love for her. When she hears that he has left India and returned to England without her, her soul is all but destroyed.
Julian is devastated. After burying his Indian cousin, he set out to retrieve Emma. For months he searched for her. There is no trace. Only word that she ran for her life, with rebels on her heals. With no hope left, Julian is forced to accept that Emma has been killed. His heart broken beyond repair, Julian returns to England alone.
At this point, PART 2 of the story begins. It is 4 years later. Both Emma and Julian are back in England. Julian has been living as an empty shell, never able to heal from the loss of Emma. Emma has been closeting herself from the world, too broken over her experiences in India and her belief that Julian left her in India to die alone. When Julian finds Emma alive, the odds against them are fierce. Is there any chance for them? Can he possibly bring Emma out of the dark and cold shelter she has built around herself? Both Julian and Emma are changed people... Perhaps they are each a bit "deranged" by all they experienced. Perhaps they are the only hope for one another. Perhaps love can restore light and life.
If you are looking for pretty and sweet, look elsewhere. This story has far more depth. Julian and Emma get their HEA, but it is earned.
If you love romance novels with deep emotional substance, try this two- book series:
The Pride of Lions
Blood of Roses
Bring the Kleenex!
The Duke of Shadows
Date undefinedI'll begin by saying that I don't usually write reveiws for the books that I read. But, I was so impressed with this book that I was compelled to submit this review. The Duke of Shadows is a beautifully written novel. I was engrossed in this book from the first page. I don't think I have read a romance novel where the characters had so much depth. They were very believable and I felt connected to them right from the beginning. I can't wait for Ms. Duran's next book! She definitely has a bright future as a romance author. Buy this book! You won't be sorry!
The Duke of Shadows
Date undefinedIf you're looking for a historical romance featuring intelligence, passion, emotional nuance and depth - this is it! I truly loved this book. The writing is amazing and the story actually brought me to tears at times. It is a great debut by author Meredith Duran and I eagerly look forward to her next book.
