Colorimetry: The Guardian Duke

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Review - The Guardian Duke

The Guardian Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novel

The Guardian Duke
by Jamie Carie
Paperback, 320 pages
Published February 1st 2012 by B&H Publishing Group

Premise:

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts.

Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them

My Review:

I started The Forgiven Duke the same moment I finished The Guardian Duke. There is not so much as a cliffhanger ending as a story left unfinished. In the interview I posted yesterday, Jamie Carie said

I was able to really dive into their growth and development and create a sweeping plot that covered so much more ground than a stand alone story.

This is so evident in this story. Alex is revealed slowly and deliciously through her love for her parents, her care for her island, her old castle and the people that live there. (Oh yea, she lives in an old castle!!!)

Gabriel is revealed in so many layers... through frustrations and conflicts. The idea that he and Alex will get together also grows gradually. There's no insta-love OR love triangles. And I thought we had to have one or the other, at least!! Oh, no... this story has two unique characters with natural attractions that just keep compounding despite (or because of) the oddest circumstances.

I love the setting in the early 1800's Great Britain. I can feel the wind off the ocean, hear the accents during the trek across Ireland. Too fun. The clothes are described just enough to visualize Jane Austen style fashions. Too cute. I love the setting and I love, LOVE the characters.

Hey... even the supporting cast is full of flavor. I picture Meade in his alligator costume, spindly and leaping to Gabriel's assistance before he even asks. He's eager to please, but loaded with his own opinion, which is not always the same as "his Grace's". Admiral Montague is too utterly noble. He has his own past aches and although he is helping Alex, she is helping him, too. Baylor is the perfect Irish giant especially with his wife, "my harpy". Lol. Oh, and John Lemon... I had to laugh when he was referred to as a "fop" by Gabriel, of course, in a very jealous moment. He's the perfect, handsome gentleman. all gracious and kindness. But I can see that FOPness, too... it's there!! But Gabriel really shouldn't be talkin'... he lingers to "assist" a widowed beauty, the lovely Claire Montgomery. Oh, if only Alex knew!!

The flip-side of this book... is it is not a "fast" read. It has a lulling pace that unfolds it's secrets at it's own pace. There's a little action, I suppose, but the moments are brief. Minor incidents. There is also a bucket-load of cuteness. Lol. It's true!! I don't mean the parts where everyone tries their darndest to do the right thing - no, that's refreshing - but the parts where things keep working out well. Like... it's so handy that someone rescues Alex at just the right moment, or that they happen upon the group of people who remember an important clue on Alex's search. Over and over. I caught myself wishing that more things went wrong. Lol. The tension and the close calls between Alex and Gabriel start increasing by the end, though... so I have no idea what I'll do when I finish the next book. Probably camp out on the author's back porch 'til she coughs up A Duke's Promise!!

My Rating: 3.5 - This book is definitely worth reading. The scenes linger long after the covers are closed.

Cover Commentary: Gotta love the cover!! I think it's so great how well the model matches Alex!! I found this quote & YouTube video on Jamie's site:

It really impacted me. I cried every time I watched it for two days! I think it was because this model so perfectly fits my heroine, Alexandria Featherstone, that it was as if this character I had dreamed up had come to life.

How cool is that?!

About the author:

Jamie Carie writes novels about fierce, passionate women; their dreams; their fears; their triumphs. Her deepest desire is to see her readers find that same passion as they follow their destiny and discover deeper intimacy with Jesus.

She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three sons.

The Guardian Duke – February 2012 See the making of the cover and trailer here!

The Forgiven Duke – Book 2 in The Forgotten Castles series - July 2012

Find & Follow:

Facebook page for The Forgotten Castles series:
facebook.com/ForgottenCastles

Twitter

Get Your Copy!!

The Book Depository
Barnes & Noble
Amazon:

There's a giveaway for a signed paperback copy (US/Can) of The Guardian Duke and The Forgiven Duke on my Interview Post!!

Tour Interview and Giveaway - The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie

On Tour with Bookshelf Confessions...

The Forgiven Duke
(A Forgotten Castles #2)
by Jamie Carrie
Paperback, 320 pages
Published July 1st 2012 by B&H Publishing Group

Premise:

NOTE: Contains spoilers to The Guardian Duke!!

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon - the path of least resistance - Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton - the path less traveled by - on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.

Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

Interview:

This series caught me by surprise. I can't resist the idea of Jane Austen - style characters and settings. The more I checked into it, the more I was intrigued and sucked right into reading them, starting with The Guardian Duke, which I've nearly finished. (Late night reading, anyone?)

I'm so grateful to have Jamie Carrie stop by to visit Colorimety on this fun blog tour, hosted by Bookshelf Confessions. There's lots of fun tour stops and four different giveaways thru-out July. Get in on all the action!! Ok... on to the Interview!! Woop!

What inspired you to write this series?

I was attending a Books-A-Million conference and an editor from Penguin came up to me and said he had read The Duchess and the Dragon and really liked it. He asked if I would be interested in writing more Regency era books and that they might be interested. (Yes, he asked in front of my current publisher!!) This conversation got me thinking and about two years later I wrote the first two chapters of book one in the Forgotten Castles series, The Guardian Duke. After that the characters started coming alive and I realized I wanted to take a risk and write a continuous series. It was so awesome to be able to spend three books with these same characters. I was able to really dive into their growth and development and create a sweeping plot that covered so much more ground than a stand alone story.

I love their characters. Alex is so fun, so complex. Gabriel reminds me of Mr. Rochester sometimes... but I must save that for my review!!

What's your favorite scene in The Forgiven Duke?

Oh, there are several. When Gabriel goes through so much on the Spanish ship. (I don’t want to give away too much!!) When Gabriel and Alex are dancing and he finally . . . I can’t tell or I’ll ruin it. And the piano bench scene – sigh – I needed a fan for that one! LOL!

What?! Oh, man... I'm sorry I asked!! I'm nearly finished with The Guardian Duke and I can't believe they keep missing each other!! Such tension! I can't wait 'til they're DANCING!!!

Please share something personal!!

I’ll share a secret. My husband is pretty much a cat whisperer. When we married I had a Himalayan/Persian mix. She was a beauty with big blue eyes and gray and white markings. She loved me until she met Tony. J He utterly charmed her and she turned on me! LOL! Anyway, when he was a boy they had lots of cats and one of his favorites was a Siamese named Suzie. For his birthday in July I am going to surprise him with a Siamese kitten. I’m still trying to figure out how to wrap it! J

Hilarious! I would love to see your new kitty! I'll update with a picture if you can send it over!! Lol. That's so great. Thank you for sharing, and thanks for visiting Colorimetry!!

UPDATE: Cute picture alert!!! Warning... this may make you want a kitten!!!