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Summary: A fun romantic read!
Review: Okay, so the plot is a little thin, but I really enjoyed this romance. This was like chocolate, a guilty pleasure. The story centers around the hero, Hawk, trying to find out who murdered the woman whom he adored from afar. Foley made this fresh by making her married and unattainable, a sort of illusion. The heroine in this book really is great--Belinda (Bel) Hamilton. Be warned there is violence, and I admire Foley for showing it the way she did. It was a great success because our heroine Bel then becomes a courtesan. Egads!--no virginal, whiny, glaring, or chin-lifting heroine! Bel has real heart and courage. And of course, Hawk and Bel actually fall in love, over time, for all the right reasons. Sure, the story is light at times, the villain is obvious, but I really enjoyed it all the same. It's what a romance should be. Fun, loving, fast-paced, nice dialogue, and fresh. Good work, Ms. Foley!
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Summary: Wow!! A touching love story! Don't miss it!
Review: I bought this book because I read good reviews for it and I was not disappointed. This was an excellent love story! I loved Robert Knight. He really was a paragon. He was so gentle and loving and caring with Belinda that you had to fall in love with him. The story was perfect and I don't think this book could have been written any better than it was. There aren't too many books that will get me out of bed an hour before I have to wake my kids in the morning, but this was one of them that did. Read this book. You won't be disappointed. It had a beautiful love story. I can't wait to read the twins stories. What about Lord Alec?
Rating:
Summary: Wow, what more can I say?
Review: I very rarely give 5 stars, and I have to say, The Duke deserved every one of them. I have been following Gaelen Foley since her Pirate Prince came out and have never been disappointed in her writing yet. She is a consistent writer with well-developed characters and sensual romance scenes. The only flaw in The Duke that I found was that the actual plot was a little thin. The interaction of the characters and their growth more then makes up for this minor complaint. When I read many romance novels, I realize that the characters are fictitious, and therefore the way they behave can be pardoned by literary license (most times a Duke doesn't act like a duke, but someone of lower rank, or peasants act of hirer rank than what they are - either way it is sometimes difficult for us democratic Americans to understand this philosophy). Ms. Foley does a superb job in this story of showing how the different strata of social scales would have worked. A Duke can't marry his mistress no matter how much he wants to. This is an agonizing decision that they have to make, but both Robert and Belinda come to grips (to some extent) about this issue. Seeing how they work through this (which is later on in the story) is heartwarming and heart breaking. Bel's story and the decisions she must make are tough ones, but well thought out and executed. I do not want to give too much away of the plot, but Ms. Foley bends the traditional rules of character roles, so everyone does not behave like they do in other books. The role Bel's father plays, is a perfect example of this. Robert also goes beyond what typical romance heroes do. He is not afraid to exact justice for his love, even putting himself above the law as judge, jury, and executioner. Unusual to find in romance novels. I wouldn't hesitate a moment to pick this one up!
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Summary: Another wonderful historical romance by Gaelen Foley!
Review: Belinda Hamilton has lost everything. Her father's in debtor's prison, her home and the life she knew are gone, and she's lost her position at a finishing school and is reduced to selling oranges on a street corner. When even her virtue is ripped from her, she has nothing else to lose and she lets herself be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Robert is the Duke of Hawkscliffe. He's a man of high morals. Someone who doesn't keep a mistress. No, he wants Belinda for something more. She's the key to his revenge against the man who murdered the woman he loved. Gaelen Foley brings together a pair of heart-sore souls as they search for a murder and find each other.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: I won't explain what this book is about as the other reviewers have done a good job doing this. I'd just like to say that this is a wonderful book and Ms Foley's best yet. I eagerly look forward to the next books in her series.
Rating: 
Summary: THE DUKE IS RESPLENDENT AND DAZZLING
Review: THE DUKE by Gaelen Foley is no doubt dazzling and crackling with sensuality as a historical romance because of the irresistible characters. Belinda Hamilton as the heroine is scarred by her poverty and predicament whereby her modesty and reputation was demolished by an unfateful visit to the Fleet. Stoic and resilient, she was launched into the society as a cyprian to survive with her wounded pride. Little did she expect to meet Robert Hawkcliffe who decided to make use of her as bait to unravel a treacherous murder of his lover, Lady Coldfell. However, sparks fly when they succumb themselves to temptations and the deep shadows of their past. Gaelen Foley is confident in weaving sensuality and excitement into the plot and readers will be enthralled to find the romance between Belinda and Robert a splendour which is overwrought with difficulty. THE DUKE succeeds in elevating the emotional intensity where readers feel for Belinda, but nevertheless - the historical element takes a backseat - MS. Foley has yet to really blend together the historical period with her romance. Her penchance for details in the period is lacking and the book eventually holds a surreal realm. The romance element in THE DUKE is bolstered as usual though and Gaelen Foley shows the passion in her writing and story. THE DUKE is Ms. Foley's most reasured work to date and it certainly captivates.
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Summary: What a Regency historical ought to be!
Review: I've read all of Ms. Foley's books, all good, but this one's far and away her best. (Several times I came perilously close to throwing her previous, PRINCE CHARMING, against the wall because of its repeated use of the word "Ms." in reference to the hero's ex-mistress.) This is the most richly textured Regency historical I've read in a long time--she really made Regency England come alive for this reader. Lately I've read too many Regency historicals that struck me as nothing more than Americans dressing up in Regency costume while they spouted late 20th century dialogue. Ms. Foley has established a new and very high standard for the Regency genre which I'm pleased to see. It's going to be tough waiting for the next installment of the Knight Miscellany series, but one compensation is that the next 2 are supposed to be released back to back. To Gaelen Foley I say brava! This is a great book!
Rating:
Summary: A Romance with Substance
Review: I am not a huge fan of the romance novels, but I must admit I enjoyed this one greatly. The Duke had a wonderful plot that made reference to historical dates and events as well as giving us characters we can find believable and care for. Unlike the typical and predicatable romance novel plot, The Duke, had an interesting story line that surprises and in some places keeps your guessing. For the price this is a must have for anyone that enjoys historical romance.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This is the first book by Foley I've read, and you can bet that I will be reading all of the others she has written. She creates a very interesting hero and heroine, throws in some novel plot twists (so nice to see a hero and not just a heroine who is a little naive), and has some fascinating secondary characters. One thing I particularly liked is that her characters show some real development and change during the course of the novel, which despite its length, is a very fast read because of the good writing and plotting by the author. Her knowledge of the period is quite good, and she enriches the novel with musical instruments, politics, and social issues of the Regency era. Well done and highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A WONDER!
Review: This is a captivating read, I couldn't put it down. I was enthralled by Foley's first works (Pirate; Princess and Prince Charming) but I must say that The Duke if possible is even better. The characters are so rich and complicated that you truly feel their pain ( and pleasure). I certainly won't give away any of the plot but suffice to say I have never been more moved or involved in a storyline or its players. She has also allowed us a glimpse of her future characters that has truly whet my imagination, it will seem like forever until Spring of 2002. Ms. Foley is a WONDER!
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