The Duchess' Lover

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Victorian
Review: At Brandhurst Hall, the Duke is dead having been murdered in his garden. His wife of two decades Olivia feels free after the abuse he piled on her, but also is frightened about the immediate requirements of an aristocratic burial. Not long after the funeral, Olivia meets gardener Will Barnes. The duo chats and soon they are in each other's arms sharing lovemaking like nothing that either has felt before.

A year later, the nephew of the deceased duke sees an opportunity to eliminate Olivia from sharing the family wealth. He plans to accuse her of murdering her husband with the means being her letter opener, the motive his abuse, and the opportunity anytime in the boudoir (though they rarely were there together). Unable to ignore Olivia's plight, Will makes inquiries to prove his beloved is innocent even though he knows the cost of his actions is everything he cherishes.

Assuming the high intelligence of her audience, Julie Beard provides her readers with a great late Victorian romance that is bound to make the short lists of every historical reader. The story line is loaded with a juggernaut of a cast who provides insight to the changing climate in England. The subplots such as female factory employment and the who-done-it brilliantly return to the prime star-crossed lovers theme. Though historical mystery readers will feel the amateur sleuth investigation is shortchanged, fans of romance and nineteenth century tales will fully relish the rich cleverly written THE DUCHESS' LOVER.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Victorian
Review: At Brandhurst Hall, the Duke is dead having been murdered in his garden. His wife of two decades Olivia feels free after the abuse he piled on her, but also is frightened about the immediate requirements of an aristocratic burial. Not long after the funeral, Olivia meets gardener Will Barnes. The duo chats and soon they are in each other's arms sharing lovemaking like nothing that either has felt before.

A year later, the nephew of the deceased duke sees an opportunity to eliminate Olivia from sharing the family wealth. He plans to accuse her of murdering her husband with the means being her letter opener, the motive his abuse, and the opportunity anytime in the boudoir (though they rarely were there together). Unable to ignore Olivia's plight, Will makes inquiries to prove his beloved is innocent even though he knows the cost of his actions is everything he cherishes.

Assuming the high intelligence of her audience, Julie Beard provides her readers with a great late Victorian romance that is bound to make the short lists of every historical reader. The story line is loaded with a juggernaut of a cast who provides insight to the changing climate in England. The subplots such as female factory employment and the who-done-it brilliantly return to the prime star-crossed lovers theme. Though historical mystery readers will feel the amateur sleuth investigation is shortchanged, fans of romance and nineteenth century tales will fully relish the rich cleverly written THE DUCHESS' LOVER.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful story of love against all the odds
Review: Beard triumphs in this well-constructed and touching tale. The hero and heroine are well-rounded and beautifully developed. Any woman who's had to or is reassessing her life will immediately relate to Olivia. Her courage is inspiring. And the hero is everything such a woman could dream of. Theirs is a powerful story of unexpected love and passion in spite of the strictures of society and differences in age and social rank.

In addition to the wonderful love story, one that had me wondering how Beard would manage to come up with a happy ending, there are a number of wholly satisfying subplots, including a secondary love story that parallels Olivia's discoveries about love and life and a who-done-it murder mystery with plenty of red herrings, possible suspects, and titillating clues. On top of all this are penetrating looks at social mores, societal ills, and personal foibles, dreams, and heartaches. The doubts, joys, and anguish experienced by the characters ring true, allowing the book to do what the best literature should do: question ourselves and the world around us, reevaluating what we believe and how we live.

"The Duchess' Lover" is a riveting book that should be on everyone's to-be-read list, reminding us that real love truly is the most important thing. This is probably a book that needs to be read periodically, just to remember all these things when the tyranny of the urgent and the expectations of others begin weighing us down.

Rating:
Summary: The Dtuches' Lover
Review: For twenty years, Olivia, Duchess of Barndhurst, was married to a cruel and domineering husband. She suffered a loveless marriage and lost her own self worth in the process. But all of that is changed now, the Duke is dead. But what to do with her life now? She's been held a virtual prisoner for so long that she wonders if she can cope with the outside world. But her life changes yet again, when one moonlit evening she stumbles across Will Barnes, the artist that she hired to create the Duke's garden around the gravesite. Will knows not who this lovely creature is, but falls madly in love with her. Livie, on the other hand is struck with a feeling she's never experienced before, excitement. Will she dare to take on Victorian society and break all the rules and have an affair with a mere gardener? Will she take such a risk with her future? Or will the secret she holds about her husband's death, be the destruction of them both?

I absolutely loved this book. Ms. Beard writes with such passion and finesse, that you feel as if you are part of the characters themselves. I love the concept of the older woman going after the younger man, it's a nice twist for a change. This story touched me in a very special way, and I'm sure it touch you also.

This is a definite keeper! Thanks for a great story Julie!!

Rating:
Summary: The Dtuches' Lover
Review: For twenty years, Olivia, Duchess of Barndhurst, was married to a cruel and domineering husband. She suffered a loveless marriage and lost her own self worth in the process. But all of that is changed now, the Duke is dead. But what to do with her life now? She's been held a virtual prisoner for so long that she wonders if she can cope with the outside world. But her life changes yet again, when one moonlit evening she stumbles across Will Barnes, the artist that she hired to create the Duke's garden around the gravesite. Will knows not who this lovely creature is, but falls madly in love with her. Livie, on the other hand is struck with a feeling she's never experienced before, excitement. Will she dare to take on Victorian society and break all the rules and have an affair with a mere gardener? Will she take such a risk with her future? Or will the secret she holds about her husband's death, be the destruction of them both?

I absolutely loved this book. Ms. Beard writes with such passion and finesse, that you feel as if you are part of the characters themselves. I love the concept of the older woman going after the younger man, it's a nice twist for a change. This story touched me in a very special way, and I'm sure it touch you also.

This is a definite keeper! Thanks for a great story Julie!!

Rating:
Summary: Making it work!
Review: If you read the other reviews you should know that Oliva is in her 40's and Will, the gardner cum artist is in his twenties. Her husband dies, they get together, fall in love and he helps find a killer. Besides the murder mystery, the story looks at society's ills and examines not just the main couples relationship (although it does focus on them) but the fascinating secondary characters' as well.

What really is astounding though, is that Ms. Beard makes this whole May/December plot work. Completely.

Ordinarily, I don't really go for the older woman/younger man scenario. I have the usual hangups about it and wonder what will happen when she is 60 and he is 40. But the author really sells the whole kit and kaboddle. It's so well written and the characters are so well defined that I can picture Livie and Will falling in love. I can see them facing anything to be together. I can feel the love they share and I believe that they can each change enough to make a life together.

This is no small feat, let me tell you. ;-)

So if you're squeamish at all about the older woman/younger man scenario, please, don't be. It's a terrific book. One of the best I've ever read. I've read it many times now and it will definitely be on my keeper shelf for many years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Beard at her Best!
Review: Julie Beard's THE DUCHESS' LOVER, is a multi-faceted, sparkling gem of a book! She deftly weaves the subplots while keeping the readers' emotions focused on the sensual, yet poignant, unfolding lovestory between a lonely duchess and her forbidden lover. Several secondary characters enliven the story with their authenticity and humor. Beard always manages to delve deeply into the dark complexities of human nature to mine out shining shards of humanity and compassion and love and hope.

Rating:
Summary: Cheers for Older Women and their Younger Men!
Review: Lady Chatterly isn't the only woman who loves her gardener--but Julie Beard tells a much more compelling, satisfying tale than the classic by giving us a heroine and hero who develop their own dreams while making each other's come true, societal pressures be damned! And she leads us down a delightful primrose path with plenty of misleading clues as we discover who dunnit to the Duke.
It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a cast of such well-developed, interesting characters, and I literally couldn't put this one down.

Rating:
Summary: Scandalous!
Review: Olivia "Livie" had been very young when she married Quinton Thorpe and became the Duchess of Brandhurst. For almost twenty-five years she lived with her husband's cruelty by shutting off all emotions. As the book opened, I learned Quinton had been murdered, stabbed in the back with a letter opener by an unknown person (while trying to kill Olivia), and Livie was still in shock.

Few knew the Duke had been murdered. Those few, which included Olivia, felt the Duke had gotten what he deserved. So the murder was covered up and kept quiet. The title fell to Andrew Thorpe, an American. Until he could settle his affairs and get to England, Livia was to be in charge.

Neville Thorpe, second in line for the title, was jealous. He stayed by his Aunt Olivia's side and took charge of everything in her for her. He used his time to plot and scheme ways of obtaining the title he so coveted. He was aided by Quinton's wicked valet, Antonio. Neville found Olivia to be easily controlled until ...

Clara Peabody was an advocate with the Ladies' National Association. She approached Olivia, a year after the Duke's death, about helping fight to help the suffering of the match factory ladies. Olivia's eyes opened to possibilities and she developed a backbone.

Willoughby Barnes was an unknown artist. Since his deceased father had worked in the Duke's garden, Will had grown up learning the trade. He was asked to design the garden around the Duke's burial plot. Out of money for paints, he agreed. There, Olivia and Will met and fell in love. Olivia felt true love for the first time. However, Livie was forty and a duchess while Will was in his twenties and a gardner. It could never work.

***** The author, Julie Beard, keeps the reader guessing as to who really murdered the Duke. At the same time, she succeeds in keeping romance, betrayal, compassion, and several wonderful sub-plots going in the story. Normally this would not work. However, Julie Beard MADE it work! It all blends smoothly together and becomes as beautiful as Will's painting of Olivia! An enlightening and graceful story that I highly recommend to one and all! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Scandalous!
Review: Olivia "Livie" had been very young when she married Quinton Thorpe and became the Duchess of Brandhurst. For almost twenty-five years she lived with her husband's cruelty by shutting off all emotions. As the book opened, I learned Quinton had been murdered, stabbed in the back with a letter opener by an unknown person (while trying to kill Olivia), and Livie was still in shock.

Few knew the Duke had been murdered. Those few, which included Olivia, felt the Duke had gotten what he deserved. So the murder was covered up and kept quiet. The title fell to Andrew Thorpe, an American. Until he could settle his affairs and get to England, Livia was to be in charge.

Neville Thorpe, second in line for the title, was jealous. He stayed by his Aunt Olivia's side and took charge of everything in her for her. He used his time to plot and scheme ways of obtaining the title he so coveted. He was aided by Quinton's wicked valet, Antonio. Neville found Olivia to be easily controlled until ...

Clara Peabody was an advocate with the Ladies' National Association. She approached Olivia, a year after the Duke's death, about helping fight to help the suffering of the match factory ladies. Olivia's eyes opened to possibilities and she developed a backbone.

Willoughby Barnes was an unknown artist. Since his deceased father had worked in the Duke's garden, Will had grown up learning the trade. He was asked to design the garden around the Duke's burial plot. Out of money for paints, he agreed. There, Olivia and Will met and fell in love. Olivia felt true love for the first time. However, Livie was forty and a duchess while Will was in his twenties and a gardner. It could never work.

***** The author, Julie Beard, keeps the reader guessing as to who really murdered the Duke. At the same time, she succeeds in keeping romance, betrayal, compassion, and several wonderful sub-plots going in the story. Normally this would not work. However, Julie Beard MADE it work! It all blends smoothly together and becomes as beautiful as Will's painting of Olivia! An enlightening and graceful story that I highly recommend to one and all! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.