The Forgiven Duke Review and Giveaway

Yes, I’m back with a great giveaway opportunity. 

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon—the path of least resistance—Alexandria Featherstone sets off from Ireland to Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. Her 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 mottoValens 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 and 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 of him 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.

My Thoughts:  This book is a thrilling sequel to The Guardian Duke.  I love the characters, the descriptive language, and everything else about this book.  To give you a clue as to how much I liked it, I stayed up last night until midnight in order to finish it!  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a good adventure/romance story.

Giveaway Rules:

For a mandatory entry you must leave a comment on this post.  The extra entries detailed below do not have to be completed in order to enter, but they will increase your chances of winning.  Giveaway ends April 27, 2012.  This means you can no longer enter.  This contest is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. only.

1. Subscribe to this blog.  (If you have already done so, put up an extra comment telling me, or else it won’t count.)
2. Like this blog’s Facebook page.
3. Like the Guardian Duke page on Facebook.
4. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.
6. Post about this giveaway on your blog/website.  When you comment for this extra entry, include the link.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile

Author: Kristiana Gregory 

Genre: Tween

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Ancient

Main Characters: Cleopatra

My Review:  This is my favorite Royal Diary.  It starts with Cleopatra recording her worries that her evil sister Tryphena will have her killed since her father has gone into hiding.  The book continues along at a swift pace from Cleopatra’s escape to Rome with her father, to her account of staying a seaside villa, to their triumphant return to Alexandria.  This book is one of the best Royal Diaries written.

My Overall Opinion:  As I said above, this is my favorite Royal Diary.  It was the first one I’ve read and I’ve read it several times after that.  I would recommend this book to any girl.

Little Dorrit

Author: Charles Dickens

Genre: Historical

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 10

Type: Classic

Time Period: Victorian

Main Characters: Little Dorrit, Arthur Clennam

My Review:  Little Dorrit lives in debtors prison with her father.  When an unexpected find brings them unexpected riches, will it become a blessing or a curse?

My overall opinion:  The reason I did such a short review is because I honestly can’t find words to describe this book.  I recently watched Little Dorrit 2008 and I like the book even better.  This book is a great read, although quite long.

Lady Vernon and Her Daughter

Author: Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Genre: Novel

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 5

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Late 1700′s 

Main Characters: Lady Vernon, Miss Vernon

My Review: I recently read Lady Susan by Jane Austen, so I borrowed this book from the library.  Even in it’s letter form, Lady Susan had been entertaining, so I had high hopes for this book.  Boring.  I got through the first twenty chapters to where it really starts following the book (the other chapters had been background).  I did like the middle, then it got boring again, and then the last few chapters were interesting.  They included letters throughout the book – some from Lady Susan, others that weren’t.  If you are a die-hard Austen fan and you have lots of time on your hands, this book is for you.  Includes excerpts from Lady Susan.  I’m reading a continuation of The Watsons right now, and I hope to give it a more favorable report.  

My overall opinion:  A (in my opinion) bit boring.  I probably won’t read it again, but it was interesting enough.

The Inheritance

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Genre: Historical Fiction

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 7

Type: Juvenilia

Time Period: Mid-1800′s

Main Characters: Edith Adelon

My Review: This is the first full-fledged novel that L.M.A. wrote.  She was only seventeen when she penned this novel and it is obvious that it is an early work.  Nevertheless, it is very interesting and well written.  Edith Adelon is a poor governess with a mystery surrounding her birth.  When she saves the life of Amy, her pupil, she is given a higher place in the heart of the family.  When a poor stranger gives her a mysterious parcel, which reveals her true identity, will Edith claim her rightful inheritance?

My overall opinion:  With its flowery language and lots of description, the Inheritance is not the most enjoyable book to read, but it does give a good story and interesting characters.  I’ve read it several times.