Turnback Tuesday, The Duke, A Review

Today's Turnback Tuesday is the beginning of a seven week series based on the works of Gaelen Foley. Most especially her Knight Miscellany Series. Lord of Fire, the second book in this series was my first venture into the world of Gaelen Foley and oh these many years later I am a truly devoted fan.

The Knight Family is actually a 10 book series based on one amazing family. Six siblings, one ward and three cousins..  The Knight Miscellany and The Spice Trilogy. For now we are going to focus on The Miscellany..

THE KNIGHT FAMILY SERIES: Ten Books Total The Knight Miscellany + The Spice Trilogy (7 brothers & sisters in London) plus (their 3 cousins arriving from British-ruled India!)

Welcome to the glittering world of Regency England and the passionate lives and tempestuous loves of the Knight family, a powerful aristocratic clan of five magnificent brothers, their feisty sister, and her bookish best friend, their "honorary" second sister. If you like fast-paced tales that sweep you away in the company of complex characters, then come along for the ride as, one by one, the strong and chivalrous Knight brothers learn to love. 

 The premise of the Knight Miscellany is that their mother was a scandalous Duchess of the Georgian age, who had many lovers apart from her haughty husband, the Duke, from different walks of life: a Shakespearean actor; a celebrity prize fighter; and her true love, a mysterious marquess. The heroes and heroines of this series are the now-grown children who resulted from the "Hawkscliffe Harlot's" various liaisons. They contrast and complement each other in different ways, but they are undeniably a family, bound by loyalty and love.

A Brief Synopsis

Knight Miscellany, Book 1: THE DUKE He Would Risk Everything to Gain Revenge . . . But He Never Planned On Losing His Heart

Driven to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of his ladylove, the Duke of Hawkscliffe will go to any lengths to unmask a murderer. Even if it means jeopardizing his reputation by engaging in a scandalous affair with London's most provocative courtesan—the desirable but aloof Belinda Hamilton.  

Bel has used her intelligence and wit to charm the city's titled gentlemen, while struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. She needs a protector, so she accepts Hawk's invitation to become his mistress in name only. He asks nothing of her body, but seeks her help in snaring the same man who shattered her virtue. Together they tempt the unforgiving wrath of society—until their risky charade turns into a dangerous attraction, and Bel must make a devastating decision that could ruin her last chance at love. . .

The Review:

The Duke, first published in November of 2000, is the beginning of this amazing series about a family that understands what a real family is. A Family that has their own special brand of uniqueness. A Family that has spent their entire lives trying to live down, live up to (depending on the individual) the scandal left by their mother. Gaelen Foley brings out a more realistic viewpoint of Regency England. Written before the current style that shows the grittier darker world, Ms. Foley was in the forefront of that style. She writes about real people with real issues. They are not perfect, they are not always likable but they do hold their family close.. What could be better?

Robert Knight, Duke of Hawkscliffe was a paragon.. Proud, Arrogant, Proper, a Bit of a stick in the mud. Even his affair was of the heart only. He would never step over that line, to sleep with the woman married to an old family friend, that would never happen. So he loved from afar, in his dreams.. When this pure love died unexpectedly, her incredibly officious husband came to Robert to wreak revenge upon the man who murdered her.  Can you say puppetmaster? Robert, in his naive view of this woman takes on the quest. Unfortunately for her "grieving" widower, Robert is a just man and won't kill indiscriminately. First, he must gather facts.. find the one thing that could destroy his target and work from there. 

Bel Hamilton, is a lady of beauty and class. Forced by circumstances beyond her control she slips into the life of a Courtesan. She held out as long as possible but one night of degradation changes everythng.  Creating her own rules of engagement she accepts an offer to help destroy the man who ruined her. And yet even in her darkest hour she remains a lady. When Bel accepts Robert's offer she does it the only way she knows how, with class and grace.

These two are special, sure she accepts an offer to become the mistress of a very powerful man and he is the snob he was raised to be but there is more to them. Bel, works hard to make Robert's life better. She handles her "duties" more as a helpmeet than a mistress and in turning so she turns Robert's life upside down. She makes him reconsider his stand on everything. She forces him to see the real world not the glittering world of the ton. She shows him that his political power can be used better.. that he needs to do more than try to work from within a corrupted party, he needs to work outside the box. 

Robert, may have started out trying to destroy the man who murdered the "woman he loved" But time with Bel shows him that real love is out there. That there is more in this world, than revenge, societal opinion and duty. That sometimes you need to stand for who you really are rather than who you are supposed to be. That there is way more to life than what you are "supposed" to be. 

While this wasn't a thesis on some great scientific discovery, The Duke makes you think. It isn't a fluff book and even for me took longer than my standard three hours to read. With it's unique individuals, it compelling subplot and it's unique opinion of society's mores it has an excellent message to portrays. This is one of those books that all historical romance lovers must read..

Shauni