I read the book. Extremely poor writing. Extremely poor development of characters. Exremely boring plot. Should I say more? I'm just writing this review to warn the people not to spend their hard-earned money on this complete writing failure which somehow got published. It's a total rip-off: I think the big wigs (Quinn's publishers) thought to milk the cash cow (Quinn) at the expense of her creativeness and professionalism, so they got her to publish something so obviously bad as this. Not worth a dime.

The first Julia Quinn novel I ever read was "The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever," which I hated so much I threw it against the wall. I was not looking forward to reading "The Lost Duke of Wyndham," but it was in my book pile and I figured I'd give it a whirl.

I'm glad I did.

At first, for the first few chapters, I found the book very annoying and hard to enjoy. There's too much "witty banter" that doesn't feel very witty to me at all. Also, I found the opening action a little silly--a highwayman robs a coach, kisses one of his victims, and she enjoys it--okay. And the highwayman is actually possibly the other victim's grandson--so he gets away scot free with his stolen goods--okay. I suppose. And oh no, there's more of that "witty banter" that's actually very clunky and not at all witty! Make it stop!

And then, abruptly, the book becomes good. I don't get it! But it evens out, flows better, and the two main characters, Jack and Grace, become very likable and interesting, and their interactions are very pleasurable to read.

The Good:
Jack is a charming character. He's very sweet to Grace and I like his attitude, for the most part. Grace is very sweet and kind, and I really root for her to have her happy ending. The mean and cruel dowager Duchess is a good foil, and altogether I like it. The storyline is compelling and the plotting is good, overall. The dialogue straightens out and becomes actually fun to read, hurrah!

The Bad:
Some characters get short shrift, especially Amelia, Thomas, and Elizabeth, who needed more page time. Certain plot elements are not handled as well as they should be, including Jack's family history and his Terrible Secret. The characters all feel very isolated, as if the rest of England went off to France on vacation, leaving them all alone in their cavernous castle. This doesn't feel deliberate to me.

Overall, though, this is a good story, well written, with a good hero and a good heroine. I like their love story. Most readers will probably enjoy following along with the book, unless they are expecting something spectacular--this isn't spectacular, but it is good.

As I finished reading the last page of this novel, I was quite surprised to actually feel relieved that it was all over. Quite amazing, really, since I enjoyed most of Julia Quinn's books. I asked myself: what was missing, why do I feel unmoved by the hero's anguish? Then I thought about some of Quinn's Bridgerton books - and the Bridgertons in general - and I realized what was missing. THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM had every possibility of being a wonderful and touching romance novel. Indeed, all the elements are there. Both the hero and heroine's lives provide the common foundation for great characters that is guaranteed to touch the cord of any romance book reader.

Grace Eversleigh, orphaned at the age of seventeen, was left with no choice but to be a companion to the cantankerous dowager duchess of Wyndham. While things could have gone worse for her after being left homeless, serving the selfish duchess hasn't exactly been a walk in the park and truly verged on martyrdom. Jack Audley is an overt flirt who can charm even the tetchiest of characters. Yet underneath the fun-loving façade is a man living with guilt and shame. A man whose parentage could ruin the only chance he has of finally finding happiness. Here, you have these two characters whose inner sadness should really stir up some strong emotions, yet I was rather detached from the beginning. I did not feel a connection with Grace. When Jack finally breaks down and reveals his biggest shame, I wasn't moved by it. It was obvious that Quinn was trying to use it as one of the reasons why Jack dreaded being the duke. I, however, felt that it would have made more of an impact if it was revealed earlier and the reader was told of how Jack progressively dealt with the problem.

I really wanted to like this novel. Truly, I did. But you know it's a sign of tedium when you find yourself stopping in the middle of a page wondering what on earth was going on and having to re-read some parts. Grace and Jack are likeable enough, Jack more so due to his charm, but I felt that they both lacked the depth to get you really engrossed with their lives and feel moved by their predicament.

This was a very predictable, drawn out novel that would probably turn off readers who are not familiar with Julia Quinn's work. However, this certainly won't stop me from reading her again because I only have to think of books like An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgerton 3) or When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton Family Series) to know what the real Julia Quinn is capable of.

Honestly, it's more like a 4.5 star book than a full 5 stars- but there doesn't seem to be half-star grades here. I don't know where to begin or what exactly to focus on when reviewing this book. I just want to say that it seems like JQ's finally brought something fresh with likable and sensible characters- unlike her last few books. This book borders the love-at-first-sight type of romance. I'm usually not fond of them but for some reason, it didn't bother me in this novel- maybe now that I'm older and have seen some people be attracted to each other and fall in love quickly and successfully, I'm more amenable to the idea. I liked how Grace and Jack were attracted to each other, but then slowly fell in love with each other. I liked how there wasn't any prodding on either side to make them realize they're in love.

I also enjoyed Quinn's wry and honest commentary on manners, social interaction, and human behavior- those fleeting thoughts one has, but never really thought to voice aloud or put to paper. It doesn't come off as sounding too showy-instead, it is weaved in a way that conveys very real nuances to the characterization of the characters and situations. If I didn't have such an aversion to making marks in my books, I would have underlined many lines in which I had mentally exclaimed "that's exactly what I think!" or "I totally understand because I had been in a similar situation when..." or "I've met someone like that". When I think of JQ's books, even if the plot and events might be farfetched sometimes, at least this aspect of her work is very real. Her voice is on the same wavelength of my mental voice whenever I observe social situations around me.

Some of the other things I liked also included Jack's portrayal (I admit I'm a bit like him and know people who are like him too), how Jack's problems were dealt with (no overdramatization or instant miracles there), an awareness of social propriety, the depiction of the title as a huge responsibility (been reading too much about leisurely lords and dukes), and the layered depiction of the Duchess of Wyndham as a very mean, horrible lady (with a black heart) who does have a hidden depths and principles (as opposed to the many old ladies get typecasted in romances nowadays).

I guess, in the end, what I'm trying to say is that what made this book so great wasn't just a few big ideas/aspects that made a big splash in my mind (honestly, the plot summary didn't sound too intriguing), but it was all the small things the JQ added to the novel and the characters' voices that made this book great. I can't wait to get my hands on the companion book to this!

Better than most other author's work, but perhaps not JQ's best book. I enjoyed the story and really looked forward to finding out more about Amelie and Thomas. Don't think it is right to cucify and author for trying something new.

This is my first ever review. I read my first romance two years ago in desperation and found it quelled my nightmares, so I've been reading them ever since. With over two hundred titles now devoured if I were to make a Top 10 list of my favorites, #1 would be "Romancing Mister Bridgerton". With that said, you can imagine how I feel to have to give 1-star to a Julia Quinn book, but that's exactly what I must do.

After loving all the Bridgerton's (except the last) I was stunned and disappointed to find The Lost Duke of Wyndham to be nothing more than paste-by-the-numbers romantic boilerplate. The plot of a charming highwayman falling for a companion and then having the highwayman turn out to a duke sounded intriguing, but the main characters in this story are little more than underdeveloped cardboard cutouts. The supporting characters are one dimensional as well and the only emotion they invoke is irritation.

This is so far below the standard I expect from the marvelous Ms. Quinn it's hard to fathom that she didn't just let her summer intern write it and stick her name on the front. Disappointment is not a strong enough word.

In the Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn, I found much of the character mood description focused almost solely on lips.

Yes, lips.

It met all the criteria of the "modern" romance novel though, while being quite peculiar in its own way. The two meet, they become instantly obsessed with one another, and they are catapulted on the road towards their first sexual liaison with all the sure-footed literary speed the author could muster. Too bad it was written with that ending in mind - it could have been better. (To be fair, it did end in an engagement, and we get a flash-forward of the darling couple with their darling kids, but the "climax" of the book was really their first intercourse. The engagement was more of a convenience, at least that's how it read to me.)

In some ways marriage before sex was a much better ending. It gave both partners an equal amount of grief and that's more honest as anyone who is married knows!

As an aside, I really get tired of male characters who are loners and rogues with their hearts dead-set against women, who meet the one and only woman for them and fall immediately in love against their better judgment. And then the authors start with the "my" or "mine" talk and then comes the branding. In the case of Showalter or Kenyon, branding takes the form of a hickey, a bite, or a joining sex act. Here, it is played off as obsession.

And the lips...I can't remember when I've read a novel that focused so much on lips. Why why why why why? I felt like slapping some lips when I got done with the book, let me tell you.

Here's a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the tireless references to lips in the first few chapters (page numbers in parentheses):

Chapter 1 - (3) the Dowager's lips pursed tightly, (6) his lips were so full of movement, so perfectly formed, (7) Grace's lips parted, (11) his lips came to her ear; his lips touching her ears, (12) he kissed her; he kissed her knuckles, (14) his mouth, that expressive, devilish mouth; his lips were parted; his lips were still

Chapter 2 - (18) Grace touched her mouth; the velvet softness of her lips

Chapter 3 - (34) his lips flattened slightly, (46) Amelia opened her mouth, (47) Grace opened her mouth, (49) Thomas said, with a twist of his lips, (54) Jack stood, open-mouthed, (53) Jack quirked a half smile, (56) Grace sucked in her lips

Chapter 4 - (63) her lips were pinching and twisting, (68) allowing his gaze to fall to her lips, (69) her lips pinched; he saw her lips twitch, (70) corners of her mouth pulled down; get that mouth to form a crescent; giving her a lopsided smile, (71) after a lengthy and thoughtful frown; Grace clamped a hand over her mouth, (72) his mouth slid into that cocky half-smile, (73) it emerged from her own lips

Chapter 5 - (77) her lips parted, (87) his lips parted, (90) her eyes slid to his mouth; Grace's lips parted in surprise; Grace clamped a hand over her mouth, (94) her lips pinched

Chapter 6 - (95) the Dowager's lips tightened, (97) his eyes falling on her lips; brush his lips against hers, (98) Grace's lips tightened, (100) pulling her lips into a frown, (102) the Dowager pursed her lips

Chapter 7 - (112) the Dowager's mouth tightened, (113) his eyes fell again on her lips, (114) corners of her mouth were tilted, (116) a pinch of her lips, (117) with a wry smile, (118) Grace pursed her lips; his smile grew jaunty and lopsided, (119) she felt her lips tickle, (124) she clamped her lips together, (125) her lips parting, then closing again; her lips parted again, (126) she frowned.

And that's just the first 7 chapters! There are 11 more!

Seriously, do these characters have any other body parts?

Oh yeah, we find out about them in chapter 18.

Sure the book has its flaws, and sure some of the plot could have been tighter and the motivations clearer, but personally, I enjoyed this book. I like how quickly I can read a Quinn book, how easily the images come to mind when she describes a setting, and how clearly I can see the characters in my mind. I could have done with a little more depth to the motivations of the characters, which weren't always clear. Overall, an average and cute read.

Currently, Julia Quinn is the best living writer of Regency romances.

Her books, in general, have several virtues and THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is no exception.

Most importantly, Quinn tells a real story, with a beginning, a middle and an ending.

At the same time, she weaves largely implausible tales and, almost against the odds, she manages to make them plausible.

Finally, her prose is lovely in every way: vocabulary, grammar, style.

These virtues that seem to come so easily to Quinn actually are unusual among romance novelists.

THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is quite gripping, in its plot of the heir to the duchy having been lost at sea and his offspring being unacknowledged in the line of inheritance. The story revolves around what happens when one such heir re-enters the family fold, from both his point of view and from the collective perspective of everyone else in the duchy.

Consistent with Quinn's skill, she manages to capture her readers, to make the conflict compelling, to hold her audience enraptured.

There are a few things which make Quinn's story-telling less than five-star, including a habit of making her heroes and heroines fall in love at first sight.

And her sex scenes, while sizzling, are anachronistic for the era in which she places her stories--yet you always can count on Julia Quinn for a good romp.

I am so glad I didn't read any reviews before I bought and read this book, because I absolutely loved it from start to finish. I have enjoyed all of Julia Quinn's books but I think THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is her best book yet. I started laughing out loud when I read the dedication and I laughed through the entire book. I really hate to spend money on a book that I don't enjoy and therefore I sympathize with those reviewers who felt this book wasn't one of Quinn's best, but I, myself, thought it was terrific. I've read it twice and am looking forward to the continuing story in MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME.

I think what did it for me with this book was Jack. I absolutely loved him !!!! I read ALOT, and I have to say, Jack is one of my favorite male characters ever! Some people may not appreciate his sense of humor, but I did.
He was funny,flirty,witty,and I just loved his sarcasm!
Absolutely loved it! But thats just me, thats my kind of humor. I'm not sure however how I feel about Grace.
She's likeable, but not a very strong leading character. At times it seems like she's just along for the ride. I found myself connecting more with Thomas,the other main male character (whose in the next book "Mr.Cavendish I Presume") more than I did with Grace. You really feel for Thomas and what he's going through, but he handles it so well. HE'S MY HERO! So for me, it was the men that made this book. Jack is such an endearing character ( to me anyway), and you just want to wrap your arms around Thomas and hold him. You really need to look at it this book as though Jack and Thomas are the main characters and not Jack and grace.
There is a love story (two actually), but that part could have been written alot better, and been alot "juicier". With A guy like Jack, how could you have it any other way? He was such a rogue, I wanted to kiss him !! This book also had a character from hell! The Grandmother from hell to be exact (and thats putting it mildly!!). I dont think hate is a strong enough word for what you will feel for this woman. Loath?, despise?, is disgusted by? you read it and decide, but it's all three for me.
So I say give this book a shot. As I said earlier,there is a second book that follows this story of but I warn you, dont read them back to back !!!! The second book is written to coincide with the first, so if you can, I would suggest you wait ahwile between the two.

I found the novel to be fun, humorous, and there was plenty of chemistry between the main characters, which is what I look for in a romance novel. I'm really not sure why everyone is being so hard on this book.

Have always enjoyed Julia Quinns novels. She tells a good story with likeable characters. Looking forward to the follow up.

I've been a Julia Quin fan since reading the Bridgerton Series. However, I don't think this book was up to the caliber of the other books she's written. I found it a little far-fetched that on the basis of a few words and seeing partial facial features in the dark the Dowager Duchess would determine that this was her long-lost grandson. I liked Jack's sense of humor, but it took WAY too long to end the book when you knew good and well that he was the true heir because that's the way it's supposed to be in romance books. I felt sorry for Thomas being ousted so callously from something he'd grown up believing his whole life. Other than the humor between the two main characters, there wasn't much "spark" between them. I kept waiting thru almost the whole book for the spark to happen. I will read the sequel just because I'm a sucker for books that are related and I will continue to read Julia's books if the next book is better than this one.

I think sometimes that really successful authors are sometimes pushed to publish new books too quickly and consequently churn out books that aren't always up to the standard of their first books. I've found this to be true for several authors over the years, including ones as famous as Nora Roberts. I think publishing companies are greedy for money and fans are greedy for more books and that makes for a sometimes disappointing publication.

I used to really, really enjoy reading Julia Quinn because she had a writing style that was different than other authors and had a hook to her writing that made me keep wanting to read through the middle of the night (even when I have to get up early the next day). What happend to her "hook"? I found myself buying this book because I was a fan of hers, but her last 3 or 4 books have been mediocre at best and disappointing. This book in particular was predictable and boring; I found myself skipping through pages and pages to get to more interesting scenes. I just expected more from her!

Julia Quinn is by far in my top 3 authors. I adore her. I have never once been disappointd by her books...until now. So sorry Julia. I could not wait to read this as I always always enjoy her books. I guess every great author has to have a book here and there that isn't always up to their usual standards. We all have a bad day sometime. Don't get me wrong this was not a bad book. I did like it,but, just didn't love it. However for the first time that I can remember I actually got bored reading one of her books. That had never happened before. This book missed the humor and the liveliness that I have come to adore and expect from Ms. Quinn. It honestly didn't seem like it actually was one of her books. The hero was not very well mapped out for me. When you read one of these types of books you want to fall in love with him and I just didn't. I wasn't sure why the heroine did either. When I really love a book, I remember that book and the characters and right now I don't remember much. I look forward to the next in the series and hope that it will improve. But I still love your books Julia Quinn and your books are always keepers for me.

I find both the 1 star and the 5 star reviews way out of line. I found the book OK, niether great nor awful. For me,5 stars means I'll probably be reading a book again. 1 star means I regret wasting the time I spent reading it. The 3 star average seems about right to me. No, our hero,Jack, wasn't really charming. Yes, our heroine, Grace, was dumb as a brick. Are either of those faults unusual in Regency romances? Absolutely not. As an American, I find the whole idea that someone with a title is superior to someone without one to be stupid. Why would anyone, especially their grandmother, care which grandson was a duke? If Julia Quinn is from the Pacific northwest, why does she care? I skip over the sex and seduction scenes,too. I think I must be a failure as a romance fan.

Ahhh, Julia Quinn. She never fails to make me smile, page after glorious page.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham is Quinn's first novel in a new series about the Cavendish family. In this particular novel, Jack Audley is believe to be the long lost son of a prior Wyndham duke. It's a bit of a prodigal son tale, if you will. Jack was raised in Ireland by his aunt and uncle and carries a bit of a haunted past himself.

The dowager Duchess of Wyndham, August Cavendish, is convinced that Jack is her favorite son's heir--even when no one else wants to believe it, including Jack. The dowager is the devil incarnate...or at least, everyone seems to think she is. But she may have more layers than meets the eye at first glance.

Grace Eversleigh is the dowager's lovely, witty, and underestimated companion. How she puts up with the dowager's tantrums and tangents is anyone's guess. But she feels beholden to the dowager and has nowhere else to go, so she remains at Belgrave, the Cavendish family home.

It's clear from the beginning that Grace and Jack have a connection. And despite their best intentions, they can't seem to stay away from each other. In the search for Jack's true identity, they fall in love. A bit of a love triangle is created since--by all indications--Thomas Cavendish, the current Duke of Wyndham, seems to fancy Grace at least a little. Even worse, Thomas is betrothed to Amelia Willoughby, Grace's childhood friend. It's a tangled web that does eventually sort itself out by the end of the novel.

Ever since I discovered Quinn's novels several years ago, I haven't failed to read them as they're released. During this particular story, I found myself smiling and laughing out loud at Jack's outrageous and charming sense of humor. Quinn has a witty repertoire she manages to keep up throughout the entire book. Actually, most of her novels carry this same vibe, which is why I like them so much. I can always count on a lighthearted, comfortable read. She obviously heavily researches the novels before she writes them as I found myself looking up references to Boucher and Watteau.

I just finished reading some of poor reviews and I am not sure I read the same book. This novels was great, Jack was very charming and when he feel in love it was hard (he left you with a smile!). Grace had such loyality and wanted everything to work out for this character. Grace and Jack's story had humor,romance and some great supporting characters. If you love this genre and want a enjoyable escape for a afternoon - pick-up this book.

I am looking forward to her next novel; Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2) due out September 30, 2008 Amelia & Thomas' story! On her website she reports a another new book due out July 2009 - I can't wait!!!!!

Fans of JQ should enjoy this one. The story is sweet, romantic, and character-driven, with a little bit of action. The heroine is intelligent and sweet-natured, but lives in unfortunate circumstances (poor and the companion of a terribly unkind lady). The hero is one of my favorite kinds - a charming rascal with a shady past, who is reluctant to play the hero. Their attraction is electric and fun to watch unfold. They are very unhappy in their respective situations, and being together is destined to bring they happiness. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for the sequel.

This book has received some really poor reviews. I, however enjoyed it. It's a bit predictable, but it's also funny (I laughed out loud more than once) and the characters are surprisingly engaging. I'm looking forward to the 2nd book in this new series.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK. I have always loved Julia Quinn's books and have collected them in hard cover editions for years so I could not wait until her latest was released. But I have to agree with some of the others who reviewed this book it was worse than a one star. WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? I forced myself to finish this book even though 3/4 of the way through I realized that there was absolutely no story plot to it, the writing was terrible, and the ending was as if someone just stopped writing and forgot to finish the book! I am not sure I want to even try to read the sequel to this book that will be coming out soon. What a disappointment.

What happens to authors that have been so successful that they seem to forget or they choose to write nothing just to be published?

I don't really understand what people disliked so strongly about this book. I thought it was a delightful read. One of the things I love about Julia Quinn is her dialogue, and this book was a perfect example of that. It was light and fluffy, and a very easy way to pass the time. There was plenty of witty banter between the characters to keep the story flowing.
The hero was a pleasant surprise. He wasn't the typical formula alpha male who refuses to admit he's in love, only in lust. He seemed to realize he loved the heroine before she did, which is pretty odd in stories. It was a nice diversion from the formula that I enjoyed.
The only complaint I would lodge is that the ending was a little forced, a little too neat. Almost like she just reached her quota and said, okay, time to wrap it up.
Other than that, why did people hate this book? It was very good in my opinion, certainly in the style of Quinn. I Loved it.

I liked this one!! The Lost Duke of Wyndham and the last book of JQ's is back to her orignal writings. Refreshing and purely romantic. I would have given it 5 stars, however, the last quarter of book got a little slow. I became more interested in Thomas. It picked up again towards the end. I didn't care for the erotic that JQ was starting to write a few books back, so am very happy to have her back writing in her old/best style. It is light, very romantic, sweet. So if you like the erotic books, you probably won't like this one. But you have a slew of really grade D books out there writing under the genre of historical romance that are written just for you. If you liked JQ's books from the past, the Bridgerton's, Splendid, Minx, etc. you will like this one too. I cannot wait until "Mr. Cavendish, I presume" comes out. In Lost Duke of Wyndham Jack and Grace were both such wonderful, fun characters. They had good, happy childhoods. Their lives had taken on changes that left them lonely and lost. Their story is fun, Jack is a riot, just what Grace needed and Grace is just what Jack needed. Throw in the Duchess and you have a really good novel. Thomas on the other hand did not have a good childhood and I cannot wait to read his story. Again, so glad to have JQ back!!

I'm not going to say that this book breaks any molds or is fundamentally different from any other romance novel - it still follows the prescribed romance story arc to a tee. However, it's the little things that make this book interesting and worth reading.

First off, the main character - Grace - is wonderful. She's really making the best of a bad situation and doesn't sit about moaning and wailing - she just rolls with the punches and keeps on going. Yes, the class distinction is played with a bit of a heavy hand, but that is more keeping with how those times would have been, and, yes, it's a bit important to the plot. Still, she comes across as a very likeable heroine, one you want to root for.

The hero - Jack - is a bit more cliché, and while not unlikeable, isn't particularly interesting. He doesn't add much to the story (well, other than the obvious!) but nor does he detract from it. He plays his part well, and even if his character is a bit trite his dialogue and interaction with the other characters is good.

Thomas and the dowager duchess, on the other hand, are far more unlikely romance novel characters. There's a bit of uncertainty about each of them. The dowager duchess is mean and rude, but there's something there... something under the surface, that keeps her interesting. Likewise, Thomas's character is not clearly defined. We see glimpses of a good man, but there are also some actions that are a little off. He comes across as a far more believable character, with his somewhat mercurial moods and manners. I am very much looking forward to reading his story in Mr, Cavendish, I Presume and hope it lives up to my expectations!

There are a few little interesting wrinkles in the plot, and maybe I do wish it had ended slightly differently, but it was still a fun read and a great way to pass an evening. I would highly recommend this book (and, indeed, most of Julia Quinn's other novels, especially the Bridgerton series) to anyone who likes romance novels.

I liked this book. I read several of the reviews and was surprised that so many people thought it was bad.
It is a romance novel...not a lost manuscript of Jane Austen. So, it isn't perfect, but it has moments where it is really touching.
Plus, it gets major points for using the world "truthiness". (*sigh* Stephen Colbert....)
Anyway, if you want a fun read pick up this book, but if you are looking for an earthshattering romance...I suggest you go straight to the classics aisle.

If you loved the Bridgertons' Series and love Julia Quinn as a rule, as I did...and want to continue to love her-then skip this book as well as "On the way to the Wedding". I never thought I would write one of these things but don't waste your time with this book.
BTW, what is with the disjointed look of the woman's face on the cover, it looks like a very bad photoshop import. If Ms. Pottinger wants to continue to write then the publishers need to edit her much more closely. I don't want to be mean, but this is just not a good book.

Julia Quinn's magic is in characterization. She writes a clean, plot-light novel that always delights.

The hero, Jack, is a rascal. What he says and how he thinks are in sync, revealing him incorrigible. He's not a paragon. But ... he is polite, if you deserve it. He's generous, if you're truly needy. He's honorable, if you're worthy.

Grace, our heroine, is worthy. She's polite, even if you don't deserve it. She's patient, even if you're the most difficult creature in Britain to deal with.

Jack's freedom to simply 'be' (even a highwayman, if he chooses) appeals to Grace. Her witty repartee and appreciation of art and natural light set her apart from the countless other women who must have found Jack's rascally ways charming.

Summarize the plot? 'Tis simple enough. Jack Audley might be the true Duke of Wyndham, which would unseat the current Duke of Wyndham, who is a paragon. Grace, companion to the cantankerous and downright mean, dowager Duchess of Wyndham, is not of the correct social class to marry the Duke of Wyndham, whoever he may be. I thought I would easily guess the outcome, but as the Duke of Wyndham, and the possibly lost Duke of Wyndham entered the rectory to read the church registry, I just wasn't sure. And was surprised what happened.

There are plenty of surprises, revealed after you are so thoroughly invested in the hero and heroine. I found myself gasping and sighing, so pulled into Julia's world of idle romantic fancy.

Very satisfying, and I look forward to the next in the series. It's on pre-order.

I just had to respond to all the negative reviews about this book. I fell in love with the characters from the beginning and never once got bored with the story. Grace is a sweet heroine, and Jack is fantastic! I even told a friend that he is right up there with James Malory, (hero of Johanna Lindsey's Gentle Rogue) with being an unforgetable hero. Since there has been some mention of a lack of steamy love scenes in the book, I have to say, I never noticed it because I was so into the story, but yes, if you normally like Cheryl Holt or Nicole Jordan love scenes, this book won't be your cup of tea. Myself, I can't wait for the next book about Mr. Cavendish, and may even pre-order it. Julia Quinn is the Jane Austen of historical romance. I have never been disappointed in her novels. Please take a chance and read it yourself. Don't listen to the bad reviews. What makes a great book to me is the characters, do I care about these people? Do I want to turn the page? Am I caught up in the romance? Yes to all those questions! I love a hero with a sense of humor!

For the last five years Grace Eversleigh has been content as companion to the very difficult (trying to be nice here) dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It's been a tireless and mostly thankless task of trying to keep the dowager happy with little break from a tedious routine....that is, until they were held up by a highwayman on the way home from a fete. A highwayman who has the deepest green eyes, very wicked and debonair smile, and steals a kiss that rocked Grace's world.

Jack Audley is a highwayman who often thinks of himself as a sort of Robin Hood. He rarely steals from anyone who he feels cannot afford it, and he does spread his spoils around to those less fortunate than himself. What he's never aspired to be is a peer of the realm, but when the dowager Duchess of Wyndham recognizes his voice, features and mannerisms of her favorite but long dead son she is resolute in proving Jack the legitimate heir and rightful Duke of the House of Wyndham.

*** Julia Quinn has always been an auto-buy for me having written some of the most fun-filled and romantic historical romances I've ever read. Consequently, I always have high expectations for anything with her name on it, and while this was entertaining, I found it to be a tad slow with little surprise as to the conclusion. In fact it took that long to unveil the lead characters true motivation and why Jack truly did not want to be a Duke. Quinn failed to induce much of an adventure nor any real mystery throughout the first three quarters of the book; in other words, I had no real motivation to stay up late to finish this book.

Grace was lovely and kind with no real prospects of marriage to anyone let alone one so high above her station and Jack had a bit more depth but still painted out as a charming rogue. Jack's secret was a clever twist, but nothing that kept you on the edge of your seat. However, and Quinn did a masterful job here, the dowager Duchess was painted as an overbearing tyrant with very little redeeming qualities. The dowager's treatment of her other grandson Thomas Cavendish, the present Duke of Wyndham, was ruthless and pitifully unkind. One hopes and I assume in the sequel, MR CAVENDISH, I PRESUME that Thomas gets his happily ever after story and the dowager gets her just dues.

Bottom line: THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM is a light entertaining read, but not truly indicative of the brilliance I generally associate with Ms. Quinn's talent.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Julia Quinn is the best romance writer out there. Her use of humor is one of the reasons I enjoy reading her novels.

I guess on this one, I'm probably a middle of the roader. I don't think this book sucked as badly as the terrible reviewers feel, but I also don't think Julia Quinn is back on top, either.

This was a good quick read, but not an in depth character study.

As many have said, Grace was not a complicated person. I did understand (more than some), how she seemed to always be on the verge of laughter. I can relate to the nervous laughter, the mortified did-I-really-just-laugh-at-that laughter, the joyous, free laughter. Jack did pop off some really good one-liners, and I found myself laughing right along with them.

Jack was previously a highwayman. Justified in his own mind, he was still a thief. That's wrong. No matter how you clean it up, no matter that you're Robin Hood-ish, stealing is stealing, and it's hard to get past that. I guess the thing I liked about him (and what was not truly fleshed out enough to me), was his dyslexia. Having first-hand experience with it (my oldest son), and knowing that all folks with a learning disability are not idiots, it was refreshing to see a hero in a novel battle it and still be somewhat likeable. I think he could have been much more appealing if his background had been more deeply explained.

The Dowager Dutchess was a total W.I.T.C.H. I can't understand anyone having any loyalty to her. I also was disappointed that it was explained better what her draw was to Jack's father. Why was he the "favored son"? There's no explanation - and perhaps that's coming in the 2nd book, but it was annoying to not know in this one. I wanted her to be like Gareth's grandmother (James' Aunt in "How to Marry a Marquis") in "It's in his Kiss", but she wasn't. There really was nothing even remotely pleasant about her.

Thomas. Hmmm. I don't really know where everyone gets that he was a more interesting character in this book, though, because he spent most of it bickering (somewhat rightly so) with Jack - because Jack had the misfortune of being born to the favored son. Or he was drunk, or just plain out of the picture. I felt no spark between him and Amelia. I'm sure the next book will open that story.

So, an okay read, not her best, not her worst. I could have been happy to have gotten this one at a UBS.

Near the end of the books, a background character says "I do like a good love story" and I agree. This is not as good as the Bridgerton novels (one of my favorite romance series ever) but it is a good love story and I enjoyed reading it.

It is not a particularly steamy love story so those readers who want sex scenes that start early and continue frequently throughout the book will be disappointed. Jack and Grace have several "make out" sessions but do not have sex until very near the end of the book. Because of that, the book is much more about feelings and circumstances and falling in love.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series about Thomas and Amelia and hope there is one after that about Elizabeth.

Sigh.

So it's not a fantastic Julia Quinn book. That's pretty much the bad news. The characters, especially our predictably lovely and frustratingly meek heroine Grace, are fairly run-of-the-mill. As in many romance novels, the characters are more than they appear. Grace is a companion to the local countess, an imposing and mercilessly self-centered woman. But, of course, Grace was actually the daughter of a respectable, though monetarily irresponsible, member of the local gentry who was forced to work for the countess rather than marry her foolish cousin (um...hasn't this plot twist been used before?). Jack seems to be a highwayman, though may be a duke who was forced to rob people on the road. Really? How is an educated, well-spoken, well-connected man get forced to successfully lead a gang of highwaymen? This is never really explained. The plot is fairly unbelievable and the romance fairly weak.

However (PS this is the good news), I do like how respective social standings of characters play a significant role in their actions. It's done believably and is delightfully heart-wrenching. Plus, being a Julia Quinn book, there is a certain...sparkle. All of her books sparkle, even those horrible last few in the Bridgerton series. This book, in my opinion, is better than those but not nearly as good as her earlier ones. Let's see, let's see. Oh, I also liked that Jack is a flawed man. Not flawed in the typical "bastard son of an earl living with eternal pain blah blah blah he just needs a woman to love him blah blah blah" way, but in a truer way that strikes a familiar chord. Another point, which could be either good or bad (I am going to take it as good because I prefer to dwell on hope rather than disappointment) is that this book sets up the next book in the series beautifully.

Can we talk about the cover for a bit? I know the author has little or nothing to do with it, but I must say...it's weird, right? That girl freaks me out. It's deceptive as well. She looks out form the cover directly, as though she's forthright and assertive. And she's not. Again, sigh.

I tried really hard not to read this book because the last Julia Quinn was so disappointing, but after weeks of denial, I broke down and bought it. It's really not as bad as I expected, but not nearly as good as I wanted it to be. I am moderately excited about the next book in the series, as those two characters were by far the most interesting in this book.

*A personal note to Julia Quinn, who probably does not read her amazon customer reviews but should because we have really good ideas: have you considered contemporary books? They would be hilarious and you wouldn't have to recycle characters and situations from previous novels. We would follow you anywhere, even to this book, even after wading through the dirty slush of the last Bridgerton novel. Or, if that seems too risky, how about characters that are not so pushed around by their circumstances? Bridgerton worked because the characters were refreshingly likable and genuinely amusing. Your strong point is your character interactions. So let's have more falling-in-love bits and fewer running-off-to-Ireland-to-track-family-records bits.

This is Julia Quinn's finest work to date??????? Have they read any of the Bridgerton books??? I don't even believe this is Julia Quinn writing and how much is her publisher bribing Publisher's Weekly for this review? There have been several books by well known authors lately that have had rave reviews and the books are slop. To be fair I am only half through the book but I am still waiting for a story to develop!!!! I enjoy cheese better than this!!! I loved those Bridgerton books - I wanted more brothers and sisters so that it would go on and on!!!

Why do I buy these things?! I have given up on the double cover ones because you know they will be trash supreme and you cannot read them in public anyway if you have any self respect. You can't even go to the check out with them. They all read the same - porn for frustrated housewives. I thought at least this would be witty because she is so good at that, but so far - nothing.

Most disturbing are the false reviews. I would dearly like to meet the people who are swearing that this stuff is so wonderful. I would wager a great deal that a gift of some money was found under their tables.

I've read almost all of Quinn's books and I really enjoyed this one. The storyline was believable and so were the relationships between the characters. I loved Jack and Grace and the immediate attraction between them. Entertaining dialogue and engaging characters made it a quick, easy read.

is actually a movie title but it could also describe two days spent with Julia Quinn's new novel, The Lost Duke of Wyndham. I agree with other reviewers who think this book is a waste of time. At first I thought it suffered by comparison to Duma Key, which I had just finished (whether you like Stephen King or not, he can WRITE!) but then I realized: No, it's The Lost Duke itself; it's just.....well, it's not good.

I approached this book warily, after the amateurish and boring Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. But convinced that was an early I'm-just-learning-how-to-write Quinn she'd dusted off under the pressure to publish, I took a chance. And it began well enough. Grace and her situation appeared promising and Jack seemed intriguing. But it all went nowhere! This is not a novel as much as a string of verbal sparring scenes between the hero and heroine or the hero and whoever he happens to be talking to, all of which mean nothing and move the action forward not at all. Dialogue has a purpose and that purpose is to impart information to the reader, to develop the characters, and most of all, to move the plot along. The dialogue in this book is not interesting and it tells us nothing except that Grace and Jack exchange quips each time they meet, just as though they were in an unfunny sitcom. Almost nothing happens in this book and what does happen fails to create excitement, anticipation, tension, or even much interest. The characters are shallowly developed, the narrative repetitive and static, the plot minimal, and the resolution thrown away in an epilogue. Halfway through I gave up and skipped to the end.

I may have to give up romances. I was horribly disappointed in the last book from Loretta Chase, who can almost do no wrong, and now this. While Julia Quinn is hardly in Chase's class, she has certainly written far better than the last two books published under her name. I long for someone with the talent of Laura Kinsale. Better yet, Laura Kinsale herself!

Go read Duma Key. At least it's SUPPOSED to be a horror story!

Generally I like Julia Quinn but this was so disappointing! Who is this imposter writing under the Quinn name??

When Julia Quinn writes a funny book, she is outstanding. This book is not funny. It is not charming. It just plainly is not something that should be read.

The book is made up of "He thought" "she thought" pages and pages of what the characters thought. The author doesn't give her reader a chance to think for themselves about whether or not the characters are worthwhile.

It is an obvious precursor to a book about the deposed Duke Thomas and his erstwhile and long-suffering fiancee, Amelia. So much so, these two characters have scenes that are hinted at but not explained in this book. You are left dangling, and, in the writer and editor's views, wanting to read the next book in the series. Not so for me - while I think Thomas and Amelia might actually be a decent story, the story of Jack and Grace turned me off the series.

We are told repeatedly that Jack is funny and charming. I could not find either trait in his character. What he is, apparently, is a man out to seduce a woman in his grandmother's employ. That, in the end, he wants to marry her, doesn't excuse his efforts to ruin her.

And then there is Grace - a fine woman who falls for a highwayman who held a gun to her head... something tells me this wouldn't happen in real life. In giving up her virginity to this charming scamp (why charming, because the author says so, of course!) all she worries about is whether or not she will become pregnant. She doesn't care about her future except that no one else knows what she has been up to.

Apart from Jack clutching his heart and knowing that the pain there is love (and not heartburn), I ask you, where is the love in this book? Where is the romance? Where is the funny dialogue? Where is the reason for reading the book? Where, oh where, is Julia Quinn being held hostage and being forced to write this tripe?

I would have given this a one star but I do save that for the absolutely worst of books (just as I save five stars for the absolutely best - Heyer notably ranks five for me consistently.) I wish we could give a 1.5 as this would have scored it on the nose.

For the most part, the book was cute and a nice quick read, but a huge let down in the end. I was really disappointed by how long it took to get to the interesting parts of the story. Things were long, drawn out, and it took forever, about 300+ pages, to get to the climax. The conclusion was wrapped up so quickly and left so many unanswered questions. I understand the whole thing about leaving people wanting more (so they can read the next book) but geez can I get a real conclusion, where most of the characters aren't just left up in the air. I expected a lot more from this one.

Although a fan of Julia Quinn, her latest book THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM didn't inspire. There is much attention on the confusion about the identity of Jack, but his hesitation about becoming a duke is not quite convincing (it seems his main issue is that he's insecure about his inability to read and ability to lead). The love story seems almost secondary to this confused identity-theme and the chemistry between Jack and Grace is weak. Grace might be a good person, but she is also somewhat dull and the more interesting characters are thus the supporting roles of Amelia and Thomas, who will be the leading lady and lord in Julia Quinn's next romance MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME.

Loved this book! Julia Quinn is my favorite romance author and I was so happy to get her latest book. I laughed and smiled from start to finish. She always creates fun and memorable characters. I've already preordered the second book.

I had high hopes for this book. I even read the reviews before buying it. At the time, most all of the reviews were positive. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I kept waiting for the storyline to "get started" and for me that never happend.

Jack and Grace loved each other from beginning to end basically with really no hurdles in their way other than the dukedom. It was odd how Jack always wanted Grace in the room and in the discussions from his first day at the castle. For me, it was just underdeveloped. Good story, but I didn't like the way it was told.

But, On a positive note:I thought the scene at the church was excellent.

I'm looking forward to the next book. I really liked the depth to Thomas. I'm not sure about Amelia, I hope she doesn't turn out to be really submissive and mousy through most of the book. I like strong heroines. She showed promise though in the carriage with the Dowager.

I often rely on the NY TImes bestseller list to chose books, but this was disappointing. I read it and didn't hate it, but it just didn't capture me at all. It was also very predictable. I haven't read this author before so maybe she just isn't my cup of tea.

Like so many reviewing this book, I love Julia Quinn. But this book is not her best effort by a long shot. It reads as if it were written by a new author after attending a "romance for dummies" workshop. Very paint by numbers -- with several numbers saved for the sequel.

The entire book is essentially an extended conversation among several characters as to whether the hero is a lost duke or not. That's it. The hero and heroine fall in love at first sight, and while that can work well in romance, their "relationship" is never believable. The heroine is nondescript, undermotivated, and inexplicably resistant to marrying a handsome man head over heels for her, with whom she is in love, who is about to become one of the richest and most powerful men in the region. The hero is immature and uninteresting. Quinn tries ineptly to tack on a backstory to give him depth, which is so contrived and silly it hardly bears mentioning.

Several have mentioned the modern feel of this book, and I have to admit that when the hero utters the word "truthiness" I had a vivid picture of Ms. Quinn typing this scene while catching the Stephen Colbert show -- not the image you want to fill your head while reading a Regency romance!

As many have written, the secondary characters were kept to the fringes so the author can essentially split one book into two -- very unfair to the reader.

Since Thomas and Amelia were more interesting than Jack and Grace, let's hope the Quinn ship will be righted come fall!

I couldn't believe this was a Julia Quinn book! I love her stuff and look forward to each new release. I actually checked the cover after I was about a quarter of the way into this one just to make sure it really had her name on it! I read the whole book and still didn't feel like I knew the characters. It definitely doesn't have Quinn's hallmark grace, whit and charm! I hate to say it but, don't bother!

It breaks my heart to have to give this book a mediocre review, because I've always found Julia Quinn's books everything that romance books usually aren't- she has strong characters that make sense, with interesting plots, sprinkled with wit and fabulous dialog. I can't quite put my finger on what this book didn't have, but it just wasn't great. Perhaps there was too much reliance on dialog and not quite enough characterization? I know there were things that did not make sense- why did the Duke let his hideous old grandmother live with him? When Jack made his confession at the end, it seemed utterly unrelated to what was going on at the time. I needed some segue way. I think the problem was that I felt like I was reading the 2nd of 5 drafts- I could see the potential, but it just wasn't there yet. Better than most romances, but that is damning with faint praise.

When a highwayman stops her employer's carriage, it's tough to know who is the most surprised at what happens next, Grace or the robber himself. The disagreeable duchess not only cooperates, but wants to give the thief more. As it happens, she recognizes him as possibly being a long lost grandson and has soon brought him into her home to claim his legacy. However, what Jack Audley, as he calls himself of late, would like most to claim is his grandmother's companion, Grace, and against all social norms, she finds herself wanting the same thing. However, Jack has to choose between love and convention and between the past and the future.

**** Since her debut, Julia Quinn has been a jewel among historical romance authors, making conventional plot devices sparkle with fresh life, thanks to her humor and cleverness. An expert at characterization, she brings to life each member of her cast, making them become people who will live in her readers' hearts and minds forever. ****

Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews

Has Julia Quinn just completely lost her touch? I was in love with the earlier books (i.e. Brighter than the Sun, Minx and early Bridgertons) but with the last 3-4 books the writing has just gone completely down hill and I find myself constantly thinking how disappointed I am and how I've wasted money. This last book I had really high hopes for, thinking that she must have felt forced to write the final Bridgerton's and this would be a great fresh start for her. But sadly, this is by far the worst book she's written. It took me three days to get through it and I usually devour a book in a single sitting. The writing isn't fresh and full of laugh-out-loud humor as it used to be. It just drones on and on. Nothing charming. Nothing funny. Nothing even remotely interesting. The romance aspect was ridiculously unbelievable. I was bored to tears and frustration.

For many years, Julia Quinn was my all time favorite romance author, but I have finally reached the point where I can say I would never buy another of her books again. Its a sad day.

First off, I'm a huge Julia Quinn fan. I read one of her books two years ago, and I have slowly read through her entire backlist. I eagerly awaited "The Lost Duke of Wyndham", and I wasn't disappointed. As a matter of fact, I'm even more eagerly anticipating the next book due in October.

Jack Audley is a highwayman with a secret. Actually, several secrets, but one in particular will change his life one evening while he plies his trade on a lonely road outside of London. Grace Eversleigh is trapped in the dead-end existence of companion to a dowager duchess that makes Cruella DeVil seem a bit misunderstood in comparison. What happens between them will keep you turning the pages as a result. After all, what if you found out everything you thought was true wasn't?

The characterization is great, the dialogue sparkling, but best of all, she's stretching as an author. I don't understand where these one-star reviews come from because, frankly, "The Lost Duke of Wyndham" is one of the better books I've read already this year. This book gets four stars only because I can't wait for the next book.

Thanks, Julia, and I'll be waiting for October!