The Guardian Duke

Forgotten Castles #1

by Jamie Carie

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

Endorsements:

"Get lost in Ireland in this rollicking adventure with a brave, headstrong heroine and a relentless yet honorable duke determined to save her from a dangerous quest. With rich characterization and an intriguing plot, Jamie Carie's

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, Regency, Historical Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2012

About the author

Born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana, Jamie is a preacher’s daughter. Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch. The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad spent a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes.

And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.

Piles of poems, short stories, skits and song lyrics later, Jamie grew up and married. When her eldest son turned five she decided to try her hand at novels. Eight years and lots of rejection letters later, Snow Angel was published and won ForeWord Magazine’s Romance Book of the Year, a USA Book News “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA® Awards Best First Book finalist. In 2010 Wind Dancer was a finalist in the Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana. It was the beginning of her dream career.

With seven books currently in circulation and her first three book series coming in 2012, Jamie has made an impressive contribution to the inspirational, historical romance genre featuring heroines who are fierce in their beliefs and love. Romantic Times exclaimed, "Carie is a welcome new voice in the inspirational fiction market." And, "Carie writes with her heart on every page of her books." Jamie has a passion for history and believes in the power of love stories. She lives with her husband and three boys in Indianapolis, Indiana.

If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”

Books:

Snow Angel
The Duchess and the Dragon
Wind Dancer
Love's First Light
Angel's Den
Pirate of my Heart
The Snowflake (a Christmas novella)

Coming in 2012:
The Forgotten Castles Series (A continuous series to be read in order)
The Guardian Duke
The Forgiven Duke
A Duke's Promise

Contacting Jamie:

Jamie's website - http://www.jamiecarie.com
Jamie's blog - http://jamiecarie.com/blog
Jamie's Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/jamie.carie
Jamie's Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/jamiecarie

Jamie's email: jamie@jamiecarie(dot)com

Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is posted on My Blog

[Melanie Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both the setting and the characters in this wonderful novel. I can hardly wait to read the second book! The characters were so real! I fell in love with Gabriel and Alexandria and was dying for them to get together. The book kept me on the edge of my seat, and now I am looking forward to book 2, when they will finally be together!!! Rarely do characters get inside my heart the way these two did. This book did not have closure, but that was okay with me, because I want to read more about Gabriel and Alexandria. They deserve more time! So do yourself a favor and get this book!

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

..
This book took a lot of time to get through. The story is split into traversing the two separate lives of the hero and the heroine, places they traveled in and through on their individual journeys, and the almost intersection of their paths, yet never quite crossing the same place at the same time.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
***KINDLE UNLIMITED PROGRAM***

On one hand, the book focuses on the Duke battling personal trials and tribulation with his health before and then again after he came under the demands of the Prince Regent. And on the other hand, his ward alternately shares her experiences as she endeavors to prove that her parents are not dead and she doesn't need to be under the Duke's protection.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what is actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

The Duke and his ward, Alex, become well acquainted through correspondence they share throughout the book, having never met one another in person. The concept of the scenario is priceless, but the delivery falls way short of expectations.

The book lacks that *WOW* factor that captures a reader's attention and refuses to allow them to let go. I like the characters, but the plotline seems to stumble aimlessly about not focusing in one direction for very long at all.

I was extremely disappointed to discover that there is a cliffhanger! After reading in excess of 300 pages, I will call it quits. I'm not interested in stretching out this story in an additional 2-3 books of a cat and mouse game to reach a conclusion. I despise cliffhangers... Never-the-less, that was not the only cause of discontent.

So, as you will surmise from my views, this book was not my cup of tea. And reviews will show you that I am in the minority. But that is okay. Those that like it are free to jump to the next book in the series. However, I will choose to look in another direction altogether.

-------------------------------------------

The Guardian Duke
(Forgotten Castles #1)
by Jamie Carie
Print Length: 314 Pages

..

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was so good!! I engrossed with the storyline and characters and couldn't help hoping things would end up alright with them.

The ending was great and really makes me anxious to pick up the next book, since this one leaves sooooo many things unresolved. ;)

All in all, I recommend The Guardian Duke. It was very good!

*I received a complimentary eBook copy for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

{This series is not for Teens and is not clean!}


About this book:

“Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Forgotten Castles” series. {Book #2 and #3 are not clean, our reviews are here on as well.}


Spiritual Content- Prayers and Mentions of Prayers; Mentions of monks and a monastery; ‘H’ are capital; Scriptures are quoted; Gabriel is upset at God; A Scripture is quoted in the Dear Reader.
*Note: a “who the devil” and two “what the devil”.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘drat’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘shush’, a ‘stupid’, a “how the deuce” and two ‘blast’s; A skull (semi-detailed); Blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of drinking; Going into a pub (no alcohol is drunk); A mention of a hanging (barely-above-not-detailed).


Sexual Content- a ‘hoyden’ and a ‘harlot’; Two semi-detailed kisses and almost kisses; Flirting and Flirts; Mentions that Vikings normally came to rape and pillage; Two boys tried to watch Alexandria swimming (barely-above-not-detailed); a man tries to get closer to Alexandria and grips in upper thigh (he removes it slowly “with sensual intent”); Love, falling in love through letters, & the emotions.

-Alexandria Featherstone, age 20
-Gabriel Ravenwood, age 32
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1818
304 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars

So, moral of this review: Stay away from this series, it leads to sexual details which you DON’T need in your head.




*BFCG does NOT recommend this series. Just don’t even bother with it.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really am starting to think I should delete all fluff books that have been on my to-read list for longer than five years. I build up so much expectation for them and they universally disappoint. I mean, I've been searching for this book for 8 years! High expectations are bound to emerge and then be disappointed.
And The Guardian Duke wasn't terrible. There were sparks of fun with the characters. Despite checking all the Christian romance boxes, it seemed to implicitly contain some elements of magic or even magical realism that set it apart. It is not very historically accurate so I guess it makes it easier if you read it through the lens of some magical disorientation.
But I did not understand the romance at all. The main couple falls deeply in love on very little grounds (I don't even know if it can count as insta-love since they don't see each other!) Their subsequent interaction and deep understanding of the other's character puzzled me. It did not make a lot of sense.
Of course, Alex's character in general puzzled me. It certainly put her in a unique setting but for Regency?!
And the Duke pulls out that irritating 'she's not like other girls' line which always makes me skeptical.
Final nail in the coffin was the cliff-hanger ending which turned my general 'wut' into 'no, seriously, what?!'
Probably won't intentionally seek the sequel but if you want to read this one, be advised and keep the sequel within reach.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of books that end on a cliffhanger, and this book is like part one of a three part story. But because I'm able to read all three in a row without waiting for the next book to release, it's not as bad. The characters are compelling and even though Gabriel and Alexandria don't even meet in this book, they form a relationship through letters and their personalities come across strongly. The element of suspense propels the plot forward and the traveling Alex does prevents the setting from becoming stagnant. I like the strong cast of secondary characters and look forward to continuing the story in the next book.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Gwendolyn Gage · Rating 3 out of 5]

King George III has proclaimed Alexandria's treasure-hunting parents deceased and the Duke of Easton her guardian, but Alex can't believe that her parents are truly dead. Beginning correspondence with the duke, she leaves her crumbling castle home on Holy Island for Ireland, sure that she can track her parents down and prove herself worthy enough to work and travel with them. But when the duke goes after her, intending to bring her back to London, she'll have to make sure he doesn't catch her.

Letter-writing between a hero and heroine who haven't met is a bit cliched, but the way that the author interjected the characters' quirky personalities in their letters made it amusing and fun. I loved the heroine's traveling adventures, and the main setting of beautiful Ireland.

If I had approached this novel thinking "fun Regency-style fantasy", I might have enjoyed it more. Alex seemed very naive for the times and culture, and made some very unwise decisions. But. She practically raised herself in the company of servants as her parents spend most of their time away from home treasure-hunting, so given the circumstances. ;-)

Gabriel was a great hero, and my favorite character of the book. I loved his strong personality, and the way he coped with a scary and crippling medical condition. I did wonder why the king had picked him to be Alex's guardian, and the only hint I caught was a distant relation.

SPOILER ALERT

The author had a wonderful writing voice I thoroughly enjoyed, but my enjoyment of the story and writing began to wane when Alex picks up two strange men in her travels, one a married man. The author does portray them as good, fatherly friend-types who only want to protect and help Alex, but when the wife of the one man didn't so much as question why he was going off with pretty, unmarried Alex and didn't mind, I had to shake my head.

My biggest complaint is the cliffhanger ending. I hate cliffhangers, and this one further grated as the author didn't deliver what I had understood to be promised.

END OF SPOILER

If you like the idea of an adventure Regency with quirky characters, then you will love this well-written story, but be prepared to buy Book 2 upon reaching the end!

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Once again I was disappointed by a Jamie Carie novel, I forced myself to read through to the end, only to wind up left hanging. So we have a young girl, whose parents are mysteriously missing and who has just found out she is under the care of a duke, she assumes is old and decrepit. She begins corresponding with said Duke, demanding money for the care of her estate..or so she says. Instead she decides to find her parents on her own, and embarks on a seemingly grand adventure all the while lying to the Duke about her goings on. Little does she know he is tailing her across the continent. The story continues to build with them finally arrive in the same city, and unknowingly attending the same party. They meet... and... you are made to wait for the next book. I didn't really feel as if the characters or the story line was developed well, you just seemed to flit from point to point, without an intent. For instance we never find out why the Duke is suffering from this mysterious illness, or what relevance it has to the story line...all in all, I was just annoyed by the time I reached the end.

I received my review copy from NetGalley to read on my iPhone.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down. From the moment when the heroine sets off to try to find her lost parents, the tension never lets up. It's an adventure, almost a thriller. I was sure I'd found a new favorite series! The scope of the story feels almost like a fantasy, with villains and lost treasure and an epic, impossible quest.
Caution: I found nothing objectionable in this book. However, it's impossible to quit reading after book one, and there is some caution to be said for the others...see my reviews of the other two.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the Kindle app on my iPhone. But you see, my iPhone’s screen is quite small, so therefore I don’t generally look forward to reading any of the (100+) books I’ve downloaded (mostly for free). Well, that was until I figured out NetGalley...earlier this week and downloaded The Guardian Duke, the first book in Jamie Carie’s The Forgotten Castles series.

I signed up to review up and coming books for NetGalley back in March. But because of my utter lack of knowledge pertaining to GETTING their ebooks onto my Kindle app, it’s taken nine months for me to actually read one. And boy did I read it. On my iPhone.

Jamie Carie is one of those authors who have a style all her own, no matter what specific genre she might dive into next. If I remember correctly, all of her books generally go from one distinct time in history to the next. With this particular book, I was excited to see the word “duke” in the title. The first book I ever read by Jamie Carie was The Duchess and The Dragon—which was also about a Duke in the Regency Era but was set, for the most part, in Colonial America amidst a Quaker community.

Anyway, I read The Guardian Duke in a matter of days, as I said, on my iPhone. I literally could not put it down. When I had to, I made sure I turned my phone off with the next page I needed to read ready to go. The Guardian Duke wasn’t quite written like any book I’ve ever read. Every other chapter detailed the life of the Duke St. Easton/Gabriel Ravenwood of London and Lady Alexandria Featherstone of Holy Island, and how their lives were “just about” to intersect. I kept thinking, these two HAVE to meet SOON!!!!!! And yet they didn’t, except through their letters to one another.

Well, they did meet. And it was awesome. Just as I would have planned out myself--only I’d not gone so far to think of the ball as a masquerade. The Guardian Duke, in general, actually reminded me very much of one of my favorite authors (and master of the Recency Era time period), Georgette Heyer. And if anyone can write a Regency that comes anywhere near being like Georgette Heyer—you know that author has talent.

One of the things that I don’t like about ebooks is that I have no real idea of how far I am in a book. I knew Jamie Carie had written this book as the first in a series of three—but I didn’t realize that all three books were about the same Lady and Duke!!! Until I got to the last page on my Kindle download... and I kept trying to turn the page without any luck.

There HAD TO BE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom was sitting next to me and I could tell she thought something was terribly amiss. People just don’t usually, frantically keep poking their iPhone saying, “No!!!!!! That can’t be all there is!!!!!”

Well I do, and I did. And five seconds later, I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized I’d also downloaded Jamie Carie’s second book in The Forgotten Castle’s series, The Forgiven Duke from NetGalley. And to my immense delight, it started right up where the first left off. Now, all I have to do is read all the way through it in expectation that I will still have to read the third book in the series, A Duke’s Promise, before I can see this AMAZING couple happily together. All three books in The Forgotten Castles series will be published in 2012. And NetGalley BETTER supply me with A Duke’s Promise soon, or I might have to write my own Regency just to get my fix.

I loved this book for so many reasons. I think the main reason is that I just plain LOVE the way Jamie Carie is able to write a story. Her characters are deep and they stick with you, even years after reading of them.

As I said before, NetGalley (with permission from B&H Publishing Group) supplied me with an electronic version of this book as an Advanced Reader’s Edition (which means it was an uncorrected proof and not the final interior of the novel) in return for my honest opinion of the book. I wholeheartedly give The Guardian Duke 5 stars.

[Avry15 · Rating 5 out of 5]

originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions

What I loved most about this book, is how Ms. Carie weaved a wonderful love story out of correspondences, by merely letters, as the two unadmittedly falls in love, I fall in love with the story too.

As I read the book, I find myself easily attached in it, I devoured this in just one night. At the near end though, I didn’t really expect this is a series, so I’m a little bit confused, how come that there seems to be many things to happen in the story and yet, I can count the remaining pages, and so as I turn the last page, I was left wanting for more, especially since it left off, in the part, where….(you have to read it and be frustrated like me..lol…)… I really hate the part when I don’t want to sleep and can’t help but think about what will happen next… Hope book 2 is around now….can’t wait really…

The historical information is tantamount and very well-researched and I love the vivid descriptions of the different places the characters have gone into.

I love Alex, her spirit and tenacity, but I also hate her when clearly she didn’t trust the duke enough to wait for him to help her, they could have met there, but then, there would be no reason for book two..:D
I was also amazed how she earned a lot of loyal friends in her quest to find her parents who didn’t really care for her.

I find myself anticipating every letter that turned out in the story. I just wished there are a little bit more coming from the duke, since it seemed all I read was Alex blubbering written in her scratch papers.

A real-page turner, I can’t help but sigh, as the Duke chase Alex but can never get close to her. Warning: the end is a real cliff-hanger, I couldn’t wait for book two, after you read this, you can’t resist buying the next book.

The Christian content, is wonderful and it tugs to my heart how God is our great planner, and that in everything, even if we see the bad/down side, God has His own special way of making it right, of making it the best for us.

The romance, funny dialogues/letters, quest, adventure are all here. The detective part though is not that really complicated, but you’ll find yourself enjoying the book all the way.

I would have wanted to post this review before the release date Feb , but it wasn’t possible at the moment, but here’s hoping this would still help.

My first regency era Novel and definitely not my last.. Great work Ms. Carie! Highly Recommended for teens and anyone who loves a good historical/sweet-romance!

[Iola · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Guardian Duke immediately caught my eye for two reasons. Firstly, it is a Regency romance, set during the period when the Prince Regent ruled England because his father, George III, was not of sound mind. It is currently a very popular period in fiction, no doubt influenced by Colin Firth’s performance of Darcy in the ultimate Regency romance, Pride and Prejudice. The second thing that appealed to me was that the couple in question, Lady Alexandria Featherstone and her guardian, Gabriel, Duke of St. Easton, have met only through written correspondence. I also have a soft spot for guardian/ward romances, no doubt inspired by Georgette Heyer, the undisputed Queen of Regency fiction.

Unfortunately, I was to be disappointed. I have to admit that I didn't read all this book. I was so irritated after the first two chapters that I put it aside, and came back to it a few days later. The third chapter did not improve it, so I did the naughty and skipped to the end, to see if Alex and the Duke got their happily-ever-after. I don't want to add a spoiler but... they did not. Instead, the book is set up for a sequel (that I will not be reading).

So what did I dislike about the book? Firstly, there were several examples of the use of language inappropriate to the time and place (1818 England). Examples include 'pal', 'gun' and 'bullet' (people shot with pistols that used cartridges then). The book is set in Regency England, when the King has been declared so insane that he is not fit to rule the country, so his son has been appointed Prince Regent. So he would not be writing letters, and if he were, no one would obey him. There were several other historical details that were incorrect, including the use of titles (Lord and Lady), and the value of Alex's estate. If she was really so rich, why was she living in a lonely castle with only two servants?

These inaccuracies might not matter to some people, and if this is the case, they may well enjoy the book. But I found it too annoying to finish. I was provided with a free ebook for review, from B&H Publishing & NetGalley. Obviously, I was not required to write a positive review...

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of Jamie Carie's books that I've read. I really struggled with deciding how I felt about this book but I'll do my best to share my thoughts, however muddled they may be.

Normally, I would start out with what I enjoyed about the book but this time, I am starting with what I didn't like since it affected how I felt about the book as a whole.

For starters, I was never really swept up by the story. I read through it pretty quickly, but there was nothing that really grabbed my interest. Not the characters nor the plotline/story. The book was set in the regency era, but for the most part, it lacked the typical regency history and fashion. There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with that, it was just that to me, it failed to have that regency feel to it. This discounts the ending where the author finally talked about empire waist dresses and the prospects of a masquerade ball.

I wasn't impressed by the herione, Alexandria (Alex for short). She was flighty and spunky and stubborn and at the same time there were glimpses of her being more of a lady. I was annoyed with her at times and instead of relating with her, I found I didn't have much of any feelings one way or the other about her. I wasn't impressed by her, but I wasn't exactly dissatisfied either. I guess you could say that by the end of the book, she had failed to grow on me. At the end of the book, I pretty much felt like she was an idiot. I guess it can best be explained as naivety. I saw her making poor choices and I wished that, especially pertaining to the duke, she would have taken the counsel of someone older and wiser than herself. I also didn't like how often she lied and bended the truth to make situations go in her favor and there was a time where she abused her role as the Duke's ward in order to take money out of his account. To me, that was just plain stealing. I didn't care what the situation was or how she tried to justify her actions, the money didn't belong to her and I was appalled by her bad choice and by the fact that her comrades, both older than her by many years, went along with her decision.

I was a bit dissatisfied with the way the story was set up. It wasn't until the very end of the book that Gabriel (the duke) and Alex met in person. For the most part, they communicated through the correspondence of letter writing (which Alex also lied in from time to time.) This was another reason that added to my disinterest in the story. It made it feel detached. It wasn't necessarily a problem that they hadn't met in person it was just different. At times, I found it wearisome that they hadn't met face to face but at the same time, I did like seeing their relationship and budding love grow from a genuine respect and love for one another rather than being based on appearance and physical touch like so many other romance novel couples written these days. I have to say that I imagined the storyline differently. Based on the title and book cover, I imagined Alex going to live under the protection of the duke. I still kind of wish it had been written that way instead, so they could have actually met one another.

In the beginning, I was a bit put off by some very modern sounding words that felt like they didn't fit the story at all. Here I was reading a supposed regency book and I was instantly hit with words like "botched" and "addle brained." I'm normally not one to be so picky and I'm far from being a history buff, but when you write a historical novel in modern day English (without all the flowery language), the least you can do is keep out words that feel blatantly modern, break the flow of your writing, or make the readers stop and do a double take. Which these two words did all three. I went so far as to look them up and it seems botched originated from 1350-1400. Still, it feels to modern to me. As for addle-brained. I looked that one up too and it originated in 1865-1870. This book is set in 1818 so it seems the word "addle-brained" hadn't even been created yet. It just put me off a little while I was reading. (I equally felt that breaking Alexandria's name down to just Alex also felt extremely modern.)

There was also the subject of rape in this book. Mostly in Alex's sudden fear that strangers may have that intention toward her. It was never written about to any great length.

Lastly, there was the small subject of boys trying to take a peek at her while she was swimming out of doors. I was kind of annoyed by this little paragraph or so of description because it didn't add anything to the story and was completely unnecessary. It wasn't a full scene, thankfully, but it was talked about in passing by Alex. It added nothing to the story and I felt it was stupid to have even been put into the book. It wasn't needed.

Now for what I did like. I guess it's hard to believe there was anything with that long list of dislikes. However, my love for this book can basically be narrowed down to one character - Gabriel, the duke of St. Easton. He was the only reason I kept reading. I loved his character. A still considered young, but wise, man in his thirties, we meet Gabriel at the opera and witness the catastrophe of him suddenly losing his hearing. I liked him immediately. He was kind and understanding, he genuinely cared for Alex who had been placed under his protection as his ward, and I liked his journey of faith. He was a quiet hero. The type that is built of a strong character and good heart. It is for his character alone that I plan on reading the next book. I can't wait to see what happens with him.

In the end, I gave this book three stars. I thought of giving it four stars because the ending was almost worthy of such a rating. It's hard to explain because I didn't dislike the story, but I wasn't thrilled by it either. Since up until a few chapters before the ending, I was still able to put the book down, I am giving it three stars. I wasn't so pulled into the story that I simply HAD to finish it. I would recommend that anyone who plans on reading this book makes sure they have the next one handy because the story was left unfinished, leaving it open for the next book. I only hope that the second and third books prove to be more interesting.

[Sierra Abrams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie (A Forgotten Castles #1)
Pages: 320
Release Date: February 1st, 2012
Date Read: December 20th, 2011 to January 8th, 2012
Received: ARC from NetGalley
Rating: 3/5 stars
Recommended to: 13+


SUMMARY -
On Holy Island in Northumberland lives Alexandria Featherstone, daughter of Lord Featherstone and his wife. Alex's parents have gone to and from their castle constantly - typically gone more than not. But now they've been away for a year, with no news, leaving Alex to wonder. The king says they're dead, that she is now the ward of the Duke of St. Easton, but she doesn't believe for one moment that her parents are gone for good. She would feel something, right?

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, has gone deaf. Sudden dizziness - and then nothing, no hearing. At least his correspondence with Alexandria keeps up his spirits. When he hears of her need for money and her castle's decrepit situation, he decides to go to her and take care of matters in person. But when he arrives and Alex is not at the castle, Gabriel must set off in pursuit: not just of the body, but of the heart as well.

MY THOUGHTS -
The Guardian Duke is a very charming book. It holds mystery, intrigue, travels, love, and a while goose chase that will have you laughing! It isn't the best book, but sometimes a good, fun read is all you want, and The Guardian Duke delivers excellently.

CHARACTER NOTES -
Alex is a fun character, but man she can be infuriatingly stupid! Sometimes she drove me up the wall with her crazy ideas and impulses (which she acted on!). She likes to tell little fibs to get her way and has one goal: find her parents. Nothing else will do.
Surprisingly, despite all that, I still liked her. Pushing aside all the immaturity, a woman is waiting to appear. I very much hope this happens soon, however, because I don't know how much more I can take of that girl's crazy ideas! Ha!

Now, Gabriel - he's a fine man. He's got his faults, yes, but he is generous and kind and determined (in a more mature way than Alex) and totally dedicated to his ward. His love for Alex seemed a bit too quick in coming but I understand it. I so look forward to more of Gabriel in the future!

The other characters - Montague, Baylor, John, etc. were good, although some were unrealistic or inconsistent. However, they do make for a fun read, no matter the flaw.

STORY NOTES -
Some of this story had me on the edge of my seat; some of it had me floating with the beginnings of a love story; some of it had me going, "Ummm, I don't think so!"

When Alex is traveling, a group of soldiers, one man in particular, begs to escort her. He keeps pestering her, and when she has to go on alone without her coachman, the soldier makes even more serious advances. She's scared he'll try something, and he does - but she is saved by a stranger from the inn the night before. He's an older gentleman who still kicks butt and sends the soldier limping away.
He says he'll help Alex, protect her, and so on and so forth.
And Alex let's him come!

I'm sorry, but it it was me, I would have run to find some female company. Just because the dude talks about his faith in God doesn't mean much unless you know for sure he wasn't just getting the other guy away just to carry out his own evil intentions.

Obviously, that's one of those I-don't-think-so parts. But really, I have some great things to say about the story line. The mystery: where are her parents? The romance: who will end up with who? The chase: will Gabriel catch up to Alex in time to make her stay? The faith: In what ways will Alex and Gabriel's faith be strengthened next? Some questions are answered, some are not - which is making me itch for The Forgiven Duke! Ah!! Very well - I shall have to get to reading it very soon!

Oh! And, in The Guardian Duke, there's a masque ball!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, right!? Those are the best, always, forever and ever. This one was no exception. It made me grin from ear to ear and totally gave me butterflies!!

SUMMING IT UP -
Good ole fashion fun, I tell you! Right here, in this book. If you're looking for a good, light read, this is your book!

For the parents -
Nothing at all! 13+

*This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley (thanks a million!!) in return for an honest review. I was in no way compensated; all thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.*

[ASC Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I had always wanted to read this series but when I found it I was just at the beginning of starting my reviewing blog and Jamie was in the middle of the series. I am SO glad I waited to start with one when two and three are out because I can hardly wait for the next one!!!!! Definitely love how Jamie wrote the cliff hanger ending, but at the same time I can't stand cliff hanger endings LOL! From the lovely Holy Island, to the enchanting and beautiful Ireland I LOVED the journey and adventures that these characters go through. I thought is has feelings of Princess Bride but even more FUN and I LOVE this more because of the Christian base throughout!!! I LOVE these characters (yes I know I'm using the word LOVE a lot LOL! but bare with me...) They are excellently crafted and in just a short time they have become some of my all time favorites! Alexandria is an awesome character that is quirky and brave. I can see where she has some growing to do and I can't wait to read all about it, following her through her adventures that shape her into the woman God wants her to be. I LOVE the way Jamie describes Gabriel!!! I can just see him as clearly as if he stood right in front of me! The struggles he goes through are a very interesting addition to the story that I wasn't expecting and as his character is revealed I love him more and more! :) Along the way more characters crop up to help or hinder the journey in one way or another and I love the majority of them especially the sub characters and their stories! With Jamie's humor woven into the suspense and excitement I actually devoured this book and I can't wait for more!!! Where are Alex's parents? What exactly is it they're searching for? And will Alex find them in time or will it be too late!? Questions that I can't wait to get the answers to! I highly recommend The Guardian Duke but be prepared to get hooked!

Songs: "The Prayer" by Celtic Woman,
"Carry Me" by Josh Wilson,
"You Raise Me Up" by Celtic Woman,
"Swallow Tail Jig" by Irish & Celtic Folk Wanderers,
"Paddy's Irish Jigs" by Marc Gunn's Irish & Celtic Music Podcast
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Revelation 22:21

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from B&H Fiction for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Guardian Duke. ~ASC

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Princess Bride of Regency Romance. Enchanting. Delightful. Amusing. Infuriating!!!!!!!! If you check out the Amazon reviews you'll see they range all the way from 1 to 5!!!!! The lower ratings are because of the ending...or lack thereof. It practically stops mid-sentence. I usually steer clear of that kind of series, at least until all the books are released but this one is so much fun and such a good read I recommend that everyone rush out right now so that you can commence nail-biting with me until July when The Forgiven Duke releases. You know what they say about misery loving company. :-)

So what makes this book so appealing? The Duke, of course -- and his story has a shocking twist right from the very first chapter which I'd love to expound upon but I won't because I'd be giving away a major spoiler. In fact this is one of the great strengths of The Guardian Duke -- it's full of surprises! But that makes it hard to review. LOL. But so much fun to read.

Alexandria is a memorable heroine. Her greatest appeal is the way she bungles through the plot with the assistance of many and varied champions. She enchants everyone, including her readers. But she's full of surprises too -- and her grit and determination along with a devious mind really put the poor Duke through his paces.

Then there's the the almost magical quality to their attraction. It's as if they are fore-ordained for each other though circumstances continue to keep them apart. It's their letters along with that mystical pull that builds the romance into something tangible and exciting.

So, I forgive Jamie Carie for ending their adventures so abruptly -- or delaying them for a few months. And I guarantee when I pick up the second in the series in July I won't have forgotten a single character or plot twist -- The Guardian Duke is that good!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.

Jamie Carie has captured my attention once again with her newest release, The Guardian Duke. This first book in her A Forgotten Castle series will have you traveling across countries as Lady Alexandria is determined to find her parents…and Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is just as determined to find her.

Both Alexandria and Gabriel make for unique and endearing characters. Gabriel especially. He captured my attention from the very beginning and I always looked forward to reading one of his scenes. With all of the problems he is constantly facing—and now having to be a guardian to a young woman who is anything but compliant—had me cheering him on throughout the book.

I confess I didn’t like Alexandria as much. She seemed…ditsy, almost, in the way she went about things. I don’t know, but it got on my nerves a little. Montague was really cool, though! I loved how he just swooped into Alexandria’s path like a guardian angel and protects her along her journey.

The first half of The Guardian Duke was a little slow going, but not terribly so. But be forewarned—there is a major cliffhanger at the end of this book. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, I can tell you! What will Gabriel and Alexandria go through next??

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

So irritated! WHat is the world kind of crazy book is this. I like this author and I have seen this cover dozens of times, I even think I read reviews and decided not to read it, then it went on sale for 99 cents and I bought it. Bad idea. The crazy thing is I liked the story and I liked the characters and I liked the writing. (SPOILER)But oh my gosh the main love interest don't meet the Entire book and at the end there is the nastyist of all cliff hangers. I was already irritated that they were constantly missing each other throughout the book and by the end I had had it.(SPolier end) Sadly I can't imagine reading the second or third, this just can't keep dragging on. This is very clean with a religious currant through out.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also published at

WOW! That's what I said when I finished The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie. I probably would have said it all throughout the book as well, but I was too caught up in the spine-tingling exploits to think about it. I'm thrilled to share this amazing book with you. So snuggle up in your coziest chair, grab a cup of your favorite warm drink, and let's journey together with our hero and heroine to far off lands sure to be full of exciting adventures!

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie is the first book in the Forgotten Castles series. The year is 1818. Our heroine is Alexandria Featherstone who has the "heart of an adventuress and the imagination of a storyteller" (307). She lives on a beautiful, windswept island called Holy Island in Northumberland, England. There she dwells in a dilapidated castle, tending sheep, solving mysteries for the locals, and seeking adventures. But she constantly worries about her parents who have been missing for a little less than a year. They are famous treasure hunters, but they have been gone longer than normal this time. Others think them dead, but Alex will not give up hope!

Next meet our hero, Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton. His life is at the forefront of society, among the bustle and pretensions of the London upper class. He enjoys listening to music above all else. Music is what fills his soul. Then the unthinkable occurs--he starts to have some kind of affliction with his hearing. He can no longer hear, or listen to music! His whole life is turned upside down. The same day his hearing is taken, he gets a note from the prince regent that he is a distant relation to Alexandria, her parents are presumed dead, and he is now her guardian.

There is one problem. This is the fact that Alexandria refuses to come to him, claiming she must instead go in search of her missing parents. Due to the sudden onset of his affliction, Gabriel is unable to go after Alex right away. Instead they begin a discourse of letters back and forth. Sparks fly as letters are exchanged. Finally the Duke determines that he must go after Alex himself. Thus begins an exciting chase across the amazing landscapes of England and Ireland! Will the Duke find Alex in time before more dangerous enemies catch her? Will Alex find her parents and the love she is seeking from them? Will the Duke choose faith over duty and help Alex find her parents?

My Review: I was immediately drawn to this book due to the fact that it includes castles, England, and the Regency period. It more than lived up to my expectations!!! I thought that the main character, Alexandria Featherstone, was such a wonderful character and I fell in love with her just like all of the other characters in the book fall for her. Her name, alone, is brilliant! I agree with Gabriel, the Duke, when he thinks to himself regarding her name, "'Alexandria.' Alexandria Featherstone. The name comforted him somehow, brought to mind a fairy creature from a world too brightly colored to ever be sad" (22) Alexandria's character is unique and spunky. It is an inspiring character. I love how she makes people like her and inspires such fierce loyalty in others.

The way the Duke's struggle with going deaf is portrayed made me really feel what he was going through and think about what that must be like for him. Jamie Carie describes his affliction in such detail, including what he feels, experiences, and undergos emotionally. I truly sympathized with him.

Both the hero and heroione have their own issues of control that they are facing and their own battles. I could relate as I am constantly having to give up my own control issues to God. Along with the journey and Gabriel's condition also comes an increase of feelings that he has not known before and a awareness of being alive.

I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters. Each had such a wonderful personality and is loveable in their own way.

The whole story is written to have an air of poetry about it. It is lyrical and mesmerizing. The settings are written in brilliant colors and landscapes that leap off the page.

A lot of regencies have similar storylines, but The Guardian Duke is fresh, exciting and will whisk you off to new places!

This is a clean read. It is Christian fiction.

[Angels · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guardian Duke

By: Jamie Carie
5 stars
Reviewed by:Angels
Format:Kindle/Hardcover
Published: B&H Books
Source: Purchased Copy Gene:Christian Romance



Book Blurb/Synopsis-

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.



Our Review

What a great start to a series. I found the characters to be engaging funny , serious and some to be our white Knight !Alexandria becomes the guardian of the Duke of St. Easton when Alexandria's parents are presumed dead.Her parents are treasure hunting looking for a lost tomb that has gone missing from a collection. Alexandria does not believe her parents are dead so puts forth a plan to rescue them but, to do that she needs money to travel with. Alex corresponds with the Duke making up or stretching the truth about the amount of money she needs to keep things running at home. Alex letters are so funny they have you cracking up. She is talking to the Duke not knowing what to say to him, saying things no lady would say, speaking her mind in those letters a crossing certain parts out but ,sending the letter as is.Hilarious !The purpose of the letters is really to distract the Duke from making her leave her home a coming to him but, in doing so she is building a relationship with her Duke. Alex sets forth on looking for her parents and finds a champion to help her in her travels. The Duke learning she has gone from her home sets out to travel after her and bring her back to safely.

These two play at Cat and mouse game the whole story through.
Alex lets the Duke know her where abouts just enough to keep him interested but, always several steps ahead and out of reach as she is not going back to England she is finding her parents even if it kills her !

I loved this story it was a very fun read and quite the page turner. I never laughed so hard reading the parts where Alex is writing her letters to the Duke.The Duke feels he has gotten to know who Alex is through her letters and learns that she is one of a kind.He is falling in love.This little adventure was packed with enough intrigue to keep you on the edge always wondering what will happen next. There adventure led them to developing a long and lasting relationship.Alex might be developing a love interest which will complicate things for the Duke.The story right up to the end was delightful leaving a cliff hanger on what happens next ! This book is a keeper for me just one of the heart felt romances that is developing little by little without either party realizing the extent of there feeling just yet!

Recommended read to all !

[Shanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love good, clean historical romance. I could read them all day long. Especially if they have Scottish Highland lairds or English Dukes. I know, it’s cliche, but I still love it.

The Guardian Duke begins with Gabriel Ravenwood, Duke of St. Easton, enjoying an opera. He finds peace in the music, away from the pressures of the life of a duke. All of that changes when he receives a letter appointing him guardian of Alexandria Featherstone. Quite suddenly he is overcome with a mysterious malady that renders him unconscious and affects his hearing at various times throughout the book. His ability to hear music and escape from life is gone. He exchanges letters with Alexandria, intrigued by this young woman he has never met and yet seems to understand him so well.

Meanwhile, Lady Alexandria Featherstone decides to defy the King’s orders and search for her missing parents on her own. For me, this is where the book becomes more adventure and a lot less like a romance. If I had read the summary above before starting The Guardian Duke, I wouldn’t have spent so much time anticipating their first meeting. I started to get a little frustrated as Alexandria dodged the Duke again and again and I got closer and closer to the end of the book and they STILL hadn’t met yet. They do eventually meet, briefly. Most of their relationship develops through the letters they exchange. Knowing this ahead of time might have spared me that frustration.

Other than not realizing about the letter-writing, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It felt more like a romantic adventure novel rather than the typical “historical romance.” After Alexandria sets off on her journey, she meets a few additional characters who become her traveling companions and protectors: an older, former soldier, his handsome son, and an Irish giant married to a woman who looks like a fairy and sings like an angel. I found these characters interesting, with depth and stories of their own.

I received an uncorrected galley proof, so there were some formatting and proofing issues which were most likely fixed before publication. The writing was well-done for the most part, and the pacing of the story carried me through without feeling too rushed. I kept wondering when we were going to find out about what was wrong with the Duke, but that question isn’t answered in this book as the doctors are unsure about what is going on. I hope it is something we do find out before the end of the trilogy, though, as otherwise it will feel like a plot device.

There are mentions of God and prayer, but it isn’t preachy at all. There isn’t a big cliffhanger at the end of the book, though I was glad to discover that I had the galley for the second book in the trilogy on my Kindle. (Yes, I’ve read it and yes, I will be reviewing it soon.) If you like clean historical romance with a large dose of adventure, then you will most likely enjoy The Guardian Duke.

Review originally published on www.ldswbr.com

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel is a Duke and is ordered by the King to be the guardian of Alexandria(Alex). At first he thinks its just a normal guardianship but soon learns there is more going on then meets the eyes. As he is learning about the guardianship he suddenly goes deaf for no real reason and has to deal with that as well.

Alex does not believe that her parents are dead and sets out on her own to find them. Along the way she finds danger and thankfully she also take up her search with some protectors. Once the Duke learns that she set out to find her parents he heads after her. Will he get to her in time? Can she find her parents? Read this book to find out.

This is a Regency-era novel taking place in the early 1800’s. I felt myself having to step back in time and remember some of the rules of the time period so I could better understand this book. Some of the early reviews I read about this book where not very kind and I think the reason is they don’t have an understanding for the time period.

What I liked: There is something almost magical about the setting of castles and Kings and Dukes. I found myself being swept away into the time period. I really liked the characters. Alex has spunk which at the time was not looked highly at and caused me to laugh quite a few times. Yes she made the silly choice to go after her parents alone but she was young and had grown up with out her parents being around a lot and also growing up on a island where she felt safe she really did not understand the danger. I liked the Duke because even though he was rich and powerful he also has a heart.

What I did not like: The whole story line of the Duke going deaf was a little weird. Maybe there will be some more answers about it later on in the series but I don’t really understand why the author went with this storyline. The cat and mouse chase between the Duke and Alex was exciting at first but by the end I was a little disappointed we have to wait until the next book to see if the Duke will finally catch up with Alex.

Over all this was a fun book to read. I was rooting for the Duke to catch up with Alex. The book ended as a cliff hanger but it definitely makes me want to read the next book. This book has romance, humor and suspense. A very enjoyable read. Looking forward to more of the story when the next book is released this summer.

http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I found so beautiful about this book is Jamie Carie's ability to write such a wonderful romance without the two even meetingwell they meet in the end but he wasn't aware it was her at the time it was through letters all throughout the book, I found them to be one of my favorite parts of The Guardian Duke.

It's told in two POV's, Gabriel The Duke of St.Easton, and Alexandria Featherstone. I really liked both of them.

The story line was great, it literaly had me on the edge of my seat. Gabriel becomes Alexandria's(Alex)gaurdian, orders from the King of England,. Sorry, let me back up the year is 1818, England. The reason for this is because he believes them dead(that's what he says in the beginning but that's not the whole truth.)While Gabriel is reading the letter from the King he gets dizzy and disoriented. This plays a big part of the book with what's happening but don't want to spoil any of it. I expected Gabriel to be a snoot, but he most definately was not. He was intellegent, and kind, there were times when he flaunted his wealth and title but that was to be expected of a Duke at times.

Lady Alexandria or as people call her Alex, has lived on Holy Island her whole life. Her parents are treasure hunters and are gone most of the time leaving her there.Everything changes when she gets a letter from the Duke, telling her, her parents are dead and that he is now her guardian. She does not believe her parents to be dead so she sets off across the country in search of them. She was fun to read about, her rash decisions, her little plots and schemes to throw the Duke off her trail. Man, and he was always just one step behind. The different people she meets on her way in search of clues.

I enjoyed the side characters as well, the adventures across the country were just so great I enjoyed every minute of it. I hate that it ended so abrubtly at the end but am so happy I don't have to wait long for The Forgiven Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novelthe release date is July 1st.

I recieved a copy of this book through netgalley/B&H Publishing.

[Josheka · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews @ Reading 24x7

The Guardian Duke was a looooooooooong read. With strong characters, engrossing storyline and a likeable writing style, it managed to keep me interested in the story throughout.

I felt like I was witnessing a game of hide n seek while reading this book because whenever Gabriel was about to meet Alex, she again skipped away. It was exciting and irritating at the same time. I also felt that Alex could be a more admirable character if only she showed at least a little trust in the Duke. I think this feeling was more enhanced because we get to read Gabriel's POV too in the book. I almost felt sorry for the guy several times and believe me, Ms. Carie has given a lot of instances and situations where you can't help but pity him. Poor, deaf guy.

Anyway, as for Alex, she was a strong protagonist, no doubt. But somehow she still managed to annoy me from time to time. So many times I just simply wanted to strangle her because of her tendency to blindly jump into suicidal situations without thought. Not to mention her distrust towards the Duke. Nonetheless, her friendly and charming personality which attracted so many people towards her was interesting to read. I feel Ms. Carie could do a better job on Alex.

The love story in this book was pretty complicated. I mean, the guy and the girl fall in love through love letters, of course it'll be messed up. I found myself actually looking forward to reading the letters, not that they had any swoon-worthy element but, still. Many times I wished that Gabriel and Alex FINALLY met up. But unfortunately that didn't happen. Oh, well.

Jamie Carie obviously did a lot of research for this book. The vivid, beautiful description of Ireland made ME want to visit Ireland ASAP. No, seriously.

Overall, I would say that if you like traveling and hard-to-get type romances with loads of historical elements stuffed and mixed with mystery and adventure, The Guardian Duke is definitely for you! :)

[Julie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexandria Featherstone's parents are treasure hunters. They have been missing for almost a year. Alexandria does not know where they are. The King has declared them dead and has ordered a guardian to take over Alexandria's affairs.

Gabriel, Duke of St. Easton is notified that he is to be guardian to Alexandria. At the moment though he is suffering his own troubles. Mysteriously he has become deaf. Unwilling to show this malady to the aristocracy, fearing the gossips, he has attempted to maintain business as usual.

Alexandria is affronted when the Duke sends a letter that comes across a little high-handed for her taste. After several exchanges of letters Alexandria decides that she must go on her own to find her parents whom she has decided have not died but are waylaid somewhere. She manages to procure money from the Duke in order to finance her quest.

Gabriel decides he must go get Alexandria and bring her home with him in order to keep her safe. Little does he know that Alexandria has already begun her quest and is determined that he will not find her before she has successfully found her parents. Not only is Alexandria trying to keep ahead of Gabriel, but she is also trying to stay out of the hands of others trying to keep her from finding her parents.

Throughout their correspondence Gabriel and Alexandria have developed a sort of affection for each other. Alexandria is determined though to not be thwarted in her mission. Will Gabriel reach her before she disappears for good?

I have enjoyed most of Jamie Carie's books. This one was about the best that I have read! I loved it! There is a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and a bit of adventure, all wrapped up into a delightful story. And who can resist that amazing cover? I do have to say about the ending ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! Talk about an amazing cliff-hanger! This is a must-read!

I received my review copy from NetGalley and read it on my Kindle.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of Jamie Carie's Forgotten Castles series starts off with a bang!! We have a Regency-era story filled an intriguing castle, a handsome duke, a heart-tugging tale weaved with mystery, suspense and romance!! Loved it!!

I didn't realize when I started reading this book that it was a series that continued. I knew it was a series but I thought each book was kind of like a stand-alone with similar story lines or characters!! Boy was I surprised when I got the end of The Guardian Duke and it didn't end!! I was left breathless with the ending, and instantly grabbed my net galley copy of book 2 and began devouring it!!

We have Alexandria who lives in a old castle primarily on her own. Her parents are often gone for long periods of time. When her parents are suspected dead she suddenly finds herself the ward of the Duke of St Easton. The Duke pleads for her to come to him and stay under his protection via his letters but she not-so-politely refuses! She isn't convinced her parents are dead so she is not ready to give up her life to go live with a Duke she has never met.

The correspondence between the Duke and Alexandria are quite hilarious. Alex has this way of coming being completely sarcastic yet sweet at the same time and I enjoyed her silly humor. Their friendship blooms over the course of these letters and it is just wonderful! The letters are truly the best part of the book! Every time there was a letter, I held my breath in anticipation to read what was wrote!! Brilliant!

Like I said earlier, the ending is not what you'll expect and you will instantly be dying to read the next book in the series!!

Thank you to net galley for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for my personal and honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, has been entrusted with the care of a young woman whose parents are presumed dead. A good and faithful servant of the king, Gabriel fully embraces his responsibility even though he is plagued with a major problem of his own. The world is frequently bathed in silence.

Alexandria Featherstone, lives on an island and is distressed to be entrusted to a complete stranger. Not for a moment does she believe her parents are dead. She sets out on her own to track their trail. Alexandria encounter many hurdles and must use her brain and sometimes deceit to stay one step ahead of the Duke she has not yet met.

Jamie Carie weaves her tale enshrouded in mystery and intrigue. An engaging battle of wits and oh, so romantic. I was hooked from the first chapter and read through the whole book as fast as my eyes would let me.

There was only one thing that I didn’t like about this book: It ends with cliff hanger and now I have to wait until June to read the next one! However, even with the ending hanging over a precipice, I still highly recommend this book and will be reading it again and again.

I’m giving it 5 stars for creativeness in story and for being so engaging and witty.

Many thanks to B&H Books and Netgalley for my review copy of this book. Every opinion expressed here is mine.

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I am very picky about the amount of romance I like in a book. Yes I like some romance but there has to be something more and the plot has to center around something besides just the romance, in order for me to like it!  In The Guardian Duke Jamie Carie does this perfectly! I loved the well thought out adventure in this book. I think Alex was my favorite character, I loved how capable she was and her tenacity and determination! I also loved Montague and I really hope that he will play an active role in book two as well! And Baylor was hilarious! I must admit, I didn't immediately fall in love with Gabriel, the Duke of St Easton, because in the beginning he seemed quite pompous and arrogant, but as I got to know I did fall for him and felt great compassion for his situation. I also loved how Alex and Gabriel fell in love through letters ( and I eagerly await them meeting face to face!) I felt like this was really unique take on falling in love! Bottom line I really loved The Guardian Duke and can't wait to read the next book in this series! I highly recommend this book to anyone!

[Cecilia Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read an of Jamie Carie books, but I'm glad I got to read this one.
Gabriel, the Duke of Easton is appointed by the King to be the guardian to Lady Alexander Featherstone. At around the same time, Gabriel mysteriously becomes deaf.

On the other side, Lady Alexander receives word that her parents are dead. In desperate need to prove that the king is wrong, she makes plans to go find her parents herself.

Gabriel receives word that it is urgent to protect Alexander, so he decides to go and bring her back himself. Alexander gets wind of the dukes plans. A game of cat and mouse ensues, with Alexander trying as much as she can to put a great distance between herself and the duke.

I truly enjoyed this book, the letters Gabriel and Alexander sent to each other.

One thing though - and I'm not sure it was explained. What caused the duke to become deaf?

I'd recommend this book to fans of regency stories. I look forward to reading the second book in the series. Probably will answer some questions.