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The Duchess' Lover
After more than twenty years, Olivia, Duchess of Brandhurst, is finally free --- free from the shackles of a loveless marriage to a cruel, domineering husband. And in one reckless night of passion, she experiences that freedom --- in the arms of Will Barnes, a youthful gardener she meets by chance in the moonlight of a garden, a man forbidden to her by the unwritten laws of Victorian society.
Once the night is over, Livie returns to her role of grieving widow. But memories of that night haunt Livie --- and Will as well. Unable to forget her or the fierce emotions she inspires in him, he returns. With his working-class back-ground and artistic talents, Will is unlike anyone Livie has ever known. Despite the scandal that threatens their love, and the differences between them, she cannot resist him or the beauty he brings to her life. But when Livie's enemies try to destroy her with vicious accusations about her marriage, Will is determined to save her, even if it means giving her up. Somehow, Livie must prove to him that their passion is worth any sacrifice, and that he is much more than the duchess' lover --- he is her love ...
Once the night is over, Livie returns to her role of grieving widow. But memories of that night haunt Livie --- and Will as well. Unable to forget her or the fierce emotions she inspires in him, he returns. With his working-class back-ground and artistic talents, Will is unlike anyone Livie has ever known. Despite the scandal that threatens their love, and the differences between them, she cannot resist him or the beauty he brings to her life. But when Livie's enemies try to destroy her with vicious accusations about her marriage, Will is determined to save her, even if it means giving her up. Somehow, Livie must prove to him that their passion is worth any sacrifice, and that he is much more than the duchess' lover --- he is her love ...
308 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 26, 2002
About the author
Julie Beard
18 books22 followersJulie Beard is a former journalist who brings her reporting skills to her award-winning, bestselling novels. Imagine investigating weapons of the Middle Ages, or the importance of reputations in the Victorian era, as she did when writing Midnight Angel (Berkley Sensation, December 2003). Julie has been hailed for her ability to magically recreate the distant past. Now she's busy "world building" in the future.
Julie was one of the launch authors for the Silhouette Bombshell series, a new line of romantic action/adventure novels. She debuted with Kiss of the Blue Dragon (August 2004) featuring 28-year-old Angel Baker, a certified retribution specialist who strives to see justice done in the year 2104. The sequel, Touch of the White Tiger, will be a September 2005 release.
Julie was a reporter and a news writer before turning her writing skills to more creative venues. She worked as the night beat for KSDK-TV, covering everything from murders to visiting politicians to hometown parades. As a news writer at the Fox affiliate in Chicago, she wrote copy for the legendary news anchor Walter Jacobson and Robin Robinson.
Julie also has given dozens of workshops and lectures around the country at community colleges, bookstores and writers conferences. She's conducted seminars and written articles about editing, writing, promotions and journalism. She wrote the popular "how-to" book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Romance Published. This comprehensive nonfiction title offers advice on everything from plotting and editing a novel to finding an agent and publisher.
Julie graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism with a master of science degree in journalism. She graduated with a B.F.A. in theatre arts from Stephens College. She lives with her husband, two children and two incorrigible basenjis in the Midwest.
Sourced from: http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html...
Julie was one of the launch authors for the Silhouette Bombshell series, a new line of romantic action/adventure novels. She debuted with Kiss of the Blue Dragon (August 2004) featuring 28-year-old Angel Baker, a certified retribution specialist who strives to see justice done in the year 2104. The sequel, Touch of the White Tiger, will be a September 2005 release.
Julie was a reporter and a news writer before turning her writing skills to more creative venues. She worked as the night beat for KSDK-TV, covering everything from murders to visiting politicians to hometown parades. As a news writer at the Fox affiliate in Chicago, she wrote copy for the legendary news anchor Walter Jacobson and Robin Robinson.
Julie also has given dozens of workshops and lectures around the country at community colleges, bookstores and writers conferences. She's conducted seminars and written articles about editing, writing, promotions and journalism. She wrote the popular "how-to" book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Romance Published. This comprehensive nonfiction title offers advice on everything from plotting and editing a novel to finding an agent and publisher.
Julie graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism with a master of science degree in journalism. She graduated with a B.F.A. in theatre arts from Stephens College. She lives with her husband, two children and two incorrigible basenjis in the Midwest.
Sourced from: http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 5, 2009
If it weren't such a torture to read, I'd call this book pathetic. Words like feather brain and harebrained wouldn't do it justice. It's a book for stupid people, and I wish the bad reviews on amazon could be trusted, or even friends', because it's not that there are typos or shifting povs (just the usual genre typical one between the leads - and atrocious mixing in of "bloody"s, "mate"s etc.) and there's not too much sex (I'm starting to yearn for clinical here) but there is basically NOTHING. It's another simply bad book, worse than older genre ones that were more boring even, because it's well marketed and blurbed and sold with the gimmick of having OLDER WOMAN - younger man, which is nothing but a cheap shot as is the whole historical aspect. The only reason Beard uses it is so a) she can pretend there is anything keeping the couple apart and b) so readers won't notice nothing happens and everyone is a shallow stupid nothing because they believe author knows better or something.
Livie *gag, yes, she uses sickening pet names - except for Willoughby, what a pity* is 15 years older, but of course she is more beautiful for it, more perfect, and the problem that she'll keep on aging while he will still be sexy is negated by him being unable to love anything but painting, her being the exception he can love as well, but he'll never want to fuck a younger woman even when she's sixty or eighty.
Livie *gag* is so strong and remarkable because she's very rich and so when she sheds a tear about the phossy jawed dying hooker, she's a goddess. When she decides she'll tell her butler what to do, she's superwoman. When she goes on a picnic, it's not because the author is too stupid and lazy to actually invent a real scandal or heavens forbid perhaps genuine plot, danger, problems, CONFLICT!
The first sex between the 40yr old widow and the 25 yr old gardener/painter (Hern)was already the best ever, the second "cemented their souls together like ancient mortar and stone" and I wish I could stop typing about this unbearable tripe with nothing happening except the author telling how marvellous they are and what they feel. Oh and: There's the evil gay husband who mistreated poor little Livie and was killed (Carlyle) by a gay lover (Raybourne). Another gay but titled lover is now Livie's bestest and dearest friend and neighbour (Kleypas). And then comes the new American with sloppy speach and free manners (Kleypas) and that one paragraph is seen as a diffiult hurdle for the lovers to overcome (don't ask me, I have no clue what went on in that peabrain of the author). Livie is only marginally less repulsive than Raybourne's heroine because she's not doing anything ever at all. Her magical transformation and blossoming is assured us by all characters, the author and Madeline Hunter, although never shown, like any and all dramatic incidents.
There was a lot of medium-bad, genre-usual language, but only one relatively harmless idiocy made me laugh, when he stood and "looked like a self-portrait of himself".
Livie *gag, yes, she uses sickening pet names - except for Willoughby, what a pity* is 15 years older, but of course she is more beautiful for it, more perfect, and the problem that she'll keep on aging while he will still be sexy is negated by him being unable to love anything but painting, her being the exception he can love as well, but he'll never want to fuck a younger woman even when she's sixty or eighty.
Livie *gag* is so strong and remarkable because she's very rich and so when she sheds a tear about the phossy jawed dying hooker, she's a goddess. When she decides she'll tell her butler what to do, she's superwoman. When she goes on a picnic, it's not because the author is too stupid and lazy to actually invent a real scandal or heavens forbid perhaps genuine plot, danger, problems, CONFLICT!
The first sex between the 40yr old widow and the 25 yr old gardener/painter (Hern)was already the best ever, the second "cemented their souls together like ancient mortar and stone" and I wish I could stop typing about this unbearable tripe with nothing happening except the author telling how marvellous they are and what they feel. Oh and: There's the evil gay husband who mistreated poor little Livie and was killed (Carlyle) by a gay lover (Raybourne). Another gay but titled lover is now Livie's bestest and dearest friend and neighbour (Kleypas). And then comes the new American with sloppy speach and free manners (Kleypas) and that one paragraph is seen as a diffiult hurdle for the lovers to overcome (don't ask me, I have no clue what went on in that peabrain of the author). Livie is only marginally less repulsive than Raybourne's heroine because she's not doing anything ever at all. Her magical transformation and blossoming is assured us by all characters, the author and Madeline Hunter, although never shown, like any and all dramatic incidents.
There was a lot of medium-bad, genre-usual language, but only one relatively harmless idiocy made me laugh, when he stood and "looked like a self-portrait of himself".
January 17, 2019
Oh this was a stinkeroo! Thank goodness it was a thrift store purchase. I like a quick read for my travel time to work. But this was painfully slow and poorly written.
January 26, 2020
Purple!!!! Can’t read past page 20.
![Profile Image for Julie [Kaskade].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1205625727i/992873._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
March 17, 2008
How can you not read [and support] an author who has your name! My friend made the cover of this book into a postcard and sent it to me somewhere where she knew my mail was read by my coworkers...you should imagine the shock. No, I am not a romance novelist, I just have a name twin!
March 17, 2013
"The Duchess' Lover" by Julie Beard is the only story out of the four I have read from this author to get just a "good" rating. The other three tales received a "very good" rating, so I would say this author is worth reading.
April 1, 2015
I didnt realise i was so pragmatic until i read dis book.
I thot i was hooked to histroical romance genre that anything would b satisfying to me, oopsie, jus realised not so in the least.
Romance between a 40 year old woman and 25 yr old man jus not worth the salt.
I thot i was hooked to histroical romance genre that anything would b satisfying to me, oopsie, jus realised not so in the least.
Romance between a 40 year old woman and 25 yr old man jus not worth the salt.
November 11, 2017
Victorian
December 24, 2009
I am a romantic fool and this hit the spot perfectly!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews