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Philippe Duval #1
First Born Son
To the world beyond, Philippe Duval, eminent surgeon, husband to Julia, father to Pippa, appears to have a settled life other men would envy. What could possibly upend it?
Could it be his lingering interest in a beautiful woman who should now be out of bounds? A woman he turned his back on to marry his long lost love Julia Belleville.
Or could it be what emerges unexpectedly from his early life?
Brought up in poverty by his single mother among America’s wealthy elite on Long Island, he has always seen himself as an outsider. Not belonging. Never welcome. Shamed for his illegitimacy. Rescued only by his own determination to succeed. Or so he thinks.
As father and daughter head to New York, their plans appear straightforward. She will work a short internship at a Manhattan hospital while he attends medical conferences.
But he does not know Pippa is desperate to flesh out the details of his early life of which he has told her very little.
Yet even as she begins to delve into his early life, events overtake her. And they overtake her father too who is left to wonder if an unseen hand had guided his life in ways he never understood.
As events unfold over which he has no control, Philippe’s life takes a dramatic new direction. And with that new direction comes new possibilities and temptations that will rock the foundations of his life, including his marriage.
His life will never be the same again.
Author’s You can read about the beginning of the Julia Belleville/Philippe Duval love story in the Belleville family series – Julia’s Story (Book 1) ; To Love, Honour and Betray (Book 2) ; and Return to Prior Park (Book 3) . This book runs in a parallel time frame to the fourth Belleville family book, Heirs and Successors .
Could it be his lingering interest in a beautiful woman who should now be out of bounds? A woman he turned his back on to marry his long lost love Julia Belleville.
Or could it be what emerges unexpectedly from his early life?
Brought up in poverty by his single mother among America’s wealthy elite on Long Island, he has always seen himself as an outsider. Not belonging. Never welcome. Shamed for his illegitimacy. Rescued only by his own determination to succeed. Or so he thinks.
As father and daughter head to New York, their plans appear straightforward. She will work a short internship at a Manhattan hospital while he attends medical conferences.
But he does not know Pippa is desperate to flesh out the details of his early life of which he has told her very little.
Yet even as she begins to delve into his early life, events overtake her. And they overtake her father too who is left to wonder if an unseen hand had guided his life in ways he never understood.
As events unfold over which he has no control, Philippe’s life takes a dramatic new direction. And with that new direction comes new possibilities and temptations that will rock the foundations of his life, including his marriage.
His life will never be the same again.
Author’s You can read about the beginning of the Julia Belleville/Philippe Duval love story in the Belleville family series – Julia’s Story (Book 1) ; To Love, Honour and Betray (Book 2) ; and Return to Prior Park (Book 3) . This book runs in a parallel time frame to the fourth Belleville family book, Heirs and Successors .
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2023
2 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
J. Mary Masters
7 books41 followersI write family saga/romance books that focus on relationships - family, romantic, professional.
My books include the Belleville series – Julia's Story, To Love, Honour and Betray and Return to Prior Park and Heirs and Successors– the story of a wealthy Australian family, focusing on the three children - Richard, William and Julia. The fifth book in the series, Winds of Change was released in November 2025.
First Born Son is a companion book to Heirs and Successors. The book takes a key character - Dr Philippe Duval - and explores his life. In 2024, I released the sequel to First Born Son, the stunning Price to Pay
I love the characters I've created. I hope my readers do too.
Want to check out my books before you commit?
For FREE READING downloads go to: http://www.jmarymasters.com
My books include the Belleville series – Julia's Story, To Love, Honour and Betray and Return to Prior Park and Heirs and Successors– the story of a wealthy Australian family, focusing on the three children - Richard, William and Julia. The fifth book in the series, Winds of Change was released in November 2025.
First Born Son is a companion book to Heirs and Successors. The book takes a key character - Dr Philippe Duval - and explores his life. In 2024, I released the sequel to First Born Son, the stunning Price to Pay
I love the characters I've created. I hope my readers do too.
Want to check out my books before you commit?
For FREE READING downloads go to: http://www.jmarymasters.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 22, 2023
The author pulled me into this story and it was hard to put down, I met Phillipe Duval in the Heirs and Successors book and was looking forward to seeing how things worked out for him and his wife Julia, the sixty’s and seventies was a real man’s world, come along and fall into this world that takes us from Sydney to Manhattan.
Phillipe is an eminent surgeon who came from a poor background in New York, a single mother and no father he joined the army and met Julia while in Australia but it is years later before they meet up again and marry with their teenage daughter Pippa present, but there was someone he gave up to keep his promise to Julia and his daughter, he does love them both.
A trip to America with Pippa for a medical conference sees Pippa investigating her father’s childhood and searching for his father, this uncovers some truths that have been kept for many years, Phillipe’s life is changed dramatically in such a short time, will it change who he is and the way he lives now?
This is compelling reading and the author has pulled out all stops to ensure that the reader is immersed in the story, I felt all of the emotions while reading this one, and there are many and I am looking forward to the next one in the series and reading the first three in The Bellville series.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Phillipe is an eminent surgeon who came from a poor background in New York, a single mother and no father he joined the army and met Julia while in Australia but it is years later before they meet up again and marry with their teenage daughter Pippa present, but there was someone he gave up to keep his promise to Julia and his daughter, he does love them both.
A trip to America with Pippa for a medical conference sees Pippa investigating her father’s childhood and searching for his father, this uncovers some truths that have been kept for many years, Phillipe’s life is changed dramatically in such a short time, will it change who he is and the way he lives now?
This is compelling reading and the author has pulled out all stops to ensure that the reader is immersed in the story, I felt all of the emotions while reading this one, and there are many and I am looking forward to the next one in the series and reading the first three in The Bellville series.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
December 1, 2023
Thank you J Mary for gifting us a copy to read and review.
A death in the family and an inheritance that will be life changing sets the scene for the first in the new Philippe Duval series.
New York and Sydney dazzle as wealth, power and high society take centre stage alongside some big egos.
Philippe has experienced two extremes of lifestyle, growing up as an illegitimate child with poverty to becoming a respected Surgeon and benefactor of a huge estate.
On the home front, his desire for an old flame and his commitment to his family are at loggerheads as he can’t surrender either.
Gossip runs rife among the elite and the cracks show on both sides of the Atlantic.
I first met this esteemed character in the Belleville series, his own backstory was brought to life in more detail and a solid foundation was laid for a new story.
A dynasty where secrets, lies and saving face are integral to daily life.
I have always loved a family saga and was particularly thrilled with the crossovers from the other series.
An author I would recommend without hesitation.
A death in the family and an inheritance that will be life changing sets the scene for the first in the new Philippe Duval series.
New York and Sydney dazzle as wealth, power and high society take centre stage alongside some big egos.
Philippe has experienced two extremes of lifestyle, growing up as an illegitimate child with poverty to becoming a respected Surgeon and benefactor of a huge estate.
On the home front, his desire for an old flame and his commitment to his family are at loggerheads as he can’t surrender either.
Gossip runs rife among the elite and the cracks show on both sides of the Atlantic.
I first met this esteemed character in the Belleville series, his own backstory was brought to life in more detail and a solid foundation was laid for a new story.
A dynasty where secrets, lies and saving face are integral to daily life.
I have always loved a family saga and was particularly thrilled with the crossovers from the other series.
An author I would recommend without hesitation.
November 11, 2023
Could not put this book down. A must read.
December 30, 2023
Excellent read! I’ve read the other stories that Philippe and Julia are characters. Excellent beginning to this story.
As I’ve read the other stories, it crossed over and it was a bit of a re read for me, however, still well done for readers who haven’t read the other stories.
(I recommend the other books about Julia)
Philippe was a likeable character but as he evolves, he is no longer likeable or tolerable.
Looking forward to the next book in this series “Price to Pay” in 2024, hoping 🙏🏻 Julia wipes the floor with him once and for all! The dirty rotten scoundrel Philippe is. Let’s hope he is unable to father anymore children and he dies a miserable death 😁
As I’ve read the other stories, it crossed over and it was a bit of a re read for me, however, still well done for readers who haven’t read the other stories.
(I recommend the other books about Julia)
Philippe was a likeable character but as he evolves, he is no longer likeable or tolerable.
Looking forward to the next book in this series “Price to Pay” in 2024, hoping 🙏🏻 Julia wipes the floor with him once and for all! The dirty rotten scoundrel Philippe is. Let’s hope he is unable to father anymore children and he dies a miserable death 😁
January 21, 2024
A great divergent from the Belleville saga, I loved the story in America. I have to agree with previous reviews, and my opinion of Phillippe has declined, in saying that I am excited to see where his adventure continues. I look forward to A Price To Pay. ❤️
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews