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The 1797 Club #4
Il duca silenzioso
Nato muto, Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow è stato maltrattato dal padre malvagio e dai suoi miserabili fratelli minori fino a quando non è intervenuto uno zio a salvare la situazione. Tuttavia, porta con sé le cicatrici del proprio passato, inclusa la terribile convinzione che forse una "persona come lui" non merita davvero il titolo che suo zio gli ha preservato combattendo duramente per lui.
Charlotte, rimasta vedova di recente, agli occhi della società è la virtuosa Contessa di Portsmith, ma quando è con Ewan, si sente ancora la ragazzina estasiata che lo ha incontrato decenni prima, quando suo fratello era il migliore amico di lui e di suo cugino.
Un viaggio programmato per trascorrere il Natale con le loro famiglie nella tenuta di Ewan riunisce i vecchi amici. Ma quando una tempesta impedisce agli altri di arrivare in tempo, Charlotte decide di smettere di vivere nella paura e di conquistare l’uomo che ha desiderato e amato per tutta la vita. Ewan non può resistere alla sua seduzione, ma teme di cedere al suo cuore. Soprattutto quando la famiglia che si era sbarazzata di lui ritorna e minaccia non solo la sua vita, ma quella della donna che ama.
Charlotte, rimasta vedova di recente, agli occhi della società è la virtuosa Contessa di Portsmith, ma quando è con Ewan, si sente ancora la ragazzina estasiata che lo ha incontrato decenni prima, quando suo fratello era il migliore amico di lui e di suo cugino.
Un viaggio programmato per trascorrere il Natale con le loro famiglie nella tenuta di Ewan riunisce i vecchi amici. Ma quando una tempesta impedisce agli altri di arrivare in tempo, Charlotte decide di smettere di vivere nella paura e di conquistare l’uomo che ha desiderato e amato per tutta la vita. Ewan non può resistere alla sua seduzione, ma teme di cedere al suo cuore. Soprattutto quando la famiglia che si era sbarazzata di lui ritorna e minaccia non solo la sua vita, ma quella della donna che ama.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
562 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Jess Michaels
128 books1,576 followersJess Michaels is a USA Today Bestselling Author who likes geeky stuff like Star Wars, playing video games (she ships herself with Dragon Age’s Iron Bull FOREVER), Bob’s Burgers and collecting POPs! She also drinks a LOT of Diet Coke. Probably an unhealthy amount, but it’s her only vice. She will eat (almost) anything coconut, truly anything cheesy and nothing spicy (yes, she is a walking stereotype when it comes to that). She likes cats, her dog Elton and people who care about the welfare of their fellow humans.
Although she started out traditionally published by Avon/HarperCollins, Pocket, Hachette and Samhain Publishing, in 2015 she went fully indie and has never looked back! She is lucky enough to be married to her favorite person in the world and live tucked between the ocean and the mountains in Oregon.
When she’s not watching Our Flag Means Death or trying out all the new flavors of Greek yogurt, she writes historical romances with smoking hot heroes and sassy heroines who do anything but wait to get what they want.
Although she started out traditionally published by Avon/HarperCollins, Pocket, Hachette and Samhain Publishing, in 2015 she went fully indie and has never looked back! She is lucky enough to be married to her favorite person in the world and live tucked between the ocean and the mountains in Oregon.
When she’s not watching Our Flag Means Death or trying out all the new flavors of Greek yogurt, she writes historical romances with smoking hot heroes and sassy heroines who do anything but wait to get what they want.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
January 18, 2018
1.5 rounded up.
I had such high hopes for this book. A storyline this unique really had the potential to be something special but instead, it just fell flat. Nothing worked for me.
Ewan, the Duke of Donburrow, was born mute. This obviously didn't go over well when he was a child. His father wanted to throw him in an asylum because he was "damaged" and Ewan's aunt and uncle wouldn't hear of it. Charlotte and Ewan were friends when they were young (I believe they were neighbors?) and Charlotte never treated Ewan any different. They became the best of friends, even inventing their own sign language so that they could converse. When Ewan's father gets more serious about throwing Ewan in an asylum, Ewan's aunt and uncle step up and take him to live with them. Ewan is raised in a loving home, free from the cruelty of his father. For reasons I'll leave out to avoid a spoiler, Charlotte marries an earl and becomes the Countess of Portsmith but she is widowed a few years later. The book begins as her time of mourning for her husband ends and she along with other family members visits Ewan for Christmas. She makes her way to his estate (alone) and the weather traps her with Ewan until the bridge is safe for everyone else to cross and join them. Charlotte decides to use this time to convince Ewan that they belong together. And by convince I mean seduce.
Listen, I don't really read historical romance for its accuracy. For that, I'd read historical fiction. I love to think that a duke would marry an illegitimate bluestocking, an overworked barmaid, or the feisty governess the marquess next door hired. Or that a duke's daughter would run off with a blacksmith and he would eventually be welcomed into the family. That's pretty much the point for me. Love conquers all, even social convention and ramifications be damned. But there's a limit. There has to be. This book crossed it for me. Which is really saying something. There were so many Wait, what? How is that going to work? So they are going to do what, now? moments that I just didn't buy any of it.
Ewan obviously can't speak, so he carries a notebook and a pencil around everywhere. This, I get. But my unfortunately ever-busy mind kept thinking of instances this just wouldn't work or work well. Not that it couldn't work, just that it was never explained. What if he was trying to "talk" to someone who couldn't read? What if he didn't have his paper/pencil with him? Perhaps if these problems occurred somewhere in the book and were handled (whether the outcome was good or bad) it would have been easier to accept. He and Charlotte have a way around the hurdles of communication that I wish had been explored better as well. When it comes down to it, that is my main problem with this book. So many interesting things were left unexplored. We're only given a few pages of Ewan and Charlotte's childhood. I'm not usually one for flashbacks but this book should have been filled with them. Their pre-existing bond is a major part of the romance. Ewan and Charlotte knew each other for years but we only get a few pages of their past. I wish I could have read about their friendship and seen it bloom into something more as they grew up.
Ugh. The sex. Ewan is a virgin, which is believable. What isn't believable is the fact that he is somehow amazing in bed right off the bat. He was as inexperienced as possible but was immediately ahhhmazing at everything, including the technical stuff. My eyes rolled so many times I lost count. And there was a lot of this eye-roll inducing sex. Half of this book is sex, and not in a good way. When it came down to it, Charlotte was trying to use sex to convince Ewan they belong together and at a certain point, it became outright almost aggressive manipulation. Screw that. There wasn't anything almost about it. At one point she crossed a line and for a few pages, I hated her for it.
And it was hard to come back from. If Ewan hadn't instantly forgiven her, it would most likely have ruined the book for me.
On top of all of this, the writing wasn't great. It wasn't the worst I've ever read but it could have been so much better. This was altogether just a disappointing read which was a real shame. It was kind of romantic and Ewan was sweet, but it wasn't enough to save the book. There was a lot of potential here and it was wasted. Thankfully it was short, which made it easier to finish.
I had such high hopes for this book. A storyline this unique really had the potential to be something special but instead, it just fell flat. Nothing worked for me.
Ewan, the Duke of Donburrow, was born mute. This obviously didn't go over well when he was a child. His father wanted to throw him in an asylum because he was "damaged" and Ewan's aunt and uncle wouldn't hear of it. Charlotte and Ewan were friends when they were young (I believe they were neighbors?) and Charlotte never treated Ewan any different. They became the best of friends, even inventing their own sign language so that they could converse. When Ewan's father gets more serious about throwing Ewan in an asylum, Ewan's aunt and uncle step up and take him to live with them. Ewan is raised in a loving home, free from the cruelty of his father. For reasons I'll leave out to avoid a spoiler, Charlotte marries an earl and becomes the Countess of Portsmith but she is widowed a few years later. The book begins as her time of mourning for her husband ends and she along with other family members visits Ewan for Christmas. She makes her way to his estate (alone) and the weather traps her with Ewan until the bridge is safe for everyone else to cross and join them. Charlotte decides to use this time to convince Ewan that they belong together. And by convince I mean seduce.
Listen, I don't really read historical romance for its accuracy. For that, I'd read historical fiction. I love to think that a duke would marry an illegitimate bluestocking, an overworked barmaid, or the feisty governess the marquess next door hired. Or that a duke's daughter would run off with a blacksmith and he would eventually be welcomed into the family. That's pretty much the point for me. Love conquers all, even social convention and ramifications be damned. But there's a limit. There has to be. This book crossed it for me. Which is really saying something. There were so many Wait, what? How is that going to work? So they are going to do what, now? moments that I just didn't buy any of it.
Ewan obviously can't speak, so he carries a notebook and a pencil around everywhere. This, I get. But my unfortunately ever-busy mind kept thinking of instances this just wouldn't work or work well. Not that it couldn't work, just that it was never explained. What if he was trying to "talk" to someone who couldn't read? What if he didn't have his paper/pencil with him? Perhaps if these problems occurred somewhere in the book and were handled (whether the outcome was good or bad) it would have been easier to accept. He and Charlotte have a way around the hurdles of communication that I wish had been explored better as well. When it comes down to it, that is my main problem with this book. So many interesting things were left unexplored. We're only given a few pages of Ewan and Charlotte's childhood. I'm not usually one for flashbacks but this book should have been filled with them. Their pre-existing bond is a major part of the romance. Ewan and Charlotte knew each other for years but we only get a few pages of their past. I wish I could have read about their friendship and seen it bloom into something more as they grew up.
Ugh. The sex. Ewan is a virgin, which is believable. What isn't believable is the fact that he is somehow amazing in bed right off the bat. He was as inexperienced as possible but was immediately ahhhmazing at everything, including the technical stuff. My eyes rolled so many times I lost count. And there was a lot of this eye-roll inducing sex. Half of this book is sex, and not in a good way. When it came down to it, Charlotte was trying to use sex to convince Ewan they belong together and at a certain point, it became outright almost aggressive manipulation. Screw that. There wasn't anything almost about it. At one point she crossed a line and for a few pages, I hated her for it.
And it was hard to come back from. If Ewan hadn't instantly forgiven her, it would most likely have ruined the book for me.
On top of all of this, the writing wasn't great. It wasn't the worst I've ever read but it could have been so much better. This was altogether just a disappointing read which was a real shame. It was kind of romantic and Ewan was sweet, but it wasn't enough to save the book. There was a lot of potential here and it was wasted. Thankfully it was short, which made it easier to finish.
November 29, 2022
This was such a cute historical romance that centers around Christmastime! Give me a snowed in romance any day. Charlotte has been close friends with Ewan since they were children, even though he cannot speak and has been shunned by his own family because of it. Charlotte admitted to Ewan she had feelings, but he pushed her away, so she married someone else. Now, she's a widow and visiting Ewan for Christmas. But there is too much rain and the bridge leading to his estate is impassable right after she arrives, leaving her his only guest. The two are forced to confront their feelings and their romance was just so sweet! There was definitely steam, but I loved how Ewan finally let Charlotte in and tried to examine his own feelings of being inadequate because of how his family treated him. There was also a bit of suspense at the end, which I thought was a lot of fun. I do wish a bit more happened with the plot before the suspense happened at the end, but overall this was a solid romance!
July 19, 2018
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 1/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 3/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 1/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 3/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5
November 9, 2017
It could be that coming into this series at book four was my undoing, it could be because this is a new-to-me-author and sometimes there's an adjustment to writing styles or plot direction, whatever the case : but THE SILENT DUKE wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be.
Michaels has created a great premise with a mute Duke and the childhood friend who has loved him almost from the moment they met -- and vice versa. There's quite a bit of angst surrounding self-worth and deserving a title, a future, love, all of which can be interesting if the topic isn't recycled a hundred times (which it kinda was). So it seems the author tried to balance out that angst with sex.. a lot of it. Pretty much from the get-go. Which I just wasn't a fan of, to be honest.
This story is on the shorter side, though longer than a novella, so it's strange to have wanted so much more of this story expanded and yet way less time cycling through sex scenes that felt somewhat copied and pasted over and over again. There was also a bit of time spent on other couples who have already found their happy endings, who I obviously don't know but was provided with enough information to get the basics, and I imagine that lack of previous foundation may have attributed to some of my dislike. It's said this can standalone and I would agree with that statement.. and also disagree because.. like I said, we're meant to feel connections to other characters or care about seeing glimpses of them after their stories have wrapped and ultimately I didn't.
Ewan was mute, and it seemed mute he would stay. His father said it made him stupid and damaged. Ewan felt damaged, certainly, but he wasn't as certain about stupid.
That being said, I love seeing characters with disabilities or mental illness, any kind of representation, in my reads. Especially historicals. I may not have loved Ewan but I loved that Michaels gave words to a man who couldn't speak. I wish there had been less of a convenient workaround for his ability to express himself but alas that was kind of a big element at play with his connection to Charlotte. As for the lady in question.. yes, she was kind, yes she was generous, yes it was great to see female agency in regards to pleasure, especially during this time, but she also.. too perfect?
"Ewan, if I had a life with you, I would gladly live it slaying your dragons."
Despite a conflict near the end that I was really not a fan of at all, there were some very moving and wonderful passages in THE SILENT DUKE. Enough to make me want to read the author again, maybe even backtrack to the beginning of the series to play catch-up. But unfortunately this book, this installment, wasn't the winner I had hoped it to be.
2.5 stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
Michaels has created a great premise with a mute Duke and the childhood friend who has loved him almost from the moment they met -- and vice versa. There's quite a bit of angst surrounding self-worth and deserving a title, a future, love, all of which can be interesting if the topic isn't recycled a hundred times (which it kinda was). So it seems the author tried to balance out that angst with sex.. a lot of it. Pretty much from the get-go. Which I just wasn't a fan of, to be honest.
This story is on the shorter side, though longer than a novella, so it's strange to have wanted so much more of this story expanded and yet way less time cycling through sex scenes that felt somewhat copied and pasted over and over again. There was also a bit of time spent on other couples who have already found their happy endings, who I obviously don't know but was provided with enough information to get the basics, and I imagine that lack of previous foundation may have attributed to some of my dislike. It's said this can standalone and I would agree with that statement.. and also disagree because.. like I said, we're meant to feel connections to other characters or care about seeing glimpses of them after their stories have wrapped and ultimately I didn't.
Ewan was mute, and it seemed mute he would stay. His father said it made him stupid and damaged. Ewan felt damaged, certainly, but he wasn't as certain about stupid.
That being said, I love seeing characters with disabilities or mental illness, any kind of representation, in my reads. Especially historicals. I may not have loved Ewan but I loved that Michaels gave words to a man who couldn't speak. I wish there had been less of a convenient workaround for his ability to express himself but alas that was kind of a big element at play with his connection to Charlotte. As for the lady in question.. yes, she was kind, yes she was generous, yes it was great to see female agency in regards to pleasure, especially during this time, but she also.. too perfect?
"Ewan, if I had a life with you, I would gladly live it slaying your dragons."
Despite a conflict near the end that I was really not a fan of at all, there were some very moving and wonderful passages in THE SILENT DUKE. Enough to make me want to read the author again, maybe even backtrack to the beginning of the series to play catch-up. But unfortunately this book, this installment, wasn't the winner I had hoped it to be.
2.5 stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
February 15, 2025
Read for Rake Appreciation Society book club! Live Show is 2/12 at 7 pm mst on The Book Refugr channel!
February 13, 2025
Rake Appreciation Society Winter Pick.
Tune in for my thoughts!
Tune in for my thoughts!
June 10, 2021
Someone from my Facebook group recommended this book. A bit too steamy for my taste. I find the secret language between the H/h to be a bit far fetched as well. The writing was find hence the 3 stars. If you like your books to be steaming hot, this is the book for you.
December 19, 2020
.
Ewen has been mute since birth and his immediate family are a bunch of asshats. Especially his father who planned to have him committed so that his younger non-disabled brother could inherit. Fortunately his uncle took him in at 10 and ... well... I guess he did his best to teach Ewen his true worth, but somehow the lesson just didn't get taught. 'Cause Ewen still believes what his dad told him over and over. That's he's broken and unfit to be a Duke and blah blah blah blah...
Charlotte has been his champion since they were kids and together they developed a sign language, but just for themselves. Anyways, she opened her heart to Ewen when she first came of age to marry but he turned her down and so she married another. I like that her first husband (now conveniently dead) wasn't vilified. But I did wonder how she never conceived with him after 4 years together, and yes, they were having sex.
So now they are thrown together at the beginning of a Christmas house party for several days, without the other guests. Lots of getting it on, but not a lot of discussion. Ewen is still adamant that he will not marry her. In fact I got heartily sick of hearing the same repetitive lamentations in their heads. 'I love her but I am broken and therefore not good enough for her. Her life would be ruined if she married me...' and 'I love him and if I just keep throwing myself at him some more, maybe he will change his mind...'
bleh
At about the halfway mark, the other guests arrive and try to convince of him what a fool he is being. I dunno, maybe he really is as stupid as the Ton believes him to be? He sure seems determined to think the worst of himself despite what his friends, lover, Aunt, and cousin say.
But at last a glimmer of positive thinking in his thoughts around 75% BUT...
This is where the author decides to throw a wrench in it with his estranged brothers and evil mother arriving uninvited. Craziness ensues. Charlotte is threatened.
Basically the ending sucked.
I spent hours listening to him whinge about his unworthiness, and when it finally seems like he will tell Charlotte his true feelings and open his heart, all that momentum was lost to farcical violence.
What should have been a truly romantic capitulation, was pushed aside for a decidedly clumsy ending.
safety is good.
Ewen has been mute since birth and his immediate family are a bunch of asshats. Especially his father who planned to have him committed so that his younger non-disabled brother could inherit. Fortunately his uncle took him in at 10 and ... well... I guess he did his best to teach Ewen his true worth, but somehow the lesson just didn't get taught. 'Cause Ewen still believes what his dad told him over and over. That's he's broken and unfit to be a Duke and blah blah blah blah...
Charlotte has been his champion since they were kids and together they developed a sign language, but just for themselves. Anyways, she opened her heart to Ewen when she first came of age to marry but he turned her down and so she married another. I like that her first husband (now conveniently dead) wasn't vilified. But I did wonder how she never conceived with him after 4 years together, and yes, they were having sex.
So now they are thrown together at the beginning of a Christmas house party for several days, without the other guests. Lots of getting it on, but not a lot of discussion. Ewen is still adamant that he will not marry her. In fact I got heartily sick of hearing the same repetitive lamentations in their heads. 'I love her but I am broken and therefore not good enough for her. Her life would be ruined if she married me...' and 'I love him and if I just keep throwing myself at him some more, maybe he will change his mind...'
bleh
At about the halfway mark, the other guests arrive and try to convince of him what a fool he is being. I dunno, maybe he really is as stupid as the Ton believes him to be? He sure seems determined to think the worst of himself despite what his friends, lover, Aunt, and cousin say.
But at last a glimmer of positive thinking in his thoughts around 75% BUT...
This is where the author decides to throw a wrench in it with his estranged brothers and evil mother arriving uninvited. Craziness ensues. Charlotte is threatened.
Basically the ending sucked.
I spent hours listening to him whinge about his unworthiness, and when it finally seems like he will tell Charlotte his true feelings and open his heart, all that momentum was lost to farcical violence.
What should have been a truly romantic capitulation, was pushed aside for a decidedly clumsy ending.
safety is good.
November 3, 2017
4.5 stars
I enjoyed THE SILENT DUKE cover to cover. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jess Michaels historical romance and now I’m remembering how good they are. After reading the blurb and seeing it centred around a Duke with a disability, I was hooked in and I was not disappointed.
This is a beautiful friends to lovers story that is as much full of emotion as it is heat. Jess Michaels knows how to write HR heat without losing story cohesion. This was a full story, with family and past that was full of depth. Ewan was very likeable but incredibly self-deprecating with regards to his disability. This was frustrating occasionally to me and frequently to the heroine, Charlotte. Charlotte was his childhood friend and she was a brave woman, widowed and with steely determination. Her character was full of loyalty, courage and passion. This was just an excellent coupling and an engaging story.
THE SILENT DUKE is book four of a series I haven’t read up until now. This book stands alone nicely but I'm sure there are side characters I would have recognised had I read the others. I can’t find it in myself to regret where I’ve started considering my enjoyment of Ewan and Charlotte.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for a honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
I enjoyed THE SILENT DUKE cover to cover. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jess Michaels historical romance and now I’m remembering how good they are. After reading the blurb and seeing it centred around a Duke with a disability, I was hooked in and I was not disappointed.
This is a beautiful friends to lovers story that is as much full of emotion as it is heat. Jess Michaels knows how to write HR heat without losing story cohesion. This was a full story, with family and past that was full of depth. Ewan was very likeable but incredibly self-deprecating with regards to his disability. This was frustrating occasionally to me and frequently to the heroine, Charlotte. Charlotte was his childhood friend and she was a brave woman, widowed and with steely determination. Her character was full of loyalty, courage and passion. This was just an excellent coupling and an engaging story.
THE SILENT DUKE is book four of a series I haven’t read up until now. This book stands alone nicely but I'm sure there are side characters I would have recognised had I read the others. I can’t find it in myself to regret where I’ve started considering my enjoyment of Ewan and Charlotte.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for a honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
May 12, 2021
4+⭐️
Beh posso solo dire WOW!
A Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow, purtroppo manca la parola… ma poi, credetemi, non gli manca proprio di nulla, anzi è un rarissimo e meraviglioso esemplare maschile che vi farà venire gli occhi a cuoricino😍.
Beh posso solo dire WOW!
A Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow, purtroppo manca la parola… ma poi, credetemi, non gli manca proprio di nulla, anzi è un rarissimo e meraviglioso esemplare maschile che vi farà venire gli occhi a cuoricino😍.
February 2, 2024
I wasn't writing reviews at the time I read this book but the book recently popped up via Jess Michaels on my FB page as she has an extra bonus epilogue out for this story. I don't remember all the intricate details but I do remember the premise of the story and liked it.
By the time I read this, I had already read 28 of Jess Michaels books so I obviously liked her writing. Now on 2/2/24, I've read a total of 71 of her books. That should tell you something.
By the time I read this, I had already read 28 of Jess Michaels books so I obviously liked her writing. Now on 2/2/24, I've read a total of 71 of her books. That should tell you something.
July 22, 2024
⭐💫
1½ stars.
➕ What I liked :
Somewhat interesting beginning to the story.
Disability rep.
(The hero was born with Alalia/mutism.)
Inexperienced hero.
Experienced heroine.
Widow heroine.
➖ What I disliked:
Too much telling and not enough showing.
Trope overload.
Too cliché.
Very thin plot.
Repetitious.
Heroine was rather pushy and also somewhat manipulative.
Heroine also has some Mary Sue vibes.
Hero was too indecisive.
Too melodramatic.
The romantic build up/romance was lacking… they did not have any real connection other than sex/lust.
Too much focus on lust and not enough focus on love or any real love connection… even though they have known each other since childhood and been friends for a long time.
Weird and farcical ending.
OTT/silly.
The violence at the end…. That was just too OTT.
Some parts were too rushed.
Both main characters lacked depth.
Believability/plausibility issues.
Why and how did they create their own form of sign language? …. when there actually was British Sign Language (has been around since at least the 16th century.) ??
How did the hero teach himself to read and write?
It is not totally improbable or unrealistic… it can be done but is very difficult… but how did he do this…??
Too much focus from both main characters on how handsome or/and beautiful the other person was.
(Especially from the heroine… she was rather obsessed with the heroes looks and body… so much so that it felt very shallow and almost like she just saw him as an object and not as a real person with feelings and problems etc.)
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice of both main characters.
(Especially about the hero…. Tall/very tall and big hulking and muscular and very handsome…
and that could be said for all the heroes in this series so far….
So far in this series the heroes are rather similar in looks/ appearance …. Tall or very tall, muscular or hulking/big and handsome/very handsome… what little dissimilarity/differences there are is that they have different eye colors and hair colors and hair styles not much more….
But also other than all that …. Where and how do all these privileged and pampered men get their Mr. Universe or Male model physiques??🤔
Even for romantic fiction and romance books and romance characters it is OTT and just too idealistic and formulaic/unimaginative…. But also rather boring.🥱😴
The heroines in the series are also rather formulaic in the character description/visual appearance…. petite slender heroine or shortish slender heroine and very stunning/beautiful…. Some more variation/diversity would be very welcome and interesting.)
1½ stars.
➕ What I liked :
Somewhat interesting beginning to the story.
Disability rep.
(The hero was born with Alalia/mutism.)
Inexperienced hero.
Experienced heroine.
Widow heroine.
➖ What I disliked:
Too much telling and not enough showing.
Trope overload.
Too cliché.
Very thin plot.
Repetitious.
Heroine was rather pushy and also somewhat manipulative.
Heroine also has some Mary Sue vibes.
Hero was too indecisive.
Too melodramatic.
The romantic build up/romance was lacking… they did not have any real connection other than sex/lust.
Too much focus on lust and not enough focus on love or any real love connection… even though they have known each other since childhood and been friends for a long time.
Weird and farcical ending.
OTT/silly.
The violence at the end…. That was just too OTT.
Some parts were too rushed.
Both main characters lacked depth.
Believability/plausibility issues.
Why and how did they create their own form of sign language? …. when there actually was British Sign Language (has been around since at least the 16th century.) ??
How did the hero teach himself to read and write?
It is not totally improbable or unrealistic… it can be done but is very difficult… but how did he do this…??
Too much focus from both main characters on how handsome or/and beautiful the other person was.
(Especially from the heroine… she was rather obsessed with the heroes looks and body… so much so that it felt very shallow and almost like she just saw him as an object and not as a real person with feelings and problems etc.)
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choice of both main characters.
(Especially about the hero…. Tall/very tall and big hulking and muscular and very handsome…
and that could be said for all the heroes in this series so far….
So far in this series the heroes are rather similar in looks/ appearance …. Tall or very tall, muscular or hulking/big and handsome/very handsome… what little dissimilarity/differences there are is that they have different eye colors and hair colors and hair styles not much more….
But also other than all that …. Where and how do all these privileged and pampered men get their Mr. Universe or Male model physiques??🤔
Even for romantic fiction and romance books and romance characters it is OTT and just too idealistic and formulaic/unimaginative…. But also rather boring.🥱😴
The heroines in the series are also rather formulaic in the character description/visual appearance…. petite slender heroine or shortish slender heroine and very stunning/beautiful…. Some more variation/diversity would be very welcome and interesting.)
December 28, 2020
I honestly didn't think I would really like this one as much because the "silent" duke can't speak, but it was the best one in the series thus far.
June 10, 2021
Vanilla_91 - per RFS
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Il duca silenzioso è il quarto libro della serie Il club del 1977.
Ewan, il protagonista maschile, è muto sin dalla nascita e la sua incapacità di parlare ha fortemente condizionato la sua vita, soprattutto a causa dei comportamenti violenti e denigratori della sua famiglia, che non ha esitato a etichettarlo come “idiota” e “malato”.
In questa infanzia di dolore, Charlotte, contessa di Portsmith, è stata uno spiraglio di luce, un’amica sincera e priva di pregiudizi su cui poter sempre contare.
Crescendo, la tenera amicizia si è trasformata in qualcosa di ben più profondo, ma Ewan respinge quel sentimento temendo di condannare la donna a una vita di ingiurie e infelicità.
Charlotte sposa un altro uomo, ma ben presto rimane vedova e, superato il periodo di lutto, è decisa a oltrepassare le barriere del duca e a coronare il suo sogno d’amore.
Come è facile intuire dalla trama, l’autrice ha fatto una scelta che si discosta dall’usuale, puntando su personaggi anticonvenzionali.
Ho apprezzato molto la cosa e ho provato piena empatia per il protagonista maschile che è un uomo fragile, con un bagaglio emozionale travagliato e un passato complesso. Charlotte, invece, è il punto fermo della coppia: dolce e riservata, come era buon costume per una signora dell’epoca, ma anche con una volontà ferrea e pronta a lottare per ottenere ciò che vuole. W il girl power!
Ho trovato entrambi i personaggi principali ben strutturati e interessanti, e a rendere coinvolgente il romanzo vi è la prosa accurata.
A mio parere merita una menzione anche l’ottimo lavoro svolto dalla traduttrice, opera che risulta ben visibile specialmente nelle scene erotiche descritte nei particolari, ma senza cadere nel volgare… devo dire che sono state una bella scarica ormonale.
La narrazione tranquilla, senza strappi di trama netti o colpi di scena improvvisi, rende il libro un romanzo distensivo.
È proprio questa la sensazione che per lo più ho avvertito durante la lettura: serenità.
Questo romanzo dolce e romantico mi ha regalato ore di gradevole intrattenimento e tanti sospiri nelle scene più passionali.
Libro super consigliato!
.
Il duca silenzioso è il quarto libro della serie Il club del 1977.
Ewan, il protagonista maschile, è muto sin dalla nascita e la sua incapacità di parlare ha fortemente condizionato la sua vita, soprattutto a causa dei comportamenti violenti e denigratori della sua famiglia, che non ha esitato a etichettarlo come “idiota” e “malato”.
In questa infanzia di dolore, Charlotte, contessa di Portsmith, è stata uno spiraglio di luce, un’amica sincera e priva di pregiudizi su cui poter sempre contare.
Crescendo, la tenera amicizia si è trasformata in qualcosa di ben più profondo, ma Ewan respinge quel sentimento temendo di condannare la donna a una vita di ingiurie e infelicità.
Charlotte sposa un altro uomo, ma ben presto rimane vedova e, superato il periodo di lutto, è decisa a oltrepassare le barriere del duca e a coronare il suo sogno d’amore.
Come è facile intuire dalla trama, l’autrice ha fatto una scelta che si discosta dall’usuale, puntando su personaggi anticonvenzionali.
Ho apprezzato molto la cosa e ho provato piena empatia per il protagonista maschile che è un uomo fragile, con un bagaglio emozionale travagliato e un passato complesso. Charlotte, invece, è il punto fermo della coppia: dolce e riservata, come era buon costume per una signora dell’epoca, ma anche con una volontà ferrea e pronta a lottare per ottenere ciò che vuole. W il girl power!
Ho trovato entrambi i personaggi principali ben strutturati e interessanti, e a rendere coinvolgente il romanzo vi è la prosa accurata.
A mio parere merita una menzione anche l’ottimo lavoro svolto dalla traduttrice, opera che risulta ben visibile specialmente nelle scene erotiche descritte nei particolari, ma senza cadere nel volgare… devo dire che sono state una bella scarica ormonale.
La narrazione tranquilla, senza strappi di trama netti o colpi di scena improvvisi, rende il libro un romanzo distensivo.
È proprio questa la sensazione che per lo più ho avvertito durante la lettura: serenità.
Questo romanzo dolce e romantico mi ha regalato ore di gradevole intrattenimento e tanti sospiri nelle scene più passionali.
Libro super consigliato!
April 1, 2018
3.5 stars
Overall, it was worth the read and I didn't dislike it as much as some of my friends did. Some of the hoopla at the end could have been cut out and it could have been turned from novella-ish into a novella, but oh well. I had read the first book in this series and really did not enjoy it, and had been nervous about the others, since this is my first foray into Jess Michaels's work; while there were some echoes of what annoyed me in The Daring Duke (Book 1), on the whole, I enjoyed the two main characters and found the romance between them very sweet (and sizzling).
Charlotte (24), Countess of Portsmith has recently come out of mourning and is spending the holiday season with family members and, most importantly, the love of her life: Ewan (27), Duke of Donburrow. Sadly (but not really), the rest of the party gets waylaid due to poor weather conditions, and Charlotte and Ewan find themselves alone (with an army of servants, of course) for several days, before the holiday party can get started in truth. Now, what are they to do during this time?! Lol
In all seriousness, it is a bit of a quandary, because they both are in love with the other, though Ewan has been determined since forever to not let anything come of it. He doesn't want to saddle Charlotte with a "damaged" man whom she'll only come to resent and be embarrassed by, and he never wants to have a family, lest one of his children should have to bear the same burden he does (have I mentioned Ewan is mute? I'm assuming you've read the summary/back cover).
They give into their desires quite quickly, which was fine with me because they have a long-standing relationship and although we only have one flashback at the beginning, their relationship is written very well, in the sense that you totally feel the friendship and easiness they have with one another. Ewan, of course, refuses to make it anything longterm, and Charlotte says that if nothing comes to pass between them, then she'll be going to London to go back on "the marriage mart" (which made no sense to me: even if it's true her husband's property left her nothing, her brother is a rich Duke and she could easily stay with him, at least a little while).
Eventually, the rest of the family joins them, and then we just have to hold our breath to see what happens and if Ewan will finally give in and admit his love and devotion to Charlotte (I'll leave you in suspense, since I wouldn't want to ruin the ending by letting you know whether they get together or not ;-).
Although the hero-resisting-love ploy is so often employed, it actually made sense in this one; the damage and abuse that Ewan suffered in his early years, from those who should have loved him but did anything but, have taken their toll. Thankfully, his aunt and uncle saved him and he went to live with them when he was 10, but he still has all the other bad reactions that he has to deal with due to his muteness and it makes complete sense that he is wary to "drag" (as he sees it) Charlotte into his world.
I loved that Charlotte was having none of it and was so determined to fight for them—because it really is for them. There is no doubt as to the attraction between them and their connection is unbelievably close, so thankfully he never pulls the "I just don't love you" card to purposefully hurt her and push her away. This means though, that Charlotte knows they have a chance to be incredibly happy, if only Ewan will allow it. Charlotte could have otherwise come off as just a sweet and somewhat uninteresting heroine, but the battle she puts up made me really like her.
Not a reread for me, but still an enjoyable couple of hours that I would recommend to others (which is basically the definite of a 3.5-star rating from me). Enjoy!
Ewan Loves Charlotte ...
• Why is the book called The Silent Duke, when it turns out that's a derogatory name used to reference Ewan and he hates it?
• I definitely consider this book "novella-ish," as I term it (has 215 pages)
This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
Overall, it was worth the read and I didn't dislike it as much as some of my friends did. Some of the hoopla at the end could have been cut out and it could have been turned from novella-ish into a novella, but oh well. I had read the first book in this series and really did not enjoy it, and had been nervous about the others, since this is my first foray into Jess Michaels's work; while there were some echoes of what annoyed me in The Daring Duke (Book 1), on the whole, I enjoyed the two main characters and found the romance between them very sweet (and sizzling).
Charlotte (24), Countess of Portsmith has recently come out of mourning and is spending the holiday season with family members and, most importantly, the love of her life: Ewan (27), Duke of Donburrow. Sadly (but not really), the rest of the party gets waylaid due to poor weather conditions, and Charlotte and Ewan find themselves alone (with an army of servants, of course) for several days, before the holiday party can get started in truth. Now, what are they to do during this time?! Lol
In all seriousness, it is a bit of a quandary, because they both are in love with the other, though Ewan has been determined since forever to not let anything come of it. He doesn't want to saddle Charlotte with a "damaged" man whom she'll only come to resent and be embarrassed by, and he never wants to have a family, lest one of his children should have to bear the same burden he does (have I mentioned Ewan is mute? I'm assuming you've read the summary/back cover).
They give into their desires quite quickly, which was fine with me because they have a long-standing relationship and although we only have one flashback at the beginning, their relationship is written very well, in the sense that you totally feel the friendship and easiness they have with one another. Ewan, of course, refuses to make it anything longterm, and Charlotte says that if nothing comes to pass between them, then she'll be going to London to go back on "the marriage mart" (which made no sense to me: even if it's true her husband's property left her nothing, her brother is a rich Duke and she could easily stay with him, at least a little while).
Eventually, the rest of the family joins them, and then we just have to hold our breath to see what happens and if Ewan will finally give in and admit his love and devotion to Charlotte (I'll leave you in suspense, since I wouldn't want to ruin the ending by letting you know whether they get together or not ;-).
Although the hero-resisting-love ploy is so often employed, it actually made sense in this one; the damage and abuse that Ewan suffered in his early years, from those who should have loved him but did anything but, have taken their toll. Thankfully, his aunt and uncle saved him and he went to live with them when he was 10, but he still has all the other bad reactions that he has to deal with due to his muteness and it makes complete sense that he is wary to "drag" (as he sees it) Charlotte into his world.
I loved that Charlotte was having none of it and was so determined to fight for them—because it really is for them. There is no doubt as to the attraction between them and their connection is unbelievably close, so thankfully he never pulls the "I just don't love you" card to purposefully hurt her and push her away. This means though, that Charlotte knows they have a chance to be incredibly happy, if only Ewan will allow it. Charlotte could have otherwise come off as just a sweet and somewhat uninteresting heroine, but the battle she puts up made me really like her.
Not a reread for me, but still an enjoyable couple of hours that I would recommend to others (which is basically the definite of a 3.5-star rating from me). Enjoy!
Ewan Loves Charlotte ...
The moment the butler had gone, Ewan pressed both hands against the top of his desk, leaning over the surface as his breath came suddenly short and hard.And Charlotte Loves Ewan ...
Charlotte. Charlotte. Charlotte. She was his obsession. His dream. And he recalled every single moment they'd ever spent together in one blink of an eye, just as he always did. Each was seared into his mind.
She pushed aside the dessert and scooted her chair a bit closer. He stiffened in response and a curtain drew down over his face, a distance he normally reserved for strangers.Miscellaneous Notes:
Having it put there between them made her heart hurt. This was what she was risking by pushing him. That he would set her aside forever, that their relationship would be irreparably destroyed.
It terrified her. But then, so did walking away from what she wanted and what she felt. She'd done that once and had been miserable. If she didn't risk this now, when all the world had seemed to align to make it happen, she feared the remainder of her life would be a series of regrets over what she hadn't done or said.
"Ewan," she whispered.
His hands shook as he signed, "Please don't."
• Why is the book called The Silent Duke, when it turns out that's a derogatory name used to reference Ewan and he hates it?
• I definitely consider this book "novella-ish," as I term it (has 215 pages)
This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
November 23, 2017
The blurb tells us that Ewan Hoffstead is mute since birth. After suffering through an abusive childhood, his uncle swoops in and rescues him from his awful father. During this time he also meets and befriends our heroine, Charlotte. They go their separate ways as young adults, but are reunited after Charlotte is widowed and Ewan invites her to spend Christmas with his closest friends and family at his estate. Naturally a steamy romance ensues.
*sigh* My reviews for Jess Michaels novels are becoming repeat performances. I've read many of her books and I must admit that her earlier work (according to memory) was a lot better than her newer novels. And this series in particular, in my opinion, is one of her poorest.
Every character in "The 1797 Club" series has so much potential, but in the end they're just so thinly sketched and bland that I end up disappointed. They're like carbon copies of one another with no discernible features or characteristics that make them interesting or unique. The author TELLS us that they're interesting and we're supposed to be invested in their stories, but the SHOWING falls flat every time. I understand that romance novels require some element of suspended belief, and I'm happy to jump on board this train, but some of the elements in this series is just so absurd it's not even entertaining.
On the first page of this book, I started rolling my eyes. Not a good sign. It's like this author takes romantic fantasy a step too far- her books fail to be charming and comes across as silly instead. It's frustrating.
Both Ewan and Charlotte were decent people, but utterly forgettable as characters. And that's so sad because Ewan, especially, could have been so wonderful. Then again, so could all the heroes in this series. They were all supposed to be deep, dark and twisty, but none of that translates onto paper. Ewan could have been such an interesting and complex hero! The ideas were there, they were just so badly executed. Ultimately Ewan was unbelievable and Charlotte was too damn perfect.
This author has a tendency to use sex to heal all wounds. Look, I enjoy the intimate scenes in my historicals, and used correctly, they can really enhance the emotional connection between the characters. To me, they need to serve a purpose and not just as a means of achieving the novel's desired word count. These two had sex almost from the get-go and they had A LOT of it. This is time that could have been better spent delving into Ewan's issues and making us understand what life's been like for him and why these two deserve to be together. Instead it reads like light-hearted fluff that tries to be deep, but fails miserably.
The rate at which Jess Michaels churns out books shouldn't be an indication of quality, but unfortunately it is. Too many books in too short a time - it pains me to say that most of them are just not worth reading.
*sigh* My reviews for Jess Michaels novels are becoming repeat performances. I've read many of her books and I must admit that her earlier work (according to memory) was a lot better than her newer novels. And this series in particular, in my opinion, is one of her poorest.
Every character in "The 1797 Club" series has so much potential, but in the end they're just so thinly sketched and bland that I end up disappointed. They're like carbon copies of one another with no discernible features or characteristics that make them interesting or unique. The author TELLS us that they're interesting and we're supposed to be invested in their stories, but the SHOWING falls flat every time. I understand that romance novels require some element of suspended belief, and I'm happy to jump on board this train, but some of the elements in this series is just so absurd it's not even entertaining.
On the first page of this book, I started rolling my eyes. Not a good sign. It's like this author takes romantic fantasy a step too far- her books fail to be charming and comes across as silly instead. It's frustrating.
Both Ewan and Charlotte were decent people, but utterly forgettable as characters. And that's so sad because Ewan, especially, could have been so wonderful. Then again, so could all the heroes in this series. They were all supposed to be deep, dark and twisty, but none of that translates onto paper. Ewan could have been such an interesting and complex hero! The ideas were there, they were just so badly executed. Ultimately Ewan was unbelievable and Charlotte was too damn perfect.
This author has a tendency to use sex to heal all wounds. Look, I enjoy the intimate scenes in my historicals, and used correctly, they can really enhance the emotional connection between the characters. To me, they need to serve a purpose and not just as a means of achieving the novel's desired word count. These two had sex almost from the get-go and they had A LOT of it. This is time that could have been better spent delving into Ewan's issues and making us understand what life's been like for him and why these two deserve to be together. Instead it reads like light-hearted fluff that tries to be deep, but fails miserably.
The rate at which Jess Michaels churns out books shouldn't be an indication of quality, but unfortunately it is. Too many books in too short a time - it pains me to say that most of them are just not worth reading.
April 2, 2018
I one clicked on this bad boy the minute I finished reading the blurb, and it gave me everything I wanted. Namely a mute and abused hero fighting himself over a chance at happiness with the woman he has loved his entire life. Yes, yes, 100 times yes.
Ewan (I even love his name) spent 10 years in the home of the father who hated him. It wasn’t until the man threatened to put him in an asylum over his inability to speak that his aunt and uncle took him away and decided to raise him as their own. Charlotte was only seven, but she felt a special connection to her brother’s friend, so much so that she developed a special sign language that allowed the two of them to talk.
Fast forward nearly 20 years. Charlotte is now a widow, just coming out of mourning. She is about to re-enter the marriage mart, but she wants to try one more time to make a go of things with Ewan. You see, she confessed her love to him before she ever got married, but he pushed her away. Now that she’s no longer an innocent, she has another tool in her belt to aid in her efforts and she is not above using seduction to finally win the man she loves.
As luck would have it, Charlotte is the only guest at a house party at Ewan’s estate before a storm makes the area inaccessible. She’ll have no better chance to work her magic, so she gets right down to business.
I was a little worried at the beginning of this book because I felt that it was progressing too fast. I expected much more build before they kissed or progressed further. I was also a little skeptical of their special secret (highly complex) sign language. However, those were probably my only reservations. I enjoyed this book very much.
Ewan was so wonderfully damaged and totally in love with Charlotte. It was so angsty and sad and sweet. Despite my initial reservations, I ended up loving the way he was completely powerless to stop himself from responding to her. And did I mention… he was a virgin??? Of course, Charlotte helps relieve him of that problem pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to convince him to consider any kind of future between them.
This love story is one stolen moment after another and it’s so bittersweet watching Charlotte and Ewan get tiny tastes of what they’ve both always wanted together. Ewan’s dad did a real number on him and even though he’s now got the dead man’s title, he hasn’t found peace.
I feel like I’ve spoiled too much already. Suffice it to say, Ewan and Charlotte are very easy to root for and their HEA is super-satisfying.
This is book four in the 1797 Club series, but holds up entirely as a standalone.
Rating: B/B+
*ARC provided by publisher
Ewan (I even love his name) spent 10 years in the home of the father who hated him. It wasn’t until the man threatened to put him in an asylum over his inability to speak that his aunt and uncle took him away and decided to raise him as their own. Charlotte was only seven, but she felt a special connection to her brother’s friend, so much so that she developed a special sign language that allowed the two of them to talk.
Fast forward nearly 20 years. Charlotte is now a widow, just coming out of mourning. She is about to re-enter the marriage mart, but she wants to try one more time to make a go of things with Ewan. You see, she confessed her love to him before she ever got married, but he pushed her away. Now that she’s no longer an innocent, she has another tool in her belt to aid in her efforts and she is not above using seduction to finally win the man she loves.
As luck would have it, Charlotte is the only guest at a house party at Ewan’s estate before a storm makes the area inaccessible. She’ll have no better chance to work her magic, so she gets right down to business.
I was a little worried at the beginning of this book because I felt that it was progressing too fast. I expected much more build before they kissed or progressed further. I was also a little skeptical of their special secret (highly complex) sign language. However, those were probably my only reservations. I enjoyed this book very much.
Ewan was so wonderfully damaged and totally in love with Charlotte. It was so angsty and sad and sweet. Despite my initial reservations, I ended up loving the way he was completely powerless to stop himself from responding to her. And did I mention… he was a virgin??? Of course, Charlotte helps relieve him of that problem pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to convince him to consider any kind of future between them.
This love story is one stolen moment after another and it’s so bittersweet watching Charlotte and Ewan get tiny tastes of what they’ve both always wanted together. Ewan’s dad did a real number on him and even though he’s now got the dead man’s title, he hasn’t found peace.
I feel like I’ve spoiled too much already. Suffice it to say, Ewan and Charlotte are very easy to root for and their HEA is super-satisfying.
This is book four in the 1797 Club series, but holds up entirely as a standalone.
Rating: B/B+
*ARC provided by publisher
November 14, 2017
An auto-buy author for me!
Charlotte, the daughter and sister of dukes and widow of an earl, has loved Ewen since she was a girl of seven and he a boy of 10. She has decided that enough is enough and she intends to have her heart's desire - a life with the man who holds her heart come hell or high water. Adverse weather conditions give her just the opening she needs.
My favorite romance trope is childhood best friends. This story fulfilled my trope loving dreams in spades. Pure childhood love, check. Secret language/code words, check. Coldhearted, unfeeling parents, check. Love triumphing over all obstacles, check.
Above and beyond, Jess Michaels never fails to make her characters sizzle on the page. She has done more than accomplish that with this offering. You can't help but fall in love with Ewen, he is a hard working honorable man, who just happens to have been born mute. He doesn't let his disability hamper his responsibilities with respect to his estate and his dependents. He just needs to get over the hangups that prevent him from fulfilling his own heart's desires with respect to Charlotte.
This is a romance, so, of course, he does. It's the journey to HEA that makes it so rewarding.
Although, I already preordered this book, I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC prerelease. I was happy to provide this review ahead of time.
Charlotte, the daughter and sister of dukes and widow of an earl, has loved Ewen since she was a girl of seven and he a boy of 10. She has decided that enough is enough and she intends to have her heart's desire - a life with the man who holds her heart come hell or high water. Adverse weather conditions give her just the opening she needs.
My favorite romance trope is childhood best friends. This story fulfilled my trope loving dreams in spades. Pure childhood love, check. Secret language/code words, check. Coldhearted, unfeeling parents, check. Love triumphing over all obstacles, check.
Above and beyond, Jess Michaels never fails to make her characters sizzle on the page. She has done more than accomplish that with this offering. You can't help but fall in love with Ewen, he is a hard working honorable man, who just happens to have been born mute. He doesn't let his disability hamper his responsibilities with respect to his estate and his dependents. He just needs to get over the hangups that prevent him from fulfilling his own heart's desires with respect to Charlotte.
This is a romance, so, of course, he does. It's the journey to HEA that makes it so rewarding.
Although, I already preordered this book, I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC prerelease. I was happy to provide this review ahead of time.
February 25, 2020
DNFed at 50%...
I just couldn't keep going. This book was something I thought I'd like; it has a disabled main character with a darkish past, childhood friends becoming partners in life and fancy mansions and dresses...
But I hated all of the tropes and cliches (both plot and writing-wise) that piled up as the story progressed. There is no PLOT. There is no actual valid reason why these people shouldn't be together. No secret (family or otherwise), no resistance from their social circle, no nothing! And yet, they keep repeating the same pattern over and over again. She says she loves him, plans to seduce him - he loves her, accepts physical intimacy but is determined to push her away emotionally. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Barf.
I just couldn't keep going. This book was something I thought I'd like; it has a disabled main character with a darkish past, childhood friends becoming partners in life and fancy mansions and dresses...
But I hated all of the tropes and cliches (both plot and writing-wise) that piled up as the story progressed. There is no PLOT. There is no actual valid reason why these people shouldn't be together. No secret (family or otherwise), no resistance from their social circle, no nothing! And yet, they keep repeating the same pattern over and over again. She says she loves him, plans to seduce him - he loves her, accepts physical intimacy but is determined to push her away emotionally. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Barf.
April 20, 2021
https://emozionidicarta2020.blogspot....
Ed eccoci al quarto capitolo della serie "Il club del 1797" in questo volume troveremo Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow.
Ewan Hoffstead come tutti i duchi del club 1797 ha i suoi demoni da combattere e lui forse più di tutti.
Il suo passato è costellato di violenze e dolore, è cresciuto con la consapevolezza che il padre lo odiasse a causa della sua condizione fisica.
Lui aveva provato a parlare, si era sforzato molto, ma l'unico suono che riusciva a emettere era solo qualche grugnito che faceva arrabbiare ancora di più il padre, che lo puniva spesso considerandolo stupido e guasto, anche se lui non si era mai considerato stupido, visto che apprendeva e imparava molto prima dei suoi coetanei, ma di certo, si sentiva guasto.
A dieci anni furono gli zii paterni a prendersi cura di lui, dandogli così la possibilità di crescere circondato da persone che lo amavano, tra cui il cugino Matthew e l'amico Baldwin insieme alla sorella Charlotte con cui instaura un'amicizia speciale che li porta a creare un linguaggio fatto di segni per poter comunicare meglio tra di loro.
"Ewan non era certo che sarebbe andato tutto bene nell’immediato futuro. Ma quando guardava questa ragazza, si ritrovava a credere che forse, solo forse, il suo futuro sarebbe potuto migliorare un giorno."
Charlotte, Contessa di Portsmith aveva sperato tanto che il rapporto creato con il Duca sfociasse in qualcosa di più dell'amicizia, ma Ewan l'aveva rifiutata senza dargli nessuna possibilità e costringendola a un matrimonio combinato con un altro nobile.
Rimasta vedova, dopo il periodo di lutto, Charlotte non vuole sprecare la sua seconda possibilità di poterlo avere e farà di tutto per raggiungere il suo obiettivo.
«Molto bene, Ewan. Solo questo. Se questo è tutto ciò che posso avere, non lo rifiuterò.»
L'occasione si presenta quando si ritrovano bloccati da una tempesta nel castello di Hargrove, la tenuta di Ewan, dove dovevano passare il natale insieme a tutta la famiglia, che invece era rimasta bloccata a causa del maltempo.
"Charlotte deglutì a fatica quando Ewan si avvicinò sempre di più finché non le fu proprio di fronte e la torreggiò . La fissava e profumava di calore, di uomo e di pelle pulita."
Charlotte non era più una ragazzina inesperta, era forte, determinata e testarda, ormai era una donna e voleva sfruttare le sue capacità per poterlo sedurre.
Deve fare molta attenzione però, perché, se il suo piano dovesse fallire, potrebbe mettere in discussione non solo la loro amicizia ma anche il rapporto con gli altri duchi del club, Baldwin e Matthew.
In questo volume troviamo poco di quell'ambiente mondano, fatto di balli eleganti e feste sfarzose, ma non per questo meno intrigante anzi, ci sono degli aspetti a mio avviso molto interessanti. L'autrice in questo quarto volume affronta un tema molto importante, la discriminazione nei confronti delle persone affette da disabilità.
Questa coppia mi ha letteralmente spiazzata con la loro storia e la purezza dei loro sentimenti.
Per non parlare del dolore che ha accompagnato Ewan per quasi tutta la vita.
Il suo sentirsi sempre inadeguato e guasto, non meritevole di una vita felice accanto alla donna che ha sempre amato, non rendendosi conto che invece è un uomo buono, caritatevole e giusto, amato e rispettato, dalla sua gente e da tutte le persone che gli stavano vicine.
"Perché lei era sua, e lui era suo per sempre. E mentre rivendicava il suo corpo , la gioia che lo travolse lo cambiò. Non era mai stato così felice di pensare al futuro e di lasciarsi il passato alle spalle."
Charlotte è stata una protagonista straordinaria, una donna che ha lottato con tutte le sue forze per buttare giù quei muri che Ewan aveva innalzato intorno a sé creando una fortezza inespugnabile. Le scene hot sono molto intense e passionali che vi lasceranno completamente senza fiato.
"E ora se ne stava tra le sue braccia, le gambe nude aggrovigliate con le sue, il corpo che tremava ancora dopo due potenti orgasmi, e osò sperare di poter avere rose e fiori, baci e momenti romantici mano nella mano e tutta la passione che ribolliva tra loro."
Quante emozioni racchiuse in queste pagine, di solito ci si aspetta che a lungo andare una serie possa stancare perché magari l'autrice non ha più niente da dire, ed invece dopo aver letto il quarto libro posso affermare con sicurezza che andando avanti diventano sempre più belli, intriganti e coinvolgenti, complimenti all'autrice e a Isabella Nanni per l'ottimo lavoro di traduzione, veramente impeccabile.
E adesso non vedo l'ora di leggere la storia di Baldwin, "il Duca di niente " troviamo un piccolo assaggio alla fine di questo volume.
Ringrazio l'autrice per la copia ARC
Ed eccoci al quarto capitolo della serie "Il club del 1797" in questo volume troveremo Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow.
Ewan Hoffstead come tutti i duchi del club 1797 ha i suoi demoni da combattere e lui forse più di tutti.
Il suo passato è costellato di violenze e dolore, è cresciuto con la consapevolezza che il padre lo odiasse a causa della sua condizione fisica.
Lui aveva provato a parlare, si era sforzato molto, ma l'unico suono che riusciva a emettere era solo qualche grugnito che faceva arrabbiare ancora di più il padre, che lo puniva spesso considerandolo stupido e guasto, anche se lui non si era mai considerato stupido, visto che apprendeva e imparava molto prima dei suoi coetanei, ma di certo, si sentiva guasto.
A dieci anni furono gli zii paterni a prendersi cura di lui, dandogli così la possibilità di crescere circondato da persone che lo amavano, tra cui il cugino Matthew e l'amico Baldwin insieme alla sorella Charlotte con cui instaura un'amicizia speciale che li porta a creare un linguaggio fatto di segni per poter comunicare meglio tra di loro.
"Ewan non era certo che sarebbe andato tutto bene nell’immediato futuro. Ma quando guardava questa ragazza, si ritrovava a credere che forse, solo forse, il suo futuro sarebbe potuto migliorare un giorno."
Charlotte, Contessa di Portsmith aveva sperato tanto che il rapporto creato con il Duca sfociasse in qualcosa di più dell'amicizia, ma Ewan l'aveva rifiutata senza dargli nessuna possibilità e costringendola a un matrimonio combinato con un altro nobile.
Rimasta vedova, dopo il periodo di lutto, Charlotte non vuole sprecare la sua seconda possibilità di poterlo avere e farà di tutto per raggiungere il suo obiettivo.
«Molto bene, Ewan. Solo questo. Se questo è tutto ciò che posso avere, non lo rifiuterò.»
L'occasione si presenta quando si ritrovano bloccati da una tempesta nel castello di Hargrove, la tenuta di Ewan, dove dovevano passare il natale insieme a tutta la famiglia, che invece era rimasta bloccata a causa del maltempo.
"Charlotte deglutì a fatica quando Ewan si avvicinò sempre di più finché non le fu proprio di fronte e la torreggiò . La fissava e profumava di calore, di uomo e di pelle pulita."
Charlotte non era più una ragazzina inesperta, era forte, determinata e testarda, ormai era una donna e voleva sfruttare le sue capacità per poterlo sedurre.
Deve fare molta attenzione però, perché, se il suo piano dovesse fallire, potrebbe mettere in discussione non solo la loro amicizia ma anche il rapporto con gli altri duchi del club, Baldwin e Matthew.
In questo volume troviamo poco di quell'ambiente mondano, fatto di balli eleganti e feste sfarzose, ma non per questo meno intrigante anzi, ci sono degli aspetti a mio avviso molto interessanti. L'autrice in questo quarto volume affronta un tema molto importante, la discriminazione nei confronti delle persone affette da disabilità.
Questa coppia mi ha letteralmente spiazzata con la loro storia e la purezza dei loro sentimenti.
Per non parlare del dolore che ha accompagnato Ewan per quasi tutta la vita.
Il suo sentirsi sempre inadeguato e guasto, non meritevole di una vita felice accanto alla donna che ha sempre amato, non rendendosi conto che invece è un uomo buono, caritatevole e giusto, amato e rispettato, dalla sua gente e da tutte le persone che gli stavano vicine.
"Perché lei era sua, e lui era suo per sempre. E mentre rivendicava il suo corpo , la gioia che lo travolse lo cambiò. Non era mai stato così felice di pensare al futuro e di lasciarsi il passato alle spalle."
Charlotte è stata una protagonista straordinaria, una donna che ha lottato con tutte le sue forze per buttare giù quei muri che Ewan aveva innalzato intorno a sé creando una fortezza inespugnabile. Le scene hot sono molto intense e passionali che vi lasceranno completamente senza fiato.
"E ora se ne stava tra le sue braccia, le gambe nude aggrovigliate con le sue, il corpo che tremava ancora dopo due potenti orgasmi, e osò sperare di poter avere rose e fiori, baci e momenti romantici mano nella mano e tutta la passione che ribolliva tra loro."
Quante emozioni racchiuse in queste pagine, di solito ci si aspetta che a lungo andare una serie possa stancare perché magari l'autrice non ha più niente da dire, ed invece dopo aver letto il quarto libro posso affermare con sicurezza che andando avanti diventano sempre più belli, intriganti e coinvolgenti, complimenti all'autrice e a Isabella Nanni per l'ottimo lavoro di traduzione, veramente impeccabile.
E adesso non vedo l'ora di leggere la storia di Baldwin, "il Duca di niente " troviamo un piccolo assaggio alla fine di questo volume.
Ringrazio l'autrice per la copia ARC
February 1, 2021
Mute since birth, Ewan Hoffstead tolerated years of abuse from his father and younger brothers until his uncle took over his care himself. The fight he had to undertake three years ago to take his rightful title as Duke of Donburrow upon his father’s death only reinforced his belief that someone as damaged as he is doesn't deserve happiness.
Charlotte Undercross has loved Ewan since they were children, but his rejection forced her onto the marriage mart. Now the widowed Countess of Portsmouth, she’s determined to try once more for happiness with Ewan and she’ll begin during a family Christmas party at Ewan’s country estate. When a storm prevents the rest of the guests from joining them, leaving Ewan and Charlotte alone, she decides to risk everything and openly seduce the man of her dreams. Ewan can’t resist Charlotte’s allure, but he’s reluctant to give her anything more permanent, believing she’ll one day come to resent him for his disability and the whispers that follow him because of it. His every belief is shattered, however, when a surprise visit from his family poses a threat to him and to his love.
This was an incredibly sweet story. I loved Charlotte’s tenacity even as Ewan pushed her away, though his extensive ruminations on his deficiencies did become a bit repetitive, possibly because I just finished Her Favorite Duke and the hero in that story did much of the same. Thankfully, Ewan came to his senses mostly on his own and began to fight for what he wanted and to believe in his own worthiness. This was a strong story and I loved that they never danced around their feelings, but rather the conflict came from Ewan’s internal struggles, which he had to overcome on his own before he could open himself up to love. Thankfully, he finally woke up and claimed the future he wanted and that was lovely. Ewan and Charlotte were an excellent match and I loved that they complimented each other so well and became each other’s safe haven.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Charlotte Undercross has loved Ewan since they were children, but his rejection forced her onto the marriage mart. Now the widowed Countess of Portsmouth, she’s determined to try once more for happiness with Ewan and she’ll begin during a family Christmas party at Ewan’s country estate. When a storm prevents the rest of the guests from joining them, leaving Ewan and Charlotte alone, she decides to risk everything and openly seduce the man of her dreams. Ewan can’t resist Charlotte’s allure, but he’s reluctant to give her anything more permanent, believing she’ll one day come to resent him for his disability and the whispers that follow him because of it. His every belief is shattered, however, when a surprise visit from his family poses a threat to him and to his love.
This was an incredibly sweet story. I loved Charlotte’s tenacity even as Ewan pushed her away, though his extensive ruminations on his deficiencies did become a bit repetitive, possibly because I just finished Her Favorite Duke and the hero in that story did much of the same. Thankfully, Ewan came to his senses mostly on his own and began to fight for what he wanted and to believe in his own worthiness. This was a strong story and I loved that they never danced around their feelings, but rather the conflict came from Ewan’s internal struggles, which he had to overcome on his own before he could open himself up to love. Thankfully, he finally woke up and claimed the future he wanted and that was lovely. Ewan and Charlotte were an excellent match and I loved that they complimented each other so well and became each other’s safe haven.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
November 5, 2017
Series: The 1797 Club #4
Publication Date: 11/14/17
What a book! I absolutely loved it from beginning to end – and couldn’t put it down until I could see how it all worked out. Do you want a broken heart? If so, just read the Prologue to this excellent book. The unimaginable pain a heartless and mean-spirited parent can cause is just palpable. Then, if you want a smile in your heart – read the rest of the book. It is an excellently written, well-paced, story of life-long friends finding their own happily ever after. It isn’t one of those books where they were in denial of their feelings – no – both knew they deeply loved the other. However, one of them (you guess which one) is stubborn beyond belief and doesn’t feel worthy of the other. Now, for the purists among us (yes, I’m one), the author did use a couple of anachronistic words – for instance, she used the word ‘sex’ to refer to the act rather than the gender. See this Facebook post for information on the etymology for ‘sex’.
Ewan Hoffstead was born mute. He was a lovely child, but his father could not accept that his heir was less than perfect and tried to beat, berate and shame him into speaking. Picture a grown man standing above a cowering two-year-old child screaming at him that he was broken and worthless. Imagine the damage that treatment would cause to a young child’s psyche. When Ewan was ten-years-old, his father was going to finally put him in an asylum in order to keep him from inheriting the title. Luckily for Ewan, his aunt and uncle took him from his parents and raised him with love and acceptance. Ewan was actually a very intelligent man, but everyone else seemed to judge him on his lack of speech. Or did they? Maybe it was just his perception that everyone was judging him negatively – but, that poor abused little boy always came to the fore and thought that they did. You’ll just fall hopelessly in love with Ewan when you read this book. He’s sweet, thoughtful, considerate and honorable.
Charlotte Undercross was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl of seven when she helped Ewan through the worst day of his young life. Then, together, they developed a hand-signing language to make it easier for Ewan to communicate with others. It turned out to be much too complicated for others to learn, but Ewan and Charlotte used it all the time. Charlotte loves Ewan with all of her heart and she has told him so and asked him to love her in return. When he refused, she married another.
Charlotte is now a young widow and she’s determined to have one more shot at a life with Ewan. If he still refuses, she’ll have to go back on the marriage mart. Ewan is hosting a Christmas celebration at his estate and several friends and family will attend – Charlotte is among those. Fate intervenes and a winter storm causes rivers to flood and Charlotte’s coach is the last one to make it over the bridge leading to Ewan’s home. That gives Charlotte several days alone with Ewan. Can she convince him to let go of his past and embrace a future with her? We sure hope so. Then, there is the remainder of his hate-filled family to contend with. Will they manage to oust Ewan from his title and cause irreparable harm?
This is a quick and lovely read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 11/14/17
What a book! I absolutely loved it from beginning to end – and couldn’t put it down until I could see how it all worked out. Do you want a broken heart? If so, just read the Prologue to this excellent book. The unimaginable pain a heartless and mean-spirited parent can cause is just palpable. Then, if you want a smile in your heart – read the rest of the book. It is an excellently written, well-paced, story of life-long friends finding their own happily ever after. It isn’t one of those books where they were in denial of their feelings – no – both knew they deeply loved the other. However, one of them (you guess which one) is stubborn beyond belief and doesn’t feel worthy of the other. Now, for the purists among us (yes, I’m one), the author did use a couple of anachronistic words – for instance, she used the word ‘sex’ to refer to the act rather than the gender. See this Facebook post for information on the etymology for ‘sex’.
Ewan Hoffstead was born mute. He was a lovely child, but his father could not accept that his heir was less than perfect and tried to beat, berate and shame him into speaking. Picture a grown man standing above a cowering two-year-old child screaming at him that he was broken and worthless. Imagine the damage that treatment would cause to a young child’s psyche. When Ewan was ten-years-old, his father was going to finally put him in an asylum in order to keep him from inheriting the title. Luckily for Ewan, his aunt and uncle took him from his parents and raised him with love and acceptance. Ewan was actually a very intelligent man, but everyone else seemed to judge him on his lack of speech. Or did they? Maybe it was just his perception that everyone was judging him negatively – but, that poor abused little boy always came to the fore and thought that they did. You’ll just fall hopelessly in love with Ewan when you read this book. He’s sweet, thoughtful, considerate and honorable.
Charlotte Undercross was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl of seven when she helped Ewan through the worst day of his young life. Then, together, they developed a hand-signing language to make it easier for Ewan to communicate with others. It turned out to be much too complicated for others to learn, but Ewan and Charlotte used it all the time. Charlotte loves Ewan with all of her heart and she has told him so and asked him to love her in return. When he refused, she married another.
Charlotte is now a young widow and she’s determined to have one more shot at a life with Ewan. If he still refuses, she’ll have to go back on the marriage mart. Ewan is hosting a Christmas celebration at his estate and several friends and family will attend – Charlotte is among those. Fate intervenes and a winter storm causes rivers to flood and Charlotte’s coach is the last one to make it over the bridge leading to Ewan’s home. That gives Charlotte several days alone with Ewan. Can she convince him to let go of his past and embrace a future with her? We sure hope so. Then, there is the remainder of his hate-filled family to contend with. Will they manage to oust Ewan from his title and cause irreparable harm?
This is a quick and lovely read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
April 26, 2025
The couple had loved each other since childhood, but H is mute so didn't offer for her. His father and brothers all hated him, so H thinks he's protecting her. She's the hero in the story using sign language they created together. The plot was interesting if a little overwrought at the end. I liked it.
December 26, 2024
Fabulous read! My favourite in this series, although all are great. Ewan and Charlotte have loved each other for years, but Ewan feels he is unworthy due to being mute, and Charlotte has been hurt from his first refusal. These two are amazing people, and so deserve a HEA. Ms Michaels weaves an enchanting story around these two - a must read for all fans of historical romance.
April 21, 2021
Il Duca silenzioso è un romanzo davvero bellissimo e questa serie mi sta piacendo sempre di più. In ogni nuovo volume conosciamo meglio uno dei duchi e vi assicuro che tutti gli uomini che fanno parte del Club del 1797 sono speciali. Avevo modo di conoscere Ewan nel romanzo dedicato a Graham e mi aveva immediatamente catturato.
Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow, è un personaggio veramente stupendo. Nato muto ha vissuto una prima parte della sua vita in modo molto doloroso, maltrattato dal suo stesso padre che ha cercato di fare di tutto per non fargli ereditare il titolo che gli spetta di diritto. Quando le cose stanno per precipitare lo zio di Ewan, Aldous, Duca di Tyndale, decide di intervenire e sottrarre il piccolo dall’odio ingiustificato del padre. Ewan cresce sereno, accanto al cugino Matthew e al migliore amico di quest’ultimo, Baldwin, fratello della piccola Charlotte. Ed è grazie a Matthew e Baldwin che Ewan conoscerà anche James, Simon, Graham e gli altri membri del Club. Nonostante tutto, però, le cicatrici invisibili che la cattiveria della propria gli ha inflitto, continuano a condizionargli la vita, e anche se è diventato Duca di Donburrow non è certo di meritare il titolo o l’amore della donna che ama da sempre. Il personaggio di Ewan è molto complesso e personalmente mi è piaciuto molto. Ha un cuore nobile ed è un Duca attento e premuroso. Ha un carattere leale ed è un ottimo amico, anche se ama la solitudine. La sola persona che sia sempre riuscita a farlo sentire bene, oltre ai suoi amici del Club, è Charlotte. Tuttavia ha paura di amare e per lui lasciarsi andare non sarà facile.
Charlotte Undercross si è innamorata di Ewan sin da piccola e tra di loro c’è sempre stato un grande affiatamento, ma anche se Ewan prova un profondo affetto per lei, la giovane non è mai riuscita a conquistare completamente il suo cuore. Dopo essersi spostata con il Conte di Portsmith, rimane prematuramente vedova. Ora che il fato le sta concedendo una seconda occasione per conquistare il cuore di Ewan, la giovane Charlotte è disposta a tutto pur di abbattere le difese del solo uomo che abbia mai amato. Charlotte è una donna straordinaria, molto dolce e determinata all’occorrenza. Ha un cuore immenso ed è sempre pronta a rivolgere una buona parola per tutti, anche a chi non se la merita. Ama profondamente Ewan e ho ammirato la sua determinazione. Ho profondamente amato il loro legame, per prima cosa sono amici e sono legati da una connessione speciale. Quando era bambina, ha inventato un linguaggio segreto per parlare con l’amico e per farlo sentire bene. Il loro rapporto ha resistito per anni, ha resistito alle reticenze di Ewan e al matrimonio di Charlotte. Ora hanno occasione di essere felici insieme, ma la battaglia di Charlotte per far capitolare definitivamente il Duca sarà molto lunga.
Una caratteristica che ho amato di questo romanzo è il modo in cui l’autrice ha affrontato la disabilità di Ewan, è stata bravissima a dare al suo personaggio un grandissimo spessore psicologico e caratteriale. Per certi versi mi ha ricordato Simon, perché entrambi faticano a lasciarsi andare anche se per motivi diversi.
Inoltre, anche questa volta, la Michaels è riuscita a descrivere alla perfezione i sentimenti di entrambi i protagonisti, puntando tantissimo sul loro legame che è veramente meraviglioso.
Le scene di intimità sono molto più incisive rispetto agli altri romanzi, soprattutto perché Charlotte conosce l’arte della seduzione, ma per conquistare il cuore di Ewan non basterà la sola passione. La particolarità della scrittura della Michaels è che anche se le scene erotiche prendono maggiore spazio, l’attenzione resta comunque sull’aspetto emotivo. In questo senso i suoi romanzi sono ben equilibrati.
Lo stile di scrittura di Jess Michaels è una garanzia: fluido, attento, passionale e profondo all’occorrenza. La trama corre velocissima e il romanzo si legge in poco tempo, personalmente mi sono sentita immediatamente coinvolta dal rapporto tra Ewan e Charlotte, e il romanzo è finito troppo presto. Quello che apprezzo maggiormente è che le sue storie non sono mai banali o scontate, riesce sempre a trovare un modo per dargli quello spessore che lo distingue nettamente dagli altri romanzi di questo genere.
La traduzione è importantissima e ben fatta, Isabella Nanni è una certezza. Inoltre ho notato anche una certa incisività per quanto riguarda l’uso di alcune parole. La Michaels ha osato e ha fatto bene, secondo me.
Un’altra caratteristica importante è l’amicizia. Anche se i protagonisti dei primi tre romanzi compaiono poco, ho avuto l’opportunità di conoscere meglio altri due membri del Club. Non vedo l’ora di scoprire la storia di Baldwin, l’autrice ha lasciato qualche vago indizio dopo la fine del romanzo dedicato a Ewan, e anche quella di Matthew. La profonda amicizia che lega i membri del Club 1797 c’è e si sente e resta sempre un nodo fondamentale in ogni libro.
Recensione completa: https://virtualkaty.blogspot.com/2021...
Ewan Hoffstead, Duca di Donburrow, è un personaggio veramente stupendo. Nato muto ha vissuto una prima parte della sua vita in modo molto doloroso, maltrattato dal suo stesso padre che ha cercato di fare di tutto per non fargli ereditare il titolo che gli spetta di diritto. Quando le cose stanno per precipitare lo zio di Ewan, Aldous, Duca di Tyndale, decide di intervenire e sottrarre il piccolo dall’odio ingiustificato del padre. Ewan cresce sereno, accanto al cugino Matthew e al migliore amico di quest’ultimo, Baldwin, fratello della piccola Charlotte. Ed è grazie a Matthew e Baldwin che Ewan conoscerà anche James, Simon, Graham e gli altri membri del Club. Nonostante tutto, però, le cicatrici invisibili che la cattiveria della propria gli ha inflitto, continuano a condizionargli la vita, e anche se è diventato Duca di Donburrow non è certo di meritare il titolo o l’amore della donna che ama da sempre. Il personaggio di Ewan è molto complesso e personalmente mi è piaciuto molto. Ha un cuore nobile ed è un Duca attento e premuroso. Ha un carattere leale ed è un ottimo amico, anche se ama la solitudine. La sola persona che sia sempre riuscita a farlo sentire bene, oltre ai suoi amici del Club, è Charlotte. Tuttavia ha paura di amare e per lui lasciarsi andare non sarà facile.
Charlotte Undercross si è innamorata di Ewan sin da piccola e tra di loro c’è sempre stato un grande affiatamento, ma anche se Ewan prova un profondo affetto per lei, la giovane non è mai riuscita a conquistare completamente il suo cuore. Dopo essersi spostata con il Conte di Portsmith, rimane prematuramente vedova. Ora che il fato le sta concedendo una seconda occasione per conquistare il cuore di Ewan, la giovane Charlotte è disposta a tutto pur di abbattere le difese del solo uomo che abbia mai amato. Charlotte è una donna straordinaria, molto dolce e determinata all’occorrenza. Ha un cuore immenso ed è sempre pronta a rivolgere una buona parola per tutti, anche a chi non se la merita. Ama profondamente Ewan e ho ammirato la sua determinazione. Ho profondamente amato il loro legame, per prima cosa sono amici e sono legati da una connessione speciale. Quando era bambina, ha inventato un linguaggio segreto per parlare con l’amico e per farlo sentire bene. Il loro rapporto ha resistito per anni, ha resistito alle reticenze di Ewan e al matrimonio di Charlotte. Ora hanno occasione di essere felici insieme, ma la battaglia di Charlotte per far capitolare definitivamente il Duca sarà molto lunga.
Una caratteristica che ho amato di questo romanzo è il modo in cui l’autrice ha affrontato la disabilità di Ewan, è stata bravissima a dare al suo personaggio un grandissimo spessore psicologico e caratteriale. Per certi versi mi ha ricordato Simon, perché entrambi faticano a lasciarsi andare anche se per motivi diversi.
Inoltre, anche questa volta, la Michaels è riuscita a descrivere alla perfezione i sentimenti di entrambi i protagonisti, puntando tantissimo sul loro legame che è veramente meraviglioso.
Le scene di intimità sono molto più incisive rispetto agli altri romanzi, soprattutto perché Charlotte conosce l’arte della seduzione, ma per conquistare il cuore di Ewan non basterà la sola passione. La particolarità della scrittura della Michaels è che anche se le scene erotiche prendono maggiore spazio, l’attenzione resta comunque sull’aspetto emotivo. In questo senso i suoi romanzi sono ben equilibrati.
Lo stile di scrittura di Jess Michaels è una garanzia: fluido, attento, passionale e profondo all’occorrenza. La trama corre velocissima e il romanzo si legge in poco tempo, personalmente mi sono sentita immediatamente coinvolta dal rapporto tra Ewan e Charlotte, e il romanzo è finito troppo presto. Quello che apprezzo maggiormente è che le sue storie non sono mai banali o scontate, riesce sempre a trovare un modo per dargli quello spessore che lo distingue nettamente dagli altri romanzi di questo genere.
La traduzione è importantissima e ben fatta, Isabella Nanni è una certezza. Inoltre ho notato anche una certa incisività per quanto riguarda l’uso di alcune parole. La Michaels ha osato e ha fatto bene, secondo me.
Un’altra caratteristica importante è l’amicizia. Anche se i protagonisti dei primi tre romanzi compaiono poco, ho avuto l’opportunità di conoscere meglio altri due membri del Club. Non vedo l’ora di scoprire la storia di Baldwin, l’autrice ha lasciato qualche vago indizio dopo la fine del romanzo dedicato a Ewan, e anche quella di Matthew. La profonda amicizia che lega i membri del Club 1797 c’è e si sente e resta sempre un nodo fondamentale in ogni libro.
Recensione completa: https://virtualkaty.blogspot.com/2021...
October 24, 2017
Ms. Michaels had to have known she was creating something special. I knew from the moment I read the blurb this story was meant for me. The Silent Duke is so much bigger than a seductive romance. It is a story of one man's struggle to be heard, despite unspeakable heartache. Told so masterfully through the eyes of courageous and the soul of love, this tale speaks to the heart on so many levels and is as inspiring as it is gut wrenching. Ewan is the ultimate survivor because he made it through ever obstacle with his soul intact and finally made it home. His was a voice meant to be heard and together Ewan and Charlotte found a love that was unstoppable.
December 21, 2019
This book has mixed reviews. Personally, I loved it. Everything about it just worked for me.
If you're one that skips the prologues in a book, don't do it with this one. The premise of the entire book rides on it, so just don't.
Ewan is the Duke of Donborrow and what sets him apart from any other hero I've ever read is that he is mute. Born that way, his father tried to beat him into speaking and even went as far as planning to put him in asylum because he was "damaged". But that didn't mean he was dumb. He taught himself to read and write and communicated with a pencil and paper that he carried with him all the time.
Charlotte sees past that and did when she was a little girl. Together, they created their own sign language when they were children and carried it into adulthood. She'd always loved him and had hoped for a future with him, but ended up marrying someone else she didn't love and didn't love her.
Now a widow, she, her mother, brother, and Ewan's cousins are coming to Ewan's estate to spend Christmas with him. She and Ewan end up spending a few days alone before everybody else arrives and that's when things heat up and the course of their relationship changes. He is not okay with this. He doesn't believe anyone can or should love him and he's afraid to father children in case they're born mute, too.
Two things factored big into this story for me. One was him being mute. The other was he was a virgin. I know there are tropes out there with that, but this was the first one I'd ever read. Ewan is so innocent and sweet and, at one time, he actually weeps. It tore at my heart. I loved everything about him.
Charlotte was a take charge kind of woman and it's a good thing. If she hadn't been determined (not overbearing), this story wouldn't exist. I don't mind a woman in the lead as long as she doesn't emasculate her man. It was an uphill battle for her to convince Ewan of her love and that he was worthy and not damaged. She was a wonderful character.
I loved him. I loved her. I loved them together.
The feels in the book were amazing and the sex was hot. I like steamy books as long as there are genuine emotions involved. Not sorry. The chemistry between Charlotte and Ewan was tangible and I wanted them to find happiness.
I was a bit disappointed in the epilogue. It was very short, which was good. It got the point across. I was wishing for something entirely different.
I don't know if I'll go on with the series, so I'll throw this out there. If Charlotte and Ewan can communicate with their own sign language, I would think they could teach their children the language so they could communicate with their father. I'd like to see a short story or something to wrap this up for me.
Overall, it was a great book!
*Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
If you're one that skips the prologues in a book, don't do it with this one. The premise of the entire book rides on it, so just don't.
Ewan is the Duke of Donborrow and what sets him apart from any other hero I've ever read is that he is mute. Born that way, his father tried to beat him into speaking and even went as far as planning to put him in asylum because he was "damaged". But that didn't mean he was dumb. He taught himself to read and write and communicated with a pencil and paper that he carried with him all the time.
Charlotte sees past that and did when she was a little girl. Together, they created their own sign language when they were children and carried it into adulthood. She'd always loved him and had hoped for a future with him, but ended up marrying someone else she didn't love and didn't love her.
Now a widow, she, her mother, brother, and Ewan's cousins are coming to Ewan's estate to spend Christmas with him. She and Ewan end up spending a few days alone before everybody else arrives and that's when things heat up and the course of their relationship changes. He is not okay with this. He doesn't believe anyone can or should love him and he's afraid to father children in case they're born mute, too.
Two things factored big into this story for me. One was him being mute. The other was he was a virgin. I know there are tropes out there with that, but this was the first one I'd ever read. Ewan is so innocent and sweet and, at one time, he actually weeps. It tore at my heart. I loved everything about him.
Charlotte was a take charge kind of woman and it's a good thing. If she hadn't been determined (not overbearing), this story wouldn't exist. I don't mind a woman in the lead as long as she doesn't emasculate her man. It was an uphill battle for her to convince Ewan of her love and that he was worthy and not damaged. She was a wonderful character.
I loved him. I loved her. I loved them together.
The feels in the book were amazing and the sex was hot. I like steamy books as long as there are genuine emotions involved. Not sorry. The chemistry between Charlotte and Ewan was tangible and I wanted them to find happiness.
I was a bit disappointed in the epilogue. It was very short, which was good. It got the point across. I was wishing for something entirely different.
I don't know if I'll go on with the series, so I'll throw this out there. If Charlotte and Ewan can communicate with their own sign language, I would think they could teach their children the language so they could communicate with their father. I'd like to see a short story or something to wrap this up for me.
Overall, it was a great book!
*Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
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