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Brides of Redemption #3
Met jou aan mijn zij
Als na onderzoek blijkt dat een aantal sterfgevallen in Mayville, West Virginia, te wijten zijn aan vergiftigde maagtabletten, worden twee agenten van de TCD undercover op pad gestuurd. Als getrouwd stel gaan Jace Cantrell en Laura Smith aan het werk bij Stroud Pharmaceuticals, maar zodra ze daar aankomen, ontploft er een bom. Het provinciale familiebedrijf blijkt heel wat lijken in de kast te hebben, en Jace en Laura lopen met de minuut meer gevaar...
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
23 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Callen
46 books524 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Her twenty-second novel, The Wrong Bride, was published in November 2015.
Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.
Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com
Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.
Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 25, 2016
Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books in this trilogy (Return of the Viscount and Surrender to the Earl), I was very much looking to reading this, the final of Ms Callen’s stories about three soldiers who return from army service in India determined to help the relatives of men in their regiment who were killed in a tragedy for which the three feel they are responsible.
Unfortunately, Redemption of the Duke turned out to be rather a disappointment and I’m not sure completely why. The writing was good, the chemistry between the leads was strong and Adam has all the requisite qualities listed in “Romance Heroes 101”. He is stunningly handsome, rich and titled, had a crappy childhood and is still coming to terms with a trauma for which he blames himself. Yet all those pieces of the puzzle fail to add up as they should, because the main thing I remember about him is the way he manipulates the heroine at every turn “for her own good.”
Adam returns to England having unexpectedly become the Duke of Rothford upon the death of his father and two half-brothers. As the third son, Adam had absolutely no expectations that he would ever inherit, and given his brothers’ intense dislike and threats to cut him off without a penny as soon as their father died, Adam determined to make his own way in the world and joined the army.
His youth had been rather a wild one, mostly because his brothers had so poisoned their father’s mind against him that notoriety was the only way in which he could count on receiving the late duke’s attention. But he has changed and is now a much more sober and mature man, intent on fulfilling his responsibilities to the dukedom and his family. The problem is that all his estates are managed so well by his staff that he finds himself at rather a loose end; and this leaves him time to concentrate instead on his mission to find and offer his aid to the sister of one of the men whose death weighs on his conscience.
Faith Cooper is working as a lady’s companion and drudge to a young woman who is making her entrée into society. After her brother was killed in India, she and her mother managed to support themselves by selling off their belongings, but that money lasted only a few months and Faith had to turn to other means to make ends meet.
Adam accosts her in the park one day, completely out of the blue, and informs her of his intention to help her in some way. Realising immediately that he is merely trying to assuage his own sense of guilt, she dismisses him angrily and hopes that is the last she will see of him.
But she has reckoned without Adam’s persistence. In spite of her admonishments about the damage being seen with him could do to her reputation, and in spite of her refusal of his offer of assistance, he won’t take no for an answer, and eventually enlists some outside help in the form of his aunt, Lady Duncan. She and Faith hit it off straight away, and it’s a matter of hours before Faith is being taken to her new place of work…only to be dismayed upon being taken to Rothford House.
By this time, Adam is well aware that he is more than a little infatuated with Miss Cooper and his interest in her does not go unnoticed; something he realises when he begins to receive anonymous notes which hint at the fact that she has some sort of murky secret in her past.
Knowing Faith well enough by this point to know that, should she get wind of the fact that the family is being threatened with scandal on her account, she would insist on leaving, he chooses not to tell her anything. He continues blithely to do what he thinks is best without reference to anyone else, and eventually forces Faith into an difficult situation which leaves her only one recourse.
It’s easy to understand Adam’s motives. He wants to do the right thing, but the trouble is that he goes about it in completely the wrong way. He believes that his unconsidered actions in India led to the death of Faith’s brother thus depriving her and her mother of their only means of support. Even though he offers to help Faith partly to salve his own conscience, he genuinely wants to make her life easier; he wants to keep her safe and he wants to keep her with him, and he truly believes his actions are for the best, but in doing the things he does, he makes one huge mistake: He takes away Faith’s right to choose for herself.
That’s not to say that the hero’s actions are solely responsible for the problems I experienced reading the book. Faith, too, is rather a difficult character to warm to. She rebuffs Adam quite cruelly to start with and refuses to admit that perhaps she does need help.
On the positive side, there was a good deal of chemistry between the principals, and I liked the way Ms Callen brought them to the realisation that despite everything, despite the potential scandal and their mistakes, they were two people who really needed each other. And Adam does finally come to see the error of his ways and make more of an effort to include others in his decision-making, although I can’t help wondering how long that will last.
Yet neither Faith nor Adam really came to life for me. The pacing was fairly slow throughout, and the mystery as to who is sending the anonymous notes wasn’t especially suspenseful or tense. There are some interesting secondary characters – principally Adam’s unconventional aunt – and it was nice to see Blackthorne and Knightsbridge and their wives, but overall Redemption of the Duke was a let-down, and rather a weak ending to what had been a very enjoyable series.
Unfortunately, Redemption of the Duke turned out to be rather a disappointment and I’m not sure completely why. The writing was good, the chemistry between the leads was strong and Adam has all the requisite qualities listed in “Romance Heroes 101”. He is stunningly handsome, rich and titled, had a crappy childhood and is still coming to terms with a trauma for which he blames himself. Yet all those pieces of the puzzle fail to add up as they should, because the main thing I remember about him is the way he manipulates the heroine at every turn “for her own good.”
Adam returns to England having unexpectedly become the Duke of Rothford upon the death of his father and two half-brothers. As the third son, Adam had absolutely no expectations that he would ever inherit, and given his brothers’ intense dislike and threats to cut him off without a penny as soon as their father died, Adam determined to make his own way in the world and joined the army.
His youth had been rather a wild one, mostly because his brothers had so poisoned their father’s mind against him that notoriety was the only way in which he could count on receiving the late duke’s attention. But he has changed and is now a much more sober and mature man, intent on fulfilling his responsibilities to the dukedom and his family. The problem is that all his estates are managed so well by his staff that he finds himself at rather a loose end; and this leaves him time to concentrate instead on his mission to find and offer his aid to the sister of one of the men whose death weighs on his conscience.
Faith Cooper is working as a lady’s companion and drudge to a young woman who is making her entrée into society. After her brother was killed in India, she and her mother managed to support themselves by selling off their belongings, but that money lasted only a few months and Faith had to turn to other means to make ends meet.
Adam accosts her in the park one day, completely out of the blue, and informs her of his intention to help her in some way. Realising immediately that he is merely trying to assuage his own sense of guilt, she dismisses him angrily and hopes that is the last she will see of him.
But she has reckoned without Adam’s persistence. In spite of her admonishments about the damage being seen with him could do to her reputation, and in spite of her refusal of his offer of assistance, he won’t take no for an answer, and eventually enlists some outside help in the form of his aunt, Lady Duncan. She and Faith hit it off straight away, and it’s a matter of hours before Faith is being taken to her new place of work…only to be dismayed upon being taken to Rothford House.
By this time, Adam is well aware that he is more than a little infatuated with Miss Cooper and his interest in her does not go unnoticed; something he realises when he begins to receive anonymous notes which hint at the fact that she has some sort of murky secret in her past.
Knowing Faith well enough by this point to know that, should she get wind of the fact that the family is being threatened with scandal on her account, she would insist on leaving, he chooses not to tell her anything. He continues blithely to do what he thinks is best without reference to anyone else, and eventually forces Faith into an difficult situation which leaves her only one recourse.
It’s easy to understand Adam’s motives. He wants to do the right thing, but the trouble is that he goes about it in completely the wrong way. He believes that his unconsidered actions in India led to the death of Faith’s brother thus depriving her and her mother of their only means of support. Even though he offers to help Faith partly to salve his own conscience, he genuinely wants to make her life easier; he wants to keep her safe and he wants to keep her with him, and he truly believes his actions are for the best, but in doing the things he does, he makes one huge mistake: He takes away Faith’s right to choose for herself.
That’s not to say that the hero’s actions are solely responsible for the problems I experienced reading the book. Faith, too, is rather a difficult character to warm to. She rebuffs Adam quite cruelly to start with and refuses to admit that perhaps she does need help.
On the positive side, there was a good deal of chemistry between the principals, and I liked the way Ms Callen brought them to the realisation that despite everything, despite the potential scandal and their mistakes, they were two people who really needed each other. And Adam does finally come to see the error of his ways and make more of an effort to include others in his decision-making, although I can’t help wondering how long that will last.
Yet neither Faith nor Adam really came to life for me. The pacing was fairly slow throughout, and the mystery as to who is sending the anonymous notes wasn’t especially suspenseful or tense. There are some interesting secondary characters – principally Adam’s unconventional aunt – and it was nice to see Blackthorne and Knightsbridge and their wives, but overall Redemption of the Duke was a let-down, and rather a weak ending to what had been a very enjoyable series.
May 8, 2014
I’m so disappointed right now that any longer review I write would probably not be fair to the author or fans of the book. The pacing was too slow, the characters weren’t engaging and the mystery wasn’t suspenseful. I ended up skimming almost half of the story which is horrible considering that I absolutely loved the second book of this series. I wish I had more positive things to say.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2018
Ik heb de Nederlandstalige uitgave gelezen : Met jou aan mijn zij - Candlelight Historische roman 1159 .
Dit is het laatste deel van een 3 delige serie en tevens het laatste boek wat van Gayle Callen bij Candlelight is verschenen . Het is wel een leuk verhaal maar zo ongeloofwaardig dat ik er niet meer dan 3 sterren voor kan geven .
Dit is het laatste deel van een 3 delige serie en tevens het laatste boek wat van Gayle Callen bij Candlelight is verschenen . Het is wel een leuk verhaal maar zo ongeloofwaardig dat ik er niet meer dan 3 sterren voor kan geven .
April 26, 2014
Adam Chamberlin, The Duke of Rothford, has returned from serving in the army, after his two older brothers are killed by a fever, and now he is the new Duke of Rothford. Adam never expected such responsibility to be heaped on his shoulders. Even though before he enlisted, he was a rogue, who loved women, drinking and gambling. Now he has changed, and not just because of his new status. Over the years he has changed from a young man with no care, to a man tormented with his own demons wanting redemption and forgiveness. When he and three of his friends make a pact, to seek redemption for a decision that changed their lives....the one woman that give him full redemption is Faith Cooper. Faith, even though raised differently, has no choice to seek a position as a servant, when her brother is killed, and she and her mother must fend for themselves. She knows that she will probably live a life as a spinster, even though she craves a man to love. She is shocked with a Duke comes to her, offering her a place of refuge and a position that would alter her life. Faith is independent, and doesn't want to lose what she has worked hard for. But there is a attraction between Faith and Adam, one that neither can deny...a attraction that could heal both of them and have them believing in happy ever after and a future if they will trust in the love they hold for one another...
Redemption of The Duke is the third installment in this latest series by Gayle Callen. Over the years I have come to appreciate Callen's writing and the beautiful way she weaves a romance, and so I had high hopes for this one. Especially after reading the blurb and boy this cover...is just sexy right? Well this book is full of intense characters, sensual scenes, and a wonderful love story that makes your heart skip a beat. The only big issue I had with this book was how long it took me to get into it. It did take a while, I was finding it very enjoyable but wasn't fully into the story until about 1/3 of the way through, and then I felt like the pace picked up and then that is when the story really got interesting. the later half of the story I was having a hard time putting down, and I really enjoyed seeing Adam and Faith come together. There is quite a bit of tension and conflict between the two, especially in the beginning. But we see that after they overcome some issues, their romance blossoms, and things between them start to come together. Of course then we see a bit of a mysterious element inserted into the story. and then the plot really thickens, and there was definitely enough material in this story to give it that romantic flair that tug at those heartstrings.
Overall a stunning romantic tale of two people that need each other more than they realize. Two people that both need redemption and will only find it in each other. With a light sensual twist, characters to make your day brighten, and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end. QUITE REMARKABLE!!!
Redemption of The Duke is the third installment in this latest series by Gayle Callen. Over the years I have come to appreciate Callen's writing and the beautiful way she weaves a romance, and so I had high hopes for this one. Especially after reading the blurb and boy this cover...is just sexy right? Well this book is full of intense characters, sensual scenes, and a wonderful love story that makes your heart skip a beat. The only big issue I had with this book was how long it took me to get into it. It did take a while, I was finding it very enjoyable but wasn't fully into the story until about 1/3 of the way through, and then I felt like the pace picked up and then that is when the story really got interesting. the later half of the story I was having a hard time putting down, and I really enjoyed seeing Adam and Faith come together. There is quite a bit of tension and conflict between the two, especially in the beginning. But we see that after they overcome some issues, their romance blossoms, and things between them start to come together. Of course then we see a bit of a mysterious element inserted into the story. and then the plot really thickens, and there was definitely enough material in this story to give it that romantic flair that tug at those heartstrings.
Overall a stunning romantic tale of two people that need each other more than they realize. Two people that both need redemption and will only find it in each other. With a light sensual twist, characters to make your day brighten, and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end. QUITE REMARKABLE!!!
April 28, 2014
Rating 3 1/2 Stars
Posted on What I'm Reading
For the past couple of days I haven't been feeling well. Fortunately, I was able to finish Redemption of the Duke by Gayle Callen. The Redemption of the Duke is the third book in the Brides of Redemption books. By the way, don't have to worry about reading the previous books to read this book. Redemption of the Duke can be read as a stand alone. Anyway, my thoughts on the story.
At the beginning, we meet Adam Chamberlin who happens to be the Duke of Rothford. Now Adam has been looking for a friend's sister, so he can rectify a wrong in the past. Once Adam finds Faith Cooper, she basically forgives him and tells him she doesn't need any help. So, Adam manipulates the situation in a way that forces Faith to accept his help.
Overall, Redemption of the Duke is a pretty easy going read. The conflict in the story pretty much dissolved by the time we get to the end. Honestly, I wouldn't consider Adam a real rake, because he kind of became that way to live up to his brothers expectations. Deep down Adam was a decent guy, who wants to do what's right. So, Adam faces his inner conflict finding his true self. Faith was an all right character. At times she was just so focus on trying to do things for herself. There were a couple of characters I just wanted to throat punch, for instance Adam mother and his sister-in-law. In the long run, Redemption of the Duke is a nice read. Nothing too exciting or memorable about the story, but the story is well written. So, if you are looking for an easy going read, you might consider Redemption of the Duke.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
Posted on What I'm Reading
For the past couple of days I haven't been feeling well. Fortunately, I was able to finish Redemption of the Duke by Gayle Callen. The Redemption of the Duke is the third book in the Brides of Redemption books. By the way, don't have to worry about reading the previous books to read this book. Redemption of the Duke can be read as a stand alone. Anyway, my thoughts on the story.
At the beginning, we meet Adam Chamberlin who happens to be the Duke of Rothford. Now Adam has been looking for a friend's sister, so he can rectify a wrong in the past. Once Adam finds Faith Cooper, she basically forgives him and tells him she doesn't need any help. So, Adam manipulates the situation in a way that forces Faith to accept his help.
Overall, Redemption of the Duke is a pretty easy going read. The conflict in the story pretty much dissolved by the time we get to the end. Honestly, I wouldn't consider Adam a real rake, because he kind of became that way to live up to his brothers expectations. Deep down Adam was a decent guy, who wants to do what's right. So, Adam faces his inner conflict finding his true self. Faith was an all right character. At times she was just so focus on trying to do things for herself. There were a couple of characters I just wanted to throat punch, for instance Adam mother and his sister-in-law. In the long run, Redemption of the Duke is a nice read. Nothing too exciting or memorable about the story, but the story is well written. So, if you are looking for an easy going read, you might consider Redemption of the Duke.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
Read
January 21, 2016There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed, and parts that I found hard to get into. To start with, the characters while developed seemed to each be lacking in something. The Duke came off as arrogant and selfish, even when he was trying to do what he felt was the "right thing", the ways he went about them were just completely wrong. Faith has some deep rooted, scandelous secrets, and I found it almost inconceivable that the person making the threats against her could have found that information when The Duke was unable to.
The story seemed to drag on in parts, and I found myself constantly putting this book down to do something else, and then coming back to it later. It wasn't something that sucked me in and held me there the way some of the others have.
On the flip side of that, I enjoyed the element of "anonymous letters". They weren't exactly blackmail, but I enjoyed seeing how the web was unraveled to ultimately reveal who was behind it, and it wasn't the person I thought it would be which was nice. There were some romantic moments in the novel, and I enjoyed watching Faith and Adam find themselves and find love regardless of the obstacles thrown at them (even if I didn't always agree with the methods). I also enjoyed the characters such as they were, even though I wish we had seen more of them and their particular stories and oddities. I have to admit that I would love to read Sophia and Emmeline's stories from their own perspectives, to see how they each won their men in the end.
On the whole, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the genre.
The story seemed to drag on in parts, and I found myself constantly putting this book down to do something else, and then coming back to it later. It wasn't something that sucked me in and held me there the way some of the others have.
On the flip side of that, I enjoyed the element of "anonymous letters". They weren't exactly blackmail, but I enjoyed seeing how the web was unraveled to ultimately reveal who was behind it, and it wasn't the person I thought it would be which was nice. There were some romantic moments in the novel, and I enjoyed watching Faith and Adam find themselves and find love regardless of the obstacles thrown at them (even if I didn't always agree with the methods). I also enjoyed the characters such as they were, even though I wish we had seen more of them and their particular stories and oddities. I have to admit that I would love to read Sophia and Emmeline's stories from their own perspectives, to see how they each won their men in the end.
On the whole, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the genre.
June 29, 2019
Dear Ms. Callen,
Redemption of the Duke was a good, solid read for me. While I’ve gone through a handful of your books, I had not read the other two in this series. I’ll probably pick them up soon, having enjoyed this one.
It was a shaky start, with a couple pages of blatant exposition, but it improved soon enough. Regarding the plot itself, you used none of my favorite tropes, but it still grabbed my attention continually. I don’t drift towards lady’s companion plots, mostly because I’m not huge on down-on-your-luck heroines. However, yours had a solid perspective on her experiences and wasn’t a blushing maiden afraid of her body. Thank you for sparing me that headache.
It’s also hard for me to build enthusiasm about one more duke in a sea of dukes. And don’t get me started on all the rakes; the romance genre could open a gardening store. It would be a very good-looking one with a number of interesting products for perusal, and an enormous section at the front called ‘Dukes’. Walking through the store, one would be like, “Seen it. Seen it. Got twelve at home. Ugh, they’re still producing that one? But it’s so cheap and it never lasts. They’re charging money for it?” It’d be a fun store to visit but very hard to find the right rake to bring home with you to…help maintain your…garden.
Although at first glance, it didn’t seem my type of romance, what caught my eye about your rake and made me want to read this novel was that he was trying not to be one anymore. Very soon into the book, I recognized his true effort to maintain the image of a mature adult in the face of his wild youth. He wanted others to realize he wasn’t the same person. Usually, you enter a novel with the hero at the height of dissipation. He meets the heroine, who changes him for the better, because god forbid the hero be able to change without the aid of a good woman guiding his morality. It was refreshing to see a man who was genuinely past his excessive days from the start of the novel. Adam longed for a more substantial life and wished others believed his sincerity.
Then with a sigh, Sophia rested her head against his shoulder. “I hear others talking about you.”
“Still eavesdropping?” he teased.
“How can it be eavesdropping when they’re speaking in normal tones? But I am not the only one who noticed the change in my big brother when he returned home from India. They keep asking when the real Adam will return.”
“Never,” he said simply.
“I don’t know about that. I’m not sure you’ve quite found the real Adam.”
The duke made a legitimate mistake in war and Faith’s brother died. Nothing was hidden. There were no misunderstandings. He was honest about it and no hidden truths gave the situation a more noble light afterward. No, it happened. He screwed up and it was ugly and Faith suffered, and he knew it. He kept wishing he could reconcile things with Faith because of his guilt, but he didn’t go overboard.
I didn’t like Faith as much as Adam because I saw her as sort of a doormat. She let others take liberties with her all the time and just passively withstood it: her former employers, her childhood friend, and even people who didn’t want to take advantage of her. She nearly encouraged it. I can’t stand a heroine who lets everyone walk all over her, as though it’s her due. I’m unable to respect it. Of course, she finally snaps with the duke, and I did value that change in her. I just thought it took too long to manifest and would have appreciated her realizing that he brings this out in her: the will to stand up for herself. That is powerful and I think it could have been delved into more deeply.
I saw the care you took in all your characters, neatly packing each one with flaws and virtues. It’s a subtle crafting, and I couldn’t help but be interested by every single character. The antagonists had curious, redeemable traits, and I enjoyed the mystery of the main antagonist’s hidden identity more than I thought I would, considering I usually don’t care for these evil mastermind schemes. It just made sense this time and the red herrings were well-played.
I loved the tension inherent in the situation you wove for Adam. He wants to be seen as mature and responsible. He tries so hard to honor Faith’s brother’s memory and respect Faith herself, as well as her position as his aunt’s companion. He is drawn to her. Not artificially drawn to her, like in some novels, where you’re supposed to nod and go along the supposed claims of foolish, besotted foolishness. No, he’s genuinely infatuated with her, and dislikes it. These are real, significant stakes at play. It’s a true man vs. self struggle, because if he takes advantage of the lady’s companion in his household, it means he hasn’t changed nearly as much as he hoped he had, and everyone is right in their assumption of his decadent reputation—except it won’t be based merely on past actions if he gives in now. His claims of change would be invalidated. And all the same, he must see her again, because she lifts that darkness inside him and makes him feel almost normal. I can understand exactly why he falls for her.
It’s a no-brainer why she falls for him as well. I honestly couldn’t find one thing I disliked about Adam as a character. He was kind and struggling and fiercely protective. He held a nightmare inside of him and wanted to shelter everyone else from it. He was good and fair with people who were not good and fair with him, as though he hoped, deep down, that someday they would like him. He was vulnerable but acted in strength. I wanted to hug him and tell him it’s okay, that he’s a good man and he’s worthy of Faith and of his station, and he can have both and still be good.
Thank you for giving me this experience with your hero. He was the highlight of a carefully-written novel. I was never blown away, but I was continually engaged. It’s a respectable entry in your repertoire and I’m glad to have read it.
Best regards,
Suzanne
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
Redemption of the Duke was a good, solid read for me. While I’ve gone through a handful of your books, I had not read the other two in this series. I’ll probably pick them up soon, having enjoyed this one.
It was a shaky start, with a couple pages of blatant exposition, but it improved soon enough. Regarding the plot itself, you used none of my favorite tropes, but it still grabbed my attention continually. I don’t drift towards lady’s companion plots, mostly because I’m not huge on down-on-your-luck heroines. However, yours had a solid perspective on her experiences and wasn’t a blushing maiden afraid of her body. Thank you for sparing me that headache.
It’s also hard for me to build enthusiasm about one more duke in a sea of dukes. And don’t get me started on all the rakes; the romance genre could open a gardening store. It would be a very good-looking one with a number of interesting products for perusal, and an enormous section at the front called ‘Dukes’. Walking through the store, one would be like, “Seen it. Seen it. Got twelve at home. Ugh, they’re still producing that one? But it’s so cheap and it never lasts. They’re charging money for it?” It’d be a fun store to visit but very hard to find the right rake to bring home with you to…help maintain your…garden.
Although at first glance, it didn’t seem my type of romance, what caught my eye about your rake and made me want to read this novel was that he was trying not to be one anymore. Very soon into the book, I recognized his true effort to maintain the image of a mature adult in the face of his wild youth. He wanted others to realize he wasn’t the same person. Usually, you enter a novel with the hero at the height of dissipation. He meets the heroine, who changes him for the better, because god forbid the hero be able to change without the aid of a good woman guiding his morality. It was refreshing to see a man who was genuinely past his excessive days from the start of the novel. Adam longed for a more substantial life and wished others believed his sincerity.
Then with a sigh, Sophia rested her head against his shoulder. “I hear others talking about you.”
“Still eavesdropping?” he teased.
“How can it be eavesdropping when they’re speaking in normal tones? But I am not the only one who noticed the change in my big brother when he returned home from India. They keep asking when the real Adam will return.”
“Never,” he said simply.
“I don’t know about that. I’m not sure you’ve quite found the real Adam.”
The duke made a legitimate mistake in war and Faith’s brother died. Nothing was hidden. There were no misunderstandings. He was honest about it and no hidden truths gave the situation a more noble light afterward. No, it happened. He screwed up and it was ugly and Faith suffered, and he knew it. He kept wishing he could reconcile things with Faith because of his guilt, but he didn’t go overboard.
I didn’t like Faith as much as Adam because I saw her as sort of a doormat. She let others take liberties with her all the time and just passively withstood it: her former employers, her childhood friend, and even people who didn’t want to take advantage of her. She nearly encouraged it. I can’t stand a heroine who lets everyone walk all over her, as though it’s her due. I’m unable to respect it. Of course, she finally snaps with the duke, and I did value that change in her. I just thought it took too long to manifest and would have appreciated her realizing that he brings this out in her: the will to stand up for herself. That is powerful and I think it could have been delved into more deeply.
I saw the care you took in all your characters, neatly packing each one with flaws and virtues. It’s a subtle crafting, and I couldn’t help but be interested by every single character. The antagonists had curious, redeemable traits, and I enjoyed the mystery of the main antagonist’s hidden identity more than I thought I would, considering I usually don’t care for these evil mastermind schemes. It just made sense this time and the red herrings were well-played.
I loved the tension inherent in the situation you wove for Adam. He wants to be seen as mature and responsible. He tries so hard to honor Faith’s brother’s memory and respect Faith herself, as well as her position as his aunt’s companion. He is drawn to her. Not artificially drawn to her, like in some novels, where you’re supposed to nod and go along the supposed claims of foolish, besotted foolishness. No, he’s genuinely infatuated with her, and dislikes it. These are real, significant stakes at play. It’s a true man vs. self struggle, because if he takes advantage of the lady’s companion in his household, it means he hasn’t changed nearly as much as he hoped he had, and everyone is right in their assumption of his decadent reputation—except it won’t be based merely on past actions if he gives in now. His claims of change would be invalidated. And all the same, he must see her again, because she lifts that darkness inside him and makes him feel almost normal. I can understand exactly why he falls for her.
It’s a no-brainer why she falls for him as well. I honestly couldn’t find one thing I disliked about Adam as a character. He was kind and struggling and fiercely protective. He held a nightmare inside of him and wanted to shelter everyone else from it. He was good and fair with people who were not good and fair with him, as though he hoped, deep down, that someday they would like him. He was vulnerable but acted in strength. I wanted to hug him and tell him it’s okay, that he’s a good man and he’s worthy of Faith and of his station, and he can have both and still be good.
Thank you for giving me this experience with your hero. He was the highlight of a carefully-written novel. I was never blown away, but I was continually engaged. It’s a respectable entry in your repertoire and I’m glad to have read it.
Best regards,
Suzanne
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
January 10, 2023
https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2023/0...
Je me suis plongée dans Désirs de duc sans attente particulière si ce n'est d'être intriguée par son résumé alléchant.
Faith a perdu son frère il y a quelques année à la guerre. Depuis elle fait tout pour être indépendante. Elle travaille alors comme dame de compagnie. Et même si parfois les aristocrates pour lesquels elle travaille dépasse un peu les limites, elle ne rechigne pas à accomplir plus dans le but de devenir un jour chaperon et pouvoir mener la vie qu'elle souhaite. Quand le Duc de Rothford l'approche et souhaite faire amende honorable d'un secret qui concerne son frère. Elle voit donc ça d'un mauvais œil. Mais Faith n'est pas dupe et doute de ses motivations. D'autant qu'il a le culot de lui proposer un emploi, qu'elle s'empresse de refuser... et pourtant, voilà qu'elle devient la dame de compagnie de sa tante.
Clairement on est ici sur un petit Ennemies-to-lovers et slow-burn. Et qu'est ce que j'ai adoré ça ! La romance met hyper longtemps à démarrer et j'ai trouvé que justement, c'était ce qui était le mieux. Car bien souvent en romance historique les choses vont vite, trop vite. Mais avec Désirs de duc, ce n'est pas le cas. Et pour cause, Faith a un tempérament de feu et n'hésite pas à dire non, même à un duc qui n'a l'habitude de se voir refuser quoique ce soit de par son statut. Même si la demoiselle n'est pas insensible aux charmes et aux attentions de celui-ci elle est bien décidée à refuser un rapprochement trop rapide. La romance est donc le point fort de cette histoire pour moi.
Mais ce que j'ai aussi apprécié c'est l'aspect famille. Car notre duc, Adam, à une sœur, une belle-sœur, une nièce, une tante et une mère sous son toit. Et autant dire que ça fait un beau petit monde à gérer. Et être le seul homme peut avoir ces avantages (surtout quand on est le Duc) mais aussi ces inconvénients ! Car chacune à son tempérament. J'ai craqué pour la petite Frances, j'ai adoré sa jeune sœur Sophia, et ses subterfuges pour faire craquer celui qu'elle aime et j'ai tout autant apprécié la tante, qui a plus d'un tour dans son sac et est une féministe dans l'âme. Le côté famille réserve aussi son lot de petits drames et secrets. J'ai apprécié ce mystère qui plane et le fait que Adam tente de faire ce qui est le mieux pour ses proches. Cela le rend d'autant plus attachant, même si au démarrage ses méthodes sont répréhensibles.
Enfin, Faith est elle aussi un mystère à elle toute seule. Le résumé laisse entendre quelque chose mais on est loin de se douter de son passé. Clairement j'avais émis des hypothèses tout au long de ma lecture, certaines étaient justes et d'autres pas tout à fait. J'ai aimé ce suspense, maintenu jusqu'à la toute fin. Le personnage de Faith n'en est que d'autant plus intéressant et intriguant et surtout avec un courage sans faille.
En conclusion, j'ai passé un super moment de lecture avec ce roman. Qui peut être lu indépendamment d'ailleurs, et qui m'a beaucoup surprise. Je crois que c'est mon préféré des parutions de décembre ! Je ne peux que vous le conseiller !
Je me suis plongée dans Désirs de duc sans attente particulière si ce n'est d'être intriguée par son résumé alléchant.
Faith a perdu son frère il y a quelques année à la guerre. Depuis elle fait tout pour être indépendante. Elle travaille alors comme dame de compagnie. Et même si parfois les aristocrates pour lesquels elle travaille dépasse un peu les limites, elle ne rechigne pas à accomplir plus dans le but de devenir un jour chaperon et pouvoir mener la vie qu'elle souhaite. Quand le Duc de Rothford l'approche et souhaite faire amende honorable d'un secret qui concerne son frère. Elle voit donc ça d'un mauvais œil. Mais Faith n'est pas dupe et doute de ses motivations. D'autant qu'il a le culot de lui proposer un emploi, qu'elle s'empresse de refuser... et pourtant, voilà qu'elle devient la dame de compagnie de sa tante.
Clairement on est ici sur un petit Ennemies-to-lovers et slow-burn. Et qu'est ce que j'ai adoré ça ! La romance met hyper longtemps à démarrer et j'ai trouvé que justement, c'était ce qui était le mieux. Car bien souvent en romance historique les choses vont vite, trop vite. Mais avec Désirs de duc, ce n'est pas le cas. Et pour cause, Faith a un tempérament de feu et n'hésite pas à dire non, même à un duc qui n'a l'habitude de se voir refuser quoique ce soit de par son statut. Même si la demoiselle n'est pas insensible aux charmes et aux attentions de celui-ci elle est bien décidée à refuser un rapprochement trop rapide. La romance est donc le point fort de cette histoire pour moi.
Mais ce que j'ai aussi apprécié c'est l'aspect famille. Car notre duc, Adam, à une sœur, une belle-sœur, une nièce, une tante et une mère sous son toit. Et autant dire que ça fait un beau petit monde à gérer. Et être le seul homme peut avoir ces avantages (surtout quand on est le Duc) mais aussi ces inconvénients ! Car chacune à son tempérament. J'ai craqué pour la petite Frances, j'ai adoré sa jeune sœur Sophia, et ses subterfuges pour faire craquer celui qu'elle aime et j'ai tout autant apprécié la tante, qui a plus d'un tour dans son sac et est une féministe dans l'âme. Le côté famille réserve aussi son lot de petits drames et secrets. J'ai apprécié ce mystère qui plane et le fait que Adam tente de faire ce qui est le mieux pour ses proches. Cela le rend d'autant plus attachant, même si au démarrage ses méthodes sont répréhensibles.
Enfin, Faith est elle aussi un mystère à elle toute seule. Le résumé laisse entendre quelque chose mais on est loin de se douter de son passé. Clairement j'avais émis des hypothèses tout au long de ma lecture, certaines étaient justes et d'autres pas tout à fait. J'ai aimé ce suspense, maintenu jusqu'à la toute fin. Le personnage de Faith n'en est que d'autant plus intéressant et intriguant et surtout avec un courage sans faille.
En conclusion, j'ai passé un super moment de lecture avec ce roman. Qui peut être lu indépendamment d'ailleurs, et qui m'a beaucoup surprise. Je crois que c'est mon préféré des parutions de décembre ! Je ne peux que vous le conseiller !
May 9, 2025
2/2.5 Stars
Eh. 🤷🏻♀️ It was better in some ways and also the same in the bad ways the previous two books were.
I liked Adam. I sometimes liked Faith. I loved Adam's Aunt Theodosia and his sister Sophia.
I found the blackmail plot a bit underwhelming, but more realistic than the other mystery plots in the previous books.
I guess this series was a bust for me. I didn't enjoy much of it. I found all the FMCs trying a lot of their books, and the MMCs a little too woe is me with their shared guilt.
Truthfully the guilt aspect to each book was pretty boring and many times exhausting. Each book more or less followed the same path and direction. Nothing unique. It was rather played out considering each FMC eventually became upset over feeling like a duty or that the MMCs pitied them. Or used it that for a reason to reject the MMC.
Either way, it was a bit boring and not very imaginative. And the connections between all the MCs, particularly the MCs in this book just didn't feel sincere to me. Meaning their romantic relationship development. Their attractions felt forced as if it had to be there rather than maybe developing over time once they knew each other better. Particularly all the sexual attraction between all the MCs spanning all three books felt obnoxious with how much it focused on and often had the MMC using their supposed amazing attraction as as reason to be together. So for me when their deeper feelings arrived it felt shallow and as if it was all happening because the book was wrapping up, not because the two MCs genuinely grew to care for one another in any meaningful way.
Although I did enjoy how the author wrote her MMCs to be entirely obsessed with each of their FMCs. I simply wanted more depth in their relationships.
Eh. 🤷🏻♀️ It was better in some ways and also the same in the bad ways the previous two books were.
I liked Adam. I sometimes liked Faith. I loved Adam's Aunt Theodosia and his sister Sophia.
I found the blackmail plot a bit underwhelming, but more realistic than the other mystery plots in the previous books.
I guess this series was a bust for me. I didn't enjoy much of it. I found all the FMCs trying a lot of their books, and the MMCs a little too woe is me with their shared guilt.
Truthfully the guilt aspect to each book was pretty boring and many times exhausting. Each book more or less followed the same path and direction. Nothing unique. It was rather played out considering each FMC eventually became upset over feeling like a duty or that the MMCs pitied them. Or used it that for a reason to reject the MMC.
Either way, it was a bit boring and not very imaginative. And the connections between all the MCs, particularly the MCs in this book just didn't feel sincere to me. Meaning their romantic relationship development. Their attractions felt forced as if it had to be there rather than maybe developing over time once they knew each other better. Particularly all the sexual attraction between all the MCs spanning all three books felt obnoxious with how much it focused on and often had the MMC using their supposed amazing attraction as as reason to be together. So for me when their deeper feelings arrived it felt shallow and as if it was all happening because the book was wrapping up, not because the two MCs genuinely grew to care for one another in any meaningful way.
Although I did enjoy how the author wrote her MMCs to be entirely obsessed with each of their FMCs. I simply wanted more depth in their relationships.
May 18, 2021
As the third son Adam never imagined that he would be a Duke but as tragedy strikes his family over and over again suddenly he finds himself in a position he never imagined and never wanted. He had always been known as a rake and suddenly being responsible for more than just himself is a hard transition. Especially since he feels like he has so much he has to be forgiven for, starting with Faith. Because of a decision while he was a soldier Adam feels responsible for the death of Faith's brother and sending her in to the work force. When he can't convince her to accept money he decides hiring her as a companion to his aunt is the perfect solution. But having her in his house becomes more difficult when he cannot stay away from her. Faith has had a number of issues she has had to work through, each battle has helped her grow. She's not willing to blindly accept money from Adam and feels a little tricked in to her position but she can't deny she's happy for the chance to learn how to become a better companion. Because that's all she can hope for as she moves on in life, her dreams of love and marriage have crumbled. This new chance with Adam becomes so much more as feelings grow but is it the right step for both of them? A really great conclusion to the Brides of Redemption series, great characters finding happiness when they were least expecting it. Fun read!
July 10, 2024
I read and gave high stars for the first two books in this series, but this book seems like it was written by a different author. Very little chemistry between the two mains, very little action between them. A lot of filler for much of this book. I tried and tried but gave up around 80% done because it was so boring. They didn't kiss until after 50% finished, and as of 80% finished had yet to have any other steamy scenes. I'm ok with a romance with light steam as long as the characters have good chemistry, but these two did not have it. I was pretty disappointed in this book, the first book I gave 4 stars, and the second book I gave 5 stars only a couple weeks ago. I will still try other books by this author, but I'm pretty disappointed I wasted hours on this boring book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2023
This book was about a 3rd son who joined the army and made a decision that cost three men their lives. Riddled with guilt, he searches for the sister of one of the men, intent on emsuring she is taken care of.
The book was okay but Faith's anger at the duke due to his minor manipulation is ridiculous and counter-productive, and I found the ending abrupt.
Faith's mother is mention several times and I'm not sure why since she wasn't in any scenes and added nothing to the book.
The book was okay but Faith's anger at the duke due to his minor manipulation is ridiculous and counter-productive, and I found the ending abrupt.
Faith's mother is mention several times and I'm not sure why since she wasn't in any scenes and added nothing to the book.
August 17, 2017
I loved this book by Gayle Callen. The chemistry between the leads was excellent but I'm not too sure about the suspense bit in the story which kind of felt like an afterthought as there was not enough depth in that mystery reveal. On the whole however the story was joyful and had put a smile on my face.
November 5, 2017
I didn't win this book on Goodreads First Reads. I bought it for myself. I gave this book five stars because I am a sucker for a good historic romance novel. I am a romantic at heart. Even though it is the third book in the Brides of Redemption series, it can be read as a stand alone book.
July 26, 2018
I liked the plot of this story! The Duke does show redemption at the end. The other main character of the girl is able to move from the worst positions to better and better employment due to his help and yet, the possibility of scandal is avoided at the end.
March 11, 2019
Probably closer to 3.5 stars, but not close enough to round up, I'm afraid. I did enjoy reading this although the premise is a little shallow. The tension between the main characters feels a bit contrived and... lacks tension? It's not bad by any means.
May 27, 2022
I liked this book for the most part and overall enjoyed this series more than the Willow Pond series. I pretty much had the suspects narrowed to the same two final suspects so there wasn’t as much intrigue or suspense as there could have been.
May 8, 2017
Nice conclusion to the series, just felt it could have been a bit stronger. The hero was strong, the heroine just wasn't quite on par, but was still a worthy read all-in-all.
February 11, 2020
I enjoyed reading.
March 13, 2021
The sister in law sent the notes because she was so bitter at her loss of status. Faith's interrogation as to why was rather lackluster. Nothing new was revealed in the scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2014
Where I got the book: review copy supplied by the publisher. My feature article on this and two similar romances appeared on the Historical Novel Society website.
Adam Chamberlin, Duke of Rothford, has returned from military service to take up his unexpected role as the Duke after the deaths of his father and brothers. He uses his new power and influence to right a wrong by trying to help Faith Cooper, the sister of one of the soldiers whose deaths were a result of his orders. Faith doesn’t want to be helped, and is understandably miffed when Adam maneuvers her into becoming his aunt’s companion—a move that doesn’t please his mother or sister-in-law either. And Faith has a past that makes her vulnerable to both guilt and scandal…
For a romance, this novel was pretty heavy on plot. It suffered from an excess of characters, such as Faith’s two friends who never really advanced the plot forward sufficiently to justify their existence. And the boyhood lover plot line seemed completely pointless to me—it annoyed me that Faith never came clean about him (marital trouble looming somewhere along the way!), and in the end he turned out to have no real role in the story other to increase tension. I feel like Callen should have given this story a thorough rewrite, simplying the characters and plotlines—it was quite enough scandal for Faith to have been forced to live as a man’s mistress in order to support herself and her mother, and in fact I would have liked to have seen more exploration of this idea, which was a good one and could have really been developed as part of Faith’s emotional arc.
One of the threads that emerged later in the story was the fact that Adam and Faith are physically attracted to one another but have to learn to love each other. I couldn’t help feeling that only Adam ever showed real love—he genuinely wanted to help Faith right from the beginning. Whereas Faith only declares love for Adam once she’s managed to get him to see his efforts to help as interference, in other words she has him completely under her thumb. Up till then, she goes physically berserk when he touches her but never really shows much concern for his feelings, and turns freezing cold on him as soon as she finds out that he was trying to protect her. This does not bode well for the marriage in the long run. And I don’t like the way the two of them maneuver Marian into keeping quite by using her daughter’s future as a threat—using a child as a pawn in an adult game might be clever strategy, but it’s hardly noble.
There was so much plotting and maneuvering in this story that there hardly seemed to be space for the actual romance, in the sense of the growth of feelings between two people. I think we were more than halfway through the story before the first kiss, and what sex scenes there were—the obligatory wedding night/morning-after bonks—were perfunctory porn of the part-A-fits-into-slot-B kind.
Once again, the nineteenth-century setting was nebulous, with nary a clue to indicate exactly what military action Adam was involved in and just the usual vague references to corsets and carriages to remind us we were not in the present day. Characters occasionally adopted Victorian attitudes when it suited the author, but in general they seemed to be suffering from a severe attack of twenty-first-century behavior and speech. I understand from a romance writer friend that heroines these days tend to have some kind of sexual experience—so that the reader can relate to them—but for Adam to discount Faith’s past so easily just didn’t seem plausible to me. And what was up with the friends at the wedding, brought in, it would seem, solely to reassure Faith that her unconventional marriage was OK? I had the feeling that the author was linking the book to others she had written, but since the novel is presented as a standalone I had no idea what was going on.
And yet again I must mention the deplorable habit of making the gentry call each other my Lord and your Grace and so on, as if they were servants. It is incorrect—I can deal with Americanisms in American novels aimed at American readers with a British setting, but I can’t deal with the ignorance of proper forms of address. I think this is a problem that replicates itself from one romance to another, but it drives me crazy.
All in all, this was not a satisfactory read. I found myself wishing it were over sooner, always a bad sign.
Adam Chamberlin, Duke of Rothford, has returned from military service to take up his unexpected role as the Duke after the deaths of his father and brothers. He uses his new power and influence to right a wrong by trying to help Faith Cooper, the sister of one of the soldiers whose deaths were a result of his orders. Faith doesn’t want to be helped, and is understandably miffed when Adam maneuvers her into becoming his aunt’s companion—a move that doesn’t please his mother or sister-in-law either. And Faith has a past that makes her vulnerable to both guilt and scandal…
For a romance, this novel was pretty heavy on plot. It suffered from an excess of characters, such as Faith’s two friends who never really advanced the plot forward sufficiently to justify their existence. And the boyhood lover plot line seemed completely pointless to me—it annoyed me that Faith never came clean about him (marital trouble looming somewhere along the way!), and in the end he turned out to have no real role in the story other to increase tension. I feel like Callen should have given this story a thorough rewrite, simplying the characters and plotlines—it was quite enough scandal for Faith to have been forced to live as a man’s mistress in order to support herself and her mother, and in fact I would have liked to have seen more exploration of this idea, which was a good one and could have really been developed as part of Faith’s emotional arc.
One of the threads that emerged later in the story was the fact that Adam and Faith are physically attracted to one another but have to learn to love each other. I couldn’t help feeling that only Adam ever showed real love—he genuinely wanted to help Faith right from the beginning. Whereas Faith only declares love for Adam once she’s managed to get him to see his efforts to help as interference, in other words she has him completely under her thumb. Up till then, she goes physically berserk when he touches her but never really shows much concern for his feelings, and turns freezing cold on him as soon as she finds out that he was trying to protect her. This does not bode well for the marriage in the long run. And I don’t like the way the two of them maneuver Marian into keeping quite by using her daughter’s future as a threat—using a child as a pawn in an adult game might be clever strategy, but it’s hardly noble.
There was so much plotting and maneuvering in this story that there hardly seemed to be space for the actual romance, in the sense of the growth of feelings between two people. I think we were more than halfway through the story before the first kiss, and what sex scenes there were—the obligatory wedding night/morning-after bonks—were perfunctory porn of the part-A-fits-into-slot-B kind.
Once again, the nineteenth-century setting was nebulous, with nary a clue to indicate exactly what military action Adam was involved in and just the usual vague references to corsets and carriages to remind us we were not in the present day. Characters occasionally adopted Victorian attitudes when it suited the author, but in general they seemed to be suffering from a severe attack of twenty-first-century behavior and speech. I understand from a romance writer friend that heroines these days tend to have some kind of sexual experience—so that the reader can relate to them—but for Adam to discount Faith’s past so easily just didn’t seem plausible to me. And what was up with the friends at the wedding, brought in, it would seem, solely to reassure Faith that her unconventional marriage was OK? I had the feeling that the author was linking the book to others she had written, but since the novel is presented as a standalone I had no idea what was going on.
And yet again I must mention the deplorable habit of making the gentry call each other my Lord and your Grace and so on, as if they were servants. It is incorrect—I can deal with Americanisms in American novels aimed at American readers with a British setting, but I can’t deal with the ignorance of proper forms of address. I think this is a problem that replicates itself from one romance to another, but it drives me crazy.
All in all, this was not a satisfactory read. I found myself wishing it were over sooner, always a bad sign.
August 4, 2016
An emotion-packed, sensual historical romance that will quickly captive you! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:
Adam Chamberlin, the new Duke of Rothford, and his younger sister are the product of their father’s first marriage. They have two older half-brothers from their father’s previous wife. These two consider Adam and his sister beneath them. Adam had reveled in society’s scorn to prove to his brothers that what they thought about him meant little. With his half-brothers threatening to cut him off when they inherit the title, Adam joins the Eighth Dragoon Guards. This act changes everything. The military life instills a sense of responsibility and honor in him. But his brothers never lived to inherit. They died of fever just before their father succumbed to the same illness, leaving Adam as the new duke. But not even obtaining the dukedom will allow him to forget the unexpected battle when he had fought for his life and lost many of his men, all because of a decision he had made. In fact, his guilt over the deaths led him home to search for the sister of one of the slain men, hoping to atone in some way.
After her brother’s death, Miss Faith Cooper had to make a decision that left her banned from her own home. Now she has traveled to London as the companion to a baron’s daughter, who is debuting into society with Faith’s help. In this position she works hard, even doing work that is not included in her job description. When the duke finally finds her and explains his part in her brother’s death, she is, at first, angry with him – at least, until she has time to think it over. But still, she refuses his offer of a less taxing position in his home as a companion to his younger sister, Sophia. It is not until Sophia meets an elderly lady who offers her a position as her companion that Faith leaves her present post. Faith and her new employer have much in common, but upon arriving at the lady’s home, Faith is shocked to discover that the lady is the duke’s aunt and she will be residing in his home.
Adam is drawn to Faith and cannot help his desire for her. Trying to do the right thing, he even tries to avoid her. But after receiving a threatening note concerning Faith’s past, Adam, aware that they are being watched, demands that all of the women in the household take a footman with them whenever they go out, including Faith. As Adam tries to discover who is sending the notes, he keeps a close eye on her. But he won’t tell her about the threat, knowing that she will leave her post if she finds out. Will he be able to keep her safe, or will he lose the woman who is beginning to mean so much to him?
REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE, the third book in USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen’s BRIDES OF REDEMPTION trilogy, is an emotion-packed, sensual historical romance that will captivate you from the very beginning of the book. Readers are kept guessing about the identity of the person writing the threatening notes right up to the end, heightening the suspense. This is the last book in a delightful series about three men who are as close as brothers. They fought in the war together and made mistakes. Now they are home, hoping to atone for those errors that caused the deaths of three of their fellow soldiers by helping the families left behind. Consequently, there are three females desperately in need of their help. Anyone who likes REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE is sure to enjoy reading the first two books, RETURN OF THE VISCOUNT and SURRENDER TO THE EARL. I highly recommend them!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
Adam Chamberlin, the new Duke of Rothford, and his younger sister are the product of their father’s first marriage. They have two older half-brothers from their father’s previous wife. These two consider Adam and his sister beneath them. Adam had reveled in society’s scorn to prove to his brothers that what they thought about him meant little. With his half-brothers threatening to cut him off when they inherit the title, Adam joins the Eighth Dragoon Guards. This act changes everything. The military life instills a sense of responsibility and honor in him. But his brothers never lived to inherit. They died of fever just before their father succumbed to the same illness, leaving Adam as the new duke. But not even obtaining the dukedom will allow him to forget the unexpected battle when he had fought for his life and lost many of his men, all because of a decision he had made. In fact, his guilt over the deaths led him home to search for the sister of one of the slain men, hoping to atone in some way.
After her brother’s death, Miss Faith Cooper had to make a decision that left her banned from her own home. Now she has traveled to London as the companion to a baron’s daughter, who is debuting into society with Faith’s help. In this position she works hard, even doing work that is not included in her job description. When the duke finally finds her and explains his part in her brother’s death, she is, at first, angry with him – at least, until she has time to think it over. But still, she refuses his offer of a less taxing position in his home as a companion to his younger sister, Sophia. It is not until Sophia meets an elderly lady who offers her a position as her companion that Faith leaves her present post. Faith and her new employer have much in common, but upon arriving at the lady’s home, Faith is shocked to discover that the lady is the duke’s aunt and she will be residing in his home.
Adam is drawn to Faith and cannot help his desire for her. Trying to do the right thing, he even tries to avoid her. But after receiving a threatening note concerning Faith’s past, Adam, aware that they are being watched, demands that all of the women in the household take a footman with them whenever they go out, including Faith. As Adam tries to discover who is sending the notes, he keeps a close eye on her. But he won’t tell her about the threat, knowing that she will leave her post if she finds out. Will he be able to keep her safe, or will he lose the woman who is beginning to mean so much to him?
REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE, the third book in USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen’s BRIDES OF REDEMPTION trilogy, is an emotion-packed, sensual historical romance that will captivate you from the very beginning of the book. Readers are kept guessing about the identity of the person writing the threatening notes right up to the end, heightening the suspense. This is the last book in a delightful series about three men who are as close as brothers. They fought in the war together and made mistakes. Now they are home, hoping to atone for those errors that caused the deaths of three of their fellow soldiers by helping the families left behind. Consequently, there are three females desperately in need of their help. Anyone who likes REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE is sure to enjoy reading the first two books, RETURN OF THE VISCOUNT and SURRENDER TO THE EARL. I highly recommend them!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
August 6, 2016
A bit of a ‘slow grower’ for me, early information setting the tone for both Faith and Adam was integral to the plot, but I wasn’t finding much in the main characters that gave me a need to know more, although once the preamble was set, the story managed to pick up in pacing quite nicely and give me more reasons to want to read on.
Faith was left in dire straits, a life lesson that made her completely unwilling to subject her fate to the whims of any man, despite her real desire for marriage and a family. She is smart, determined and refuses to bend her own opinions to fit to what a man would prefer, and her decision that she will remain unmarried and responsible for her own happiness and welfare is one that she has decided to make the best of.
Adam is the third son, and has a different mother from the heir and spare. The relationship between the brothers was never smooth, as the third son he also held no expectations of inheritance of property or title, so he did what many in his position do: enter the army to make a name and improve his own prospects. Honored there, yet left with guilt over his brothers’ untimely deaths and his own inheritance of the title, he is burdened by his guilt and now endless (it feels all too often) search for redemption.
Adam, for me, needed a good shake and the willingness to lose some of the guilt rather than sharing, even oversharing, his struggle with all and sundry. Really, he is no longer the happy, carousing rake that he was in his youth and acting the part of the man that he is, without fussing over days long gone by would have made him a character that I really enjoyed instead of waited for his transformation. At his heart, he is sweet, loving and caring and once he determines that Faith is his next project on his path to redemption, his good intention is clear to all but Faith.
These two are interesting together: his puppy-dog eyes manage to aggravate her and give her moments of hope that her budding feelings are returned. Faith was the run-away favorite of the two characters for me, and her gentle understanding and faith in Adam as he comes to learn of his own value, not to mention her value to him, was endearing. The connection between them, that spark, was near instant, but his issues and her reluctance kept the romance building at a slow and steady pace: we actually see their connection build and strengthen before they start to explore their sensuality. A really clever move on Callen’s part that makes the build of sexual tension feel much more suited to the time and their positions in society, and the culmination was that much sweeter for the wait.
What started a bit slowly managed to improve for me in pacing and appreciation for the characters as the story progressed, and I will admit I was wholeheartedly cheering for them to just SEE what was right in front of their eyes, forget their worries and admit they wanted, needed and had a connection that was good and permanent. I have not read the earlier books in this series, but this volume stands alone without loss of plot, information or understanding. I’m going to have to read more books by Gayle Callen, her prose and description are beautiful and give a solid sense of place, emotion and time.
I received an eArc copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review for a Tasty Book Tour. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Faith was left in dire straits, a life lesson that made her completely unwilling to subject her fate to the whims of any man, despite her real desire for marriage and a family. She is smart, determined and refuses to bend her own opinions to fit to what a man would prefer, and her decision that she will remain unmarried and responsible for her own happiness and welfare is one that she has decided to make the best of.
Adam is the third son, and has a different mother from the heir and spare. The relationship between the brothers was never smooth, as the third son he also held no expectations of inheritance of property or title, so he did what many in his position do: enter the army to make a name and improve his own prospects. Honored there, yet left with guilt over his brothers’ untimely deaths and his own inheritance of the title, he is burdened by his guilt and now endless (it feels all too often) search for redemption.
Adam, for me, needed a good shake and the willingness to lose some of the guilt rather than sharing, even oversharing, his struggle with all and sundry. Really, he is no longer the happy, carousing rake that he was in his youth and acting the part of the man that he is, without fussing over days long gone by would have made him a character that I really enjoyed instead of waited for his transformation. At his heart, he is sweet, loving and caring and once he determines that Faith is his next project on his path to redemption, his good intention is clear to all but Faith.
These two are interesting together: his puppy-dog eyes manage to aggravate her and give her moments of hope that her budding feelings are returned. Faith was the run-away favorite of the two characters for me, and her gentle understanding and faith in Adam as he comes to learn of his own value, not to mention her value to him, was endearing. The connection between them, that spark, was near instant, but his issues and her reluctance kept the romance building at a slow and steady pace: we actually see their connection build and strengthen before they start to explore their sensuality. A really clever move on Callen’s part that makes the build of sexual tension feel much more suited to the time and their positions in society, and the culmination was that much sweeter for the wait.
What started a bit slowly managed to improve for me in pacing and appreciation for the characters as the story progressed, and I will admit I was wholeheartedly cheering for them to just SEE what was right in front of their eyes, forget their worries and admit they wanted, needed and had a connection that was good and permanent. I have not read the earlier books in this series, but this volume stands alone without loss of plot, information or understanding. I’m going to have to read more books by Gayle Callen, her prose and description are beautiful and give a solid sense of place, emotion and time.
I received an eArc copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review for a Tasty Book Tour. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
June 16, 2014
ORIGINAL POST OF THIS REVIEW AT FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST On June 16, 2014 http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
Redemption of the Duke: Angst and Arrogance in Equal Measure
Disclosure: Book provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
This book had an interesting plot with a mystery I was not completely certain of the villain at the root until the big reveal. While it more or less can stand on its own, I think I would have enjoyed it more with more backstory.
If you like a book with steamy feelings but not too much fire then this might be a good choice; there’s some nookie but not a huge amount.
I felt the story lagged in rehashing the duke the guilt feels over and over and in -gasp!- Faith’s terrible secret. And then there’s the blackmail and trying to figure out the perpetrator.
Like a lot of romance novels, the primary problems in the story are communication or arrogance related. A Victorian era duke would probably be fairly arrogant, but this one was not raised to be the duke but his wartime experiences in India and his insistence that it was his arrogance that caused the problem would point to him being self-aware. But he keeps making these decisions and it’s just too obvious. He is likeable in that he is very human and fallible; not an all too perfect type hero. Faith, just annoyed me in her willingness to accept her lot in life. No wonder the duke keeps making decisions for her. But at least she is a thoughtful and kind person; willing to take the fall for those she loves or to whom she feels indebted.
There are several angsty things in the book but the blackmail is the really nasty one and it gets less attention than this arrogance issue. I did think that Callen handled the mystery of the perpetrator very well. I had an idea of who it was but it was not until the more likely character is exonerated that I felt confident in my deduction.
The most likelable character is the duke’s aunt, Theodosia, who hires Faith to be her assistant. She was ahead of her time in the quest for equality for women and eschewed much of the social convention with which she was raised. She’s a little like Downton Abbey’s Lady Viola in her temperament but without her arrogance.
I was interested in the description of the Duke’s London residence as being set off from the road. Usually, the homes of nobility in historic romance are townhouses, but here it is most definitely described as not being a town house. On the other hand, the duke is able to look down and see Faith walking by, and chase a young man by running out on the street, so it felt a little inconsistent.
If you have read the entire series, or you like a less steam filled romance this would be a good choice for you. I like mine a little spicier than this but Callen’s characters are human and accessible.
Redemption of the Duke: Angst and Arrogance in Equal Measure
Disclosure: Book provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
This book had an interesting plot with a mystery I was not completely certain of the villain at the root until the big reveal. While it more or less can stand on its own, I think I would have enjoyed it more with more backstory.
If you like a book with steamy feelings but not too much fire then this might be a good choice; there’s some nookie but not a huge amount.
I felt the story lagged in rehashing the duke the guilt feels over and over and in -gasp!- Faith’s terrible secret. And then there’s the blackmail and trying to figure out the perpetrator.
Like a lot of romance novels, the primary problems in the story are communication or arrogance related. A Victorian era duke would probably be fairly arrogant, but this one was not raised to be the duke but his wartime experiences in India and his insistence that it was his arrogance that caused the problem would point to him being self-aware. But he keeps making these decisions and it’s just too obvious. He is likeable in that he is very human and fallible; not an all too perfect type hero. Faith, just annoyed me in her willingness to accept her lot in life. No wonder the duke keeps making decisions for her. But at least she is a thoughtful and kind person; willing to take the fall for those she loves or to whom she feels indebted.
There are several angsty things in the book but the blackmail is the really nasty one and it gets less attention than this arrogance issue. I did think that Callen handled the mystery of the perpetrator very well. I had an idea of who it was but it was not until the more likely character is exonerated that I felt confident in my deduction.
The most likelable character is the duke’s aunt, Theodosia, who hires Faith to be her assistant. She was ahead of her time in the quest for equality for women and eschewed much of the social convention with which she was raised. She’s a little like Downton Abbey’s Lady Viola in her temperament but without her arrogance.
I was interested in the description of the Duke’s London residence as being set off from the road. Usually, the homes of nobility in historic romance are townhouses, but here it is most definitely described as not being a town house. On the other hand, the duke is able to look down and see Faith walking by, and chase a young man by running out on the street, so it felt a little inconsistent.
If you have read the entire series, or you like a less steam filled romance this would be a good choice for you. I like mine a little spicier than this but Callen’s characters are human and accessible.
April 29, 2014
3.5 Stars
This is the third in the Brides of Redemption series and although I did not read the first two and I was not lost, I enjoyed the story.
Adam Chamberlin is now the Duke of Rothford, he never expected to be a Duke and took great pains to be as scandalous as possible in his younger years just to get his father’s attention. He was the third in line but both his brothers and father died recently of an illness which brought him to his predicament. His brothers hated him and he had a hard time growing up, and he went into the army when he figured this was the only way he would be able to make a living as both brothers said they would disinherit him when their father died.
He now feels him must redeem himself of all the scandalousness he caused during his younger years and hires an investigator to find Miss Faith Cooper, a woman he wants to help, he served with her brother and feels responsible for his death which left her and her mother without many options. She became a woman’s companion to make a living. When he approaches her she tries her best to tell him she does not want his help and that is was too formal for him to keep meeting her in the park, but he is stubborn and eventually gets his Great Aunt Theodosia to hire her.
This is an enjoyable story about redemption and honor. Adam feels responsible and goes out of his way to try to help Faith; as a matter of fact he goes so far that he almost compromises her before she is hired by him. And then later they are compromised and they must marry. I liked the two together, they fit and the chemistry was enough, I did feel that she protested way too much and then easily fell in love.
There is a lot of social order in the book and even Aunt Theodosia warns him about his wants which is probably more accurate than some romances. Overall this is a nice romance where the two grow to love each other slowly as they try to avoid each other. I wish there was more about Theodosia and her Women’s rights advocates and what they were up to.
Copy from publisher for an honest review
This is the third in the Brides of Redemption series and although I did not read the first two and I was not lost, I enjoyed the story.
Adam Chamberlin is now the Duke of Rothford, he never expected to be a Duke and took great pains to be as scandalous as possible in his younger years just to get his father’s attention. He was the third in line but both his brothers and father died recently of an illness which brought him to his predicament. His brothers hated him and he had a hard time growing up, and he went into the army when he figured this was the only way he would be able to make a living as both brothers said they would disinherit him when their father died.
He now feels him must redeem himself of all the scandalousness he caused during his younger years and hires an investigator to find Miss Faith Cooper, a woman he wants to help, he served with her brother and feels responsible for his death which left her and her mother without many options. She became a woman’s companion to make a living. When he approaches her she tries her best to tell him she does not want his help and that is was too formal for him to keep meeting her in the park, but he is stubborn and eventually gets his Great Aunt Theodosia to hire her.
This is an enjoyable story about redemption and honor. Adam feels responsible and goes out of his way to try to help Faith; as a matter of fact he goes so far that he almost compromises her before she is hired by him. And then later they are compromised and they must marry. I liked the two together, they fit and the chemistry was enough, I did feel that she protested way too much and then easily fell in love.
There is a lot of social order in the book and even Aunt Theodosia warns him about his wants which is probably more accurate than some romances. Overall this is a nice romance where the two grow to love each other slowly as they try to avoid each other. I wish there was more about Theodosia and her Women’s rights advocates and what they were up to.
Copy from publisher for an honest review
April 22, 2014
Wow, finally, finally, finally, a regency heroine I can wholeheartedly get behind!! Strong independent and totally willing to do whatever she needs to do to survive and still comport herself with dignity. She was, without knowingly meaning to be, a pioneer feminist. So, yeah, I dug this chick, but ...... wait for it..... you know who I really, REALLY identified with???? (big effing surprise) Adam!
Adam is just the coolest dude. Son of the second wife, hated by his older brothers and out to prove they can't hurt him, he is a sensitive, old artistic soul. He earns his stripes in the military, but not without severe damage to his psyche. He now carries a load of guilt and is trying to gain redemption. There is seriously not one judgmental bone in Adam's body. He is just trying to do RIGHT. By everybody and the universe. Gayle Callen gets it!! She knows there are shades of gray in between moral and immoral. She crafts a character and a story that reflects the battle to be good and to be true. They are not always the same.
This was fun but had meaning and depth. It was romantic but it was also a study in independence. Sometimes Moby Dick is just an albino, sperm whale and sometimes to certain readers, Moby Dick takes on faces of past demons that need to be dealt with. Anytime you can connect with a story on a level not obvious to all and sundry, then it is special. Read this, connect to the characters and find your message. Or just enjoy a damn good historical romance. Either way, job WELL done, bravissima!
September 8, 2017
This review first appeared on I Heart Romance & YA
I was extremely disappointed with this story. I enjoyed previous Gayle Callen books but this was tedious and just plain boring.
Although Adam Chamberlin, the Duke of Rothford was intriguing, he became dull and not likable early in the story. I also did not relate to Faith at all and did not warm up to her immediately which is an odd thing for me.
I also had bad vibes with this book since I have read unsatisfactory reviews on this so far but I still forced myself to read it and waited until the last possible day to review it.
All in all, the story was just uninteresting and boring. Both main characters where just blah and stereotypical and I did not see any spark between them. I also really did not think much of Adam despite him trying to right all the wrongs that he did.
I am also unable to rate the heat level because I did not even get to that part yet.
Read the full review on I Heart Romance & YA
I was extremely disappointed with this story. I enjoyed previous Gayle Callen books but this was tedious and just plain boring.
Although Adam Chamberlin, the Duke of Rothford was intriguing, he became dull and not likable early in the story. I also did not relate to Faith at all and did not warm up to her immediately which is an odd thing for me.
I also had bad vibes with this book since I have read unsatisfactory reviews on this so far but I still forced myself to read it and waited until the last possible day to review it.
All in all, the story was just uninteresting and boring. Both main characters where just blah and stereotypical and I did not see any spark between them. I also really did not think much of Adam despite him trying to right all the wrongs that he did.
I am also unable to rate the heat level because I did not even get to that part yet.
Read the full review on I Heart Romance & YA
August 5, 2016
Adam never thought to be the Duke of Rothford. Now he has took on the responsibility of the family and also of finding the sister of a man he knew and helping her. Faith never wanted to ask for a man's help. She put her trust in men before and got burned. Now she takes a job with Adam taking care of his elderly aunt. They both desire each other but Faith tries hard to resist Adam. They may just find more than desire if they are willing to take a chance.
I really enjoyed this story as Faith isn't looking to rely on a man and Adam isn't afraid to do whatever to get what he wants. They both are stubborn and hard headed but a great match. Faith is a proud woman who tries her best to not be to close to Adam. Someone begins to threaten Faith about her past and Adam does everything he can to find out who is behind it. When Faith does come clean about her past I was glad to see Adam stand by her side. He really showed how great he is. This book may start off a little slow but quickly grows on you. The characters are great except maybe Adam's sister I didn't care for her. If you like historical romance I am sue you will like this one.
I really enjoyed this story as Faith isn't looking to rely on a man and Adam isn't afraid to do whatever to get what he wants. They both are stubborn and hard headed but a great match. Faith is a proud woman who tries her best to not be to close to Adam. Someone begins to threaten Faith about her past and Adam does everything he can to find out who is behind it. When Faith does come clean about her past I was glad to see Adam stand by her side. He really showed how great he is. This book may start off a little slow but quickly grows on you. The characters are great except maybe Adam's sister I didn't care for her. If you like historical romance I am sue you will like this one.
March 1, 2015
To be honest, I'm not sure how this book came to be in my Booksfree queue. I didn't read the first two books, nor have I read anything else by this author. I didn't figure this out until a good fifty pages in when I couldn't remember any names (not unusual for me, I read a lot and can sometimes get series confused) and checked Goodreads. Nope. The good news was, I din't fee like I had to read the first two books to enjoy this one.
Faith's brother was killed in the war and she was forced into work. But now the Duke of Rothford is offering her a position as his aunt's companion. He feels guilty for her brother's death, like he should've been the one to die. He was the profligate third son of a duke, never expected to inherit, or to do anything useful in fact.
But as the two are thrown together, the attraction grows.
Adam, the Duke, is more than a little high-handed. He keeps thinking that he knows best for everything and it's more than a little annoying. An okay read otherwise.
Faith's brother was killed in the war and she was forced into work. But now the Duke of Rothford is offering her a position as his aunt's companion. He feels guilty for her brother's death, like he should've been the one to die. He was the profligate third son of a duke, never expected to inherit, or to do anything useful in fact.
But as the two are thrown together, the attraction grows.
Adam, the Duke, is more than a little high-handed. He keeps thinking that he knows best for everything and it's more than a little annoying. An okay read otherwise.
May 7, 2014
The third and last book in the series about three army friends who made a decision they were trying to make amends to the families who were killed. I especially liked Adam. He knew what he wanted and went after it. He suffered from his brothers treatment and his past exploits, but was overcoming all of that to become a better man. Faith had a tough decision to make and what she did wasn't a lot different than many women of this era had to do to survive. I didn't like her mother's attitude. But I loved the Great Aunt Theodosia and the sister to Adam Sophia. I thought Adam's mother was a stuck up wimp. In the end the villain of this story was who it should have been and turned out ok. Loved the fact that Adam and Faith had problems but worked through them. Showing their maturity and growth.
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