The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie

The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie. Publisher, 2012. 320p. Series: The Forgotten Castles, #2.(9781433673238)

I really enjoyed The Guardian Duke and was looking forward to finding out how the story of Alexandria Featherstone and the Duke of St. Easton would continue. This book jumped in right where the first left off and then ended with another cliff hanger! If you haven’t read the first book this review will have some spoilers.

Back cover:

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon - the path of least resistance - Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton - the path less traveled by - on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.

Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

Dimmuborgir "black castles" of Iceland - Alexandria's adventures lead her here
See more pictures on the author's Pinterest board.

My review:

When book one ended with the Duke getting his first glimpse of Alex sailing away to Iceland I thought for sure he would get on the next boat and catch up to her soon. The story didn’t go anything like I imagined and it was so much more exciting. I don’t want to give anything away, but…the poor Duke! What suffering and pain! Yet he was very humble later and never begged for honor or attention for what he endured.

I really liked how this book, and the whole series for that matter, isn’t just about the female protagonist. The male protagonist has just as an important story line and his own lessons to learn. St. Easton learned the biggest and hardest lessons about submitting and trusting God. All his conversations with God were well written and realistic.

The adventure is still fresh, the drama continues and the danger is even more real than book one. But while book one could be considered YA, this book (and especially book three) had some scenes and decisions that were not PG. I can’t give any particulars without spoiling the story, but a man gets drunk and wakes up naked the next morning with no memory of what happened during the night. There are also a few too many kisses.

(P.S. I read this as an ebook from NetGalley for review purposes. It didn’t seem anywhere close to 320 pages long so don’t let that big number scare you! The story flies by.)

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from ChristianBooks (CBD); Buy it from B&N; (Updated 9/9/12: Buy it from Amazon)  

Disclosure: I received this book for free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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