As a courtesan, Juliette's life depends on being seen as notorious and fascinating.

As a duke, William's self-respect depends on being reserved and haughty.

When Juliette witnesses William's intended being brutally attacked at a ball, she tells him what she saw and asks for his help protecting herself. It's no wonder William is slow to believe her at all.

But when the evidence mounts up and William realizes she's truly in danger, he whisks her away to Yorkshire where she'll be safe and he can investigate. But doing so may tarnish his own reputation beyond repair.

I loved these characters. Two people for whom reputation is everything, but one of them craves discretion while the other has to give at least the appearance of indiscretion in order to survive.

William is every inch a duke. He believes he should never have to apologize because he's above nearly everyone around him. The only person he needs to avoid is the Prince Regent, because he can say no to every other request that's made of him.

Both William and Juliette are survivors of abuse. This hidden vulnerability helps them look beyond the masks that they each show the world and see each other for who they really are. With William, Juliette learns to stand up for herself (even if he's sometimes the one she needs to stand up to). With Juliette, William learns how to have an identity beyond his title.

Shana Galen's novels are always a treat for me to read. When You Give a Duke a Diamond has a bit of suspense, a good dose of humor, and a bucketload of irresistible sensuality. I look forward to the next two novels in this series, featuring Juliette's fellow courtesans.