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The Duke's Shadow
ONE MAN, William Kenilworth, a young Victorian aristocrat, was never born to be the Duke of Romsey. When his older brother, Henry dies in a freak racing accident, William inherits a legacy and title he has not been groomed for nor wants. TWO LIVES... Bullied by his domineering mother and rejected by love, William falls into a deep depression. His saviour is his sister, Lottie, who helps him to create a second identity as Reuben Chambers, a London business man. SHADOWS FROM THE PAST. As Reuben, he finds true happiness which helps him to fulfil his duties as William, heir to the Dukedom. But a secret from the past threatens his family and the delicate balance he has created for his double identity. Can he continue to keep his two lives separate?
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2014
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204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 17, 2017
I was going to write a long (and somewhat ranty) review of this book but in the end I couldn’t be bothered with all the work involved. And in some respects that sums up this entire novel.
I get the feeling that the author had a really great idea for a novel and then simply skimmed through it - skipping all the most important parts, jumping ahead by weeks, months, even years in order to get to the next ‘event’. The beginning was very promising - a nicely detailed account of William and his desire to be a ‘normal’ man and then ….. it’s as if the author just padded out the outline.
There is NO development, NO relationship, NO reason for his actions. There is however a particularly unpleasant and also ridiculous event
There were pages where I went – ??? – because the actions of characters made no sense at all. Great chunks of ‘plot’ were missing.
I read through to the end in the hope that something would rescue this from my ‘delete’ folder but it was not to be.
I get the feeling that the author had a really great idea for a novel and then simply skimmed through it - skipping all the most important parts, jumping ahead by weeks, months, even years in order to get to the next ‘event’. The beginning was very promising - a nicely detailed account of William and his desire to be a ‘normal’ man and then ….. it’s as if the author just padded out the outline.
There is NO development, NO relationship, NO reason for his actions. There is however a particularly unpleasant and also ridiculous event
There were pages where I went – ??? – because the actions of characters made no sense at all. Great chunks of ‘plot’ were missing.
I read through to the end in the hope that something would rescue this from my ‘delete’ folder but it was not to be.
September 1, 2017
The story is OK but there are major issues with dates within the book. From the text;
William is 34 (Pg14 the Duchess says it directly to him)
Charlotte is 33 (Pg15 there is a year between Charlotte and William)
Henry was 43 (pg 36 Henry was 10 years older than Charlotte)
BUT
This is set in Victorian times when life expectancy was 45-50 so it's unlikely that a son of 43 would have been unmarried - particularly an heir. It could happen, but it would be odd and commented on and it's never mentioned as an issue in the book.
pg 70 William says that this is the "year for your season" to Charlotte, and she's later presented at court. A woman would have had her first season before turning 20. By 33 she would be considered on the shelf.
pg 73 Duchess looks at a picture commissioned for their wedding 30 years before - if they were married 30 years before then both William and Henry are illegitimate.
pg 160 William says to Charlotte that his parents were married more than 40 yeas.
pg 115 Edwin Hale talks of his mother working at Kenilworth more than thirty years before he was born - but it was her pregnancy with him that caused him to leave.
I could barely finish the book due to these huge errors.
William is 34 (Pg14 the Duchess says it directly to him)
Charlotte is 33 (Pg15 there is a year between Charlotte and William)
Henry was 43 (pg 36 Henry was 10 years older than Charlotte)
BUT
This is set in Victorian times when life expectancy was 45-50 so it's unlikely that a son of 43 would have been unmarried - particularly an heir. It could happen, but it would be odd and commented on and it's never mentioned as an issue in the book.
pg 70 William says that this is the "year for your season" to Charlotte, and she's later presented at court. A woman would have had her first season before turning 20. By 33 she would be considered on the shelf.
pg 73 Duchess looks at a picture commissioned for their wedding 30 years before - if they were married 30 years before then both William and Henry are illegitimate.
pg 160 William says to Charlotte that his parents were married more than 40 yeas.
pg 115 Edwin Hale talks of his mother working at Kenilworth more than thirty years before he was born - but it was her pregnancy with him that caused him to leave.
I could barely finish the book due to these huge errors.
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January 3, 2020It is was a good thing to read it and I think it is a great way to get a good deal on your
GHOST OF MOONLIGHT AND THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL OF MOONLIGHT AND A HALF HOUR AGO BY THE TIME WE GOT A NEW PHONE NUMBER FOR THE KIDS TO CALL US
GHOST OF MOONLIGHT AND THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL OF MOONLIGHT AND A HALF HOUR AGO BY THE TIME WE GOT A NEW PHONE NUMBER FOR THE KIDS TO CALL US
June 2, 2014
This Victorian era historical romance begins with a plausible premise: a man sets out to escape the confines of his existence and establish a second identity and life for himself. All is well until external events spiral out of his control, threatening his new life and chance at happiness. You might think that that is only to be expected and you can guess where the story is headed but the plot is not a predictable one. The reader must keep turning the pages to find out how everything works out in the end.
I found it easy to lose myself in William’s story and wanted him to find happiness despite the obstacles he faced. Two of the minor characters also provoked strong reactions in me and I saw each of them clearly in my mind. I liked Lottie, Reuben’s spirited, naïve and vulnerable sister, and I loathed the sneaky, bitter Mabot.
I also envisioned the settings – and I’d love to have been there. Well, I would love to visit the one that William longs to escape. A country estate set in sprawling grounds that include a lake and a country house complete with an underground passage big enough to drive a coach and horses through sound wonderful to me.
The Duke’s Shadow is an entertaining period romance and I found it a great escape from the confines of daily routine.
I found it easy to lose myself in William’s story and wanted him to find happiness despite the obstacles he faced. Two of the minor characters also provoked strong reactions in me and I saw each of them clearly in my mind. I liked Lottie, Reuben’s spirited, naïve and vulnerable sister, and I loathed the sneaky, bitter Mabot.
I also envisioned the settings – and I’d love to have been there. Well, I would love to visit the one that William longs to escape. A country estate set in sprawling grounds that include a lake and a country house complete with an underground passage big enough to drive a coach and horses through sound wonderful to me.
The Duke’s Shadow is an entertaining period romance and I found it a great escape from the confines of daily routine.
September 19, 2014
"He focused on the view from the window; he loved this time of year when the leaves were beginning to turn from green, to the pleasing red and oranges. Such a fantastic splash of colour to mark the end of a season yet promises of new beginnings. Although the familiar view did little to soothe the discomfort in the pit of his stomach as he struggled with the different lives of Reuben and William."
Louise Charles' The Dukes Shadow tell the tale of William, the second some of the Duke of Romsey, who has to sacrifice his dreams in the name of duty to his family when his older brother, first in line to the dukedom dies. William has never been groomed to be Duke and the grief of losing his beloved brother and the pressure on him to pick up the reigns to eventually take over drive him to take the drastic risk of having an alter ego, Reuben.
Intrigue runs through this lovely historical romance set in Victorian times. I really enjoyed reading this relatively short novel (total reading time four and a half hours). Charles conveys emotions and angst well and I was totally absorbed into the setting she created. The narrative flows easily and it's an easy book to pick up. I'm no expert but details were in keeping with the time the story was set in and it was a satisfying read.
Louise Charles' The Dukes Shadow tell the tale of William, the second some of the Duke of Romsey, who has to sacrifice his dreams in the name of duty to his family when his older brother, first in line to the dukedom dies. William has never been groomed to be Duke and the grief of losing his beloved brother and the pressure on him to pick up the reigns to eventually take over drive him to take the drastic risk of having an alter ego, Reuben.
Intrigue runs through this lovely historical romance set in Victorian times. I really enjoyed reading this relatively short novel (total reading time four and a half hours). Charles conveys emotions and angst well and I was totally absorbed into the setting she created. The narrative flows easily and it's an easy book to pick up. I'm no expert but details were in keeping with the time the story was set in and it was a satisfying read.
December 18, 2014
Enjoyable. Read
I enjoyed reading this well written book. It has strong likable characters and an excellent story line. It's one of those books that keeps you involved with the story from start to finish. It has love, betrayal, deception, all bound together in a story based in the aristocracy of England. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly.
I enjoyed reading this well written book. It has strong likable characters and an excellent story line. It's one of those books that keeps you involved with the story from start to finish. It has love, betrayal, deception, all bound together in a story based in the aristocracy of England. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly.
May 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was intriguing and it was never clear how it was going to end until late on in the story. Good, complex characters too. Writing credible historical fiction is a difficult task but Louise Charles really evokes the spirit of the age.
May 24, 2014
An excellent read with an intriguing plot, memorable characters and a page-turning need to get to the end to find out what happens.
December 22, 2017
A good solid read BUT who was Amelia's father? With what has happened in this book, I somehow feel that Amelia's mercenary mother and the identity of Amelia's dead sire and the threat of blackmail may yet still dog the Dukedom of Romsey. The characters are very relatable for they are as prone to flaws and mistakes as anyone and are never wholly good or purely evil. The very promising relationship between the two surviving half brothers despite Edwin's earlier attempts of blackmail which he has long repented on and proven by leaving without pushing through and upon which William has forgiven him by trusting him with a horse breeding partnership that William had with their deceased older, Henry. P.S. ~ I read (later on) a comment here re~age discrepancies of the Duke's progeny including the bastard and I believe she is right. Charlotte (being a Duke's daughter) should have been presented to the Queen at 17/18 making William 18/19 and Henry 28/29 plus Henry being the heir would have at least be engaged or married since the begetting of heirs and posterity is of paramount importance.
September 16, 2017
Straight story, no steam
He was perfectly content with his lot as a second son and about to begin his adventure, a life away from the bosom of his family, when suddenly his older brother is killed in a racing accident. Thinking to help him cope with his grief and the new duties being thrust upon him by a father who was already disappointed in him when he was only a second son, William's sister Charlotte helps him create an alternate personality as a means to sometimes escape the responsibility. In his alternate persona, he a young woman when she applies to be the assistant in his shop, falls in love with her, and marries. The core of the book deals with a dual lives that he leads as William Kenilworth and Ruben Chambers. The remsonder of the book deals with William's ascension to the ducal title means for both his families.
He was perfectly content with his lot as a second son and about to begin his adventure, a life away from the bosom of his family, when suddenly his older brother is killed in a racing accident. Thinking to help him cope with his grief and the new duties being thrust upon him by a father who was already disappointed in him when he was only a second son, William's sister Charlotte helps him create an alternate personality as a means to sometimes escape the responsibility. In his alternate persona, he a young woman when she applies to be the assistant in his shop, falls in love with her, and marries. The core of the book deals with a dual lives that he leads as William Kenilworth and Ruben Chambers. The remsonder of the book deals with William's ascension to the ducal title means for both his families.
December 3, 2017
Is our destiny truly set in stone. What about the freedom to chose your own path? Does responsibility to another outweigh the responsibility we owe to our own dreams and aspirations.
This is a story of a young man who wanted nothing more than a life built on his terms but is pushed to being a Duke due to unforeseen circumstances. Though his anger towards his dad is understandable, life makes him take the same path as his father. Only for him to realize and forgive his dad and make right the wrongs.
Set in old England, this makes for a good light read.
This is a story of a young man who wanted nothing more than a life built on his terms but is pushed to being a Duke due to unforeseen circumstances. Though his anger towards his dad is understandable, life makes him take the same path as his father. Only for him to realize and forgive his dad and make right the wrongs.
Set in old England, this makes for a good light read.
February 17, 2021
A great historical fiction book. Once you get into this book it's a real page turner. Compelling and suspenseful read. Well-written book with well developed characters. The book blurb is interesting and I think the book cover fits the book. This is the perfect read for those who are fans of historical fiction.
June 10, 2018
Determine Duke
The ability to rise to the responsibility tossed at him. The labyrinth was more a description of his life than the passage he traveled. I was pleased with the light at 'the end-of-the tunnel.'
The ability to rise to the responsibility tossed at him. The labyrinth was more a description of his life than the passage he traveled. I was pleased with the light at 'the end-of-the tunnel.'
July 6, 2017
This is a very well written story.
It had many unexpected twists and turns
Was quite sad in spots but none the less a very happy out come
It had many unexpected twists and turns
Was quite sad in spots but none the less a very happy out come
July 30, 2017
Couldn't finish the book, sorry it just didn't work for me - to slow & boring
August 15, 2017
Very good book!
Enjoyed the plot. It was a very intrigIuing story. I WOULD ENJOY READING AGAIN..I HOPE YOU ENJOY ..THE. CHARACTERS ARE SO REAL...
Enjoyed the plot. It was a very intrigIuing story. I WOULD ENJOY READING AGAIN..I HOPE YOU ENJOY ..THE. CHARACTERS ARE SO REAL...
September 15, 2017
Fascinating story
Am looking forward to following the stories of all the different characters and how t interact with each other! Thanks for the refreshing read!!!
Am looking forward to following the stories of all the different characters and how t interact with each other! Thanks for the refreshing read!!!
October 1, 2017
An interesting story set in the 19th Century. I was transported back to the era and the strong characters, interesting plot and intrigue made for an enjoyable read. Recommended.
October 26, 2017
Everything began like a usual story about dukes and duchesses, but on the go, I found it more than interesting and the final outcome is stupendous!
A very good book!
A very good book!
November 1, 2017
This book had so much potential. 2.5stars
February 17, 2018
Good read
Good light read. Enjoyed. An unusual twist. Character s were very believable. Looking forward to reading rest of the series.
Good light read. Enjoyed. An unusual twist. Character s were very believable. Looking forward to reading rest of the series.
July 7, 2018
Such a wonderful story!
One can only imagine how people born into wealth are always leery of other people's motives. Such a wonderful love story!!! Thank you, Louise!!!
One can only imagine how people born into wealth are always leery of other people's motives. Such a wonderful love story!!! Thank you, Louise!!!
August 5, 2018
First book I’ve failed to finish in years. No empathy with any of the characters and just got bored.
August 5, 2018
Good read
Enjoyed the read. Through the ups and downs Lord William does finally grow up and learn to lead and to grab on to his happiness and his love.
Enjoyed the read. Through the ups and downs Lord William does finally grow up and learn to lead and to grab on to his happiness and his love.
August 12, 2018
Did not finish
November 27, 2018
Worth the time!
Like the aura of 19th century Europe. Liked the hero. Wish there was more of his story. And more of Lottie!
Like the aura of 19th century Europe. Liked the hero. Wish there was more of his story. And more of Lottie!
March 7, 2019
Loved it
Love love love wonderful book with a tangled ending glad she did not give in easy and made him wait
Love love love wonderful book with a tangled ending glad she did not give in easy and made him wait
May 30, 2019
Sweet
Very good, once I got I to it I did not want to put it down.
Love is the best
Very good, once I got I to it I did not want to put it down.
Love is the best
July 13, 2019
Enjoyed
I chose this rating because the book kept my interest.Enjoyed reading and the restrictions put on The upper class people
I chose this rating because the book kept my interest.Enjoyed reading and the restrictions put on The upper class people
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews