In a castle above the rough Spanish coastline, the Duque de Torme hides from his past. There, he is free to brood in seclusion, pacing the terrazas, and frightening away any villagers brave enough to approach his gates. But when a ship wrecks in a violent Mediterranean storm, Felipe ventures down the cliffs to aid any survivors. There is only one—an English beauty named Julia Denman.
Julia begins to recover from her injuries, counting the days until she can flee the secluded, cliffside castle, but as her health grows stronger, so does her desire for the handsome, tortured Duque de Torme.
Allyson Jeleyne has been indie publishing historical romance since 2014. She writes elegant, emotionally intelligent love stories featuring perceptive heroines, responsible heroes, and romances shaped by class, power, and choice. Set primarily in the Victorian era, her novels explore what it means to belong—to a family, a fortune, or a future—while delivering deeply satisfying happily-ever-afters.
She earned an interdisciplinary studies degree in Creative Writing and Journalism while also studying British history & literature in her spare time. When not writing, she enjoys traveling and checking things off her bucket list.
She makes her home in the South Carolina lowcountry with her beloved dog, Dollie Madison (2005-2022).
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
I don’t know what it was about this story, but there were elements of it that just meant it was hard to connect to it. For the most part, it was beautiful, heart-warming, sexy; the other part was boring and dull. It’s hard to explain what it was. Perhaps it was the beginning, the life on the ship. I didn’t even truly feel the drama of the ship sinking and Julia being the only survivor. One thing that also bugged me was, it was a raging storm, a treacherous cliff even without the storm, yet Filipe not only made it down (and only just at that), but was also able to carry a body back up to the castle. It just seemed extremely unrealistic – I mean, wasn’t there another way down to the beach from the castle (I imagine in most situations there is)? Perhaps it would have been less dramatic if there was.
The romance itself was quick, especially considering they were both in mourning. Although it was rather touching that they worked through their grief together, and that even Filipe was able to move forward. The sex scenes were hot and well done, so that made up for some of the other lesser elements.
The characterisation was enough that we were able to see that George was much more of an arse than his sister tentatively made him out to be (although she didn’t call him much more than racist). The drama that led to the ending almost seemed unnecessary, although it did allow for tension, enough to keep my interest flowing for the last few pages. Although, as the ending arrived, and I read the prequel for the next book, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of the couple, finally united, and the further struggles that they were likely to go through in publicly announcing their engagement.
It is fun to have foreign text inside the book (although I’m not sure how accurate the Spanish is, being as I don’t speak it). Spanish is certainly friendlier to translate on a Kindle than Czech is, which is to appear in the sequel (in fact, there is no possibility of translating Czech on my Kindle). It does allow for some element of realism whilst Filipe was speaking to Julia, as they’re words she can appreciate, even if she doesn’t understand them. You don’t get the benefit of the sound of them, but you still get to experience the “panic” at not understanding the words.
Overall it wasn’t bad, and I was able to connect and sympathise to the characters somewhat, especially Filipe as he was trying to move on, but it was unfortunately one of my more mediocre reads. The sequel, however, does look so far exciting, despite it being a different storyline, so I might check it out.
This book has a lot of heart and some steam. I enjoyed this romance novel located in Spain. Duke Felipe was handsome and kind. He took care of Julia and made her feel safe. Together, they cried over the loss of their loved ones. Felipe feels guilty for the fire that killed his mistress. Julia survived a shipwreck but everyone else onboard died. They are a good couple that love each other but her racist brother might keep them apart.
I really enjoyed this story. Even though it is historical romance, it seems really relevant to the times we live in also.
Especially considering the bigotry and hatred that came from that ass Julia calls a brother.
Felipe and Julia both had to deal with the aftermath of tragedies. The were both in the unique position to allow one another to grieve and get past any guilt associated with the events of their loss.
I do wish their had been an epilogue. I would have loved to get a glimpse of their lives in the future, because they still have so many obstacles to overcome throughout their lives
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review. The life of Julia was one of servitude. She was a meagerly paid companion to Lady Anne. On a cruise the ship was wrecked and she washed ashore unconscious near death when she was rescued by Felipe. The Duke of Torme. Theirs was a special relationship first based on her fear of the unknown. She ended up in Spain did not know the language or customs. Felipe torn by guilt and nightmares was gentle and kind to Julia and he knew how to speak English. After that they became friends then lovers. But she wanted more. Her brother was contacted and was on his way to collect her; when he found out about the affair he abandoned her. Felipe came back to rescue her. Would he make her his wife or mistress? Would her brother leave her in peace. This was a very emotional read one full of human frailties. Julie and Felipe had a friendship based on honest and transparency. A lovely romance showing that love could overcome biases, language and customs. Recommend
I am volunteering to leave a review of this ARC book. I am so glad I chose to read this book. So well written. A fantastic plot. Wonderful characters. A very fast falling in love. But, will Felipe and Julia find a way to be with one another, or will they have to lead separate lives, loving each other until the days they die from afar. Read, and find out.
An English lady, on the verge of spinsterhood, accompanies an elderly lady on a cruise to the Mediterranean, working as her companion. A storm tears the ship apart. Only Julia’s life vest prevents her from joining the rest of the people on board in death. A Spanish duke, Felipe, hears the ship breaking up, and makes his way down to the shore to aid any survivors. He sees a woman caught on the rocks being tossed about and goes out to rescue her as the storm continues to rage. He successfully gets them to the shore where he finds the lady is still alive despite nearly drowning and being wickedly beaten against the rocks in the storm. He carries her up to the castle he has been living in for the past 6 months, where he and his servants help Julia to recuperate. Felipe lives in this nearly empty castle as his home was destroyed by a fire 6 months ago, resulting in him being severely burned in his unsuccessful attempts to rescue his mistress. He has been in mourning and drowning in his guilt during this time. As Felipe helps Julia to recover physically and emotionally from the shipwreck, he, too begins to heal. We follow the progression of their healing, and the development of their love. Will she return to England or stay in Spain? How will her brother react to her new Spanish friend? This is a sweet story that is spiced up by the physical love that developes between Julia and Felipe. I found myself involved in their story and finally pulled myself away at 2:00 AM to get some needed sleep. So why not a 5 rather than a 4? The story needs some depth to it to satisfy my criteria. More history for the main characters or more description of the times in which they lived. For many, the love story itself will satisfy, as the characters are likable and there is a happy ending.
Rescued by the Dark Duke was a quick read featuring the romance between a Spanish duke in hiding and an English woman who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck.
After losing everything in a fire six months ago, the Duque de Torme has retreated to a castle on the Spanish coast. Felipe is wracked with guilt over the fire that left him scarred and avoids people at all costs. But after he witnesses a ship go down in a violent storm, he heads down the cliffs to look for survivors, finding only one. Julia Denman thought the three month journey through the Mediterranean would be an adventure only for it to turn into a terrifying nightmare. But as Julia recovers in the castle by the sea, she quickly begins to fall for her rescuer, finding in him another wounded soul seeking comfort.
Felipe and Julia’s relationship moves very quickly with the entire story taking place in roughly one week’s time. One of my main complaints about their relationship was that I didn’t find it believable due to the rapid pace the story follows and the lack of buildup to anything meaningful in their relationship. The one thing that I did buy was the pair’s obvious attraction for one another. Both Felipe and Julia tried to fight the attraction that blossomed between them but it proved futile and the pair were unable to resist acting on the attraction. Unfortunately outside of that attraction, there was little to their relationship despite their declarations of love.
Ultimately Rescued by the Dark Duke wasn’t for me due to my issues with the romance and the pacing in the story.
Rescued by the Dark Duke (Dark Destinations Book 1) By: Allyson Jeleyne Outta The Shadows & Into The Light... A Tortured Soul saves the lonely Spinster... from the Sea & from Spinsterhood... The Spinster in Return saves Tortured Soul... Embark on a journey with these characters as their story unfolds... I was granted an ARC Allyson Jeleyne's "Rescued by the Dark Duke (Dark Destinations Book 1) " via Booksprout. I happily recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. I LOVEd reading this book, & I'll be looking for even more from Allyson Jeleyne. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given! Until next time... Happy Reading!
I've been a fan of historical romance since I was a teenager, so perhaps my preferences still decades later were formed and fixed at that time. While I certainly do not mind a spicy read, I don't want my historical romances to be like contemporary ones. I don't want it to be crude in language, sentiment, or act. I want to be transported to another time and place with a truly magical, happily-ever-after feeling. I want romance fiction to be an escape. All romance authors should keep this in mind, but especially historical romance authors. Hence my alarm and distaste at the first line of this book, told from the hero's perspective, where he imagines pleasuring himself in the tub—but he can't because of memories of his prior love dying of fiery death. Ick and then some. Can we please raise and keep the bar up a little? I've read this author before, and I don't remember her stories being quite so crude. After digging such a deep pit—at least in my view—she would have had to have done a lot to dig herself out for me to appreciate the characters (particularly the hero) and the story. Unfortunately, that never happened. If you have more of a stomach for crude historical romance, you may appreciate this story better than I did.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Oh my gosh, what a story! This could easily be called Rescuing the Dark Duke, as Julia and Filipe ended up rescuing each other. After the steamship on which Julia and her employer Lady Anne were traveling broke apart in the midst of a storm, throwing her into the sea, Julia awoke to find herself in a strange bed, in a strange house with people who spoke a language foreign to her. Enter Filipe, the Duque de Torme, and the man who dragged her barely alive body from the sea. To her relief, he spoke English. For Filipe who was suffering from unbearable heartache, guilt, and survivor’s syndrome, rescuing Julia was the beginning of his healing process. This is an emotional story that will break your heart, tie your stomach in knots and make you hate George…..but it will also make you smile. fill your heart with hope and remind you that bad things happen to good people, and if you are lucky and open to it, you may get a second chance at love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I got this from a freebie list and have learned not to expect much... but this was a little gem. Doomed to a poor spinster's life, Julia is rescued from a shipwreck by a dark stranger with his own problems, and rescues him from a tragic past in return.
After much drama and an unpleasant encounter with her selfish brother, they get their happy ending.
My only complaint is that the ending was so abrupt that I could hardly integrate what I was seeing when I was immediately thrust into an invite to follow the author. No chance to relish their reunion or peek into their future?
In a way, this story reminds me of the Harlequin romances from the 1970s in which the indigent English woman falls for the exotic foreigner. This book takes that premise and sets it back a century. Unlike those womanizing boors of Harlequin notoriety, the hero of this story is a good person, not merely rich, handsome, and powerful. The heroine isn't a raving beauty; in fact she's uptight and judgmental. However, she quickly evolves for the better.
There were a few copy errors sprinkled throughout the book, but none so egregious as to put a damper on reading the story. Despite the title, this is a sweet, gentle romance with a bit of steam.
This is a new author for me and I liked that most of it took place in Spain vs. England. The author had me hooked from the beginning with the dark stormy night and a shipwreck.
I enjoyed the easy camaraderie between the H&H and how their relationship grew. I was confused though at times whether he or she wanted it to continue and be forever.
Overall a great read and loved how the Hero was a Spanish Duque vs. English duke, and that he spoke in Spanish to the Heroine sometimes. Very romantic book!
Julia was a companion to an elderly lady when the ship to Spain has a horrible wreck. Julia is the lone survivor! Rescued by Felipe she is intrigued by this handsome brooding gentleman! She soon realizes he is a Duke and thru a careless act causes a destructive fire! Rescuing Julia from certain death he starts to feel like he can make amends! Theirs is story of 2 souls bring out the best part of healing in the both of them! I love this authors way with words!
When I first started this book I wasn't sure why I had bought it but I soon discovered that this book was really beautifully written. Both main characters were so well portrayed. I loved Felipe and Julia and even Maria and Iago! The era was new for me, late Victorian but set in Spain. Reminded me of the Spanish T V series the Grand Hotel! I didn't want the book to end!
he lives in his castle with all his demons scaring all the villagers away from him. there is a violent storm and he goes to see if he can help. he only finds a young woman. he takes her to his castle and she slowly get stronger but her feeling are growing for this dark brooding man. can she help him? see if she can help him
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I could not get enough of this story I have read it once before and enjoyed it then and I enjoyed reading it this time. Duque de Torme rescues Julia Denman when the ship she is sailing on sinks Julia is the only survivor. George Julia's brother was really something imagine treating his sister that way. This is a well-written story that I would recommend. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I also bought it.
Julia is a companion to Lady Anna and when their ship goes down she is the only survivor who ends up being rescued by Duke Felipe. He has been depressed since losing his mistress in a fire where he also suffered some burns but helping Julia has helped his spirits. It does not long for Julia and Felipe to become lovers but when her brother comes to rescue her what will she and Felipe do.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Trapped by the Past Man Meets a Meek Downtrodden Woman
This book was OK. Its tale was of a shipwrecked companion saved by a man who had yet to reconcile his misdoings (which never happened in this book). After six months of isolation and seclusion, he joined life within three days after saving Julia. There was some attempt at closure with his long-time lover, but not with the townspeople who had also been affected by his mistakes.
Torment. Shipwreck. Two lost souls that somehow manage to come together and help one another when they need it the most. A quick read and a good read with likeable characters, even if they each have a tormented past. It flowed nicely and kept you reading to find out what was going to happen. So when you get a chance pick up a copy and enjoy.
this is a fun historical romance that is dramatic in the best way, he just wants to be left alone to be unhappy, but when he rescues a Englishwoman from the ocean and nurses her back to health they can't help the attraction between them. so good just what you want out of a historical romance
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Throw in a dark Spanish lord and a English damsel and you have the makings of a wonderful story. the fact that love was the only thing they had in common and it became a great story
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a sweet and delightful read! Julie was so tough and relatable. Felipe, well, he’s what I always imaged a tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome Spaniard would be. An absolutely wonderful read!
Genuinely endearing, and exquisitely captivating story about the very passionate and profoundly emotional love and respect between two fine individuals who thought they had lost everything—including life and love!
3.5 Stars rounded to four. I was really enjoying this book until the last twenty or so pages. Julia and Felipe just didn't seem who they were in the beginning of the book and I wanted to punch them both. While also punching her brother.
I just don't like how the author write the FC, she has gut to flirt the MC but have no courage to defend her love and future. And I felt cringe with the spicy scenes, it just cold, no emotion triggered