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The Winter Duke: A Traditional Regency Romance
Fairy Tale or Reality?
Possessing both beauty and a respectable dowry, Miss Lydia Grenville expected her London Season to produce an agreeable, if not spectacular, betrothal. Yet she's returned to her home in the country still unmarried and with no prospects of suitors in sight. Now, she hides from society's snickers by sketching in the woods—alone, until her peace is interrupted by a man who truly seems to understand her.
John Penhope was never meant to be the Duke of Winterbourne, but the unexpected death of his older brother forced the title on this scholar. When in desperation, he flees the constant demands and duties of his position, he finds a magical lady in his forest. Without questioning who he is, she accepts him, and love begins to form.
But their enchanted time in the forest can't forever hold back society's expectations. When his identity is revealed, will their love withstand reality?
Possessing both beauty and a respectable dowry, Miss Lydia Grenville expected her London Season to produce an agreeable, if not spectacular, betrothal. Yet she's returned to her home in the country still unmarried and with no prospects of suitors in sight. Now, she hides from society's snickers by sketching in the woods—alone, until her peace is interrupted by a man who truly seems to understand her.
John Penhope was never meant to be the Duke of Winterbourne, but the unexpected death of his older brother forced the title on this scholar. When in desperation, he flees the constant demands and duties of his position, he finds a magical lady in his forest. Without questioning who he is, she accepts him, and love begins to form.
But their enchanted time in the forest can't forever hold back society's expectations. When his identity is revealed, will their love withstand reality?
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2004
About the author
Louise Bergin
7 books21 followersWhile growing up, Louise Bergin was the girl with her head buried in a book. She wanted to live the adventures she found between the covers—especially the promise of happily ever after at the end. In college, she learned to fence in case some day she wrote a historical novel. She also studied accounting as her back-up career. When her hero appeared, he was an Air Force officer, with whom she had three children and the life she’d longed for. She finds the time to write because the military movers taught her that you really only have to clean your house once every three years.
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If you would like to learn more about Louise’s books, you can sign up for her newsletter here and receive a free Regency romance short story:
http://tinyurl.com/LouiseBerginReaders
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 17, 2019
Miss Judith Shelton, spinster, of Cheshire, England has a grand plan to secure the futures of her sister Sarah and brother Charles. She simply needs Viscount Westfall to hit her with his carriage and offer her an invitation to his country house party where she will woo him with her managing ways and marry him for his money. There's only one problem with her plan. The Viscount arrives in Cheshire with his friend and financial adviser Peregrine Campion, a wealthy nabob who knows a fortune hunter when he sees one. He is determined to thwart Judith's plan. Soon Judith finds herself arguing with Mr. Campion but underneath his frosty exterior she can see he is a worthy opponent. As Peregrine begins to see Judith's compassion, kindness and hidden passion, he begins to accept her as a worthy opponent and possibly more, but not a worthy wife for the Viscount, oh no. A worthy wife for himself, perhaps...?
This story is like two books in one. It is long and slow. I had a really hard time getting past the first chapter until the story picks up. It stalls again halfway and becomes an entirely different story. The first half of the book is a lighthearted drawing room comedy of manners type novel taken from the Georgette Heyer canon. There's an impoverished genteel family with a managing elder sister who wants to give her beautiful younger sister a season in London so beautiful sister can snag eligible husband. There's also a lively younger brother. Does that sound like Frederica? Frederica this is not. It lacks the humor for one thing and the bored, cynical Marquess. The second half of this novel is more serious and has a heart-wrenching plot. I appreciated the realism but not in this book because it wasn't the story I was expecting or wanted to read.
In the first few chapters Judith is entirely unlikable. I understand her motive but not her methods. She doesn't LISTEN when her younger sister doesn't have any interest in London and doesn't even see what's happening under her nose. What happens is obvious to the reader and for the best. I know Judith didn't have much choice because Uncle Sylvester doesn't have ANY interest in helping out but he should. Isn't there any female she could apply to to help Sarah? What about the vicar? Can he help? Judith does improve but the reader has to be told over and over that her family is her main concern and everything she does is to help her family. Once she is at the house party and something happens that reveals her hidden softer side, she begins to be a more sympathetic character. I like how she knew her heart but not her mind yet it's not what I wanted to read.
Judith's family is rather bland and taken from the book of stock Regency characters. Sarah is sweet and loving, a typical demure miss and Aunt Tillie is kind but vague. I think Aunt Tillie is less vague than she lets on. She's a sweetheart but she lets Judith bear all the burdens alone. Charles is forgettable. He appears in maybe two scenes at the beginning and one in the middle and that's it. I forgot all about him. He had the makings of being an entertaining character but never works his way into the story.
Viscount Westfall is equally boring. He's not a typical nobleman though. He's kind and sees the worth of a man in terms of character. He accepts Peregine as his friend despite the differences in their station. Westfall accepts Judith's story and brings her into his home. He doesn't have to do this but he wants to. Westfall is a good man and will make an adoring husband YET he should know better than to kiss a gently reared young lady before he has permission to marry her. Peregrine is the most complex and unique character. He made a fortune in India but through honest means and now he's a wealthy cit. He has a dark secret from his past that haunts him and makes him a tragic character. At first I thought he was rude, mean and unsympathetic to Judith's predicament. I even hoped they would TALK to each other so she could explain her motives and then he would soften. They remain sparring partners but the sparring turns more to banter as the story progresses and he softens his frosty exterior. Both Peregrine and Judith need to work out their personal issues; Peregrine most of all.
This story did not interest me much but those who prefer their Regencies with more substance and drama may enjoy it. This edition is free on Kindle Unlimited.
Content:
Some "tingling" and passionate feelings told but not really shown
Some of the kisses get a little passionate but no body parts are mentioned other than tongue
This story is like two books in one. It is long and slow. I had a really hard time getting past the first chapter until the story picks up. It stalls again halfway and becomes an entirely different story. The first half of the book is a lighthearted drawing room comedy of manners type novel taken from the Georgette Heyer canon. There's an impoverished genteel family with a managing elder sister who wants to give her beautiful younger sister a season in London so beautiful sister can snag eligible husband. There's also a lively younger brother. Does that sound like Frederica? Frederica this is not. It lacks the humor for one thing and the bored, cynical Marquess. The second half of this novel is more serious and has a heart-wrenching plot. I appreciated the realism but not in this book because it wasn't the story I was expecting or wanted to read.
In the first few chapters Judith is entirely unlikable. I understand her motive but not her methods. She doesn't LISTEN when her younger sister doesn't have any interest in London and doesn't even see what's happening under her nose. What happens is obvious to the reader and for the best. I know Judith didn't have much choice because Uncle Sylvester doesn't have ANY interest in helping out but he should. Isn't there any female she could apply to to help Sarah? What about the vicar? Can he help? Judith does improve but the reader has to be told over and over that her family is her main concern and everything she does is to help her family. Once she is at the house party and something happens that reveals her hidden softer side, she begins to be a more sympathetic character. I like how she knew her heart but not her mind yet it's not what I wanted to read.
Judith's family is rather bland and taken from the book of stock Regency characters. Sarah is sweet and loving, a typical demure miss and Aunt Tillie is kind but vague. I think Aunt Tillie is less vague than she lets on. She's a sweetheart but she lets Judith bear all the burdens alone. Charles is forgettable. He appears in maybe two scenes at the beginning and one in the middle and that's it. I forgot all about him. He had the makings of being an entertaining character but never works his way into the story.
Viscount Westfall is equally boring. He's not a typical nobleman though. He's kind and sees the worth of a man in terms of character. He accepts Peregine as his friend despite the differences in their station. Westfall accepts Judith's story and brings her into his home. He doesn't have to do this but he wants to. Westfall is a good man and will make an adoring husband YET he should know better than to kiss a gently reared young lady before he has permission to marry her. Peregrine is the most complex and unique character. He made a fortune in India but through honest means and now he's a wealthy cit. He has a dark secret from his past that haunts him and makes him a tragic character. At first I thought he was rude, mean and unsympathetic to Judith's predicament. I even hoped they would TALK to each other so she could explain her motives and then he would soften. They remain sparring partners but the sparring turns more to banter as the story progresses and he softens his frosty exterior. Both Peregrine and Judith need to work out their personal issues; Peregrine most of all.
This story did not interest me much but those who prefer their Regencies with more substance and drama may enjoy it. This edition is free on Kindle Unlimited.
Content:
Some "tingling" and passionate feelings told but not really shown
Some of the kisses get a little passionate but no body parts are mentioned other than tongue
October 7, 2023
Great love story
I really did not like Gerard at first. He seemed to go in the wrong direction every time, but he grew as a person and learned true value. Anette was a lovely heroine. Shouldering the cares of the people around her, but not timidly. Not compromising her values, getting her own love as she deserved.
I really did not like Gerard at first. He seemed to go in the wrong direction every time, but he grew as a person and learned true value. Anette was a lovely heroine. Shouldering the cares of the people around her, but not timidly. Not compromising her values, getting her own love as she deserved.
May 12, 2023
I loved this book! The love interests fall in love with each other's minds, not just their looks. It's believable and it was a fun, page-turner for me. Plus it addresses the social pressures and massive constraints of the time.
May 7, 2025
My copy is signed by the author.
Set during the Regency era, after a failed Season, Lydia Grenville returns to Winterbourne Castle in Essex.
John is the young Duke of Winterbourne.
He discovers Lydia sketching and the two become friendly.
On page 77, Apollo is mis-identified as a god of love.
Set during the Regency era, after a failed Season, Lydia Grenville returns to Winterbourne Castle in Essex.
John is the young Duke of Winterbourne.
He discovers Lydia sketching and the two become friendly.
On page 77, Apollo is mis-identified as a god of love.
July 17, 2025
Not your typical regency! The hero is a tradesman, a "cit", not of the gentry or aristocracy. But he is wealthy. It is a nice wholesome romance. The hero (Peregrine Campion) is a good man from the start and the heroine (Judith Shelton) is wise overall smart, but clueless at times!
October 18, 2023
It was okay.
Currently Reading
October 6, 2024I received this paperback as a gift from the author.
November 9, 2013
Miss Annette Courtney is the impoverished spinster daughter of the former vicar. Her life has been dedicated to doing good works and hounding the notoriously stingy Sir Nigel Montfort for money to improve the lives of the poor. When Sir Nigel dies and the will is read, Annette learns that Sir Nigel left all his wealth to her! Sir Nigel's nephew, Gerard is left with the estate but no money to run it. Gerard is angry with his late uncle who had little love for the boy he raised or the man that Gerard has become. What's worse is that Sir Nigel, believing his nephew to be a wastrel, libeled him to Annette. Annette wishes to open a school for the village children, secretly hoping it will fill a void in her heart. Unbeknowst to Annette, Gerard has had to live by his wits, his charm and his luck his whole life and has always longed to be part of society. When he learned his uncle died, he visited a moneylender in order to celebrate. The celebrations was premature and now Gerard is in debt and the moneylender is hounding him for money. Gerard also wants to do what's best for his tenants but needs Annette's money and she stubbornly refuses to give up the money without a fight. As they get to know each other, Annette and Gerard become friends and share an attraction to one another but pride and money matters nearly keep them apart. The story moves very slowly towards the usual conclusion without much plot. I wanted to like Annette because she is a bluestocking but she was too self-righteous and I found her annoying. Gerard is a charming hero once the reader gets to know him. I would recommend this one for fans of Christian romance and those interested in reform.
June 3, 2009
More like 2 1/2. Some redeeming qualities in both the lead characters. Lydia is not this helpless little girl and John is not the usual aggressive rake. Both have some whimsy in them. But the plot is slim and paste on. I would have enjoyed more characters development instead of the thin plot. More on the social rules and how both of them didn't fit them and broke them instead of the who tried to kill him.
August 12, 2020
HEA, yay
They say people don't change, but in romance they do. You'll smile to read the wonderful changes that Louise has dreamed up. When you step into her world, you are transported back in time and immersed in the Recency period as if you were living right there with her characters, feeling their feelings and walking beside them. Her characters are each unique and filled with emotion. The plot unfolds taking you with it swiftly, hoping it won't end too soon.
They say people don't change, but in romance they do. You'll smile to read the wonderful changes that Louise has dreamed up. When you step into her world, you are transported back in time and immersed in the Recency period as if you were living right there with her characters, feeling their feelings and walking beside them. Her characters are each unique and filled with emotion. The plot unfolds taking you with it swiftly, hoping it won't end too soon.
June 4, 2008
They respect each other .. they do not fall in love at first sight unlike the one I'm reading now. grrrr... it's only has kisses and a hero that is not a rapist, isn't macho, etc.. but not a bland hero either. I liked it. Not oh my god it's soooo good but really a nice story, characters you like and don't make you roll your eyes. That's rare.
March 13, 2010
Overall a solid 2 stars. Half way it took a turn left that made all the protagonists shine in a different way and showed that the reader wasn't taken for a dummy. Both couples were not perfect but perfect for each other. No would be forced marriage, only two set of people trying to find love and a way to happiness that won't compromise their soul.
August 30, 2016
Annette and Gerard have a rocky start when she inherits the estate of his uncle. She has plans to help the children of the village, and he wants what he feels is rightfully his. Pride and money matters are difficult to overcome in the best of circumstances, but can this pair find a way for both to achieve what their hearts truly desire? This was a fantastic regency romance! Enjoy!
December 6, 2024
This was an unusual plot for a Signet Regency and it was a good read. The MMC was not in the aristocracy but it worked. Enjoyed the writing style as well. I also liked the fact that it was a simple romance with no evil villain.
June 14, 2019
Another delightful read from Louise Bergin. I enjoyed the tension between the hero and heroine, both trying to do their best for the people that matter most to them.
June 12, 2023
The writing was good but the romance failed to really live up to expectations. The male character was somewhat unlikeable.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews