MY REVIEW:

The second installment of the Forgotten Castles series, “The Forgiven Duke” takes up where “The Guardian Duke” ended with Alexandria Featherstone and her fiance John Lemon on a ship to Iceland on a quest to find her missing parents. Her guardian, the duke of St. Easton arrived just in time to watch them sail off. With plans to follow her and bring her safely home, the duke finds himself delayed by one crisis after another and his deafness certainly does not aid in his endeavors. His determination to prevent Alexandria’s marriage and her realization that she can’t marry Lemon are indications of their growing love for each other. But with such a distance between them and the increasing danger as they race against time to find her parents and the missing manuscript, will Alexandria and the duke ever see each other again, much less share their lives?

Although I found “The Forgiven Duke” a tad slow at times, its pace usually picked up fairly quickly. Overall, it was an enjoyable story with interesting characters and settings. The plot had several twists and surprises that kept things interesting. I particularly liked the way the Lord ministered to the Duke through music and colors despite his deafness. I am interested to see where the author goes with this aspect of the story. Readers will be happy to know that there is resolution to some issues but they will have to wait until the third volume of the series to learn the fate of Alexandria’s parents. I look forward to finding that out myself.

This book was provided for review by Angie Loschiavo with Flyby Promotions.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When she was six, Jamie’s parents met Jesus and soon after started a church. It changed everything.

Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch.

The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad would spend a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes. Nothing ever felt so special as a middle of the night slice of pie with her dad. And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.

As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled she wrote skits, poems, plays and short stories for school and church.
When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own.

Snow Angel was born on a frosty night in an old farmhouse in Fishers, Indiana, where the cold floor gave plenty of motivation for the snow scene. Jamie loves to write late at night when the house is quiet and the darkness seems alive. Elizabeth and Noah had been playacting in herhead for a long time, so the story went fast.
Ten years later Snow Angel was published and won the ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, was a National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and a 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. It was the beginning of her dream career.

Jamie and her husband Tony have been married for twenty-one years and live in Indianapolis with their three sons and a giant of a dog named Leo.

If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”

GIVEAWAY:

I have one copy of “The Forgiven Duke” available to giveaway. Please leave a comment on this post no later than Friday, April 27 for a chance to win. The winner will be chosen from all entries by a random drawing. U. S. residents only please.