The Lost Duke of Wydnham, Julia Quinn

I was sooooo excited to finally get my hands on the new Julia Quinn, the Lost Duke of Wyndham.

And then I read it.

And I kind of wished the Lost Duke would have stayed lost.

Oh Anne! You say. You’re far too harsh. You have written some stinkers, too. Be kind.

All true. But I am only speaking out of severe disappointment and a sincere wish to steer everyone new to Julia Quinn away from this one lest they don’t read any of her other fabulous books.

Here’s the plot:

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

Sounds promising, right.

Well it was boring. And I guess I just really didn’t like the characters. There was none of Quinn’s usual happily flawed folks. The backstory was never fleshed out. And there was far too much time spent on minutia.

And everything happened over about a week or two, making it wholly unbelievable.

I rest my case.

Go read her other fabulous books and then maybe, if you dare, try this one. But for the love of all that is hist-ro, don’t pay full price for this one!