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The Duke Wager Edith Layton 9780451145666 Books

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The Duke Wager Edith Layton 9780451145666 Books

This historical regency romance was damned near perfect.

I admit, however--this book is not for everyone. First of all, if you don't enjoy a villain (or man with very questionable morals) as a main love interest, then this isn't your bag. According to previous reviews, this element of the story has apparently angered and annoyed some readers. These are (finally!) the real rakes, people. Consider yourself warned. There is also very little action and sexy times, the "heroes" are often deplorable in their treatment of the heroine, and the dialogue is lengthy and almost Shakespearean in its style.

Personally, I loved it for these reasons. It all fuses together into something brilliant.

Layton's writing is masterful, her character studies fascinating. I loved watching how they struggle, change, and grow as the novel progresses. It's amazing what she is able to accomplish--the chemistry, nuances, and depth--in so short a book. It may be on the smaller side, but it packs a punch. A true testament to Layton's skill as an author. It was a deeply moving read for me, and I even cried a little at the end (no easy task).

And, despite his villainous intentions and hedonistic lifestyle, you simply cannot help but falling in love with Jason, Duke of Torquay. He is tormented, hilarious, and sexy as hell. I dare you not to ;)


Tags : The Duke's Wager [Edith Layton] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Pursued by infamous bachelors Jason Thomas and St. John Basil St. Charles, both notorious rakes, Regina Berryman realizes that the only way to preserve her honor is to turn the tables on both suitors. Reissue.,Edith Layton,The Duke's Wager,Signet,0451145666,Romance - General,Fiction,Fiction General,Fiction Romance General,Fiction Romance Historical General,Fiction Romance Historical Regency,Fiction-Romance,MASS MARKET,Romance,Romance & Sagas,RomanceRegency,Romance: Regency

The Duke Wager Edith Layton 9780451145666 Books Reviews

I expected the usual story of two rakes vying for possession of the beautiful, innocent commoner, but this novel was anything but 'usual'.

Rather than depicting rakes as wild, fun-loving, and glamorous, this showed them as the debauched, hedonistic predators they commonly were. Well-written, the novel also spells out the true effects of arranged marriages so customary within this class and era ~ the wedding takes place, the wife stares at the bed canopy, the husband begets an heir, immediately goes on the prowl for a mistress while still maintaining his wife on a pedestal. Psychiatrists could have had a field day in that age.

The author shied away from nothing. I felt the terror of the young innocent, without family and cast adrift virtually penniless. Helpless. One of the rakes openly dissolute, the other sneaky about it. And both, while publicly professing disdain for "trade," were privately making money hand over fist from it, including the slave trade.

The heroine maintained her dignity and honor throughout and fell in love with the rake who had redeemed himself in her eyes. This is where she and I parted company. A snake may shed his skin, but he grows a new one. I couldn't stand the guy, but this did have to turn into a love story, after all.

Brilliantly written, the author deftly peeled back the hypocritical and cynical layers of this age and class. I certainly recommend this for critical, as well as entertaining, reading. Just don't embark expecting a sweet love story to unfold and sweep you along in bliss.

Purists will gulp when seeing a marquis addressed as Your Grace, plus a few other bobbles with titles and forms of address. A good editor would have caught those unnecessary errors. Layton shouldn't be punished, however, for those small mishaps. After all, she wrote this at a time when research had to be done the old-fashioned way, and she did a lot of it. Her characterizations and narrative are absolutely true to the setting.

Enjoy your reading! )
There are plenty of summaries, but I will add this. I started the book and was very tempted to just toss it aside, because - UGH - who wants to read about dissipated, selfish, manipulative peers of the realm? Aren't they a dime a dozen? Aren't such stories a dime a dozen??? But I forged ahead. And I would have to say, this is one of the best books I've read in this genre. I am agog. I can't wait to read it again, to savor anew how masterfully Layton sketched each character. Extraordinary.

My conclusion? We don't have to love the characters. But to *understand* them and *know* them as well as we get to know Torquay, Bessacarr, his cousin Amelia, and our lovely, astute and believably naive heroine Regina - that doesn't happen all that often.By the end, I had great sympathy for each of the four [well, five, if you count the old nanny and even the daughter, while we're at it!!!] - and all of this done with superb writing, and economy! It's not a terribly long book. I am curious now to read the Marquis' sequel.

Highly recommended
This historical regency romance was damned near perfect.

I admit, however--this book is not for everyone. First of all, if you don't enjoy a villain (or man with very questionable morals) as a main love interest, then this isn't your bag. According to previous reviews, this element of the story has apparently angered and annoyed some readers. These are (finally!) the real rakes, people. Consider yourself warned. There is also very little action and sexy times, the "heroes" are often deplorable in their treatment of the heroine, and the dialogue is lengthy and almost Shakespearean in its style.

Personally, I loved it for these reasons. It all fuses together into something brilliant.

Layton's writing is masterful, her character studies fascinating. I loved watching how they struggle, change, and grow as the novel progresses. It's amazing what she is able to accomplish--the chemistry, nuances, and depth--in so short a book. It may be on the smaller side, but it packs a punch. A true testament to Layton's skill as an author. It was a deeply moving read for me, and I even cried a little at the end (no easy task).

And, despite his villainous intentions and hedonistic lifestyle, you simply cannot help but falling in love with Jason, Duke of Torquay. He is tormented, hilarious, and sexy as hell. I dare you not to ;)