To Tame a Duke

Rating:
Summary: A fun romp with a Sassy heroine!!!
Review: As a fan of Ms Grasso's work I found this new one, to be a classic bitingly funny Grasso romp, one I just couldn't put down. If you are a fan of the Bard, you will want to read this one, as they quote Shakespeare throughout, at the funniest of times.

Our heroine is a Wharf Rat from Boston who makes a death bed promise to raise and protect her baby brother. Her brother from birth is slow to develop mentally but he steals many of the scenes and is one character who adds special moments to the story

Seems Lily has a special gift that is needed for the American war effort of 1812. She has a photographic memory and turns to spying for the American cause. Her brother and fiance enlist her and thru these deeds she earns the nickname the GILDED LILY. When they leave on a special mission, she and Michael meet their future head on.

James Armstrong, becomes the Duke of Kinross on the death of his brother in America. Seems his brother was hung and the implication is his death is the result of the work of the Gilded Lily. Seeking a way to escape his impending betrothal with one of London's spoiled females he takes the opportunity to leave her in the lurch as he travels to America to seek revenge on this Gilded Lily. He is after all in mourning, as he escapes the matrimonial noose.

He quickly captures Lily and her brother Michael thinking she is a he and transports them both to England for revenge. A revenge that is sensually seductive when he finds she is a female. But as luck would have it, the kind of revenge he seeks may be his own downfall when he loses his heart to Lily. Yet they both may lose than their hearts as a killer stalks them.

The theme of the story itself is nothing new, but there is a mystery as who did kill James's brother that will keep the reading racing to the final pages. But what makes this a five star read is Grasso's signature "witty banter" between James and Lily. You can always count on great one-liners in a Patricia Grasso book. Lily is just the type of sassy heroine, with great one liners we have come to expect from Patricia Grasso. It is a laugh out loud book to be enjoyed in one sitting.

Readers will delight as well in how Michael is portrayed in this book, he is not to be pitied, and he despite his impediment could have his own story very easily. With his innocent actions he is reminisent of some of the beloved quirky secondary characters in her past books.

This a must read for her fans and those who want a story where love triumphs over two stubbornly realistic characters. Historical romance at its best!!!

Rating:
Summary: Better than five Stars!!!
Review: I now have a new favorite author. In my opinion a good book will bring emotion to the reader. This book brought many to me. I cried, laughed, and was on the edge of my seat. I did not want to put the book down. I can not wait to read all of Patricia Grasso's books. Five stars for Patricia!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Historical
Review: In 1812 Boston, Lily Hawthorne is a tavern owner's daughter who is recruited by her half-brother Seth to aid the war effort. She is known as the Gilded Lily and has an amazing ability to remember codes and pass them on. Though warned by her brother and Bradley Howell, her fiancé, not to complete her next assignment, she goes ahead with it anyway.

Unfortunately, Lily and her brother Michael are captured by James Armstrong, Duke of Kinross. He has vowed to capture and kill the Gilded Lily whom he believes responsible for the death of his older brother Hugh, who was hung in America as a British spy. James' plans change when he discovers that the Gilded Lily is a woman, and he decides to keep her prisoner at his estate in England until the end of the war.

But Lily is not just any woman. She is incredibly intelligent, very resourceful, and fiercely protective of her brother Michael, who was born with a disability. James falls hard for Lily but refuses to let her know that he loves her, and Lily is heartbroken at his callous treatment of her. Things do not go as planned for James when he is forced to explain Lily's presence in England to his mother and aunts.

Ms. Grasso has written an enjoyable historical with plenty of wit and tension between the hero and heroine. The heroine is especially likeable with plenty of backbone and spunk. Though the characters could be more developed, this is a pleasing fast-paced read.

Rating:
Summary: Heart Warming, Witty, Sensuous
Review: Lily Hawthorne, a "wharf rat", is the daughter of a Boston tavern owner. She is also the caregiver for her impaired 8 year old brother, Michael. When Lily's mother died in childbirth she entrusted the care of Michael to Lily and the two have bonded and love and care for each other.

Eighteen year old Lily has a photographic memory as well as total recall. For this reason her older brother, Seth and her fiancee, Bryan, seek her help in retrieving coded messages and passing them on during the War of 1812. She becomes known as the Gilded Lily.

James Armstrong, the 14th Duke of Kinross, a handsome nobleman is determined to avenge his older brother's death supposedly at the hands of the Gilded Lily. James sets out for America and ends up at the Boston wharves. He spys Lily, who is diguised as a boy, and kidnaps her and Michael. When he realizes the Gilded Lily is a girl he decided to take them to England until the end of the war.

On board ship Lily falls in love with James, but not before exchanging many witty barbs and humorous antecdotes. Michael is accepted by James' crew and is happy on board ship where he acquires a white pig as a pet.

James takes Lily to his home where his mother and two aunts soon arrive and "forces" James to become betrothe to Lily because of his having kidnapped her. They have an allegedly "fake" bethrote until James discovers Lily is pregnant. Enter Seth and Bryan into the fiasco along with the villian and you have a great story. Michael is wonderful character and never do you feel sorry for him.

Rating:
Summary: Patricia does it again
Review: To Tame a Duke is a great book. Set during the 1800's follow Lily and James from Boston to the Ballrooms of England. You will even be re-introduced to characters from some of Patricia's old stories. Violets in the Snow, and No Decent Gentleman. James is after the murderer of his brother. He makes the mistake in assuming that Lily is the spy that caused his death. After kidnapping her and her brother, he takes them back to England, and his life is never the same again. So what do you do when you fall in love with your kidnapper, and prisoner? Read the book. This is a great book with intrigue, romance, and laughter, and some familiar old friends from the past. Just the thing for the end of Summer Blues, or rainy day curl-up with a good book day.

Rating:
Summary: Patricia does it again
Review: To Tame a Duke is a great book. Set during the 1800's follow Lily and James from Boston to the Ballrooms of England. You will even be re-introduced to characters from some of Patricia's old stories. Violets in the Snow, and No Decent Gentleman. James is after the murderer of his brother. He makes the mistake in assuming that Lily is the spy that caused his death. After kidnapping her and her brother, he takes them back to England, and his life is never the same again. So what do you do when you fall in love with your kidnapper, and prisoner? Read the book. This is a great book with intrigue, romance, and laughter, and some familiar old friends from the past. Just the thing for the end of Summer Blues, or rainy day curl-up with a good book day.

Rating:
Summary: Two ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances
Review: When his cousin Sloan reports the death of his older brother, James Armstrong seeks revenge upon the colonists who hung his brother. The Gilded Lily, a code name for an American spy, is responsible for the death of the 13th Duke of Kinross. Now the 14th Duke, James sets off across the oceans to kill his brother's murder. Kidnapping the man from a tavern, he's shocked to learn he's a she.

Eighteen-year-old Lily Hawthorn, daughter of a tavern owner, uses her remarkable gift of memory to aid the American cause. She disobeys her fiancé for an assignation at a tavern, little suspecting the danger she walks into. A man bent on revenge kidnaps her and her eight-year-old brother. When he realizes she's a woman, he takes her aboard his ship, planning to hold her in England until the war's conclusion. His revenge takes a different direction when he decides to make her fall in love with him, so that he might simply break her heart. A hollow victory indeed, if his own heart gets broken as well.

Patricia Grasso delivers a fast-paced tale of opposites attracted in TO TAME A DUKE. Challenges of loyalty and love bring these outstanding characters to life with witty dialogue and sharp motivation. The conflict between these two strong characters boils over into hatred, mistrust and searing passion. In addition, the beautifully realized younger brother adds a marvelous touch with his pet pig. With a complex plot weaving matters of the heart with political intrigue and bit of a mystery, TO TAME A DUKE provides delightful entertainment. Highly recommended.