The Discarded Duke (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: a brilliant read
Review: "The Discarded Duke" is not the typical Regency fare that one usually gets -- it's not a dark gothicky romance, nor is it a light comedy of manners featuring tea parties and beaux. Rather, it is a deeply character driven romance that focuses on a group of characters, all with emotional baggage of their own, and a few secrets that they'd rather not face. I rather enjoyed this romance novel, and fairly devoured it. However I do think that this book would have benefited immensely if it had been a much longer one, as the character development, as well as the story development, would have really benefited from more exposition.

William Ridd has spent a great many years cross breeding and developing the best wool bearing sheep for the Duke of Ardsley at one of the duke's lesser Devon properties, Myrmion. And because of his hard work and enterprising ways, he's also been responsible for the prosperity of the estate and of Stratton Valley. Now however, everything is about to change for the duke has decided to sell the sheep and to turn Myrmion into a horse breeding farm instead. Will is aghast and angry -- all his hard work and his dreams for Myrmion and the people of Stratton are about to go up in smoke. He tries to reason with the duke, but it would seem as if the duke only has eyes and ears for the beautiful Irish widow, Lady Ursula Roarke, who put the insane idea in his head in the first place! And while Will cannot deny that the lady's beauty and guile has affected him as well, he senses that this engaging widow has plans of her own where the duke is concerned and that they're not all centered around horse breeding.

Ursula is badly in need of funds. Her reckless husband is dead, and she has to come up with quite a lot of money in order to settle his numerous debts. Facing a life of penury, Ursula has decided to marry for money this time, instead of love. And when she meets the Duke of Ardsley, she decides that he will do for a second husband. Using his interest in starting his own breeding stable and her horses as bait, Ursula hopes to entice the duke into proposing marriage. But now her hopes have hit a snag in the form of Will Ridd. But the more she sees of all that Will has accomplished, the more guilty she feels about what harm her mercenary plans will bring about. And than there is the unpalatable fact that she's growing more and more attracted to Ridd as the days pass. What should she do? Carry on with her original plans? Or give up and move on? And what of her reluctant attraction to the boorish and bumbling Will Ridd?

I've only detailed part of the plot of "The Discarded Duke." There is a lot more that goes on in the novel. Each character has a past and secrets that haunts and dictates how they behave and go about things. And it is this aspect that makes this romance novel a much richer read than it might have otherwise been. This novel is entirely character driven, which is a little unfortunate in that many characters were not as fully developed as they should have been, and remained a little two-dimensional. This was really unfortunate, because otherwise "The Discarded Duke" would definitely been a 5 star read. Otherwise, the novel unfolded smoothly and at a brisk enough pace. There was an element of coincidence about this novel, but Nancy Butler handled this aspect in such a manner as to make it quite believable and probable. All in all, a jolly good read.

Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Story!
Review: If you've never read a Nancy Butler book READ THIS ONE! It is an amazing story, truly heart-gripping. The heroine, Ursula, is in desperate need of money and believes she has found the answer to her problems in the Duke of Ardsley. BUT, while visiting one of his estates she meets his bailiff, Will Ridd. Will's strength and intelligence are compelling. Suffice it to say that they become 'better acquainted'. So much so that she makes a VERY brave choice.
This story has some dark moments and discusses some unusual subjects for a regency romance. But that is part of what makes the story unforgettable.
It is not a fluffy, ballroom story. You may need a kleenex or two. But this story will stay with you long after you've finished it.

Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Story!
Review: If you've never read a Nancy Butler book READ THIS ONE! It is an amazing story, truly heart-gripping. The heroine, Ursula, is in desperate need of money and believes she has found the answer to her problems in the Duke of Ardsley. BUT, while visiting one of his estates she meets his bailiff, Will Ridd. Will's strength and intelligence are compelling. Suffice it to say that they become 'better acquainted'. So much so that she makes a VERY brave choice.
This story has some dark moments and discusses some unusual subjects for a regency romance. But that is part of what makes the story unforgettable.
It is not a fluffy, ballroom story. You may need a kleenex or two. But this story will stay with you long after you've finished it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: In The Discarded Duke, Nancy Butler again proves her outstanding talents for weaving an absorbing and believable tale while creating characters the reader is sure to fall in love with. As in her earlier The Prodigal Hero, these characters are not cut from the common cloth of romance hero and heroine. And that is what makes them so believable. Nor is the reader slapped in the face with the immediate "I love him!" romance. This romance grows--as it hits snags along the way--between two strong but almost reluctant people. I predict that if Ms. Butler continues as she has started with this book and The Prodigal Hero, she is the number one candidate to step into the Regency Romance shoes set aside by Mary Balogh who has gone on to write hard-cover historicals.

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Butler is a definite diamond!
Review: Lady Ursula Roarke needed to come up with a large sum of money - FAST - thanks to her deceased husband. She decided to marry for money and landed her sights on the Duke of Ardsley. He had an interest in beginning his own breeding stable. She had excellent stock and used it to lure the duke into proposing marriage to her.

The duke's estate had been producing wool. In fact, William Ridd had been cross breeding to make the best wool bearing sheep for years. His success with the sheep had kept the duke's coffers full and the area's population happy. When he learned Damien (a.k.a. Ardsley) planned to get rid of the sheep, he and Judith Coltrane (a friend) try to stop it.

...I skip much here. I do not wish to give away anything vital. I can state that Will and Ursula are considered the "the couple" or "main characters" for this novel. Yet they do not hog the spot light. Damien really has no clue how much the wool from the sheep mean to local weavers or to himself! In addition, Will has a past he does not care to dwell on or speak of, but can marks on his back make Ursula too curious to drop that particular subject.

I believe you et the idea. I refuse to insult your intelligence by going on. There are secondary characters and a few sub-plots to keep life interesting and readers (like us) hooked! Excellent novel! Nancy Butler is a definite diamond! ...

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Rating:
Summary: Very much out of the ordinary
Review: My congratulations to Nancy Butler for a stellar offering. The Discarded Duke offers a carefully crafted plot which is full of twists and surprises. It also gives us a set of characters (both the H/H and the secondary characters) who are particularly well drawn and who act out the story in a wholly human and believable way.

The most significant thing about this book is that it explores very deep emotions and offers insights into some of our darkest thoughts, fears and guilts. It touches on the issues of insanity and how, in not so distant times, even the medical profession looked upon such diseases as epilepsy as evidence of madness. It explores the manipulation and devious nature of borderline psycopathic behaviour and it also offers some hints as to why fortune hunting must be viewed with some sympathy.

This is a "lost heir" story told with careful consideration and thorough explanation of motive and outcome. There is a damaged but strong, sweet hero who hides more than a few secrets. The heroine is strong too and yet, through her own difficult past, is understanding, tolerant and supportive. The secondary characters either will or have lost much but what they gain in replacement is satisfactory beyond question.

I do highly recommend this novel. It was not your typical Regency offering and is strongly written and well-conceived. Definitely one to be read again.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly moving
Review: This book was just great! Three weeks after I read it and I still vividly remember the details of this wonderfully written book. I usually read historical and mainstream romance, but this regency book was one of the best romances I've ever read. Treat yourself by reading about a hero whose circumstances make you want to turn every page to undue the injustice and will have you clamoring for the happy ending he so deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly moving
Review: This book was just great! Three weeks after I read it and I still vividly remember the details of this wonderfully written book. I usually read historical and mainstream romance, but this regency book was one of the best romances I've ever read. Treat yourself by reading about a hero whose circumstances make you want to turn every page to undue the injustice and will have you clamoring for the happy ending he so deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Help Wishing...
Review: Ursula Roarke, a lovely (but penniless) widow, wants to sell her bloodstock to the Duke of Ardsley. What she REALLY wants, however, is to charm him into a marriage proposal. A union with Damien (the duke) would solve all of her financial woes.

Unfortunately, His Grace isn't nearly as intriguing as Will Ridd, the duke's bailiff. Will Ridd has worked for the Duke of Ardsley for 5 years, and has worked hard to raise the perfect flock--for perfectly soft wool. Ridd's wool puts bread on the table for everyone in the town of Stranton--the people think of the bailiff as a sort of saint. Now the Duke of Ardsley wants to take everything away from Ridd! (But don't get me wrong--the duke himself is not without quirks and charm)

The plot is a lot more intricate than I can describe in a few meager paragraphs. There is a lot going on in this book. It's full of passion, power, and heart-wrenching moments. I caught myself tensing up and tearing up throughout the entire novel. Will Ridd is a very different, very intriguing hero. And Ursula was a heroine willing to risk everything for love. That's definitely admirable.

However, I thought the characters were a bit too irrational in the end. For a period of 20 pages, I was incredibly frustrated with both the hero and the heroine. Also, the book got a bit too melodramic, at times. In addition, I was able to figure out the "big suprise" when I reached the second chapter.

Still, you can't go wrong to read this book. It's engaging and well-written the whole way through. Like every other book I've read by Ms. Butler: it's a keeper.

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Butler: A Sure Bet
Review: Ursula Roarke, a lovely (but penniless) widow, wants to sell her bloodstock to the Duke of Ardsley. What she REALLY wants, however, is to charm him into a marriage proposal. A union with Damien (the duke) would solve all of her financial woes.

Unfortunately, His Grace isn't nearly as intriguing as Will Ridd, the duke's bailiff. Will Ridd has worked for the Duke of Ardsley for 5 years, and has worked hard to raise the perfect flock--for perfectly soft wool. Ridd's wool puts bread on the table for everyone in the town of Stranton--the people think of the bailiff as a sort of saint. Now the Duke of Ardsley wants to take everything away from Ridd! (But don't get me wrong--the duke himself is not without quirks and charm)

The plot is a lot more intricate than I can describe in a few meager paragraphs. There is a lot going on in this book. It's full of passion, power, and heart-wrenching moments. I caught myself tensing up and tearing up throughout the entire novel. Will Ridd is a very different, very intriguing hero. And Ursula was a heroine willing to risk everything for love. That's definitely admirable.

However, I thought the characters were a bit too irrational in the end. For a period of 20 pages, I was incredibly frustrated with both the hero and the heroine. Also, the book got a bit too melodramic, at times. In addition, I was able to figure out the "big suprise" when I reached the second chapter.

Still, you can't go wrong to read this book. It's engaging and well-written the whole way through. Like every other book I've read by Ms. Butler: it's a keeper.