Book Review-When You Give A Duke A Diamond

When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen
Also in this series: Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend
Series: Jewels of the Ton #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on September 4th 2012
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era
Pages: 356
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
ISBN: 1402269730

He had a perfectly orderly life...William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...Until she came along...Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

My Review
Summary 
William, the Duke of Pelham, is adamant in being punctual and formal at all times. That there is always a plan in advance with every detail known. William knows that it is time to marry and beget a heir, as his duty. When he arrives in London for business and to continue his courtship of the woman he plans to marry, his world is turned topsy turvy when he meets Juliette and all the drama that accompanies her. When a gossip column claims that William and Juliette are having a affair, he is outraged, since that would never EVER happen, not in his world. He plans on ignoring the gossips among the ton  and carry on as usual. Juliette is rumored to a talented and beautiful courtesan, and is part of the courtesan trio the “Jewels of the Ton”. Juliette is very well known and loves the life she lives, but when a danger threatens her she has no choice but to turn to the Duke of Pelham who needs to be taken down a peg or two, and who better to do it than herself? He has a way too obsessive and orderly life, and she wants to show him the joys of chaos…and the power of true love.

The Hero (William, 6th Duke of Pelham)
William, was raised in a environment where love and affection were thrown out the window, only to be replaced by punctuality and duty. He lost his mother at a very young age, and his father was very strict with him, he had no choice but to develop certain habits that established his current life of order  and structure. He knows his duty as the Duke of Pelham, and has never been able to forget his responsibilites until a young woman came twirling into his life and disrupting him here, and there and everywhere and he doesn’t know who he is anymore. She introduces him into a life a fun and laughter and passion. Even though he finds himself losing his heart, he knows there is no possbility of a future together….but he wants to risk everything just to hold her in his arms.

The Heroine (Juliette, known as “Duchess of Daliance”)
Juliette, grew up on a farm, where she learned to play and laugh and love. But then she discovered a path that has led her to a current life. Juliette has many secrets that she and her fellow two friends keep from the ton and keep to themselves. She has created a life for herself, a life of prestige, and the best of everything. But secretly she has been searching for love and the right man that could fill her life up with joy and peace. When she meets William, he cuts her publicly and ruins her. Now she knows she won’t be able to stay in London much longer, and that she will have to choose a different life. But when a young woman is murdered, her own life in peril and having to turn to the one person that has ruined her, she knows she is in for a challenge. As she teams up with the Duke, she introduces him to a world of life and passion but she also knows it can only be temporary since they are worlds apart.

My Thoughts 
I can’t say how much I just ADORED this book!!! I haven’t read this author for a very long time, when I saw this title at my library, I just loved the cover and the blurb and knew I had to pick it up. Boy I am so glad that I did, I would have missed out on a fantastic read that just kept me captivated for a whole afternoon. That’s right…I read it in just a few hours (that’s right…it means I really really liked it) It definitely had its swoon worthy moments, and sexy and strong but yet vulnerable characters that had me feeling totally captivated. The flow of the writing was smooth and seemed to blend in perfectly and keep the reader interested. I also loved the exciting plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, it added additional flavor to the story. The enriching descriptions that are so vivid in detail, this author creates a enchanting setting for any reader to admire. I just love this author’s amazing talent of making a story come to life, with witty scenes that just had me bursting out laughing at random moments, that I am sure others thought I was crazy. But I don’t care…..I LOVED it!!! Had me seduced from the very first line!!! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, and planning on reading the rest of Galen’s books. New top favorite author!!

First Line 
Rumor held that the Prince Regent himself gave the Three Diamonds their sobriquets. 

My Favorite Quotes ( I just had to share these…the bottom one kept me laughing for so long, but chest hurt. 🙂
And then his pride bubbled to the surface, and he took three steps, caught her about the waist, and swung her around.
“Oh, now what?”
“Now this.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. He meant the kiss to prove to her that he could be spontaneous, that he was not as she painted him. But of course, as soon as he kissed her, he started wondering if this had been a mistake and if he shouldn’t just go to bed–alone–to prepare for the early morning departure.
And then she kissed him back,
Her mouth moved under his, and she made a small sound like a satisfied cat. And Will forgot all about time and mistakes and everything but the woman in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Jealous? Jealous? I am a duke. I do not feel jealousy.”
To his utter amazement, she put her hands to her hears ears and screamed. “”If I hear you say I am a duke one more time, I will not be responsible for my actions. Duke’s ar enot gods, Will. They are people. They make mistakes, apologize–or at least they should–and feel all sorts of emotions.”
“I suppose you are an expert on such matters.”
“I have known several dukes.”
“”Yes, and I am a duke–”
Her eyes widened, her lips pursed. “I” She shoved him. “Warned” Hard “You” Backward.
“Juliette–”
She shoved him again, and he stumbled against the lip of the tub, faltered, and fell, sloshing warm water all over the floor and soaking his clothing worse than the rain had done.
He stared up at her, water dripping in his eyes. He expected her to apologize, to look horrified, to beg his forgiveness.
Instead, she laughed.

About Shana Galen

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers' Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Booklist says, "Galen expertly entwines espionage-flavored intrigue with sizzling passion," and RT Bookreviews calls her "a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers, so send her an email or see what she's up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

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