Review | All The Duke’s Sins Series by Christi Caldwell
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The Diamond and The Duke by Christi Caldwell
Series: All The Duke's Sins | Book 3
2024 Publication Date: February 20
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best Regency Romance Novels
Table of Contents
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW
A testament to those who find love early... And love forever... ✨😎✨
♡ T.I.M.E. TIP
Although this is a cumulative series, you can read this regency romance book series as standalone books since they are interconnected romance books… Meaning each book focuses on a different couple from the same "world" of the Audley family... But interconnected romance is still a cumulative series... As for me, I always recommend reading a series in order, when possible. And with this series, I do think it will enhance your reading experience to be fully immersed in the world-building to fully embrace the interconnected romance bonus element as you read... ✨😎✨
BOOK DETAILS
Pages: 303
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Regency Romance | Hidden Identity Romance | Interconnected Romance | Steamy Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶 (Mild Spicy)
Time Period: 1806 (Regency Era)
Location: London (England)
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
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TV: Bridgerton Series (Netflix) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MORE T.I.M.E. TOP BOOK PICKS from…
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
PUBLISHER BOOK SYNOPSIS
When a wounded soldier and self-proclaimed "beast" finds unlikely friendship with a headstrong and unconventional beauty, they quickly find themselves weaving a tale as old as time…
Despite a hero’s return to England from the Napoleonic Wars, Wesley Audley isolates from the ton. Deep wounds from the horrors of combat — and the despair of a broken heart — left him scarred. As he struggles to cope and resume his place in Polite Society, Wesley is quick to cut himself off from everyone… except for Ellie Balfour.
Independent and strong-willed, Ellie has dreams of captaining her own husband-free life and a penchant for meddling in other’s business. She knows befriending Wesley is a risk but Ellie can’t bear to see his heartache. Nor can she seem to silence all the temptingly intimate thoughts his nearness provokes.
But Ellie is yet to face a battle she can’t win — and Wesley’s heart is worth the fight. If only her campaigns ever went to plan…
BOOK QUOTE
"Those problems they may have with you? Those belong to them... You are who you are, and you shouldn't make apologies for it..." — The Diamond and The Duke by Christi Caldwell
THE DIAMOND AND THE DUKE | BOOK EXCERPT
Dedicating all her attentions and energies on her book, Ellie made a show at reading; all the while, her ears remained keenly focused on the parts and pieces of the discussion her brother and Cailin had resumed.
". . . heartbreaking . . . not so much as a word from her . . ." Cailin said, her voice catching with tears, and Ellie flipped the unread page noisily. ". . . she will not write him. She will not answer his notes. What am I to say when he asks?" Ellie's sister-in-law was saying. "That according to our brother Hunter, the woman you are in love with is the darling of Staffordshire?"
Ellie went completely motionless.
The woman he . . . loved? Her organ in her chest forgot its job was to beat. As in, Wesley Audley was in love with —
". . . that she's enjoying herself at all the local soirees while you are risking life and limb to keep England safe from that French frog?"
As in Wesley Audley was in love with a woman wholly undeserving of him and his love.
Hatred and jealousy mingled, and together, soured her tongue like the vinegar rag her father had advised her nursemaid to stuff in Ellie's mouth for using words he'd deemed inappropriate for a lady to utter.
He was . . . in love.
In all this time since they'd met lakeside, she'd thought of him. And more, she'd thought of him — and her — together.
Granted, he was more than a dozen years her senior, but she was no longer a child, and with every passing day where he was gone, she'd become a young lady, and he was to return and notice that she was no longer a gangly child.
Just . . . a gangly woman.
But neither would that matter, because he'd said that day at the lake she'd spirit and strength, and a skill with a sword that he'd admired, and —
Ellie gripped her book hard, her fingernails digging sharply into the soft leather and leaving crescent marks upon the cover and back.
The housekeeper appeared and dipped a curtsy to Cailin. "If I might speak to you, Your Grace, about the latest changes to the menu."
The latest changes, because with Cailin increasing in pregnancy and queasy from it, every meal was constantly changing.
As Cailin came to her feet, she offered a wave and smile to Ellie, which she quickly returned.
"I'll return shortly, love," the duchess said to her husband. She tipped her head up to receive Courtland's kiss.
Ellie hurriedly averted her attention from that intimate exchange.
The moment Cailin had followed Mrs. Dumfrees, Courtland returned to his book.
"Who was Cailin speaking about?" Ellie asked after her sister-in-law had gone, and she and Courtland remained alone.
Her eldest brother glanced over the top of his pages and looked confusedly her way.
Be breezy. You are breezy. "The woman who is not writing the lieutenant."
Courtland scrubbed a hand over his mouth.
For an instant, she thought he would not answer. For an instant, she thought he'd rightly point out her past actions barred her from possession of intimate details that did not explicitly involve her.
Though, in this case . . . they did. Her brother just did not know it.
"She also happens to be the young woman who urged him to go to his father, the Duke of Bentley, so he could make a better life for himself." Her brother's jaw hardened. "A better life, which in her mind included wealth and land, and attaining everything she could through his commission in the army."
The reason he'd joined the military, and risked his life even now, was a woman?
Ellie's chest tightened in an odd way, in a way she'd never believed it would or could because of a man, and yet now it did at the thought of the dashing Lieutenant Audley courting another woman who was decidedly not Ellie.
Courtland started to rise.
Ellie quickly stayed him with another question. "Do you know her?"
He stared confusedly at her.
"The young woman," she clarified.
Her brother shook his head. "Only that her name is Claire Sparrow. Her father is a part owner of the Cheadle mines with Hunter."
The second-eldest Audley sibling, following Rafe. Wesley and Cailin were the youngest.
"She has not bothered to write Wesley in all the time he's been off fighting."
Pain knifed away at Ellie's heart this time for unselfish reasons: because of the hurt he knew, and all for a woman who couldn't appreciate Wesley for the man he was.
There came a flurry of footfalls, and they both looked up. Cailin's lady's maid, Sara, rushed into the room, breathless.
Ashen, Courtland jumped up. "The duchess — ?"
"Is fine," the young woman hurried to reassure him. "Her Grace was accompanying Mrs. Dumfrees, who was discussing the menu, and the duchess . . ." — Sara's cheeks pinkened — "fell ill in the hallway."
Ellie grimaced. Tossed her biscuits, Cailin had done. As the poor expecting mother was always doing, everywhere, these days.
"She told me I should not send for you, Your Grace, but I thought you should — "
"I am glad you did," Courtland interrupted, hastening to the door, leaving Ellie alone with only the silence of the room . . . and — her gaze inched over to the hastily abandoned area her brother and his wife had occupied — Wesley's letters.
She dampened her mouth.
It is none of your affair . . .
It is absolutely none of your affair.
Not even a bit.
That was, aside from the fact that Ellie was head over heels in love with the lieutenant.
Her book forgotten, Ellie absently set it down beside her, and came slowly to her feet.
Keeping her eyes on the doorway, she inched over and stopped beside the note.
None of your affair. None of your affair. None . . .
Of its own volition, her gaze slid down, landing on that folded note.
Good, a person could not read a folded note. The only way to do so would be to pick it up, and open it, and well, Ellie certainly had more than enough restraint.
Or . . . she thought she did.
Just not where matters of Wesley Audley were concerned.
With a silent curse, her fingers dove for the page, and she quickly snapped it open and proceeded to read.
My dear sister,
I write this missive hoping to find you and Courtland and your unborn babe are each faring well. I am eager for the day I return, and hope it is one day soon where I am able to see your expanded family.
Ellie finished and turned the note over.
There was no mention of Ellie.
He did not so much as ask after her.
Not that she expected he should or would. Ellie was, after all, just another one of Courtland's many siblings.
She snapped the note shut and returned the letter to where Cailin had left it.
That, however, didn't mean Ellie didn't . . . hope that he thought of her in some way.
Though, knowing his heart was otherwise engaged — and by a woman so completely unworthy of him — it made sense why he should not.
And she was stunned to discover, she wasn't so very selfish as to want him at any cost. She wanted him alive and happy. Even if it meant, when he returned from war, he would belong to another woman.
Balling her hands into tight fists, Ellie squeezed and un-squeezed them; all the while she waged a silent war with herself. "Bloody hell," she exclaimed into the quiet of the parlor, and then, sitting down at Cailin's writing station, Ellie availed herself of a sheet of parchment and a pen.
Dipping it into an inkwell pot, she proceeded to write.
My dearest Wesley,
You must forgive me for the delay in my writing. My father discovered your notes. My only course, our only course, is to send our correspondences through a location where they're sure to not be discovered.
Lovingly Yours
Excerpted from The Diamond and the Duke by Christi Caldwell Copyright © 2024 by Christi Caldwell. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Christi Caldwell | Photo by Kimberly Rocha
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHRISTI CALDWELL is the bestselling author of the Sinful Brides Series and the Heart Of A Duke Series. She blames novelist Judith McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance.
When Christi was at the University of Connecticut, she began writing her own tales of love — ones where even the most perfect heroes and heroines had imperfections. She learned to enjoy torturing her couples before they earned their well-deserved happily ever after.
Christi lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she spends her time writing and being a mommy to the most inspiring little boy and empathetic, spirited girls who, with their mischievous twin antics, offer an endless source of story ideas.
Learn more online at ChristiCaldwell.com
SHOP ALL CHRISTI CALDWELL BOOKS
More T.I.M.E. Book Reviews on Christi Caldwell Books…
All The Duke's Sins Series by Christi Caldwell (See below)
Along Came A Lady | Book 1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Desperately Seeking A Duchess | Book 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐
MORE T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEWS for the All The Duke’s Sins Series
Book 1 | Along Came A Lady
T.I.M.E. BEST BOOK REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Historical Romance Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2021
Strong lead characters with dual perspective narration that delivers intriguing insight into both leads without "giving away all the goods" to keep the tension taut!... ✨😎✨
Pages: 316
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Regency Romance | Enemies To Lovers Romance | Interconnected Romance | Steamy Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: Regency Era
Location: England
PUBLISHER BOOK SYNOPSIS
The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from bestselling author Christi Caldwell — perfect for fans of Bridgerton…
Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne’er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.
Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.
As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.
“Get your facts straight... Before you draw your conclusions...”
Book 2 | Desperately Seeking A Duchess
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2022
I listened to this book via audiobook. And, unfortunately, I believe that choice may have compromised my experience of this story. So that's on me!
Let me explain... When I choose to "read" a book via audiobook, my reading experience often merges into multi-tasking. Either I am also driving, or designing, or doing tasks that I normally love to do while listening to a wonderful story... And usually without compromising my full engagement with the book.
However, when a book has a "mistaken identity" element as a central feature of the story, there is an inherent strategy within the story to set up the characters in the story to be a bit confused as to who they are talking to.
You have probably guessed where I am going with this... The mistaken identity strategy worked like a charm on the characters... but also on me too! Unfortunately, I too was a bit confused "who was who" until about two thirds into the book.
But once I cleared the clouds in my mind, the story began to sing in true Christi Caldwell fashion!
I absolutely loved Book 1 (Along Came A Lady) of this series (which I did read in print format!) and remain a big fan of Christi Caldwell books. Her future releases will always make my T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books list for any year!
Just as our heroine learns to get the facts straight before she draws her conclusions, my audiobook selections in the future will steer clear of mistaken identity storylines and opt for print versions the next time up to bat!... ✨😎✨
Pages: 336
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Regency Romance | Mistaken Identity Romance | Interconnected Romance | Steamy Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: 1806 (Regency Era)
Location: Staffordshire (England)
BOOK SYNOPSIS
When Cailin Audley, an heiress, makes a misstep in Polite Society, she is whisked away to the English countryside. There, she meets the Duke of St. James, who is frustratingly charming. As they get to know each other better, Cailin starts to see past his title and into the man he really is. But when her family intervenes, Cailin has to decide what she wants for her future.
Christi Caldwell's Desperately Seeking a Duchess is the second book in her All The Duke's Sins series and a charming romance novel that will leave you wanting more. If you're a fan of Christi Caldwell's other books, then you'll love this one too.
♡ T.I.M.E. TIP
I would recommend reading it in print form (rather than audiobook) so that you don't get confused with the mistaken identity storyline. Either way, you're sure to enjoy Christi Caldwell's Desperately Seeking a Duchess.
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
Even when people make mistakes, they can still be good people worthy of love and forgiveness.
It's important to get the facts straight before making any decisions or judgments.
Everyone has a past that shapes who they are, and it's important to understand and accept that before moving forward in any relationship.
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