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When You Give a Duke a Diamond (Jewels of the Ton Book 1), by Shana Galen
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Praise for The Rogue Pirate's Bride:
"Galen pulls out all the stops...will leave readers breathless and highly satisfied."-RT Book Reviews
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 gossips 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 seriously disruptive to have the duke who's 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...
Praise for Shana Galen:
"BRILLIANT AND SEXY! Once you start a Shana Galen book, you won't put it down until you reach the end." -Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked in Your Arms
"Her engaging characters and strong plotline enhance the spirited dialogue and sense of adventure." - RT Book Reviews
- Sales Rank: #80225 in eBooks
- Published on: 2012-09-01
- Released on: 2012-09-01
- Format: Kindle eBook
Review
"A thrilling ride, filled with mystery, intrigue and romance. Shana Galen kicks off her new Fallen Ladies series with an explosion that leaves this reader breathless with anticipation." - Fresh Fiction
"Shana Galen is one of my favorite, go-to authors for books filled with adventure, humor and passion and When You Give a Duke a Diamond fits the bill nicely! " - Rogue Under the Covers
"Galen creates a lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching, love story - with original characters who delight and enough sizzle to add heat to a delicious read. 4 1/2 Stars" - RT Book Reviews
"I absolutely devoured this book. Galen weaves an intricate and interesting plot... " - Under the Covers Book Reviews
"Galen portrays her characters with such brilliant definition that readers fall in love... Definitely sexy. " - BookLoons.com
"Galen's books are real jewels." - Beyond Her Book WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs
"A very intriguing read... Twists and turns, surprises, and hair-pulling decisions throughout... " - Romantic Romps
"Shana Galen has me hooked - completely and desperately... This historical romance will have you smiling, frowning, grumbling, and then cheering! " - Unwrapping Romance
"Just enough twists and turns in it to keep one turning pages... A joy to read!" - Long and Short Reviews
" With intrigue, danger, and a trio of beautiful courtesans, Shana Galen has set the stage for an unforgettable historical romance series." - Book Savvy Babe
"Galen writes with passion. She brings a strong plot, great dialogue, and adventure that are fast paced; not to mention very sexy characters that you can relate to." - Romancing the Book
" I loved the danger, the mystery and of course the passion that Shana Galen put into this story and its characters... " - Breath of Life Reviews
"Reminiscent of the older Amanda Quick Regency couples... a super independent heroine, a hero that gets his life totally uprooted, and lots of oh so hot tension between them." - A Bluestocking's Place
"A page turner I couldn't put down.... Shana Galen has outdone herself... " - What I'm Reading
"A bit of suspense, a good dose of humor, and a bucketload of irresistible sensuality." - Reader, I Created Him
"Anyone who loves historical romance knows Ms. Galen and knows she can write one hell of a book and this new series is no exception. " - Confessions of a Toxic Friend
"With amazing characters, romance, scandal, mystery, intrigue and a touch of danger you are swept up into the adventure..." - Stitch Read Cook
"A creative take on regency romance... " - Book Swagger
"Absolutely delicious... a witty, suspense-filled historical romance that you will not want to put down until you reach the very satisfying conclusion." - Romance Junkies
"Shana Galen has brought us a story of humor and entertainment that will have you turning the pages. J" - RomFan Reviews
"Gotta love Shana Galen's wonderfully artistic work. I just can't wait to see what comes next." - Yankee Romance Reviewers
"The perfect set up for the rest of the series. I can't wait for the next book! " - The Book Girl
"Galen can do no wrong when it comes to historical romance! Her writing draws you in and lets you fall in love with her exciting and passionate characters. " - The Romance Reviews
"When you Give a Duke a Diamond is one FANTASTIC good read! I LOVED every minute of this book! " - My Secret Romance Mystery Book Reviews
"I was hooked from the start of this story... Each character is so cleverly written I fell in love with all of them." - The Book Whore
"Galen has given readers a good balance between the light-hearted and the emotional." - The Good, the Bad and the Unread
"A good historical romance with a very unlikely couple. And those are the best to watch fall in love." - Books for Life
"I loved this gem of a story!... Fraught with intrigue & mystery with new surprises around each corner...5 stars." - Night Owl Reviews
"Excellent writing, adventure, humor and wonderful, sensual passion filled romance. " - Romantic Crush Junkies
"A fun regency romance with a lot of heart and two unique and likable leads." - In the Hammock
"This is one of the rare times in my reading life where I can say with absolute accuracy that there was nothing I did not like about this book. I loved everything." - Books Like Breathing
"I enjoy reading Ms Galen's stories as they always contain interesting characters with lives that are slowly peeled away as we get to know them." - Australian Romance Readers Association
"Vivid descriptions, intriguing plots and engaging characters. " - My Book Addiction and More
"Shana Galen has done it again. She's made me pull an all-nighter with this book. Fast paced action, smoldering attraction, sexy love scenes... " - Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance
"Galen's excellent period detail with lovely scene descriptions carry us away to Regency England... A most elegant page-turner." - Historical Novels Review
"Excellent writing, adventure, humor and wonderful, sensual passion filled romance." - Romantic Crush Junkies
About the Author
Shana Galen is the author of numerous fast-paced adventurous Regency historical romances, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne's Bride. Her books have been sold worldwide, including Japan, Brazil, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands, and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston's inner city, Shana now writes full time. She's a wife, a mother, and an expert multi-tasker. She loves to hear from readers.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
One
Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance, laughed when she opened her copy of the Morning Chronicle. She had turned directly to the Cytherian Intelligence column, as she always did. At the top of the column was her likeness facing a likeness of the Duke of Pelham, and the story below about their secret love affair was so delightfully wicked she almost wished it were true.
She lounged in bed, rumpled silk sheets pooled about her like an ice-covered lake. She sipped chocolate, popped a bite of scone in her mouth, and studied the image of the duke.
Juliette had never been introduced to Pelham, though on occasion, she had seen him from a distance. The artist in the Morning Chronicle had captured his dark eyes with their arrogant slant perfectly. The brown hair was too neat. Every time she had seen Pelham, his hair had been rumpled, as though he'd just climbed from a well-used bed. But the nose-that perfect Roman nose-the sculpted cheekbones and slash of a mouth, those the artist had rendered flawlessly.
She scanned the story again, well aware it fed the appetites of those in the ton who would like nothing more than a real liaison between the Duchess of Dalliance and the Dangerous Duke, so called because he gave the most contemptuous glances in London, perhaps all of England. He was rich, powerful, and influential. If he opposed another lord in Parliament, the man lost all support. And socially, if the Duke of Pelham cut someone, they were ruined forever.
She glanced at his likeness a second time. The artist had not managed to capture the cloak of danger surrounding the duke. But that was something one felt more than saw when near the man. Juliette shivered. She liked powerful men, had always been attracted to them. And not always with pleasant results.
How the ton did hunger for their gossip, and an affair between her and the duke would be enough fodder to feed the gossipmongers for weeks.
Juliette closed the paper then opened it again, having forgotten to study her own portrait. She frowned at it and closed the paper for good. The artist had drawn her to resemble an ice queen-cold, imperial, and haughty. She couldn't fault the work. The image did resemble her, but she didn't think any of her friends would have sketched her thus. They knew her merry, carefree side.
She climbed from bed, shed her clothing, and stepped into the warm bath waiting in her dressing room. She didn't linger but washed quickly. Rosie, her lady's maid, entered dressed in white. Female servants did not wear livery, but Juliette preferred that all of her servants match. Her maids were expected to wear clothing that complemented her signature livery-pure white with ice-blue piping. The Three Diamonds all dressed their servants in white to symbolize diamonds, but each used a different accent color. Lily used sapphire-blue, and Fallon used ruby-red. Rosie offered Juliette her blue silk robe, and Juliette donned it and returned to her bedchamber. Her maid glanced at the rumpled bed. "Anything of interest in the paper today, Duchess?" Rosie went about preparing the brushes, combs, irons, and other instruments of torture on Juliette's dressing table with a practiced efficiency.
Juliette sat in a dainty chair upholstered in cream silk. "I am embroiled in a scandalous affair with the Duke of Pelham."
Rosie lifted a brush and an eyebrow. "Are you now?" The round, pleasant woman of about forty grasped Juliette's waist-length pale blonde hair and applied her brush.
"Yes. His Grace and I are thinking of eloping via Gretna Green."
"Oh, dear." Rosie secured a section of hair with a pin. "Shall I set out your traveling clothes and pack your valise?"
"Not quite yet. I think I shall wait for an introduction to His Grace first."
Rosie nodded. "Wise decision." She pinned another section of hair. "What are your plans for today, madam?"
Juliette considered. It was already afternoon. She had been at a rout the night before and had not arrived home until after four. She had several invitations for this evening but had not yet decided which to attend. She would rather have stayed home. The ton would be surprised to learn their most celebrated courtesan preferred a quiet night with a book to the theater and musicales. They would also be surprised to learn how seldom her bed of sin was used for more than sleeping.
Her protector, the Earl of Sinclair-better known as the Earl of Sin-was not in London at present. Lady Sinclair, his countess, was ill and unable to make the journey to Town from their country estate, Somerset. Juliette had received a letter from the countess only yesterday and planned to answer it today, inquiring as to when she might call on the countess. It might not be socially advantageous to leave London at present, but Juliette didn't really care. And she doubted Fallon or Lily cared either. Both would be eager to accompany her.
If only the ton knew the truth about The Three Diamonds' relationship with the Earl of Sin.
Thanks to gifts from admirers and the Earl of Sinclair, Juliette had some funds, though she was far from wealthy. Of course, she would not remain London's most celebrated courtesan if she did not spend money. She must have the most fashionable Parisian gowns, a gleaming coach, matching horses, and a bevy of servants. As did all of London, she survived on credit. The mantua makers were eager to dress her because they craved an audience for their work and knew Juliette attracted attention. Every merchant clamored to be the one who dressed or furnished the horses or carriage or jewels for the Duchess of Dalliance. Few ever called in her markers, yet she felt the weight of the debts she owed.
She could not survive on credit forever. She was almost thirty. And there was always someone younger, someone prettier, someone more charming. Sinclair could not masquerade as her lover forever. His wife's poor health meant he rarely traveled to London anymore, and Juliette didn't want another protector. She accepted gifts and tokens from admirers who hoped to woo their way into her bed, and she had considered taking one as a lover. But she didn't want to endure a man's caresses. She didn't want to have to close her eyes and pretend he or she were someone else.
She wanted to fall in love. Forever.
She wanted a husband. She supposed that, as a divorced woman, she should swear off matrimony for good. But she had always been an optimist at heart.
Rosie was looking at her expectantly, and Juliette said, "I think I shall ride in Hyde Park." That was where she would likely find Fallon and Lily, and she was eager to speak with them privately-not that Rotten Row at four in the afternoon was private, but at least they would be able to speak without being overheard. And the ton would salivate at the chance to see The Three Diamonds together, heads bent in conference. Juliette smiled.
"Very good, Duchess," Rose answered. "The blue riding habit, then?"
"Yes. And do remember the hat I wear with it."
"Yes, Duchess. I know the perfect coiffure to set it off." And, true to her word, Rosie worked her magic.
Several hours later, after Juliette had been poked and prodded, powdered and perfumed, she drove her gig along the South Carriage Drive of Rotten Row, nodding to those with whom she was acquainted.
Some even nodded back.
She was careful not to acknowledge the gentlemen of her acquaintance if they were accompanied by wives, sisters, or fiancées. They would not thank her for causing them marital or familial discord. But she did stop to chat with several men riding alone. All the while, she could feel the fiery glares of the ladies of the ton burning into her back.
They hated her, and she understood why. It wasn't because she was bedding their husbands-she could all but guarantee she was not. It was because she had power they didn't. She was welcomed where they were banned, could speak when they were silenced, possessed knowledge when they were kept ignorant.
They hated her because they did not know where their husbands went when they bid them farewell of an evening. And because the wives didn't know, they hated Juliette because she did.
Juliette wondered if the women knew how much most of the men simply wanted to talk to her. Of course, they wanted an entrée into her boudoir, but if she was not amenable, they were more than happy to talk. They talked about their wives and children, their failures and successes, their plans for the future. They felt comfortable speaking with Juliette, felt they could trust her.
She was a friend in a time when most marriages were all but arranged. And that friendship was the real secret behind the appeal of the courtesan.
Juliette sat straighter when she spotted her closest friends, surrounded as usual by male admirers. Under a grove of trees, Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, and Lily, the Countess of Charm, stood with parasols open but tilted to ensure their faces could be seen.
They wore riding habits, like she. Fallon's was a bold red, which offset her dark coloring, and Lily's was apple green so as not to clash with her auburn hair. As Juliette neared, her friends spotted her and smiled with genuine warmth. There were few true friendships among Cyprians. One's position was too precarious, too easily undermined by another of her ilk. But Juliette, Fallon, and Lily had been friends before they had become The Three Diamonds.
And as the three mistresses of the Earl of Sin, they had another bond, as well.
"You shall be applying for membership in the Four-in-Hand Club next," Lily said, speaking of the gentleman's club for superb drivers.
Juliette waved her hand. "Not I. I couldn't abide the strict requirements for dress."
Lily and Fallon's mounts grazed on the lawn. Nearby, the waters of the Serpentine rippled in the breeze, and a few ducks quacked as they waddled into the shallow water. All three women could seat a horse splendidly, but Juliette was also an excellent driver and liked to tool about ...
Most helpful customer reviews
80 of 86 people found the following review helpful.
Didn't Quite Sparkle for Me
By Tracy
She is...flawless. Women revere her for her sense of fashion and style, men yearn for her attention. The Duchess of Dalliance, sobriquet bestowed by the Prince Regent himself, supports herself on little more than the fickle attention of the ton. She is a known courtesan, one of three under the protection of the Earl of Sinclair, the Earl of Sin.
The truth, Juliette knows, is largely immaterial in these sorts of matters.
The papers have lately taken to linking her name with the Duke of Pelham, a man whom Juliette has never actually met. To fan the very flames of speculation and rumor which assure her continued validity in Society, Juliette maneuvers an introduction to the dour but powerful Duke when presented the opportunity at Prinny's latest fête.
The Duchess is horrified - on the inside, she certainly doesn't let it show - when the Duke publicly cuts her, then calls her a whore. In front of the Prince Regent and all the ton.
With her future now at risk and humiliation burning a hole in her soul, Juliette escapes the crowd. Unfortunately, her evening is not destined for improvement. As she stands in the shadows on the balcony, the Duchess witnesses a vicious murder. To truly consign the evening's events to the deepest depths of hell, the victim is no other than the Duke of Pelham's fiancée.
And Juliette knows the killer, a true devil of a man who calls himself Lucifer.
Her first instinct is to flee, but her actions throw her directly into the path of the Duke of Pelham. Problem is, the man not only doesn't believe her, he makes it clear he has no intention of sullying his reputation with the likes of her, no matter how desperate she is for his help.
~*~
This series debut by Galen perplexed me a little. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. There is quite a discrepancy between the book blurb and the actual storyline. And not only that, but the tone of the book is different, as well.
That's not a criticism. I liked the premise of the storyline quite a lot and particularly appreciated the threads of suspense in the book. It was more the characters and the inconsistency in the execution of the story that gave me pause in places.
I struggled with Juliette's character. I kept hoping she'd explode across the page with self-sufficiency and independence, push beyond the dictates of society and force Will to judge her based solely on her wit and strength, and that just never quite happened. It's not that she was a victim or a damsel or anything like that, but she very much lived a life within the boundaries. That disappointed me.
The Duke, Will, was a bit of a different kettle for me. I loved his quirky OCD issues and all his stiff-upper-lipness. I was so charmed by him when he got his first glimpse of Juliette. I loved Galen's writing in that scene. There was such a delightful sense of self-deprecation in him.
And then, unfortunately, he spoke.
He turned into an utter prat who treated Juliette with cruelty and disrespect for no other reason than he was displeased by his attraction to her and he assumed she was responsible for the gossip articles that his friends keep mentioning to him. He punished her, was as offensive and humiliating as he could be. And throughout the rest of the book, just when I started to warm to him again, feel some sympathy for his character or amusement at his quirks, he'd open his mouth again and crush Juliette.
By about the third time I could no longer understand why she took it like she did. And that severely impacted my ability to fully enjoy their romance. By the end of the book he had disparaged her one time too many and the final resolution didn't have nearly enough of him on his knees grovelling for her forgiveness.
I had a couple of other small issues with the plot of the external conflict. It seemed fairly one dimensional, and there was an odd plot twist or two that lacked the emotional impact it could have had. There were surprises, but those surprises were based on my uncertainty about the plausibility of some of the events, and I wish Juliette's backstory had been better represented to provide a more well-rounded foundation for others.
Without a doubt, there were some fun moments in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed Galen's writing style. The plot thread with Lucifer is something I'm assuming is going to carry through each book of the series, so I look forward to seeing how the other two diamonds will play into it all.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Sourcebooks Casablanca publisher Sourcebooks via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
38 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
When You Give A Reader Something Rotten
By msmargie25
After reading a few of the reviews posted here, I decided to read "When You Give a Duke a Diamond" on my Kindle. I knew I was taking a chance, but I hoped to be pleasantly surprised. A few years back I had tried to read another of Shana Galen's books, "Blackthorne's Bride," and I couldn't even finish it! Nevertheless, I thought perhaps by now she has mastered the historical romance genre, so I gave her a try. What a mistake!
The Duchess of Dalliance, Juliette, a well-known courtesan, i.e., high-class prostitute/call girl/hooker, is supposedly elegant,charming, sophisticated, and clever. What a crock! In actuality, she was terribly rude, overly sensitive, and to the hero, the Duke of Pelham, 'the Dangerous Duke,' she was practically an antagonistic bully.
While attending a ball at the Prince of Wales' residence, Carlton House, in the presence of the Prince of Wales and Pelham's fiancee, Lady Elizabeth, Juliette decides to use him to gain publicity. Just that morning, a scandal sheet, Regency's National Enquirer, had printed a story about the red-hot romance between Pelham and the Duchess of Dalliance. Of course, it's totallly false, but to Juliette, there's no such thing as 'bad' publicity. She makes sure she's in his presence, she flattering him shamelessly, so as to make the false story seem real. When he tries to walk away, she crudely attempts to embarrass him by telling him he's rude! Pot, meet kettle! Some of the other reviewers seem to believe that he should not have called her "a well-paid whore," since...wink, wink...she's not really a courtesan, but if you put yourself in a whore's position, let others assume you're a whore, then you shouldn't get upset when others, even a man you're attracted to, calls you a whore. Regardless, she could have walked away, but instead, rather spitefully, she, in a loud, carrying voice, calls him an ass and with absolutely no prior knowledge of him, tells him that he has no personality. Gasp! From under what rock did she crawl? Even then, Juliette is not upset because a man she would like to get to know has called her a whore, she's upset because if she's no longer the ton's darling, she won't be able to pay her bills. Sounds like a money-grubbing whore to me! Once Pelham snubs her (which she brought on herself), the ton turns their back on her and the once highly sought-after Duchess of Dalliance is an outcast. Leaving the scene of her humiliation, she goes out on the balcony to regain her composure, only to become an eyewitness to Lady Elizabeth's sordid encounter with a sadistic lover and to Lucifer's brutal murder of Lady Elizabeth. Seconds later, Pelham comes out onto the balcony, someone shoots at Juliette, and instead of being this clever lady Shana Galen has assured us that she is, Juliette tells him nothing at first, then blurts out that Lucifer has killed Lady Elizabeth, and runs away. Whew! So far, I didn't like Juliette, and I certainly saw nothing dangerous in Pelham, but I continued to read, hoping that Galen would pull it together and make this story (which has a great premise) work. In my humble opinion, it had great bones, it just needed to be fleshed out.
Realizing his fiancee has disappeared, Pelham goes after Juliette to find out what she knows. He catches up with her in a crowd, and she, rather poisonously, tells him that his actions will lead to more stories in the scandal sheets. Because they haven't formally been introduced, Pelham asks her her name. And this is the first time that my anger popped a blood vessel, instead of saying I'm Mrs. Smith, she says, if I have to call you Duke, then you have to call me Duchess. What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks?!? When she absolutely sickened me was when he gave her his name and titles, and she told him, now I think I'm going to call you Will. Shana, I think I'm going to call you Shoddy. Is this what passes for witty repartee these days? This was such anachronistic behavior that I could no longer put any credence in this story.
I trudged on. It has to get better right?
Nope, a few pages later, my blood boiled. Juliette has been screaming at Pelham, especially when they have an audience. Then when he finds his mother's necklace, causing him to realize that something has happened to Lady Elizabeth, after much provocation, he finally raises his voice to Juliette, and she has the nerve to say, Don't you raise your voice to me.
Later that same night, Juliette realizes that Lucifer is after her, she goes to Pelham's town house, calls him Will in front of his butler, and talks extremely familiarly to the butler. She thinks about how she knows what it's like to be treated as worthless, and she would never do that to anyone else...except Will, our hero. Ugh! When told of the household's schedule, Juliette refuses to be a polite guest. No one can tell her what time she will eat meals!
Shoddy, er, I mean, Shana, if you're going to write Regency romances, please develop your characters with consistency. Childish discourtesy and name-calling is never appreciated. Also, despite the dazzling beauty of Juliette and the overwhelming good looks of Pelham, there must be something besides appearance to bring two characters together. Not for one minute did I ever think that Juliette had the least bit of respect, much less love for Pelham. It turned my stomach when he told her while they were lying in bed together, that she would be the Duchess of Pelham once they married, Juliette told him that title just didn't have the cachet of Duchess of Dalliance. Come again??? Because I never saw her love for him I could not bring myself to think that their HEA is believable or sustainable. Plus, try not to use 21st Century language in a Regency romance. If it doesn't fit, you must omit! (Cheesy, just like most of Shoddy's dialogue).
This could have been a wonderful story, but the author refused to make Juliette a likeable character. Not at any point in the story, did she give substance to either of their soubrriquets. She was not a duchess in any regard, neither did she display the sophisticated elan that a cosmopolitan courtesan should have. He was not dangerous, merely the product of a harsh upbringing. I have no problem with courtesans, but I abhor gauche, domineering behavior. Poor Pelham, his choice of female companions can only bring him misery. I feel so sorry for him.
I will not read the other two books in this series.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Another great read by Shana Galen
By bettysunflower
Juliette has been nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance by the Prince. She, along with two of her friends, are courtesans that are very popular and much sought out by the cream of the ton. Juliette's name has been linked in the "scandal sheets" with William, the sixth Duke of Pelham. He is very disciplined with a high regard for propriety and honors his title and family line. William is in the process of becoming bethrothed to a woman, Elizabeth, who will bring honor and property to William and his holdings. It is a very advantageous match with little or no emotion involved.
Elizabeth and her parents are at a ball which William is also attending. William and Elizabeth's betrothal will be no surprise to the ball's other attendees who expect an announcement to be made. Juliette and her friends are also attending and have made a grand entrance. Juliette realizes that William is also in attendance and approaches him for an introduction... and the fun begins.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love a hero who isn't 'perfect' and William proved to be quite imperfect... although he did try to be a perfect Duke. Juliette is a strong heroine who falls hard for her hero. There were times when I laughed out loud at their antics and times when I was sure that there would be no 'happy ever after' for them. The story line steadily developed with action, intrigue, and some surprises throughout the book. I look forward to reading the next books in this delighful new series.
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