A Special Illustrated Edition of The Broken Duke by 10 time USA Today Bestselling Author Jess MichaelsThis beautiful special edition of The Broken Duke (1797 Club 3) includes gorgeous photographs by Jenn LeBlanc in every chapter. The text hasn’t changed, but the images will enhance the reader experience.Adelaide Longford is London’s most overlooked bluestocking wallflower and that is fine by her. … bluestocking wallflower and that is fine by her. Being ignored gives her the perfect opportunity to sneak out and secretly take on the persona of the most celebrated actress of the day, Lydia Ford. The thrill of walking the boards and hearing the applause of those who watch her is the most exciting experience of her life.
Until Graham Everly, Duke of Northfield comes into her life. He is broken after the humiliating loss of his longtime fiancé to his supposed best friend and they enter into a lusty affair which sets her body on fire. Graham has no idea why he’s so attracted to both the bespectacled, prickly Adelaide and the passionate Lydia, but soon he is caught in a dance with them both and torn between which future he wants to pursue.
When Graham finds out Adelaide’s secret identity will he be able to accept both parts of her? And will he be able to save her from a lurking danger that neither of them could have ever foreseen?
Length: Full-Length Novel (70,000 words)
Fully Illustrated: Yep, some of the pictures even include abs.
Heat Level: eyebrow waggle
This book is part of a series (The 1797 Club) but can be read as a standalone novel. A non-illustrated version of The Broken Duke is also available.
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This is the romance of Graham, Duke of Northfield and Lady Adelaide. Lady Adelaide is a wallflower, but secretly, she is also Lydia Ford, a popular actress. Graham has met Lady Adelaide before, but she doesn’t make an impression on him until he sees her perform on the stage.
This is a story of redemption and friendship, and as usual, we get Ms. Michaels’ well-rounded characters. They’re people I’d love to meet. We get glimpses of characters from earlier books in the series, and while this book stands alone, I think the reader would enjoy it even more if they’ve read at least the first book in the series, which sows the seeds for what happens in The Broken Duke. The photos inserted throughout the story really added to my enjoyment, and I thought the differences between Lady Adelaide and Lydia were done very well.
The Broken Duke is an excellent read, and I love the addition of the illustrations. Highly recommended.
This book has black and while picture through out it to help tell their story. This was such a nice change from other romances where there are no pictures other than the cover or in the back cover. Really happy that Ms. Michaels gave this updated book version with the pictures.
My Review:
‘The Broken Duke’ by Jess Michaels is book Three in “The 1797 Club” series. This is the story of Adelaide Longford and Graham Everly, Duke of Northfield. I have read the other books in this series but feel this can easily be a standalone book.
Adelaide is a Wallflower daughter of the former Earl of Longford and with does have a reputation to protect but with the Wallflower status makes it that not one really notices her. So Adelaide is allowed to pretend to be Lydia Ford and actress.
Graham was once engaged for 7 years to Margaret, in book two “Her Favorite Duke” Margaret and his best friend the Duke of Crestwood were caught in a compromising position and had to marry. It seems that Graham is taken the mistrust of his 13 year friends ship with Crestwood very hard.
When his other friends talk him into going to a theater to see a new actress that everyone is talking about he meets ‘Lydia’ who he is quickly drawn too. But she turns his attentions down after a hot and sensual kiss. But Graham thinks it might have woken him back up to enter into Society again. But at a ball he freezes of some when the Duke and Duchess of Crestwood come into the ball room. Graham knows he needs to dance or do something to change how he feels and goes to the Wallflower Section of the Ball Room and asked Adelaide to dance. Adelaide does agree and hopes he doesn’t notice her but they talk and it sparks Graham to be attracted to her too.
How long can Graham go without catching on? Can he withstand another mistrust by someone he has grown to care about?
Loved their story!
Graham: The Broken Duke by by Jess Michaels
An Illustrated Romance with photos by Jenn LeBlanc
The 1797 Club #3
This series grabbed me from book one and kept me interested throughout. Seeing this book come up on NetGalley had me hoping for a copy immediately because this is the only book I managed not to find a copy of. So, when I an illustrated copy was listed for review purposes I clicked the button and then hoped and prayed for a copy to be bequeathed to me.
Graham is one of the 1797 Club – a group of ten young men that forged an alliance in their early teens – the club was to provide support in any and all ways as they matured and eventually became Dukes. The stories tell of their pasts, their friendships and how they come to find their life partners.
We meet up with Graham in a pub drinking away his sorrows. Two of his friends come to draw him out of the doldrums he has wallowed in for two months. He is feeling pain of betrayal at the hands of one of his brothers – a dlub-brother who “stole” his fiance of seven years – and stole her in a way that has society gossiping and staring if and when he is out and about in it. The loss of his friend might hurt him more than the loss of his fiance, if he is honest with himself.
So, off Graham goes to the theater with a preference to not watch the show but to return to the pub instead when a vision walks out on stage and he is smitten.
This is a story of Graham being attracted to two women from opposite social statuses and being in conflict with himself over this fact. It is also the story of the woman who is both of these women and her feelings while being pursued by a man who wants both of her personas…and then feeling jealous of one or the other of those women when she is in the garb of the other. This story includes topics of abuse, romance, friendship, murder and more. It has some surprises and held my interest throughout.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Did I enjoy the illustrations? Yes
Would I like to read more books by this author? Without a doubt!
Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Oh Man. Am I partial? Heck yeah. But I am unabashed in my love of this book. Jess knows how to tell stories. That, above all, is what I know.
Could this book bring more to the table than the original issue? I rated the unillustrated book very high the first time I read it and I feel that reading this story again brought out so many more emotions, maybe it was because of the illustrations which were wonderfully placed in the story and really lead to a feel of being with these characters. I do not know but it is a great story of redemption and friendship and love.
A complimentary copy was provided by the author through NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this next installment in the 1797 Club series. Graham Everly, Duke of Northfield has been somewhat crushed when his long-time fiancee marries his best friend. He never loved her, but feels rejected and betrayed. He becomes brooding and withdrawn until he is dazzled by an actress. The actress is actually Adelaide Longford, daughter of a duke and bluestocking wallflower. Adelaide breaks free of her dull life by becoming the actress, Lydia. Graham’s attraction to Lydia causes him to re-enter society where he forms a friendship with Adelaide and finds himself also strangely attracted to her. The plot sounds a little silly, but there is plenty of depth as these two characters come to terms with themselves and each other.
If you can suspend disbelief (if you can believe that his friends didn’t know that Clark Kent was Superman) you will find much to love in this book. It is my favorite of the series so far.
I follow Jess Michaels on social media because she is one of my favorite authors. I was sad when her 1797 Club series came to an end, but loved every minute reading about the dashing dukes and the ladies they fell for. We got a short story expanding on The Silent Duke for Christmas, so I was hopeful that we might get a few more glimpses into the 1797 world. I was beyond ecstatic when I saw that Jess was working on an illustrated version of The Broken Duke.
For those of you who didn’t read Graham’s story when the original came out, he is featured in the third book of the series. After he was thrown over by his long-time fiancé, Meg, to one of his best friends, Simon, Graham has spiraled into a deep depression. While he did not love Meg, the betrayal from Simon cut deep. Pressured to return to the real world, Graham joins a few friends for a night at the theater where he becomes enchanted with the lead actress, Lydia Ford.
Adelaide Longford, aka Lydia Ford, is the daughter of an earl by day and an actress treading the boards by night. After her parents deaths, Adelaide is taken in by her maiden aunt, Lady Opal. To get away from the strict and sometimes cruel treatment from her aunt, Adelaide escapes to the stage. When Graham comes to meet Lydia back stage, his desire is solidified.
The next night, Graham meets Adelaide in her own persona. When Michaels described how Adelaide looked as herself and as Lydia, I could see how Graham might not see they were one in the same. These pictures bring Adelaide to life and clearly show how he would never make the connection. Models Courtney Rood and Drew Leighty bring vibrant light to an already brilliant story. While I was reading this on my kindle, I bookmarked all the pictures with a note saying what I felt the pictures were showing me. Some were tagged “Sweet Adelaide” and “Graham’s Yummy Backside”. A picture about 3/4 of the way in, I tagged “True Love”. I remember smiling with happy tears in my eyes.
This story transformed on the pages before me. Not only did it bring The Broken Duke to life, it brought forth other images in my mind of the couple throughout the rest of the series. I can see them clearly in another novel where they were being naughty and didn’t know a pair was hiding behind the drapes.
Thank you Jess Michaels for compiling this version of Graham: The Broken Duke! Thank you to the talented photographer, Jen LeBlanc, and the outstanding models, Courtney Rood and Drew Leighty. I wish she could do this for all her novels, but I am overjoyed she got to do Graham and Adelaide’s story first. Even if you’ve already read the initial version, these photos make the story really come alive and is worth another dozen reads.
I received Graham: The Broken Duke for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I absolutely loved The Broken Duke!
This story was such a thrill to read, it had love, sex, romance, secrets and danger all thrown into the melting pot. Graham and Adelaide’s story is definitely one of my favourites of this series and with the photos scattered throughout the chapters, it definitely enhanced my reading pleasure as they helped me visualise the characters better, from their mood and emotions to setting the scene of the situation they found themselves in. I only wished that there were even more photos as they were so very good. I would love Jess Michaels to do this with the rest of the series as they really do make a difference to how you read the story. Great cover, wonderful story and photos that only make this more of a pleasure to read.
London at the Theatre: Graham leaned in to his friend Ewan and whispered,”Who is she?” Ewan answered in a note “Lydia Ford. She’s the toast of the London Theatre at present. The reason why everyone wants to see this play.” “Lydia,” Graham repeated. “Beautiful,” he whispered.. paraphrased and the moment Graham saw the actress on the stage.
But all is not as it appears, as “Lydia” is also Lady Adelaide, a bluestocking wallflower in her everyday life until she transforms on the stage! What Graham does not realize is that he has met Adelaide before but does not put the two together. Thus begins a dance between the two of roaring emotions and unbridled passion. But what will happen when he realizes these two ladies are the same?
A brilliant story with the most amazing Photos that took reading to a different level!! I hope this takes off because it really brought the story to even more life if that were possible! As you turn the pages and read a passage, there is a photo of “Graham and Adelaide” in a pose depicting that scene. It is hard to describe the feelings it brings about but it was perfect!
Jess Michaels is at her best with this story of redemption and finding love when least expected. Her stories always pull me in quickly with her gift of bringing the characters to life (especially with the illustrations!) and giving the reader everything needed in a historical romance. Intrigue, passion, deception, forgiveness and love. Do not miss this book. Even if you have read it before, it takes on a totally different level that will leave you breathless!
This beautiful special edition of The Broken Duke (1797 Club 3) includes gorgeous photographs by Jenn LeBlanc in every chapter.
Adelaide Longford is London’s most overlooked bluestocking wallflower and that is fine by her. Being ignored gives her the perfect opportunity to sneak out and secretly take on the persona of the most celebrated actress of the day, Lydia Ford. The thrill of walking the boards and hearing the applause of those who watch her is the most exciting experience of her life.
Until Graham Everly, Duke of Northfield comes into her life. He is broken after the humiliating loss of his longtime fiancé Meg to his supposed best friend Simon. Graham has no idea why he’s so attracted to both the bespectacled, prickly Adelaide and the passionate Lydia, but soon he is caught in a dance with them both and torn between which future he wants to pursue. His friend James warns Graham not to hurt Adelaide who is James’ wife Emma’s best friend but what is Graham to do?
This is the third book in the 1797 Club series & whilst it could be read as a standalone to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the two earlier books. The series goes from strength to strength. The characters are very well portrayed & the plot is well paced. Graham & Adelaide have both suffered in the past, both are broken & needing to be healed, their attraction is strong & their revelations are horrifying & heart wrenching. I read the original book & was intrigued by how an illustrated edition would work – it works beautifully, the illustrations are stunning & certainly enhanced the book
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Michaels prides herself on appealing to the senses. She seduces with words, stirs up the heart and intrigues with captivating mysteries. Each story is unique and her style is ever evolving. With Graham: The Broken Duke, she gives readers a chance to revisit her unforgettable characters in a whole new way. Graham and Adelaide are back, but this time around they have become a feast for more than the emotions. Ms. Michaels finally puts an image with the mental picture. Same great story with a little something extra. A fascinating way to experience romance.
Lady Adelaide Longford lives her life as an overlooked wallflower with her overbearing spinster aunt. Her lack of notoriety is fine by her since it enables her to live a double life, sneaking out to exercise her alter-ego as popular actress Lydia Ford. She lives for the thrill of performing and the excitement of the crowd, but everything changes when Graham Everly, the Duke of Northfield enters her life.
Graham has been broken and humiliated by the loss of his longtime fiance to his best friend. Though he never loved the fiance and it had been an arranged marriage, he was hurt by the betrayal of his closest friend. When he finally begins to venture back out into society, Graham finds himself inexplicably drawn to both the bespectacled Adelaide and the sensuous Lydia and is torn between which woman he wants to pursue a future with, especially after he begins an affair with Lydia, but still can’t stop thinking about Adelaide.
When Graham learns that Adelaide and Lydia are one in the same, he is relieved, but just when he’s finally found someone with whom he can share his darkest secrets, danger finds them and threatens any future happiness they might have together.
Graham is trying to figure out where he now fits in his old circle of friends. Adelaide is trying to reconcile two parts of herself and she can’t resist what she’s sure will be the one chance at passion for a spinster like her. Graham was a delightfully well-written tortured hero and Adelaide was the perfect match for him. I wasn’t sure how Graham wanting two different women was going to be reconciled in a way that I’d find satisfactory, without making me feel like the hero was a cheater, but it was managed beautifully. Throw in a good villain and a twist at the end, plus lovely and tasteful photos and this was a rather perfect read for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.