When love comes in a tempest, who knew it would wear pink? Georgia Lennox has traded in her boyish ways for pink gowns and a coy smile to capture the eye of the Earl of Claremont. However, on the day she’s convinced the earl will propose, Georgia is shipped off to the Leeward Islands to care for her ailing father. But when she arrives on Nevis, the last thing she expects is to learn that her … the last thing she expects is to learn that her abrupt departure was not at her father’s bidding but that of the infuriating, yet captivating, island schoolmaster. And now her plans may well be shipwrecked.
Harrison Wells is haunted by the memories of his deceased wife and hunted by the subsequent women who aspire to be the next Duchess of Linton. Desiring anonymity, he finds sanctuary in the Leeward island of Nevis. He’s willing to sacrifice his ducal title for a schoolmaster’s life and the solace the island provides. That is until unrest finds its way to Nevis in a storm of pink chiffon—Miss Georgia Lennox.
As Georgia and Harrison’s aspirations break apart like a ship cast upon the rocks, a new love surfaces, but secrets and circumstances drag them into rough waters. Can they surrender their hearts to a love that defies their expectations?
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What a great story–once I started I didn’t want to put it down (and I didn’t–I finished the book within a few days)
A sweet story of forgiveness and self discovery through the power of God. The romantic love story is good as well.
This book was easy to read with realistic characters. The author gives vivid descriptions of surroundings along with individuals. Mentally I could picture the aunt, but perhaps that is simply because she reminded me of people from the past that I knew. I could send at least four other stories come out of this book, and some could address more along the slave trade.
I’m a big fan of Regency romance, especially Christian Regency romance.
I’m also a big fan of Christian fiction with international settings. So I was definitely intrigued by the setting of The Duke’s Refuge—the Caribbean island of Nevis.
The setting is beautiful, and the author does an excellent job of bringing it to life, from the beautiful sandy beaches to the tropical storms, from the sugar plantations to the horrors of slavery. (The United Kingdom outlawed the slave trade in 1807, and finally outlawed slavery in 1833.)
There is also the duke of the title. I’m not sure if his identity is meant to remain a secret—I worked it out pretty early on, although I could see why none of the characters made the connection (calling the novel “The Duke’s Refuge” makes it pretty obvious there is going to be a duke in there somewhere, and that he’s hiding or seeking refuge). So I was sympathetic towards the duke and his problems.
I was less sympathetic towards Georgia, the heroine. Her character flip-flopped a lot. There were times when I really liked her, and times when I liked her a lot less. I could sympathise with Harrison, who had the same reaction. As such, it took a while before I bought into her as a character.
There were a few historical glitches which annoyed me. I also wasn’t a fan of the flashbacks—they were a heavy-handed way of sharing the characters’ personal histories. A little more subtlety would have improved the flow, especially in the first half.
Yes, this was one of those novels where I struggled through the first half. But I found the second half moved a lot faster, and was a lot more enjoyable. This was mainly because Georgia flip-flopped less as she came to know God and herself better.
There were some strong and solid Christian messages in The Duke’s Refuge, and the faith element was a definite strength. I’m sure this will appeal to fans of Christian Regency romance from authors like Carolyn Miller.
Thanks to Wild Heart Press for providing a free ebook for review.
Loved this book. Forgiveness is always YES and AMEN.
I had swayed away from romantic novels in the past because they were just too fictional or obscene. I really enjoyed The Duke’s Refuge because it was riveting, romantic, historical and respectable. Lorri’s style of writing had me on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down and anxious to see what was coming next. Her descriptive words pulled me into the scene as though I was personally there taking in all the sights, smells, tastes and all the related emotions. Her characters were believable and flawed. I love the way she wove into the story the redemptive love and forgiveness of God. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next release in the Leeward Island Series. She as restored my faith in that romance novels can be exciting and decent.
What I think you should know:
The Duke’s Refuge is a Historical Christian Romance, it is the first book in the Leeward Islands Series by Lorri Dudley. On the eve of what Georgia expects to be her engagement she finds herself summoned from her home in England to the Leeward Islands where her Father moved year before. Island schoolmaster Harrison Wells has retreated from England to guard his heart and his son.
What you might want to know:
Harrison’s wife was murdered, Harrison tells what happened before and during her murder.
The is set when Slavery was still an accepted practice on the sugar plantations of Nevis. The story does not focus on it but it does touch on the brutality of slavery.
What I think about The Duke’s Refuge:
Harrison is a wonderful character, he is strong, kind and a servant to those in need. While Harrison Wells was easy to love Georgia was a character that had to grow on me. As the story unfolded the real Georgia started to shine though and she was so easy to love! I loved how she was willing to fish and teach the students on Nevis. Dudley did a wonderful job of weaving faith into the story and created a story where it was natural for the characters to seek God. I enjoyed watching the characters develop and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
This debut novel looked interesting to me, and I am really glad I took a chance on a new author. I found a well-polished story with characters I could root for, set in a location that is unusual and interesting but not outside the realm of possibility for the time period, with an enjoyable and engaging plot.
The two main characters clashed from the moment they began interacting. To be truthful, I felt bad for both of them; Georgia, is having one of the most difficult days in her life and is understandably distraught. Harrison is trying to save her from herself, and gets thanked for it with physical blows and harsh words. Not exactly an ideal first impression in either case. But there is more beneath the surface in the case of both characters, and I really enjoyed reading about their getting to know each other, even as they learn more about themselves.
The setting is unique in the Regency books I have read as it takes place away from London, even outside England itself, on the Leeward Islands. This provides an interesting dynamic because all the usual strictures are still in place, but certain rules of decorum are greatly relaxed due to both environment and even distance from the main characters’ home country.
Over it all is a theme of unconditional love—of how we treat others when we’ve been wronged, of how we love even when it hurts us to do so. Our example is Christ, how he gave Himself for each us and for the people we don’t want to forgive.
I highly recommend this story to fans of Regency romance. The writing it good, the story moves along at a nice pace, and the characters are both infuriating and endearing. This is an author to watch, and I will be expecting more great stories from her in the future.
I received a review copy of this book through Celebrate Lit but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
When she finds out the schoolmaster has called her away from her home to help her ailing father, it was a shock in more ways than one. An island seemed like a totally different country, the hardships, the surprises and getting to know her father again made for a very interesting story. I was gifted a copy, no review is required. My review is voluntary.
This was a fantastic Regency story! I enjoyed the island setting and all of the differences and struggles that this setting brought to light. Georgia had to confront her conflicted emotions regarding her father’s leaving the family years earlier. It impacted Georgia tremendously and she struggled to overcome the emotional burdens she carried from that event.
Harrison was a great character. He was a loving father and a kind man who had so much heartache and guilt in his backstory. I loved the way these two began to have feelings for each other after their time spent together. I thought the author did a good job of piecing together Harrison’s backstory through flashbacks. There was a great faith thread that was naturally woven into the plot, as well.
I loved this story from start to finish and have found myself thinking about these characters long after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Lorri Dudley crafted a great story about forgiveness, love and finding yourself amidst adversary. I enjoyed reading about the characters in this book, they had some good strengths and weaknesses. Both of the main characters were well developed and grew throughout the story. Honestly, at first, I was not sure if I particularly liked Georgia as she seemed to be a weak character, however, by the end of the book she turned out to be pretty good. I also liked Harrison, he was sure of himself and a strong character right from the get-go, a great dad and someone who wasn’t afraid to have a little fun.
I liked the setting of this story as well. Lorri Dudley’s descriptions of island life, the people, animals, and climate made for a vivid backdrop to this story. She described it in such a way that you could almost taste the salty are or hear the thunder roll. I think it would have quite a change for someone coming from England to the small island of Nevis. It made me want to visit
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative scene Lorri Dudley portrayed, the interesting characters and good storyline.
*I volunteered to read this in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Lorri Dudley is a new author to me and I am delighted that I took a chance and agreed to review her novel The Duke’s Refuge. I actually was expecting the usual Regency era tale filled with ballrooms, debuts, and calling cards. What a pleasant change to find a story set primarily on a leeward island as well as several perfectly fascinating characters.
I loved the idea of a runaway Duke who was disenchanted with English society after the death of his beloved wife. Harrison Wells spent his time attempting to raise his son properly and help educate the underprivileged children of the island. I also loved Georgia Lennox whose attempt to gain her mother’s approval by becoming the perfect lady in order to find an acceptable husband. Unfortunately practicing her feminine charms and wearing pink actually made her miserable. Georgia’s first encounter with Harrison was a disaster and subsequent encounters did not improve either one’s impression of the other.
The island setting was so well described that I could almost feel the humid heat and hear the crashing of waves. The imaginative plot was such fun with plenty of laugh inducing scenes for my enjoyment. Both Georgia and Harrison were painted with a broad brush with all their perfections and blemishes exposed. It was refreshing to watch as not only Georgia and Harrison’s relationship developed but also how her bond to her father grew stronger. And lest I forget, there is at least one perfectly awful person who probably gave the word evil its meaning.
By all means, grab a copy of The Duke’s Refuge as soon as possible. I can almost guarantee that you will not want to put it down until the very end.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Lorri Dudley is a new-to-me author, but I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read her book! I loved The Duke’s Refuge from start to finish. It is beautifully written with a dreamy setting and well-developed characters. I could NOT put this book down!
I love Regency-era romance, but I’ve never read one with such a beautiful setting. The island of Nevis was painted skillfully until you could almost feel the sea breeze wafting through the window and alleviating some of the oppressive humidity. I love the feeling of freedom and simplicity the island brought to the story.
Island life seems to have a cleansing effect, especially for Georgia and Harrison, both carrying painful burdens from the past. I enjoyed watching the complete transformation of Georgia Lennox from the stiff and proper woman who thought she had life figured out to the humble and brave woman who finally realized her worth. Don’t let Georgia’s initial bitterness deter you from getting to know her better. She is a treasure!
And Harrison…swoon. A secret duke. Father to a darling son. Good looks. And a little bit overconfident. (Maybe more than a little bit.) The love he shared with his deceased wife is endearing and heartbreaking. The fact he lives up to the description of a gentleman adds to his charm–and he is quite charming.
There are so many things I love about this book, but one of the biggest is the development of the romance. Georgia and Harrison become friends first, and I love, love, LOVED how he could truly see her. Not the socialite Georgia–but the selfless, brave, kind and adventurous Georgia she’d hidden for years. It is so sweet and REAL.
If you are a fan of the Regency-era romance, then this book will NOT disappoint. It will likely earn a spot on your favorites list. I already have the second book in the series on my TBR!
I was given a copy of this book by CelebrateLit. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.
After reading this beautiful story, it’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel. The descriptions of the island and it’s residents come to life, and you can almost feel the sunshine and the storms that roll across the island. Then, as the scene switches back to England, it’s as if you were standing on a busy London street corner.
But it’s the character of Georgia that completely held my attention all throughout the book. She at first seems to be a social debutante who is obsessed with the color pink, but as the story moves along, her true depth of character shines through. Her initial reluctance to be on Nevis Island with her father soon turns to a new appreciation of the island and the people she meets there. She believes that Harrison is the schoolmaster on the island, not realizing that he is actually the Duke of Linton. Their relationship gets off to quite a rocky beginning, but as they work together to help her father, they begin to realize that they have more in common than they first believed. There are some fun scenes between them that will make the reader smile.
There’s a strong theme of forgiveness that winds through this story. Georgia needs to forgive her parents of some bad decisions in the past, which has shaped her view of herself. Harrison needs to forgive the person of a robbery that went tragically wrong. There’s a message of faith and hope in this story that is heart-touching and can apply to us today.
The ending to this story is just perfect. If this first book is any indication, this is going to be a wonderful series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Duke’s Refuge by author Lorri Dudley is a captivating Christian Historical Romance novel. It was easy to read and became a page turning delight. Author Dudley has penned a fabulous tale.
I was enamored immediately with Georgia. She is a lovely character, feisty, sassy, caring, and beautiful. It is easy to imagine having her as a friend. Harrison Wells is a strong leading man. They meet and sparks fly as they tend not to get along. That soon changes.
Faith and inspiration are prevalent throughout this Caribbean tale. The author writes in such a way that she takes readers to the sand and surf. Her style is pleasant and easy. I loved how the conversations flowed smoothly.
Expect a few twists and turns when reading this. Also, be prepared to read and not want to do anything else! I was so invested that I had to continue reading one more page until I had finished it.
I highly recommend this. It is a great entertaining and encouraging book. I rated it a 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but this is my honest opinion.
The Duke’s Refuge is the first installment from Lorri Dudley’s debut series, The Leeward Islands. I have to admit that the main reason I wanted to read this book was because of the beautiful cover. After opening to the first few pages, I realize that the cover is not the only beautiful part of the book. I absolutely adored this story from start to finish. I loved Georgia instantly and love the chemistry between her and Harrison. It was great to watch how they grew throughout the book. I was not able to predict what was going to happen next which kept me wanting to turn the pages continually.
I am giving The Duke’s Refuge a very well deserved five plus stars. I would have given it one hundred if I could have. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy an inspiring historical romance. I look forward to the next addition from The Leeward Islands series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
The Duke’s Refuge
Georgia has received a letter to come take care of father. He is sick but he is not the one that sent for her. She meets Harrison after getting off the ship. Harrison is a widower with a young son. His son and Georgia become fast friends. I enjoyed their adventures together. Harrison cannot help but fall in love with Georgia. This was such a fun book to read.
I loved Georgia and her determination. She was such a fun character to read about.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.
This has been a wonderful story that captured my attention right away. I loved how the author makes her characters come to life. It is easy to see how Georgia could be considered a handful. She does have an attitude of always wanting what she can’t have. Her father who left years ago has grabbed her attention again. I know it was hard for her to come to see her father after he walked away from his family. There is goodness within Georgia as she worries about his health. The color pink is significant in the story and I can’t wait for readers to discover its meaning.
I loved Harrison and how much of a gentleman he is. The bickering between him and Georgia are priceless. He see a beautiful woman who has been rejected for many years. “Sometimes, for God to rebuild us into His image, we too first have to be broken.” Those words hit Georgia and I think right then she must have felt God stirring within her.
The story shows how Georgia thinks she needs to marry someone with wealth and a title. She can’t see past all she has been taught by her mother to appreciate a person for who they are inside. The lesson on forgiveness is very well written and shows how pride gets in the way. We want to hold on to bitterness because someone hurt us. Georgia is a good example of her pride holding her back from forgiving her father. Will her stubbornness cost her a renewed relationship with her father? Time is precious and we are not guaranteed a second on this earth.
From the unforgiving sea to the countryside is a story filled with redemption, forgiveness and blessings from God. Will anyone be able to break down the wall Georgia has built around her heart? Can she become the woman God designed her to be instead of an angry woman ? “Anger can fuel you, but it won’t ever fill you.” The author has written a story rich in history and allows readers to be swept away by the emotional story of a woman searching for acceptance and unconditional love.
“God is looking for a heart change before he changes your circumstances.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
“Sometimes, for God to rebuild us into his image, we too first have to be broken.”
“God isn’t concerned about your comfort as he is concerned about your character.”
Family and societal expectations got Georgia in a bunch, made her build walls around herself to block out pain and rejection and sadly it blocked out love until she was summoned to an Island where her ill father lived.
I loved reading about her transformation, her strong willed spirit and fire. She had a mind of her own and wasn’t afraid until some point of being herself. Not many people could get under her skin until she met the delightful Harrison.
Their first time meeting was very eventful and humorous.
I admired Harrison’s heart for his family. At some point in the story I mourned with him but the lenghts he was ready to go through for those he loved was his most admirable virtue. He had his own story and this books was woven around his and Georgia’s.
This story will educate you on the injustice of slave trade, the beauty of patience and prayers and the benefit when we allow Jesus lead.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I absolutely loved this book! It captured my attention from the very beginning and the further I got into the story, the more engrossed I became. I literally could not put the book down until I turned the very last page. And then I found myself wanting more! What a beautiful story about love, hurt, tragedy, reconciliation, forgiveness and ultimately God’s ability to redeem and restore our lives.
I enjoyed learning about the two very different worlds – the island of Nevis and high society in London. There were weighty political and social issues and hardships that existed in both places. I fell in love with both Georgia and Harrison. They were such real characters, scarred and hurting from past tragedy and hurtful experiences. I loved every page of the amazing journey to see them face their fears and hurts and to watch God’s healing hand work as they chose to forgive and allowed themselves to be vulnerable and open to love again.
I also loved so many of the supporting characters – Max, Fredrick, Aunt Tessa, Booker, Hattie, Jenneigh and Eleanor. Each character brought richness and depth to the story. My favorite of all these was Max. Max and Georgia’s relationship was playful, heart-warming and precious!
I would highly recommend this book and this author! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading many more of Lorri’s books. I love reading Christian fiction that pulls me in, makes me feel like I’m part of the story and touches my heart in deep and tangible ways. This book did exactly that for me!! I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.