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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

REVIEW - The Duchess Quest (Jordinia #1) by C.K. Brooke

Love is destined to find her...
♥ A SHELF UNBOUND TOP 100 NOTABLE INDIE BOOK OF 2015!
♥ FIVE STARS FROM READERS' FAVORITE BOOK REVIEWS & AWARDS CONTEST

REVIEW

I must start with the fact that the Duchess Quest caught me and didn’t let me go until its final words and the promise of a new adventure. And lately, that happened quite rare even with stories that, at the end, I really enjoyed. That should count for something, isn’t it?

The reason for being captive of the Duchess is a combined one. First, will be the apparent play of Fortune and its gentleman and the rest of the characters in general, then the pace of the narration next to the romantic interests… and the humor.

The characters, main and secondary, at one point the line between these categories will be thin, evolved throughout the story and their changes and secrets condiment the plot. Good intentions and hidden purposes are the engine and some of them are to be changed during the events.

The romantic part is sweet and I can relate to it. There is quite a game of pride, misunderstanding each other, jealousy, honor, financial interests, love, maturation and even some subtle humor.

The atmosphere of the book plays somewhere between one of a cloak and dagger (swashbuckler) movie and the one created by modern versions of Pirates of the Caribbean (and for the Duchess’s love interest imagine a younger Jack Sparrow mixed with a bit of Errol Flynn’s allure... savvy?). Saying that, I must add that I would have liked some more action scenes, but I’m quite willing to accept what I’ve got, especially that this first book of the series is the one in which the characters and the relationship between them are forged and the adventure and danger are to come in force in the second book.

The Duchess Quest is very visual. The author offered what you need to be able to see everything from your armchair (there are several small lapses, but, at the end, is OK). The difference is that Mrs. Brooke managed to leave room for readers’ own imagination to complete the picture of the imaginary world that she built. The multiple POV helped this movie sensation and, as a plus, they will not divulge all the secrets and hidden intentions before their time.

Conclusion: it’s a sweet, with no tedious moments YA story that could bring some pleasant time to readers regardless their actual age.

Enjoy!

PS: Who said that a bad boy cannot be good?

Description:

Love is destined to find her...

Dainy doesn't know that she is the lost Duchess of Jordinia, or that her uncle has organized a contest to seek her, offering her marriage hand as the reward!

Though at odds, three clashing rivals - a noble giant, a forester, and a thief - voyage together by woodland, plains, and sea to recover the lost royal, notwithstanding assassins and spies at their tail. Soon, Dainy is swept into a comically complex romantic triangle as her suitors compete to capture her heart.

Charmingly romantic and bursting with action, startling twists, and vivid characters, fans of Anastasia and The Princess Bride will adore this original yet timeless tale of swashbuckling adventure and unlikely love.

About the author:
C.K. Brooke is an award-winning indie author of over a dozen romantic fantasy adventure novels and novellas. Her books have been published by 48fourteen and Limitless Publishing, as well as self-published. Her debut novel, The Duchess Quest, was selected by Shelf Unbound Magazine as a Top 100 Notable Indie Book of 2015 and received five stars from Readers' Favorite Book Reviews and Awards Contest; and her YA novel, Secrets of Artemis, recently received the coveted Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Award. More of her publications have been nominated in the 2017 RONE Awards and Global EBook Awards. She lives in Washington, Michigan with her husband and son. Visit her at CKBrooke.com and subscribe for a free eBook!

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9 comments:

Kate Sarsfield said...

A Johnny Depp/Errol Flynn love interest? I could do with some of that!

CCAM said...

Hi Kate!

Important! the "Sparrow Jonny Depp" :))

Kate Sarsfield said...

Absolutely right! Did you know that Errol Flynn worked as a herder (flocker?) on one of those huge Australian sheep 'stations' before he moved to Hollywood?

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I think the book sounds amazing.

CindyWindy2003 said...

I'm always interested in a book that has a duchess in it, and I like how visual the book is.

Ally Swanson said...

Excellent review! This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read! Looking forward to checking it out!

CindyWindy2003 said...

Sounds like an excellent book, I like that it's a combination of Pirates of the Carribbean and Errol Flynn. sounds like a good combo to me.

Karen M said...

Who wouldn't love to be pursued by a Jack Sparrow/Errol Flynn type!

Kate Sarsfield said...

I wonder what it is that we find romantic about blood-thirsty, pillaging & plundering pirates?