The Runaway Duke

In this book you can see the beginnings of the writing talent that makes MsLong’s books so entertaining, and which truly blossoms in what I believe to be her next book, To Love a Thief, which is totally delightful. Runaway Duke is very readable but lacking the humor of later work, and the characters, while appealing, are not sufficiently engaging to make me want to read this a second time ( I reread books regularly, and not just twice!)

I'm trying to think of who to compare this writer to...Julia Quinn, maybe? But no one really seems to fit, which must mean The Runaway Duke is unique. I found this book delightful. The plot is fast-paced and a bit of a romp -- it's almost like watching a movie. The characters are multi-dimensional, likeable and memorable, and the dialogue is terrific: very funny, but sweet, too, and the romance is truly tender and realistic; you believe they care for each other deeply. I really enjoyed watching Connor and Rebecca's relationship develop; in a way I identified with it (I married my older brother's high school best friend). I recommend this book highly, and I'll look forward to more by Julie Anne Long.

Five stars because this book did such a great job of grounding comedy in real tenderness and depth, and I couldn't stop reading it. The characters are never caricatures, not even the bad guys, the highwaymen and Cordelia and Edelston. Connor and Rebecca are real from the moment you meet them, and I liked them immediately. Connor is one of the most unique heros I've encountered in awhile. And heartwarming may be a schmaltzy word, but the book I think is, because you really believe in their romance, that they were meant for each other. It's a true friendship and connection that grows into a love that was just waiting for the time to be right. There are all kinds of wonderful little scenes and characters, too. I've shared it with a few friends and they all liked it, too. Wonder what else Julie Anne Long has in store? Hope she keeps writing.

I love discovering new voices, and Julie Anne Long had me from page one. I defy you to put this book down once you start! :) The charming writing keeps you reading from one lovely scene to the next, and the characters are vivid and loveable. I love that you get the point of view of the villains and other characters, too, not just the hero and heroine -- it makes the book feel much more deep and rich. Connor is the kind of guy we can all identify with: he runs from his responsibility thanks to a violent past, but then faces up to it in the end. And plus he's so gorgeous and sexy and kind! Rebecca is so funny and fresh, not quite a bluestocking but a girl with dreams that her parents didn't do enough to discourage. And when the fall in love, the romance is handled so sweetly and naturally, it's very moving and sexy. The duchess and Edelston are great characters, too, as are the highwaymen and the gypsies. All the characters live and breathe and leap off the page. I'm not the best writer, here, but I did want to share my opinion of this book. I like Sabrina Jeffries, Lisa Kleypas, Stephanie Laurens and Mary Balogh, to name a few, to give you a sense of what I like to read. I'd add Julie Anne Long to that list. I hope her next book is as good.

I'm not sure what I can say about this book that hasn't yet been said, but I still feel compelled to share. It was really just a joy to read. Something about it made me smile pretty much the whole way through, and if you start reading it at night, i'm betting you won't get any sleep. I'm 64 years old, and my daugher is 42, and we both just loved it. She's passing it on to her daughter, too. We all love romances set during the Regency period, and I can't think of a nicer way to escape than with a book like this. All of the characters are well-developed and the dialogue is both witty and intelligent. And the sex is steamy enough but not too anatomical, if you know what I mean. It was just a pleasure. I'm looking forward to Long's next book.