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The Duke
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Plot Summary of The Duke
"A wonderful, uplifting Regency-set historical romance. Well crafted, richly textured.
Bel Hamilton becomes a high-priced courtesan when she loses her innocence in a brutal rape. The wealthy and powerful Duke of Hawkscliffe becomes her 'protector', intent on using her as the bait to snare his enemy, Sir Dolph Breckinridge. Straitlaced Hawkscliffe is a paragon of honor totally unaccustomed to dealing with a lady of the night. Cool-nerved, secretive Bel is terrified of the prospect of giving herself to him, but it's her only way to make a living and get her father out of debtor's prison. Slowly they form an alliance; Hawkscliffe gradually earns her trust and avenges her honor, but by restoring her sense of self, he frees her from the wound that forced her into prostitution in the first place. No longer willing to be his paid mistress, Bel makes him choose either to marry her or let her go. She can no longer respect herself if she goes on as his whore. Hawk must then face a crisis decision of either losing her or causing a huge scandal by making his mistress his wife. Great, engrossing read!
"

Cheska, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Duke
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - 19th century
Forbidden/mismatched love? Yes
How mismatched? - loving servant
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Inner struggle subplot Yes

Main Male Character
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age/status: - 20's-30's
How sexual is this person? - very picky
How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic
Sex has good effect on him Yes
Sex makes him - obedient - sensitive
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - bulging muscles

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
How sexual is this person? - frigid
How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic
Sex has good effect on her Yes
Effect of sexing - a better lover - blissful
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 70%
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of sex
Part of a series? Yes
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Gaelen Foley Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Randi Baldwin  

SCHOLARS:
Becky Lee  


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