The Runaway Duke (Warner Forever) [Mass Market Paperback]

This is a respectable effort for a first book by this author. The character of Connor as the hero is likable enough and unusual. He is the heir to the "richest dukedom in England" (aren't they all!) but in the confusion after the Battle of Waterloo, he is presumed dead and he escapes to a life of anonymity. This is the fulcrum about which the book turns; unfortunately, to my mind, it is not a very believable plot device. The stated reason for his flight is that his father (the Duke) is emotionally and physically abusive and that Connor feels constricted by his role as the Duke's heir, but to abandon a life of wealth and position to become a groom (with a phony Irish accent) in a country baron's stable for eight years seems an extreme reaction. What ever happened to traveling the world, waiting for the old man to die? Supposedly, Connor had stayed in England for so many years instead of emigrating to America (as he had planned) because he was fond of his employer's daughter, Rebecca. Since she is only 12 years old when he first meets her (himself a grown man in his 20's), that idea is far-fetched and even a little bit creepy.
The character of Rebecca Tremaine as the heroine is less interesting to my mind. She is given some unusual characteristics to make her seem more unique, but her interests in medicine and anatomy seemed forced to me, and her behavior frequently is rather childish (not surprisingly, since she is only 17 or 18 years old.) The story strays too close to that time-worn plot of the experienced older man brought to his knees by the adorable, spirited ingenue to be truly memorable (see Georgette Heyer's "These Old Shades" for such a plot in one of its original iterations.)
The book has lots of action as Connor and Rebecca travel around England, on the run from Rebecca's parents and troops of murderous highwaymen and fall in love. The writing is generally good (although the plot relies on some ridiculous coincidences, for example the whole locket incident), the romance is sweet and the story entertaining.
In summary, this is a quick, light read that I imagine will please readers who enjoy books by Julia Quinn, since the tone seemed similar to me.

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.

But it took me over a week to get through it. Not a keeper for me, but worth reading. A pretty, good, first book for this Author....Seems so many reviewers here, gave this book a lot of stars, but it was a yawner for me. Just didn't have that zap, to keep me going.

My house is clean, Im gaining weight, which means, I better find a good book fast, or my buttons will pop. I rate my stars by how hungry I am, and Im stuffed... =) Meaning, I put the book down way too much.

Story line was good, and I loved the Duke, but Rebecca the heroine, was as dull as she could be (might be the age 17/18). Edelston was funny, I really liked him.

Worth reading, but not keeping. But, I will be on the look out for more by this Author, she has potential.