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.

There’s an old English nursery rhyme I learned as a child:

There was a little girl who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead

When she was good, she was very, very good

But when she was bad, she was horrid.

That kind of sums up what I thought of Georgia. 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.

I don’t believe there was “new money” coming from America to England in 1814. After all, it’s just two years after the War of 1812, where England attempted to regain control of America. And while it was expected that the Prince Regent would become George IV, that event didn’t occur until his father (George III) died. He was the Prince Regent, then George IV, not the two at the same time. (Equally, Prince Charles is currently the Prince of Wales, and will give up that title when his mother dies and he becomes Charles III). I found it odd that errors like this slipped in when the author made a point of discussing the historical validity of Georgia’s clothing choices (an interesting factoid!).

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.

About Lorri Dudley

“Why I write…
I believe readers should be led on a heart journey. Romance should allow for an escape from everyday life. It should also lead us to a better understanding of the human condition and how God views us. I believe readers, like the heroines and heroes of stories, are not static creatures and can discover different aspects of themselves through empathizing with characters’ comical mishaps and dramatic misunderstandings. I believe romance novels can depict a fallible human heart that can be made whole again by a merciful creator and remind us of the hope for the same.”

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone-filled household.

Find Lorri Dudley online at:

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About The Duke’s Refuge

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 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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