"duchess" by susan may warren

About the book (from Litfuse): When her country needs her, will she have the courage to surrender her glittering world and her one true love?

The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars. Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has found everything she's wanted in the glamour of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she's finally silenced the voices-and grief-of the past. Her future shines bright...until the fated Black Friday when it all comes crashing down. When Roxy loses everything, she finds herself disgraced and penniless. Her only hope is to join forces with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems, and he has other plans for Roxy and her movies—plans to support a growing unrest in Europe, plans that could break her heart and endanger her life.

My take: When I reviewed Baroness, book two in this series, I said that I hoped I would grow to like Rosie as I read Duchess, as Rosie was probably my least favorite of all the major characters in both Heiress and Baroness. So I am thrilled to report that, after reading only the first two or three pages of Duchess, I found myself falling in love with her. Rosie grows so much throughout this story—from a spoiled, selfish starlet to a strong, confident woman secure in the love of her Savior—she may now be my favorite character in this series!

I think it also helped to have only one main character in Duchess. While I read Heiress, every time I read about Jinx, I just wanted to get back to Esme. While reading Baroness, I wanted to rush through Rosie's chapters to get back to Lilly. But in Duchess, I only wanted to read about Rosie, and it was nice to be able to remain completely in her story the entire time.

I love how Susan May Warren drew elements from the first two books into Duchess and completely wrapped up those story lines. I especially enjoyed the way Rosie's missing brother Jack's story resolved, and I felt great pleasure (coupled with pain for Rosie) as the truth about Rolfe came to light.

Really, Rosie could be any of us. No, we don't all have bombshell looks or the attitude to go with it, but we do all have regrets and hurts that motivate our actions, and without surrendering to Christ and trusting that He loves us, we could gain the whole world and still be searching for meaning and wholeness. The spiritual lessons found in this book (and the rest of the series) are profound, yet not at all "preachy."

I can say with confidence that the Daughters of Fortune series is now one of my favorites, and Duchess is by far my favorite of the three books. If I could give it more than five stars, I would! 5 enthusiastic stars!

Note: You really must read Baroness before reading Duchess. Heiress isn't a necessary prerequisite, but if you don't read Baroness first, you'll miss out on the events that make Rosie who she is ... and you'll probably be quite lost!

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Heiress and Baroness.
Find out more about the series by clicking on these links: Heiress. Baroness.

About the author: Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church.

Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives.

She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.

About the giveaway: Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of Duchess with a Kindle Fire HD Giveaway.

One "glam" winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HD
• Signed copies of Duchess, Baroness and Heiress

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 4th. Winner will be announced on 5/7/13 at Susan's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."