The Silent Duke

When his own father abused him because of the simple fact that he was mute, Ewan Hoffstead was taken in by his aunt and uncle who taught him how to be a wonderful duke. Along with his friends from The 1797 Club, Ewan became a magnificent Duke of Donburrow, loved by his tenants and friends. Especially, long time friend Charlotte. Charlotte spent a great deal of her childhood with her brother’s silent friend, Ewan. They even made up their own way of communicating through hand signals. When she finally confessed her love for him, Ewan broke her heart. She went on to marry and become the Countess of Portsmith. The marriage was short-lived, now a widow out of mourning, she is going to try again to win Ewan’s heart. When Charlotte arrives first for a holiday house party at Ewan’s estate, she barely beats a horrible storm with major flooding. The rest of the party cannot get to the estate and Charlotte is left alone to seduce the man she loves. The fourth book in The 1797 Club series is just as thrilling and passionate as the other three with it’s own special twist on the friends to lovers troupe. Charlotte never once saw Ewan’s mutism as a hinderance, in fact, I believe that only made him more special to her. Ewan’s feelings for the beguiling Charlotte are evident, but he refuses to see a future between them due to his fear of passing his mutism on to a child. Charlotte has a difficult time convincing Ewan what they have will overcome any obstacle they will face. Men are stubborn and it takes more than a little prodding to get Ewan to see the beautiful future he can have with the woman he loves. Through twists, turns, and vengeful relatives, Ewan and Charlotte find the happily ever after they’ve been craving all their lives. I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Born mute, Ewan Hoffstead, Duke of Donburrow was abused by his wicked father and wretched younger brothers until his uncle & Aunt the Duke & Duchess of Tyndale swept in to save the day when he was ten. Still, he carries the scars of his past with him, including a terrible belief that perhaps a “person like him” truly doesn’t deserve the title his uncle fought so hard for him to earn. Recently widowed Charlotte Undercross may be the proper Countess of Portsmith to Society, but when she is around Ewan, she still feels like the enraptured little girl who met him decades before when her brother was best friends with him and his cousin. A planned trip to spend Christmas with their families at Ewan’s estate reunites the old friends. But when a storm keeps the others from arriving on time, Charlotte decides to stop living in fear and pursue the man she has desired and loved her entire life. What can I say but that this is one of the best books I’ve read this year - & I read a lot- I’ve loved the three earlier books in the series but this book was on a different level. I laughed & I cried & felt a plethora of emotions whilst reading this engrossing ‘unputt downable‘ book. Ewan had appeared in the previous books so I was aware of his disability. He thinks he’s unworthy after being abused for the first decade of his life, he’s always loved Charlotte & they’ve even devised a sign language that only they can understand, likewise Charlotte has always loved Ewan & now she’s a widow from an arranged marriage she plans on seducing Ewan, even the weather conspires with her. Ewan still believes the worst of himself rather than he’s respected, loved & worthy, Charlotte, his friends & family have a hard journey to changing his mind My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Ms. Michaels had to have known she was creating something special. I knew from the moment I read the blurb this story was meant for me. The Silent Duke is so much bigger than a seductive romance. It is a story of one man's struggle to be heard, despite unspeakable heartache. Told so masterfully through the eyes of courageous and the soul of love, this tale speaks to the heart on so many levels and is as inspiring as it is gut wrenching. Ewan is the ultimate survivor because he made it through ever obstacle with his soul intact and finally made it home. His was a voice meant to be heard and together Ewan and Charlotte found a love that was unstoppable.