I loved this installment of the 1797 club!

I have read a lot of books with disabled people, but never one with a lead who is a mute. I was really not sure how Ms. Michaels was going to make it work, but she nailed it!

Ewan, Duke of Donburrow was born mute and if not for the intervention of his uncle, he most likely would have been sent to an asylum by his loathsome father. Raised by his aunt and uncle, Ewan has known love, but the scars left by his family run deep.

Ewan has known and loved Charlotte forever, but he has tried to keep her at a distance because he doesn't want her to be hurt. Charlotte always has and always will love Ewan, crushed by his rejection five years ago, she married another, but now she is widowed and this time, she is not taking no for an answer.

Ewan and Charlotte start a very steamy affair and it is clear that they are perfect for each other. But Ewan can't seem to let go of his past and Charlotte can't seem to break through the walls Ewan has built. After spending days alone with Ewan and still not getting him to admit they should be together, Charlotte is almost ready to concede defeat and return to London and the marriage mart.

But once the other guests arrive, Charlotte has allies and tries to sway Ewan again. Just when it seems that Ewan is finally ready to accept the love Charlotte has always given him, his family shows up and threatens to destroy everything.

This was a wonderful book, well written, paced nicely, super STEAMY, cameos with some of the other Dukes, tender moments, heartbreaking moments and a shocking twist!

I would recommend reading this entire series in order, but this book could be read as a standalone title with no problems.

It could be that coming into this series at book four was my undoing, it could be because this is a new-to-me-author and sometimes there's an adjustment to writing styles or plot direction, whatever the case : but THE SILENT DUKE wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be.

Michaels has created a great premise with a mute Duke and the childhood friend who has loved him almost from the moment they met -- and vice versa. There's quite a bit of angst surrounding self-worth and deserving a title, a future, love, all of which can be interesting if the topic isn't recycled a hundred times (which it kinda was). So it seems the author tried to balance out that angst with sex.. a lot of it. Pretty much from the get-go. Which I just wasn't a fan of, to be honest.

This story is on the shorter side, though longer than a novella, so it's strange to have wanted so much more of this story expanded and yet way less time cycling through sex scenes that felt somewhat copied and pasted over and over again. There was also a bit of time spent on other couples who have already found their happy endings, who I obviously don't know but was provided with enough information to get the basics, and I imagine that lack of previous foundation may have attributed to some of my dislike. It's said this can standalone and I would agree with that statement.. and also disagree because.. like I said, we're meant to feel connections to other characters or care about seeing glimpses of them after their stories have wrapped and ultimately I didn't.

<i>Ewan was mute, and it seemed mute he would stay. His father said it made him stupid and damaged. Ewan felt damaged, certainly, but he wasn't as certain about stupid.</i>

That being said, I love seeing characters with disabilities or mental illness, any kind of representation, in my reads. Especially historicals. I may not have loved Ewan but I loved that Michaels gave words to a man who couldn't speak. I wish there had been less of a convenient workaround for his ability to express himself but alas that was kind of a big element at play with his connection to Charlotte. <spoiler>There was also a lot of unexpected potential in the fact that we had a virgin hero (yay!) but said potential was kind of shotdown when he was instantly a Sex!God. There were a few scenes to demonstrate his lack of experience and willingness to learn but I felt it was kind of ruined by his first time being over the top the amazing, best she ever had. Nope. </spoiler> As for the lady in question.. yes, she was kind, yes she was generous, yes it was great to see female agency in regards to pleasure, especially during this time, but she also.. too perfect?

"<i>Ewan, if I had a life with you, I would gladly live it slaying your dragons.</i>"

Despite a conflict near the end that I was really not a fan of at all, there were some very moving and wonderful passages in THE SILENT DUKE. Enough to make me want to read the author again.. maybe even backtrack to the beginning of the series to play catch-up. But unfortunately this book, this installment, wasn't the winner I had hoped it to be.

2.5 stars

This is a fair and honest review in return for this ARC. What can I say...Jess Michaels, series, always exceptional. This series is about a group of friends who also happen to be dukes. Great story telling with wonderful characters.

As always I have to say that I loved this book. Jess Michaels is a miracle worker when it comes to Regency novels - each and every one is steamy and unique!

This is book four of the series. It had great even pace for the build up of the romance evolving for the couple. Charlotte is the perfect character for Edwan. I enjoyed reading this love story. Towards the end we get a bit of a scary part but alls well that ends well- for some. Worth checking out.

Firstly, I’ve enjoyed the prior books in this series and really wanted to like this one. I’ve always liked the H, and never knew the back story. Unfortunately, it didn’t clear up some of my questions. The story itself was good, but it’s har to accept the depth of the conversations taking place through a primitive form of sign language. And at times it’s not even clear they are signing.. It just seemed the vocabulary was a bit complicated for them to have come up with signs to match. The story otherwise was very interesting and the characters were well developed.

Ewan Hoffstead, heir to the Duke of Dunburrow, was hated and abandoned by his family because he was born mute. He was fortunate to have been taken in and raised by his aunt and uncle, and to have met Charlotte Undercross. Ewan and Charlotte have been friends since childhood and in love for most of their lives. Even so, Ewan could not, would not commit to a future with Charlotte. He simply could not stand to see her humiliated and shunned because of his inability to speak. Fate sometimes steps in to lend a helping hand. A bad rainstorm threatens to wash away the bridge leading to Ewan’s estate. The only guest to make it across before the bridge is blocked is Charlotte. She intends to use the time they have alone to convince Ewan that they can have a future and be happy together. Will she be able to do it? Maybe, but it won’t be easy.

This is an absolutely wonderful story. The characters - the hero and heroine, and their friends and most of their families – are written so well that you seem to know and care about them. They are all strong, stubborn, caring, and protective of each other. The plot is not complicated, but there are a few twists and surprises. The story is heart wrenching and heartwarming. There are a couple of nasty villains, fueled by greed and jealousy, but their plan fails. You will not want to put this one down. A great addition to a great series.

Ewan Hoffstead was born mute.
His father hated him because of this, and at age 10, Ewan found himself almost being placed in an asylum.
Thanks to his aunt Mary, duchess of Tyndale, and to her husband, Aldous, he was raised in a home with love.
When his father died, Ewan had to fight to inherit the title that was his by right (but his father wanted that Josiah, his next son, inherited).
Ewan had his title and his fortune, was admired by society, but he would never have what he wanted most: the love of the woman he knew in childhood...

Charlotte Undercross was about to take off the mourn. Now she was Countess of Portsmith. She never loved her husband-a marriage of convenience-but she was sad that he had died so young.
However, now as a widow, she would have the chance to seduce the one man she loved: Ewan.

Ewan would receive guests at his country house, but inclement weather made the river overflow and become dangerous crossing the bridge. However, Charlotte and her maid could get there before the bridge was closed. And until the weather got better, she and Ewan would be practically alone in the house. It gave her time and opportunity to seduce him.

At first, Ewan finds himself without the courage to finally yield to Charlotte, but the charm of it on him overcame him, and they lived days of passion.
When Ewan's tenants needed help, and he always helped them, Charlotte goes along because she and he, as a child, have created sign language to easy Ewan's communication with others, but it turns out that only he and Charlotte used it because other people found language too complicated.

Their romance grows, but when their connection is discovered, Ewan finds out that his new position as Duke of Dunborrow, in addition to wealth and lands, brought an enemy that would not let Ewan rest, and Charlotte becomes his weakness.

I didn't know this author and I loved the theme of this book. It's the first time I read about a mute character in a historical novel, and I loved it. You usually find books about a character with scars of war or some accident.
Now I need to read the previous books, from Ewan's friends.
5 stars

I so totally loved this story!
This is my first book to have read by this author and I must say how impressed I was at how wonderful the story was written and how easily it drew me in and captured my heart. Although this is the 4th book in this series it can be read as a complete standalone.
Ewan and Charlotte's story is one that is full of heartbreaking emotion. Ewan was disowned by his ruthless father as a boy because of his mutism, always insisting that he was stupid because of it. Ewan had an awful life of abuse until his uncle took him in and gave him the childhood he deserved filled with love. When Ewan's father died his uncle fought for him to inherit the title of Duke of Donburrow as he is the eldest of three sons and so the title is rightfully his. Charlotte has loved Ewan for as long as she can remember but because he is ashamed of his mutism he has always shied away from her advances. She once declared her love for him but he turned her away and so she had to marry another and she became the Countess of Portsmith.
Ewan has always tried to hide his love for Charlotte and it's was so sad to read that even though he eventually became a Duke he still thought that him being the "Silent Duke" it would be something that would somehow taint Charlotte in society, that if he gave into his feelings for her when she became a widow and was free to be with him it would eventually tear them apart.
It really pulled at my heart at how Ewan suffered and felt so alone for so long, while not realising he was loved and cared for by so many others. Jess Michaels has written a superb story full of love, honor and betrayal. I can't tell you how much this book touched me and made me love it.
It does also mention throughout the story the lead characters from the previous three books, and it has peaked my interest enough to go and seek out their books to read too.
A brilliant story and deserves 5 Stars!

This was a wonderful story about a young man, Ewan, who is mute and the woman, Charlotte, who loved him. While the young man suffered greatly under an abusive father (and seemingly uncaring mother), the young woman grew up in a warm, loving family. As a child Charlotte bonded with Ewan, creating their own private means of communication which continued into adulthood. Ewan was fortunate to be taken in by a loving uncle and aunt, who not only provided him with love and encouragement, but helped him attain the title to which he was due as a first-born son of a Duke. Unfortunately, his sense of feeling damaged carried with him, and because he felt unworthy, he denied his love for Charlotte and rejected having a relationship with her as an adult. This story plays out beautifully the struggle of Charlotte trying to convince Ewan that her love for him could withstand any outside pressures of society and him coming to the realization that his love for her was too strong to let her go. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes reading historical romances. (I was given a copy of this book for my honest 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

FINAL DECISION: This is a sweet little story as two friends navigate the hero's insecurities and fears and find their way to a happy ending. The conflict here is the hero's, but I enjoyed the interaction between these two.

THE STORY: Ewan, Duke of Donburrow was born mute and abused by his father who wanted to commit him to an asylum so that one of his "normal" sons could inherit. The wounds inflicted by Ewan's father have scored deep. Charlotte, Countess of Portsmith, has loved Ewan forever. When he rejected her years ago, she rebounded into a loveless, but not horrible, marriage. Now widowed, Charlotte is determined to try again with Ewan.

OPINION: This story was sweeter than I expected. These two love one another from the start and just have to work through the pain of Ewan's childhood to find one another.

Ewan is a good man. Abused as a child, he has managed to become a worthy gentleman. Charlotte is a woman who is determined to try and get what she wants finally. She comes to Ewan's house for Christmas determined to try and seduce him finally. There is no doubt that these two are meant to be together. The intimacy of their friendship and the closeness they feel is obvious from the start.

The emphasis in this story is Ewan's own growth. He has to make the change to be with Charlotte. I found that while this story isn't particularly long, its length works here where there isn't a tremendous amount of conflict to be resolved. There is one external drama that happens towards the end of the story, but by then most of the drama between the characters has been resolved.

The sweetness of the characters and the story made me really enjoy this book.

WORTH MENTIONING: Virgin hero.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE SILENT DUKE is the fourth book in the 1797 Club series. While the book can be read as a standalone as the romance is self-contained, there are overlapping characters that are discussed.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Review will be published on November 14th.

Ewan was rejected by his family because he was born mute. Luckily, his aunt and uncle took him in when he was a young boy and took care of him. His uncle made sure that Ewan inherited when his father died. Through it all, Charlotte has loved him since she was 7 years old. When she was old enough, she tried to tell Ewan how she felt, but he rejected her and so she married someone else.

Now Charlotte is widowed and about to look for a husband again, but this time she has a plan to make sure that Ewan won't refuse her. Unfortunately, even though Ewan has cared for just as long as she has for him, he will never marry because he fears that his children will also be mute. It seems that Charlotte might have a chance when they are snowed in for a few days, but then reality sets in when all the other guests arrive for Christmas.

You can't help but root for Ewan and Charlotte as the story progresses. Will Ewan realize that he can't live without Charlotte until it's too late?

This was such an interesting story to tell, for a historical romance novel! I think it's the first time I have read a romance with a hero who is mute throughout the story. Elizabeth Hoyt wrote a book with a mute hero, but he does eventually talk towards the end, so his "flaw" is resolved. What Jess Michaels did was create a flawed character and make it so that the flaw wasn't even really considered a problem by the end of the story. By the end chapter, I almost forgot he was mute at all. This, I think, is what really marks this book as a must-read for historical romance readers.

Ewan Hoffstead, Duke of Donburrow, has loved Charlotte Undercross for a long time. But being unable to speak and rendered a freak by his family and the ton, he has imposed exile on himself to keep away from the gossip he knows he would find in London. He doesn't consider himself good enough for his childhood friend. Charlotte once professed her love for Ewan, but after being rejected, she launched into the London season and married. Now that her husband has passed and her year of mourning is over, Charlotte is determined that she have a second chance with Ewan. Fate make sure she has that chance when she finds herself alone in his home due to a bad storm, and Charlotte begins to weaken Ewan's resolve to remain a bachelor forever. With the prying eyes of the ton far away, they both get a second chance at love.

I loved Ewan, almost right off the bat. I am a sucker for a flawed hero to begin with, but a hero who thinks he is unworthy of love? My heart melted. The backstory of how Ewan and Charlotte first met was beautiful, especially the fact that she doesn't treat him as if he is stupid or damaged. In fact, she makes up a form of sign language that only they two know, and it makes their interactions all the more intimate and special. Charlotte was a character who was kind, gentle, and unassuming, which I liked. There is a part where she takes advantage of Ewan that I didn't really care for, and it almost made me put the book down. It was very out of character. However, the author rallies my spirits soon after as Charlotte is immediately contrite. Humility in a character who has done wrong is always a good mark in my book. Both characters were so worthy of the love they had for each other, and it took them a bit of time to see that. I loved it once they did.

Jess Michaels continues to write engaging, appealing books with a range of unique, interesting characters. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

i have been waiting for Ewans story, this story has been my favourite so far, it was wonderful, it made me cry, very heartfelt. Charlotte was lovely how she cared for Ewan and people who in those days were classed below the uppper class. it was very tastefully written regarding Ewan and i loved their secret sign language,

would recommend this book 100% cant wait to read about the other lords in the series.

well done Jess

4.5 stars

I enjoyed THE SILENT DUKE cover to cover. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Jess Michaels historical romance and now I’m remembering how good they are. After reading the blurb and seeing it centred around a Duke with a disability, I was hooked in and I was not disappointed.

This is a beautiful friends to lovers story that is as much full of emotion as it is heat. Jess Michaels knows how to write HR heat without losing story cohesion. This was a full story, with family and past that was full of depth. Ewan was very likeable but incredibly self-deprecating with regards to his disability. This was frustrating occasionally to me and frequently to the heroine, Charlotte. Charlotte was his childhood friend and she was a brave woman, widowed and with steely determination. Her character was full of loyalty, courage and passion. This was just an excellent coupling and an engaging story.

THE SILENT DUKE is book four of a series I haven’t read up until now. This book stands alone nicely but I'm sure there are side characters I would have recognised had I read the others. I can’t find it in myself to regret where I’ve started considering my enjoyment of Ewan and Charlotte.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

This is my first exposure to this series and the author. I also want to say, this is the first time I've actually wanted to reach through a book and choke the villains with my bare hands! I fell in love with both Charlotte and Ewen in the first chapter. Clearly both are in love with each other and yet Charlotte has to fight for a chance of their HEA! It was lovely seeing Ewens family and friends showing their own love and support for him in the story. I will admit I'll be searching out the previous books in the series and catching up on everyone's story from the beginning!

Jess Michaels has a way of breaking your heart then roping you in to the story and not letting you go until she has mended hearts and lives to happiness.
Ewan Hoffstead, Duke of Donburrow was born mute and berated by his father and mother daily for being born broken until he was ten years old. His father threatened to put him into an asylum and his aunt and her husband stepped in and took him into their home and raised him as one of their own.
Charlotte Undercross now the Countess of Portsmith grew up with Ewan and were the best of friends. They created a hand language all their own to communicate faster then Ewan writing everything down. Charlotte and Ewan always had a bond that went above all their other friends.
Charlotte knows Ewan is a kind hearted and highly intelligent man but years of mistreatment and harsh words have a way of forming ones thoughts of themselves. Ewan, in his heart knows that he’s not the person his father claimed him to be but years of comments, others actions and fear of passing his mutism to a child has left him set on a path of never marrying. Charlotte has one last chance before going back on the marriage mart to convince Ewan that they are meant to be together but walls built years ago may be to high to climb and to strong to crumb.

I loved loved loved this book! It was so hard to put down, I finished it in two day- I couldn't wait to finish and get to the end but all the while wanting it to last forever. Ewan was mute but he was sexy, handsome, and a duke. I liked his character from the beginning and Charlotte was wonderful. Her love for him was contagious. These two had great chemistry and the book is well written and it moves quickly. It doesn't lags or lets you drift, I have read every book written of this group of friends and this book is my favorite so far. It very romantic, sexy and it has turns you don't see coming. I'm giving this book five very well deserved stars and recommend it highly.

Loved, Loved, Loved, Ewan and Charlotte's story!!!

Charlotte and Ewan had been the best of friends for years. They were so close that they developed hand signals for Ewan to communicate with Charlotte since Ewan as a mute. I really like friend to lover romances and this one was top notch!!

Hearing Ewan's history as we go through the story just broke my heart! Michael's definitely knows how to pull the heart strings of the reader.

This is definitely one of Michaels best books to date and I would definitely recommend reading it (plus the other books in the series, LOL!)