Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion

This is the June Group Discussion Thread for our monthly pick (Tortured Hero):

The Duke of Shadows By: Meredith Duran

We begin June 1st.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the book and consider these topics in your comments:

*What was your impression of the book by looking at the cover? and description?

*Over-all did the read live up to the description & reviews?

*What caused the hero to be tortured, troubled, pained? And was he able to overcome the cause? What was the one thing that was the pivot to push him into a better place?

*Did you laugh, get mad, cry? or become emotional?

*Did the heroine and hero of the novel "fit" and did they have good dialog? What did they each find appealing about the other and what first drew them to each other?

*Did you like the ending? Was it satisfying?

*Did anything surprise you?

*Do you recall any quote that stuck with you?

*Would you recommend this book to a friend and will you read other books by this author?

Okay...Everyone...It is June 1st...Let's start reading!!!

Waiting for others to finish. *taps fingers

I have read this, so I'll jump into the discussion, but I want to give others a chance to post first.

I am starting this tomorrow....Can't wait!

I've read it, too, and like Lady D will wait for others before I start discussing it, though I will say, I really enjoyed the story. The setting, the circumstances, the storyline - unique and appealing.

I love the characters.

I am about half way done...I really love Emma...she is so unique and independent and something I love....she is not perfect.

I just finished this book today. I really liked it. The authors descriptions of India were beautiful and I really felt like I was with the characters. I was totally sucked in. Since I don't normally read historicals this was a bit different for me. But...it also convinced me to step out of my comfort zone a bit and try some more historicals along the way. I loved Emma and Julian. They were just perfect for each other. They both went through so much to be together. They were both so heart broken but were able to pick up the pieces and form an even stronger bond. Anyways...I really loved it and would totally reccomend it to a friend.

*What was your impression of the book by looking at the cover? and description?
Typical cover popular in romance novels these days. A headless torso...flat abs. But what I did like was the colors used on the cover which to me remind me of the exotic richness when I think of India.

*Over-all did the read live up to the description & reviews?
Yes. Actually, I thought it was better than the description.

*What caused the hero to be tortured, troubled, pained? And was he able to overcome the cause? What was the one thing that was the pivot to push him into a better place?
He was ostracized by both English and Indian communities because of his mixed race & social status. He was never accepted in either place or people. It is the opposite of what the heroine had experienced all her life until meeting Julian and living through the rebellion.

*Did you laugh, get mad, cry? or become emotional?
No, but I did get a bit frustrated when they saw each other in London...and when Emma visited Julian at his home after hearing that Julian and Caroline broke it off. Both very stubborn people.

*Did the heroine and hero of the novel "fit" and did they have good dialog? What did they each find appealing about the other and what first drew them to each other?
I thought that Emma and Julian were perfect for each other. So many couples have chemistry but these two seemed to be intellectual equals as well. I liked that they could carry on conversations about topics and so much in common besides their attraction to one another.

*Did you like the ending? Was it satisfying?
Yes, very satisfying...anything less would have been frustrating and not make sense.

*Did anything surprise you?
Not especially...maybe it was a little strange how they did not connect while still in India...of course these are the days before email and cell phones and it was in the middle of so much upheaval.

*Do you recall any quote that stuck with you?
Yes, the one from Tennyson's poem-The Lady of Shalott... "I am half-sick of shadows."

The Lady of Shalott is a representation of how Tennyson viewed society; the distance at which other people are in the lady's eyes is symbolic of the distance he feels from society.

*Would you recommend this book to a friend and will you read other books by this author?
To some...A lover of Historical Romance and to those who enjoy an epic story.

I guess everyone is still reading? Any thoughts?

Hello????

http://youtu.be/Bpj8PKV-y_Q

"If there are any ghosts living in my house, I would welcome your company...."

Jessica wrote: "I just finished this book today. I really liked it. The authors descriptions of India were beautiful and I really felt like I was with the characters. I was totally sucked in. Since I don't normall..."

Jessica, I totally get what you mean by steping out of your comfort zone and didn't you think that this really was a little more progressive as far as Historicals go? I am not sure if Progressive is the word but it certainly was much more inventive and took some chances. Not your cookie cutter HR and the way the story was written...it certainly showed the main character's emotional vulnerablity. The mark of a good story is that we can imagine ourselves in their shoes or at least believe this might have really happened.

Katya, Since I don't normally read historicals I can't really say whether is was more progressive or not than normal. All I know is that I really liked it. It even brought me to tears at one point. Both characters really needed eachother and understood eachother. It was a story I really connected with. I would definately be interested in reading more books like it. I agree that a mark of a great story is one when you can put yourself in the characters shoes. I love a book that "sucks me in" and takes me on a journey.

My answers. I apologize that it's been a while since I've read this, so I can't be as detailed. Here is a link to my review though:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

*What was your impression of the book by looking at the cover? and description?

--I don't necessarily get drawn in by the naked male chest covers. The blurb and the great reviews got my attention and encouraged me to read.

*Over-all did the read live up to the description & reviews?
--I think it lives up to the reviews and the descriptions.

*What caused the hero to be tortured, troubled, pained? And was he able to overcome the cause? What was the one thing that was the pivot to push him into a better place?

--Being caught between two worlds is a very tough life for a person. So I did feel Julian had cause to be tortured. I think his love for Emmaline was cause for Julian to care deeply about things he sort of drifted through prior. Although I felt he did feel for his Indian relatives already. Honestly, I found Emmaline more tortured.

*Did you laugh, get mad, cry? or become emotional?

--I don't think I laughed, but I was stricken by the atrocities and the racism and callous attitudes some of the characters showed. I felt that the relationship between Julian and Emmaline was very deep and intense, and I was drawn in by it.

*Did the heroine and hero of the novel "fit" and did they have good dialog? What did they each find appealing about the other and what first drew them to each other?

--By fit, I felt they were authentic to their times and locations. I think they were drawn to each other in that they felt the neither fit in. Their alienation in their societies caused a bond to form between them.

*Did you like the ending? Was it satisfying?

--I found the ending satisfying. This book was very romantic to me, and I felt a deeper love for it than I do for the typical historical I read lately.

*Did anything surprise you?

--The actions they take during the reunion was a big surprise, and also that Duran does write about the atrocities that took place during the revolt.

*Do you recall any quote that stuck with you?

--I am bad with quotes!

*Would you recommend this book to a friend and will you read other books by this author?

--I would recommend it to readers who like the darker, more authentic-feeling historicals. I like Meredith Duran's writing, so I will definitely read more of her books.

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "Honestly, I found Emmaline more tortured..."

I found this a really interesting comment. I think I agree with you. I also think that Emma had to really adjust, grow, move through...what ever you wish to call it she had the most progression to make in order to find peace and harmony in her life and to find a comfortable place in her relationship with Julian. This whole experience for her was really quite an eye-opener.

Katya, I agree with you about Emma having to grow and deal with situations beyond what she normally encountered. Julian had always dealt with tough issues, and was fairly good at processing these. Whereas Emmaline got hit in the face with a world that was way more dark and violent than what she expected.