Customer Reviews

Devotion

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WOW!!! I almost gave up on DEVOTION because of the cliff-hanging ending, until I found out the story continues in one of Ms. Sutcliffe's newer books, OBSESSION... Thank you very much for continuing the story... =). I'm soooo excited, couldn't wait to know the ending... =).

If you need a tidy ending to a story, don't read this book. When I got to the last page, I had to look at the binding carefully to make sure no pages had been ripped out. The story ends with no resolution between the main characters. A happy ending may be implied, but given the difficulties the hero and heroine have throughout the story there is plenty of room to assume things could still go awry. I lost so much respect for the author (whom I had until then been truly enjoying). If she cannot respect her readers enough to wrap-up the loose ends of the characters she got us so invested in, then I cannot give her a higher rating. And the sad thing is, I don't trust her not to do this in other books, so why would I bother to pick up another Sutcliffe novel? Badly done, KS.

This book was recommended to me because of my love of "tormented" heroes. I can't quite decide who was more tormented, Trey or Marie.

Marie, a beautiful but abused young woman becomes a nurse/companion to Trey Hawthorne the Duke of Salterdon. She is beaten down both physically and mentally by her deranged father (a rather successful minister). Seeking a better life for herself and her mother, Marie answered an advertisement to nurse a child. Much later, after arriving at Thorn Rose manor, she finds her patient is not a child at all.

Injured in an attempted robbery, Trey spends his time either catatonic or totally frustrated and abusive to his staff. Eventually at the edge of consciousness, he begins to notice and respond to Marie. And not as expected! He is rather violent! Marie, seemingly with an endless amount of compassion and forgiveness, conquers all her fears and rather than running away, she works doggedly to bring Trey back from the brink of lunacy.

The storyline is harsh and frightening, yet you come to love Marie for her unfailing optimism and Trey for his desire to be free of the confines of being a duke. They both have suffered tremendous hurt as children and you realize how much they have in common, just as you realize how far in class they are apart.

Can this have a happy ending? Will she sacrifice him to his position and obligations. Will he sacrifice her to please his grandmother and society? I was not disappointed with the ending as others were. The ending was as gritty and real as the rest of the book.

Secondary characters are so well drawn out. Trey's twin brother was a delight to meet. The dour duchess (grandmother) was also. Every character added dimension to the story. I did not like the hurried ending of the novel which wrapped up some incidents regarding "highwaymen." This is not a light hearted novel but I can highly recommend it. I am off to read the "prequel" about Clayton, Trey's twin --

The ending is so frustrating, don't bother to read the book! At the end, the hero and heroine are NOT together. I wondered if they forgot the final pages. This definitely needed an Epilogue

Devotion by Katherine Sutcliffe is an utterly moving lovestory. Set in 1805, the story centers upon Trey Hawthorne known as the Duke of Salterdon. He had once been a notorious rogue. A breaker of hearts who was handsome, aloof and so very cold. He would allow no one to breech the formidable wall surrounding his heart. His world abruptly changes when he is attacked by highwaymen. He is horribly wounded and . . . forever changed. He is abandoned by all of society. Abandoned by all who had once admired and desired him. He loses himself in a black void allowing nothing or no one to touch him.

Filled with despair for her grandson, the Duchess of Salterdon places an ad in the London Times for a nursemaid. Maria Ashton, desperate to escape her father's cruelty, answers the advertisement never imagining that the Duchess will seek her out. She is hired to nurse the Duke back to health. She is to be his last hope.

Maria's gentleness slowly awakens Trey from that unemotinal void he has willingly cast himself into. He does all he can to frighten her but she is so determined to help him - to save him. It is her uncommon beauty, luminous blue eyes and long hair the color of moonbeams that ignites a storm of forbidden desire neither is able to resist. He is of the noble class and she is just a servant. Society will never permit anything serious between them. Trey has a daunting responsibility to his family. A duty that has become so very heavy to bear. While he is near Maria, basking in her gentleness and beauty, he is torn between what is expected of him and what he so desperately desires.

Maria's devotion to Trey will move you to laughter, to tears and will ultimately renew your belief in love. An outstanding read!!

This isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it's close. The characters lack depth. The dialog is stilted, and all too often the characters make speeches rather than conversation. Too much is told rather than shown, and the telling is stilted, too. How these two fell in love isn't quite clear. Too many elements of the plot simply didn't ring true, either. I, too, love the premise of the wounded hero who is healed, in every sense, by the love of the heroine. However, with these two people it simply wasn't believable, and with the writing being so formal there was simply too much distance between the reader and the story. If you're going to read it, I'd look for it in a used bookstore or the library before paying for a new copy.

A delightful tale along the lines of "Beauty and the Beast". This is an enchanting story about a young woman determined to fulfill her duty to take care of an injured and bitter man. I read this book in one go, late at night, and loved it...until the end of the story, which finishes unsatisfyingly. Despite a frustratingly awkward and blunt final few chapters, this book is still a refreshing read.

"Devotion" is exactly the type of romance that I love...a strong, innocent girl turns a tortured mans life upside down and they both fall madly in love...This had a five star rating written all over until the very last page...I have read hundreds of books, but NEVER, and I do mean NEVER, have I read a romance where the h/h dont resolve things one way or another by books end. A reunion was implied, but I am a ROMANCE reader..I dont want my "Happily Ever Afters" implied..I want to SEE them! I felt like the author just got sick of writng and said to herself.."Eh...thats good enough.." UGH. Anyways, this is my first book by this author...I really enjoyed the story and Im going to give her another try...hopefully next time she will follow through.

This is the first book of Ms. Sutcliffe's that I have read and I must say that I could not put it down. I am an avid reader of romantic fiction and tend to enjoy the styles of Robin Schone and Dara Joy most. This book was a bit tame for my taste, but I was still entraped by this emotional love story. I don't know why, but the hero Trey Hawthorne situation got to me so much that I found myself reaching for the tissue box repeatedly. Though I was a bit unhappy with the ending, I can not resist a tear jerker and no story has affected me as greatly as this one in a very long time. Well done Ms. Sutcliffe. I highly recommend this book.

this was a wonderful book, although the ending could use a little work. I think it should be re-written. It is one of the few books i've read that i thought should be made into a movie along with it's prequel "miracle" make sure you read that one first. if ms sutcliffe is reading this i would let her know that the ending was very dissapointing please let your on-line readers know what happened. anyway it is a fantastic book . it made me cry!