WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE, the latest from Julie Ann Long - I'm giving away a copy!

I ordered WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE by Julie Anne Long after receiving daily excerpts via email from Eye on Romance. (I have found so many fabulous books through them.) I ordered after the second excerpt, it looked that good! I have two reviews that are past due, but after deciding to sneak a quick peek at the first chapter or two, I couldn't put my Kindle down. Yes, those reviews remain unwritten.
WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE is not your typical historical romance. It is frou frou free and lacks elaborate descriptions of gowns and ballrooms, instead focusing closely on the characters and their emotions and motives.
I had a love/hate relationship with a couple of the characters, including the hero, for a good deal of the book. The hero, Alex, is considerably older than the heroine and while today I might find that a tad squicky, considering the times, it's believable. The contrast between them is crucial to the story. The hero at times put me in mind of the television character "House." He's jaded, undeniably tortured, arrogant, and seemingly uncaring of anyone else, almost to the point of cruelty. Undoubtedly one of the most uniquely original heroes I've ever read. The heroine, Genevieve, at first looks to be your typical historical heroine - sweet, young, and innocent, dreaming of a future with the young man she's loved for most of her life. She sees things with far greater depth than most and Ms. Long's descriptions of Genevieve's thoughts and dreams are simply beautiful. It isn't long before the reader realizes that Genevieve isn't exactly what she seems. She's young and innocent, yes, but she's intelligent, courageous and not the least bit intimidated by the brash, worldly Alex. And while Alex seems somewhat cold hearted and unfeeling almost to the end of the book, one unexpected and hugely unselfish act on his part was all it took to toss me head over heels in love with him.
Ms. Long's talent as a historical romance author is a true gift. WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE is an absolutely beautiful story and I give it my highest recommendation.
I've decided to give away a Kindle copy of WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE. If you're interested (and you should be!), just leave a comment. Remember, a Kindle is not required to read Kindle books, so don't let that discourage you from entering. There are several other methods of reading Kindle books. Do you enjoy historicals? Are you familiar with Julie Anne Long's work? I've read several of her books and have yet to be disappointed.
Want a copy of your own - buzz on over to Amazon!
I'll draw the winning name on Friday, March 4th. Good luck!
Thanks for checking it out,
Laurie