Geniece Tyler 5.0 out of 5 stars Duty Calls
November 9, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This story has a lot of twists and turns. Rafe and Trudi met .under very dangerous circumstances. Things were very traumatic and after a night of bliss Trudi disappeared. Ten years later they meet again. SURPRISE!!! I enjoyed the book.
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Lillian April 5, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Format: Kindle Edition
Rafe is under pressure to accept his inheritance in the form of house and the surrounding ground from his birth father but he doesn't want to as the man meant nothing to him. He is asked by his friend Arthur to come with him to the Hall to do some work there he meets Trudi he doesn't know her but assumes the worst. Trudi is barely holding it together her best friend is dying of cancer. She can't understand why Rafe judges her as he doesn't know her. Rafe suspects that Trudi could be the woman that saved his life many years ago but Trudi doesn't remember how or why she would have done that. Can she remember him and what they shared as Rafe is not going to give up until he gets what he wants. A great read and it had a nice flow to it and the characters were interesting and they all fit together. I would have liked Trudi to remember more about that night. All round great story. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
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Dee Archer 5.0 out of 5 stars
Perseverance is the key to happiness ......never stop trying to make things work.
May 10, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
Wow! No couple has ever worked as hard to reach their happily ever after as did Rafe and Trudi. Secrets, past pain, fear, ego and insecurities all chained both people so tightly that it was a miracle to see them overcome. Trudi had a fierce stubbornness coupled with a complete lack of trust in others, especially in the attractive, arrogant Rafe. And he had to learn patience, tact, compromise and not to ride rough shod over others to enforce his will. Seeing these two people with all their challenges learn to modify their behavior, learn to be humble, admit their mistakes, forgive and love made this story a treasure to behold. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
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Patricia Ann Blevins
4.0 out of 5 starsGood Read
April 18, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
This book is about Rafe who was born out of wedlock end to Daniel who was son of a Lord. Rafe refuses to accept his inheritance because his father didn't have anything to do with him as a child. Well Rafe is a tricked by his best friend Arthur to do som renovations to the estate that he doesn't want to claim. A woman from his past Trudi and her best friend Bella live there with their kids. Rafe thinks that Trudi was the woman who helped him escaped years ago. Will Trudi get her memory back and will these two find love in each other's arms. This book was well written
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Sweet N Sassy Book A Holics rated it 4 of 5 stars
4-star, Apr 06, 2015
lillian-reviewed
Rafe is under pressure to accept his inheritance in the form of house and the surrounding ground from his birth father but he doesn't want to as the man meant nothing to him. He is asked by his friend Arthur to come with him to the Hall to do some work there he meets Trudi he doesn't know her but assumes the worst. Trudi is barely holding it together her best friend is dying of cancer. She can't understand why Rafe judges her as he doesn't know her. Rafe suspects that Trudi could be the woman that saved his life many years ago but Trudi doesn't remember how or why she would have done that. Can she remember him and what they shared as Rafe is not going to give up until he gets what he wants. A great read and it had a nice flow to it and the characters were interesting and they all fit together. I would have liked Trudi to remember more about that night. All round great story. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review (less)
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The Project's review
Apr 28, 11 - 4 of 5 stars
** spoiler alert ** I recently reviewed a book by Sherry Gloag for this site. It was her debut novel, and I wasn’t too fond of it, but I remember thinking that with time, her writing was only going to get better. That is why I am exceptionally glad that I didn’t shy away from reviewing another of her books. From the first page, I could tell that “Duty Calls” was going to be better than the previous Gloag novel I had read....
*Not all this review is included due to Spoiler Alerts*
I am so thrilled that didn’t shy away from giving this book a read. Even though this was only her third book, Sherry Gloag has come a long way from her first novel. The improvement in clarity, character development, and plot development was outstanding. And I truly did love these characters. Even the secondary ones were vibrant and relatable. This was a story about the importance of family and love, and it was beautifully done. I really enjoyed reading this one, and certainly wouldn’t hesitate to read another of Ms. Gloag’s novels.
--Laura, The One Hundred Romances Project
*****
Taylor Jones's review
Apr 18, 11 - 4 of 5 stars
With a couple of twists and turns along the way, Duty Calls by Sherry Gloag captures the reader’s attention and refuses to let go right up to and including the last page.
Set in a stately manor in the English countryside, Duty Calls is a romance big on plot, with an attention to detail that doesn’t overwhelm, but pulls the reader deeper into each scene. Gloag’s skill at painting a picture of the surroundings and her use of senses to invoke the reader’s imagination is wonderful.
Our two leads, Trudi and Rafe are well suited, each imperfect in their own way, but determined to reach their goals, which brings them into direct conflict. Ah, you’ve got to love conflict between your hero and heroine, right? Duty Calls has that in spades. Though, this reviewer will say at first, I found the misunderstanding Rafe had over Trudi’s relationship with a man who turns out to be her brother seemed to drag on a bit. But hang in their readers, because the writing and plot line is strong enough to banish this annoyance from your mind quickly as you delve deeper into the story.
*****
Regan Murphy's review
Apr 17, 11 - 4 of 5 stars
Duty Calls by Sherry Gloag is a contemporary romance/romantic suspense crossover. Or so it seems to me. Although Gloag doesn’t really give the reader a mystery to solve, she does give her characters one. And it’s a doozie.
I found Duty Calls very enjoyable. Although I do have to agree with my counterpart and say that I thought Rafe’s confusion over Trudi’s relationship with her brother did drag on a bit, I can also say that it didn’t really bother me as much as it did Taylor. There was so much else going on I didn’t focus on that particular plot point.
One thing I loved about Duty Calls was the depth of Gloag’s characterization. Her characters are strong and beautiful, as heroes and heroines in romantic fiction usually are, but they are also flawed. They make mistakes, even as you’re screaming at them “No, no! Don’t do that!” And they live with regrets, so I found them easy to identify with and root for. Even as they made those mistakes I told them not to.
The plot is strong and held my interest throughout.
*****
Christina Vanderford's review
Jan 20, 12 - 2 of 5 stars
The book was a okay read. I didn't understand why Rafe didn't like Trudi so much throughout the book. He had no real biases for his dislike of her. It was hard for me to relate to the characters. I was a little disappointed, since there was no real mystery and everything is given.
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23rd March 2011 on The One Hundred Romances Project ~ Laura's Review
Even though this was only her third book, Sherry Gloag has come a long way from her first novel. The improvement in clarity, character development, and plot development was outstanding. And I truly did love these characters. Even the secondary ones were vibrant and relatable. This was a story about the importance of family and love, and it was beautifully done. I really enjoyed reading this one, and certainly wouldn’t hesitate to read another of Ms. Gloag’s novels. "
(4 Stars)
You can read the full review HERE
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Book Reviewed by Tiffy ~ The Romance Review.
[ Review Posted: Sep 27, 2011 ] -
DUTY CALLS is an appealing novel about unconditional love and what happens when you keep secrets. And family secrets abound in this novel revolving around birth parents, half siblings, siblings, amnesia, and mistaken identities. If that isn't enough to keep your attention, there's a little mystery thrown in for good measure.
What makes this novel really memorable is the way that Sherry Gloag skillfully crafts her characters. The relationship between the main characters, Rafe Kinsale Hawk and Trudi Delaney, forms the core of the novel. Eleven years ago, Denny Cadmore, Rafe's half-brother, attempts to kill him to ensure he will become the sole heir to their father's inheritance. Rafe escapes from Denny's clutches along with a woman he has been introduced to as Denny's sister. Rafe and Denny's "sister" end up having life affirming sex after living through a terrifying escape. The next morning, Rafe awakens alone in his bed. He searches in vain for Denny's "sister" but is unable to find her.
The supporting cast of characters really enhances the storyline and produces a well-rounded novel that is truly a pleasure to read. I especially like the way the author makes connections between the characters. For instance, Trudi's brother Arthur is Rafe's friend, Arthur works for Vince, Vince is Bella's brother, and Bella is Trudi's best friend.
The most poignant character in the novel is Trudi's best friend, Bella. Bella has terminal cancer and must live with the fact that she will never see her ten-year-old daughter, Lizzy, grow up. Trudi and Bella met when they were pregnant and delivered their daughters on the same day. Trudi has always been a second mother to Lizzy and formally adopts her. This is a comfort to Bella and allows her to treasure the time she has left without worries for her daughter's future. However, Bella is keeping a secret regarding her husband and Lizzy's father. He's that shadowy character in the background who may or may not emerge at any time.
The character that elicits the most sympathy is Jess, Rafe Hawk's adopted father. Not only did he know Martha was pregnant before he married her, but he also knew that he was not her soul mate. Jess stepped up to the plate, adopting Rafe and never treating him differently from Jess's biological children. Also, he's one of the few characters without a secret! Spoiler secrets abound in the rest of the novel and I'm not about to disclose any more because I think everyone should relish them by reading the novel! Congrats to fellow TRR reviewer and author extraordinaire, Sherry, for this amazing book. I can't wait to read your next novel.
*Not all this review is included, due to spoiler alerts.*
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Comments from readers of Page 99 Test
Rachel: Very well written and intrigued to see what is going to happen. I would definitely turn the page.
VF: Solid writing... But I do want to know what's on in the closed part of the house, so I'd read on.
Lisa: interesting indeed!
Brian: Some good bits, some not so good
t f-d: Rather good :)
K: I want to know more...
wo2011: This is very good writing. Sincere writing. Intelligently done. So I'd turn the page and read more. This lady interests me.