Jacqueline's Reads's Reviews > For Love of the Duke

3.5 Stars

I’m always looking for new historical romance authors. I’ll be honest and say I’m very cautious to reading non-traditionally published historical romance authors. I’m all for being independently published, but there’s a higher standard when it comes to being traditionally published, especially with historical romance authors. I need it to be accurate.

This is my first Christi Caldwell read. I see her books all over Amazon and I thought why not? I wouldn’t call her my favorite historical romance author, but I see the potential. I’m all for giving several books a good before I move on.

I liked the storyline of For the Love of the Duke, but I believe the kinks needed to be worked out of this one. The reviews are true. This isn’t a great book, but it isn’t a bad book.

There’s tension in this and I was highly disappointed on how low of the steam of the book had. I really hate sexy covers that don’t hold up to the truth of the book. I don’t need steam in every book, but I expect it when it’s advertised in the cover.

Lady Katherine Adamson doesn’t want to marry the man her mom has picked for her. Since she is not 25, she has little of choice in the matter. I liked her character and I felt like Katherine really carried out the story. She’s strong and independent and I thought her crying was cute.

Jasper is a Duke and he is a widow. He loved his wife and he can’t bare to live a life of happiness. The book basically was a downer because of this man. Oh boy could he hold a grudge! I think if the Hero was a little more open this book could have easily been 5 stars. But he went on and on about his beautiful wife and it was just SAD.

There’s a lot of tension between Jasper and Katherine and I have never been fond of the Heroine chasing after the Hero. I did skim a few boring scenes that didn’t involve the couple.

Overall, it was a decent first book for the series and I will continue on, hoping it will get better. I have a feeling it will.