For Love of the Duke (The Heart of a Duke Series 1) by Christi Caldwell #review

Pages - 309
Publisher - Christi Caldwell Publications
Published - October 9, 2014
Buy Link - Christi Caldwell
Genre - Historical Romance, Regency
Sexual Content - 3/5
Language - Irrelevant

After the tragic death of his wife, Jasper, the 8th Duke of Bainbridge, buried himself away in the dark cold walls of his home, Castle Blackwood. When he’s coaxed out of his self-imposed exile to attend the amusements of the Frost Fair, his life is irrevocably changed by his fateful meeting with Lady Katherine Adamson.

With her tight brown ringlets and silly white-ruffled gowns, Lady Katherine Adamson has found her dance card empty for two Seasons. After her father’s passing, Katherine learned the unreliability of men and is determined to depend on no one except herself.

Until she meets Jasper…

In a desperate bid to avoid a match arranged by her family, Katherine makes the Duke of Bainbridge a shocking proposition—one that he accepts.

Only, as Katherine begins to love Jasper, she finds the arrangement agreed upon is not enough. And Jasper is left to decide if protecting his heart is more important than fighting for Katherine’s love.

This is my second attempt at trying to like (AND understand why) this author is as celebrated as she is because like my previous review, this novel faired even worse.

I honestly don't get how a lack of basic knowledge can become popular and end up on a Best-Seller list.

Her stories are interesting, I'll give that much credit, and the leads do seem (somehow) fleshed out at the very least, but not by much.

Jasper is a dark, brooding soul who, for nearly four years, closes himself off from the rest of the world after the tragic loss of his wife and child.

Then he yanks Miss Kathrine from the Thames, and because she's found an enchanted locket, instant attraction ensues.

Jasper refuses to believe his own heart, mind, or soul and fights against his renewed emotions while Kathrine continues to struggle to free herself from the desperation her mother heaps upon her at every turn.

It's a cute premise that is very reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast (although we're told Miss Katherine is no beauty), and I found it rather difficult to understand how a grown man could let so much time pass and not feel anything -- ever.

I made every attempt to get into their story and want to like them, but it was poor execution that worked against them.

This is her 10th novel, by the way, and it took me way too long to finish because of the same issues as with the last novel I read by Miss Caldwell.

She randomly inserts commas, usually before EVERY and -- which is always followed by a fragment -- making it frustratingly difficult to read and stay focused on the story.

The beginning chapters are polished before becoming less so as we read on, with more and more type-o's appearing.

Also, a TON of repetition that became insulting right away.

Two steps forward, one step back, three steps forward, another step back until I wanted to give up and find something better to read.

Back and forth with the don't-need-to-know because you already told us, and I'm not that stupid that I'd forget what I read just a few paragraphs ago.

Everyone else seems to adore this type of writing, though, so maybe my review won't mean anything, but after all the nights I'd just spent trying to plod my way through, it deserves a review post.

Sad to say that I won't be reading any more of her work.