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A review by penningtales
The Duke Meets His Match by Karen Tuft
2.0
Susan Jennings is no debutante, having had her London Season over a decade ago. After rejecting her various suitors and enduring a heartbreak, she is content to live a life of a spinster in the countryside. But when Lady Walmsley invites her younger sister for her first Season, Susan agrees to accompany her as her chaperone. At one of the many Season’s balls, Susan is formally introduced to George Kendall, the Duke of Aylesham. George has avoided marriage for years, seeing none of the ladies present as his potential Duchess. Especially not Susan, who he had previously encountered after discovering her eavesdropping on his private conversation. She had stood up to him and they both had come away with bad first impressions of each other. So then why, when George finds himself trapped in a political scheme by the Regent to marry a German princess, does he claim to be already betrothed...to Susan Jennings of all people?
For some reason the blurb led me to believe this was a marriage of convenience romance. But that’s isn’t the case. In actuality, this is was more of a betrothal of convenience, so be forewarned before going into this with different expectations.
I don’t like rating books low, especially when I know the efforts authors put into their work, but this book didn’t work for me.
I found the pacing to be incredibly slow despite knowing novel takes place over two weeks. The writing style felt very monotonous. Not even the dialogues offered any respite. In fact, I felt like the dialogues did so much telling, it felt unnatural and exhausting to get through.
The way the romance is written, it’s intended to be a slowburn enemies to lovers, but I couldn’t see any spark or chemistry between the hero and heroine. They despise each other and then reluctantly agree to help each other, which is fine, but I expected to see some emotional connection occur between them 60% into the novel at least. A moment, an understanding, anything! But they were so indifferent to each other that they barely knew each other. Which is why when they suddenly professed their love for each other, I was confused. I suppose to an extent I could see why George came to admire Susan, but what did Susan see in George to make her fall hopelessly in love with him? Enough to defy the Regent himself on George’s behalf?!
I went into this novel expecting more. There was a lot of potential, but the novel never really choose explored the emotional conflicts it had set up, choosing to focus on the conflict with the Regent and the foreign royals instead. I’d say did you’re in the mood for a romance that isn’t romance heavy, this is a book for you.
Please note: I received an advance digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Covenant Communications in exchange for a honest review. This does not influence my opinions in any way.
For some reason the blurb led me to believe this was a marriage of convenience romance. But that’s isn’t the case. In actuality, this is was more of a betrothal of convenience, so be forewarned before going into this with different expectations.
I don’t like rating books low, especially when I know the efforts authors put into their work, but this book didn’t work for me.
I found the pacing to be incredibly slow despite knowing novel takes place over two weeks. The writing style felt very monotonous. Not even the dialogues offered any respite. In fact, I felt like the dialogues did so much telling, it felt unnatural and exhausting to get through.
The way the romance is written, it’s intended to be a slowburn enemies to lovers, but I couldn’t see any spark or chemistry between the hero and heroine. They despise each other and then reluctantly agree to help each other, which is fine, but I expected to see some emotional connection occur between them 60% into the novel at least. A moment, an understanding, anything! But they were so indifferent to each other that they barely knew each other. Which is why when they suddenly professed their love for each other, I was confused. I suppose to an extent I could see why George came to admire Susan, but what did Susan see in George to make her fall hopelessly in love with him? Enough to defy the Regent himself on George’s behalf?!
I went into this novel expecting more. There was a lot of potential, but the novel never really choose explored the emotional conflicts it had set up, choosing to focus on the conflict with the Regent and the foreign royals instead. I’d say did you’re in the mood for a romance that isn’t romance heavy, this is a book for you.
Please note: I received an advance digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Covenant Communications in exchange for a honest review. This does not influence my opinions in any way.