Are you a Bridgerton fan? Or maybe just a lovesick individual who daydreams about the romance they see on TV or have read in books? Either way I believe Jane Ashford’s The Duke Who Loved Me would be a great read for you. Take a stroll into the world of dukes, duels, drama, and of course romance, for this story will make you feel as though you are also a part of the whole experience this book will give you.
The Duke Who Loved Me is Book 1 of the six books of The Duke’s Estates series by Jane Ashford. The story takes place in the Regency era and it follows James Cantrell, who just became the new Duke of Tereford, and his friend from when they were children, Cecelia Vainsmede. Cecelia has loved James for a very long time. So when he comes to her with the proposal of marriage because it’s convenient for him and not out of love she instead turns him down and continues to participate in the Season to be married. Here Cecelia meets a German prince who comes and sweeps her off her feet. James, due to having his pride hurt, grows to dislike this prince and eventually they both take part in a duel. Will Cecelia ever be with the man she always hoped to marry? Will James learn how to start being so prideful or will he lose it all, including his chance of being with Cecelia?
Ashford did a phenomenal job with her storytelling with this book. It felt as though I was a part of the story and witnessed everything with my own eyes, causing me to feel joy, annoyance, and even sadness through the book. I am a person who does not enjoy reading much, but it was so hard for me to put the book down once I started reading. There are a ton of characters to where you will find at least one who you could relate to and likely one you will possibly really dislike. And when it’s all over there are more books to continue with, which also not only introduce you to new characters but also allow the characters you already have met to take part in those stories. The character development throughout the story due to the series of events that have taken place will leave you astonished and hopeful towards real world romance. The visual she gives you allows you to give a good picture of characters clothing, looks, and the environment. She truly makes you feel as though you are right there seeing it through your own eyes and not through words off of pages of a book.
In conclusion, not only do I recommend this book but also the series. If I could read the ones I have read all over again to experience it for the first time, then I would, but we all know it’s nothing like the first time. Since I would not be able to have a second first time, I really hope some see this review and experience a whole different era of time for themselves and enjoy it as much as I have.
Get the book! Check out The Duke Who Loved Me by Jane Ashford at BMCC’s Library, the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, or the Queens Public Library (in print or as an e-book).
About the author This review is by Jalisa G.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
