Grace Callaway

She married him for love. He married her for money. For years, sweet, innocent Gabriella Garrity has adored her powerful husband Adam, one of London’s most ruthless moneylenders. Yet devastating revelations shatter her illusions about their marriage—at the same time that they make him realize the truth of his feelings for his wife. Can a marriage that started with lies turn into a ravishing love story for all time? Find out in this steamy, long-awaited romance featuring anti-hero Adam Garrity and his beloved Gabby! Books by Grace Callaway: GAME OF DUKES (a sexy Victorian romance series) Book 1: The Duke Identity Book 2: Enter the Duke Book 3: Regarding the Duke (Preorder now!) HEART OF ENQUIRY (a sexy Regency romance series) Prequel Novella: The Widow Vanishes Book 1: The Duke Who Knew Too Much Book 2: M is for Marquess Book 3: The Lady Who Came in from the Cold Book 4: The Viscount Always Knocks Twice Book 5: Never Say Never to an Earl Book 6: The Gentleman Who Loved Me MAYHEM IN MAYFAIR (a sexy Regency romance series) Book 1: Her Husband's Harlot Book 2: Her Wanton Wager Book 3: Her Protector's Pleasure Book 4: Her Prodigal Passion ~~~ Connect with Grace: Grace's VIP newsletter: gracecallaway.com/newsletter facebook.com/GraceCallawayBooks instagram.com/gracecallawaybooks/ gracecallaway.com

Regarding the Duke

Tori Jarrett

Y’all want to know what made me want to read this book? Dozens of angry old women on Amazon leaving review after review about how “deviant” and “pornographic” this book was. I went through reviews on all of Grace’s books and it was all angry customers mad about “pornographic and filthy sex scenes”. All that pearl clutching had me running to buy this book. Before we even get into the review, let me just climb up on my soap box really quick. 

If you do not like descriptive sex, maybe don’t buy a book that has “steamy” in the description? The amount of reviews up in arms about the sex scenes was insane to me, when it’s literally in the book description. And the sex scenes?? Weren’t even the most explicit I’ve ever read. Some dirty talk and oral sex and they’re acting like it’s straight up porn. Regency/Victorian couples didn’t all have sex with the lights off, missionary style halfway clothed. If you like a cleaner romance, that’s fine. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Leaving a bad review on a book? If you didn’t like it, that’s completely fine. But some of these reviews are downright hateful about something that’s literally in the description and it just really irked me. Don’t yuck someone else’s yum or act like folks enjoying spicy reads is “deviant”?? Tf? It’s giving very much judgmental asshole. 

Anyway. I’ll get off my soapbox now. 

I don’t usually like amnesia/memory loss plot lines. It’s usually too sad for me, so I was a little bit cautious going into it. However, the way Callaway set this up was so enjoyable. Adam and Gabrielle have been married for 8 years, built a life together, and have two children together. But do they really know each other? After Adam is injured and loses his memory, he goes on a journey to figure out his past and his life. Along the way, he finds that he may have missed out on the best parts of his life by not appreciating the family he’s been given. 

Here’s why this book with an amnesia storyline worked for me. Adam and Gabby has a comfortable marriage, but they didn’t really know each other. Adam kept Gabby at a distance and Gabby stuffed things down and chose to live in blissful ignorance. After Adam loses his memory, he’s appalled that “Old Adam” kept his wife and kids at such an emotional distance. Even though they’ve been married for 8 years, their relationship doesn’t truly become a relationship until after Adam gets amnesia. We see Adam open up and fall in love with his wife. We see Gabby go from a blissfully ignorant people pleaser to someone who wants answers and wants to know who her husband really is. It’s not the death of a wonderful loving relationship we see. It’s the death of a comfortable relationship into something all consuming. 

I loved that Gabby is a plus sized heroine and that she’s insecure. I felt for her spiritually. Seeing her become more confident in herself as the story goes on was so great and I loved it. Seeing Adam become more open with his wife was great too. He’s definitely and alpha character and I love when they have that turn into vulnerability. He’s also a touch her and you die H, which is my all time favorite. 

Adam is a somewhat villainous character in other books in the series, from what I’ve gathered. I’ll be honest. This was the first book I read in the series, but I think it works really well as a stand alone. I was never confused about what was happening or when other characters/plots were brought up. I think Callaway did a really good job of explaining enough without rehashing previous books in their entirety. 

This was a really good book. I only took off one star because I did think that the Gabby thinking Adam was unfaithful went on a little too long. It’s probably just because it’s my most hated trope honestly. Otherwise, this was a really good historical with plenty of spice if that’s something you’re looking for, then you should read this book! So good!

Regarding the Duke

Reviews