The plot and characters were forced rather than flowing easily. I was disappointed that neither of the main ...
924059
The plot and characters were forced rather than flowing easily. I was disappointed that neither of the main characters grew or changed. This is not a book I would recommend.
3649340
This book was a bit disappointing.  I thought that the story didn't flow very well, and it wasn't what I hoped it would be.
3184600
This book did not really grip me and I have to admit I skimmed a lot of it.  I didn't care that much for the characters and wasn't as caught up in the suspense as I would like.  Not that this is terrible--it's well-written and has a plot that makes sense--just not my cup of tea.
278987
This book had some rich character development but the plot was not as complex and well designed as the characters.
3878514
I really didn't like this book.  I picked this book due to my fondness for this author's Forest of Hands and Teeth. Unfortunately, this novel exhibits a writing style that is very different than what I was expecting, a plot that was implausible, and characters that failed to achieve any level of realism or dimension.  Still, I find myself wanting to let it squeak into a three star rating simply because I did become interested enough in the plot to care about what happened to the heroine at the end.  Just a little.

The plot is so unlikely, the dialogue is so melodramatic, and the romance is so over the top that I wanted to throw this book against the wall on numerous occasions.  The heroine does exhibit a fascinating vulnerability that made me interested in her fate, however her interactions with the other characters were not believable or remotely authentic. This is a fast read, which is a good thing, but this novel has very little else going for it and is not a recommend.
2566507
seemed to drag a bit and it was hard for me to get into the stories and the characters.
2042698
maybe bonnie has gone on a little to long.  as a side issue she was interesting.  as the main theme she was not quite real enough to carry the book realistically.  the plot is a little forced and I had problems knowing who the bad guy was
3319831
The story and plot were okay but this was not the usual Radclyffe novel.  Lots of angst and drama but the characters didn't have the mystique like her other books.

Tess owned a dairy farm that she was trying to make organic and Clay blows into town to drill for gas on part of her land.  Their past however, has not been forgotten and soon they are finding their way back to one another.

The characters weren't developed enough to make me  like them or care if they got together.  Overall not my favorite Radclyffe.
4591590
While on a mission to protect the Crown in the name of the Brotherhood of the Sword, circumstances lead Gabriel Campbell, Duke of Lynford, to the door of Lilith Crisp, Lady Thornton, the woman whose hand his brother died fighting over in a duel years ago.
Having been trapped in an arranged and unhappy marriage for years, Lilith finally sees an opportunity for freedom when Gabriel shows up at her door to bring her some news.
Shes ready to start a new life with her niece, but when it becomes obvious that her charge is in danger, she is forced to work with Gabriel to uncover the mystery surrounding her niece in order to keep the young woman safe. Working side by side, they cant deny the attraction evident between them.
Can Gabriel and Lilith overcome their past and maybe build a future together?

Dueling with the Duke had all the ingredients for a great historical romance  an unrealized past connection between the characters, sexual attraction, mystery, a little action and danger  but unfortunately I couldn't connect with the story all that much.

I felt like the novel barely scratched the surface while trying to explore its characters and rushing through its far-fetched plot. Gabriel felt like a cardboard cutout and the book constantly reminded me why I should feel sorry for Lilith and why shes so brave while not giving me a real grip on her character. Everyone else in the book also seemed like merely a sketch.
The romantic and physical attraction between the characters was believable but I just couldn't really get invested in it.

Also, the mystery couldn't hold my interest because I couldn't care that much about any of the characters and I felt like half of this novel tied into or set up other parts of this series.

Overall, I just didn't enjoy Dueling with the Duke.

______________________
I received a review copy from Entangled Publishing.
4889410
I thought this had a good plot and the writing is fine.  It just was not suited to my tastes.  The heroine is a virgin, she doesn't curse and she comes from a religious family.  The main male characters are sexually experienced and worldly, but definitely aren't alpha males.  At times it felt like the author wanted to explore the heroine's conflicts about chastity and sex in general, but it never really went in that direction.  Much of it was the ramblings of a heroine and hero who are like teenagers in love.  To be fair, before reading this I had just finished reading Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde and Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan, which are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, so that probably led to my feeling that this book was a little too sweet and innocent.  And if that is what you are looking for, then this fits the bill very well because it does not become too cloying.  However, if you're used to something harder and grittier and sexier in the romance genre, this will probably be a disappointment.
3200291
The basic plot is ok and that kept me going, but the dialog often feels forced and over dramatic. I know this is fiction, but some character reactions are just too out there. I am probably done with this series.
2548387
The plot had enough twists and turns to keep your interest, and the three main characters; Nadia, Sophie, and Julian were relatable.  However the translation was often awkward.  The style was an odd mix of formality and a forced casual vernacular.  I found this mix  unfortunately distracting.
4853722
I had hopes, but was disappointed. The writing was okay, but I wasn't engaged and just wanted to get finished reading.  I think the plot wasn't for me.  To me, the behaviors of the characters didn't match what was being felt from the words on the page.  I'm not into extreme reality based books.
670456
A quick read but the plot felt forced.  Each progression through the story was a little over the top of the previous twist.  The religious aspect of the book is well presented but the "Indiana Jones" plot detracted from the overall enjoyment.
2620970
I rarely find a book I cannot get into but this was one. Somehow it was just interesting enough to keep me reading but not compelling or truly intriguing for me. The main character somehow seemed too conflicted and too introspective. The story line was too convoluted and developed too slowly. The plot was not believable for me and some of the various character's actions and reactions did not ring true. It almost seemed like an effort to be Faulkner-esque without quite pulling it off. At the same time, it did not quite make it as an action novel either. The story seemed to have a lot of promise but never quite delivered.
3515643
When I read a book i really like, I am into the plot and not very aware of the writing style.  In this book, I was aware that I was reading.  There was a stilted feel to the flow, and the plot.  Starting the book with the wreck was an interesting ploy, but a bit heavy handed foreshadowing.  The set up chapters were a bit choppy, and I never really felt there was sufficient despiration in John to justify his descent into criminal activity.  The characters were stereotypical, and the life insurance ending a bit too tidy.  The author would have been better served getting his message out by publishing a poster of a cute (of course) white child holding hands with a cute (of course) black child with the banner, "can't we all just get along?"
1037713
The flow of the story was not as smooth as it could be. Characters were hard to follow and get to know.