Review: Loved this story - John is my favorite character of the series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2014
I was looking for something different.  I was bored of the same ole stories with the same types of characters.  It feels like lately, you can change out names and locations with any of the NA books on the market.  With the exception of a few of course.  I came across an opportunity to read this book and I won't lie, the cover caught my eye.  Even though it's the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.  I read them all.  I recommend you read them too there are things that happen in the first book that come to play in this story.  Not necessary but good to have that information.This was by far my favorite in the series.  I felt like the author grew by leaps and bounds with the characters and her story line.  The first two books were not as easy a read.  I would find my mind wandering on occasion.  Not so with The Scandalous Love of a Duke, I was hooked from page one.  Maybe because I was anxious to catch up with John, who was just a child in book one.  Maybe by now I'm just invested in the characters, the story and the author.  Whatever the case may be I was not disappointed.The story picks up several years after book two.  John is now an adult, his grandfather has passed and John is now the Duke.  I seriously fell in love with this flawed character.  He's not the philanderer like his Uncle Robert and he doesn't run from his responsibility.  He does however close himself off to everyone.  Events from his childhood have molded him and he struggles to break free from that mold.  Even though John is in his late 20's (I think) this story felt very new adult to me in that, John really does find himself in this book and establishes himself as man.This is a love story.  A scandalous one at that.  John is reunited with his childhood friend Katherine.  There are sparks an obvious attraction on his part.  Katherine though has been in love with John for years.  Unfortunately, Katherine is not from an aristocratic family and John really can't have any sort of relationship with her.  This doesn't stop them though.  I loved the chemistry between the two.  I loved that John and Katherine fought separately and together for their feelings towards each other.  Both victims of heredity and circumstance.  There is most definitely a Cinderella feel to this book.I can't say enough how much I loved this story.  I thought that Jane Lark did an outstanding job with John's character.  It would have been so easy to make him normal, or a rogue.  He still would have been likable, however she goes above that and gives him the depth that really brings this story together.  My heart ached for John and I desperately wanted him to get his happily ever after.  I very much look forward to reading more of this series.*A copy of this book was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*