An Unfamiliar Duke by Sian Ann Bessey - OPTIONAL

An Unfamiliar Duke by Sian Ann Bessey, 290 pages. Covenant Communications, 2022. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Despite knowing her twenty-first birthday would be celebrated with an arranged marriage, Rosalind has held out hope that her groom-to-be would release her from the contract. Sebastian has avoided society as much as possible, which, unfortunately, also means he’s avoided his bride-to-be. Meeting again for the first time in years, neither is sure of the other, but a spark of hope encourages them to move forward.

Bessey has put together one of the most realistic relationships I’ve ever read. Rosalind and Sebastian are both hesitant about their arranged marriage, but they are also both committed to making it work, and none of their words or actions felt forced. Though there are hurts along the way, nothing super dramatic happens to add conflict to their relationship – though the antagonist certainly adds some drama from outside the relationship. It’s refreshing to read a book where the main characters choose to look for the good and make unideal situations work.

Both main characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing; the violence rating is for illegal activity and gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen