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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Reluctant Duke of Kingsford" by Earnie W. Rowell.]

John Browning III, the only son of the Duke of Kingsford, was looking forward to an illustrious career in engineering following his graduation from university. He couldn’t wait to make a life with his childhood sweetheart, Lydia, and start a family of his own. All this changed, however, upon the sudden death of his father. John is suddenly forced to forgo his studies and assume his position as the new Duke of Kingsford, along with all its privileges and responsibilities.

Despite the assistance from family and friends, not to mention his loyal staff at Kingsford Manor, the transition into this unfamiliar role presents many difficulties. John is faced with a multitude of tasks, many of which are unpleasant and difficult, making him question his suitability for the position. His future with Lydia is also in jeopardy. She is the daughter of a gardener and hence a commoner, and John faces the possibility that his mother will object to their marriage. A future without her is quite unthinkable.

There is also the problem of the family ghosts who have roamed the manor for more than a century. Condemned by the gods for their ignoble acts during their lifetimes, there can be no rest for them until their penance is paid in full. John forges a strong bond with his ghostly Aunt Martha, whose sage advice helps him through some trying times in his life. The ghosts still consider themselves very much a part of the family, which often makes it difficult to keep their existence a secret from the outside world.

Although The Reluctant Duke of Kingsford by Earnie W. Rowell is categorized as romantic fiction, it reads very much like an autobiography. The writing style is formal and largely correct, although I did notice several grammatical errors. There were some cases where the narrative lapsed from the past into the present tense and also occasions when the sequencing of events was incorrect. For example, on one occasion John finishes drinking tea in a café, leaves for another venue, and only then asks for the bill. Another careful edit would be recommended to eliminate these errors and inconsistencies.

Unfortunately, I did find the story to be extremely long-winded and repetitive. As charming as the romance between John and Lydia was, reading the details of their every encounter became rather monotonous. The storyline was completely flat, with very few events of interest to provide some excitement along the way. I found myself craving some drama or literary tension to break the tedium, but unfortunately, there was none. This is a pity as the story itself does have merit.

I did enjoy the inclusion of the ghosts in the story and felt they provided an element of interest to the book. I found myself looking forward to the occasions when Aunt Martha presented herself, or Uncle George started to misbehave. It is such an appealing idea and adds a touch of humor to a book that otherwise might be deemed quite dry.

The supporting characters in this story were developed only within the context of their relationships with the main character, John. In contrast, his character was developed fully as being stable, loyal, and likable. The best part of his nature was his generosity and unfailing support for people who were in need of help, both financial and practical. This aspect of the book made me appreciate that the nobility did have an obligation to assist the less fortunate and were pillars of the communities they presided over.

I would give this book a rating of 2 out of 4 stars, purely because of the editing issues and the story’s lack of highlights of any kind. An extra star would only be forthcoming with the inclusion of some noteworthy events to make one day different from the last for the occupants of Kingsford Manor. I would expect this book to appeal more to older readers, particularly lovers of romance novels who are not averse to detailed narratives. For anyone seeking some drama blended with the romance, I would suggest looking elsewhere as there is nothing in this book to quicken the pulse whatsoever.

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The Reluctant Duke of Kingsford
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Like sonya01's review? Post a comment saying so!

The basic premise of this book's plot has potential and I think, if in the hands of a more experienced author, really could be an engaging story. Thank you for your honest review!

It sounds like there are some very good elements in the book. I love that the Duke is new to his position and relies on those around him. I also like the inclusion of the ghosts. It's too bad, though, that the writing style was so formal. The repetitive nature of it would make the story go too slowly for me. I think I'll pass on this one, but I appreciate your review.

There's a place for slice of life storytelling, but it tends not to be repetitive. It's a pity that this isn't part of that tradition because it sounds like a concept that could be very interesting.

That's too bad about the errors in the book because it really does sounds interesting. I especially am interested in how the relationship between John and Lydia pans out. Thank you for the honest review!

I love the premise and the main character, but this book lost me with the errors, "inconsistencies," and "tedium." Your review, however, was a pleasing read! Thanks for helping me sidestep this book.

A long-winded historical fiction is hard to get through, but I appreciate your candid review.

I was very excited about this book at the beginning of your review, but kept reading and got so disappointed. Its a shame the book had errors to that extent, and have been so dry. This book could have been a really interesting, especially with the family ghosts.