"The American Duke: Crossed Lines, Twisted Fate" by August Jade Sterling presents a captivating narrative that skillfully weaves romance and suspense against the backdrop of international intrigue and racial prejudice. Set amidst the tumultuous world of the British ton and the unexpected challenges faced by the Roxburys, the novel offers a compelling exploration of love, danger, and the complexities of navigating societal prejudices.

August Jade Sterling adeptly crafts a narrative that delves into the intricacies of the characters' lives, immersing readers in the gripping challenges faced by the Roxburys as they navigate the treacherous waters of both American and British societies. The portrayal of the Roxburys as unwanted newcomers to the world of aristocracy adds a poignant layer to the narrative, effectively highlighting the enduring themes of racial discrimination and social hierarchy.

The character of Thomas Berkley, the head of the Home Office, serves as a compelling figure who adds depth and intensity to the story's intricate plot. Sterling's masterful storytelling keeps the readers engaged as they unravel the mysteries and dangers that surround the Roxburys, creating a palpable sense of suspense and intrigue that drives the narrative forward.

While the novel seamlessly blends elements of romance, suspense, and societal commentary, some readers might find certain aspects of the plot and character development requiring further exploration and depth. Despite this, "The American Duke: Crossed Lines, Twisted Fate" remains a captivating read that successfully captures the challenges and triumphs of love amidst adversity and societal pressures.

Overall, August Jade Sterling's novel is a compelling and thought-provoking tale that skillfully combines elements of romance, suspense, and social commentary, offering readers an engaging and immersive reading experience that resonates long after the final page.

The American Duke- A Regency-Era Novel By August Jade Sterling Is An Interesting Tale That Held My Interest…It Was Well Written …Engaging & Impossible To Put Down…It Is The Tale Of The Roxburys…& Regency England …& How Difficult It Can Often Be To Be Accepted By The British Ton ….
Read and See. Much Enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I Voluntarily Reviewed An Advanced Copy Of This Book.

This was a fun historical romance. It was an easy and fast read. There are several minor plots throughout the novel. Some of these were just left hanging by the end of the book.

I found this to be a captivating read, I had difficulty putting it down. I liked the family that came from America very much, they had no pretence about them and were caring for the less fortunate. No everyone welcomed them to England, some were concerned about people of mixed race being in the aristocracy. There are a number of layers to this story and not all have been solved. I’m assuming that there will be a second book in the series, which I will be looking forward to reading. There is also the romance between Mer and Julien, at times I wanted to shake Julien. Why does it take an intelligent man so long to realise his true feelings? I loved the way the women were all strong characters and were well able to defend themselves. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 2.5 stars

The writing in this advanced reader copy just did not mesh that well with me. I found it confusing to keep the long list of names straight, whether they were actively speaking or being mentioned as a reference. The multi-pronged story line seemed to run together, likely because too many past and present characters and happenings were interwoven into the mix. The book itself might benefit from a more polished version.

Title: The American Duke, Author: August Jade Sterling, Pages: 286, new to me author, did not finish.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any form for this review. There is no relationship or affiliation between this reviewer and the author, publisher, NetGalley, or any PR firm.)

I picked up this book on a whim after watching Bridgerton on Netflix. Historical romance? I can get behind that if done right! I had a problem keeping up with all the characters and their storylines and how they were connected. I definitely believe less is more when it comes to your character interaction. I had to keep notes on them which is fine typically! But I had a hard time keeping the character notes in my head. I think machinations of the plot made it a bit harder for me too. There was just *a lot* going on. So trying to track all of it made it difficult!

It was a bit sex heavy for me at times. I know romance is supposed to have some spice, but I found myself skimming a lot.

Overall, it had a great solid foundation and just needs some polishing. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this!

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

I really wanted to like this book, but there were a lot of pieces that felt unfinished or unpolished. I was yanked out of the story several times and that complicated the reading experience for me.

There is a lot going on in tis book. Which at times I found confusing trying to keep track of who was saying what, and what was going on. While description is Historical fiction, Romance. I would say it is very heavy in the romance and a lot of thinking about sex from 2 of the characters. My preference is more Historical fiction so was a little overboard for me. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I am hoping there is at least a second book to wrap up more of the loose ends.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Regency Romance set in America is perfect for our times and for fans of Bridgerton. There is lots of action and romance and the novel deals with issues of interracial marriage and racism.

Sar who has become the Duke after the death of his uncle and the murder of his father. The children find that their mother is part negro. Their parents married at sea to make their marriage legal. Now the Ton has to think about whether they can welcome a mixed heritage duke.
There are a number of things going on from before they leave America to their time in England. The oldest daughter falls in love. Their shipping company is shipping government information out of the country. Men are being killed before they can find out who or what is behind it. Just so many things going on from the beginning to the end. Keeps you on your toes trying to keep up with it all.

A lot of action & romance maybe too much romance to my taste. A swashbuckling Regency romp with some punch & fun, finely drawn characters and good historical research. It wasn't quite my cup of tea but many readers might actually really enjoy the ride.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

The story of The American Duke is really important and also enlightening. The book stresses diversity of the characters, reveals that most definitely not everyone in the historical romance sphere was one dimensional in their looks - there were most definitely POC people who lived in eg. the regency era. Reading the book actually coincided with me watching Netflix's Bridgerton series, and I'm glad that people can get represented in historical tales. And the harships that they endured are written and talked about in books, especially considering today's news climate.

With that being said, my non-native brain struggled quite a lot with this book. The "jumpcuts" from character to character were a bit inconsistent, and hard to follow. The story was engaging, but I would have preferred a bit more polishing when it comes to the writing style. But each to their own! Good luck with publishing!

The American Duke Crossed Lines, Twisted Fate by August Jade Sterling. BooksGoSocial, 2020.

Of several subplots that make up the complex story of The American Duke, one is the romance between Meredith and Julian. Meredith (Mer), the American duke’s intelligent and lovely sister, is twenty-two when she first meets Julian, heir to a Marquess and a British government operative. Each grew up with loving parents to become a relatively stable, reasonable adult. Their story is complicated by the social conflict of racism embedded pragmatically through the story - no preaching- and by a cast of supporting characters, a ghost, a rotten uncle, a quirky character who listens at doors and coaches others in the same, two street orphans taken in, illegitimate first cousins, an ailing duke on the run, and a number of shadowy, unsavoury and hostile individuals in cameo appearances that don’t quite explain themselves until the end

On every front – the complex, engaging plot; the intelligent, industrious characters;, the steamy bedroom scenes; the three-part mystery; the writing; this strangely wonderful Regency Romance outshines just about every other piece of historical fiction about the era that I’ve read, including titles on the “must read” lists.

When compared with others, The American Duke Crossed Lines, Twisted Fate is slightly ahead of its time. It should be a movie, or perhaps a Netflix series.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The American Duke Crossed Lines, Twisted Fate for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheAmericanDuke #NetGalley

This book grabbed me from the start, so much going on and so much intrigue. The characters are so realistic that I could feel their emotions while reading. This was much different than what I was expecting.