Book Review: Surrendering to the Duke by Stevie Sparks

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As usual, I jumped into this book without reading the summary. I was about 8% in when I realized who the male lead was, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. But that’s on me, I’m fully admitting that.

Before you start reading, I think it’s important to mention that this book leans into some heavy themes, like grief, PTSD, and a few other emotional topics that might stick with you long after you finish the book. I’m a big advocate for content warnings, so consider this a heads-up.

Now, the story follows Emmeline, a widowed single mother who’s still reeling from the death of her husband in the line of duty years ago. She ends up falling in love with her late husband’s brother, Michael, who, it turns out, has loved her all along. 

I know, the whole “falling for your late husband’s sibling” thing sounds a little tricky and could easily feel like a red flag, right? But trust me, it’s handled so well. They end up with a sweet and heartfelt happily-ever-after, which I honestly didn’t expect.

I’ll admit, I was nervous that this book might get too dramatic or problematic. I like my romances to be lighthearted, and if it starts feeling like too much, I’m quick to put it down. But this time, I decided to push through my anxiety—and I’m so glad I did because I ended up loving it.

Now, let me give you some context: I come from a culture where it’s sometimes expected for a brother to marry his late brother’s widow. And let me tell you, I’ve always viewed that tradition with a lot of skepticism, especially since it often happens without the woman’s consent. It’s honestly pretty dehumanizing. 

So I continued reading this book expecting to feel uncomfortable, but surprisingly, I didn’t. There was never a moment where it felt like Emmeline didn’t have agency, and the way the relationship developed didn’t give me that “ick” feeling at all. It was sweet and respectful, which I really appreciated.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was how it tackled the single mother trope. In historical romance, it’s rare to see a female lead who’s not only a single mother but also an active, strong woman running an estate and a school for disadvantaged girls.

I loved seeing Emmeline juggle her responsibilities and still maintain her independence. It was such a refreshing take, and honestly, more authors should lean into this trope in historical settings.

The first few chapters are really heavy. We see so much grief, especially because it’s clear that even though Emmeline’s husband passed five years ago, the emotional scars are still very fresh for everyone involved. Michael, her daughter, his mother, his sisters—they all still carry the weight of the loss. It set a deeply emotional tone, and while it was sad, it also made the characters feel so real.

Then, the story takes off with a lot of family secrets, personal conflicts and dynamics that shift in unexpected ways. I was worried it might get a little messy or feel like too much, but honestly, the author handled it perfectly. The pacing never felt overwhelming, and everything flowed together really well.

The relationship between Emmeline and her late husband is something I’ve been thinking about a lot since finishing the book. She loved him, yes, but she wasn’t in love with him. 

That’s a phrase we hear a lot, but this was the first time I’ve really understood what it means. Their marriage was more about mutual respect and protection, especially since he was there to guard her from her traumatic past. She never grew to have the passionate love for him that you’d expect in a romance, but she deeply respected him and held him in high regard. Their relationship was more about safety and security, which, as the story shows, is just as important as passion.

After this, I was curious to see how she would connect with Michael. At first, their relationship doesn’t have that electric spark you might expect from a romance. There’s no instant chemistry, but that’s what made it feel so real.

They didn’t start out as lovers, and it was more about them fitting into each other’s lives and slowly realizing how much they had in common. No fireworks, just a quiet, gentle connection that grows into something beautiful over time.

I think one of the things I loved the most about Emmeline was how relatable she was. She was strong, but she also struggled with learning to love and be loved, especially after everything she had gone through. She fought to maintain her independence but also learned to lean on the people around her. It was so heartwarming to see her open up to the possibility of love again, even though she had doubts about whether anyone would actually stick around.

The side characters really added so much depth to the story. Annabelle, Effie, and even the kids were all memorable in their own right. Annabelle, especially, was such a standout. She’s bold, vivacious, and larger than life. I could definitely see her getting her own book, and I’m eager to read it.

That said, there were a lot of side characters introduced really quickly, and I found myself struggling to keep track of who was who. I don’t have the best memory, so this might just be me, but I did get a bit confused. It felt like there were too many people popping up, and a bit more focus on each character would have helped. I get that the author might be setting up for future books, but it did make the story feel a bit crowded.

Another thing that surprised me was the setting. This book takes place in the early 20th century, which I’ve never read much about in historical romance before. I’ve read historical fiction set in the 20th century, but this was my first historical romance with that setting.

Mentions of phones, cars, and photographs threw me off at first, and I had to keep reminding myself that we’re in the early 1900s and these things were actually becoming more common. It was a bit jarring at times, but I eventually got used to it.

I also learned a ton of random historical facts from this book. For example, there’s a scene where they have to perform surgery on a character and crack the sternum to remove a bullet lodged near the heart. Let me tell you, I never thought I’d be Googling ancient medical procedures, but this book made me do it. The author’s attention to detail was so vivid that I could almost feel the crack.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re into historical romance that’s a bit more emotional and complex, with strong character development and slow-burning romance, I highly recommend it. 

It’s got everything—a compelling story, some spicy moments, and a really sweet romance that will stick with you. And for those who love side characters with big personalities, Annabelle’s story is one I’m already dying to read.