The Duke Identity by Grace Callaway is the first book in her Game of Dukes series, and my second foray into her writing after Regarding the Duke, which remains my favorite to date. Grace Callaway’s world of sensuality, intrigue, and emotional tension is one find affinity with as a romance reader, but while The Duke Identity was a solid, enjoyable read, it didn’t quite captivate me in the same way or perhaps the way I expected it to.

The story begins with Harry Kent, a former scholar turned policeman, scarred by betrayal and determined to find justice in a world riddled with corruption. Three months after a devastating loss, he is on a covert mission that brings him face-to-face with Tessa Todd, the granddaughter of a powerful crime lord who rules London’s underworld.

Tessa, who first appears disguised as a young man, is fiery, clever, and tired of being treated as a pawn in her grandfather’s machinations. When Harry is assigned as her bodyguard, the tension between them is immediate, part attraction, part battle of wills, and soon their fates intertwine in ways neither of them could have foreseen.

Harry is your classic Grace Callaway hero, intelligent, brooding, and simmering with a sensual restraint that makes his eventual unraveling delicious to witness. Still waters really do run deep with him, and his jealousy, protectiveness, and the flashes of tenderness beneath his gruff exterior makes him easy to root for. Tessa, on the other hand, is spirited, strong-willed, and determined to take control of her own destiny, even as she navigates her family’s criminal legacy and her growing feelings for the man sent to watch over her.

Yet, for all the intrigue and emotional setup, the book felt a bit too smooth in parts. The conflicts resolved themselves with surprising ease, and the emotional payoff wasn’t as intense as I had hoped. Grace Callaway excels at writing deeply sensual scenes, and here, the chemistry between Harry and Tessa is undeniable, but I found myself wishing for more yearning, more angst, more of that visceral tension that turns a good romance into a great one.

Everyone in this story is emotionally evolved and self-aware, almost like characters in a therapy session, which takes away some of the raw edge that could have made their love story truly unforgettable. What is intrinsically human about us how childlike and unreasonable we can become when we are deep in the throes of passion and love, and that fails to materialize here. Not everyday of your life will be unicorns and rainbows, but that is how you feel when you step into Ms. Callaway’s world, where every couple who has found marital bliss glows from inside out.

That being said, the writing is as lush as ever, the dialogue sharp, and the smut, well, Grace Callaway never disappoints in that department. The underworld setting provides enough danger and glamour to keep the story moving, and Tessa’s defiance, paired with Harry’s moral rigidity, makes for some satisfying moments of push and pull. I must also admit, Tessa and Harry works well together even as they come from vastly different backgrounds, making them easy to love.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy sensual, action-tinged historical romances with intelligent heroines, honorable heroes, and a touch of Victorian intrigue.

Final Verdict: Sexy and well-written, The Duke Identity delivers on chemistry but misses the mark on emotional depth.

Favorite Quotes

“Bennett?” Her voice was drowsy.
“Hmm, sweeting?”
“In case I forgot to mention it, I like being yours.”
His chest tightened. As usual, he struggled to put into words what he felt.
He settled for, “Good, because you are.”
It wasn’t much, but she snuggled deeper into him. A minute later, she was asleep.

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