Review: While the Duke Was Sleeping by Sophie Jordan

Title: While the Duke Was Sleeping
Author: Sophie Jordan
Series: The Rogue Files #1
Publication: October 25th 2016 by Avon
Genre: Historical Romance
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 3/5★

Sometimes the man of your dreams . . .

Shop girl Poppy Fairchurch knows it’s pointless fantasizing about the Duke of Autenberry. Still, dreams can’t hurt anyone . . . unlike the carriage Poppy spies bearing down upon the unsuspecting duke. After she pulls him to safety, the duke lapses into a coma and Poppy is mistaken for his fiancée. But one person isn’t fooled: his arrogant and much too handsome half-brother, Struan Mackenzie. Soon Poppy isn’t sure what she wants more . . . the fantasy of her duke or the reality of one smoldering Scot who challenges her at every turn.

. . . is not who you think.

An illegitimate second son, Struan may have built an empire and established himself as one of the wealthiest men in Britain, but he knows he will always be an outsider among the ton. Just like he knows the infuriating Poppy is a liar. There’s no way the haughty Duke of Autenberry would deign to wed a working class girl. It doesn’t matter how charming she is. Or tempting. Or how much Struan wants her for himself.

This was my very first book by Sophie Jordan. I've always wanted to read something by her, so when I received one of her historical romances for review I was obviously really excited to read it.

While the Duke Was Sleeping was a very cute read. And as a historical romance novel it was indeed very romantic with a lot of kissing scenes and much more. I liked the book, but I didn't love it sadly enough. Some things just bothered me.

My first and main problem lay with the heroine, Poppy. She was an okay enough character, but some decisions she made made me want to pull my hair out. I also didn't like how she kept going back and forth between the duke and his half brother Struan. 

Which brings us to my second problem: Struan, the half brother of the Duke and the hero of the story. He gets bonus points for being Scottish and quite swoon-worthy but I found him a little too pushy when it came to Poppy. 

Other than those two issues I liked the story and I adored the Duke's family a whole lot. The writing was also really great. 

About the author:
Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads