When a Duke Loves a Governess: Unlikely Duchesses

I struggled with the storyline in When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake, book three in her Unlikely Duchess series. The heroine and hero were likeable characters but there was no explanation as to why Guy abandoned his mother-less, newborn daughter to travel abroad on a scientific exploration. Tessa was a different situation. Orphaned at a young age, knowing nothing about her origins other than a necklace her dying mother gave her, raised in a workhouse, and with little schooling, yet I didn’t understand how she was able to pass herself off for a governess. I understood the necessity of her mission and her goals as they were worthwhile, yet the pieces of this puzzle didn’t fit together for me. I have very mixed feelings about the book. There were some aspects that I enjoyed, the hero and heroine were both quite likable, and the scenes with the duke’s daughter, Sophy, were quite good as they added depth and dimension to the story. My heart went out to Sophy. It’s easy to see how this terror of a child was misunderstood, left with her mother’s lenient parents, became a wild-child, and getting anything she wanted; never learning what the word “no” means. Tessa had enough understanding and experience, more than any trained governess, to understand and deal with young Sophy. It was her patience and that understanding that paid off, in re-training Sophy to become a semi-behaved, controlled child. Ms. Drake wrote a charming, clever, and interesting story. She provided a tale containing humorous escapades, attraction, sizzling chemistry and intriguing characters giving Tessa, Guy and Sophy a chance to get their HEA. The Earl Next Door might appeal more to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

An entertaining story with a little of everything! Murder, mystery and two people meant for each other.. He needs a governess for his child who has gotten out of control. Can he find such a lady? She takes the job because her end goal is to earn money to open her own hat shop. What they find is a journey to love, no matter how hard they try to resist! I read this through NetGallery.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful Regency romance. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating. When a Duke Loves a Governess is a well-written novel with a touch of mystery as the heroine sets out to discover who was her biological father. When her mother died, she gave Tessa a locket with a coat of arms on it. That’s her only clue, along with the last words her mother uttered, she has. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me engaged until the end. Tessa James is our endearing heroine. While life has not been easy for her since she lost her mother at the age of six, she’s determined to succeed in her endeavor to open her own hat shop. All she needs a loan from whoever fathered her. It’s the least he could do. I admired Tessa’s independent spirit a great deal, and her kindness with the hero’s troubled four year old daughter. Guy Whitby, the Duke of Carlin is the male lead, and he has all the traits I most admire in a Regency hero. His love for his mischievous daughter touched my heart. When he realizes he’s attracted to Tessa, he fights it, since his honor would not allow him to act on it. Of course, when Tessa takes matters in hand, his will didn’t stand a chance against his powerful attraction. The romance is charming, and Ms. Drake is excellent at building sexual tension, an aspect of historical romance I love. Her love scenes are beautifully written focusing on the emotions instead of the physical action, which is my preference. It was easy for me to believe and accept that Tessa and Guy are a perfect match, and I wanted them to find their happy ending. As I mentioned, there is a touch of mystery in this tale, and it added a great deal to my enjoyment, keeping my attention throughout their love story. There is also some suspense to add to my pleasure as well. If you enjoy historical romance with engaging characters and a plot with more substance than the average Regency novel, then you will love When a Duke Loves a Governess as much as I did. It’s been a while since I read a book by Ms. Drake, but I quickly remembered why I have always enjoyed her novels. Happy reading!