Even though I usually enjoy second chance romance, there were a few things I didn't love here. The heroine's family were absolutely horrid to her, and she deserved better. I also don't enjoy when the hero gets to "sow his wild oats" while still pining after the heroine. I've read other Olivia Drake novels and enjoyed them, so this one left me wanting more.

This was a fast-paced, swoon-worthy read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was original and exciting with characters that were realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a delightful stroll through the pages of a historical romance and more!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Thank you for the opportunity to read/review this book. I thought the story was good but it was just a tad slow and I did find myself losing interest. Also, it was a little tamer spice wise than I like.

This was a quick and easy read second chance romance.

Abby gives up her youth to take care of her family. She is almost 30, a spinster, and her family is deciding who in her family she will live with and what nieces and nephews she will provide care for. She suddenly decides she wants her own life rather than one chosen for her by her family so she takes a job as a governess. Her boyfriend from years ago hasn't been back in 15 years so she thinks she'll be safe taking care of his younger sister.

The story was fairly predictable and the ending was good but felt a little rushed. It would have been nice to have an epilogue.

I found this diverting. It's a nice second chance love story, and I think it was handled well. I enjoyed each of them thinking that *they* were the wronged party, =D but the misunderstanding didn't drag on and on either. This is my first by this author and I plan to read the next two in the series, and am feeling decently hopeful that they'll be good as well.

This is a great comfort read. I wish Abby displayed independence rather than just talking about it, but it was an easy book to read

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

Having cared for her parents until they died and latterly her siblings offspring , Abigail Linton wants a change . Having reached the grand age of 30 she feels that the time for change is now and applies for the position of Governess at nearby Rothwell Court . the seat of the Duke of Rothwell . The Duke left 16 years previously and Abigail is in for a shock he has returned . He accuses Abigail of failing to reply to his letters , whereas Abigail says he never replied to hers - who is right ? what happened to their letters ?
What follows is a gentle get to know you again romance with a twist in the tail - Lady Elise Desmond , who is set on marrying a Duke , this Duke !!

This is an entertaining historical romance that follows the trends of many before it - a couple misunderstand each other , they reconcile - there is a twist to the tale - we reach an HEA

I was given anarc of the book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Max and Abigail fell in love when they were teenagers and due to some misunderstanding they part ways. Now nearing 30, Abigail is the governess to Max's sister. He comes home after 15 years unexpectedly and they rediscover their love.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and heroine. Abigail and Max were well-written characters. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

Guest Review by Lori Meehan
Second chance romance, where both main characters have resigned themselves to a life alone on their terms.
Fifteen years ago Maxwell the Duke of Rothwell and Abigail Linton had what they thought was a romance that would last a lifetime. When Max’s father took he and his sister to London after his wife died, their romance ended even with promises of love letters and marriage.
Abby cared for her parents for fifteen years until their death, now with her older siblings fighting for who she must help with next she has decided to apply as governess to Lady Gwendolyn Rothwell.
Max has strived to stay away from his boyhood home, but a case of the Measles at his friends home has sent he and is traveling companions to Rothwell Court. This throws him directly in the path of the one person he has no desire to see, Abby. Max did not know his Aunt hires Abby as Gwen’s governess and will see that she is relieved of her post immediately. Max agrees to let Abby stay on until he and his companions leave and to stay out of his way.
The more time spent in the company of each other the more they realize they just might of wasted fifteen years and what a lonely

I really like historical/Regency romances and the more historically accurate the better. I found The Duke I Once Knew followed much of the accuracies I've come to appreciate with Regency romances. I really enjoyed the character building and the relationship development. The writing style flowed nicely and didn't tend to jump from point of view to point of view. All in all a good book.

Spinster Abigail has dedicated her life to her family, taking care of her parents and her nieces and nephews. But when her parents pass away, Abby decides to create a life of her own...by taking on a job as a governess.
Her employee is Maxwell, the Duke who broke her heart years ago. But Maxwell hasn't been on his estate for eyes so Abigail takes the job, safe in the assumption that she will never see him again.
But Maxwell has returned to his estate and is surprised to see Abigail working for him. He is convinced that she stopped writing to him first and ended their relationship.
This was a great read that I enjoyed immensely especially with the whodunnit element of who ended the relationship first.

Not bad as far as regency romance novels go. It was a little slower paced, without any bodice-ripping scenes. The supporting characters could have been more interesting. Overall, it was pretty bland, but not bad.

The title says it all in this sweet and nostalgic romance. Two sweethearts who spent their childhoods together, finding solace in each other’s company are unfortunately separated by circumstances. So when fate throws them into each other’s path for a second time, will they be able to rekindle their first romance and find their happily ever after?

Abigail Linton has spent her life taking care of her elderly parents and then slipping into the role of nursemaid to her numerous nieces and nephews. Now at thirty, she sees herself as firmly on the shelf and wanting a say in her life and future. She decides to seek employment as a governess to Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell’s, sister. Max was her first love and had promised Abby that he would return to her upon coming of age and marry her. It has been over a decade since his departure and Abby hasn’t received a single word or letter from him. It seems that the sweet boy she once knew and trusted has transformed into a suave rake, famous for his many exploits.

Max had no intention of returning to his estate, especially with a group of his libertine friends, but when circumstances force him to retire to his estate for a short while, he finds that his sister’s new governess is none other than his first love. Abby is no longer biddable and sweet, she is a determined and independent woman who is also dazzlingly beautiful. Will these two be able to forgive each other and rekindle their romance?

A sweet second chances romance that will pull at your heartstrings and make you believe in true love.

Oh what an entrancing romance! I loved reading this book and the only thing I wish was explained is what truly happened to the letters. Oh! Loved the characters, dialogue and plot! I recommend!

The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake is the first in her Unlikely Duchesses series. The plot starts with a trope that I generally like – two people who fell in love when they were young are separated and become estranged because of some misunderstanding and find their way back to each other.

In this story, the main characters are Abigail Linton and Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell. They fell in love when they were teenagers (about 15), but then his mother died in childbirth and he left the estate, never to return. Each thought that that other forgot/ignored their letters to each other, but of course that isn’t really the case.

Fast Forward fifteen years and Abby is the spinster sister/aunt in a large family. The author makes is clear that they all love each other, but they also disregard her opinions and basically treat her as an unpaid governess for their children. When she gets fed up with them arguing about who she will live with (without asking her what she wants), she lets them know that she is applying the be the governess to Lady Gwendolyn Bryce, the Duke’s sister.

Lady Gwendolyn lives at the Duke’s family estate with their aunt and Maxwell has not returned there in 15 years, so Abby thinks that she is safe from having to face him again. Of course, he promptly shows up at his estate (with guests, including a woman he is planning to take as his mistress) and they see each other again. Even though Max dismisses Abby from her post almost on sight, they negotiate that she will stay on for the week while his questionable guests are there in order to protect/chaperone Lady Gwendolyn. They are hostile toward each other because of their misunderstanding but can’t fight their attraction.

Abby is a really likeable character – you can understand her motivations, she’s competent (taking over the house when they look to her for guidance), she’s compassionate and doesn’t seem overly sheltered as some heroines are in historical romance novels. Max is a typical historical novel rake – his childhood experiences/treatment by his father made him grow up to be cynical but he’s a good person underneath and realizes that he loved Abby all along.

There are a few element of the story that made me cringe (like when Abby’s sister tries to matchmake her daughter and Max) and asks Abby to help – even though her sister knew that Abby loved him years ago. And the resolution to the original misunderstanding (their letters not reaching each other) is a bit predictable and anticlimactic, but overall its still an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the book as I related to the female protagonist although at times I do find her annoying and a tad bit judgmental and for a person who is supposedly wise and caring she jumps to conclusion way too much. also the sub-plot concerning the letters in the book lacked the depth or the nuance I was expecting. The reveal fell flat to me but overall i had an enjoyable time reading this book

Miss Abigail “Abby” Linton was quite tired of everyone deciding her life especially her family who she loved. Yes she was a firmly on the shelf spinster at thirty. Still Abby is determined to make her own way. When Abby hears that the Lady Gwendolyn Bryce needs a governess she decides that is what she’ll do. Abby did love Maxwell “Max” Bryce Lady Gwendolyn’s brother and the Duke of Rothwell but that was years ago. Abby can do this job especially since she knows that Max has never been home. As Abby is settling in, Max comes back with not only a mistress but a fighter. When Abby sees Max for the first time it is in an illicit tryst with his mistress. As Abby keeps seeing Max the love that she has held for him has never left. Max also loved Abby but something horrible happened in the past; can the lovers find the road to true love or will the love they both had for each other be destroyed by misunderstandings and his mistress?
The book is quite charming with a beautiful setting and equally intriguing characters! Yes the story is not difficult even though the plot twists seem fairly complicated but the author knows how to tell a great tale that leaves us entranced! Abby is just a wonderful captivating heroine that is so easy to love! Abby has the great family that wants more than anything to make her happy but doesn’t really know her or what her heart desires. Sure it’s hard not to feel some regret for Abby since she gave up part of her life to take care of her sick parents but she still continues to find a way to live her life on her terms no matter what. Max at first is rude and mean, never considering how his behavior might hurt others. Yet despite it all he’s still likable and forgivable. This story is a delightful funny second chance romantic regency read that everyone will just enjoy!

Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell finds that the governess is none other than Abigail, who was a childhood sweetheart. These two must find a way to make this second chance at love and a future to reality.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.