If the synopsis catches your eye, there's a good chance this story will be right up your alley. I really enjoyed watching Tessa, the heroine with a fierce determination and unshakeable loyalty, as she fought to carve out her own path and make her dreams a reality. Despite lacking formal higher education, Tessa's practical, common-sense approach and her past life experiences gave her invaluable skills—particularly in child development. These skills helped her bridge the emotional gap between the hero, Guy (also known as Carlin), and his young daughter, ultimately helping them bond as a family. It was incredibly rewarding to see her character shine in her efforts to bring them together.

Now, as for Guy (Carlin), he was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I did enjoy the classic “duke hero” persona he presented—charming, handsome, and a bit aloof—there were moments when I found him frustrating. He was far too quick to rush to judgment, accusing Tessa without giving her much of a chance to explain herself. There were times I wanted to shake him and tell him to give her a break! But in the end, it was Tessa who showed him who was really in charge of his life—her. His realization that he couldn’t live without her was a satisfying, if somewhat predictable, resolution.

The twists and turns near the end definitely added complexity to the story, with three major reveals that left me reeling a bit. The plot took on a more dramatic tone as these revelations came to light, and while it all played out fairly well, I will admit that the final chapter's writing felt a bit off to me. It came across as somewhat sing-songy, which didn't quite fit the tone or pacing of the rest of the story. It was a small quibble, but it did leave me with a slightly jarring impression as I closed the book.

That said, I’m definitely intrigued by the secondary characters. Avis, a paid companion staying in Guy's home, and Duke Haviland are both set up for a second-chance romance in the next book, and I’m curious to see how their story unfolds.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, especially if you're a fan of strong-willed heroines, dukes with a lot of growing to do, and emotional family dynamics.

When a Duke Loves a Governess is a very enjoyable Regency Romance but with a twist. I really enjoyed the story. It will captivate you from start to end.

A Must read for all readers.

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.

Enjoyed reading this one. The many twists and turns had me turning the page to find out more about the mysteries they suggested. I actually thought we got a reveal way too early in the plot, but that wasn't exactly the case, and I was pleasantly surprised by that explanation.
However, it's not getting more than 3 stars because the romance felt a bit forced after the initial passion (which also didn't click - the elements were there, but the dots were never joined to form a solid line, which is a shame)
Still, it's an entertaining read and I quite liked the journey throughout

Tessa has a simple dream of owning her own hat shop, where she can offer stylish yet tasteful designs. However, after leaving her previous job on a sour note, she needs to find a new job to raise money quickly. Using a bit of gossip she overheard at her old job, she decides to apply for a governess position for the new Duke of Carlin's incorrigible daughter. "How hard can it be?" she thinks. Unfortunately, the spoiled little miss proves to be a tough nut to crack. But Tessa is determined, even if her somber and staid father, the Duke, is not so easily swayed.

Although adventurous in spirit, Guy, the new Duke, is a stickler for rules and dislikes liars. But even he can see the positive changes Tessa has brought about. There's more to Tessa than meets the eye, and through a few mysterious events, the two start to fall for each other. Unfortunately, their end goals don't seem to match until a bit of intrigue pulls them closer together. This book is a nice, quick historical romance, with a bit of secrecy for both lead characters, a twist about the family curse that has you wanting to find out who the "villain" is, and lots of amusing supporting characters.

Really loved this book!

It’s original, fresh and fun!

I really like how strong the heroine is in this story. The plot moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged.

If you love Regency romance, this one is not to be missed!

This was an excellent go at a familiar trope! Forbidden Romance! The chemistry between our heroes was undeniable despite the fact that they spent a good deal of time trying to fight it. Tessa did an amazing job of being exactly what little Sophy needed. It lent a bit of depth to her character. The story had a dash of angst about it, the characters work for their happy ending but it is well deserved.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from #NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is an interesting mix of a romance novel with mystery. Tessa James dreams of owning her own millinery shop. She works for the most awful woman! As part of her job, she sometimes gets to overhear nobility speak of the gossip in town. Because of this, Tessa overhears that the Duke of Carlin is needing yet another governess! Tessa decides this would be a good fit for her, as she used to oversee the younger kids at the orphanage where she grew up. Upon quitting her job, she shows up at the Duke's home, without an appointment, and practically demands he employ her.

The Duke of Carlin, Guy Whitby, is a widower to a daughter of 4 years old. Due to unexpectedly inheriting the estate from his grandfather, Carlin returns home to care for the estates and his child. However, his child will have none of him. Tessa is intriguing and challenges him with his daughter's care.

Carlin's aunt is convinced that all of the deaths that have recently happened in the family are part of a Carlin Curse. However, as the book plays out, the reader is informed of more elements to how these individuals died. I don't like ruining plot lines, but it's very intriguing. This is one part of the mystery element.

The other part of the mystery element is that Tessa James is more than she claims to be. Her mother worked in a noble house and became pregnant. She tragically died during a roadside accident, and she gave Tessa a locket with a family crest. Tessa having never been anywhere near haroldry is excited about the opportunity to dig deeper while being Carlin's daughter's governess.

This is definitely a slow burn romance novel. It has great banter between the characters, as Tessa stands up to Carlin quite often. They are intellectual equals, as Carlin is not your typical Duke. He enjoys scientific pursuits more than going to balls and soires. Once the flames are sparked, the two struggle to keep the bounds of propriety that their current positions require.

I liked the book, but there are definitely some disjointed moments between the romantic elements and the two mysteries. Once everything is all worked out, the plot line is good, but getting there is a bit bumpy.

I would give this 3.5 stars for reading, but I enjoyed the premise.

Really enjoyed this exciting and emotional adventure. An action packed, emotional roller-coaster filled with witty and engaging charters, dangerous twists and heart racing turns. Edge of your seat journey from beginning to end and so much fun to read.

This was okay but didn't spark any love or backlist reading. I did read the next book in the series but it didn't work for me either.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person perspective from both the hero and heroine’s heads (probably more from the heroine)


Should I read in order?
This is totally fine to pick up as a stand alone!

Basic plot:
Tessa wants to own her own millinery shop and she’s sure if she could just find her real father, he’d give her a loan make her dream happen. She only has a symbol on a necklace to find her family. She comes across an opportunity to be a governess to a Duke and decides that her best chance of finding her aristocratic father is to work in an aristocratic house.

Give this a try if you want:
- A child in the story – 4 year old Sophy has a ton of page time
- You like a mix of action, suspense, and romance – there is a villain/curse and a mystery to solve
- Class difference feel – Duke hero and governess heroine
- Working heroine – heroine worked in a milliner shop, then takes a governess role, and dreams of owning her own hat shop
- Botanist hero – he has traveled, studied, and drawn pictures of his discoveries
- Lower steam – there are 2 full scenes, one being at the very end

Ages:
- Heroine is 22, not sure about hero but I think mid to late 20s

My thoughts:
Sadly this romance didn’t focus enough on the couple and their romance for me to truly love it. I think if you are into the other factors of this story, especially having children in the story and the suspense and intrigue of a villain/mystery, this will be more your taste.

I did like the heroine – I thought she was steadfast, a bit spunky, charming and intelligent. I liked her interactions with her charge, and I liked how determined and hard working she was despite her unfortunate circumstances growing up.

I did love that the hero was a botanist! I felt like he wasn’t your average duke and appreciated his passion for foreign plants and animals. But he also came off as a bit of a jerk to me, and unkind.

Ultimately there was a lot going on other than the hero and heroine together and falling in love. There was the child taking a lot of page time, there was the mystery of the heroine’s father, and a villain wanting revenge. So the romance of them got a little lost for me.

This was a fun twist on your typical historical romance. Actually, if you're a fan of Julia Quinn's books, you'll enjoy it as much as I did. This feel-good romance is unique, with a little bit of intrigue and action, and of course, a lot of love. The characters are fabulous, and I loved the connection that the author builds between them. What can I say? I loved the whole thing and obviously, I recommend it and would read it again (and again).

I liked the characters, they have great dialogue together. It was very enjoyable and easy read. You really get sucked into the story. A must read!

Drake shines with When a Duke Loves a Governess. The book was a fresh take on the governess to Duchess theme. Tessa and Guy are very likeable characters and the reader is rooting for their happily ever after.

Loved the banter and hero in this one. I love historical romance and this was a fast paced one!!!! Loved the romance. So cute.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved watching Guy interact with his daughter Sophy and also his relationship with Tessa. There's also a mystery behind a 'Carlin Curse' which I enjoyed reading. The only thing I disliked was the lack of passion between Guy and Tessa.

Overall, I would say that this is a great historical novel and would definitely recommend it to beginners.

Lo dije hace poco y lo vuelvo a repetir los romances históricos de ahora cada vez me atrapan menos, creo que llegue a ese punto que me saturé y siento que ya lo he leído todo.

Was not able to read the entirety of the book and cannot give an accurate or overall rating/review . As a librarian for a big library system, we most likely have a copy of this item. I will look forward to reading it in future since I am sure I will.

Tessa grew up in a workhouse after her mother died in poverty when she was six. Her mother told Tessa her father was in the nobility where she worked in his home and gave her a gold necklace bearing a coat of arms. She wore this necklace her entire life without anyone noticing. Also, her mother taught her the manners and speech of the higher class (at six!). At fourteen she runs away and finds a job at a milliners shop. Now, more than a decade later she wants to find her father, for him to give her a loan to open her own shop. When his wife died after giving birth to his daughter (she was shallow and he no longer loved her), Guy leaves the baby with his cold-hearted in-laws FOR FOUR YEARS to study plants and bring back samples from around the world. Word reaches him that all his male relatives had died, four men in four years, leaving him the new Duke. Is it a curse? He returns to take his daughter home finding her an out-of-control brat. Tessa applies to be Governess to find her father among Society, and Guy is desperate enough for a governess he hires her even with his suspicions she is lying about her qualifications. I can't say I find much to like in Guy. He abandons his baby for years, he's grim, a prig, and is accusatory when the tabloids write about the curse. The mystery of her birth and the deaths of all the male heirs liven things up a bit.

When a Duke Loves a Governess sneaks in at a three, but it was a close call. Third in the Unlikely Duchesses series, Guy and Tessa's romance is a quick, predictable historical romance that checks most the boxes that I expect from the genre.

Tessa's dream of owning her own millinery shop is derailed after a tiff with her employer leaves her unemployed. Stumbling upon the chance to work as a Governess for Guy Carlin's spirited daughter Sophie, Tessa lies her way into the position with the intent to find her father, a peer, with the only clue being a coat of arms on a locket. Of course, she manages to snag her new employers fancy at the same time and still keep those embers burning during lies and discoveries.

The Duke of Carlin's background was interesting enough but the situation with his daughter made my heartache. Truly, Sophie was the character that had my heart from the start. Spirited and yet lost and lonely.

Carlin and Tessa's romance was a quick flare of attraction, but for the most part it felt a bit stilted and forced. While the physical attraction was apparent, I didn't really feel the romance and adoration that I always hope to see in my reads.

Ultimately, this was an acceptable historical romance but there isn't anything I can lock on to rave about. Best described as a slow-burn romance seasoned with a dash of angst and mystery. This was an acceptable historical romance but there isn't anything I can lock on to rave about.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.