When a Duke Loves a Governess, left me guessing throughout the whole book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Tessa is very resourceful. Made her my favorite character.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Olivia Drake’s Unlikely Duchesses series are fun Regency Romances. See my previous review of Forever My Duke (Book two). The third book is When a Duke Loves a Governess.

Tessa James is the illegitimate daughter of a housemaid and an unknown member of the aristocracy. Her mother died in an accident when Tessa was only six, and she was raised in an orphanage/workhouse, then apprenticed at age fourteen to a milliner. She has been saving her pennies for years, hoping to earn enough to set up her own millinery shop, but realizes she’ll never save enough. So, she’ll have to locate the father who seduced then abandoned her mother, and convince him to loan her the money. The only clue she has about his identity is a gold locket given to her by her mother, with a small coat of arms on the back.

While working at the hat shop, Tessa overhears two ladies gossiping about the duke of Carlin, a widower with a four-year-old daughter. They say the duke has lost yet another governess, because his daughter is an impossible brat. Of course, he’ll soon be seeking another.

Tessa resolves to present herself for the position in order to get her foot in the door of “the ton” to search for clues about her father’s identity. Although she’s not technically qualified and is certainly not of the correct social class, she does have experience caring for children (in the orphanage), and she has some experience with society (eavesdropping at the shop.) But she can’t use those credentials, so she lies.

Carlin is underwhelmed by Tessa’s interview and doesn’t quite believe her story, but she is persuasive and he’s desperate, so he agrees to give her a week’s trial. She does have a way with the girl, so one week extends to another, despite the fact that he learns much of what Tessa told him was untrue.

Carlin is extraordinarily virile and handsome (naturally) and Tessa is beautiful and spirited (naturally.) She helps him connect with his daughter. Moreover, she connects with him. She’s interested in his scientific endeavors. (He spent the last four years traveling the globe, collecting plants and animals to study. He’d never expected to become duke; he was fourth in line to inherit, but a series of accidents and illness left him with the title.) He’s forgiving of her falsehoods and intrigued by her mysterious past. Before long, they are fooling around, despite both of them knowing the relationship can go nowhere.

The plot is busy, with thievery and possible murder alongside the progression of the romance, the reconciliation between Carlin and his daughter, and Tessa’s search for her father. But the author pulls it all together in the end. The hero is sensitive. The heroine is clever and brave. Although the situations are contrived, it’s Romance! I’ll keep following this series.

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, has returned to London after years abroad. Tessa James overhears society matrons gossiping about Carlin's desperate need for a governess and makes a play for the position. She's hoping that access to the aristocracy will help her track down the lord that sired her and abandoned her mother.

This is the third book in the Unlikely Duchesses series and it stands alone. The characters from the previous books do not play a role in this one.

Tessa doesn't know her true origins. Her mother died when she was young and she only has a necklace and a vague memory to go on. If she can find a match for the crest, she's hoping she can locate her father and get a loan for a millinery business. Guy has young daughter who has become a spoiled terror, after being cared for by his in-laws. She has scared off seven governesses in quick succession and Guy is desperate enough to hire Tessa for a trial period.

I like Drake's writing style and the story started with promise. For me, there were a lot of things going on in the plot that took over and I didn't feel like Guy and Tessa had enough romantic connection. Their attraction blazed quickly, but I never felt like it was the center of the story. I would have liked to havelearned more about Tessa and her newly discovered family. Instead, Guy's background as an unlikely heir became the main focus and lead into the major conflict.

Tropes: Governess, Class Difference, Child as a Plot Point, Found Family

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #WhenADukeLovesAGoverness #NetGalley

Historical romance with a twist. Pretty heroine looking for her father,handsome hero struggling with his home life,a match made in heaven.

Tessa James wants to open her own millinery shop, but she needs a loan from the lord who sired and abandoned her. She has no idea who he is. Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, returns from abroad to the new unfamiliar role of father to four-year old Sophy, who has scared away every governess she has had.
Tessa learns of the Duke’s need for a governess and sees an opportunity to learn who her father is. The Duke knows she’s hiding something but is desperate for someone so he takes a chance with Tessa.
The premise stretches a bit at this point as Tessa has no education and no experience with children and the Duke is aware that she is not who she says she is. Mutual attraction leads to love but neither seem to trust the other.
A fun read if you enjoy historical romance.

Title: When a Duke Loves a Governess
Author: Olivia Drake
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥/5 (Warm on the Smut-O-Meter)
Series: Unlikely Duchesses #3
Tropes: Historical-Regency-England, MC-Scholar-Academic, Returning Home, Employer/Employee Relationship, Romance with Kids, Secret Identity, Romantic Suspense
Content Warning: Death of a parent, Feelings of abandonment, Manipulation/coercion within relationship, Illegitimate children, Disownment by a parent

In Olivia Drake’s third installment of the Unlikely Duchesses series, a reluctant Duke hires an unusual governess for his young daughter. It definitely works as a stand-alone and I enjoyed it enough to put the first two on my TBR.

Guy Whitby has just inherited the Carlin dukedom after the latest heir died. Returning to London, Guy has found that his young daughter, Sophy, has become a bit wild after growing up with her maternal grandparents. Sophy has scared away multiple governesses and Guy is desperate to find someone who can handle his precocious daughter. In walks Tessa James who lies her way into an interview. Tessa is not a governess but she’s hoping to use her experience minding small girls in the orphanage where she grew up to handle Sophy. At the same time she’s trying to find the lord who abandoned her mother, a maid, when she became pregnant.

Drake packed in a lot of story with Guy’s past travels and troubles with his in-laws, Tessa’s secret past, Sophy’s growth and budding relationship with her father, and the Carlin Curse. I enjoyed how Drake weaved everything together to create a satisfying ending. It did require a good suspension of disbelief. Some historical romances you read to learn and some you read to just enjoy. This is definitely the latter but still worth your time.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

When a Duke Loves a Governess is the third book in the Unlikely Duchesses series, that each tells a love story of a non-noble woman that is tempted into a relationship with a Duke. This story is about Tessa, a hat maker who wishes to open her own shop, if only she can discover the mystery of who her Nicole father is in order to secure a loan. She overhears that Guy is in need of a governess for his unruly daughter and decides to present herself for the position in order to learn more about the families of nobility. However, this isn’t the only mystery that must be uncovered during the story, as Guy’s aunt is convinced that there is a curse on all the heirs, considering six have died in the last five years, and maybe Guy is next on the list.

I would rate this 3 stars overall. I was entertained, but didn’t really love any of the characters. Honestly I think there were just too many plot points and side stories that were touched on that nothing really felt done well. It was just ok overall. I do believe this can be read as a stand alone without the other series books as no one from this book is present in the other two.

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

Diabolical, mystery... This book is a great example of how much you can find yourself captivated by the story.
Tessa and Guy are a great example of how much love can mean.
Tessa finds that love is greater than ones identity.
Guy is a Duke who learns to be a father.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Unfortunately I did not like this book as much as the previous one in the series, Forever My Duke. I enjoyed the character of Tessa and the beginning of this book but then it seemed to lose its way and I was bored. The Duke, Guy, is a very lackluster character who is never really fleshed out and there’s no romance between them to root for. There is a lot of page time on the daughter Sophy so be prepared for Tessa dealing with an undisciplined child in need of love far more than a burning, or even slow burning, romance here. Unfortunately it just feels like he falls for her looks and sweetness and she falls for him...because he is there. I also enjoy more humor and banter in my regency novels and unfortunately there is none of that here. The story itself is very derivative of various common plots out there so it’s not all that interesting. In my opinion this story needed more of a romance to root for and not just constant obstacles in their way. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have enjoyed this series although this can be read as a stand alone.
Tessa is determined to find out who her father is and the best way to do so is to pretend to be a governess.
Guy has returned from his travels to become a duke which should never have occurred as he was 4th in line. He has also returned to his daughter that has been spoiled by her maternal grandparents.
I liked Tessa and her relationship with Guy. The mystery and curse was also interesting.

"When a Duke Loves a Governess" by Olivia Drake
Loved this story ! !
This is book 3 of 3 of the Unlikely Duchesses series but may easily be read as a stand-alone story. A tale of reaching for one's dreams and some of the lives, loves, and detours along the way to tomorrow. I really did not want this story to end. I will miss Guy, Tessa, and Sophy too! But that is the way of a really good story. Happy Reading !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher.
This review is my honest opinion.

Often Tessa seems too innocent to be telling all the lies that she does but then her childhood was not so innocent. Guy, the Duke of Carlin, hires Tessa even though he has misgivings and really never trusts her fully until toward the end of the book. I can't help but wonder if he had so many misgivings then why let her be governess to his daughter? Well, Tessa is the ideal governess so that works in her favor.

There is good romance writing here. There are some surprises you won't see coming and some scary action. This is a sexy novel and there is lots of rapid breathing and stolen kisses.

Tessa James grew up in a foundling home and went to work at a millinery shop at the age of fourteen. Tessa’s life goal is to open her own shop if she can figure out which lord of the peerage fathered and then abandoned his illegitimate daughter. After overhearing that a certain Duke is in desperate need of a governess for his out-of-control daughter, Tessa quits her job and makes a bold plan.

Guy, Duke of Carlin, has recently returned to London after four years abroad on a botanical expedition around the world. The duke’s daughter, Sophy, is more than a handful: a willful child who has run off several governesses. He is at wit’s end when Tessa arrives for an interview promising that she can help Sophy where others have failed. Guy is attracted to and suspicious of Tessa in equal measures; however, he decides to give the intriguing young woman a chance.

Carlin knows that any interest in a governess would never be accepted by his lofty friends for other than as a mistress. Tessa has no intentions of falling into the situation of her late mother. As they spend time together and secrets about Tessa’s background are revealed including who her family really is, Guy becomes convinced that he must marry Tessa, but she has other ideas. To complicate matters, it appears that the duke has a deadly enemy who has been playing the long game with his family

Not surprisingly, a lot of this story focuses on Tessa’s interactions with little Lady Sophy and her issues so sometimes the eventual romance seems to be more in the backdrop. Tessa is an admirable character having had a hard early life without letting it turn her bitter or caught in the dregs of society. Her desire to have a business of her own is modern for the times, but does show Tessa’s earnestness and ambitions. Guy is a product of the ton with all the attendant rules of behavior and propriety of his peer group although he never expected to become the duke. This Regency novel is third in the series of Unlikely Duchesses, but can be read as a standalone.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

Overall I like this book. I whipped through it and the reason I did is because of Guy and Tessa. Mainly Guy. He wasn’t your typical Duke. And he wasn’t your typical male back in those days.

Guy wanted to be a father to his little girl. He unfortunately spent alot of time away and his in-laws (horrid wretched people that they were) did not paint him in a good light with his little girl so she didn’t exactly like him when he first came home. He also wasn’t your typical duke. He didn’t like parties or the social scene. He was respectful and kind to his staff and he believed woman had thoughts and opinions and listened to them. When he was looking for a new governess he certainly didn’t expect Tessa. When he first met her, he knew she wasn’t entirely truthful but she intrigued him and he gave her a shot. His daughter was a tough nut to crack afterall. But Tessa was able to, she even got her to start to do things with her dad sort of.

Tessa was a girl with dreams and ambition. She was a hard worker and a good person. The job with Guy would help her find her father and get her dreams to be realized or so she thought. Did Guy help her? Yes in more ways than one. He helped bolster her confidence in herself by listening to her and taking her advice. He treated her with respect and fondness. He didn’t hold who she really was against her but admired her. When things went missing he didn’t not accuse her right away but he didn’t exactly accuse her either. He listened to her and made a judgement based on her actions with his daughter and what she was saying. He gave her a chance when others wouldn’t. He was openminded and openhearted.

Their relationship began as one of governess and Duke and grew. They had respect for one another and the attraction was felt from the beginning. She helped him with his daughter and seeing the truth about his inlaws. He helped her with her past and seeing she is more. He also supported her and her dreams.

The story is sweet and loving. We see these two fight attraction and give in, respect one another and support each other no matter what. We see a father and daughter begin to get close and a young women find out the truth about herself and her family. We see love shine and overcome stations in life. a truly wonderful story with characters you can’t but fall in love with with Guy and Tessa, some you wonder about like his aunt and others you shake your head at. A great story from beginning to end.

Oliva Drake is fast becoming one of my favorite historical romance writers. Tessa has a dream to open her own hat shop. First, she has to find the lost father who abandoned her and ask him for a loan. When she hears of a governess position that has become available, what better way to find the crest belonging to her long lost father.

Guy is in need of someone to tame his wild daughter. When he hires her despite thinking she may be totally wrong for the role, he is surprised when she is able to succeed where others have failed. When Guy finds out Tessa has been untruthful but has a very good reason why, they go on a search for the long lost father and the two of them cannot deny what is between them.

Readers will love this book!

I realize I am in a minority here, but this book was a disappointment for me.

Guy’s wife dies and he leaves his baby daughter with people who do not like him, and sails around the world. That is not a very warm and fuzzy kind of guy. He is extremely
intelligent. But, he ignores facts as though they do not exist.

Tessa is raised in an orphanage and works in a hat shop. Yet she can pass herself off as a governess. The fact she does not speak well nor is she familiar with the manners normally taught by a governess does not register with anyone.

I read historical romance for the fantasy. I fall in love with the dream of lightness and happiness….generally that is attached to at least some small touch of reality. I am not someone who falls to pieces when there is literary license taken in a story. This went into things which I was unable to ignore.

Guy and Tessa were likable people, but the star of this show is Guy’s daughter, Sophy. She is a law unto herself and until Tessa appears, no one has tried very hard to understand her. She is smart and funny and absolutely unrepentant when she misbehaves.

Guy and Tessa are physically attracted to one another immediately upon meeting. They are both intelligent. Each of them are caring people, but with Guy it took longer for this reader to see that part of his character. There are secondary characters and they add depth to the overall story. I thought Guy’s aunt was absolutely frustratingly a hoot.

There is a mystery here. Guy’s family has had several deaths. There are questions. The mystery becomes a large part of the story and things move rather quickly during the last 1/3 of the story. At the same time, Tessa’s history is being revealed.

This is my first book by Ms Drake. I know she is a very successful author and I am sure the fact I did not fall in love with this story is all on me. But, for some reason, I could not warm up to the overall plot.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

What a dud. I was really enjoying this book in the beginning but somewhere around 20-30 percent I just didn’t care about anything. The romance was okay but I feel there are too many lies and distrust between the two of them. Tessa, who has been on her own her whole life, is incredibly naive and has survived on pure dumb luck. Carlin was better but I wished I seen more develop. The reveals were good. The plot is a bit unbelievable altogether though. Who hires someone as a governess that you know is hiding something and has no actual experience as a governess? She makes hats and was around children years before. Doesn’t make her qualified but I guess he found her attractive? I just didn’t feel much for the romance. Plot seemed to all over the place.

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Loving historical romance I couldn't pass this book, specially with a title and a blurb like this one and it proved to be an interesting, charming and romantic story.
I thought Tessa was a really good character, she's both kind and sweet yet has a lot of courage and resilience and while I had doubts at the beginning with Guy, he proved to be a good man and they're both well written and developed. As for the story itself it has some interesting twists and even some mystery, although personally I'd have enjoyed it more if there had been more romance in this book.
Overall it was very enjoyable and I do look forward reading more from this author.

Governesses and masters (widowed fathers, older brothers, uncles, guardians…) is one of my favorite tropes. Whenever I find the word “governess” on the cover I have the instant feeling that the book is calling me. So, of course I wanted to read this book as soon as I was offered it.

And what a sweet little story it is. What a lovely time I had reading it. I almost read it in one sitting, and I would have if I hadn’t started it late one night. It was rather an allies than enemies to lovers although it starts with such a big lie.

Guy Whitby left her baby daughter in the care of her maternal grandparents after his wife's death in childbirth. He’s a botanist and a gentleman and he has a curiosity about the plants of the world. So he buys himself a ship and he sails the seas for four years. Until one day he learnt of the death of his grandfather and he had to return to England with a new title, new responsibilities and a very spoiled daughter. Such a wild creature is Sophy that she’s had several governesses in the time Guy took charge of the situation. But then a very young woman with no references whatsoever and an obvious lie for a background applies for the position.

Tessa James is not a lady. She used to work long hours sewing at a Milliner’s while daydreaming of starting her own hat designing and milliner shop. When hearing about the case of the duke of Carling’s very spoiled daughter she decides to apply for the job even if she has no education to speak of apart from her letters. She got a very fine accent thanks to her mother who taught her how to read and how to behave until she was run over by a carriage when Tessa was six. Ever since then the girl wears a pendant with a coat of arms engraved and in her memory a few last words from the mother which are the clue to find her father; the man that had got her mother pregnant when she was a maidservant in his home.

Tessa was sent to an orphanage and in time she was in charge of the younger children. That’s why she knows she will be able to handle Sophy. This is a story of a very lost little girl and a woman who understands her, teaches her how to love and creates a bond between father and child. Falling in love with a duke in the process. At the same time mysteries surround this very sweet little family. Tessa needs to find her father in order to set herself free and Guy has a very pessimistic aunt who claims that there is a Curse in the family only because his grandfather, his father, his two uncles and a cousin died in the lapse of a year. Guy only wanted to write a book on his discoveries and live in peace with Sophy and Tessa!

The book is full of surprises. One of the mysteries was very predictable, but the twists and turns made up for that. There’s a mutual attraction at first sight but they only start having that kind of relationship when they confide in each other, which is very early in the novel. I was happy that they talked and that they became parents before becoming allies and allies before becoming lovers. I wouldn’t have liked it as much if their love was deceitful. Even if they don’t trust anyone else I liked that Guy and Tessa were partners even when he knew her full story.

Another subject in the novel was the class and rank talk. Tessa is a working class woman, she’s proud of making her way in the world with her own effort and talent. She has pride in achievement and failure when they are of her own making. She would be a very eccentric duchess but luckily Guy is a scholar, a botanist and he wasn’t born a duke, so until they realize that none of them are society people they won’t be able to have their happy ending.

This exciting romance has a little bit of everything!

At its core, this story gives us a delicious romance full of tension and longing and lots of undeniable chemistry. There's also a possible murder mystery and more than a few secrets surrounding Tessa's family history.

Tessa is an orphan who dreams of owning her own shop. Her most expedient path to that goal is to find the man behind the pendant that her mother gave her just before dying. The author imbues this character with a sparkling wit and an inner strength that serves her well as she acclimates to her new environment.

Guy never expected to be a duke, but after several deaths in the family line the title falls to him. Returning from his scientific explorations where he pursued his interest in botany, he reunites with his young daughter who had been left with her maternal grandparents. Sophy is a sweet girl, but she acts out her insecurities by terrorizing a series of governesses. In Tessa she finds a kindred spirit and someone who innately understands what she can't express.

The familiar employer servant trope is handled well, and we quickly realize that neither Guy nor Tessa is a typical representation of their class. I appreciated that Sophy was portrayed as a mischievous, troubled young girl rather than written as the perfect child that we so often see in novels. The writing is flawless, engaging, and thoughtful, and painted a wonderful picture of a family in the making.

There are plenty of surprises in store, and I loved the intricate complexities that were brought forth once the secrets were revealed. There's also a delightful secondary romance that I would love to read more about. I read this book straight through in one sitting, and I loved every bit of it. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves regency romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.