Outstanding diversity, girl with the will to be more and a man who didn’t care as long as she is his. Great story very fast paced enjoyable.

When a Duke Loves a Governess provides us with a precious, resilient female who keeps her beliefs and hope to own her own shop, not willing to give up on her dream. Even when Carlin offers marriage to Tessa, she refuses to change herself to suit him. It is Carlin who has to rethink his beliefs on marriage and love. Include his sweet, but ‘unloved’ little Sophy, you have a great romance to enjoy.

Carlin adjusts his thoughts on his new ‘lying’ governess. He seems to see that she is inherently a good person with a lot of secrets. He tries to control his interest in Tessa, but definitely fails. Carlin sees quickly how good she is for his rambunctious Sophy. Once Tessa realizes she needs to trust Carlin and open up to him, their love grows quickly.

The various plot twists, lies and secondary characters add to the enjoyment of Tessa and Carlin’s relationship as they both navigate their new positions in life. Ms. Drake provides plenty of possibilities for the Carlin Curse. She gives you just enough that you are just not sure of who is causing the problem.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and found I really enjoyed it. I found it hard to put down. The story was unusual because both the hero and heroine didn’t fit the usual profile. There was mystery, suspense, romance, sadness and joy. All the characters were wonderfully written and full of character. The storyline had plenty to keep you turning the page. There was some mild sex in this book which this author skipped and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story. I will be looking forward to reading more by this author. I received this as an ARC from netgalley and freely give my review.

I enjoyed this very much. The slow growth of affection combined with the (obvious) instant attraction is a combination I'm a sucker for every time. I wasn't sure such a prominent story line involving a child would add to the story, but it really, really did. How characters reacted to the girl and her situation gave the whole thing more depth.

I've read many Regency era novels and When a Duke Loves a Governess just fell flat for me. Tessa is a young woman whose mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her with a locket as her legacy, as well as an admonition to find her father, who was a member of the ton and had deserted her upon finding out she carried his child. Tessa was brought up in a foundling home, worked as a milliner's assistant and lied to get a job as a governess to the daughter of a duke. First misstep.

The duke kept her on in spite of her continuing lies because she was pretty and hot and calmed his 4 year old daughter down. Tessa had the hots for him too although their relationship seemed very forced. I didn't feel much more than a carnal attraction between them and felt neither of their characters were fully developed. Might make a good beach read if you don't have a good Elin Hilderbrand novel available.

All of the mystery was wrapped in a neat little bow in the last 15% of the novel. Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me at the title... because when a man loves a woman, songs say the lengths he is willing to go to have her. Guy is the Duke/man in question. We meet him as he’s just arriving back from a world tour during which (unbeknownst to him) several family members die tragically back at home—making him Duke. He’s also stopped along the way to pick up his daughter, Sophy, who he left behind in the supposed better care of his late wife’s parents. That’s totally not what happened. She’s a spoiled brat who’s acting out and taking out governesses left and right. Enter our heroine! Tessa overhears this info and realizes this is a destiny-making game changer if she can land that job and successfully help the child. While potentially on the staff of the Duke, she can search for her unknown Dad and get him to set her up in her own milliner shop. We know it’s love at the first meeting even if they don’t! Forbidden love, Duke + Governess, mysterious deaths, Who is the Daddy?... what’s not to love???? Twisting and turning we follow this amazing love story! I enjoyed every minute.

This was my first book by Olivia Drake and it was an entertaining story. Both the main characters were likable, although at first I did have issues with Guy deserting his daughter after the death of his wife so he could travel the world and pursue his dream. I understand he was very emotional at the time he left, thinking he would not be a good father, and after a few scenes from his POV I was able to overcome this issue. Tessa also had dreams of her own and in the act of pursuing them ends up in the employ of the Duke. I like that she did not just accept her station in life and never gave up her dream to own her own business or find her father.

I was glad that Tessa had to face the lies she had told to get the governess job and tell the truth of her past by the middle of the book. When two main characters don't communicate and it causes further issues, it irritates me. With everything out in the open, they were able to work together to solve the issues going on around them and fall in love while doing so.

There were some nice twists to the plot to keep the reader guessing about the various thefts and previous deaths and wonder if they were related or not. The ending did feel a bit rushed, and I would've liked another scene with Sophy at the end with her learning that her governess and her papa were to be together and she would have a steady family again.

Although this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a stand alone and was an enjoyable story.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

I have been provided with a review copy of When A Duke Loves a Governess from NetGalley for an impartial review. This is the third book in the Unlikely Duchesses series and I just loved getting to reenter this amazing world. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

When a Duke Loves a Governess, the third entry in the Unlikely Duchesses series, gets off to a great start. Tessa James dreams of opening her own millinery shop, but the only way that will be possible if she is able to get a loan from the lord who sired and abandoned her. The problem is that she doesn’t know who he is. Guy Whitby never wanted to be the Duke of Carlin. He’s been abroad since the death of his wife in childbirth, researching, cataloging and growing plants and planning to write a book. But a series of unfortunate illnesses and accidents has left him in the unwanted role of the new Duke and the unfamiliar role of father to unruly four-year old Sophy, who doesn’t know or like him.

When Tessa learns of the Duke’s need for yet another governess, hopefully one that Sophy won’t scare away in a day, she sees the opportunity to mix with the nobles as the perfect way to learn who her father is. The Duke has reservations but is desperate for someone to tame Sophy so takes a chance with Tessa. From that point on it’s almost a game of cat and mouse with her trying to fit into a world she has no clue about and him having a suspicion she is hiding something but afraid to let her go because slowly, slowly, slowly she seems to be making progress with Sophy. And . . . there seem to be some mutual sparks between the governess and the Duke. Historical romances are always such fun and this one was no exception, watching the interactions between Tessa and Guy, Sophy’s endless tantrums, and discovering some unexpected villains and interesting twists about Tessa’s heritage.

This is a pleasant story and series, and it seems to be a theme in all the books that one or both of the main characters are quite unlikeable at the beginning and are then redeemed. However, this time around it didn’t quite work that way for me. Carlin was charming from the start, and Sophy was a typical four-year old, maddening and adorable at the same time. But Tessa was a problem She is likeable at the beginning and you hope she can fulfill her dream, but once she lies to get the governess job and then continues to lie it is hard to think of her as redeemed. I found her reasons for continuing to lie weak and so I was unable to ever really sympathize with or like her. Telling the truth, at least once the attraction to Carlin started, seemed the right thing to do, but she just didn’t do it.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess via NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tessa and Guy's story starts at opposite ends of London. How would a milliner's assistant and an orphan meet up with a Duke and a man who has vowed not to ever marry again come together? It's an incredible story of love, deceit, and intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book I would definitely recommend it!

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

When A Duke Loves A Governess was a good read. I enjoyed Tessa’s character and liked that Guy was more down-to-Earth than your usual Duke. The plot was good and I would have never guessed the ending.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to try out a new HR author, and was pleasantly surprised that there were no glaringly problematic aspects in the romance (so hard to find nowadays!).

This was a relatively cute, fun read, though ultimately, I did find most of the book forgettable. I sat down to write a review two days after I had finished and couldn’t remember a single thing - it turns out nothing stuck.

But, it wasn’t bad, which probably means I’ll pick up another Drake in the future.

When a Duke Loves a Governess ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ By Olivia Drake

This book is really well written. The heroine Tessa has overcome so much. The loss of her mother, not knowing her father a member of the ton and growing up as a foundling. Her life goals are to find her father and open a millinery shop.

When she learns the Duke of Carlin in looking for a Governess for his unruly daughter, she applies for the job. Although, lacking experience the widowed Duke hires her. Tessa feels being in a society house she will overhear hints that could lead her to her father.

This was a charming story. When a romance develops between the two and she also finds her father it’s heartwarming. I would recommend it.

Thank you for the ARC book. This novel tries to be a romance, a mystery, a Cinderella retelling, rags to riches, and falls short on all.
I never believed that the main characters were in love with each other. There was very little romance, between the two of them. A lot of time was spent running around looking for other people. The relationship never developed enough to be believable.
I was bored.

This was my first Olivia Drake novel and I dare say it won’t be the last. I picked up this third in a series, and devoured it quickly. Tessa, an orphan with a difficult upbringing, is witty and sharp as a tack. After finding herself in the position of governess for a wild, feral child, she sets out to discover her fathers identity and establish her own hat boutique. It was a clever story with characters to love, and some you don’t. It was definitely steamy, but not overly done.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both NetGalley, the publisher and the author!

This was a really fun romance read with lots of twists and turns.

Our heroine is Tessa James who has worked tirelessly her whole life to earn enough money to one day own her own shop. After an altercation with her current boss she comes up with a new plan to earn the money - become a Governess to a Duke. In comes our romantic lead Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin. He is nothing that she expected a Duke to be. Guy doesn't treat Tessa just like an employee but that of a friend. That and he is not a man of leisure, he is the complete opposite. Guy has spent the last few years travelling the world researching botany and having incredible adventures.

I am going to be honest. I am a weakling for duke/governess romances. Their romance is forbidden but yet neither will be happy with only a physical relationship. And usually the Duke has to make some sort of grand gesture or sacrifice so they can be together and its just so good!

I really enjoyed this story. Both Tessa and Guy were such strong leads and though they had lies and miscommunication between them they did something that is sometimes sorely lacking in the romance genre. They communicated! Or at least tried! And when the subject of her paternity comes up and miscommunication strikes again but Guy tries is hardest to make it right.

Their romance is topped off by the fact that they are both getting to know his daughter Sophy. Since he hasn't been around for much of her life they have a strained relationship. Luckily for him Tessa not only is trying to help Sophy's temper but also bridge the gap between father and daughter. I am honestly so happy to see the daughter be an actual character within the story and that her presence helps the story along. The moments with them all together as a little potential family are so wonderful!

There is multiple mysteries within this novel and they have so many twists and turns. Though some parts were definitely expected and easy to figure out other moments were a shock.

I highly recommend this book! I can't wait to read more from this author.

I have very mixed feelings about the book. There were some aspects that I liked—the hero and heroine were both quite likable, and the scenes with the duke’s daughter were quite good—they added depth and dimension to the story. I am not one who freaks out about historical accuracy; I get that historical romance is fantasy. But I couldn’t get past the fact that Tessa is somehow able to pass as a governess when she was barely literate, had no formal schooling, and had no knowledge of the subjects governesses taught. That goes so far beyond fantasy that I don’t even have a word for it. The last 30% or so of the book also tried my patience, as suddenly every element of the plot was sewn up, no matter how awkwardly or obviously (I was about to scream if I read another reference to scissors).

This book wasn’t terrible, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

That sounds lovely. Some people have no taste.

She is certainly industrious.

I blame the grandparents.

He has had such an interesting life.

Poor thing can't afford a buck-fifty to go to the library?

Haviland is definitely her brother.

Ooh, Miss Knightley and Haviland.

Well done, idiot.

That is the fanciest circus I have ever heard of.

Banfield has an answer for everything.

This is kind of genius.

Aw, she almost had the bad guy.

Mystery and Romance! Ms. Jeffries has given us another wonderful HEA with a very satisfying end to this series. The characters are wonderfully written with delightfully developed relationships. One can't help but cheer Vanessa as she works her wiles on the duke! This was a fun book to read, like all of Ms. Jeffries's books.

I was provided an advance reader copy through NetGalley. These are my own opinions voluntarily given.