Tessa is trying to better herself, and hopes to have her own hat shop one day. She also is looking for her aristocratic father. Taking a job as a governess to a young girl is a way to meet both ends. Guy is a botanist who has inherited a dukedom and been reunited with his young daughter. Both help each other succeed in their goals. I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my honest review.

Why didn't I like this one? I'm just not sure as it clicked a lot of boxes I enjoy. Felt a bit Pygmalion. Down on her luck shopgirl turns governess. Scholarly duke. Cute kid.

Alas, they fell into lust way to quickly. Just didn't feel realistic.

DNF

This story is about Tessa James and she has always dreamed of having her own shop. But she needs to find her father in order to get a loan. Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin has returned to London. He finds that his daughter Sophy is wild and needs a governess.Tessa and Guy have chemistry. I really enjoyed the book. The characters and the plot were good.

This was a new to me author and while I like trying new authors, this book just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I know there’s a lot of stretching of historically accurate details in books now and it’s definitely to make books more interesting, fun, and readable but this just seemed over the top right from the get go. Honestly, the scene where Tessa interviews for the governess job is so implausible, I had a hard time connecting to the rest of the story and was unfortunately the skimming chapters by the middle to end of the book.

I hate writing negative reviews, and admit that maybe I would have liked this more if I read the other books in the series, but I really couldn’t connect to the actual story. I appear to be the outlier so I hope other people enjoy this more than I did!

Such a wonderful story. This new to me author and series totally captivated me. I love how independent Tessa is, her compassion and persevering nature. I think a slow build/burn for this skittish couple was perfect since she's really smart and reliable but the Duke is her first serious love interest and although he has experience, he's closed himself off to love. There are a few twists and turns but this is definitely one of the best regency romances I've read so far this year. I couldn't put it down, didn't want it to end and instantly reread the last few chapters several times so I could bask in the warmth.

A little bit atypical regency romance. Tessa is an orphan and in order to find her roots and money for her dream shop, she takes on a job as a governess of an unruly child. With a few twists and turns she get her HEA and a few things she never expected.


Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

This book was enjoyable. I love storylines where the Duke in question has unruly children and someone must step in and save them -- and then he falls for her. Gets me every time. I loved how Tessa stands her ground when her newfound family tries to sweep her off her feet without consulting her for what she wants. I loved that the Duke in question would much rather be sailing the world on scientific expeditions or writing a book about said expeditions. While bluestocking women are everywhere in historical romance, it's a much rarer thing for the man to be scholarly. There was even a bit of a mystery.

So, with all of that, I should have loved it. But... I didn't. I enjoyed it, but I skimmed parts. this was 100% due to the writing style which was a little clumsier and less eloquent than I prefer. Also while I normally skim or skip the sex scenes, I did so here because the way they were written made me cringe. The mystery also was wrapped up a tad too quickly, and the story in general could have stood to be longer.

I would definitely recommend it to people who don't care about writing style, but it's definitely a make or break issue for me.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an e-arc for review.

This was an interesting mystery story. Tessa James is illegitimate and is searching for her family to see if they would sponsor her to open her own shop. To get access to the world she doesn't belong to she pretends to be a governess. It seems fantastical that she'd be believed and hired but she was until she is found out but is allowed to continue because of course feelings have grown between her and Duke or Carlin. There were things happening that seemed plot contrivances and didn't really make historical sense. However it all worked out in the end.

This was such an enjoyable read! I loved this couple. Tessa was such a strong, independent woman and Guy was perfect for her. The characters throughout the story were well written and I lost myself in their story.

I received "When a Duke Loves a Governess" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Olivia Drake is a new author to me, and I am intrigued by her story telling.
The widowed Duke of Carlin, Guy Whitby, is in dire need of a governess for his 4 year old daughter, Lady Sophie. Tessa James is in need of money to start her own business, and decides to try her luck and see if she can get the governess' job to help find the man who fathered her who also happens to be of the upperclass and then ask him to loan her some money to open her dream shop. But all she has to find out who her father is is a pendant her dying mother gave her that bears the family's crest. She is hired as the governess under false pretenses, and the attraction between the Duke and herself grow as she learns more about herself.

I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Group. This is the first book I have read by author Barbara Dawson Smith. This book has an old time European Era. Characters are Tessa, Carlin Family, Orin and Banfield. This story about rising from where you grew up and how are you going to define who you are now. Should secrets be exposed or left not knowing. Can love help people? Does the truth really set you free? This book will help answer some of those questions. For a mature reader that can be read anywhere or anytime.

Guy, the Duke of Carlin, is in desperate need of a governess for his daughter Sophy. Shop assistant, Tessa, has just quit her position and applies for governess, hoping to find access and answers to her past.

Mysterious deaths, a treasure map, and one adorable 4 year old held most of my interest. However, the main characters—Guy, a widowed father, naturalist, and adventurer. Tessa, down on her luck with a plucky personality and determination to achieve goals, came across one dimensional. So many great elements to be found, but I am disappointed I couldn’t connect with the characters and felt the plot was more telling than showing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the St. Martin’s/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A commoner who wants to find her father who may be an aristocrat. She pretends to be an experienced governess in order to find more information. Of course she falls in love with the father who isn't supposed to be the duke at all. A lovely book about interesting characters....

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with the arc.

Third times the charm. This is the third in the "Unlikely Duchesses" series by Olivia Drake. The story of orphan, Tessa James who worked in a millinery shop and who has a knack for making beautiful hats that are more with time, She strives to make and save more money to one day own her own shop all the while searching for her father who was a lord of the ton. Overhearing that the Duke of Carlin is in dire need of a governess for his daughter, she quits her job and presents herself on the doorsteps of his home persuading her way of becoming his governess of a trial basis.

There is some sympathy for the heroine of this story as she had lost her mother in a carriage accident and as a result ended up as an orphan. On her mother's death bed, she presented her with a pendant bearing the coat of arms of the man believed to be her father. On the other hand, the hero of the story never wanted to be duke and it is clearly seen when he rather liked travel and adventures instead of tending the his estate and daughter, who he left with his deceased wife's parents for child rearing. Unfortunately, the daughter is not manageable, thus enters the heroine to the rescue. The more the hero grows closer to the heroine, the more he uncovers bit by bit of the secrets she is trying to hide and uncovering the person she truly seems to be. The heroine is smart and lovely and the hero likeable and beguiling. I was happy to see that the heroine finds closure to her search as well as meeting others who are a part of her family.

Of the three books, "When a Duke Loves a Governess" was the most likeable one I've read. Although the story starts off a bit slow, as with the others, it transitions into a wonderful read. There is romance and passion...attributes that I look forward to in the historical romances that I read. The story was well written, misfortunes overcomed, and dreams fulfilled. Looking forward to seeing if there is a story for Lord Haviland in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchance for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opnions are my own.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Cute enough. Didn’t sizzle. Characters were sweet.

London During the Regency

Working in a millinery shop after growing up in an orphanage, Tessa James has mastered the skill of making beautiful hats for the very rich. She is determined not to toil much longer for an employer, as her goal is to open her own shop. But first, she must save enough money for that venture. On this day, however, after being scolded by her employer and told that she would lose some of her pay for a simple mistake, Tessa quits. She had heard two customers discussing the Duke of Carlin's loss of yet another governess for his four-year-old daughter, and Tessa plans to present herself at his home and convince him to hire her. All this despite the fact that Tessa has had no formal education.

At the tender age of six, Tessa had witnessed the tragic death of her mother under the wheels of a carriage. As she lay dying, her mother put a necklace over her head and whispered that she must find her father. Tessa always believed that her mother had been treated badly by an employer, and the necklace had an insignia. If Tessa could find what family it belonged to, she could ask for help to finance her shop. But, first, she must somehow convince this duke that he needs to hire her.

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, had never thought he'd be the duke. But over the past five years all of the previous heirs, as well as the last duke, had died, some after strange accidents. Guy, who had traveled the world collecting plants, exploring different countries, has returned home to assume the role as head of what remains of his family. He had sailed away shortly after the death of his wife in childbirth, leaving their baby daughter with her mother's parents. Now, after firing yet another governess who had deigned to discipline Sophy after the child bit her, he must somehow find someone who can handle the unruly girl. When one young woman shows up a day early for an interview, Guy hires her, despite some misgivings. She is very young, and some of her mannerisms are suspect.

Tessa is shocked at how much Lady Sophy has been able to get away with. But, having helped with the little ones at the orphanage, Tessa is sure that the child is frightened of her father, whom she barely knows, and has been spoiled by her grandparents and former nanny. When Guy sees almost immediate improvement with his daughter's behavior, as well as getting some advice from the governess that he needs to spend more time with Sophy, he's relieved. Still, there are things he's finding out about Tessa that have him on edge. Guy is convinced she is not who she claims to be.

WHEN A DUKE LOVES A GOVERNESS is a romance, yes, but it's also a mystery. Exactly what did happen to all of those family members? And why? Also, what is Tessa's real background? Guy is mystified by his governess, and her common sense recommendations for his daughter. She is lovely, smart, and yet Guy suspects she's hiding something. He is beguiled by her, though, and she seems to feel the same.

A sweet story with a surprising conclusion. Don't miss WHEN A DUKE LOVES A GOVERNESS, an Unlikely Duchesses book.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Tessa James applies to ge a governess to a Duke with no prior experience She hopes that she can figure out who her father is. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the chemistry between Tessa and the Duke

Ever wonder who you are? How much are you willing to give to attain your dream? Do you prefer to earn your way or have your future pre-determined? The heroine in this story is an orphan who has been on her own since she was six years old. She has a dream and the skill and desire to attain it. Before her mother died, she gave her daughter a pendant and instructions to find her father. There is sufficient ambiguity in that statement to misdirect her search. She decides to interpose herself as a governess to search for her father in the hope that she can convince him to loan her money to start a business. Along the way she finds herself, who both her parents were, and finds love for a troubled child and that child’s father. A sweet story.

3.5 stars

An unusual book in some way. I was surprised that a milliner's assistant from the east end would gain an interview for a governess position with the Duke himself. I liked the fact that Guy, the Duke, was a botanist and adventurer and that he hired an unusal valet. The heroine, Tessa was keen to find her father's family and in the course of the book she actually meets her mother's as well. There's a sub plot about a Carlin Curse which actually comes to the fore towards the end.

The passion was Ok and I read it quite quickly.

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

4.5 to 5 Stars!! I really enjoyed this book! It’s got a few surprising twists that had me shocked & appalled at times! Ha!
This is book number 3 in the ‘Unlikely Duchesses’ series. I read book 1 but missed book 2. They can all be read as standalone books. I love when I can’t guess at the twists in a book & this one didn’t disappoint. Mystery, intrigue, love, a bratty little girl, a supposed curse & a killer, oh my! I definitely recommend this one y’all!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!*