When A Duke Loves A Governess is a charming Regency romance about a poor shop girl who is looking for her family in the hopes that she would be able to get their help to open a milinary shop. Tessa's mother was killed when she was 6 and Tessa was forced to live in a foundling home. Her mother left her a gold necklace with a coat of arms on it that Tessa believes is her father's. And she hopes to locate him. She takes a job as Governess for Guy, the Earl of Carlin, who needs someone to care for his daughter Sophy. Guy has been traveling the world and left Sophy with her maternal grandparents who alternately spoiled her and ignored her. She doesn't trust or like her father. While Tessa works to gain Sophy's trust she starts to fall in love with guy. There are some great scenes between Tessa and Guy, and sweet chemistry with plenty of push and pull. Also a surprising bad guy who has a plan destroy Guy and Tessa's happiness.
I enjoyed this regency. It's a fun, quick read, with loveable, multidimensional characters that feel like old friends.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so conflicted about this book. On one hand, the story and characters were utterly delightful and I enjoyed reading the book. On the other hand, I found the romance rather lackluster and didn't feel the heat between the two characters like I should. Tessa is an absolute delight and I want to hang out with her. Guy is just that... a guy who didn't have a ton of personality. I wanted so much more from him. I guess all his personality went into Sophy, who's an absolute scene-stealer.

Will their set paths keep them apart …

I discovered the author with the previous book, so I was much curious about this upcoming story.
Once more as it matches unlikely characters, even more as both were not meant to become who they are now.
Tessa was never destined to be a governess, growing up in the shadiest parts of the city, she is quite content to have escaped a worse path and is longing to become her own master. But all her years of drudgery leave her far from reaching her goal. So when eavesdropping a Duke is in dire need of a governess for his unruly untamed daughter, she imagines she might have found a solution to her own predicament, earn more all the while solving the mystery behind her father’s identity. Yet how a hat-maker could pass as a governess when her education is definitely lacking. With pluck and nerve, and a bit of luck.
Guy was never supposed to become Carlin, hell, he was forth in line. And running estates never was his dream, his calling is botany and exploring the world. Not sitting in the House of Lords.
Yet he is now back, struggling to settle in his new fonctions and also at loss over his motherless daughter, a slip of a girl who turns his household upside down and appears to loathe him.

Is it why they were never supposed to meet, to stand at this place that they feel a pull.
Quickly they put their expected doubts aside, bonding first over a little girl in need of cheer and true love. Then soon they move together to solve the mystery behind her birth plus the conundrum of his home burglary, which appears to only be the top shelf of a deeper deception.
Yet as secrets are revealed, they will have to revise their course of actions, decide what is worth or not and if love will be enough to alter their journey for it. All the while facing foes and battling for their lives.

An entertaining gripping nonstop actions tale filled with secrets, betrayals, murder but also love and family bonds.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher St Martin’s Paperbacks, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Right away the story seem implausible to me. A seamstress quits her job and without a proper education or references gets a job as governess to a duke's disobedient daughter. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This book is not for me.

Third in this series, this one features Tessa, a poor young hatmaker who was orphaned at age 6 and never knew the identity of her father. She is given a charm necklace featuring a noble family crest by her dying mother and determines to find her father to gain finances for her own shop. Under false pretenses she becomes governess to the Duke of Carlin’s unruly 5 year-old daughter to help her with her quest.

Some twists, danger and a mystery to solve on Tessa’s and Guy’s (Carlin) road to a HEA with some fairly obvious outcomes, this was still a good lovers-from-different-sides-of-the-track story with lovable characters, and I enjoyed it.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I have read this book twice. As soon as I started it, I knew I had already read it, when and where I could not find. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I did not post a review the first time around. So, to do a truthful one now I re-read the book. I loved the book the first time and found even more to love about it the second time.
Tessa James has had a very hard life. She lost her mother at age six, was placed in an orphanage that was run by a very wicked, mean woman. She ran away when just fourteen and was lucky to be taken in by a woman who ran a milliner shop. This kept her off the streets but she had to work from dawn to dust for pennies. Even so she saves all she can. Her dream is to open her own shop. But to do that she needs to find her father. She knows nothing about him other then he got her mother with child and then threw them out. She knows he is peer or Lord. Her mother gave her a very expensive locket with a coat of arms on it just before she died. If she can find which house the coat of arms match, she will find her father.
Guy Whitby is the new Duke of Carlin something he never thought to be. He was fourth in line.
Due to accidents and illness, his Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and Cousin have all passed away in the four years he was abroad !! Now he not only has to take over the dukedom and learn everything a new. When he left on his travels he left his baby daughter, Sophy in the care of his in-laws thinking it was best for her. Big, Hugh mistake, now Sophy is a spoiled brat who has already gone
thru three governesses in a matter of weeks. He is at his wits end with what to do with her. She is afraid of him, what's nothing to do with him and it breaks his heart. At four years old she terrorizes the household. When Tessa founds out Guy is in quick need of a governess she plans to be hired.
What better place than in a Dukes household to find her father's coat of arms !!
Oh, my now the plot really thickens, a governess from the stews, the mystery of who is her father ,
why all of Guys male family members died too young for a few. The immediate attraction between Guy and Tessa. He knows she is keeping secrets but she is also the only one to help is daughter.
This is a wonderful fast paced book with lots going on. It's a great mystery, along with a wonderful slow growing romance. During the book you will be upset with all the characters but in the end, you will learn to love most of them except the evil, mean nasty ones.
I hope you get a copy and enjoy you will not be disappointed.
I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and In my own words. Cinderella, My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman have nothing on Miss Tessa James.

The story of Tessa and Carlin was very entertaining. You do have to remember this is fiction while reading the story. Watching Carlin fall in love with Tessa while she was taking care of his daughter was great, I just wish the grandparents could have gotten their comeuppance along the way. i had no clue who the villan was until it was revealed, but was glad of the outcome with Tessa learning who her family was. Thank you for the advanced copy of this story, it was extremely enjoyable!

Milliner Tessa poses as a governess to gain entrée into the world of London's fashionable society. She's searching for her long-lost father, and all she has to identify him is the coat-of-arms pendant given to her by her dying mother. The Duke of Carlin has his doubts about Tessa, but he's desperate for someone who can get through to his troubled four-year-old daughter.

But Tessa isn't the only one keeping secrets. As Carlin and Tessa become more and more drawn to each other, will treachery tear them apart?

This is a complex, well-constructed novel that gets twistier as it progresses. There's a lot more to it than there originally appears. Tessa and Carlin are a strong couple who challenge and bring out the best in each other. An entertaining read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Tessa James is a young woman with a dream of one day opening her own millinery shop and sell her own designs instead of making hats she dislikes for someone else’s s benefit, but she lacks the funds and her hope is to find the father she’s never met to get a loan and realize that dream. When she hears a newly minted Duke is in dire need of a governess, which might be an opportunity to further her search, she decides to apply for the job even though it involves stretching the truth about her abilities to some extent.
Guy Whitby, the Duke of Carlin, has come from his travels to find his daughter a difficult child capable of rendering a long list of governesses absolutely incompetent or at least not suitable to his idea of exemplary to her impressionable mind. That’s when the much younger and pretty Miss James will show up at his door and push him to grant a trial period to prove her capabilities to teach the young lady as much proper behavior as can be learned in a week’s time.
As with the previous in the series, I enjoyed this story very much. Tessa and Guy are both unconventional and she makes for one daring heroine. Her curiosity and common sense make up for her lack of formal education and he finds in her the perfect companion to his lonely existence as well as a loving caretaker for his young daughter. They make a smart, wonderful couple and when things get complicated and the mystery surrounding his family comes after him, Tessa will prove to be the perfect partner in crime for Carlin.
I found the story well written with some unexpected twists that were quite pleasing and kept it entertaining. Ms. Drake is definitely a new favorite on this genre.

Tessa has had a difficult childhood growing up as an orphan on her mother's death very early in life and now joins Guy's household as a governess for his daughter, Sophy. Guy had recently become a duke and had returned from world travel after a while. His little kid had grown up with no love and needed someone badly to take care of her. Hence, Tessa enters their life and then it becomes a sweet romance between Guy and Tessa along with the mystery behind the Carlin curse.

Additionally, Tessa is out finding information about her father using a pendant as the only clue. The steam is average but there is angst and tension between them making it an entertaining read. I especially liked the kid's tantrums and behavior as it felt very true for her circumstances. The key thing I liked was it was not just romance novel but has two mysteries going on and had all the drama at the end as well.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. When A Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake is the third book in her Unlikely Duchesses series.
It can be read as a stand-alone. When milliner's assistant Tessa James realizes that she’s never going to earn enough for her own shop where she is working now, she decides to create her own opportunities, and after an overheard conversation at the shop, applies to be the governess for Lady Sophie, the four-year-old daughter of the Duke of Carlin who can’t seem to hold on to a governess for his ungovernable daughter. Guy Whitby, Duke of Carlin, is at his wit's end, leaving his daughter in charge of her maternal grandparents while he travelled the world seeking botanical specimens means that she doesn’t know or like him, and her tantrums may cost him more staff than just the governesses. I enjoyed this story very much; both the duke and the governess are trying to fit into roles that are new to them. There’s a pirates’ treasure map, the Carlin Curse, several mysteries and a nasty villain to keep you wondering what will happen next. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: July 27, 2021. #WhenADukeLovesAGoverness #OliviaDrake #NetGalley #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomance Series #RomanceReader #historicalromancereader #StMartinsPress #StMartinsPaperbacks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

I received an advanced reader’s copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake.

I loved the heroine in this book. Tessa has had a difficult upbringing and has learned to make her way in the world. She doesn’t let circumstances get her down and figures out how to move forward in any situation she finds herself in. I liked that Guy, the hero, realized when he botched things and would work to make amends.

The story was entertaining and had unexpected twists. I loved how the book came together at the end and wrapped up nicely.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

When A Duke Loves A Governess is an entertaining romp, filled with passion and intrigue! Tessa James is an orphan, determined, independent, and intelligent. The Duke of Carlin hires Tessa to be governess to his unruly daughter, and the sparks fly! I was quite caught up in all the layers of this story, with romance abc scandals and scoundrels!

I didn't even realise until I came to write this review that this was the 3rd book in a series, so i guess that means it really is a standalone!

I am a sucker for anything Regency. Rakes, rogues and scandals are my jam.

And I really enjoyed When A Duke Loves a Governess. It kind of had a Maria/Captain von Trapp vibe to it, with unruly children thrown in there too!

Tessa and her Duke are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, and a great vision of how those on opposite sides of the wealth scale really can be perfect for each other (a la Darcy and Miss Elizabeth).

I now need to go back and read the other books, as I completely got immersed in this one.

Romance and mystery. Instant attraction between the two leads. A governess meets a Duke. The pace is steady. Not too much steam. An OK read.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions expressed here are all mine.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful Regency romance. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

When a Duke Loves a Governess is a well-written novel with a touch of mystery as the heroine sets out to discover who was her biological father. When her mother died, she gave Tessa a locket with a coat of arms on it. That’s her only clue, along with the last words her mother uttered, she has. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me engaged until the end.

Tessa James is our endearing heroine. While life has not been easy for her since she lost her mother at the age of six, she’s determined to succeed in her endeavor to open her own hat shop. All she needs a loan from whoever fathered her. It’s the least he could do. I admired Tessa’s independent spirit a great deal, and her kindness with the hero’s troubled four year old daughter.

Guy Whitby, the Duke of Carlin is the male lead, and he has all the traits I most admire in a Regency hero. His love for his mischievous daughter touched my heart. When he realizes he’s attracted to Tessa, he fights it, since his honor would not allow him to act on it. Of course, when Tessa takes matters in hand, his will didn’t stand a chance against his powerful attraction.

The romance is charming, and Ms. Drake is excellent at building sexual tension, an aspect of historical romance I love. Her love scenes are beautifully written focusing on the emotions instead of the physical action, which is my preference. It was easy for me to believe and accept that Tessa and Guy are a perfect match, and I wanted them to find their happy ending.

As I mentioned, there is a touch of mystery in this tale, and it added a great deal to my enjoyment, keeping my attention throughout their love story. There is also some suspense to add to my pleasure as well.

If you enjoy historical romance with engaging characters and a plot with more substance than the average Regency novel, then you will love When a Duke Loves a Governess as much as I did. It’s been a while since I read a book by Ms. Drake, but I quickly remembered why I have always enjoyed her novels. Happy reading!

When a Duke Loves a Governess is the story of a forbidden love affair. There are mysteries that keeps one guessing. The suspense makes for a compulsive read.

Guy is a a Duke who inherited his title due to drastic events surrounding the immediate heirs. His daughter craves to be loved, hence becoming an attention seeker through throwing tantrums. Previous Govenesses have been unable to handle her. Never fear. Along comes Tessa under false pretenses. Not qualified for the job, she convinces Guy to give her a trial. He has his doubts, but gives her a chance anyway. Funnily enough, through her own life experiences, she starts to make marked differences. Then an incident has the Duke questioning her credibility. She has her own aspirations, but will the Duke give her a chance?

The mystery of the murders and the attempted one is a puzzle as to the reasons why. It could be a curse! It's beautifully portrayed and the revelation is baffling. Not so much for the who, but the why. Guy and Tessa have a lot in common and are a perfect couple. It's a great addition to this series.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I liked the idea of this book, so when offered, I jumped at the chance to read it. The storyline had promise as did the characters but I just couldn't quite connect with them. The book started out ok, but then it started to drag and I found myself skimming pages to the end.
It didn't quite work for me, but I'm sure others will love this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Eh….I had a hard time with this one. A milliner who disguised herself as a governess for a Duke so she can find her noble father and demand enough money to open her own shop. It’s as civilized as it sounds. Which would be fine, but the writing was just ok. The characters were meh, I liked Sophie the best. Have read three books of Olivia Drake’s and I think she and I just aren’t meant to be.