Not finished
Anachronism too modern language and behaviors
Spineless jellyfish. MFC unbearable
Felicity and Isabella’s antics were so disturbing that i was in discomfort and i started skipping
Love /lust at first sight here was out of contest
1 star for James

Renegade Dukes Governess Miss Viola Winslow and James Montague is the Duke of Huntington and Felicity, her fourteen-year-old charge's story. The story is well written with a very good storyline that held my interest. I enjoyed seeing them get their happy ending. The story is well worth reading. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

IM LITERALLY SCREAMING BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST LYDIA DRAKE BOOK AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!!

this book was so charming!!!! felicity was such a bright spot in this story and isabelle was fun too. Not only did i appreciate their role in the story of james and viola, but i was truly interested in them as characters!!! the bits about the teasing the grandmother with the french revolution really gave this story so much personality. i am so happy i read this book and ive already started reading the first book in the series to get more of this author!

Having never read a book by Lydia Drake, I was pleasantly surprised. Viola and James had a wonderful story to tell and it was done in an exceptional manner. Readers will love this book.

The first time Miss Viola Winslow met the mysterious James Montagu, the Duke of Huntington, she was a mere twenty –year-old taking a job as a governess for Felicity Berridge, the Duke of Ashworth’s ward and her stagecoach broke down. James did not tell Viola who he really was either. Viola instantly fell in love with James but after finding out that he a Duke knew that her feelings for him could never be expressed. Many years later as she and Felicity got older, Felicity had a knack for getting into trouble. When Felicity begged Viola to draw the Duke of Huntington’s manor promising Viola that James would not be there. Unfortunately, Felicity ended up spraining her ankle and Viola had no choice but to take Felicity there despite her misgivings and James being there. Viola still would be able to hide her feelings, but Felicity has a plan to get Viola and James together despite Viola’s protestations and the secret of who her family really is.
What a wonderful funny beautiful Regency historical romance that is so much fun to read! I really just loved Felicity’s spirit and in truth she made the book that much better for me. Hopefully, she will get her own story one day when she gets a bit older because she does need someone too. Sure, this might be part of a series but can easily standalone. We met the Duke of Ashworth and his family in the first book but him being so magnanimous as to take on a feisty ward seems fitting for them. The tale moves quickly even with all the crazy things that happen and even seem believable. It would have been nice to read what Viola and James did after their first meeting because many years by, yet still I enjoyed the time it was set. Viola was an independent strong heroine who was a good match for James and easily likable. Whereas James was also a great hero and definitely a charming guy that despite his hang ups made it easy to fall for him too. Will I read more from Ms. Lydia Drake, most definitely!

This is the third book in this series and I enjoyed it very much. Even though you can read it as a standalone I believe that you should read all the books in order. Ms.Drake does an excellent job of bringing you into the story and keeping you there. I can’t wait to read more.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A truly wonderful and exciting tale. This story is full of neverending excitement. From the tragedy of a you girls tumble to the haunting of a castle, it is one excitement after another. What can one expect when one is a governess to a wily young girl with an obsession of gothic literature. Viola fell in love with the Duke of Haversham instantly upon their first meeting, maybe not true love but it was a lasting one. 10 years later she hopelessly pines for the man, but knowing her place she has spent her existence fading into the background. Is it any wonder why her delightful charge felt the need to set plans in motion to bring these two together. What ensues is a Parent Trap trope worthy of film. Alongside the Duke’s sisters, Felicity manufactures scene after scene to bring about her plan. Complete with over the top shenanigans, ghostly visitors and endless hijinx. These young girls, Felicity and Isabelle are very dramatic and gothic in their appeal, truly two peas in a pod. Their scheming was an absolute delight that had me decidedly giddy. The chemistry between Viola & Hunt is the perfect blend of heat and friendship, a true match. After a life of being decidedly unwanted it is a relief to see Viola become the sole focus of her intended. This story is love, heat and humour in delightful harmony.

It feels like there have been a lot of governess books released lately, but this one was one of the better ones! It’s sweet and charming with a fun and eccentric cast of characters to support the story.
This is low angst and high in shenanigans, which makes for a really fun book!

Star Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Forced proximity, class difference

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While this is part of a series I do think it can be enjoyed as a stand alone.

Viola is a governess but has secretly been in love with her employer's friend the duke of Huntington for a decade.

When Viola's charge sprains her ankle they are forced to seek refuge with Hunt.

Hunt has been hiding from society since the woman he was going to married fell for and married another ( previous book).

But once she sees Viola again he can't help be charmed.

I liked Hunt a lot. He was sweet and kind and understanding. I liked Viola finally showing her personality.

I think the secondary characters where one dementional but overall I give this book 4 stars.

Pleasantly surprised by this story. I received this book from NetGalley and had been concerned that I hadn’t read the first two books in the series, however I don’t feel like you have to read the entire series to know the main characters story. It was a beautiful story set in the 1800s centering around a Governess, Duke and their families me meddling ways to help them find happiness. I quite enjoyed the modern mindset of many of the characters and how the author wrote of such strong, independent minded women.

I enjoyed this book and the characters and wouldn't mind more from this series. Good dialogue and stories

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for the free book in exchange for a review!


I loved this book - the romance was beautifully done, the plot was interesting, and the characters were so much fun! I loved watching Viola and James fall in love, and I loved seeing how both characters grew from the other two books! Overall I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance, the governess and duke troupe, and Victorian ghosts (you'll have to read it to understand)!


Note - I also loved the other books in the series, and I would recommend checking them out (it might be fun to read them in order but you can read them out of order!)

Age recommendation - 18 + (sex scenes)
Check TW's

This was one of the best "Cinderella" troupes I have read in a while. The characters are fleshed out and easy to love. The plot was imaginative and fresh. What the characters have experienced and must deal with is believable and done well. This is a great read for anyone who likes historical romance and is looking for a fresh take.

This was such a charming love story of two people from vastly different social classes. Miss Viola Winslow, Governess to Felicity, her fourteen-year-old charge and James' best friend's ward. James Montague is the Duke of Huntington and their neighbour, is a bit of a recluse preferring to remain at his estate at Moorcliff Castle instead of the hustle and bustle of London scene and the marriage market.

Felicity is aware of Viola’s unrequited love for James and is determined to move their romance along and bring the two together. This is helped when Felicity injures her foot and James very kindly offers them shelter from the storm, at Moorcliff Castle. While there, they meet James' much younger and very shy sister, Isabelle, who being in similar age to Felicity becomes fast friends with her. The two plot numerous ways and means to bring the adults together so their romance can blossom.

Lovely story with great chemistry between James and Viola and witty dialogue. Felicity was such a precocious young lady that you have to love the antics she and Isabelle get up to.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley and am leaving my honest review.

This is a sweet, slow burn romance with some unrequited love that becomes - well... requited - between two people from very different backgrounds. They have to deal with meddling family and loved ones, including manipulative teenagers and snobbish, small minded matriarchs. There is also a background of abuse and assault in Viola's background, and when her secrets come to light, she deals with her feelings of shame over the same, though what it reveals is her strength and fortitude to James.

A romance of different classes and one that was a long time coming. This book starts off with Viola Winslow's infatuation withe the friend on her employer that happens to be the Duke of Huntington. Then ten years later they are brought closer when she takes her charge on a drawing trip.

Some of the best parts of this book were all the scheming done by Felicity and her new friend, Hunt's younger sister. What could go wrong with a couple dramatic teens doing some matchmaking.

In addition to the girls, dramatic additions were brought to the story by Viola's family drama and Hunt's grandmother's non progressive views due to her experience with the French. So many guillotine references.

This is the 3rd book in the series and could be read a a stand-alone. There is enough background given to all of the characters to make it easy to follow. Romance after 10 years and a lot of kooky sidekicks made this an enjoyable book.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Finally a review after months I have read the book. I got the chance to re read it because I didn’t get enough of them in the first time. This is a well written regency book. How wonderful. I enjoy every page. I absolutely adore Viola. I wanted to protect her at all costs. 🥹

The storyline was enjoyable. Perfect to read in a cozy November. I loved their chemistry. I have things for dukes 🫣.


This is a honest review. Thank you netgalley for the ARC. 🩷

Lydia Drake is doing a fabulous job with these romances about women and men of different social standings. Viola had to leave home and became a governess - she has been in this role for years and loves her ward. She also had a crush on the Duke nearby, Huntington.
Huntington has had a challenging year with marriage and women and has been licking his wounds.

It lusts at first sight with Violia and Huntington, but they have much to overcome even before we get into Viola's background.

I had a blast reading this - I was in the story and finished this book quickly.

What a nice book!! I loved it!
Governess Miss Viola Winslow is quite familiar with the rules of society, and her place in it. Still, it hasn’t stopped her from being horribly in love with the Duke of Huntington for years. But while the duke knows little of her foolish passions, the same cannot be said of Viola’s charge—a precocious fourteen-year-old obsessed with her governess’s secret romance.
As a confirmed bachelor with no interest in marriage, the Duke of Huntington prefers his estate at Moorcliff Castle to the hustle, bustle, and utter nonsense of London society. Until his peace is shattered by the enchanting Miss Viola, and her injured young charge. Somewhere between late night run-ins and a fake date in the most unlikely of places, their chemistry stops feeling one-sided. But when he discovers the secret she’s been hiding all along, there’s nothing that will save them from scandal.
This is such a great book! It was so much fun! I loved these two. But mostly her charge, Felicity! She is a hellion! But the Celestine kind of hellion. Viola and James are great characters! So cute and endearing. Viola is such a resilient heroine. She has a hurtful secret but she puts her family first nevertheless. I adored James. He is romantic, caring, sweet and super sexy. And so patient and honest. The secondary characters are really good and seemed quite real to me, too.
The book is well written, with amazing over the top steamy moments and witty dialogs. There’s a bit of aghast by the end that I devoured. It was an engaging reading! They are perfect together and I adored how they find their happy ending. I highly recommended it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It was such an interesting read. The passing was just what I was expecting from the story. My only complaint is that the guy doesn’t fall in love first, he makes up for it but… I am not a big fan of stories when the guy doesn’t fall in love first