The Governess and the Duke is the second book in the Renegades Duke series and can be read as a standalone.

Viola Winslow has been the governess to the Duke and Duchess of Ashford’s ward for ten years and in love with Ashford’s best friend, the Duke of Huntington for just as long. When Viola and her charge, Felicity, go on a sketching journey across the north of England they then find themselves invited to stay at Moorcliff Castle, Huntingdon’s ducal estate while Felicity recovers from a sprained ankle she received after tumbling down a hill at the end of a sketching session of the castle. James Montagu, Duke of Huntington, has been hiding at his Northumberland estate for the last year and a half after his marriage proposal was rejected. He’s known Viola for ten years but never really noticed how beautiful she was before she started ordering people around to assist Felicity. The more James can bring Viola to voice her opinions the more he finds he’s not only attracted to her but likes her as well. When the past she has hidden from everyone comes to light, Viola knows that they’ll be asked to leave and James will understand why nothing more can come from their budding romance. When the opposite happens and James asks her to marry him, Viola cannot believe it’s real. With some help throughout from meddling siblings, a charge, and a vulgarly talking raven they might be able to convince Viola and James that they can be together despite all challenges.

I enjoyed this book and thought it had so many of the things I enjoy in historical romance. I have a weakness for heroines who’ve had to fend for themselves their whole lives and for the first time in her life she has someone that is in her corner and cares about her. I enjoyed that James didn’t stay hung up on duty and promises for very long. Viola was very aware of her station in life and it caused her to take the longest to overcome this barrier despite her love for James. Felicity and James’s sister, Isabelle are both young teenagers who are both obsessed with gothic and ghost stories and they brought silliness and hijinks that was entertaining. There are also a few other happy endings for other side characters too that added to the all’s well that ends well ending.

There are three encounters that while not super steamy they are detailed and fit with the feel and tone of the story. I did find it refreshing in one of the encounters that the MMC didn’t apologize for the pleasure he wanted. While it’s usually done in consideration for the FMC, it was nice to see it written differently this time.

Overall, it left me feeling happy, warm and fuzzy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an advanced ecopy of the book. All opinions are my own.

The Governess and the Duke was such a fun new romance from Lydia Drake. It had all the elements you want in a romance including good banter, romance, a great couple that you root for, and of course an HEA. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC and I cant wait to read more by this author.

Lydia Drake's recent romances have done an amazing job of avoiding the dreaded miscommunication tropes, and The Governess and the Duke is no exception. Viola has been in love with her employer's friend, James Montagu, a DUKE, for a decade. He knows she exists, but that's about it. Viola's charge, Felicity, HAS noticed, and she's decided it's time to do something about it. She fakes a sprained ankle and gets them stranded at the duke's estate. This is both amazing (Viola and James finally get to spend time together!) and fraught (Viola's father is actually one of James's tenants!). Drake includes one of my least-favorite HistRom tropes: the vow made to the MMC's dying father about what kind of woman to marry. However conflicted James feels, though, he is not deterred for long by his oath to marry "a real lady." Aside from the appealing main couple, the side characters are all believably eccentric (except, perhaps, for Viola's father, whose villainous back story is a bit farfetched). In summary: I was rooting for James and Viola, teared up at one point in the text, and had a ton of fun with the two teenaged characters. Recommended!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I really liked The Governess and the Duke.
Miss Viola WInslow is a governess. On her first day with her new charge, she fell hopelessly in love with James Montagu, the Duke of Huntington, or Hunt.

James, or rather "Hunt" sowed his oats, had his fun and was ready to wed. Only, his offer was rejected. He's been happy hiding out at his country estate when Felicity, Viola's now fourteen year old charge hurts herself on his property and Viola has to stay there as well. Forced proximity, a major class divide (governess, duke) and her ten year infatuation all come into play.

The characters are lively and fun and the dialog and writing are engaging.
Recommend.

This novel is a great addition to the Renegade Dukes series. The characters and adventures in this novel were so entertaining! I never knew what those girls were going to come up with next and I loved it. Viola and James had to overcome many obstacles on their way to a HEA and that kept me reading so I could find out what was going to happen next. I am looking forward to more books in the series because there are so many great characters already and they deserve their HEA also.

🔥🔥🔥🔥
I have to admit that I wasn’t too impressed with the first 2 books in this series but I love a governess, class difference trope so when I was given a chance to read an ARC of this book from NetGallery I thought “maybe 3rd times the charm” I’m happy to say that my instincts where right. Miss Viola Winslow, governess to the Duke of Ashworth’s (book 1) ward Felicity, has been in love with the Duke of Huntington since day one of her employment. As her employer’s best friend, the Duke has been in and out of her life for the last 10 years but of course would never notice her as she is “staff”. It’s not until her charge, Felicity injures her ankle on a sketching tour near the Duke’s estate that the Duke finally gets to know her. Here is we’re the story really begins. If you have read book 2 you will recall that the Duke of Huntington or Hunt as he is know to his friends has been nursing…, if not a bruised heart, at least some bruised pride over the “not quite” engagement of the MFC of book 2. It’s been over a year since then and Hunt has been holed up in his ancestral estate, Moorcliff in Northumberland. When he sees someone take a tumble he rushes out to help them and upon realizing it’s his best friend’s ward and her governess (why had he never realized how beautiful the governess is until now) he insists they stay with him while Felicity’s ankle heals.
This is sort of an inta-lust to love book, but I don’t really mind it as the Duke seems to realize that maybe his happiness should be more important than duty to the family legacy. Viola, with the Dukes encouragement slowly comes out of her shyness around the Duke and he realizes what an interesting, intelligent strong woman she is and how physical attractive he is to her. Part of the charm of this book for me over the previous books is in part because of the Felicity character. She is a precocious 14 year old with a love of gothic horror novels and a bit of a matchmaker. She and the Duke’s young sister Isabell get on instantly and have some scene stealing humorous moments. Of course you also have the disapproving grand-Dowager Duchess trying to keep our two MCs apart, the MFC has a secret she has never told anyone and understanding older sister who wants to see her brother just be happy. All together this makes for a good story with a bit of angst before we get our HEA.
Can this book be read as a stand alone? Yes, as the author gives you enough info from the first books. But I do think you might enjoy it more if you read them in order as these characters (especially the Duke) show up in the first 2 books.
My thanks to NetGallery for allowing me a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I recently had the pleasure of receiving an arc for this book and was completely captivated by the story, this novel is a gem that is sure to win the hearts of historical romance readers.

The story follows Viola, a governess who is well-versed in the rules of society and her place in it. Despite her knowledge, she has been harboring a secret love for the Duke of Huntington for years. Her feelings are hidden deep within her heart, as she knows that a governess should never dare to dream of a duke.

What makes this story unique is that it is not just about Viola’s love for the duke, but also the love and admiration of her young charge, a precocious fourteen-year-old girl. This girl is obsessed with her governess's secret romance and cannot help but meddle in her affairs.

The characters in this book are well-developed and relatable. Viola is a strong and independent woman who knows her place in society but is not afraid to dream. The Duke of Huntington is a charming and honorable man, completely oblivious to her feelings. And the precocious young girl adds a touch of innocence and humor to the story.

The writing style is beautiful and transports the reader back in time to the Regency era. The author has a way of describing the setting and the characters that make them come to life on the pages. I found myself fully immersed in the story, feeling the same emotions as the characters.

What I loved most about this novel is the constant tension between Viola and James. Their interactions are full of subtle glances and unspoken words, making me root for them to finally confess their love for each other.

Overall, this was a delightful read that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a smile on your face. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical romance with a touch of forbidden love. I cannot wait to see what Lydia Drake will come up with next.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Historical romance, governess fmc/duke mmc, grumpy/sunshine, unrequited love, virgin heroine, forbidden romance, friends to lovers, forced proximity, opposite attract

An utterly charming romance with a duke trying to convince a governess that she is worth everything.

We met Hunt in the previous book, The Duchess and the Wolf, and I already loved him from those few glimpses. His reactions to Viola were just so delightful, like he had been living in a fog and she was the sun that brought light back to his life. And Viola blossomed under his attentions.

There were plenty of scenes that had me smiling and made this love story even more enjoyable. I can highly recommend this if you like steamy historical romance. This book stands well on its own, but it will be worth reading the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun frolic between a duke and the woman who has loved him from afar for ten years.
I loved the contrivance from the younger girls to get the two together.
I enjoyed when Hunt realized what had been under his nose for the last decade.
I also liked it when Viola’s secret fantasy finally came true.
A holiday happily ever after to cherish.

This started a little slow but it wasn’t long before things got interesting. It is a story of isolation and loneliness for almost all characters in the book, albeit in different ways. Until one imp decided to start a ruse and things got upended in all kinds of ways. The antics in this book are just first class rofl funny. The main characters finally did get around to falling in love, but it will need courage to fight the forces that will separate them. Wisdom, surprisingly enough, can come from the mouths of babes. Lovely, funny and enjoyable read.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

This book reminds me of the great romance writer Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. Loved that I was able to follow both side of the couples growing feelings for each other.
I laughed at the idea of asking a child how to court the woman he loved., but as Felicity said she knows her governess better than him. So glad I read The Governess and the Duke

A Heart-warming Romance!

I just love a really great historical romance and this read is just perfect!

Viola had loved the Duke of Huntingdon from the very first moment she met him, in fact she fell in love with him twice that day! As a governess, he would never notice her and now ten years later, she’s still hiding her eternal love for him, when he starts to notice her!

The secondary characters are just perfect and give the storyline extra depth. Cornelius is simply hilarious! I really loved his characters and the naughty things he got up to.

What a fun, witty exciting read with some hot steamy moments, a little blip in their relationship before they find their well deserved HEA.

This author knows how to take an engaging storyline, fill it with wonderful characters, add in some witty moments with some hot steamy scenes to give you a page-turning fantastic read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Miss Viola Winslow, a governess of discernment and familiarity with societal norms, harbors a profound and unrequited affection for the Duke of Huntington. The Duke, an unwavering bachelor, eschews the tumult of London society in favor of Moorcliff Castle after a failed engagement. This tranquil existence is disrupted by the presence of Miss Viola and her fervent charge, a precocious fourteen-year-old who wants her governess to have a happy retirement.

Compelled by circumstances beyond her control, Miss Viola finds herself inextricably bound to Moorcliff, where evading the Duke's company becomes an insurmountable challenge. Amidst fortuitous encounters and an unconventional faux pas, a reciprocity in their affections blossoms. However, the romance faces jeopardy upon the Duke's revelation of Viola's long-concealed secret, threatening to ensnare them in the clutches of scandal.

Lydia Drake's "The Governess and the Duke" is a delightful historical romance that whisks you away to the early 1800s with its fast-paced and engaging story. The dynamic between the main characters is a perfect mix of slow burn and sizzling chemistry. The supporting characters add a quirky yet realistic flavor to the tale, making it all the more enjoyable.

One of the standout features is the portrayal of strong women characters, with Viola shining as a resilient and captivating protagonist. While the story earns praise for its steamy slow burn, I do wish the author added a deeper exploration of Viola's past traumas to add more layers to her character. Some plot elements were a tad unrealistic, but they didn't detract from the overall fun of the read. In the end, "The Governess and the Duke" secures a solid four-star rating for its captivating narrative, well-drawn characters, and the charming mix of historical romance tropes.

Thank you Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

The Governess and the Duke -Book #3 Renegade Dukes
by Lydia Drake-new author for me
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 12/26/23, Read 12/16/23
Setting: 1807 England

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for this ARC🩷! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ Historical Romance
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️Girl next door
✔️ Opposites attract
✔️Slow burn romance
⚠️ parental abuse, h is a virgin

Summary- The Duke of Huntington has a duty to marry and produce an heir.Governess Viola Winslow knows her place and does her job raising 14 year old charge Felicity. Viola has secretly been in love with the Duke next door but knows that due to her station nothing will ever happen between them. When Felicity is "hurt" Hunt rescues them, and they are forced to stay at Moorcliff castle while she "heals." As they get to know each other and fall for each other, will duty trump love?

The characters- Viola and Hunt's relationship is slow burn and a bit boring. Viola is a woman above reproach. She does what's expected, shrinks herself away in place of duty. Felicity is the MVP. She reminds me of Eloise from To Sir Phillips With Love by Julia Quinn with her uncensored opinions,uncontainable spirit, and matchmaking skills. I loved why she did everything for Viola. Knowing her, wanting her to be happy, and lead a comfortable life. She knows Viola worries about her place as governess and what happens after. I really liked how Agatha's story played out. I've never heard of "spinster companions," but it was a great way for her to get a HEA without causing any issues for her family.

Overall, I liked it. It had slow parts and after the 3rd act breakup it took awhile before they were able to reunite. The epilogue was sweet and I hope Felicity and Isabelle will get books.

-FYI I didn't read the first 2 books in the series but this can be read as a standalone.

This was a highly anticipated book for me for 2023, and it was really good. I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the characters, and I liked the plot. While this wasn't my favorite book by this author, it was still good all around and I do recommend it. Excited to see what else this author has for this series. Oh and I loved the raven.

Ghosts, Fate, Family:
We meet Viola on her way to her new position as a governess for a young girl and in her travels, she meets a Mr. Montagu and immediately she has fallen in love with this gorgeous man.
Now a love story that is undeniable begins and we follow Viola and Mr. Montagu (otherwise known as the Duke of Huntington) through a growing passionate romance that cannot be denied. Two wonderful people embark into a slow building romance 10 years later. What? you say.
Yes, it took James some time and some scheming from 2 devilishly odd girls before he noticed Viola who is employed as a governess by his best friend the Duke of Ashworth.
I enjoyed the unrelenting desirous connection that developed between Viola and James.
A wonderfully enjoyable story that captured my heart with its entire cast of characters. The romance is filled with honor, passionate desire, humor, challenges, overcoming an emotionally heartbreaking situation from Violas past that fills the story with compassion and had my heart wanting to reach out and hug her. 
A real feel-good romance story that took me right into the plot, the romance, the eccentricities, and a wonderfully rewarding ending for all.
✔Special Mention to Felicity and Isabelle for adding something out of the ordinary to this story.
Also, the mischievous raven had me chuckling more than once with his vocabulary.
✔Mature Advisory.

Governess Viola has long loved the Duke of Huntington, her employer’s friend. When her young charge unexpectedly plays matchmaker, Viola hopes to win the oblivious duke’s heart. Contented bachelor that he is, the duke finds his stay at Moorcliff Castle disrupted by both charming Viola and a girl in need. Thrown together, Viola and the duke begin to spark a mutual attraction. But a looming scandal threatens to expose their budding romance to ruin.

I loved this book! It’s wonderfully funny with engaging main characters and a quirky supporting cast.

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

Oh goodness... This was quite delightful! I read book 1 in the series and forgot to read book 2 but then the plot of this one intrigued me. The close proximity and character/relationship development between the two MCs was quite endearing. I wasn't sure how Lydia Drake would give us a convincing reason why the Duke would notice her after knowing her for 10 years, but she definitely made it work. There were also some really endearing moments with the secondary characters, especially Viola's charge, Felicity, in terms of their relationship. And it was also nice to see the adolescent girls be confident and not just extremely silly 9r obstinate characters. I did love how the book never veered toward being too heavy and there were some real comedic moments, which gave the story some buoyancy. Even though one of the characters is named after Twelfth Night, this is definitely All's Well that Ends Well! (Or maybe I should be quoting another William... Blake, that is)

Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart Flutters: ❤️❤️

The Duke of Huntington may or may not be hiding out at his estate at Moorcliff Castle after his broken engagement 18 months prior. Having always preferred the country to London, he doesn't much mind the lack of company. Until the ward of his closest friend just so happens to injure herself on the hill overlooking his castle and he finds himself thrown together with the governess he has rarely spoken to. A woman, who he finds himself instantly drawn to, and eager to grow more acquainted with now that she has shown a side to character she has previously kept hidden.

It is no secret that I have adored the previous two books in the Renegade Dukes series by Lydia Drake (honestly, go check my gushy reviews)! And The Governess and the Duke did not disappoint. I LOVED this novel! From the opening line in the prologue "It is the rare woman who falls in love twice in the same day, but such was Miss Viola Winslow's fate on the morning of APril 18, 1807." Not only did I too fall in love with the two characters Viola does, I fell in love with her. She was a character I admired from what we previously had seen of her in the series and I just adored how she was able to finally allow herself the courage and strength to reach for her own HEA.

I have loved Huntington from the beginning and definitely felt for him when he was jilted in the previous novel, although I had been rooting for Rafe, it was the first time I was like 'yikes but I love them both!' So I was so excited to read his story. And I just adored how Lydia Drake humanized him from this duke that was what the ton and the reader had assumed him to be, to this man who had been brokenhearted and no longer wished to be a part of the society. A man who simply wanted to take care of those on his estate to the best of his ability and to fall in love. So when Felicity schemes to get Viola the best possible future retirement as Huntington's future duchess, I was so excited to watch the story play out. Honestly, the combination of Felicity, Isabelle and Hunt together just made me giddy and so many times I was laughing out loud at their joined antics. And I adored Hunt's POV, how quickly he fell for Viola and how much he wanted to figure out a way to make her his. It gave me all the two curling perfect romance reader feels.

This one was fun! I love a good cast of side characters and this book has plenty. Miss Viola Winslow is an accomplished governess but has had a crush on James, the Duke of Huntington since they first met. She understands that the rules of society dictate she could never act on that crush; her charge doesn't quite grasp those same rules. She schemes to get Viola and the Duke to spend time together and it was hilarious. I adore a forced proximity trope and this one was well done. James feelings were definitely quick but it didn't take away from the storyline and the chemistry.

Tropes included: forced proximity, scheming side characters, governess heroine, class difference, family secrets, secret crush

Thank you to Lydia Drake, NetGalley, and Entangled Publishing for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #lydiadrake #entangledpublishing #TheGovernessandtheDuke #RenegadeDukes