Series: Unlikely Duchesses #2
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on December 31, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Romance
Pages: 376
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Forever My Duke is the second novel in a brand new Regency romance series from Olivia Drake about rakish dukes and the governesses who steal their hearts.
“I find Miss Fanshawe to be quite charming—for an American.”—The Prince RegentHadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, needs a bride. He even has the perfect one picked out. That is, until he meets the lovely, free-spirited Natalie Fanshawe. She’s the opposite of what a man of his high rank should desire in a wife—an outspoken American who has never even set foot in a London ballroom.
But Natalie doesn’t have time to be swept off her feet by a handsome duke who must be a spoiled scoundrel like every other British lord. And she couldn’t care less about Hadrian’s title. After all, it’s not as if he actually worked to attain his wealth and status. He surely can’t understand what it’s like to be a busy woman, planning to open a school while trying to reunite a six-year-old orphan with his English relatives. Nevertheless, Hadrian launches his campaign to win her heart. Can the utterly delightful American beauty ever find a way to love him...despite his being a duke?
Forever My Duke (Unlikely Duchesses #2) was my first Olivia Drake novel and I can guarantee it won’t be my last. From the moment I picked the book up, I was completely entranced by Hadrian and Natalie’s story. The story moves along very quickly, with our couple meeting right off the bat thanks to little Leo’s hide-and-seek nonsense.
Natalie was a strong, opinionated heroine that I enjoyed, although her excessive patriotism and condescending comments could be grating at times. As a result, I enjoyed Hadrian’s transformation the most. I loved watching him go from stern stereotypical duke to a softer, romantic hero.
I did end up putting the book down about halfway through the book because Natalie’s character was being a bit extra (for me) so the pacing slowed immensely. Once I picked it back up though and accepted I wouldn’t always like her, I was able to finish quickly. I felt like there could have been more character development and I wish we had more complexity in the side-characters but overall it was enjoyable!
In the end, this ducal romance was a fun regency romp with plenty of passion and angst in this opposites-attract relationship. Thankfully, this story doesn’t suffer as much from the dreaded miscommunication trope and we are treated to a number of deep conversations between Hadrian and Natalie. If you like your regency tales steamy, definitely pick this fun book up!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Olivia Drake
Shortly after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, Olivia Drake sold her first novel two weeks after sending it to a publisher. She now lives in Texas in a cozy cottage with two feisty cats and a photographer husband. Her two daughters have flown the nest, but still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal!
Olivia Drake is the author of 35 romance novels. Her most recent series is called ‘Unlikely Duchesses’ and began with THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW. The second book in the series, FOREVER MY DUKE, will be released in January 2020.
Her other series include ‘Heiress in London’ (SEDUCING THE HEIRESS, NEVER TRUST A ROGUE, SCANDAL OF THE YEAR) and ‘The Cinderella Sisterhood’ series (IF THE SLIPPER FITS, STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, ABDUCTED BY A PRINCE, BELLA AND THE BEAST, HIS WICKED WISH, THE SCANDALOUS FLIRT).
Many of you also knew Olivia as Barbara Dawson Smith. She is a New York Times bestseller and winner of numerous honors, including the Golden Heart Award and the coveted Rita Award for excellence in the historical romance genre.
