Friday, December 27, 2019

Book Review: Forever my Duke by Olivia Drake

Forever my Duke, Book 2 in the Unlikely Duchesses series by Olivia Drake


Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, December 31, 2019

Time and setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

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 Regent 
Hadrian 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?

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Vikki’s Musings

Thanks goes to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for the opportunity to read and review Forever my Duke, Book 2 in the Unlikely Duchesses series, by Olivia Drake by Olivia Drake, an historical romance. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Forever my Duke is a fast-paced enjoyable reading experience. The plot is unique and doesn't follow the typical pattern for Regency romance, yet still gives a strong sense of the glittering life of the Beau Monde. 

Natalie Fanshawe’s character is an engaging heroine. She has tremendous loyalty and willing to go to any lengths for those she loves. That is proven time and again in Forever my Duke. She’s an admirable character, so I became vested in her right away. Her tender care of her charge touched my heart.

Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton, is the typical ducal hero. In the beginning he’s austere and appears to look down his nose at anyone beneath him. But wait, there is more to him under the surface and a great many reasons why he keeps himself separate from others. It also explains why he’s ready to take his second cousin as his betrothed. I was able to warm to his character faster than I usually do, to his type of hero.

The romance between Natalie and Clayton has plenty of spark and fire. At times, it’s a bit of a love/hate relationship, but as the story proceeds, the couple’s overwhelming attraction takes over. There’s a good bit of sexual tension threaded through this book, which is an aspect of Regency romance that most appeals to me. I found their romance satisfied that love in a strong way.

If you enjoy historical romance with strong heroes and heroines and an adorable little boy, then you like love Forever my Duke as much as I did. I’m glad I took a chance on this one. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

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).  

Olivia Drake's books have won the Golden Heart Award, Best Historical Romantic Suspense, Best Regency Historical, and the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and a pair of feisty cats. Her two daughters have flown the nest, but they still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal.

Olivia has also written under the name Barbara Dawson Smith.

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