Historical romances are my guilty pleasure so I jumped on the chance to read The Duke I Once Knew. The synopsis held promise of the type of light and fluffy romantic read that I love losing myself in once in a while. I am a complete sucker for “lost lovers over time”.

While I found this book to be a fairly quick and somewhat enjoyable read, I honestly couldn’t wait to get to the end of it. I needed this book to be finished. I couldn’t get enough of the storyline of a second chance romance but I could not stand the characters at all! Any of them! Well, except maybe Goliath. Him I enjoyed.

I was expecting Max and his friends to be your typical rogues; flirty, temperamental and just all out impossible to live with. That I was prepared for. What shocked and annoyed me was Abby. I had such high hopes for her at the beginning with her want for independence but all my hopes were just shattered. I understand that women were meant to be seen as obedient and meek during this time period, but come on! I had such respect for this woman holding her ground and speaking her mind but she turned out to be such a doormat, especially when it came to Max, that I just lost interest in her. I also got the impression of a snob from her. I mean, there is being prim and formal and then there is taking it a little too far. Sure, she had her moments where her guard was let down but those were fleeting and far between. I prefer a female lead with more spunk and tenacity than compliance and apologies.

I probably could have forgiven Abby her conflicting personality traits had I not been constantly reminded of them. It seemed every page or so was Abby second guessing something, wondering if she had misread something, thinking about how improper her thoughts were or trying to decide how things would have been if something had played out differently. We got a lot of this from Max as well, but I found it more irritating coming from Abby for some reason. I think I had just expected more growth from her character.

There was also a lot of repetition throughout the book that made me feel that it could have been done at least 50 pages earlier. During those moments, I found myself skimming a lot because there was no new information, just a lot of facts and thoughts that were unnecessarily repeated.

Though I did have some issues with The Duke I Once Knew, I did find the overall story quite enjoyable and the parts that held my interest were very quick to read through. This was my first work by the author and I will keep an eye out for other titles by her.

I received this copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press to read and provide my own opinions.

This is escapism at high level, suspend your belief and be ready to entertained! This was a lovely book, well written, and with great characters.
I really liked it and hope to read other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC

4.5 Stars!!! Great book! I loved this book. Max & Abby were cute together. I felt bad for how Abby was basically an unpaid servant to her family! I did roll my eyes at how easily the rift between Max & Abby could have been avoided. It was still a great book! I do wish there was a longer ending & an epilogue. I feel like the story just ended with a lot left to tell. Other than those few things, it was a very entertaining story & I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance, especially historical romance!
*I received this book at no charge from the publisher.*

The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake was a delightful second chance romance that was provided to me by NetGalley for my honest review.

Abigail is a spinster daughter, who has set her life aside to take of her ill parents, then her sisters, brothers and their families once their parents passed. Unfortunately, they treated her as a servant, with no thought as to what she might want, so she took it into her own hands to apply as a governess to the younger sister of Max, the boy she loved as a child. They had planned a life together, but when he moved away after his mother's death, they lost touch. Once Abby's employed Max returns and the sparks are palpable...but they each harbor an anger towards the other for not writing years ago. But they had, so what happened to those letters? Could Max get past his reputation as a rogue and find his way back into Abby's heart? Could they both forgive? An enjoyable story!

I have not read a book by Olivia Drake before, but upon finding this on Netgalley I decided to give it a shot since it sounded good. I read the first few chapters but couldn't get into it. I found that the characters didn't quiet pull me in, the story was very slow. The writing was good itself on its own, but it did not keep me wanting to read the book.

Abby and Max were separated through no fault of their own and managed to overcome family drama, meddiling and injury to have a steamy interlude. I was instantly drawn into the story and can't wait for more from Olivia.

I really wanted to love this one! It had two tropes that I love. Duke needing a governess and second chance romance. However, it didn’t win me over as I hoped. I expected a bit more angst and romance. These two did a dance around each other that could have ended a bit sooner if they would have spoken about the past.

Abigail became a pushover in her family by being the youngest and going along with whatever her family wanted her to do. It was good to see her get a backbone and take charge of her life. While she was a bit on the prudish side, I did like her character.

Max, Max, Max. There were so many times that I wanted to shake him. He really wanted to make himself believe that he loved his lifestyle as it was without love. However, He knew he loved Abigail. He just kept fighting it.

Since it was a first in a series, I’ll round up to three stars. While I wasn’t in love with it, I did enjoy it and will be reading the next book in this series.

** Review will be posted to the blog in at a later date.

Great story with reunited childhood loves but with obstacles in the way, lost letters, family that means well but not, a widow in need of money that will stop at nothing to gain a Duke, broken hearts and one rogue rake that has his flings thrown in his face by the one girl he destroyed when she was 15, but the biggest obstacle is their love that they still have for each other while she hides hers, he try’s to smash it because he won’t ever get married or have children (fears his father engraved into Max’s head)

They fell in love when she was 15 and he 16, but tragically something happen and his father split them apart in more way then one. Now Abby is 29 almost 30 a spinster and is a unpaid servent to her much older siblings (like her oldest brother is 60 and the second youngest or 5 is 7 years older then Abby) since she became the caretaker of her sickly parents and after they past her siblings say her as the maiden aunt that will be there to sooth her many nieces and nephews and to be pushed from one sister house to her brothers house when they need her ‘servitude’. That made her want to become her pawn person and have a job, even might get her a husband and then children is that happens, but she finally stood up for her self in front of her beloved family. She knew taking the job as Gwen governess might cause problems but Abby was hoping that her long lost love a rakehell, playboy/ rouge will never find out that Abby is there in his country home. But an unexpected case of the measles, a prizefighter and future mistress in the make will bring the rake Max Bryce Rothwell to the only place close enough to protect is investment in the boxer, and hopefully entice a widow to his bed as a mistress but the she wants titled and money). First time in 15 year Since Abby sees Max in the library with his mouth on the widow’s lips and his hand up her skirt, Abby know the stories she heard but comparing the boy she knew to the man she watching will force her broken heart to become encased in unbreakable stone, if she to stay out of her family’s bouncing maid she will have to push her love for the boy she knew to the back of her mind to keep her job as governess and not to let memories to make her a fool for Max ever again.

Abigail "Abby" Linton is tired of not being in control of her own person. Her family never takes into consideration what she wants or how she feels. Abby is ready for a life of her own. That is how she finds herself taking a position as a governess at a neighboring estate. Abby should have known her position was too good to be true.

Maxwell "Max" Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, is beyond shocked when he arrives to find his first love is working in his employ, and as his sister's new governess no less. Max wants to fire her, but gives her until he finds a replacement before she has to leave. In the meantime, how is he going to avoid her?! Being around Abby brings old feelings to the surface. It isn't long before the past comes to a head, and suddenly Max isn't so sure he wants to let Abby go after all. Can they make it work the second time around?

THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW is the first in author Olivia Drake's exciting new UNLIKELY DUCHESSES series. I felt an instant connection to both the hero and heroine, Max and Abby. Second chance love stories are some of my favorites and theirs did not let me down. Although either is loath to admit it, they have never stopped loving one another. Something so small has held them back from each other for years. I wanted to cry at all the years they missed being together. Luckily for them, fate smiles upon them and reunites them. Their path isn't easy, but they are strong enough to get where they need to be. THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW is a very raw, gritty and powerful love story. Ms. Drake's UNLIKELY DUCHESSES series is sure to captivate.

Really enjoyed this book. Was a bit predictable but still very enjoyable. Characters and story were interesting. Have already preordered for my store

This was a fantastic read that I couldn't put down. I enjoyed the story of Abby & Max & how they reenter each other's lives after being romantically involved as teenagers. I highly suggest reading this book to find out how they reconnect & what becomes of them when they do.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. An adorable second chance romance that while somewhat unbelievable, it still entices the reader enough to ignore it so the characters can connect.

This was a truly great love story. I loved it. Always love Ms. Drake. Great storyteller! A story that kept me glued to the book way past my bedtime.

Oh how i enjoyed this story! Abby is almost 30, a woman who never stopped loving the boy next door. Max, now a duke, has become a rake...love is not for him! I won't spoil ghe story. Suffice it to say there are some great secondary characters i hope we hear from later, and a wonderful HEA...after a while!

Abby and Max are two people who fell in love long ago, only to be re-united and have the impression each betrayed the other. Ms. Drake does a good job of making sure that they both remember the history between them and rekindling their romance. This book is a fun read that will leave you wanting to turn the page for more.

I enjoyed this first in a new series. Max and Abby were teenagers in love until Max’s mother died and his father took him from his country home. They vowed to write and wed but the letters they each wrote were never received and they assumed the other had moved on.

Fifteen years later, Abby has never had a season or married due to her parents’ illness and her family treats her more like a servant. She decides to build her own life and becomes governess to Max’s sister. She’s stunned when he shows up after all these years.

The romance is sweet and I enjoyed all the characters we are introduced too. I look forward to more books in this series.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

***ARC was provided to me for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Heroine (Abby): 4/5 She is turning thirty and wants to have a life that isn’t under her siblings roofs’ and will do anything to do so, even work as a governess at the home of her childhood boyfriend

Hero (Max): 4/5 He has left behind his country estate and childhood girlfriend for the lavishes of London, but when a prizefight calls him back to his estate he must face the past.

Plot: 3/5 Abby wants to get out of her family’s houses and experience the world. She applies to work at the Duke of Rothwell’s estate as governess for the Duke’s younger sister. Though Abby and Max, the duke, shared a childhood romance Abby is sure that Max lost interest long ago when he moved to London and earned a reputation as a rogue. Now he’s come home to his country estate and Abby hopes she can keep her feelings to herself, but can Max?

Personal Review: The lake scene? So good. Really steamy. Loved it.

Typically I love to read ‘lord of the house falls for his charge’s governess’ stories, and this one was really good at times. I just found it difficult to get into the story and the romance doesn’t really pick up until fifty percent of the way in. The last thirty five-ish percent was really paced well and was a breeze to get through with some fun action.

Max and Abby made a good paring and have great chemistry, I just wish they started not hating the other slightly sooner in the story.

I felt bad for Abby whenever she was dealing with her family, they treat her like a servant, which yes is part of the plot, but we never got character growth from them. I wished the story continued on just a bit to reveal how the family reacts to Abby having the highest social standing of the siblings.

I enjoyed how independent the heroine of this story was. I like a story that has a backstory for the main characters. I did find that the plot felt a bit rushed.

Well written and flows nice. I really enjoyed this book. I was glued to the pages. Enjoyed reading how Max and Abbie rekindle their romance.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Abigail Linton and Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell were childhood sweethearts until a family tragedy took Max away, Abby’s letters to him went unanswered, and both of them ended up broken hearted. Fifteen years later Abby is done devoting herself to caring for her siblings’ children and catering to their needs so she takes a position as a governess on a neighboring estate, to Max’s young sister and convinces herself that since he hasn’t set foot on the estate since that fateful day she has nothing to worry about. Until Max does show up and while both he and Abby are convinced that the other broke their heart, it doesn’t take long to figure out that their letters to each other never arrived at their intended destinations. But fifteen years has changed them both and there may not be enough affection between them for a second chance.




Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? Honestly, I got bored and frustrated with this book. For many reasons. Don’t get me wrong, in theory the set up was a good, if common one. Titled lord falls for untitled girl, they make plans to marry but fate (or scheming relatives) separate the young lovers leading them to believe the other spurned them. I don’t mind the theme but I had a problem with the characters, their connection, and their romance.

Let’s start with Max, the duke and “hero” of the story. He’s a skirt chaser, a libertine of the worst sort and that usually doesn’t bother me BUT Max just came off as sleazy at times and it usually was when he interacting with Abby. Overall he wasn’t someone I could fall for. Too arrogant, no humility at the end, just a man playing power games when he should have been growing up and growing into his feelings for Abby.

Then there’s Abby. I didn’t like her either. She was dull, a bit of a nag, and always disapproving about something. Those were the three traits that she exhibited throughout the story. Her inner monologue about Max grated on my nerves because that’s all she did when she wasn’t nagging or being disapproving. And for a governess she spent a lot of time away from her charge. She was almost always conveniently running into him, getting caught thinking about him, or letting it slip to others that she had an interest in him. She was predictable and like I said, dull.

As a couple I had a big issue with Max and Abby. Supposedly he was in love with her when he was young and as an adult still feels something for her but he LOVED to toss his position of power over her as her employer, ordering her around, constantly reminding her that she was in his employ, etc. I really felt the imbalance of power here and the fact that Max used it to his advantage was a turn off. It was like Abby couldn’t be an equal to him mentally or emotionally, not even behind closed doors. He treated her like a servant in front of his friends and the woman he was intending on making his mistress, and that didn’t change even as his feelings for her did. He never really courted Abby once he realized he wanted a future with her, there was no romance between them, no re-connecting emotionally just… Nothing. I didn’t feel that these two were hopelessly, desperately in love with each other. I didn’t even see the kindness and gentleness that Abby claimed Max had in him. He was tolerant at best and childish at worst. They both were.

And don’t get me started on Abby’s manipulative and abusive family that basically saw her as an unpaid servant and babysitter. That type of “family” is right up there with “elective root canal” and “nope.” Naturally she never stood up to them, made excuses for them, and forgave them because “they are family.” Blech.


Click It or Skip It? Skip It. I’m not opposed to reading this author’s work again but this one just didn’t work for me at all. I didn’t connect with the characters and they never convinced me that they were in love.