A good romantic Historical story.
Really liked Abbigail and Max they once cared for each other.
Max went away after a tragedy and each thought they forgot about each other and felt hurt.
After 15 yrs they were reunited in an employee employer situation and discovered that they still have feeling for each other but have to come to an understanding of what really happen 15 yrs ago.
Some very good dialogue,situations,and romance.
Enjoy reading.
Voluntarily reviewed.

What a wonderful happy ending story. Poor abby used by her family as a servant. Of course max and because he didn't receive a letter from her. I'm sure there were so kinds of misunderstandings back then. I'm glad they finally got together after all these years ty

Abigail Linton was madly in love with Max Bryce when she was 15. Suddenly, his mother died and, his father took Max and his little sister to London. She never heard from Max again. In those 15 years, Abby has been pushed around to help everyone in her family and, spent the past few years caring for her ailing parents until they died within months of each other. She's finally had enough and decided to apply for the governess position for Max's little sister for the independence. Little does she know that Max will be returning home a few weeks later with an entourage of his friends and, his mistress. When Max returns home and, realizes that his little sister's new governess is no other than the only woman he has ever loved, the woman who never returned his letters. It's been 15 years but, Max is furious that, apparently, his mind and body have never forgotten Abby! Abby is sitting in the corner of the library when Max comes in with his mistress and, proceeds to ravish her until Abby makes a noise and he realizes they are not alone. That makes Abby realize that all of those rumors about what a rake Mac is are, true!
How is Abby going to keep the first job that has taken her away from her smothering, needy family? How is Max going to do everything he needs to do to fix up the castle, keep the strumpet he brought with him from constantly fawning over him and, deal with the unwanted feelings for Abby that just won't go away!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
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So, Abigail's family is loving, well meaning, and incredibly insensitive when it comes to her. I think I was supposed to like them, but they were so blatant in their complete disregard for her, that they really came across as very very black and white. But they weren't the main characters. In order to escape from them, and their insensitive plans for her future, that are so very self serving, Abigail decides to take a job as a companion. The reader is supposed to believe that Abigail is taking this job so she can "see the world", but I am not sure what part of the world she is planning to see as a companion to a girl on a country estate bordering her own. Anyway, Abigail used to be friends with Max even though he is nobility and she is not, and they were sort of engaged, but then one day he fell off the planet. They both wrote to each other, but the letters got lost, so they both think the other abandoned them. Max hasn't been home in almost 15 years, but he just happened to show up there about a week after Abigail starts working there. OK. Sure. That isn't contrived at all. It was nice to see them find their way back to each other.

I started this book eay this morning and couldn't put it down. The sweet romance between Abby and Max was fun and compelling. The author was talented enough to let me believe i was transported back in time to an English countryside watching this couple fall over each other and in love. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family.

Abigail Linton has known no other life beyond that of caring for her ill and aging parents and helping raise her numerous nieces and nephews. But when her parents pass on, she becomes the topic of discussion amongst her siblings as to who will take her into their home. Each demands her attention for various reasons of need, but not once asking what Abigail wishes. Having arrived to the conclusion that she should embrace her spinsterhood, Abigail shocks her family when she announces she will become the governess of the Duke of Rothwell’s sister. But Abigail hides a secret she has long held close to her heart, years ago, before Maxwell Bryce became the notorious Duke of Rothwell, Abigail and Max were young and in love, but something happened that she could never bring herself to forgive…he broke his promise to her.

Maxwell Bryce, Duke of Rothwell, has learned to spurn love, considering the emotion weak and easily confused with lust. But when he returns to his family’s country estate, he is shocked to discover the one that broke his heart so many years ago is now working for him as his sister’s governess. Max is furious but also curious as to why she never answered his letters all those years ago.

Abigail and Max have spent the better part of 15 years apart, but when they are offered a second chance at love, can they put time and petty emotions to the side to make it work, or will they allow their stubborn constitutions cost them a chance at true love.

While I enjoyed this second chance romance, I had a few problems with Abigail’s character. In one chapter she’s upset over how her family is dismissing her feelings and treating her like an unpaid servant, yet when Max attempts to defend her, she gets mad at him for berating her family. I thought the beginning and end were the best parts of the story, and I figured out the secret of the letters long before our couple. Overall, The Duke I Once Knew was an enjoyable historical romance, and I would read more from this author.

Spinster Abigail Linton spent the years she should have been having her seasons, caring for her elderly parents.
After she came out of mourning to find her siblings fighting over her would get her for free labor, she had had ENOUGH!
Abigail applied for a governess position at the home of her one and only love, it being safe because he was not in residence, but was in London.
She was enjoying working with Lady Gwendolyn, when the errant ex...The Duke of Rothwell arrives to host a boxing match with a questionable retinue.
Well developed characters and situations make this historical enjoyable reading. I would recommend it highly to historical or romance fans.

Almost a year after her parents’ deaths, Abigail Linton finds herself the subject of her siblings’ discussion to decide where she’s going to live next. Distraught by this, she informs them of their decision to seek a position as a governess in the nearby estate of the Duke of Rothwell.
Maxwell Bryce, Duke of Rothwell, hasn’t set foot in Rothwell Court for the past ten years and that was only overnight. When he comes unexpectedly to find his nearby neighbor and childhood friend working as his sister’s governess and being that she was hired without his consent, he’s fast to dismiss Abby.
A looming prizefight, a handful of unsavory guests to keep away from the young innocent Lady Gwendolyn, quite a few schemes and glimpses of first love will be the backdrop to the story of Max and Abby.
This was my first read by Ms. Drake and I came of it quite satisfied. I really enjoy historical romances, but I’ve recently been plagued by stories that miss the mark from their period which was not the case with this book. Ms. Drake is a great storyteller and knows her chosen craft well meeting the mark for the period she’s writing about. Further to that, she gives a great plot with engaging characters and the result is a very nice, hard to put down read.

The Duke I Once Knew is a phenomenal historical romance by Olivia Drake. Ms. Drake is treating readers to a well-written book populated with an outstanding cast of characters. Abigail is tired of her family making her decisions for her without asking what she wants. She decides to take a governess position instead of what her family decides is best for them. Max is now the Duke of Rothwell and is shocked to discover his childhood sweetheart, Abby, acting as his sister's new governess. Max and Abby's story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle and action. I enjoyed reading The Duke I Once Knew and look forward to reading more from Olivia Drake in the future. The Duke I Once Knew is book 1 of the Unlikely Duchesses Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Duke I Once Knew is a steamy historical novel of second chances. I really enjoyed this one and found myself devouring the story in one sitting. I am so happy the it's the first book in a brand new series by Olivia Drake as I plan to read more as they are released.

Abigail and Max grew up as neighbors. They had a secret friendship until Max's mother died. The day of the funeral Max tells Abigail that they are moving but that when he comes of age, he will be back to marry her. They promise to write one another. But their letters never get to each of them. Abigail thinks that Max moved on and didn't really mean what he promised. Max thinks the same about Abigail. When his father dies, Max becomes the Duke of Rothwell and quite the philanderer.

Abigail never married. She takes care of her parents until they die and then is used by her siblings as an unpaid nanny. No one gives consideration to what Abigail may want. Fed up, she takes a position as a governess to Max's younger sister. Max is never at the estate. The position allows Abigail freedom. Until one day a turn of events has Max and his entourage, which includes a widow he plans to have as a lover, turn up at the estate. It's 15 years later. Can the two of them untangle their past?

I enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading others by this author.

A lovely story of second chances. Young love revisited and how cool that he is a duke now! Her family is using her as a nanny so she takes matters into her own hands. I liked this spunky gal though she did seem to speak before thinking. He has surrounded himself with friends that are often unsavory. But the book is really quite wonderful! I liked it!

Thanks for letting me read this book!

This is a great start to a new series. The story is about Abigail Linton, who has been devoted to taking care of her aging parents and her siblings. Now she takes a position as a governess to a neighbor. Maxwell Bryce the Duke of Rothwell, who once had broke her heart, but he is absent from the estate.
Then he arrives unexpectedly, Max is not happy to meet his sister’s new governess. But he is wondering why Abby appears just as displeased to see him when it was she rejected him. So it has some mystery and I love the characters and the plot is good.

Fifteen years ago Abby and Max were young and in love, Now Abby is approaching her 30th birthday. She has given up her life by caring for her parents. She decides she wants to be independent from her remaining family and decides to take the post of governess to Max’s younger sister.

Abby assumes she can avoid seeing Max as he doesn’t visit his estate at all. Until a bout with measles on the estate where Max was going to train his prized boxer brights him home.

It was a nice read as Abby and Max find their way back to each other. But without a lot of misunderstandings and bad assumptions.

That's a wide age difference between eldest and youngest sibling. And who said she wants to be a "companion" to your wife, Clifford?

You know this is actually your baby, not hers, right James? And these people better start remembering that she is their sister, not their kid.

My, Lady Gwendolyn is biddable.

I'm guessing their respective parents hid their letters.

Why would the governess return?

I'm guessing his mother had manic depression.

She has to get back on the horse, literally.

Bertie is cute.

Well, was she planning to be a doormat for the rest of her life?

That witch!

A closeted woman, who spent her life caring for her parents, her nieces and nephews. A Duke who enjoys his rakehell ways. Both had their hearts broken by each other.
A second chance romance of sorts, this book is perfect for historical romance lovers. A dash of villainy, a sprinkling of mischief and tonnes of romance.

Due to being so devoted to her family, Abigail Linton reached spinsterhood but she's set to change that. She went to the neighboring estate as a governess which is a perfect job for Abby as she spent most of her life caring for her parents and then her sibling's children. The only problem is her absentee employer is her first love, Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell. It was the man she used to meet in secret when they were both young and also happened to be the man who seemed forgotten her when he went to London and became the rake that he is. But when they met again, it seemed like Max is as displeased as Abby is. Could it be that they really don't know what went wrong in their relationship?

This is a good read but still has a big potential. The beginning and end seemed rushed but everything in between is enjoyable to read. The characters though not really memorable are interesting enough for me to care and root for an HEA.

Although the plot was predictable, the characters themselves were decently entertaining with their family squabbling. I think the beginning and ending had the most interesting tidbits, while the middle of the book sort of plodded along. Considering this is the first book of a series, overall I’d say it was an okay read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had a great time reading Abby and Max.

Childhood sweethearts...then life happened.

Abby is taken advantage of, a bit, by her family...and doesn't wish to be the maiden aunt of the family, passed around from pillar to post.

Max is determined not to fall into the trap of love - his father warned him.

Mixups, miscommunications, and a host of other happenings. I'd like to read more in this series!

First things first, I wanted to punch Max in the face. He treated Abigail awfully both in the past and in the present, and yet it took SO long for him to realize it. Never rely on the mail! A situation is not resolved until you have talked to that person face to face. Abigail had no way to do that, Max was the one with means. It also annoyed me that it made it seem that Max went immediately from being in love with Abigail as a child to sleeping with half of London. There's nothing wrong (well there are some things) with a run of the mill rake, but his characterization just didn't seem right.

While I really disliked Max, I loved Abigail. She was clearly a loving human being who simply wanted to help those around her. I was consistently angry on her behalf with how her family treated her.

There were two other aspects of the story that I didn't like. One was the characterization of one of the female side characters. She is depicted as mean spirited to an extreme, and manipulates and hurts people to get what she wants. While that kind of person does exist, I don't like how the novel pitted her and Abigail against each other. I prefer my female characters to be allies, not enemies. And Abigail was constantly calling her names in her head, and it just made me super frustrated. Abigail is in some ways depicted as the exact opposite of this woman. She is the stereotypical 'she's not like other girls' to the extreme. She's not beautiful, but she's got a great personality. Max is constantly describing her in rather condescending terms. While Abigail herself was okay, I didn't like how she was described.

Overall, this book was a flop for me. Unless the next character is really interesting, I likely won't be continuing the series.