Abigail Linton and Maxwell Bryce had romantic feelings for each other when young, but Max and his infant sister were brought to London after his mother's death. Fifteen years later, Abigail had gotten fed up with her older siblings perpetually using her to soothe their lives with no consideration for her wants. She accepts the post of governess for Max's younger sister, thinking that he would be away from the estate. Circumstances send him back to the estate along with his libertine friends, and the two meet again for the first time in fifteen years.

The Duke I Once Knew is part of the Unlikely Duchesses series of romance novels. This stands alone, and we see the relationships that Abby and Max have with everyone around them, not just with each other. The history between Abby and Max is laid out slowly as they remember and discuss it, and the details of their past are revealed naturally. This does mean the romance part starts off relatively slowly, though the attraction and romantic feelings had been simmering for the fifteen years they were apart. They fixate on their misunderstandings and their feelings, and reluctantly let go of them in time. There are a number of romance novel tropes that play into this novel so some plot points can be accurately predicted.

I liked Abby and Gwendolyn, her teenage charge that had been isolated for such a long time. Max's friends were irritating every time they made an appearance, and I certainly shared Abby's frustration with her much older siblings dictating her life without even consulting her. Of course, Abby and Max ultimately reveal their true feelings and come together again. The journey to get there was a fun one to follow.

2.5 Wine Glass #Review of The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake
Kimberly's Thoughts:

"Though she loved her family dearly , she yearned for something more. Something of her own choosing."

First in the Unlikely Duchesses series, we have a heroine wanting to make a change. Abby was the surprise baby, her older siblings were already out of the house as she grew up. She ends up taking care of her older parents, missing a debut in London, and eventually landing into a role as caregiver for her nieces and nephews. It is when her family is arguing over who gets to have her that Abby decides she would like some control and freedom in her life. She decides to become a governess for the younger sister of the Duke of Rothwell, who just so happens to be her childhood love.

"Her rapt gaze followed the dusting of black hair that narrowed to a line, trailing downward across his flat belly to disappear inside his breeches . He looked every inch the wicked rake that young ladies were warned to avoid.
Thirty-year-old spinsters ought to know better, too."

This story was filled with cliches and tropes that help make up the backbone of romance and while they provided the, somewhat, requisite sweet and romantic moments, it also gave this a been there and done that feel. You won't get a fresh take or be particularly inspired by this story but you will like the heroine, she saves this from getting the mediocre tag and raised the rating from two to three stars. Her family is not malicious in their selfishness or obliviousness to Abby possibly having her own wants and needs but they are still selfish and oblivious. The author did a wonderful job infusing and relaying Abby's emotions to the reader, her quiet determination and fear from stepping out on her own. There wasn't villainous family members or a one eighty change from Abby, she still wanted to be in her family's lives but didn't want theirs to be hers. I thought towards the later half we lost a little bit of Abby as the focus shifted to the hero, Max, and the tired “Don't love because it can weaken you”.

"It was an unsettling thing for a man to question the state of his life. Especially when only a few days ago, he’d found it to be perfectly satisfactory."

The cliches I mentioned before, really hit hard on Max. He is the child of a marriage where his father loved his mother more than she loved him and he now feels he has to shun all love connections. There is a Misunderstanding that has him hardening his childhood heart against Abby but other than a quick plot trick, it is discussed (Thank-you!) and while not completely solved, figured out enough to not be a problem between them anymore in the first half. Abby does outshine him but he also doesn't ever break out of the duke, rake, and scared of love mold; he just isn't interesting or memorable. Their sex scenes do come in the second half but as there wasn't much emotional build up to them, they still ended up feeling abrupt. As a consequence, I can't say I was ever too invested in their romance or caught any sparks from them.

Along with the sweet, fun, and romantic cliches and tropes, there were some very tired ones. There is a “villainous” woman who wants Max and plays into the one dimensional social climbing, jealous other woman. This used to be a favorite of romance but it has been tending to move away from it and at this time, I much rather see female friendships or at least villainous women with some depth (in a time period where it was tough for women, this can be written as intelligent and powerful stratagem).

All in all, this had a sweet inspiriting heroine, Basic Ben hero, tired other woman character, and some possible interest in reading their stories secondary characters.

"Oh, hell, why deny it? He was in love with Abby. And nothing in his life had ever shaken him so much."


TO BE POSTED 01.07.19

What should have been a bright future for two young people in love became a nightmare that both endured in their own way. Promised letters between them, contact to keep the dreams alive were never received… by either. Each believed the other had set them aside, that their love wasn’t enough, and they each changed from what they might have been… to what they are today. One rake out for his own enjoyments, and one spinster at the beck and call of her family. Until Abby said no. Finally said no. She’s quickly approaching her thirtieth birthday without once experiencing anything remotely exciting or adventurous… it was time she did. Even if that was only taking a governess position with the sister of the man she once believed to hold her future. At least it was an adventure, and not one she’d soon forget.

The letters that were to be a lifeline between Abby and Max were never delivered… to either of them. And that means there is a mystery afoot that needs to be solved before they have even a remote possibility of a second chance at love or their future.

Fifteen years is a long time to allow discontent and bitterness to take over one’s life but it is what has happened. Now they are faced with not only finding out what happened but also with the feelings that never went away… but did change in some ways.

There are interesting twists in “The Duke I Once Knew” that kept me on my toes. I cannot say that I really liked the people Abby and Max are today or what we are presented with as their personalities. They each are stubborn, bull-headed and believe they are in the right, even when truths come to light. I enjoyed their story, yet I never felt like I was in their corner fighting for them.

I would recommend this story, it’s a good tale just not one that I was deeply invested in. (My take may be vastly different than yours so you should always make up your own mind.) I will continue the series for I enjoy Ms. Drake’s work and look forward to the next story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

It took me a while to get into this book, in fact, I’ll go as far as to say I didn’t really enjoy the first part of the novel. Fortunately, that just made the happily ever after sweeter in the long run. The Duke I Once Knew combines all the fun romance novel tropes including second chance romance, a governess heroine, a libertine hero, and a crazy house party.

Once the hero and heroine had worked out their misunderstandings, I really started to enjoy their relationship. Abby was a great heroine. I loved that she was a caretaker at heart, but didn’t let her need to take care of the hero stop her from standing up to him. She was multidimensional and I was completely engaged in her from the beginning. As I mentioned, the fact that the first part of the book didn’t really flow for me made the last part of the book where everything “clicked” that much better.

The main two reasons I didn’t enjoy the first part of the story were the more formal historical romance writing style and the hero’s indolent attitude. I would compare Olivia Drake’s writing style to that of a Mary Balogh or Eloisa James. Lovely prose, it just takes a while to get used to. I also think Ms. Drake added a few too many unnecessary plot elements.

The hero was so dissolute at the beginning of the book, I had a hard time believing his redemption arc, especially because it happened so quickly. I disliked him a little too much. While I understood his motivations by the end, he often came off as spoiled and entitled.

Overall, I think setting up a new series can be difficult and the great ending, as well as the hero’s eventual redemption, made this book palatable. I will probably end up continuing the series depending on which characters get their own book next.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

This is a lovely book with a heroine who isn't afraid to step away from her comfort zone -- and seek a job (horrors!) so she can find some independence from her family, even one she loves. At almost 30, Abigail (Abby) Jane Linton, wants to make her own way and she'll even risk becoming the governess to the little sister of the man she once loved. Maxwell Bryce, now the Duke of Rothwell, broke Abby's young heart -- but since he never goes home, she figures she will be safe. Of course, it wouldn't be a love story if the two characters didn't meet. Max shows up, party in hand including a woman he hopes to make his mistress, and the story takes off from there. There is a misunderstanding from their youth, and the return to trust and understanding is not easy. Olivia Drake pens another satisfying read. (I received an advance copy from NetGalley. Opinions are mine.

Part of a charming series called the Cinderella Spinsterhood, The Duke I Once Knew tells the story of a pair of innocent teenagers forced apart by circumstances and denied the comfort even of friendship. Abigail is left behind with her family, needed to be a support to her mother after a disabling fall, while Max is swept off to London with his ducal father.

Fast forward fifteen years and Abigail is trapped in an endless cycle between relatives, needed to be a support to siblings and their children of various ages. When the opportunity arises to become a governess to the Duke of Rothwell’s teenage sister, she jumps at it, safe in the knowledge that Max himself hasn’t set foot in Hampshire since that long-ago summer.

She’s barely been in the house a few days when Max arrives, though… with his latest paramour and a group of less-than-reputable friends! Abigail can’t abandon Lady Gwen in the face of such company, and soon the old fire is sparking to life between her and Max again.

Anyone who’s ever chafed under the weight of family duty will feel sympathy for Abby, who was essentially cheated of a chance to marry by years spent caring for her parents, and feel anger at her siblings who not only permitted it but perpetuated it with their expectations that she continue her position as unpaid assistant to the family.

As a rake, Max’s behaviour was both reprehensible and hypocritical, but to his credit being confronted with the truth of his actions and his feelings for Abigail made him realize the error of his ways. It was fairly hilarious when Abby turned the tables on him after a passionate interlude, treating him to a taste of his own medicine and making him see how badly he’d behaved.

This was a very enjoyable story, though I did spot a few anachronisms such as a Regency-era governess having a clock on her bedside table, and Lady Elise’s name mysteriously changing to Evelyn at one point, but these are errors I hope would be corrected before release of the final version for publication, since I was reading an advance release copy. I have no hesitation in awarding this five stars as an excellent read.

The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake is a charming read. The emotional rollercoaster ride was what really made me love this book. The feelings between the characters and the ones the characters created-hooked me right into their world. Abby was a young woman in love with her friend next-door. He too loved her just as much. They had an argument right before his father took him away. There's more to the now, Duke's family history than Abby can imagine.

Her first love, Max, is back and things between are complicated. Things went wrong for them then...will it always be like that or can they patch things up? Their young love blossoms once more. Neither one can deny their attraction or love has faded. Irresistible charm, lust, love, and new beginnings are explored here. Friendship once turned into something more, something real, never died.

Here, Olivia Drake sucked me into this juicy detailed story. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love right along with Abby and Max. Readers will find a good dose of humor and heat splashed upon these pages. Overall, I recommend this historical romance to all.

The Duke I Once Knew will delight readers who are fans of historical romance novels that are light, entertaining, and simply about two people falling in love. There's no deep angst, dark deadly secrets, or hardline stance of any kind. Just good story-telling. Sometimes that's what I'm looking for. And it's all right.

Abby and Max reunite after fifteen years and the return of their love for each other is utterly believable and quite obviously inevitable. The forces that are trying to keep them apart (misunderstanding about the lost letters, Lady Elise, Max's poor example of a father) are addressed one by one and in a timely manner.

I love reading an older heroine in Abby. There are so few of them in historical romance that when I find one, I gravitate towards it right away. It was fine for me to read teenagers when I was younger, but not when I'm middle-aged and can't relate. I also love her taking control of her own life and not letting herself be pushed around anymore. And when she and Max had their intimacy, she proved her strong will once more.

I also loved that the characters are flawed, but still sympathetic. Especially Max. It makes the book as close to reality as it could get.

If I have minor complaints (villainess with no redeeming factor, some repetition in the PoVs, so many named characters some of whom never got fully developed), they're overshadowed by the positives.

Last book of the year!! Unfortunately due to the ups and downs and turns of the holidays (and possibly because of my new addiction to the TV series "Bones"), this book took me FOREVER to finish. On the plus side, I did finish it before its publication date! 

I adore rekindled love stories, so this book hit the spot. The main character Abbey was relatable in her desire to finally do something for her self, as opposed to those around her. Max, the duke of this tale, seemingly held onto his grudge for quite a while, but he was a very redeemable protagonist. 

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to historical romance lovers.

Rating: 4/5

An epic sweet romance that made me swoon moment after moment as these two fell in love.

An interesting, fresh plot with solid historical romance underpinnings - I enjoyed it very much. Abigail was stubborn and independent, but also very sweet and caring. I love second chance love stories, and this one didn't disappoint.

If you're a fan of sweet over sultry then this is the book for you. Although there was only a touch of forbidden moments in this book it was incredibly sweet. It had its fair share of frustration in it too, which is inevitable when you're dealing with Regency Romance! :D

The characters were lovely enough, I did crave more from them but it didn't ruin the book for me. The pace of the book moved along quickly and the small mystery of "but where..." that is hidden in the story was enough to keep me latched on to that question too!

Overall, it was a sweet read and perfect to finish up on Christmas Eve!

3.5 Savvy Crowns from me.

I don't know how I was able to continue reading the book after the first 30%. The story begins with the heroine been treated horribly by her siblings. The whole vibe I was getting when I was reading that scene was that Abby was a burden and each sibling had his own life to live. Abby had some attitude and self esteem which was good, but she didn't get a guy who was good enough for her and made me think that he actually cared for her. Wanna know why? Because we are first introduced to Max when he is in the library kissing another woman whom he plans to have as his mistress. Isn't that the best way to introduce your "hero" in a historical romance novel? After that, we got reminded a few times that Max was busy sowing his oats while the heroine was living a boring, virginal life. The book got slightly better after that, but I didn't like how the wanna-be mistress was around the whole time. She is there for like 85% of the story.

The Duke I Once Knew is the first book in Olivia Drake’s Unlikely Duchesses series of Regency-era historical romances. I’ve read one of Drake’s other books, so I was looking forward to reading this one.

Abby is the youngest sibling in a fairly large family. She is also significantly younger than everyone else, and so she has spent her youth taking care of her nieces and nephews. As the story begins, her siblings are fighting over who needs Abby’s help more. In a fit of pique, Abby decides that she is not going with any of them and that she will accept a governess position at the ducal estate next door (so to speak).

Abby is fine with taking the job because she does not expect to see the duke- Max- because he has not been in residence for over a decade. But of course, he arrives with a whole entourage of people, and Abby is forced to confront her past.

When Abby was fifteen and the duke was sixteen, they shared a tender little romance. It ended abruptly when Abby resisted Max’s physical advances, and he said that if she won’t comfort him, he’d find someone who would. And then he walked out of her life and literally never came back to the ducal seat.

Apparently, he wrote to her, but when she didn’t respond, he assumed that he’d offended her and never actually went home to follow up with her and apologize in person. He spent the next decade being a Super Rake. The missing letters are a Big Issue, and one of the things that kept me reading was the hope that the resolution would be satisfying. It was not.

In fact, he’s so rakish that he’s shown up at his house with the lady he wants to make his mistress. Of course, once he sees Abby, all that changes, and the Almost Mistress is none too happy about that. And I can’t say that I blame her. Yes, she’s catty and awful and does unforgiveable things, but Max definitely sends mixed signals throughout the book.

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get beyond Max’s callous behavior. Yes, he was only a boy, but he had ample time to make amends for someone he supposedly cared about very much. And even now, he invites a woman to his house for the sole purpose of making her his mistress, and then he drops her like a hot potato when something better comes along.

The Duke I Once Knew is a decidedly average book. There are some funny moments, but characterization is fairly superficial, and I didn’t find the chemistry to be believable. Abby was nice, for the most part, and she deserves better than a duke with flimsy excuses.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Fifteen years have passed since Abby saw the Duke of Rothwell, and when she took the governess position at his estate, she never dreamed she would see him again. He had left her life, broke his promise, and never returned. She is tired of being at her family's beck and call and wants finally to do something for herself, so she takes the position as governess to his younger sister.  She is in for a world of surprise when not only does she see him again but she gets trapped in his library while he has an assignation with his mistress. How embarrassing when he finds her trying to crawl out of the room undetected.

He never wanted to return to his childhood home, and he certainly never wanted to see the girl he thinks spurned him when he moved away. He has lived a wild life in the 15 years since leaving, and as he is trying to seduce a woman into becoming his next mistress, what he doesn’t expect to find is the girl he once loved and wanted to marry in his employ without his knowledge sneaking around his library.

The chemistry between the two was great from the start and their back story added an interesting plot element as they try to come to terms with the fact that his father worked to keep them apart all those years ago.  I enjoyed their story a lot and the plot and conflict worked steadily to keep the story going from start to finish.  There were not a lot of slow moments and I liked the villain being the woman who wanted him for herself. Enjoyable all around and a beautiful love story.

This delightful and charming second-chance Regency romance is so beautifully written, I felt I had gone back in time and was right in the middle of all that was happening. I really liked Abigail Linton and her dynamic with the other characters especially her childhood sweetheart Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell and notorious rake who she hasn't see in fifteen years. Fans of well-crafted Regency romance should plan to read this heartwarming romance. I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.

This is a second chance historical romance, when one becomes a "spinster" at thirty. It's quite acceptable to be married before the age of twenty.

Abby and Max were childhood friends and sweethearts. Unfortunately, Max and his sister were whisked off to London when he was only fifteen.

Fast forward to fifteen years later, and Abby wants a change in her life. She loves her family dearly, but answers to every beck and call, and now they are talking about her as if she isn't there. She makes the decision of earning her own way. She applies for a governess position and now that she feels secure, Max reappears.

Max is the most eligible bachelor and the rake of London. He has to make a last minute change to stop at his Dukedom for the forthcoming week. He has brought his questionable entourage, including his mistress. Imagine his surprise on encountering the governess. It would appear that there has been a misunderstanding, but the old spark is still present. Will they clear up the misunderstanding or will Max continue to be the rogue that he is renowned for?

It's a well written historical romance. The two main characters are very well portrayed as are the secondary characters.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

A lovely second chance romance. You get a real sense of their youthful love for one another and how important they were to each other as teenagers. There is real substance to their story. I couldn't help but root for them to finally have their happy ever after when they found each other again as adults.
I loved the wicked side characters and the dilemmas that were created in attempts to thwart true love.

A good read. I loved it.

I loved Abby's need for independence. Max was self-absorbed in a way, but he realized how his life affected those around him. With plenty of misunderstandings and assumptions, I did not want to stop reading. My heart and emotions were pulled into this story. I highly recommend this story.

I received an ARC of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

The Duke I Once Knew is one of the best second chance romances you will read. The most hilarious scene takes place in the library with our rogue of a hero, Max, the Duke of Rothwell, trying to seduce his ‘would-be’ mistress for the first time. Our darling, innocent Abby is trying to get out of said library with out being noticed. Big OOPS!

Max and Abby were childhood friends and sweethearts. Ending their dreams is his mother’s death and father’s desire to get away from the home in which his wife died. Max and Abby both wrote letters to the other following their separation, but the letters never made it. Both believe the other forgot about them. Abby takes care of her aging parents, while Max lives the life of a libertine. Both trying to forget about the other thinking they will never meet again.

Fifteen years later, Abby is hired by Max’s aunt as governess to his little sister, Lady Gwendolyn. Really, nothing could go wrong if Max does not even know he has hired her. Yet, it does, such as Abby being in the library trying to hide while Max is seducing his new paramour. Max has returned home for the first time in fifteen years.

What follows is a mixture of love, jealousy, confusion, lack of trust, hurt and frustration to make a delightful weekend read. Max redeemed himself for the sweet HEA. The Unlikely Duchesses series is one you do not want to miss as this is a great beginning.