I enjoyed this author’s previous books, but this much less. I really struggled with the middle of the story. The best part of this book was Leo, the young ward of the American Natalie. 2 stars.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence my review.

Forever My Duke by Olivia Drake is book two in the Unlikely Duchesses series. The heroine, a feisty, twenty-six-year-old American named Natalie Fanshawe, is certainly an unlikely duchess. When her best friends, a missionary couple, were killed by British soldiers during a skirmish, leaving behind their six-year-old son, Leo, Natalie promised to bring the boy back to England to his grandfather. The grandfather had disowned his daughter for falling in love with an impoverished gentleman and running away to America. While on her way to deliver the boy, Natalie is trapped by a snowstorm at a small English inn. There, while chasing the mischievous Leo, she meets the hero of the book, Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton.

Hadrian is on his way to propose to Lady Ellen, daughter of his deceased father’s old friend and younger sister of the woman Hadrian was supposed to marry many years earlier. But Hadrian’s intended had eloped with another man, which had not disappointed Hadrian all that much. The younger sister is prettier and well-bred and docile, and he believes she will do for a wife as well as any other. It’s time for him to settle down and sire an heir, so he may as well carry out his father’s plan of uniting the two families.

Of course, after meeting cute, Hadrian and Natalie are thrown together to begin an off-kilter courtship. Hadrian falls for Natalie, but recognizes that they are from two different worlds. How can he wed a commoner? An American?

Natalie is as reluctant to wed an English lord as he is to marry “beneath” him. She is happy with the life she has in America and wants very much to return to it. She wants no part of English aristocracy.

And then there is the issue of Leo’s snooty, unpleasant grandfather. How can she leave the child with him? And what will Hadrian do about Lady Ellen, who is expecting a proposal?

The Romance is sweet. The characters are charming. The difficulties they face are real. But in true Romance fashion, love conquers all. To be released later this month, Forever My Duke is recommended for fans of Historical Romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were so well developed & intriguing. Natalie is an American that has brought her best friend's son back to England (after the friend was killed) to be raised by his family there. Hadrian is a duke & was also friend's with Natalie's friend. They meet by chance at an inn during a storm & sparks fly even then. But Natalie hates the aristocracy of England & everything it stands for, so she can't look past his title for a while. I highly recommend reading this story & finding out where there relationship takes them along the way.

Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton stumbles across Natalie and her ward, Leo. She has left America on the dying wishes of her friend, Audrey, to see Leo taken to his grandfather. As it happens, Hadrian is to visit Audrey’s father to seek out her younger sister’s hand on marriage. But after meeting Natalie, Hadrian is a changed man.
This was a delightful romance and I couldn’t help but smile at all Hadrian did. How could Natalie not fall in love! Whilst this is part of a series, it is a stand-alone book. I for one will be reading the first book in the series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of Forever My Duke by Olivia Drake.

Natalie’s caring and protectiveness of Leo makes her a likable character. I did find her stance surrounding her principles rigid which I found exasperating. I liked seeing her rigid way of looking at things change throughout the book as she was challenged in different situations. Hadrian is kind, looks to do the right thing and was an all around good character.

The story is well-written but I felt the pacing was slow during some moments of the story.

The secondary characters, especially Leo, were memorable.

What can I say? I like old fashioned Dukes. And when there is an American beauty thrown into the mix, things get interesting. Natalie was born and raised in America and she has traveled to England to deliver the son of her dearest friend to her only living family. Due to the death of Leo's parents in a tragic accident, he has no relatives in America. Audrey, Leo's mother, ran away years ago from England to escape an arranged marriage. Her father never forgave her and now it seems he also blames Leo. So Natalie really is torn between fulfilling her dying friend's wish to deliver Leo to his family and to take Leo back to America.
Hadrian is surprised to encounter a stunning woman traveling on her own, with her young charge. When she misses her carriage to England, he offers her a place in his lackey. He didn't realize that Leo was actually the son of his betrothed, who ran away with her lover. Hadrian was just on his way to Audrey's father to discuss whether the marriage agreement from him to Audrey would be changed upon her sister, lady Ellen. Because Hadrian needs a wife. A wife who is familiar with etiquette and a future duchess. Certainly not an American woman, who is against English protocol and who refuses to curtsy to even the Prince. But why can't he keep his eyes of Natalie? Funny, charming and a cozy read. Three out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Forever My Duke by Olivia Drake 3.5 stars

This is the first time I have read Ms. Drake. The book was entertaining and I enjoyed it enough that I would try another book of hers. We meet the heroine, Natalie Fanshawe on the road, traveling with a little boy. She is fulfilling the dying wish of her friend to take her son to his grandparents in England. From America to England is not an easy trip during the early 1800's, but she makes it. The hero, Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton, helps her when she is stranded by the coaching service and it turns out that they are going to the same place. What ensues is a dance of attraction that is entertaining but predictable. The author's use of American independence vs. British superiority had been done before and it did wear on me a little. This is the second book in the "Unlikely Duchesses" series and I think I would like to find the first book and try it.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Forever My Duke is a delightful Regency romance. I found the story plot very interesting, and I flew through the book in less than a day. I liked the dynamic between our two main heroes, Hadrian and Natalie. They come from different worlds and have very different views about the class system and aristocracy. Natalie is an American, who despises the British class system and does not believe that some people are superior to others because of the accident of birth; Hadrian is a Duke, one of the highest-ranked aristocrats in the British land. They fight their attraction because of these differences. But they are united in their devotion to Natalie's orphaned ward, Leo, whom Natalie brought to England from America to reunite with his grandparents. Leo is such a wonderful secondary character. As a curious and adventurous little boy, he brings a lot of humor and sweetness to the book. I would recommend Forever My Duke to any historical romance fans.

Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, needs a wife and he's set on courting his younger cousin, 18 year old Lady Ellen. His carefully laid plans are upended when he meets American Natalie Fanshawe and her charge 6 year old Leo. Natalie is traveling to the same estate as Hadrian to bring Leo to his English relatives after his parents are murdered and he offers her a ride. Natalie has no qualms about speaking her mind and her distain for English aristocracy as they share his coach. Hadrian is at first put off by her directness, but soon realizes she may be just what he needs to open his heart to love.

While this story was well-written, I didn't feel much of a connection between Hadrian and Natalie. I got tired of reading about how much she despises the wealthy and privileged. No matter what was happening in the book, Natalie refuses to relent and open her mind to the possibility that her opinions may just be a echo of her late father's feelings. By the time she realizes that she could be wrong, Leo is in grave danger and she must rely once again on Hadrian to save the day.

I made it a quarter of the way through, nearly 100 pages, but I can’t read anymore. I had high hopes for this book, but sadly, it lacks the humor I prefer in historical romances and I detest the snobbery of the heroine. Maybe the Duke of Clayton can change her mind, but I’m no longer interested in finding out. A compelling, entertaining Regency Romance should grab the reader from the first chapter, and should take me less than 3 days to read. This one dragged and I dreaded opening my Kindle to continue with this story and that makes me very sad.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

It's the second book I read in this series and I think it's improving with each new instalment.
I liked the well researched historical background, the well thought characters, the engrossing and entertaining plot.
Can't wait to read another book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

When Hadrian Ames, the eighth Duke of Clayton first meets Miss Natalie Fanshawe he is entranced by her. Then Hadrian learns that Natalie is an independent American and doesn’t care that he is a Duke or will adhere to polite society. Natalie is so different from anyone Hadrian has ever met and Hadrian would rather pick an English blue blood not an upstart American. Natalie is only in England due to a promise she made to a deceased friend that she would take her son to his grandfather in England. Natalie does as promised but her friend’s son grandfather will not believe her. Hadrian is willing to take Natalie and the boy away from the grandfather being a cousin of the boy and to raise him. Can the Hadrian convince Natalie that he needs her to help raise the boy marry him but also that he loves her?
What an amazingly great regency story filled to the brim with plot twists, mystery, great characters and a beautiful romance! Yes, this book is part of a series but doesn’t have to be read in order and can stand alone with no problem. The writing moves beautifully and flows making for a truly enjoyable read. There are a few things that happen to minor characters that never get resolved but it doesn’t leave the story lacking. Plus, Natalie’s life in America is never fully explained too. Natalie the feisty stubborn heroine is refreshing. Her stubbornness did get a little bit old and at times you wanted to shake some sense into her especially since Hadrian will do pretty much anything for her. Hadrian was just the perfect swoon-worthy hero. Sure, he starts off as a stuffy Duke but as the book progresses he becomes warm and loving. This is definitely a tale well worth a read and one that everyone will love!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

NOTE: When I read this book, it was called "Forever My Duke," but by the time I posted my review on Goodreads, it was retitled on there to "Forever and a Duke." I avoided using the book's title since it seems to still be in flux.

Natalie Fanshawe has traveled from America to England with a singular purpose: to safely deliver an orphaned boy, Leo, to his grandfather. Leo has a penchant for mischief, and while searching for Leo during a travel stop, Natalie crosses paths with Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton. Hadrian is on his way to meet a potential future bride, and doesn't need any Americans disrupting his day.

She's been raised to dislike the English aristocracy. He needs the perfect English bride. They're both about to get what they absolutely didn't expect.

Hadrian is portrayed as haughty, yet from the moment you dive into his point of view, you see that he's a caring individual hiding behind a shell that his glittering world expects to see. He's reluctant to get involved in Natalie and Leo's lives, but he does the right thing.

In time, Hadrian begins breaking down all the prejudices that Natalie has regarding the aristocracy. Her knowledge was tainted by her father's less-than-stellar life experiences, but she discovers that regardless of rank, there are people worthy of her respect. And as for the rest—they don't need to accept her, she needs to accept them. To Natalie, that's the meaning of being free. Equal. American.

This is a story of two people from opposite worlds coming together. The romance itself grows naturally and we see both characters evolve to accept their differences, similarities, and ultimately each other.

I would have rated this at four stars had the subplot involving Richard and his money troubles not dragged the story down a notch. It was predictable and didn't add anything to a story already rife with its own conflict.

This was an entertaining read. Will Hadrian win Natalie’s heart.? Will Natalie come to accept English society? What about Leo? What will happen to him? I liked the well written plot and the characters. I spent an enjoyable afternoon with this book.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This historical romance started off really slow. The first chapter didn't really make me want to read anymore, but I continued. In fact, it took until chapter 3 to get me hooked, and then I couldn't stop reading until the end. The story was really good, I liked the intrigue, and the suspense. The choice of an American woman as the heroine was interesting because of the situation between England and the United States at the time. I will definitely read this author's work again. I received an advanced reader's copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this! Saucy American wins over the completely English Duke!
Hadrian and Natalie are perfect for each other. Throw in a little excitement and intrigue and you have the perfect historical romance.
Olivia Drake is a new favorite author of mine!
5 stars!!

I did like the premise of this one, but sadly, was fairly bored.

I liked Natalie and Hadrian well enough. They’re both good people, even if a little bland. I enjoyed her loyalty to Leo and her friend. He never really acted like a Duke, except for the entire part of being 31 looking at a 17 year old to be his bride. Leo absolutely stole everything scene he was in and I also really liked Hadrian’s sister and mother. They brought some levity.

Plot wise, it was meh. I never really saw the chemistry between them and didn’t care enough about the situation to root for their HEA. There were a lot of odd to me word choices and some of the sex scenes were just plain icky. And I know this is sort of a jumbled mess of a review, but I’ve rewritten it four times, so there’s that.

Overall, something kept me reading, but I’m not sure what it was. I doubt I’ll be reading the next book in the series.

FYI: there’s a fight scene with between a man and a woman with the intent to rape if she doesn’t comply

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing the arc free of charge**

A charming and heartwarming story. Hadrian Ames is the Duke of Clayton, he is looking for a wife. He has sowed his oats and has decided to settle down. On his way to meeting a cousin to see if she was compatible. He had to stop at an inn because of the ice storm. While there he made the acquaintance of a woman from America and her ward. Unbeknownst to them, they were going to the same place. Miss Natalie Fanshawe and Leopold Jeremy Bellingham had just come from America where his parents had died. She promised his mother that she would bring him to his relatives in England. She found him to be the sweetest boy. Although he kept disappearing and frightened her to death.
The author did such a wonderful job of writing this story. It is funny in places, it is also romantic, and so charming. It kept my attention all the way thru the book. It was interesting how their problems came to the front. It is for the eighteen and above bunch but still a great novella. I do recommend this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is book 2 in the Unlikely Dutchess series but can be read as a stand alone.
This book is about Natalie, a girl born and raised in America with English roots. She considers herself an American and acts like one. She is independent, mouthy and doesn't like the English class system at all.
Hadrian, is a Duke. He is is proper, haughty and expects everyone to defer to him.
This is a storyline I love. There is usually angst, controversy, and an adversarial relationship., causing a great deal of chemistry.
This story follows along those lines but it just took a while to get there.
I liked the book, enjoyed the story. It was a feel good story with a cute little boy named Leo. But there was nothing special about it that would stand out in my mind.
So I give it 4 stars for a good but not great storyline.
I want to thank netgalley for the chance to review this book.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. Forever My Duke by Olivia Drake is the second book in the Unlikely Duchesses series. It can be read as a standalone. Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton is in need of a wife and since there was an agreement between his father and his cousin who served as as his guardian that Hadrian would unite the families by marrying his cousins daughter he is on his way to visit them and to see if he and his young cousin will suit. When inclement weather forces him pause his journey at an inn he makes the acquaintance of the lovely American Natalie Fanshawe who has brought her young ward Leo Bellingham to reunite him with his English relatives as his parents are dead. In a twist of fate it turns out that Leo is the son of the cousin that Hadrian grew up with and thought of as a sister. In a lovely friends to lovers story Hadrian soon learns that perhaps the perfect duchess is not what he needs and that his happiness will depend on convincing Natalie to take a chance on a British Lord instead of returning to America. Medium Steam. Publishing Date December 31, 2019 #NetGalley #ForeverMyDuke #OliviaDrake #HistoricalRomance #StMartinsPress #StMartinsPaperbacks #bookstagram @stmartinspress