I’m not much of a historical romance reader but this one was great. I enjoyed the strong, smart heroine..Natalie. Hadrian is a great and plays of Natalie so well.. you will root for them from the beginning.

A perfectly serviceable romance. Although some of the characters were a bit too stereotypical, I did enjoy the relationship between the hero and heroine, as well as the inclusion of a woman from America (for a believable reason). Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book to read and review.

3.5 stars! I like how Natalie is devoted to Leo. And I like how Hadrian's eyes are opened by Natalie and how fascinated he becomes with her and Leo. Yes she's a very unlikely duchess being an American though connected with an old family in the UK. But it's all good and you have to admire her principles.

Thanks St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book!

The alpha-type/boss/leader/rebel untightening and unwinding to their opposites and opening their minds is one of my favorite tropes, and this time, I got a double dose of it!

<b>Pros</b>:
<b>✓</b> The way Drake took two people who had very certain perspectives of the world, and through a shared goal (as well as a mutual attraction), they expanded their way of thinking without necessarily compromising themselves.
<b>✓</b> They both have ideals, but neither of them is necessarily full of themselves, either.
<b>✓</b> Small appreciative side note: Hadrian, for all his "yes, this already contracted 18 year-old second cousin bride I didn't meet grow up with is the perfect wife to my 29 year-old ready to settle down with according to Society standards" talk in the beginning, meets up with her and is immediately squicked out and feels like a lecherous old creeper.

<b>Negatives</b>:
<b>✘</b> The pace was a little slow and/or uneven. I appreciate when time jumps happen and not everything presents as one thing after the other after the other, like all the events happen in three days, but some things felt skipped over and other things felt dragged out, which affected the tension and the drama
<b>✘</b>: Okay, it doesn't help that it's 2019 and as an American, I currently miss the days <a href="https://pics.me.me/jeremiah-traeger-jerbivore-me-2016-well-this-is-a-dumpster-29196340.png">when my country was merely a self-contained dumpster fire</a>, but Natalie's "America the beautiful, where everyone is equal!" attitude could be grating, especially when her past <spoiler>as a daughter of a senator, then a frontier teacher</spoiler> would've exposed her to the fact that there certainly were class structures in the States, albeit less defined. <spoiler>(Like it would've been weird for a daughter of a elite-hostess daughter of a senator and a maid to chill, no matter how Amer-i-Can! she makes it sound).</spoiler> She does briefly acknowledge it with a "but you can go beyond it!" but not really? It's all a little:

<center><img src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o6Zt8WS687jQ4L59S/giphy.gif"></center>

<b>Neutral</b>:
- Leo (the six year-old) could be cute, could be kind of annoying, and mostly was a plot device. I didn't mind him.

<b>tr;dr</b>: This was a really a solid 3.5, and I'll definitely look for more stuff by Drake in the future.

Disclaimer: Thanks Netgalley & publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts!

Well, after having finished a previous historical romance I was excited to continue the historical trend so maybe that was my problem because I had really enjoyed that book this one noooot so much. We have a Duke who is on his way to propose to a child, ok not really but yes this girl was 18, and again yeah girl so I understand that back then that was the norm, but still 18 still a child. Anywho he was on his way to meet this person when he gets stuck in an inn and ends meeting Natalie an outspoken American (26) a real woman and guess insta-love. So while both being stuck they are attracted but Natalie hates the nobility she has nothing good to think about them i get that she is entitled to her opinion but sometimes she came off as to oppiniated, too stuck in her own mind and judgemental. Anyway nothing is smooth sailing that issues, annoying people but eventually, yes it was slow moving at times which bugs me because I like to go go go..

This one didn't blow me away unlike the first book in this series of standalones. I think the story or the characters weren't connecting for me. I will still continue to read more of Olivia's work.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is an absolutely delightful story proving that opposites do attract. The author does a wonderful job revealing the life events that formed the characters' attitudes. So how does an unabashedly pro-democracy woman fall for an English duke entrenched in aristocratic customs? And vice versa? Very carefully and uncomfortably.

fun story. i love all the differences these two have but share one common love and passion. well thought out story.

4 stars

This author is new to me but I will be looking out for more of her work. I enjoyed Forever My Duke. I wasn't convinced that I'd like an american heroine but Natalie's character was strong and intelligent. It didn't really take that long for Hadrian, the hero to realise she would be a much better fit than the lady his ex guardian was suggesting. The villian was a bit one dimensional but it didn't diminish my liking for the book. Some reviewers have suggested that Leo's future wasn't resolved but I'd assumed that Hadrian was taking over the Guardianship and that he'd stay with Hadrian and Natalie.

I thoroughly recommend this book.

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

I really enjoyed this sweet story of two people who come from different worlds and fight to overcome prejudices and preconceived notions that they have about each other and find love and happily ever after.

Natalie is determined to right by her dear friend's son and reunite him with his family. She ends up meeting Hadrian and despite her best efforts, ends up falling in love with him. Hadrian falls even quicker than Natalie does and is determined to make her see that they are perfect for one another.

The only thing that I did not like about this book is that there was not clear resolution as to what was going to happen to the little boy.

Forever My Duke is the second in Olivia Drake’s Unlikely Duchesses series, though the characters do not overlap as far as I could tell so you can read them as standalones. It’s a really enjoyable read and the two main characters are both engaging and interesting. There are a few holes in the story, but it’s generally a good story.

Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, is on his way to the estate of his former guardian to determine whether he might find his daughter suitable to marry, as his guardian expects. While staying at an inn on the way, Hadrian meets Natalie Fanshawe – an American who is escorting her friend’s young son (Leo) to his English relatives (his maternal grandfather and other family members). Natalie’s friend and her husband were killed in an attack on the American frontier. This is a plot point that could have been very stereotypical and cringeworthy, but I was very pleased that there is a bit of a twist to defy the typical convention of “frontier” stories. It turns out that Hadrian and Natalie and Leo are headed to the same estate and he escorts them there – once there, Natalie runs into resistance from Leo’s family, who do not want to accept Leo for various reasons that I will not spoil. While the two are instantly attracted to each other, Hadrian must marry a woman who will fit the role of duchess and Natalie has plans to return to America. Hadrian champions Natalie and Leo with Leo’s family and the two cannot keep fighting their attraction to each other.

The only things that I found kind of weak are Natalie being a bit preachy about the equality in America (with zero mention of that pesky thing called slavery…) and that they didn’t really clearly resolve the dynamic/relationship of Leo and his family. Overall, this was a well written and enjoyable book.

I received a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when a powerful, staid Duke and an independent, determined American woman with a huge dislike of the English nobility are thrown together by a charming young boy? Not fireworks, but definitely a slow burn. A satisfying romance story emerges. This book is part of a series, but can definitely stand alone. 3 1/2 stars.

American Natalie Fansgarve is bringing her young charge, Leo, back home to England to meet his grandparents fulfilling a promise made to her dying friend.

Hardian Ames, a Duke, meets Natalie and Leo at an inn. Hardian offers to take them to their destination after they miss the mail coach as that is where he’s also headed. Hardian is going there for a potential wife for him. Instead he finds Natalie more to his liking.

This story is well-written with likeable characters.

You know within a few pages how it will end. After all it is part of a series. But how they get there is a fun read. She is an American born and bred. He has had a sad upbringing. He is rather high handed. Can they really change? Mix in a orphan boy his grandfather doesn't want to raise. I liked the story, the twists and turns. It was a good escape read.

What a sensational and exciting tale, Natalie and Hadrian and let’s not forget little Leo, led us on. Natalie and Hadrian found love when they least expected to, and the combustion that occurs every time they are together. Leo that little minx made this tale all the more fun to read, with his curiosity and his runaway methods. A fun entertaining and yes exciting package, I enjoyed reading it, it sizzles and I like that.

Can an American commoner and a english peer find a mutual ground when everything seems to set them apart...

This is my first read by Mrs Olivia Drake and once I began my reading, it was quite impossible to put this book down.
Sure I have a few reservations but I was quickly engrossed in this story, and needed to see what would come after.

The first chapter introduced Hadrian as a haughty person, but how wrong I was.
What an arse he appears at the beginning when in fact he is just the result from his upbringing and he could have been much more worse. His requirements for the perfect bride is what was imprinted in him since his childhood, he had known nothing else, and is expected to follow the society’s rules.
He might be lofty but never conceited, plus he is kind too. From the very beginning, he shows respect to Natalie, always trying to help her when he could have turned his back to her troubles. At every turn, he is there to support Natalie, his overbearing presence is only due to his breeding. And rather quickly, he sets his cap on winning her over, she a woman who has very few to recommend her. He even fears he might fail.
Natalie in fact is the one bearing a grudge against him, she faults him for his birth. While he can’t change it, he tries to show her she can relate on him.
She is a strong willed woman, what she went through made her tougher, but she is still a caring woman with dreams to help the weaker and poorer. Her main flaw is she needs time to see beyond the facade. Not every commoner is good nor every peer bad.
So when Hadrian realized he has no interest in a perfect bride and is much more enthralled by the very woman who might reject him for his rank, she learns the world is not white nor black.
I liked that for a change, the arrogant duke was in fact from the beginning a fair man with a noble heart. He just needed the right woman to open himself and let his true self free.

I do love Leo, he is a fun little boy and for once not presented as a precocious child, he acted like a little boy of 6 and was quite a naughty sweetheart.

My reservation is during the first part of the story it looked out of character for them to lust so much after one another. I do prefer when there is an attraction which evolves to a slower pace than insta-lust rendering the women knees-weak and the men driven by the brain in between their legs. So I was glad when at a time, when together they were finally able to think straight.

Mrs Blake has drawn up a spirited tale of fighting one own biases to comprehend the true power of love.
4.5 stars

I was granted through Netgalley by the publisher an advance copy, but also purchased my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

“Life is full of what ifs…”

Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton, has decided to finally take a bride. Known to be cold and always proper, Clayton needs a wife that will be obedient and know precisely how to handle the running of a household and be a suitable Duchess. What he didn’t plan on was falling for the exact opposite…a forward thinking American that will bow nor scrape to any man…even if he is a Duke.

Natalie Fanshawe made a deathbed promise to her dearest friend to take her son to England to be raised amongst his family. Natalie has grown to care for the young orphan, and is unsure why her friend wished to see him raised with a family that had disowned her when she married for love rather than money and a title and moved to America. When she finds herself without transport and stranded at an inn, she begrudgingly accepts the Duke of Clayton’s assistance…after all, they are traveling to the same estate…where Hadrian will be meeting his prospective bride. Hadrian, or Mr. Clayton as she refers to him, is not at all like the stuffy British Lords she’s imagined, and as they spend more time together, these opposites find out they are better together than apart.

Forever My Duke by Olivia Drake is a well written regency romance with everything you’d expect in the genre. There were times when Natalie came off as being a wee bit unbending and preachy in her views, but overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend. While this is the second installment to the Unlikely Duchesses series, it may be read standalone.



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

A duke at five.

The valet has let his position go to his head.

Amazing how her being American never crosses his mind.

He would be a good father.

Not one person is crying?

Oh-ho, she's on a social par with these people!

Aw, Ellen is nice. She's the only one in this family with a soul.

His guardian was a twat then, and still is.

God works in mysterious ways.

What was she doing in Michigan.

She was very brave. He is so naive.

I knew he had a plan.

Good for her father.

His mother and sister are nice.

Aw her family are great!

Go suck an egg, milady.

I didn't know that about Rotten Row.

Leo is so cute.

Richard is such an idiot.

Hadrian Ames, the eighth Duke of Clayton decided it was time to marry to produce the requisite heirs. He supposed his cousin was as good as any other, especially since his father and uncle had arranged a match with her sister Audrey. She wasn't interested and eloped before she could be pressed into it.
Tragically both Audrey and her husband were murdered leaving her son in Natalie's care. Natalie was to bring him home to England and did. That action brought her into Hadrian's orbit.
They met as both were going to Oak Knoll, the home of the Earl and Countess of Godwin, his uncle and Audrey's father.
There is a well defined cast of characters of varying character and position with goals of their own.
The interaction between Natalie, Hadrian and young Leo is sure to amuse you as they come to know and care for one another. The tale is peppered with humor as their two very different worlds merge. Hadrian becomes Natalie's and Leo's hero. We are privy to a steamy encounter between Hadrian and Natalie as they go forward to their happy ever after, much to his mother's delight...not so much his uncle's. Lovers of Historical romance will enjoy this tale.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer my opinion freely.

An intriguing tale of an unlikely love match between a young American female and a very proper and staid English Duke. Our heroine finds herself in the company of our hero while looking for her six year old charge. She had made a promise to the lad's mother, as she was dying, that the boy would be delivered to his grandfather a pious English Earl. The two had been estranged for 10 years since she had married an untitled vicar and migrated to America. Our hero is quite stricken by the upstart who treats him as an equal rather than seeing him as above her in station. Can our hero manage to overcome the many obstacles and capture the fair maidens heart? This was a excellent story which moved with a steady flow without being redundant.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.