The Duke I Once Knew
Series: Unlikely Duchesses
by Olivia Drake
Expected Publication: December 31, 2018
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Max is incensed to meet his sister’s new governess. But why does Abby appear just as displeased to see him when it was she who’d rejected him all those years ago? Why is he so drawn to the independent spinster she has become? And why is there a sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes that suggests they might have a second chance at love?
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.
”He had grown too cynical, too hard-hearted from a life of dissipation.”
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.
**The quote was taken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication.
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That’s always sad when you want to live a book but in the end it is just not possible. Great review Kayla!
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I hope the next book gets better. I think you were more than generous with this one.
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I think I was too. I just read the synopsis for book 2 and I’m not reading. It’s going to be about a woman who was into the love interest. However, her character was just so terrible that I know I won’t enjoy it.
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Ugh. Yeah, I would pass, too!
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