Cara's Book Boudoir: The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake Review

The Duke I Once Knew

Unlikely Duchesses #1

By Olivia Drake

Release Date: December 31st, 2018

St. Martin's Press

Source: ARC provided by the publisher

First love is always the sweetest.

For years, Abigail Linton devoted herself to caring for her aging parents and the children of her siblings. Now, eager to make her own life, she takes a position as a governess on the neighboring estate. It shouldn’t matter that her absentee employer is Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, the infamous rake who once broke her youthful heart. Surely he’s forgotten her, for he hasn’t set foot on his estate for fifteen years. At least, that is, until he arrives unexpectedly.

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?

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*

After taking care of her parents, well into her spinster years, Abigail Linton knew that she wasn't going to sit on the sidelines of her family anymore, especially when they are organizing her life right in front of her, and I will admit as a reader I wanted to bust out and say something to those siblings, but thankfully, that’s when Abigail found her mettle and put her foot down, and took a position at the neighboring estate, as a governess, much to her families vocal disappointment.

But all did not go as smoothly as she had hoped, when Max the man that loved and left her, came home from London and was shocked and frankly condescending towards Abby! and even though they overcome issues of the past, forces of the present were determined to keep them apart.

The Duke I Once Knew is a cute little historical romance with a smattering of treachery involved, and even though I wasn't overly fond of any of the characters, the story as a whole was enjoyable. I certainly liked the angle of the older women (if you can call 30 old), finding her love and despite Abby's naivete, she was sensible and less dramatic as a younger character and I enjoyed that.

Olivia Drake is a new author to me and I found her writing style quite pleasant and smooth, until closer to the, when it felt very rushed, but I feel like that wouldn't stop me from picking up one of her books again.

I give The Duke I Once Knew 4 stars