Advance Review- The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake

Title: The Duke I Once Knew (Unlikely Duchesses, book #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

Author: Olivia Drake

Publisher: St. Martin’s, Dec. 18, 2018

Source: Free for review from the publisher

Pages: 333

Rating: 4

Sexy Rating: 5

Violence Rating: 4

Description from Amazon.com:
When two childhood sweethearts find themselves together after years apart, does their romance have a chance to be rekindled now that he’s a duke and she’s a governess? Olivia Drake’s new Unlikely Duchesses series begins with The Duke I Once Knew, where first love is always the sweetest…

For years, Abigail Linton devoted herself to caring for her parents and her siblings’ children. Now, eager to create a life of her own, Abby seizes upon a position as a governess on a neighboring estate. Unfortunately, her absentee employer is Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, the notorious rake who once broke her youthful heart. But since he hasn’t set foot on his estate for fifteen years, Abby assumes she’ll never have to lay eyes on him ever again. Then, from out of nowhere, Max appears. He is stunned to come face to face with the girl next door he fell for years ago—before he went away, and she stopped writing to him. . .even though Abby swears that he is the one who left her without a word. Could it be that this spirited, witty spinster has won Max’s heart all over again—and that they may have a second chance at love?
***
That description pretty much gives you the whole gist of this book. But there is so much more to discover in the wonderful construction of character, action , Regency morality and just delightful story telling. There are an abundance of dissipated aristocrats to look down their noses at the sweet, clever country girl. There is a close knit family who actually care for one another in spite of being wrapped in their individual dramas. Thank you, Olivia Drake for this lovely romance.