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.
Forever My Duke: Unlikely Duchesses, Book 2
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Customer reviews
An American who doesn't believe in curtsying as a Duchess?
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
Forever My DukeUnlikely DuchessesOlivia DrakeSt. Martin’s Press, Dec 31, 2019384 pagesHistorical romanceAuthor’s rep via NetGalley⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙The cover doesn’t particularly appeal to me. It seems to lack the richness that we have come to expect from top-notch romances lately. The background simply fades in spite of its bright yellow coloring. While the bright green of the lady’s dress seems glaring in this setting. Too bad, because the story deserves a good cover.She’s Natalie Fanshawe, an American of dubious English descent. She has brought the young son of her best friend to London so that he can live with his family. His parents were killed during the war in America and his mother’s last request was that Natalie bring her son back to England to her family. Natalie would gladly have taken him into her own home and raised him as her own, but it was her friend’s dying wish and so she will honor it. Natalie has no patience or understanding of the class system in England, nor does she want anything to do with curtsying to those who consider themselves her betters. She’s an America and considers all people equal.He’s Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, but Natalie thinks he’s just Mr. Clayton when he introduces himself as Clayton. As long as he’s Mr. Clayton she can deal with him just fine even though he is dressed in the finest clothes she’s ever seen, travels with a most superior valet and has a rather polished attitude himself as well. Clayton is on his way to speak to a young lady about marriage when he meets up with Natalie and her young charge at an inn. No, he’s not in love. This is a choice based on the fact that she’s lovely, acquiescent and of a suitable family.I thoroughly enjoyed reading how the fiery American and the rather staid English Duke find their common ground as they come together, working out their differences. Each giving a bit here and a bit there as they realize what’s important to them and what doesn’t really matter when it’s love at stake. How each starts to look at the other with new eyes and sees things of themselves. This is, of course, a normal historical romance and it doesn’t really break any of the rules except the “bowing/curtsying to one’s betters’ one. I really loved it when Prinny dropped in for the ball when he was specifically not invited because she didn’t curtsy to her “betters”. But what’s a duke to do when he’s in love with a rebellious American? Yes, I certainly do recommend this one!
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
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