Forever My Duke: Unlikely Duchesses (Unlikely Duchesses, 2)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the opposites attract concept. Highly recommend.

I am half way through this book and find myself looking to see how much longer the current chapter is. The characters are okay and the story is plodding and boring in parts. I bought this book because I enjoyed the first of this series and may skip the last one.

Hadrian, the Duke of Clayton is officially ready to marry. Picking a bride for him was much like choosing a horse. If she meets x, y, and z characteristics, then it works for him. But everything he thinks he knows is thrown off balance when he meets Natalie Fanshawe.

Natalie is straight off the boat from America. She has in tow her deceased friend's son. She's promised to bring him to his family in England. She soon meets Hadrian at an inn and they end up staying together to figure out what is best for Leo.

Give this book a try if you're in the mood for:
-A child in the story. Though he is an orphan, Hadrian and Natalie both find themselves caring for him and he has a lot of page time and shenanigans taking place
-An American heroine with an English peer hero (Duke)
-Class differences – heroine is basically an American nobody while hero is a Duke

This book was okay. It was a little hard for me to really get into. I think most of it was a disconnect with the heroine. She rather annoyed me. She disdains the nobility and she was eager to really run the hero through the ringer. She came off as really harpy and judgmental to me. Especially when this duke was extremely understanding and caring for her and the child she was in charge of.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions regarding the story are my own.

Olivia Drake is never a disappointment. I love her books! I own ARCs and physical copies, so of course “Forever my Duke” has a special place in my heart. It offers us the relationship between the Duke of Clayton and Natalie Fanshaw, an American that came to England to return young Leo, her best friend’s son, to his grandfather. Little did she expect to form a beautiful friendship with a man of such high position. From here we have a lot of action, we have a beautiful romance and a charming little boy.

What I mostly like about Olivia Drake’s books is that she leaves nothing at random. The way she builds the atmosphere and each character’s personality is amazing. They act according to their age or upbringing. There is no unnecessary drama or exaggerated stubbornness. When it comes to the romance, it is slowly built, allowing the relationship to develop in a natural way. In the end, the reader has no doubt. It’s a strong, a solid relationship. I love it!

The plot has two focus points: finding Leo’s family, making sure he is properly recognized in the English society and as well the Duke’s pursue of a wife (or his pursue of the one he intends to propose to). There are complications on both sides, enough to keep the interest until the very end.

All in all, I absolutely adored the story. Well, I was expecting it to be so. Olivia Drake never disappoints. Her stories have the maturity of an experienced writer and are meant to send us back to those times when proper conduct was a must. “Forever My Duke” achieved its purpose and has its place on my heart’s shelves.

This is the second book in the series by they can be read as standalone books. This is also the first book I have read by Olivia. This book was a great read. Hadrian is the Duke of Clayton. He thinks he knows exactly what he wants in a wife and he is off the become engaged. That is until he meets Natalie Fanshawe. Natalie has come all the way from America to bring her best friend’s son, Leo to meet his grandfather and hopefully be accepted by him. Natalie loves Leo like he is her own. She doesn’t have any fondness for the English class system at all. Hadrian doesn’t know what to think of Natalie at first but the more time he spends with her the more he realizes she is exactly what he wants in a wife. To bad she is heading back to America and doesn’t want anything to with marrying a Duke. Could Hadrian change her mind? This was great read. It was a little different than other historical romances I have read. I loved Natalie she doesn’t care what anyone’s designation is. She treats them with respect as long as they respect her. Hadrian learns all kinds of things thanks to Natalie. His world is flipped upside down and he isn’t that upset about it. This book has romance, a bit of danger, and more. I look forward to reading the first book in the series and more in the series to come. Great job Olivia.

In this Regency romance, Hadrian Ames, Duke of Clayton has decided to marry having picked out a bride from a distant family relations who meets all the requirements of women belonging to his high status. Hadrian has not seen his intended for some time, but it appears she is less than desirable especially after he meets the beautiful and fiery Natalie Fanshawe. Newly arrived from America with an orphaned boy whom she promised to take to family, Natalie is less than impressed with all the rules and restrictions of the ton as it is known. Hadrian is every bit as strict and stuffy as Natalie expected. Her late father was from English nobility but from the wrong side of the blanket so she has quite a few preconceived notions about Hadrian and his ilk.

Hadrian comes to realize that he feels something for Natalie that is new and exciting making him want more. No matter how scandalous it might be for a Duke of high stature to marry such a feisty, stubborn American, Hadrian is determined to win Natalie over. Dukes seem to be able to make their own rules when it comes to high society. Natalie is quite resistant to the idea of giving up all freedoms to live in a country she has disdained all her life.

Quite of bit of the story is focused on Natalie and Hadrian’s stark differences in lifestyles and her demeanor. She would have never set foot in the country were it not for the young charge. There is quite a bit to overcome for this couple with scheming relatives and Natalie’s own reluctance to see beyond her prejudices, caused in part by a recent war with England and an atrocity she experienced at the hands of Redcoats.

The romance is quite slow burn and takes most of the story to be realized. The fun part is the pitting of Natalie’s American pride, brashness, and courage against Hadrian’s very proper, British Lord upbringing to which he clings most assiduously. When both their barriers breakdown, this couple finds they can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles despite the challenges.

I gobbled up this book. Natalie has been born and brought up in America and with a senator for a father, strongly believes in equality for all. She agrees to her dying English friend’s request to cross the ocean to England and give her son Leo into the care of his grandfather. Whilst she has a rather dismal view of the aristocracy she does not expect the suspicion and cold treatment to which she and Leo are subjected by the Godwin family. Without the support of the Duke of Clayton (her friend’s second cousin) it is likely that the two of them would have been turned away from the Earl’s estate. There is a strong attraction between Natalie and Clayton but even if he were prepared to see her as more than mistress material, she has no wish to be a duchess.
So nice not to read a book littered with typos and historical inaccuracies.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.