About the book:

Title: Forever My Duke

Author: Olivia Drake

Published: December 31st 2019 by St. Martin’s Press

Source: Received from the Publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Format: e-copy

Blurb:

Hadrian Ames, the Duke of Clayton, needs a bride. He even has the perfect one picked out. That is, until he meets the lovely, free-spirited Natalie Fanshawe. She’s the opposite of what a man of his high rank should desire in a wife—an outspoken American who has never even set foot in a London ballroom.

But Natalie doesn’t have time to be swept off her feet by a handsome duke who must be a spoiled scoundrel like every other British lord. And she couldn’t care less about Hadrian’s title. After all, it’s not as if he actually worked to attain his wealth and status. He surely can’t understand what it’s like to be a busy woman, planning to open a school while trying to reunite a six-year-old orphan with his English relatives. Nevertheless, Hadrian launches his campaign to win her heart. Can the utterly delightful American beauty ever find a way to love him…despite his being a duke?

Check it on: Amazon & Goodreads

One of my resolutions for 2020 is to be better at organizing my activities. This involves being up to date with reading ARCs and posting my reviews during the release period. With this being said, I need to apologize again to St. Martin’s Press for not being able to stick to my review dates. 4 days into the new year and I can say that my plan is working. I know it’s too soon, but my new planning method is already showing good results. Ok, back to our book.

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.

Cover review: I like it! Simple, yet sexy enough to depict the romance. I like as well how Natalie is portrayed, in a green dress with no jewelry to show her simple American life. The duke from the cover is quite handsome as well ☺

Favorite quote: “Good, you’re awake. It goes against my principles to strike an unconscious man.”

P.S.: If you want to know my thoughts about book 1, they can be found here. Spoiler: 5 stars!

About the Author

Shortly after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, Olivia Drake sold her first novel two weeks after sending it to a publisher. She now lives in Texas in a cozy cottage with two feisty cats and a photographer husband. Her two daughters have flown the nest, but still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal!

Olivia Drake is the author of 35 romance novels. Her most recent series is called ‘Unlikely Duchesses’ and began with THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW. The second book in the series, FOREVER MY DUKE, will be released in January 2020.

Her other series include ‘Heiress in London’ (SEDUCING THE HEIRESS, NEVER TRUST A ROGUE, SCANDAL OF THE YEAR) and ‘The Cinderella Sisterhood’ series (IF THE SLIPPER FITS, STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, ABDUCTED BY A PRINCE, BELLA AND THE BEAST, HIS WICKED WISH, THE SCANDALOUS FLIRT).

Many of you also knew Olivia as Barbara Dawson Smith. She is a New York Times bestseller and winner of numerous honors, including the Golden Heart Award and the coveted Rita Award for excellence in the historical romance genre.