When a Duke Loves a Governess

July 1, 2021
Gentleman botanist Guy Whitby is sailing the world when he learns that he inherited the title of duke of Carlin after the deaths of several male relatives. His daughter has been in the care of his late wife's family, and upon his return he discovers that his precocious five-year-old can drive away even the most seasoned nanny. Then a young woman suddenly appears, seeking the position of governess. Tessa James' arrival is both a welcome relief and a suspicious coincidence, but her insistence on being given a week to show that she can improve the child's behavior prompts the duke to disregard her lack of credentials. Though Tessa grew up in a foundling home, her missing father is a lord, and she's hoping to use the duke's resources to find him and secure a loan to open a millinery shop. But when the duke's library is ransacked, Tessa must prove her innocence and help the duke uncover the sinister plot behind the "Carlin Curse." The latest in Drake's Unlikely Duchesses series neatly combines Regency romance with a dash of mystery.

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May 10, 2021
A woman gets more than she bargained for when she fudges her qualifications to become a governess in Drake’s tantalizing third Unlikely Duchesses Regency romance (after Forever My Duke). Milliner Tessa James is determined to track down her aristocratic father, who got her mother pregnant while she was in his employ and then left her to raise Tessa in poverty. When she learns that Guy Whitby, the seventh Duke of Carlin, is having trouble keeping a governess for his unruly daughter, Sophy, Tessa finagles her way into the job, hoping to use the position to gain access to her father’s social circles. Guy is skeptical of Tessa’s qualifications, but he’s also desperate, and Sophy’s misbehavior is just one of his concerns. Guy unexpectedly gained the title of duke after four family members died within five years of each other. When he’s shot and his home is burglarized, he begins to think his aunt may be right about the family being cursed. As Tessa searches for her father, strengthens the bond between Guy and Sophy, and helps Guy to sniff out the burglar and would-be killer, the pair struggle to ignore their growing desires. With suspects and motives aplenty and the heat steadily rising between the alluring pair, this proves impossible to put down.

August 1, 2021

Becoming a governess seems like a backwards move for orphaned Tessa James, who desperately wants to open her own millinery shop. But when she hears that Guy Whitby, Duke of Carlin, needs someone to care for his daughter while he travels the world, Tessa sees a chance to get one step closer to her dream. The duke's daughter has a reputation as a difficult ward, having chased away several governesses already. The duke is able to overlook Tessa's lack of qualification when she quickly proves her skill at managing his feisty four-year-old. He has inherited a ducal title, estates, and a dramatic family history, but his weakness for his daughter and eventually for Tessa make him pause for the first time in years. Meanwhile, Tessa's growing affection for the charming Carlin and his stubborn daughter is distracting her from her ultimate goal. Mysteries erupt from Tessa's and Carlin's pasts, throwing Tessa further off course and making her question her wants and aims. VERDICT Pirate treasure maps, trips to the circus, and genealogical mysteries make this an exciting third entry in Drake's "Unlikely Duchesses" series (after Forever My Duke).--Jenna Harmison, Champaign Cty. Lib., OH

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