⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. An utterly charming romance with a duke trying to convince a governess that she is worth everything.

Governess Miss Viola Winslow is quite familiar with the rules of society, and her place in it. Still, it hasn’t stopped her from being horribly in love with the Duke of Huntington for years. But while the duke knows little of her foolish passions, the same cannot be said of Viola’s charge, a precocious fourteen-year-old obsessed with her governess’s secret romance. As a confirmed bachelor with no interest in marriage, the Duke of Huntington prefers his estate at Moorcliff Castle to the hustle, bustle, and utter nonsense of London society. He’s far more content with a glass of excellent whiskey and the calm of the country. Until his peace is shattered by the enchanting Miss Viola, and her injured young charge. Unable to travel or leave, Miss Viola has no choice but to remain at Moorcliff, where avoiding the duke is all but impossible. Somewhere between late night run-ins and a fake date in the most unlikely of places, their chemistry stops feeling one-sided. But when he discovers the secret she’s been hiding all along, there’s nothing that will save them from scandal.

MY THOUGHTS

We met Hunt in the previous book, The Duchess and the Wolf, and I already loved him from those few glimpses. His reactions to Viola were just so delightful, like he had been living in a fog and she was the sun that brought light back to his life. And Viola blossomed under his attentions.

There were plenty of scenes that had me smiling and made this love story even more enjoyable. I can highly recommend this if you like steamy historical romance. This book stands well on its own, but it will be worth reading the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: December 26, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Renegade Dukes
Other books in the series: Cinderella and the Duke, The Duchess and the Wolf
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Forbidden Romance, Meddling Friends & Family