Reviewer: Tracy What a Difference a Duke Makes (School for Dukes #1) by Lenora Bell
Series: School for Dukes #1
Also in this series: What a Difference a Duke Makes (School for Dukes, #1), For the Duke's Eyes Only (School for Dukes, #2), One Fine Duke
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: March 27th 2018
Format: eARC
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
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Series Rating:
Wanted: Governess for duke's unruly children
Edgar Rochester, Duke of Banksford, is one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in England, but when it comes to raising twins alone, he knows he needs help. The only problem is the children have chased away half the governesses in London. Until the clever, bold, and far-too-enticing Miss Mari Perkins arrives.
Lost: One heart to an arrogant duke
Mari knows how to wrap even the most rebellious children around her finger. But their demanding, wickedly handsome father? He won't be quite so easy to control. And there's something else she can't seem to command. Her heart. The foolish thing beats so wildly every time the duke is near.
Found: A forbidden passion neither can deny
As his employee, Mari is strictly off-limits. But what if she's the one breaking all his rules? In the game of governess versus duke, how can Edgar maintain his defenses when the only thing he wants to do is let the tempting beauty win?
Mari is desperate. She’s traveled to London to take a post as a governess but on her way she stops to help a child from getting hit by a carriage and ends up being late to the agency. The lady who runs the governess agency tells her in no uncertain terms that if she can’t be on time then she doesn’t deserve a post and kicks her out. She has very little money and nowhere to go so when she overhears another governess has quit a position because of the unruly children Mari decides that she’s the woman for the job. She heads to the duke’s house but tells him she’s from Mrs. Trilby’s Agency Superior Governesses (which she’s not) and that she’s more than qualified to be his children’s governess (which she’s not) but manages to secure the position anyway.
Mari loves the duke’s children and manages to thwart their unruly ways in no time. She also thinks the duke is a lovely man and loves spending time with him as well. She would like to be with the duke but as she has no idea who her parents were she knows that their stations in life would not allow such a thing. She’s not only in London to earn a wage, she’s also there to find out who her parents were.
This was a lovely story. I really liked Mari, despite her impertinence. She was raised in an orphanage and frankly I could see how the director wouldn’t like her too much only because she couldn’t hold her tongue. I, however, enjoyed it tremendously. I thought she was funny and smart and knew just what to do to take care of the duke’s children. I also loved that she didn’t care at all that they were illegitimate, as the previous governesses had. She was just a gem and I could see how the duke was attracted to her.
The duke was a bit of a curmudgeon at first but he slowly thawed toward Mari as the book went on. He’s had a rough life and held himself back because of it. I was happy when he finally allowed himself to love Mari because I truly think she was the best thing for him.
This is the first book in a new series by Bell and I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.
Rating: 4 out of 5
This sounds like a fun read! Thanks for the review, Tracy.