Book Review: The Secrets Of An Accidental Duchess

Author: Jennifer Haymore
Title: Secrets Of An Accidental Duchess
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: Feb 1, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess... 

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

Review: Where to start with this book. I really enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to read even though it fell into many of the pitt falls of historical romance.

What are those you ask?

1. There is a dastardly villain. Seriously, you can't get more dastardly and bastardly than Fenwick. This guy was evil. I'm sure if she wrote about his childhood, he kicked puppies and drowned kittens. That's how evil this guy is.

2. Kidnappings...there's 3 in this book. I'm pretty sure that's a new record.

3. The heroine thinks she's somehow unworthy of love.

I probably shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did. But it was another guilty pleasure read. I felt good reading it. I enjoyed Olivia and Max and the other Donovan sisters. These characters were really well developed. They made me want to find the other books in the series.

I wish Fenwick was as well developed. I mean was was he such a bastard and why the rivalry between him and Max. There wasn't much of an explanation. Not that not knowing is going to keep me up at night.

If you are looking for an amusing book to pass an afternoon with, this one should work for you, especially if you like regency era historicals.

Rating: 4 flowers