Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

Goodreads Description:

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.

My Rating:

My Review:


I didn't read the first in this series and so there was a lot of back story I didn't know.  The first story is about how the older sisters came to England and the romance of Serena (now know as Meg) and Jonathan.  I was just frustrated because I wanted to know why she went by Meg now.  There is also a reference to a Serena's twin sister who is lost at sea an a Captain who apparently was engaged to Serena but is now friends with Serena and her husband Jonathan.  It's not too critical an issue however because this book is about Olivia and Max.  They meet in this book and the romance and following issues developed in the story are all created and resolved in this book so there is no dependence on the first book.

Olivia had Malaria when the family lived in the West Indies.  She gets fevers and faints and is depended on quinine to save her from her random fevers.  She believes she can't marry because having a child is not a guaranteed option.  Max sees Olivia at a ball with her sister Jessica and instantly is enthralled.  He is caught by his boyhood rival and a bet is made about seducing Olivia.  Max goes to a house party and once he meets Olivia gives up his stupid plan and they become friends.  A romance develops.  It get's out that the boyhood rival abuses his wife, thanks to Jessica and the rest of the Donovan sisters, and said rival goes mad.  The following actions in the story are pretty predictable but entertaining to read.  All ends well in the end however.

This book was good but I believe if I had read the first book it would have made this book even better.  I wouldn't have been confused at parts and thus not distracted by back story I didn't know.    So I recommend this book as a good historical romance but I also recommend you read the first book, Confessions of an Improper Bride.