Historical Review: Secrets of An Accidental Duchess (A Donovan Novel) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Secrets of an Accidental Duchess" the 2nd book in her Donovan Sister series by Jennifer Haymore.
Product 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.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Forever (February 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446573159
ISBN-13: 978-0446573153

About the Author

As a child, Jennifer Haymore traveled the South Pacific with her family on their homebuilt sailboat. The months spent on the sometimes quiet, sometimes raging seas sparked her love of adventure and grand romance. Since then, she's earned degrees in computer science and education and held various jobs ranging from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to acting, but she's never stopped writing.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

My Review:

Olivia Donovan looks frail and delicate but her family doesn't know she is stronger than that.  She is prone to fevers from malaria she caught when she was young. Her sisters treat her like she is the weakest link but she doesn't want to be treated like a china doll to be contained.  When she meets Max he opens up a new world to her.

Max doesn't think Olivia as a frail and delicate china doll but he sees her beauty and kindness.  He regrets the bet he made with a nemesis to see if he could get bed Olivia and he certainly bites him back in the butt when she finds out about it.  Max has a more than an interest in Olivia and knows that he is in love with her but doesn't want to rush her.

Fenwicke the sadistic villain nemesis was truly a very sick man who enjoyed beating up his wife and ruining her spirit.  I hated how he kept calling Olivia "whore".

I really like how Max was very gentle and caring with Olivia and treated her with respect.  Really enjoyed their love scenes.

Great storyline, well written characters and a sweet romance.

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Other Books in series:

1.  Confessions of an Improper Bride
2.  Pleasures of a Tempted Lady - August 1, 2012