A hot-headed American heiress… widower with a young daughter to raise, he needs a governess more than he needs a wife. And he certainly doesn’t need an impertinent American heiress. Especially one who speaks like a sailor, looks like an angel, and stirs desires inside of him best left alone.
A smoldering passion ready to ignite…
But Athena knows beneath Ambrose’s icy exterior is a man who wants to love again, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to prove it. Even if that means risking everything, including her own heart…
Get ready for an enthralling battle of wits in this British versus American romance! The Spring Duke is the second novella in the best-selling A Duke for All Seasons quartet.
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This is what I would call a ‘swexy’ book. Sweet and yet also sexy without bombarding the reader with over the top sex scenes that do not enhance the story line in any way. Jillian gives us just the right amount of sex and passion so that the plot can then move forward as a natural progression towards a HEA.
I really liked how the differences in the personalities of Athena and Ambrose managed to complement each other. Athena was impetuous and had no problem saying what she thought while Ambrose was plagued with so much fear due to the death of his wife in childbirth that he refused to let any emotion into his life except for the love he felt for his eleven year old daughter. Athena travels all the way from America based solely on a love letter written to her great grandmother that she had found in an old desk. So begins the love story of Athena and Ambrose.
Victoria, the young daughter of Ambrose, was absolutely one of the best characters in the book. Granted there are not a whole lot of individual characters in this book and the time span encompasses a little over five weeks but quite a lot gets packed in within those five weeks.
Ms. Eaton does her usual job of getting us to care about what happens to the people she has created within the pages of each and every one of her books. I do not think I have ever read a book of hers that I have not enjoyed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Prepare to be thoroughly delighted in the fun story of an American, coming to England and the Brooding Duke she finds!
Athena was a storm. There were not many who could keep up with her when she set her mind to a task. An American, Athena Dogwood (I love it!), had sailed to England to find her husband. Wait, did I say she was bethrothed? Not exactly but she had found a letter her great grandmother had saved and knew her destiny was with the writer’s great grandson (namely Ambrose) who had written it! Oh yes and throw in the fact she needed to be married before her 30th birthday or her dowry would go to a detestable cousin.
What she finds is a man who has kept his emotions so contained due to the death of his wife in childbirth, he refused to think about remarrying. But he had a delightful daughter (well her numerous governesses might not agree!) who was such a great addition in this book and needed a new governess, now that the current one had just left!
Jillian Eaton has such a wonderful way with words and her characters come to life with such witty banter and thoughts that just make you smile! Follow the journey as Althena and Ambrose try to find their way to love and as you turn the last page, wishing the next story will come out soon!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a funny sexy second chance at love Regency romance. Ambrose was broken hearted after his wife died and he closed himself off. His daughter Victoria suffered as a result, acting out for attention and scaring away all her governesses. Athena was impulsive, headstrong, and romantic at heart determined to forge her own path in life and find a great love like her great-grandmother had and lost even crossing an ocean to find it. I enjoyed this short story and can’t wait for the next one by this author.
Book two in the A Duke for All Seasons series a well written story that flows smoothly from page to pages, and has a great story-line. American Miss Athena Dogwood comes to England following a letter she finds that her great-grandmother had hidden. She comes to the doorstep of the Duke of Blackburn Ambrose a widower with a young daughter Victoria. Athena becomes Victoria’s temporary governess. When Ambrose tells her he does not love her and never will, Athena leaves to go back to America. Will Ambrose realize he loves her and get her back? Read the book to find out. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I so enjoyed The Spring Duke. Jillian Eaton has written a lovely novel that turns the traditional regency themes into a refreshing charming story. Athena Dogwood becomes a three dimensional person instead of the typical spoiled American heiress usually found in regency stories. Her first encounter with Ambrose, the Duke of Blackburn, is unsettling for both of them. Ambrose cannot believe that a woman would cross the Atlantic to marry him based upon a letter his great grandfather wrote. He places great value on the very structured life he created after his wife died, even as his beloved daughter rebels against the restrictions.
Athena has fled to London because of the restrictions her parents have placed on her and the very proper future husbands they have chosen for her. When Ambrose refuses to consider her proposal but offers the position of temporary governess to his daughter, she accepts. Athena and Victoria become very close, mostly because Victoria is the same as Athena was at the age of eleven. Athena is able to guide the girl into better behavior without stifling her.
Ambrose is appalled by his strong attraction to Athena who is the opposite of his late wife. Athena is drawn to Ambrose as well but confused by his advances and retreats. This is the tension in the story. They get to a HEA but the path is anything but straight.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I follow each new release by Mrs Jillian Eaton recently and this story was like the previous one, full of fun, witty banters and great unusual characters.
For sure Athena is bold and sometimes reckless but it is for the best, even if she should have give some thoughts before acting. But it is the way she is. But with experience, she is the perfect one to take care and juggle Ambrose’s daughter. Even if she came straight from America for the father and not the daughter.
She knows what she wants and won’t compromise.
It is what I loved the most about her, she has a purpose and when it becomes from quite possible to unreachable, she won’t bent, she chooses another path.
Ambrose needed a lot of time to morn his late wife, so much he closed himself from the others and only his daughter can still reach his heart.
So when Athena storms in his house, she turns his life upside down while she rights his daughter’s. By then, she unsettles him, confusing him so much he scared to look at her and see what he could miss and what lacks his life.
A funny and lovely second chance novella.
Athena, the heroine, is an American who sails for England with the plan to marry a duke, spurred on by her great-grandmother’s love letter from the current duke’s great-grandfather. She shows up on an auspicious day, when the duke requires a new governess. The widower’s headstrong daughter has frightened away nannies and governesses from a young age. He, of course, thinks Athena is ridiculous in her proposal, but rather than turn her away to go back to Boston, he sees a way out of his present predicament. He offers her the position of temporary governess until he can find a “proper” one; the last governess had told him that he had gone through all available ones at her agency. The two do have a near-instant attraction, but the duke fights it.
What will the daughter think of her temporary governess? Will Athena have come to England only to be eventually sent home? Will the duke start to see her as his future duchess?
The author has an excellent ear for writing humor. Both the duke’s and Athena’s perspectives show wit, dry in the duke’s case and snarky and bold in Athena’s case. It was fun to watch the turns of their minds and read the banter. Athena had an affinity for Victoria, the duke’s daughter, as she sees so much of herself in the young girl.
I recommend this quick, witty read.
I love a historical where the author has descriptions of the Regency era is such wonderful detail it just makes the story. This book is simply a delight. Athena and Ambrose, the Duke of Blackburn and his daughter Victoria are grand characters that have great interactions and banter throughout the story. This book was such a joy to read and I will recommend it to all my friends. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
The banter is just fantastic in this story and oh how I like good banter!! The Spring Duke by Jillian Eaton is book 2 in A Duke for All Seasons series. Though in a series this story can be read as a standalone. This is one of those book that is so delightful and at the same time so funny that I could not stop laughing. Jillian has such an amazing way of writing and her descriptions of the regency era is truly wonderful. You can’t help but fall in love with Athena and Ambrose, the Duke of Blackburn and his daughter Victoria. This story has a long lost love letter, mischief, boldness, grief, death, determination, misunderstandings, kindness, comparisons, mistakes and denying love. This book was such a joy to read and I recommend that you do!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Loved this book! The characters were great opposites and the witty banter enjoyable. The author’s humor is great.
The Spring Duke (A Duke for All Seasons Book 2) by Jillian Eaton is simply lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Athena and Ambrose, and his adorable daughter. The epilogue was an added bonus.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a sweet, romantic, fun-filled, humorous & spicy story – it was a perfect afternoon read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Athena Dogwood is a high spirited, full of life American who has crossed the Atlantic with one thing in mind – marry the Duke of Blackburn. However; Athena is the last thing the orderly, serious, widower father of a 11 year old high spirited daughter needs but Athena hasn’t had her chance to prove she is exactly what he needs! Athena & his daughter, Victoria make an entertaining twosome with their impulsive, unladylike adventures that drives the Duke crazy with worry. They had me laughing, crying & hoping for HEA – I highly recommend this book; it is a quick read but the fast pace keeps you invested in the story & the wonderful characters!