An enemy from the past is all it takes to change things around…Governess Elizabeth Peaton has never known true love until she finally meets her employer’s melancholy brother. Not knowing how to deal with the unfamiliar and intense emotions he ignites within her, she lets herself burn in his fire.Still haunted by his fiancé’s unsolved murder, Gerard Watton, the Duke of Hadminster, has thrown … Duke of Hadminster, has thrown himself into his business. However, that changes when his sister’s captivating governess brings forth feelings he thought himself unable to experience ever again.
But as tension and feelings run wild, someone threatens to snatch his happiness away from him a second time.
When someone tries to poison Elizabeth, the crippling fear of the past repeating itself resurfaces, and Gerard is hard-pressed to act fast. For one is an accident, two is a tragedy, but three is murder…
*If you like a realistic yet steamy depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Wild Passions of a Mischievous Duchess is the novel for you.
This is Violet’s 2nd novel, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a strong happily ever after.
Pick up “Wild Passions of a Mischievous Duchess” today to discover Violet’s fantastic new story!
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Elizabeth Peaton is a governess to a wealthy family. She was brought up in orphanages and really did not know much of the world except what she reads in books. No experience with men at all! When Gerard Watton, the Duke of Hadminster comes for a stay–Elizabeth does not know what hit her! But then neither does he!
Gerrard had been hiding on his country estate after the murder of his fiance. They had never found who did it–and he never got over it. But he really did have to go visit his sister and her husband if only to get friendlier with his young nephew.
Then someone tries to murder Elizabeth—is it connected to the death of his fiance–could the culprit finally be found after all these years? This is one of those historical romances that will keep you up all night reading!!
Elizabeth Peaton is a governess for Jonathan and Bridget the Duke and Duchess of Stonehill. Her charge is a precocious tyke named Thomas. Bridget is expecting her second child and her beloved brother, Gerard Watton, the Duke of Hadminster, is coming for a long overdue visit.
Gerard fiancee, Christine, was murdered, poisoned, seven years earlier and her murderer was never caught. Gerard has withdrawn to his country estate and has not been back to London since a disastrous visit five years earlier. He is still mourning her death.
Elizabeth has been warned by some of her fellow co-workers that Gerard is very moody and not pleasant to be around. However, when they first meet, the sparks between them are very strong. Elizabeth is confused since he is employer’s brother AND a Duke while Gerard is surprised to be attracted to someone other than Christine.
Soon it becomes apparent to everyone that the Duke is interested in the governess. Unfortunately, this apparently includes Christine’s murder because Elizabeth is poisoned at the ball thrown after Bridget’s daughter’s christening.
Everyone wonders if this is connected to Christine’s murder or just a coincidence. Gerard and Detective Collins, the detective that us still investigating Christine’s murder, work together to catch the murderer before he tries to murder Elizabeth again.
I love the dual plots of Elizabeth and Gerard falling in love at the same time Gerard is trying to keep Elizabeth safe while he tries to catch the murderer. You will too.
It’s amazing that this is the author’s second published book. I look forward to reading all of her future books.
I received an ARC of this ebook to read and give an honest review. In addition, I bought the book from Amazon when it became available. I highly recommend this book.
****SPOILER ALERT****
I loved the overall plot of the story. Gerard Watton, Duke of Hadminster is plagued with the poisoning death of his beloved fiancée seven years ago. It is an unsolved crime. He carries a torch of his love for his Christine till he dies and will have no other for his bride. Gerard starts off as haughty, aloof and stern. But when he is reintroduced to his sister Bridget’s son Thomas, who is five and his governess he begins to have feelings and thoughts long dead. Also, his sister Bridget delivers a baby girl and when he holds her again the feelings of having a home of love, wife and children plague him. He fights the feelings he has for his nephew’s governess Elizabeth Peaton. As for Elizabeth as a character I was hoping for more than a woman who loses all coherent thought around Gerard. The repeated mention of her holding her breath in his presence only to breathe again when he leaves is too much. For about the first 33% of the book she lives in her thoughts. Hardly any dialogue with anyone. No matter what I think of her character this was annoying and I was tempted to put the book down. She hardly has the title of heroine in my book. As I continued reading and the attraction between Elizabeth and Gerard became known in the household, someone tries to poison Elizabeth. Gerard spirals down a familiar path of what happened seven years before. Luckily, she recovers. Gerard and Elizabeth become closer. Someone is watching and does not like it. When Elizabeth wanders out in the garden and leans against a tree, someone from behind her tries to strangle her to death. When Gerard finds her still alive, he rushes them to the detective’s home to report the latest incident. As far as Gerard and the detective are concerned Christine’s murder and the attempts on Elizabeth’s life are connected and likely by the same perpetrator. The only thing in common is Gerard himself and he is innocent. Gerard cannot think of losing Elizabeth and has her moved to an Inn for safety. He finally asks her to marry him and she accepts. But then there is a lull in the investigation and Gerard is like a dog with a bone. He will not marry until Christine’s murder and the attempts on Elizabeth’s life are solved. This grieves Elizabeth because she could be waiting for years for that to happen. It already had been seven long years after Christine’s death with no resolution. She breaks the engagement and heartbroken decides to find another governess situation. Bridget threatens Gerard if he does not beg Elizabeth to take him back. He does not see why he should apologize if she broke it off. But then he finally gets it through his thick skull how Elizabeth views their situation and he begs her forgiveness. He renews he offer of marriage and she accepts. Gerard feels it is of the utmost importance to keep their impending marriage a secret. He wants to marry her right away and take her to Rome to get away from it all. When he advises Bridget and their close family friend Lady Rosaline. Elizabeth was still at the Inn getting her trunk ready while Gerard was getting his end ready. Then the detective came to see Gerard and Bridget only (no Rosaline). He did not know who to trust. He reported some grave information that put Elizabeth in immediate danger. They rushed to the Inn. Gerard busted the door down to find the perpetrator trying to strangle and murder Elizabeth with a knife. Like I said before the first third was blah but then it got increasingly interesting and I am glad I finished the book.