Secrets of an Accidental Duchess is Book Two in Jennifer Haymore's Donovan series. Book One is entitled Confessions of an Improper Bride, and Book Three is called Pleasures of a Tempted Lady (releasing in August 2012).

Olivia Donovan, raised in Antigua, has spent her life wrapped in cotton wool by her family after suffering from malaria for most of her existence. They are overprotective to say the least, but she longs for a normal life. She settles instead for accepting a life of spinsterhood and caring for her sisters' children...or at least that is her plan until she is noticed by a powerful nobleman, who is captivated by her beauty.

Maxwell Hasley is the heir to the dukedom of Wakefield, but his family relations have been anything but pleasant. He is determined never to act like his father, a cruel and abusive man. Max sees Olivia across a crowded ballroom and is determined to have her, but his lifelong nemesis, the Marquis of Fenwicke, entices him into a wager concerning Olivia's virtue. This causes untold heartbreak once the terms of the bet come to light. Can Olivia and Max find their way past their respective emotional and physical baggage to make a life together?

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess is a Regency-era novel about love, passion and trust. Olivia is a woman who dares not dream of a husband and family of her own due to her family holding her back in their staunch overprotectiveness. They mean well, but Olivia demands more in her quiet, unassuming way, and get it in the form of Max. He has his own issues to deal with, and watching these two dance around the issues of trust, love and belonging completely to someone else was very gratifying. Ms. Haymore tells a gripping tale of healing, but I was somewhat put off by the underlying theme of abuse in this story, even though it was not perpetuated by the hero. It was obvious that the villain in this piece was truly evil, but I feel the story would have benefited from less graphic descriptions of his victim's injuries. I do enjoy this series, however, and will be looking forward to reading its concluding book. Four Angels!

Reviewed by: Michelle B.