Secrets of an Accidental Duchess

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.

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess is the second book of the Donovan Sisters series.  It's Olivia's story.  Of all the sisters she is fragile and her sisters tend to be very overprotecting. They shield her from any nastiness or questionable places or people.  But Olivia is more than just a fragile woman.  She's curious and wants to prove to herself and her sisters that she is independent and strong. Max has a facade of a care-free, pleasure seeking person, but he also a strong sense of what is right and wrong, he protects those who cannot protect themselves. He has emotional scars that he keeps hidden but Olivia has the ability to put him at ease. 


I thought that the first book of the series, Confessions of an Improper Bride, was very good, but this one in my opinion surpassed it.  Even though there was a lot going on with the primary and secondary stories, neither story felt compromised.  I loved the way the author brought the second story to light and all the ugliness surrounding it. It was very well written, considering it being such a sensitive and troubling issue, back then and still now.


I wonder what Jennifer Haymore will throw at us next.


Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Forever (2/2012); New Release; Series: # 2, Donovan Sisters; Library; Books 2012 (33);