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Secrets of the Duke's Family #2
Lady Olivia's Forbidden Protector
An irresistible connection
But an improper match?
Determined to marry on her own terms, Lady Olivia Bethune has arranged a convenient elopement, but her plot is thwarted when Michael Solomon is hired to watch over her. Her jaded protector stirs a grudging respect—and an illicit desire—in Liv. Their stolen kisses have her believing both love and her freedom might be possible. Can she convince Michael that he’s not just another play for her independence?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Secrets of the Duke''s Family
The mysteries and passions of the aristocracy!
Book 1: Lady Margaret''s Mystery Gentleman
Book 2: Lady Olivia''s Forbidden Protector
But an improper match?
Determined to marry on her own terms, Lady Olivia Bethune has arranged a convenient elopement, but her plot is thwarted when Michael Solomon is hired to watch over her. Her jaded protector stirs a grudging respect—and an illicit desire—in Liv. Their stolen kisses have her believing both love and her freedom might be possible. Can she convince Michael that he’s not just another play for her independence?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Secrets of the Duke''s Family
The mysteries and passions of the aristocracy!
Book 1: Lady Margaret''s Mystery Gentleman
Book 2: Lady Olivia''s Forbidden Protector
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 24, 2021
8 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Christine Merrill
242 books215 followersChristine Merrill has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. But one thing stood in her way: touch typing.
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 23, 2021
Fun quick read! Well into the night, but didn’t start until close to 9 lol! Loved it, but still have questions on this whole who killed their father & why the brother was so paranoid over the sisters leaving the house especially now married—the brother in laws have a target on their back?! Let’s hope it’s explained in the next book in the series!
Loved the witty dialogue! Thanks obviously fast paced Insta love though some soul searching was involved! It was a good novel! Something was missing though idk what?! I feel months down the way prob won’t remember this as well which is sad, but telling all the same about this novel! Would recommend though!
Loved the witty dialogue! Thanks obviously fast paced Insta love though some soul searching was involved! It was a good novel! Something was missing though idk what?! I feel months down the way prob won’t remember this as well which is sad, but telling all the same about this novel! Would recommend though!
July 31, 2022
Lady Olivia Bethune feels like a captive in her brother's house. After Olivia attempts to elope, her brother assigns Michael Solomon to watch over her to make sure it doesn't happen again. I absolutely loved Michael's character and the way in which he handled his relationship with Olivia, both as her protector and as her lover, later on. There were some humorous scenes. A secret in Michael's past comes to fruition throughout the story. Reluctantly, he starts believing in love and a possible future with Olivia.
September 5, 2021
Set during the Regency Era, Hugh Bethune, the Duke of Scofield hires thirty year old Michael Solomon to prevent Lady Olivia from eloping with an inappropriate suitor.
Merrill does as good job of navigating the Class difference: Working/Nobility.
Merrill does as good job of navigating the Class difference: Working/Nobility.
August 19, 2021
Loved it.
September 23, 2021
I usually read contemporary romance or women's fiction. I discovered Christine Merrill’s books at a book convention I attended a few years ago. After reading one of her books, I found that I really enjoyed her regency romance story.
The women lived under such strict rules of family life and society. It is interesting to read about how they got away with so much while usually being watched so closely.
I really enjoyed this new book. I read this during a time that the area I live in has just went through a terrible hurricane and it was a nice relief to normal life situations become engrossed in a story so different from real life.
I read this book two in the series without reading book one first. I understood everything, and definitely think it can be read as a standalone book. I am going to go back and read book one since I would like to read the entire series now that I have begun it.
The women lived under such strict rules of family life and society. It is interesting to read about how they got away with so much while usually being watched so closely.
I really enjoyed this new book. I read this during a time that the area I live in has just went through a terrible hurricane and it was a nice relief to normal life situations become engrossed in a story so different from real life.
I read this book two in the series without reading book one first. I understood everything, and definitely think it can be read as a standalone book. I am going to go back and read book one since I would like to read the entire series now that I have begun it.
September 13, 2021
"No matter how pretty, a cage is still a cage"
Lady Olivia Bethune is a prisoner in her own house. Youngest daughter of the late Duke, her brother acts very strangely: hiring "guards" to keep her safe; making sure she is never alone, and not allowing her older sister to see her. Hugh seems to have other motives, fearing his sister will elope as Peg did
The latest guard is Michael Solomon, a detective who tries to keep his job and his growing attraction to Liv separate and just do his job. Will Olivia's protector become her biggest problem? And what in glory is actually wrong with Hugh?
This is my first Christine Merrill book and the first Harlequin in decades. I enjoyed the intelligence and the detail the author presents and hope to read others in the future. 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
Lady Olivia Bethune is a prisoner in her own house. Youngest daughter of the late Duke, her brother acts very strangely: hiring "guards" to keep her safe; making sure she is never alone, and not allowing her older sister to see her. Hugh seems to have other motives, fearing his sister will elope as Peg did
The latest guard is Michael Solomon, a detective who tries to keep his job and his growing attraction to Liv separate and just do his job. Will Olivia's protector become her biggest problem? And what in glory is actually wrong with Hugh?
This is my first Christine Merrill book and the first Harlequin in decades. I enjoyed the intelligence and the detail the author presents and hope to read others in the future. 5/5
[Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
September 27, 2021
Bilingual review: A story that begins very well, protagonists who empathize, an interesting story, but in the last third of the book, it declines and borders on the implausible. It could have been better told.//Reseña bilingüe: Una historia que comienza muy bien, protagonistas que empatizan, una historia intersante, pero que en el ultimo tercio del libro, decae y roza lo inverosimil. Podría haber sido mejor contada.
November 1, 2021
Unlike the first book in this trilogy, we’re left with just a teaser to the third book. The first book was frustratingly incomplete.
In the first book, the first of the Scofield sisters works her way out from her brother’s household. In this second book, the second sister is lonely without her sister and she makes many attempts to elope with one suitor, only to be detained by a second.
In the first book, the first of the Scofield sisters works her way out from her brother’s household. In this second book, the second sister is lonely without her sister and she makes many attempts to elope with one suitor, only to be detained by a second.
August 26, 2021
An entertaining regency romance, different class and undeniable connection leads Michael and Lady Olivia to an enticing happily ever after. Lady Olivia's Forbidden Protector is everything you need to read on a cold winter's night.
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August 1, 2021Categories
Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
Secrets of the Duke's Family (Book #2)
Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
Secrets of the Duke's Family (Book #2)
September 1, 2021
I liked the premise of the story. The h/h could've been fleshed out a little more but a satisfying read all and all. I look forward to reading the next book.
May 8, 2022
Raise a glass. Let's toast to a marvelous novel!!! And a great author!!! She out did herself!! This book was funny!!!! It had some mystery. And an exceptional cliffhanger!!! I highly recommend it!!
May 29, 2022
Apart from a couple of glaring plot issues, a good second instalment in the series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews