Mothers from hell!

His Enterprising Duchess (Enterprising Women #1) by Peri Maxwell  

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A story of second chance romance, with plenty of characters to dislike and love. After six years Lord Oliver Hawkins has returned from Canada along with his son Simon, to help his father, the Duke of Rushford, start a timber mill and sort out his affairs.

His brother Garrett has died leaving accounts unpaid all around the place. His witch of a mother mourns his brother, despises Oliver and tries to control his life. Oliver is having none of that!

But Oliver’s father unexpectedly dies and Oliver is left with battling debts and a dukedom he doesn’t want.

Thea Fowler, now Smith, was the girl he left behind, who was to join him. He never sent for her and Thea was on her own. Her time of travail when she was deserted by Oliver are hinted at as being harsh and unyielding. But now Thea owns the local Inn, a successful venture, although all think she only works there. Her sorrow and betrayal by the man she loved is immense. Thea supports her bitter mother but doesn’t live with her. She has secretly been part of a female lending group who foster loans to the deserving and support charity works.

Oliver is a successful lumber merchant in Canada and he intends to continue his father’s plan to start a mill on or near their property, judiciously thinning out some of the old forest, and providing employment for the local men. Except someone destroys the building he was going to use and now he has to find somewhere else. Not an easy task. 

Meanwhile he feels the old attraction to Thea, whom he’s known since they were children.

An enjoyable story but the angst swirling around the two main characters is immense.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.