Month: February 2022

Desiring the Governess by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Desiring the Governess (To Love a Governess, #1)Desiring the Governess by Jane Charles

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: To Love a Governess, #1

Release Date: February 22, 2022

Miss Althea Claywell has spent four years on the marriage mart and has only ever been attracted to one man, Major Ambrose, but he only danced with her twice and never asked to court her before leaving town. Althea assumed that her uncle/guardian would let her inherit her trust when she turns 25 and go quietly into spinsterhood, but when she overhears him speaking to his friend and learning that he means to marry her off to Mr. Smith who is old enough to be her grandfather, she panics and runs away.

Major Preston Ambrose left town last year after learning that his brother and his wife died in an accident, making Preston the new Viscount Melcombe and the guardian of 5 young girls. His cousin Alec Winters, the Earl of Harwich suggests that he marry, but the only woman he ever wanted is Althea and he was so nervous around her he was never able to ask to court her. Alec suggests having their uncle, Mr. Smith help by arranging a marriage with Althea’s uncle, who is his good friend. But when he sees Althea in the village near his estate, he knows something is wrong and a letter from his uncle confirms it – Althea misunderstood the marriage terms and bolted. He is still tongue-tied around her and too embarrassed to admit the marriage proposal was from him, so instead asks her to be his new governess, thinking that he will be able to spend time with her and court her and hopefully marry her.

Althea agrees to be his governess for one month, she was going to travel to her mother’s family in Scotland but knows that is the first place her uncle will look for her, so staying with Preston is perfect and she hopes that they can get to know each other better and see if what she felt in London was real. But their courtship is plagued with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a heavy dose of inappropriate lust between a governess and her employer, with all this working against them, will they ever manage to clear the air and find their HEA?

This was a well-written story with two very likable characters and a great supporting cast. The story starts out well and the initial misunderstanding is well done and works perfectly, but as the story moves on, the misunderstanding and miscommunications begin to cause the story to drag and Preston’s inability to talk to her becomes unbelievable when he seems to lose all self-control when he sees her. Overall, I liked the idea of the story and the characters, it was a fun read and had some spicy love scenes, but I just wish the miscommunication/misunderstandings had been cleared up sooner. This is the first book in a new series and I am looking forward to the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher.

To Deceive a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series1 Comment

To Deceive a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch CastleBarbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle #1
Publication Date: 2/28/22
Period: Jacobean/Stuart Era (1653) – Scottish Highlands
Number of Pages: 187

Laird Haydon Sutherland is a man who is large and in charge! He brooks no argument; his decisions are final; he needs no advice; he knows a woman’s role is to provide bairns and keep the castle. Aren’t you already looking forward to him meeting the woman who will take him down a notch or two? If not, you certainly should be because Lady Ainslee Johnstone doesn’t take well to direction. Oil and water you say? Well, perhaps, but a lesser woman would soon become lost in the background.

With the hint of war in the air and a castle keep that needs a good mistress, Haydon decides it is time for him to wed. He doesn’t want love and affection. No, he wants a meek, mild, totally biddable wife who will do as she is ordered when she is ordered. He travels to Laird Johnstone’s to meet and arrange a betrothal with one of his twin daughters. Upon meeting them, he quickly determines that while they may look alike, that is where the similarities end. So, his choice is made almost as soon as they are introduced – it is Lady Isobel for him. She is quiet and biddable – just what he is looking for.

Lady Isobel and Lady Ainslee are very close – even for twins. They have never spent any time apart and even still share the same room though they are adults. When their father tells them of Laird Sutherland’s imminent arrival and a betrothal for one of them, they do not take it well. Typically, they each deal with the announcement in different ways. Isobel with quiet, shy, reluctant dread and Ainslee with loud, vocal, argumentative objections. When the Laird quickly chooses Isobel, Ainslee knows she has to do something to save her sister. Isobel could never withstand marriage to and life with such an arrogant oaf. The solution is simple – they are twins – they’ll just change places and Ainslee will marry Haydon. He’ll never know the difference – right?

Can they get away with it? Can Ainslee tame the savage beast? Well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out. I really liked Ainslee from the first, but I think it was Haydon who really kept me interested and reading because I couldn’t wait to see him get his comeuppance. I hope you’ll read the story and enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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