Historical Rom-Com – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

The Governess’s Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses by Amy Rose Bennett

Series: The Parasol Academy #2

Release Date: March 31, 2026

As a graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses, Hermina “Mina” Davenport will never let harm come to her charge, especially after making a deathbed promise to his godmother. So, when Christopher, the orphaned 7-year-old Viscount Fitzwilliam is being taken to the North Pole by his possibly bewitched guardian, Sir Bedivere Ponsonby, against his will, Mina has no choice but to intervene. She “te-ley-ports” onto the ship and they make their escape, but that is where things go terribly wrong. Instead of ending up in her room at her mother’s house, they end up on another ship – owned by an incredibly large and handsome Irish nobleman, Phineas “Phinn” O’Connell, the newly-minted Marquess of Kinsale. He kindly offers to take them back to Bristol and they part ways. After settling Christopher in her mother’s home, Mina returns to the Academy for a new assignment. Imagine her surprise when Phineas is her new employer!

Phinn O’Connell is not a typical nobleman, raised in Ireland he survived the Great Famine by becoming a prizefighter, but even that was not enough to save his family, who perished from a typhoid outbreak. He is large, scarred, uncouth and speaks with not just an Irish accent, but he also has a speech impediment, which makes him very self-conscious and something of a joke to his peers. He desperately wants to pass laws in parliament to help his people in Ireland, but no one takes him seriously. He needs help, he needs Mina! But as his friend Viscount Hartwell, points out he has no child in need of a governess, and he doubts the academy would allow her to work for him. So, when he catches a young boy trying to pick his pocket, he sees a way to hire Mina and help a young boy at the same time. What could go wrong?

I think I actually liked this story better than the first book, which is saying a lot because I LOVED the first book. Mina and Phinn are both wonderful characters and their story is filled with witty banter, flawed yet lovable characters, a cursed ring, wonderful secondary characters, an irascible pug, cameos from Emma and Xaiver, lots of magic, secrets, snarky servants, opposing Fae Queens, slow-burn romance, and finally a happy ending with the promise of more magic to come! This is the second book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title without any problem. I am happy to recommend both titles in this fun, magical, Victorian-era series!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma by Violet Marsh

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: None Listed, but this is the 3rd with the same characters

Release Date: March 17, 2026

When Eoin Aucourte, the new Duke of Foxglen comes into the Black Sheep Coffeehouse looking for help in finding his mother and sister, the proprietress, Miss Hannah Wick sees the opportunity to avenge the wrongs done to her father by the Aucourte Family and immediately offers to help. Hannah doesn’t really care for the peerage, despite the fact that her mother, cousin and several friends are nobles, but her father was wronged by the former duke and forced into a life of piracy, he found way out and made a good life for himself, but the distrust of the peerage and the desire for revenge was ingrained into Hannah. But she soon realizes that Eoin is not her enemy and the more time spent with him the more she wants and she knows she has to be honest with him about original intentions before he learns the truth.

When he was just six years old, Eoin’s father was hanged as a traitor and his grandfather the Duke of Foxglen sent his mother and sister away and raised Eoin as his heir. Unhappy with the way his own children turned out, he was brutally severe with Eoin, he refused to let him see his mother or sister, he accorded him none of the luxuries an heir would normally enjoy, he lead a solitary, joyless existence and the first thing he did when the old man died was try and find his mother and sister. His aunts and uncles have never cared for him and with their own inheritances dependent on Eoin not finding his mother, they are no help and he has no idea where to start. He turns to the people of the Black Sheep Coffeehouse who have been able to solve other mysteries and hopes they can help him. He never expected Hannah would be so willing to help and even offers to pretend to be his mistress so they can stay close. With Hannah, Eoin starts to feel alive for the first time ever and when it becomes clear that someone is trying to kill him, she stands by him, how could he not fall in love with her?

I will be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the previous books and even thought about passing on this one, but I am so glad that I decided to give this installment a go – because for me, the third time was a charm! I loved Hannah and Eoin, they are both perfectly flawed characters, each with a heart of gold. Is this story an era correct representation? No, it is completely over the top and ridiculous at times, but it is very entertaining and you can’t help but root for their happy ever after. While the author has not officially made this a series, this book is the third book with the same characters and the titles are connected, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no issues. Overall, I am happy to recommend this title and look 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/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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