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Loading... The Governess Affairby Courtney Milan
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. The Governess Affair is a really sweet novella. I like the characters a lot and the romance is great. The Epilogue is an interesting set up for the rest of the series. ( ) A short historical romance novella that moves along at a very snappy pace with a plot less straightforward than the title implies. The romance felt a bit rushed, very "love at first sight", and the male protagonist was a little too good to be true. I love historical fiction, but I haven't read much romance and don't understand the conventions of the genre. Perhaps this book fits into a specific sub-genre thus written perfectly to fit a category? Personally, I'd have liked a bit more character development and more historical bits, but it was a fun enough read. Unsure whether I'll read the rest of the series however. Romance novellas tend to feel very rushed to me, and this one was no exception. The beginning was very compelling. The leads were sympathetic. The supporting cast was memorable. This should be a knock-out success. Still, the pacing was off, and the ending sped through faster than the white rabbit late for its very important date. Honestly, my favorite part in the whole story was the foil setup between Serena and her sister Frederica. Serena is adventurous and always gets back on the horse, so to speak, while Frederica would rather stay in place to avoid unpleasant changes. It felt like something Dickens would write, and Frederica resembled the character Jenny from Our Mutual Friend. The foil was so striking and the relationship was so realistic that it never felt cliched or boring. Those scenes stole the show, in my opinion. Which then means the romance didn't, as much. There were plenty of sweet moments between Hugo and Serena, but it never developed into a romance for the ages. I think that's partially because the climax was pretty anticlimactic. Hugo just kind of goes "Nope, I don't need this anymore", and it's not super clear what set off that change. The thing he'd been wanting is suddenly not that important, but there wasn't really anything that set him off, so it kind of came out of the blue. Not only that, his punishment of the duke/his employer was extremely mild compared to how horribly the duke treated Serena. He got off so easy! If this was a Kleypas novel, that man would definitely be jailed or at the bottom of the Thames. Overall, this is a romance story with more grit than we're used to seeing. There's not a yard of silk to be seen in any of these pages, which would be perfectly fine if you're looking for something more grounded and not life-changing. The Governess Affair 3.5 Stars The ambitious son of a coal miner, Hugo Marshall, has worked his way into a duke's employ. Known as the Wolf of Clermont, Hugo is the duke's ruthless and conscienceless "fixer." But when his employer asks him to "fix" a situation with Miss Serena Barton, a governess demanding compensation, Hugo finds himself captivated by her beauty and her courage. Will he risk losing everything he has achieved for love? Series note and caveat: This is the prequel to The Duchess War, which I read several years ago and which left me rather underwhelmed. Perhaps due to my low expectations, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the engaging characters and charming romance in this novella. Hugo is a wonderful hero. Milan skillfully crafts a character who is able to manipulate the social order to his own benefit without forfeiting his personal sense of honor and integrity. Likewise, Serena is an appealing heroine, and one cannot help but admire her determination and resourcefulness in seeking her due. Hugo and Serena also have excellent chemistry, and their banter is witty and entertaining. The biggest problem with the storyline is the rather superficial treatment of Overall, this series has potential, and I am willing to give the next one (for me book #2) a try. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesThe Brothers Sinister (Prequel) AwardsDistinctions
Fiction.
Romance.
Short Stories.
Historical Fiction.
HTML: A new series from New York Times bestselling author Courtney Milan... She will not give up. Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position. Unable to find new work, she's demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked: a petty, selfish, swinish duke. But it's not the duke she fears. It's his merciless man of businessâ??the man known as the Wolf of Clermont. The formidable former pugilist has a black reputation for handling all the duke's dirty business, and when the duke turns her case over to him, she doesn't stand a chance. But she can't stop tryingâ??not with her entire future at stake.He cannot give in. Hugo Marshall is a man of ruthless ambitionâ??a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner's son to the right hand man of a duke. When his employer orders him to get rid of the pestering governess by fair means or foul, it's just another day at the office. Unfortunately, fair means don't work on Serena, and as he comes to know her, he discovers that he can't bear to use foul ones. But everything he has worked for depends upon seeing her gone. He'll have to choose between the life that he needs, and the woman he is coming to love... The Governess Affair is a novella of about 32,500 wo No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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