My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Loyal Rebecca Beaton and gentle Grace Ellerby became lifelong friends while enduring the hardships of childhood at a harsh charity school. Now employed as governesses, they care for other people’s children, never expecting to know the blessings of loving marriages and families of their own. But when Rebecca and Grace encounter two special gentlemen who have suffered their own misfortunes, these humble governesses may become Cinderella brides!
In “The Viscount Meets His Match” Sebastian Viscount Benedict knows from bitter experience that marrying a woman of lower rank and fortune brings nothing but heartache. He is determined to prevent his beloved brother from making the same mistake by wedding the local squire’s daughter. Rebecca Beaton disagrees. She is certain her former pupil, Hermione, truly loves the viscount’s brother and will make him a devoted wife. She tries to persuade formidable Lord Benedict to give the young couple his blessing.
In spite of their many differences, Sebastian finds himself drawn to forthright, loyal Rebecca. Yet he fears his admiration for the lady could erode his good judgment and resolve. Rebecca fights her growing attraction to Sebastian, which threatens to divide her loyalties…and perhaps break her heart. If only she can help him believe in true love, there may be hope for more than one happy ending!
In "The Baron’s Governess Bride" Rupert Lord Steadwell is determined to hire the dowdiest, most unmarriageable woman he can find to care for his motherless daughters. The girls were heartbroken when their last governess eloped and Rupert does not want to risk a repetition. In her drab clothes, frumpy cap and spectacles, Grace Ellerby look like the ideal person for the job.
Rupert has no idea that clever, caring Miss Ellerby is a beauty in disguise. Alarmed by unwanted advances from men in her previous positions, Grace is desperate to hide her dangerously attractive appearance and her growing feelings for her new employer. But when Lord Steadwell appears in danger of making a loveless marriage and saddling his daughters with a dreaded stepmother, Grace must risk everything to prevent it. Will a midnight kiss at a masked ball lead to scandal and ruin or will two wary hearts find their happily ever after at last?
Previously published as "Much Ado About Nuptials" and The Baron’s Governess Bride.
My Review
I enjoyed these two stories! I love the Regency setting, and the characters and plots kept me interested and looking forward to how the happy ending would play out. The first story was shorter, but the personalities of Sebastian and Rebecca were both strong and vibrant. Even though she disagreed with his motives, Rebecca looked below the surface and began to understand Sebastian in a way nobody else did. Her compassion for him while also holding firm to her own opinions repeatedly took him off guard and an unlikely friendship developed, which of course blossoms into love. It was fun to read their sparring and banter, and see them bring out unseen sides in each other.
The second story was about two thirds of the book, and delved a bit deeper into the relationships between Grace and the new family she is serving. I loved the distinct personalities of the three girls she is teaching and caring for, and the perspective of their father Rupert was interesting. Grace has a lot of pressure on her to be the right governess for the children and the father, and I loved that he supported her authority and listened to her concerns. The journey of winning over the hearts of the daughters and the father naturally takes place over a longer period of time, and I felt like it made the story more realistic. Plenty of emotion and angst in this one ;)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
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