Temptation of a Proper Governess

What is most important about this book is that it is the FIRST book in a trilogy. Book 2 is "The Price of Indiscretion." Book 3 is "In the Bed of a Duke." I guess there might eventually be a 4th book, but as of Oct 2006, there are just 3 in this series. Very enjoyable book; interesting and admirable hero and heroine. Sexy without going overboard. This first book concerns rich shipping merchant Michael Severson; book two is about Alex Haddon, his business partner and Shawnee blood brother; book three is about the older sister of the woman Alex married in book 2. A great series!

I enjoyed this story and read it quickly. While not perfect in several aspects, it was well written. I enjoyed the plot and characters and the development of the husband/wife relationship. The author also added a dose of morality which is often missing in Regency novels. Her love scenes were not so discriptive that they read like soft porn. I appreciated the author's use of forgiveness in the plot line. While not an inspirational novel, I found it inspiring. I would recommend this story for people who enjoy Regency novels but don't want to be loaded down with unrealistic sex scenes and bad language. Also, intimacy takes place within the bounds of marriage. How refreshing.

Setting - England 1804 --- When governess Isabel Halloran found that her 17-year-old wayward, promiscuous charge was missing from her bed, she roused the nanny to help her locate the chit before she did something foolish and have the staff blamed for her mischief. Finding her charge lying naked in one of the wealthy visiting gentlemen's bedroom, she and nanny hauled her off and locked her in her bedroom. When the willful teenager taunted Isabel that she purposely left her bracelet in the bed in order to effect a forced marriage, Isabel rushed back to the room to retrieve it, only to be caught herself. Unknowingly, Michael Severson came back to his room and found an intoxicatingly lovely woman who he was immediately attracted to. He began to seduce her and Isabel who was mesmerized by him was a willing participant until his host, and her employer, came along with witnesses to barge into his room, expecting to see his daughter being compromised and not the governess. Initially refusing but then through a series of events and good intentioned friends, Isabel is finally persuaded by Michael to marry him - innocently putting a great deal of trust in a man who she'd only just met. Unfortunately, Michael had ulterior motives in his proposal once he'd discovered that she was the bastard child of Lord Elswick, a man who ten years earlier had attempted to have him convicted for murder. A deed Michael believed Elswick's son Henry had committed and Michael was determined to prove. However, Michael soon falls in love with Isabel about the same time she discovers the real reason he married her, but too late - for although Isabel had lost her heart to him, she had also lost her trust. Once again, Cathy Maxwell, the mistress of unforgettable and sweet romances, hits a homerun with her latest novel having all the elements I've come to expect from her - vision, integrity, fabulous characterizations and all kinds of heart. She writes with intelligence and enormous feeling as these two wonderful protagonists come to terms with each other taking a leap of faith to accept the gift of a once in a lifetime love. The mystery of the murder was deftly handled and neatly tied up at the end. Additionally, she teases the reader with unforgettable characters that one can only hope to see revealed in greater detail in future sequels to this grand beginning. Bottom Line - This goes on my keeper shelf with spaces next to it for the sequels I pray come as soon as possible. --- Marilyn Rondeau (...)---

I really enjoyed this book (it's not a keeper-shelf 5-star read, but it's close). This is the second book by Maxwell that I've read, and she's certainly going to remain a prominent feature on my "to buy" list. If you're looking for a well written, entertaining story with characters who are fully realized and not merely cardboard cutouts, I highly recommend you pick this novel up. The heroine (Isabel) is strong and sure of herself (even when she shouldn't be, as she realizes as she grows and develops during the novel's progression). The hero (Michael) is fabulous, a real charmer (in the good sense). I love a reformed bad boy. Especially one who reformed himself . . . Even the titular bad guy in this novel (Riggs) has serious potential as a hero for a future novel. It's so refreshing when the secondary characters have enough life of their own that you find yourself wondering what they're up to when they're not front and center in the story. The story I'm looking forward to is that of the hero's best friend Alex. Being half Native American myself, I usually cringe when I see novels with buff "Braves" on the cover, but for Alex I'm willing to make an exception.

In 1803 Michael Severson accompanied by his blood brother Alex Haddon returns to England after spending a decade in Canada. If not for an honest judge, Michael would have hung for the murder of his actress lover Aletta Calendri; even his family believes he killed her. Now he plans to catch the killer starting with Lord Elswick who went after him with a vengeance; Michael believes Elswick felt his son Henry committed the act so diverted attention from his heir. When a host tries to trick Michael into marrying his teen daughter, the governess Isabel Halloran intervenes, but he begins seducing her instead. Michael does the right thing when they are caught together by marrying her. Initially he saw her as an avenue to get back at her father Elswick even if she is illegitimate. However, Michael soon falls in love with his pawn; she reciprocates, but refuses to believe he cares for her beyond using her as an expendable item. This entertaining Regency romance uses the over-killed theme of vengeance turning to love, but fans will still appreciate the fine story line due to the lead couple's struggles with their relationship and Michael's quest for who set him up to take the murder rap. Readers will admire Isabel from the moment she asks Michael if he killed Aletta and believes him when he says no. The support cast augments the prime plot as most including his beloved and his confident Alex (who has his own quest) think the worst of Michael, which makes the best for sub-genre readers. Harriet Klausner