The Earl and the Governess

...and the result is a sweet romance that meets the challenge of class differences and society gossip head on. When William Stanton, the Earl of Lennox's young ward, Mary, becomes troublesome and is sent home from school, he must find a governess to look after her until he can find another school that will take her. Enter Miss Isabelle Thomas... a pretty, red-headed spinster Will rescues from an attempted robbery. But Isabelle has troubles of her own and will not accept charity, so when she shows up at his doorstep, Will is eager to keep her close and keep things proper... for the time being. I enjoyed several things about The Earl and the Governess. This story has a small cast of characters, not only preventing the plot from being bogged down by superfluous characters and subplots, but also removing the typical use of "the misunderstanding" to create conflict. This story is easy to follow, with a certain cohesiveness and easy flow. I also liked the fact that the usual seasonal societal affairs were almost non-existent, which, being an avid historical romance reader, was a breezy breath of fresh air. The author created a fresh plot, adding a dash of intrigue to this charming tale, and leaves the reader wishing there was more. Unfortunately the epilogue really added nothing of value to this story when one would have hoped for a glimpse into Will and Isabelle's future. It also would have been an excellent time to wrap up Mary's subplot, which unfortunately goes unresolved. All in all, a delightful read, and my first Sarah Elliott book. I look forward to reading her others.

There are elements common to many romance novels but what makes this one different is that it doesn't focus on the events of "the season" although William does attend a ball or two. Isabelle is not a person of title nor is she related to someone, she is part of the merchant class (her father was an Antiques Dealer). I liked the fact that William and Isabelle had similar elements of life and character that allowed them to relate to each other on a level they might not have otherwise. It also allowed Mary to feel she had a confidante and someone who cared because Isabelle was willing to listen. Due to several twists of fate or coincidences the three main characters are able to find happiness and peace. Like Sarah Elliot's earlier books this one is a must read and a page turner.

In 1822, William Stanton, Earl of Lennox, became the ward of goddaughter Mary Weston-Burke, an apparent hellion based on what the headmistress at her school told him. When he sees a woman being robbed by a boy, he gallantly rescues her. Isabelle Thomas is the daughter of a late antique dealer who was exposed as a fraud. Penniless with no home besides the street, she has no place to go; William, on the spur of the moment, offers her a position as governess to Mary, which a grateful Isabelle accepts. Isabelle feels somewhat safe in William's home and wins over a frightened Mary. However, when her employer kisses her, she has a new fear; her deep attraction to the Earl who is of a different social class than her. Isabelle knows she must leave, but does not want to hurt Mary who needs and trusts her and besides someone wants to harm her to conceal his partnership with her late father. Chaos theory abounds in this delightful regency romance as love blossoms all because of a newt in a teacup. Fans will root for the courageous heroine and appreciate romantic William who goes after what he wants: the love of his life regardless of her father's scandal and her social class and status. Mary enhances the tale of love between two people whose stations are as far apart as the top from the bottom of Big Ben. Harriet Klausner