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Governing His Heart
When her father dies, Mr Gerald Darcy hires Elizabeth Bennet to be the governess for his young daughter, Georgiana. Will love blossom between the young governess and Gerald's son, Fitzwilliam?
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2012
19 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Schertz
47 books59 followersI am a retired crime lab/crime scene technician, having worked for a local police department for 15 years. Since then, I have become disabled. Forgot to get the extended warranty on the body. In my spare time, I make jewelry, am a photographer, and a full time mom and grandma.
My daughter by birth is Catie, and she is the dearest part of my life. Through her, I have 2 daughters by heart, Heather and Kristina. Through Heather and her awesome man, Stan, I have 4 amazing grandchildren, Purgi, Penne, Myles, and Persephene.
Besides my human family, I have a canine son, who is my service dog, Darcy. I also have 4 feline daughters (Salem, Lizzy, Dagonet, and Freya ). I now have 5 grandpuppies, 2 grandkitties.
Two days after I received my first ever royalty check, I adopted Darcy and Lizzy. Fitting names, I thought. And they resemble the characters. Lizzy is mischievous, yet loving, climbing up high as if she were in a tree. Darcy is extremely protective and loving. He has his shy side, which is clear when around some people, until he comes to know he can trust them.
My daughter by birth is Catie, and she is the dearest part of my life. Through her, I have 2 daughters by heart, Heather and Kristina. Through Heather and her awesome man, Stan, I have 4 amazing grandchildren, Purgi, Penne, Myles, and Persephene.
Besides my human family, I have a canine son, who is my service dog, Darcy. I also have 4 feline daughters (Salem, Lizzy, Dagonet, and Freya ). I now have 5 grandpuppies, 2 grandkitties.
Two days after I received my first ever royalty check, I adopted Darcy and Lizzy. Fitting names, I thought. And they resemble the characters. Lizzy is mischievous, yet loving, climbing up high as if she were in a tree. Darcy is extremely protective and loving. He has his shy side, which is clear when around some people, until he comes to know he can trust them.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 2, 2017
In this book, Elizabeth is the one who gets all the beat-downs. Lots of villians want to stop or can not cope with Elizabeth becoming Mr Darcy which makes for a lot of fun. Totally bonkers. Lady Matlock does something so nuts that I laughed. The book was worth it just for that one scene.
Reread: Yes, this is the E gets all the abuse book and I loved it!
Reread: Yes, this is the E gets all the abuse book and I loved it!
July 20, 2016
This is another story in which Mr. Bennet has died and in which Elizabeth is hired as the governess for Georgiana. Mr. Darcy has sent his son on his Grand Tour of Europe, knowing that he is nearing death but wanting Fitzwilliam to have that experience. So he carefully researches the background in hiring Elizabeth and sees not only someone who will protect and guide his daughter but also someone he thinks may be the best wife for William. He shares this with Lord Matlock but not with his son.
So many things just were not well researched or the author just thought no one would question her in the telling. One significant one was Elizabeth awakening from unconsciousness due to a severe beating almost causing her death and then she carries on a very long conversation with Darcy…not going to happen in reality. Then when pregnant she feels the quickening at about 3 months pregnant – also unrealistic. (From the internet: You should feel your baby's first movements, called "quickening," between weeks 16 and 25 of your pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel your baby move until closer to 25 weeks. ) And to add to that not soon after Darcy feels the movement in her abdomen. Too soon for that to happen also, Melanie.
Yes, Darcy comes to love Elizabeth who is entirely beneath him as far as social circles. He meets the Gardiners early in the story but when he finally has Mrs. Bennet in his home she is a different woman from the flighty person we all know from canon. The Bingleys are present. Colonel Fitzwilliam goes off to war and is not unscathed. Jane lives with the Gardiners so she comes into the story early but Mary also plays more of a role in this tale. Anne and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are written with a more significant effect in this book.
There are spelling mistakes as usual, i.e., humerously = humorously, tennant = tenant, bayonette = bayonet, judgement = judgment. Turn on your spell check program in your computer’s word processing system, please.
SPOILERS: How much is one woman to survive and remain not only alive but also sane?...The death of her father, a savage beating by one person, and being knocked unconscious and having her hair cut off by another, the birth of twins and then hemorrhaging when she insists on traveling two weeks later, and lastly, an attack by a crazed woman who insists she, not our heroine, is marrying Darcy.
This is the last of the “free” books offered over the Fourth of July weekend. I do find some of this author’s books interesting. But you must allow for an author who does nothing in the way of good editing. This was one of her weakest efforts, IMO.
So many things just were not well researched or the author just thought no one would question her in the telling. One significant one was Elizabeth awakening from unconsciousness due to a severe beating almost causing her death and then she carries on a very long conversation with Darcy…not going to happen in reality. Then when pregnant she feels the quickening at about 3 months pregnant – also unrealistic. (From the internet: You should feel your baby's first movements, called "quickening," between weeks 16 and 25 of your pregnancy. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel your baby move until closer to 25 weeks. ) And to add to that not soon after Darcy feels the movement in her abdomen. Too soon for that to happen also, Melanie.
Yes, Darcy comes to love Elizabeth who is entirely beneath him as far as social circles. He meets the Gardiners early in the story but when he finally has Mrs. Bennet in his home she is a different woman from the flighty person we all know from canon. The Bingleys are present. Colonel Fitzwilliam goes off to war and is not unscathed. Jane lives with the Gardiners so she comes into the story early but Mary also plays more of a role in this tale. Anne and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are written with a more significant effect in this book.
There are spelling mistakes as usual, i.e., humerously = humorously, tennant = tenant, bayonette = bayonet, judgement = judgment. Turn on your spell check program in your computer’s word processing system, please.
SPOILERS: How much is one woman to survive and remain not only alive but also sane?...The death of her father, a savage beating by one person, and being knocked unconscious and having her hair cut off by another, the birth of twins and then hemorrhaging when she insists on traveling two weeks later, and lastly, an attack by a crazed woman who insists she, not our heroine, is marrying Darcy.
This is the last of the “free” books offered over the Fourth of July weekend. I do find some of this author’s books interesting. But you must allow for an author who does nothing in the way of good editing. This was one of her weakest efforts, IMO.
gave-up
August 12, 2016This is another deplorable piece of fan fiction from Ms. Schertz. The plot starts out slightly plausible and quickly becomes teen age drama queen territory.
My biggest problem with the author and this covers most of her books is there is little real prose everything is dialogue. So instead of describing a situation it is spoken, often awkwardly. If you can ignore that and the endless typos and misspellings; the single time she uses loose correctly as opposed to a typo for lose my head almost exploded, then the ludicrous plot will drag you down.
To the plot Mr. Bennet has died and Lizzy applies to be Georgiana's governess. Mr Darcy Sr. who is dying hires her. When he dies she meets Fitzwilliam who is crushed by the death of his father. She and he fall in love but Lizzy knows she can never be his wife and flees with Georgiana to Pemberley to avoid Darcy. Eventually she and Georgiana end up in Ramsgate where she allows Georgiana to go about alone - umm Lizzy you had one job and you failed. When Wickham attempts to kidnap Georgiana Lizzy battles him and is taken instead. Darcy rescues her and she is critically injured. Luckily she is saved despite her requirement for surgery due to internal injuries. It turns out that Darcy Sr. hired Lizzy in the hopes that Fitzwilliam would marry her [WHAT?]
It it really just absurd from beginning to end and painful to read.
My biggest problem with the author and this covers most of her books is there is little real prose everything is dialogue. So instead of describing a situation it is spoken, often awkwardly. If you can ignore that and the endless typos and misspellings; the single time she uses loose correctly as opposed to a typo for lose my head almost exploded, then the ludicrous plot will drag you down.
To the plot Mr. Bennet has died and Lizzy applies to be Georgiana's governess. Mr Darcy Sr. who is dying hires her. When he dies she meets Fitzwilliam who is crushed by the death of his father. She and he fall in love but Lizzy knows she can never be his wife and flees with Georgiana to Pemberley to avoid Darcy. Eventually she and Georgiana end up in Ramsgate where she allows Georgiana to go about alone - umm Lizzy you had one job and you failed. When Wickham attempts to kidnap Georgiana Lizzy battles him and is taken instead. Darcy rescues her and she is critically injured. Luckily she is saved despite her requirement for surgery due to internal injuries. It turns out that Darcy Sr. hired Lizzy in the hopes that Fitzwilliam would marry her [WHAT?]
It it really just absurd from beginning to end and painful to read.
April 16, 2024
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: Mature: Not to be ignored. This was graphic, and sexually explicit, with an erotic dream sequence explicitly described. To that could be added the insanity, death, mayhem, and destruction. That should cover it. I felt that it was unnecessary.
>>Angst Level: The usual nail-biter that Schertz is known for. I have been assured that my nails will grow back.
>>Tissue Alert: maybe one or two tissues, it was a slight sniffle
>>Source: Borrowed from KU 4-5-24: I volunteered to leave a review of my thoughts and opinions. 41 Chapters plus an epilogue.
>>Trope: [1] A Bennet dies [2] Elizabeth is a governess [3] Weepy Elizabeth: not crazy about that.
The worst had happened at Longbourn and Lizzy had gone into service to help her family. The senior Mr. Darcy liked her and hired her for his daughter. His son was taking his Grand Tour and was on the continent. Then the worst happened to the Darcy family and Elizabeth was there to help Georgiana and her brother cope with their new situation.
Villains arose to torment and circumvent the peace of ODC. Master Fitzwilliam was thrilled to learn that his father had approved of Miss Elizabeth. Now, to convince her that he cared.
Caroline Bingley hated Eliza and attempted the unthinkable. Yeah, she did.
Wickham, the SBRB, was horrid and nearly beat ODG to death when she thwarted his plans at Ramsgate. He had attempted an abduction of Georgiana Darcy and her £30k. Yeah, he was a real sleaze.
This was not my favorite by this author. The graphic sex scenes were not necessary and were a bit tawdry, IMHO. I skipped over them. I did the same for the explicit dream sequence. What was the point? They didn’t seem necessary. The story was riddled with errors, plot holes, and overlooked propriety. The usual—just saying.
>>Rating: Mature: Not to be ignored. This was graphic, and sexually explicit, with an erotic dream sequence explicitly described. To that could be added the insanity, death, mayhem, and destruction. That should cover it. I felt that it was unnecessary.
>>Angst Level: The usual nail-biter that Schertz is known for. I have been assured that my nails will grow back.
>>Tissue Alert: maybe one or two tissues, it was a slight sniffle
>>Source: Borrowed from KU 4-5-24: I volunteered to leave a review of my thoughts and opinions. 41 Chapters plus an epilogue.
>>Trope: [1] A Bennet dies [2] Elizabeth is a governess [3] Weepy Elizabeth: not crazy about that.
The worst had happened at Longbourn and Lizzy had gone into service to help her family. The senior Mr. Darcy liked her and hired her for his daughter. His son was taking his Grand Tour and was on the continent. Then the worst happened to the Darcy family and Elizabeth was there to help Georgiana and her brother cope with their new situation.
Villains arose to torment and circumvent the peace of ODC. Master Fitzwilliam was thrilled to learn that his father had approved of Miss Elizabeth. Now, to convince her that he cared.
Caroline Bingley hated Eliza and attempted the unthinkable. Yeah, she did.
Wickham, the SBRB, was horrid and nearly beat ODG to death when she thwarted his plans at Ramsgate. He had attempted an abduction of Georgiana Darcy and her £30k. Yeah, he was a real sleaze.
This was not my favorite by this author. The graphic sex scenes were not necessary and were a bit tawdry, IMHO. I skipped over them. I did the same for the explicit dream sequence. What was the point? They didn’t seem necessary. The story was riddled with errors, plot holes, and overlooked propriety. The usual—just saying.
December 6, 2020
2 stars. The story begins with father Mr. Darcy hiring Miss Elizabeth Bennet as Georgiana’s governess. Elizabeth has looked for employment due to her father dying and the family removed from their home. Fitzwilliam Darcy is on his Tour. Father Darcy is dying. Elizabeth is a perfect fit for Georgiana and Fitzwilliam to help deal with their fathers death. What I did not like was Elizabeth was a strong character but often in tears and attempting to run away. The next thing I did not like is the physical abuse she sustained...Wickham beating her within an inch of her life and Caroline enough is enough. The last straw was from Lady Catherine and Anne. I would not recommend.
January 2, 2019
Great Read
Loved it interesting plot, loved Me Darcy St and Lord Matlock. Lady Catherine was off the chain, Caroline Huntley surprising. Liked the epilogue.
Loved it interesting plot, loved Me Darcy St and Lord Matlock. Lady Catherine was off the chain, Caroline Huntley surprising. Liked the epilogue.
May 13, 2016
The story starts with three main differences to canon. Mr Bennet has passed, causing Elizabeth to seek employment as a governess, and they are all younger, E is 18, D is 22, and his father still alive at the beginning. As with the author's other stories, I enjoyed the fairly high angst story line, but was disappointed that it wasn't very carefully edited. Otherwise, it was a good read.
March 22, 2018
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Darcy Sr hires Elizabeth Bennet to be his daughter Georgiana's governess before he dies. Elizabeth is seeking work as her father died 5 months ago. Elizabeth becomes the world to Georgiana and becomes very important to young Master Darcy. He must overcome his thoughts of "duty" to realize where his true happiness lies. He must also convince his love that it is OK for her to love him back.
March 14, 2025
In this Pride & Prejudice Variation Bennet has died and now Elizabeth is being interviewed by Gerald Darcy for the position of governess to Georgiana Darcy., and is judged to be perfect for the role! Meanwhile Fitzwilliam Darcy is on his Grand Tour. Soon the elder Darcy is dead and Wickham and Caroline do their best to cause havoc.
Would have loved to have more about the Colonel and Mary Bennet in the story which is why I re-read the story. And Elizabeth is much too perfect
An enjoyable re-read.
Would have loved to have more about the Colonel and Mary Bennet in the story which is why I re-read the story. And Elizabeth is much too perfect
An enjoyable re-read.
January 8, 2024
Wild plot - needs proofreading
A plot -driven story, with various villains trying to kill Elizabeth as she and Darcy work their way to love and marriage. A good Georgiana helps out, as Lizzy becomes her governess after Mr. Bennet dies. Excitement, smoldering romance, some intense sex scenes and several very violent attacks against Elizabeth. Enjoyed the fantastic story, but find it disconcerting to see constant typos, missing words and other proofreading errors that could easily have been caught by an editor.
A plot -driven story, with various villains trying to kill Elizabeth as she and Darcy work their way to love and marriage. A good Georgiana helps out, as Lizzy becomes her governess after Mr. Bennet dies. Excitement, smoldering romance, some intense sex scenes and several very violent attacks against Elizabeth. Enjoyed the fantastic story, but find it disconcerting to see constant typos, missing words and other proofreading errors that could easily have been caught by an editor.
August 27, 2012
It is a nice romantic story where you might not get the feeling it is believable, but in the end you are rotting that it was. And, in the end, it's worth the read. Nice!
Read
April 18, 2024Did Elizabeth get everything including the kitchen sink thrown at her
I can tell this is one of her early books as her more current ones have been tightened down more. There were several things that would not have happened during this era and I know that this author has improved on these facts since she wrote this one.
At the beginning of this story Mr Bennet has died and Mr Darcy Sr is still alive. Elizabeth gots the governess job for 10 yr old Georgiana. You find out quickly that Mr Darcy Sr is hoping that Elizabeth will be the perfect wife for his son. One of the things that kept throwing me out of the story was Georgiana being 10-11 years old but acting like she is much older and other adults treating her as she is almost an adult. This would not have happened.
Spoilers: In this story Elizabeth gets the crap beat out of her, has surgery, attached by two other characters and survived.
One thing that I do enjoy in her print books is whenever there’s a letter the font is changed based on which character wrote it. Will I read it again, probably when I’m in the right mood.
I can tell this is one of her early books as her more current ones have been tightened down more. There were several things that would not have happened during this era and I know that this author has improved on these facts since she wrote this one.
At the beginning of this story Mr Bennet has died and Mr Darcy Sr is still alive. Elizabeth gots the governess job for 10 yr old Georgiana. You find out quickly that Mr Darcy Sr is hoping that Elizabeth will be the perfect wife for his son. One of the things that kept throwing me out of the story was Georgiana being 10-11 years old but acting like she is much older and other adults treating her as she is almost an adult. This would not have happened.
Spoilers: In this story Elizabeth gets the crap beat out of her, has surgery, attached by two other characters and survived.
One thing that I do enjoy in her print books is whenever there’s a letter the font is changed based on which character wrote it. Will I read it again, probably when I’m in the right mood.
August 26, 2017
It was ok, but I felt like it went on too long. Stuff just kept happening long after the point where you feel the story was over, plots being added mostly in a rushed way, that could have been a while other book.
spelling mistakes and some grammar ones didn't help along, even if they weren't many.
That being said, the original premise of this variation is very interesting and it has been achieved well
spelling mistakes and some grammar ones didn't help along, even if they weren't many.
That being said, the original premise of this variation is very interesting and it has been achieved well
November 27, 2016
Okay, but Poor Lizzy
Does everybody want to see Lizzy dead? It sure felt like it. I did like the fact that Lizzy has the opportunity to meet Mr. Darcy, the father, before his death.
The problems with the story were some of the oft occurring repetition of fact, and many time they occur either on the same page or one page on. Also, the further I read, the poor the editing became; almost as if the author stopped editing. I was also disappointed that I never learned what finally happened to Wickham. It was said he could hang, and then mentioned that he took sick, but no definitive resolution was given for him.
I have to say that many of the author's stories seem to follow the same pattern of "kill Lizzy," and not just by one person but by many of the same people as in other books.
I am thankful for unlimited because once read, I don't feel like I was cheated out of money for something that could have been better if more time had been spent editing the story.
So, why three star? Because, overall, it was something of an okay story.
Does everybody want to see Lizzy dead? It sure felt like it. I did like the fact that Lizzy has the opportunity to meet Mr. Darcy, the father, before his death.
The problems with the story were some of the oft occurring repetition of fact, and many time they occur either on the same page or one page on. Also, the further I read, the poor the editing became; almost as if the author stopped editing. I was also disappointed that I never learned what finally happened to Wickham. It was said he could hang, and then mentioned that he took sick, but no definitive resolution was given for him.
I have to say that many of the author's stories seem to follow the same pattern of "kill Lizzy," and not just by one person but by many of the same people as in other books.
I am thankful for unlimited because once read, I don't feel like I was cheated out of money for something that could have been better if more time had been spent editing the story.
So, why three star? Because, overall, it was something of an okay story.
August 8, 2016
Good Story, shame about the spelling!
I really enjoy this writer's stories. It's just a shame whoever proof read it missed so many spelling mistakes, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
I really enjoy this writer's stories. It's just a shame whoever proof read it missed so many spelling mistakes, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews