The Unexpected Edification

Regency Sisters #1

by Amelia Warwick

Katharina Aston, eldest daughter of Sir Aston, is at odds with life. Four-and-twenty, every year she grows wearier of the season and of her lackluster prospects. Fatigued at the idea of facing another few months seeking a husband and needing to put her mind and spirit at use, she turns to her aunt for help. In no time Lady Kettering has set up Katharina as governess for the Earl of Chichester’s wards.

Harriet and Sophia are young, hesitant to grow close to the new governess, and coping with many changes and losses.

And James, the Earl of Chichester, is cold, standoffish, and not particularly pleased with Katharina. Until she starts warming his heart—and his nieces’—and obligations, expectations, and passion intertwine to complicate matters.

As the Earl of Chichester courts Miss Frances, Lady Balfour’s daughter, Katharina finds herself feeling unexpected emotions for the last gentleman she should be attracted to, and it isn’t long before desire and craving change everything.

Yet others intervene to stop the attachment and both Katharina and James need to learn that which they want most, whether they are brave enough to pursue it, and how they want to attain it.

Warning: There are explicit romantic scenes. For mature audiences (+18).

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2021

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knight’s daughter Katharina wants more out of her life than just wearing dresses & going to balls. She gets an offer of being a governess to the Earl of Chichester’s two nieces. She enjoys the job, gets on well with the girls but finds herself falling in love with the Earl. He feels the same way about her but their stations in life get in the way, as well as another conniving Lady who wants the Earl for herself. Will Katharina and James find a way to be together?

This book kind of reminded me of a cross between Jane Eyre & The Sound of Music… the governess and her employer, a man above her in wealth & station, falling for each other even though they try everything not to. A story of two lonely people who find in each other a shared interest in various things as well as a mutual attraction to each other.
I thought Katharina was a feisty but kind heroine of the piece. James started off a bit brusque, still missing his brother and struggling with the Earldom but with Katharina’s help he soon warmed to everyone around him.
It was a sweet story (although not without its spicy scenes) and it was a lovely read.

Some irritations…
Shame the book was peppered throughout with errors, mainly missing words. Sometimes I had to try and guess what the missing word actually was!

I also found the story a bit lacking in development, as in the Earl, he seemed to suddenly change his demeanour over certain aspects of his life way too quickly.
And I also got a little sick of the constant “but he’s an Earl and I’m just a governess” talk when she was actually a daughter of a knighted gentleman and was a Lady in her own right and not as far removed from him as she kept mentioning. But as usual in these stories all of that ends up not mattering at all.

I also really wish that us, the reader, could have read in real time how James dealt with Frances instead of in a few flashback paragraphs. I wanted to see her humbled and get her comeuppance for the devious way she tried to get Katharina out the way and win the Earl for herself. I felt we were cheated out of that somewhat.

[Edward Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A governess falls in love with her delightful charges and also their uncle, a Duke.

This is Amelia Warwick’s debut novel and it is certainly a great one. The characters are personable and well developed. The plot is engaging and entertainingly different with an unusual twist that I have not seen previously. I did find a few instances where the actions did not follow well, but they were not enough to spoil the story. The two intimate scenes were tastefully done and well written. I believe that you will thoroughly enjoy this book and will look forward to the additional tales planned about the three younger sisters.
Miss Katharina Aston is now four and twenty and over the past 6 Season she had not found a suitable match. Rather than suffer through this 7th Season, Amelia’s aunt has found her a job as a governess for two orphan wards of their uncle, James Earl of Chichester. She becomes very close to the 2 girls and also falls in love with the Earl. He is currently courting Miss Frances, and besides she is well below James in class, so a romance with him does not seem possible, but he has formed a definite attachment to Amelia. James struggles with his feelings because he is does not want to marry Miss Frances, and strives to come to a workable solution. The end will let you discover the event that yield an HEA.
Having received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, I voluntarily leave this review.

[Laney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katharina and James (Earl of Chichester) are a sweet story with a unique plot I haven’t come across before. Katharina is the eldest daughter of a knighted father, has experienced several seasons, and is dissatisfied. She somewhat spontaneously decides to become a governess for a season, in secret, for a change of scenery and to feel needed and necessary.

James is guardian to his two young nieces and agrees to hire Katharina in this odd scenario and keep her secret. Their relationship blossoms from their proximity, and I believe, because of Katharina’s inherent goodness.

There are a few things that are a little frustrating:
1. The plot is a bit implausible, but I was able to suspend that and enjoy the book.
2. At times the point of view seems to switch mid chapter without any obvious break.
3. There are two passionate scenes which were well written. But the first one quite literally seemed to come from nowhere. I got the impression a previous scene got edited out, or something like that.

Overall, I enjoyed my first read by Amelia Warwick, which unless I’m wrong, I think may be her first foray into publishing. I expect with this as her first, her subsequent books will continue to improve.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel The Unexpected Edification is set in 19th century English society but, throughout the text, it seems as if we are reading a contemporary novel: the plot of the story presupposes a miscellany of social roles, impossible to happen at the time to which the novel refers, an acceptance of rules of conduct and action that do not fit the constraints of the time and characters who think and act with a 21st century mentality, namely in the liberal way they view human relationships in general and affective relationships in particular. The story is entertaining but lacks the realism that would be expected in a historical novel. I give it a 2,5.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Governess and the Earl . . .

Katharina Aston, eldest daughter of Sir Aston, is weary of the marriage prospects and wants to do something useful. Her aunt sets her up to be governess to the Earl of Chichester’s two young nieces. Harriet and Sophia, hesitant at first, grow close to their new governess. Even James, the Earl of Chichester, who was at first cold toward her is now having feelings for her. However, he is courting Miss Frances, Lady Balfour’s daughter. Katharina notices her own feelings for the Earl as well. Will they realize what they truly want? Are they ready to fight for a relationship despite the interference of others?

[CLorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly Sweet

Book 1 in this series is such a sweet read! Katharina is an awesome heroine…..fearless, sweet, outspoken and funny. When she becomes a governess in order to find a purpose in life, she makes an impression on a grieving Earl….will he see that she is just what he needs?

[Hollylovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
Really fun regency read! If you like regency romances, give it a go!