Hertigens guvernant (Den eviga samlingen, #101)

by Barbara Cartland, Louise Bibin (translator)

Lady Marisa Berrington-Crecy ha deciso di scrivere un libro divertente, scandaloso e pettegolo che metterà in ridicolo l'alta società inglese. Quale posto migliore di Vox Castle, dimora del discusso Duca di Milverley, per raccogliere informazioni e spunti piccanti? Marisa decide di presentarsi sotto mentite spoglie come governante per la giovane figlia del Duca, risoluta a trovare l'ispirazione e il materiale di cui ha bisogno. E tuttavia sarà proprio il Duca, con il suo aspetto affascinante e i suoi modi curiosi, a farla dubitare di se stessa più di quanto Marisa abbia mai fatto. -

Genres: Romance, Fiction

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Born in 1901, Barbara Cartland started her writing career in journalism and completed her first book, Jigsaw, when she was just 24. An immediate success, it was the start of her journey to becoming the world’s most famous and most read romantic novelist of all time. Inspiring a whole generation of readers around the globe with her exciting tales of adventure, love and intrigue, she became synonymous with the Romance genre. And she still is to this day, having written over 644 romantic fiction books.
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com

Reviews

[Annette]

I used to read Barbara Cartland books all the time when I was in my early teens - I was too young to check out adult books from the library, but there was a loophole where you could get any of the paperbacks out without really checking them out. I read quite a lot of crappy books! But these were the old reliable ones - you could count on a stammeringly shy, beautiful and inexperienced heroine, and the hero was always a rake. Plotlines were melodramatic and prudish :)

This was an entertaining and enlightening revisit to that literature. I had forgotten so many of the elements! The hero was actually quite a dick, but only because he was a victim - he neglected his daughter, but it was just because his evil exwife had convinced him that she wasn't really his. The heroine was a man-basher, until she was awakened with a kiss - to the fact that her father had used her to promote his agenda, and that all people who did bad things were victims, just like the duke (except her father, who apparently should have know better). That must have been one hell of a kiss...

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Marisa Berrington-Crecy had decided to write a book -- an amusing, scandalous, gossipy book that would set Edwardian society on its decadent ear. And what better place to gather information than Vox Castle, home of the Duke of Milverley, an attractive widower noted for enjoying the favors of married women.
So Mrisa set off disguised as governess to the Duke's young daughter. She was resolved never to fall in love with any man until she met the Duke and found him to be devastatingly handsome. The Due himself was inflamed by Marisa's pure, innocent beauty -- her Titian hair and luminous green eyes.
But one day he unexpectedly discovered her manuscript and, in a violent rage, banished her from his house. Only then did Marisa realize that her one, true love might be lost to her forever.

[Pradeep.beerla · Rating 2 out of 5]

yet another regular love story. His Grace, Lord, Duke, Lady, Mistress, Governess stuff doesn't go well with me.. but I wasn't bored while reading..

[Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, loved!

[Kimberly Karalius · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her father, Marisa’s one goal in life is to become a successful author writing about scandals (just as her father wished and trained her for). With an unhealthy hatred for men and a (refreshing) zest for success, Marisa poses as a governess to take care of Duke Valerius’s child, Aline. Marisa ends up getting the tea from the staff and surprisingly getting on with Aline, who just wants her father’s love. Marisa convinces Valerius that his daughter IS his (not an illegitimate child as his dead wife claimed) by way of comparing finger lengths using the family portraits, things turn around for both Marisa and Aline. But then—disaster. Valerius discovers Marisa’s scandalous manuscript and accuses her of being a spy for the paper (even after she helped him avoid scandal the night before but go off my dude). His anger is pretty valid (but not the cringe-violent kiss that comes after, ew). Marisa knows she’ll never be forgiven—and worst of all, she realizes the true danger of exposing other people’s lives for her own gain and despises herself for ever wanting to write the book. So this novel gets points from me for Barbara including personal introspection that’s unrelated to romance.

Anyway, on the day she plans to run away, Aline gets captured by the starving miners on strike who hold her hostage to exchange for terms with the Duke. Since he’s away, Marisa bravely secures Aline’s safety and learns that the miners’ complaints are all legit and that Valerius was ignorant of it thanks to his terrible land agent. She orders food to be delivered to the starving miners and helps smooth relations when Valerius arrives. Peace is achieved and Valerius is clearly in love with her at this point. Marisa still is going through it feeling guilty about herself so she runs away successful this time to mope in her dead father’s house. Valerius finds her and confesses that he loves her and wants to marry her— he’s long since forgiven her for the book and knew who her father was, so he understands how she ever thought the book was a good idea. The way it’s written is actually quite sweet. I loved how they convinced Aline that marrying Marisa was the best way to keep her in the family. Her little “Mama” exclamation was ;_;

Though long-winded at times with a few flaws, I did like the Marisa’s surprisingly complex character arc AND a pretty valid account of why Valerius behaved as he did (he actually had a reason to be cynical and sneery—not simply because it’s apparently hot, like Cartland seems to indicate in other books lol. Does he look mad and haughty all the time? He’s a male model. Check mark lol.”

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, these are a bit unbelievable, but I enjoy them nonetheless. The endings get a bit mushy, even for me. But I really liked the plot and this story really flew along. Compared to other romance books, these have some very engaging stories. Garbage, but definitely my kind of garbage.

[T from Istria 💛💚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swedish audio. My first Barbara Cartland, amusing and easy read but nah

[Reza Aleeya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this romantic tale when I read it as a teenager.