My Lady Governess

Regency Series #2

by Wilma Counts

When Elinor Richards' guardian attempted to barter her in marriage to an unsavory gentleman, the desperate heiress only saw one solution. Disguising herself as "Miss Palmer, " she took the post of governess to the twin children of the Marquis of Trenville. Yet, when the proximity of her attractive employer heightened her senses intolerably, Elinor saw how rash she had been. For propriety required Adrian to fancy none but a lady -- or a courtesan -- and "Miss Palmer" was neither

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency, Regency Romance

222 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Before moving to Nevada in 1994, Wilma Counts taught high school English and social studies in Germany to dependents of American forces stationed there. She loved the kids, but hated meaningless paperwork. She especially enjoyed her work with Advance Placement English, Model United Nations, and student exchanges with a Russian school.

Wilma grew up in Oregon, a product of the Leave It To Beaver era. She holds degrees in education and international relations. Having traveled widely, she is keenly interested in politics and international relations. She freely admits to being a C-SPAN junkie.

A member of the Romance Writers of America, she has written two Regency novels and a novella for Zebra. Willed to Wed is slated for publication in September, '99, and My Lady Governess in February, '00. Her current projects include another Regency and a novel set in the American West. She contributes a regular column on grammar and usage to the local RWA newsletter. Besides her interest in travel and writing, Wilma is an avid reader and she loves to cook, garden, and gamble—not necessarily in that order.

Reviews

[Mary - Buried Under Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book!

[Claire S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe a couple of reviews out there are referring to a different book. This is the story of Lady Elinor who's being forced to marry a repugnant older suitor by her uncle. Her brother is the new Earl, but he's just 15 and the uncle is the guardian. I cannot remember if they mention that he's also Elinor's guardian but she's 24 so my understanding is that she wouldn't need a guardian. That said, the author has a bit of a long winded explanation why she's at the mercy of this relative including the fact that she doesn't come into her inheritance until she turns 25. In order to escape, she takes over her former governess' identity (with her permission) and ends up working for the Marquis of Trenville (Adrian).

This book is ridden with clichés and old tropes and, yet, it's a compelling story. I think what made it very likable to me is that Adrian is a very nice man. He's kind to all the ladies in his life (mother, sister-in-law, niece, daughter, and Elinor), he's not a rake which is a huge plus for me, and he's actively working for his country. Elinor's way of dealing with her predicament might not be the most sensible, but it was an act of desperation, and she's a pretty practical lady overall. Adrian and Elinor have an instant attraction to each other, but the author does a nice job of developing a friendship between them that makes their romantic attachment believable.

There were a few issues with the book, which kept it at 3 stars. The book is a bit long and is mostly about the day to day life of the characters and the growing feelings between the main characters, which I don't mind, but then all the issues with spies and dastardly uncles all happen very quickly towards the end. And, at that point, you have the typical kidnapping and such. The author also drops some interesting story points such as Adrian and Elinor's discussion on female intelligence, which I'd think could cause issues for them in the future. All in all, this was a pleasant read.

[Mystica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit skeptical about this one because though I love the Georgette Heyer type of story, this was a bit too far fetched.

We have a governess who is sort of abducted by a Lord, who of course has to marry her now that her reputation is in tatters (nothing ever happened as he is a gentleman of course). But she is an heiress hiding away from a wicked uncle who had her incarcerated in an asylum to get his hands on her fortune.

The story with the feisty lady, the distant lord was good but the story was a little far fetched for my liking!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is brilliant. It's romantic, funny and captivating. Tam is a cold, pompous, prideful and condescending man, but he's extremely likable. He is honorable and chivalrous, which isn't always a good thing. As a whole, he comes off as adorable. Marina is strong, stubborn, snarky and spunky. He's no match for her wits. The storyline is amusing, the characters are entertaining and the end is absolutely fantastic. Put this one at the top of your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Seema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet traditional regency. Lady Elinor and her brother Peter are in the hands of their unscrupulous guardian. Lady Elinor decides to run away to get away from being forced into a bad marriage. Adrian Whitson the Marquis of Trenville is looking for a governess for his twins and niece. Elinor managed to get into their household as a governess. The story involves some spying and adventures but overall was a sweet romance.

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story if you like Regency Romances. It's a good romance story with a good plot as well. Clean also, you don't have to worry about inappropriate scenes.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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