What do you think?
Rate this book
Olivia
Olivia Fenwick decided to become a governess after her father remarried--a very superior governess who charged a great deal for her services. While Lady Synge was eager to show off her superior employee, her younger brother, the arrogant Lord Philmot, objected to just about everything Olivia attempted to do with her two charges. Regency Romance by Jennie Gallant/Joan Smith; originally published by Fawcett Coventry
221 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
14 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 19, 2017
It is really odd that Joan Smith seems to be little known by fans of Regency romances (those like Heyer's). I agree with people who call her "canadian Heyer". She wrote splendid dialogues and knew historical background (especially cultural, artistic).
This was one of these Smith's novels which showed her literary skill as a writer of Regency novels. I think the thing that made a book one step below a perfect example was a narration in first person. In my opinion it made difficult to be more witty (at least in this case) and more interesting (because it didn't give me another point of views). Although it showed probably better Olivia's inner changes.
My special praises:
--> Olivia was honest with herself within some aspects. I mean, when a woman meets a man who is handsome and pays a compliment she starts to think of him as a potential suitor quite fast. Not necessarily seriously. You know, it is like we (girls, women) see a nice man and instinctively we check our hair ;-) Often, in books written in first person a heroine behaves as though she doesn't have such thoughts. It is hard to believe in it. Olivia was honest in this case.
--> There were interesting characters. I couldn't get to know them very well, because of the narration in the first person, but they were well chosen.
--> The changes which Olivia went through. She wasn't a person without sins, far from that. Although she thought so. But, at the end she became a better person. And the process was very believable.
--> The same was with Philmot.
--> Joan Smith described here very well Regency world. A reader would appreciate it if he knows this world a little. One can see that Smith knew.
--> I think, there was one of the best studies of British upper class in those times (and those a little below). It wasn't obvious, it was more between the lines and also in one of the last talks (quarrels) between two main characters.
I admit, it was hard to like Olivia for the most part of the book, but her example, her change and the rather harsh view of aristocracy, gentility makes this novel really good. I think that some Smith's books are simply good enjoyable witty romances, other are a level higher. This one belongs to the latter.
This was one of these Smith's novels which showed her literary skill as a writer of Regency novels. I think the thing that made a book one step below a perfect example was a narration in first person. In my opinion it made difficult to be more witty (at least in this case) and more interesting (because it didn't give me another point of views). Although it showed probably better Olivia's inner changes.
My special praises:
--> Olivia was honest with herself within some aspects. I mean, when a woman meets a man who is handsome and pays a compliment she starts to think of him as a potential suitor quite fast. Not necessarily seriously. You know, it is like we (girls, women) see a nice man and instinctively we check our hair ;-) Often, in books written in first person a heroine behaves as though she doesn't have such thoughts. It is hard to believe in it. Olivia was honest in this case.
--> There were interesting characters. I couldn't get to know them very well, because of the narration in the first person, but they were well chosen.
--> The changes which Olivia went through. She wasn't a person without sins, far from that. Although she thought so. But, at the end she became a better person. And the process was very believable.
--> The same was with Philmot.
--> Joan Smith described here very well Regency world. A reader would appreciate it if he knows this world a little. One can see that Smith knew.
--> I think, there was one of the best studies of British upper class in those times (and those a little below). It wasn't obvious, it was more between the lines and also in one of the last talks (quarrels) between two main characters.
I admit, it was hard to like Olivia for the most part of the book, but her example, her change and the rather harsh view of aristocracy, gentility makes this novel really good. I think that some Smith's books are simply good enjoyable witty romances, other are a level higher. This one belongs to the latter.
May 21, 2024
Not a perfect book by any means. The heroine is not very likeable, the hero is all over the place, and the supporting characters are largely useless, but there was something about it that got under my skin, and by the end I felt deeply sorry for the heroine.
Here’s the premise: Olivia Fenwick doesn’t get on with her new stepmother, so she’s taken a year away from home to act as governess/companion to the daughter of a distant but high-ranking relation. With the daughter safely wed, she decides to continue her successful career, but this time she’ll market herself as a very superior type of governess, more a family guest than an employee, although charging a phenomenal rate for her services. She settles for a baron’s family, with two daughters, and at first everything goes swimmingly. Only Lady Synge’s brother, Lord Philmot, seems unimpressed by Olivia’s abilities, taking every opportunity to denigrate her.
But gradually things start to go wrong, and Olivia finds herself in very difficult circumstances, not entirely of her own making. I said that she’s not very likeable - she’s arrogant, intolerant, a raging snob and has no self-awareness. Even so, I did actually admire her independence of spirit and was very sorry when everything started to fall apart for her. The hero - well, he veers about from outright antagonism to a kind of heavy-duty flirtation, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to make of him. That’s not helped by the first person narration from Olivia’s point of view, so we only ever see Lord Philmot through her eyes and she’s not the most perceptive person in the world. To be honest, I was quite prepared to dislike him quite thoroughly, since he not only has a mistress in tow for the early part of the book, he tries it on with Olivia, too, and then effectively punishes her when she won’t play the game. But he can be very charming when he wants to be, and he does eventually set things right for Olivia (which he should have done, since most of her problems were his fault).
One of the interesting points in the book is the contrast between the aristocracy, who vary from selfish to outright wicked, and the middle classes. Olivia reveres the nobility, and just can’t see when they’re being horrible. Her now-married former charge, for instance, who cold-bloodedly excludes Olivia from all her social events, which Olivia sets down to forgetfulness or her new husband’s influence. Even when Olivia overhears her talking about ‘a bossy old scold’, she doesn’t for one minute imagine it’s herself being spoken of. It’s quite sad, actually.
But her middle class relations in Hans Town are a lovely, normal family who welcome Olivia with genuine friendliness, and her own family in Bath are equally lovely, setting off for London instantly when they hear what has happened to her, to make sure things are set right. And Olivia is by this time so humbled by her experiences that she finds that her stepmother is perfectly tolerable, in fact. Slightly vulgar, but good-hearted and not at all the enemy she’d imagined.
And the hero eventually becomes suitably heroic, and the book wraps up in the annoying way of books of this age with an abrupt kiss and that’s it. Anyone looking for a schmaltzy extended epilogue - sorry, not happening. This was a bit uneven, and there are a few Americanisms, but in the end I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars.
Here’s the premise: Olivia Fenwick doesn’t get on with her new stepmother, so she’s taken a year away from home to act as governess/companion to the daughter of a distant but high-ranking relation. With the daughter safely wed, she decides to continue her successful career, but this time she’ll market herself as a very superior type of governess, more a family guest than an employee, although charging a phenomenal rate for her services. She settles for a baron’s family, with two daughters, and at first everything goes swimmingly. Only Lady Synge’s brother, Lord Philmot, seems unimpressed by Olivia’s abilities, taking every opportunity to denigrate her.
But gradually things start to go wrong, and Olivia finds herself in very difficult circumstances, not entirely of her own making. I said that she’s not very likeable - she’s arrogant, intolerant, a raging snob and has no self-awareness. Even so, I did actually admire her independence of spirit and was very sorry when everything started to fall apart for her. The hero - well, he veers about from outright antagonism to a kind of heavy-duty flirtation, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to make of him. That’s not helped by the first person narration from Olivia’s point of view, so we only ever see Lord Philmot through her eyes and she’s not the most perceptive person in the world. To be honest, I was quite prepared to dislike him quite thoroughly, since he not only has a mistress in tow for the early part of the book, he tries it on with Olivia, too, and then effectively punishes her when she won’t play the game. But he can be very charming when he wants to be, and he does eventually set things right for Olivia (which he should have done, since most of her problems were his fault).
One of the interesting points in the book is the contrast between the aristocracy, who vary from selfish to outright wicked, and the middle classes. Olivia reveres the nobility, and just can’t see when they’re being horrible. Her now-married former charge, for instance, who cold-bloodedly excludes Olivia from all her social events, which Olivia sets down to forgetfulness or her new husband’s influence. Even when Olivia overhears her talking about ‘a bossy old scold’, she doesn’t for one minute imagine it’s herself being spoken of. It’s quite sad, actually.
But her middle class relations in Hans Town are a lovely, normal family who welcome Olivia with genuine friendliness, and her own family in Bath are equally lovely, setting off for London instantly when they hear what has happened to her, to make sure things are set right. And Olivia is by this time so humbled by her experiences that she finds that her stepmother is perfectly tolerable, in fact. Slightly vulgar, but good-hearted and not at all the enemy she’d imagined.
And the hero eventually becomes suitably heroic, and the book wraps up in the annoying way of books of this age with an abrupt kiss and that’s it. Anyone looking for a schmaltzy extended epilogue - sorry, not happening. This was a bit uneven, and there are a few Americanisms, but in the end I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars.
August 3, 2019
Olivia decides to leave her home after her father remarries a woman she cant stand. After helping her relatives daughter land a Duke she hits upon the idea to hire herself out as a superior governess. Accepting to teach Lady Synges two daughters she clashes with their uncle Lord Philmot.
Olivia may be the worst book from Joan Smith and that is unusual considering even her less inspired books still have some of the charm of her writing.
I read some reviews and though "well it cant be that bad"
Often times her heroines are strong willed and a bit stubborn but I actively disliked Olivia the heroine of this one. She has every bad trait that a JS heroine has but not enough of the Good traits to redeem her.
Olivia may be the worst book from Joan Smith and that is unusual considering even her less inspired books still have some of the charm of her writing.
I read some reviews and though "well it cant be that bad"
Often times her heroines are strong willed and a bit stubborn but I actively disliked Olivia the heroine of this one. She has every bad trait that a JS heroine has but not enough of the Good traits to redeem her.
January 27, 2012
I spent the majority of the review disliking the heroine, as well as being embarrassed for her. Wasn't sure why the hero even like her! I sure didn't. Once she realized how she was perceived and her self-inflated ego, I warmed to her. I almost gave up on her!
January 1, 2023
An interesting attempt to draw a picture of a young snob, Olivia, imagining she can become a governess to wealthy titled aristocrats and still make enough money for herself. She takes a job with Lord and Lady Synge to teach their younger daughter a bit about the world. However, she right away shows what a silly woman she is and is made fun of by Lord Philmot, brother to Lady Synge. She touts the wrong man to the elder daughter, gives him her diamond necklace to pawn when she falls behind in her payments, which he sells; it takes a lot of planning to extricate her from her troubles.
July 7, 2018
Hero was an ass but I kinda liked the heroine (even if she's quite delusional at times)
December 19, 2021
One of her Best
Olivia is a modern woman and utterly self-styled. She is witty and fun when not a tiresome scold. Which is the real lady?
Olivia is a modern woman and utterly self-styled. She is witty and fun when not a tiresome scold. Which is the real lady?
December 7, 2024
It was almost good
December 12, 2024
What a strange strange book.
Started as a 2/5, but I came around.
Started as a 2/5, but I came around.
September 28, 2021
This book has no charm, grace, humor or anything you read a book for. The heroine is annoying, arrogant and basically ignorant but arrogantly so. The hero is OK but mostly MIA [lucky him]. The plot is dithery and unformed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews