Review: Seducing the Governess

The only parents she has ever known are dead and now Mercy must take a job as a governess to make her way in life.  Her prospects are limited, so when she is offered a position teaching the niece of the Earl of Ashby, she takes the job.  Things are nothing like she anticipated though.  The manor is in poor condition, the child is terribly withdrawn and the staff of the home is filled with former soldiers who once served Nash, the earl.  Nash, himself, is even a bigger issue.  Mercy met him on the way to her interview, as he fell off a horse. Their exchange left strong feelings of attraction within them both.

Mercy fights her feelings for many reasons. One, of course, is impropriety.  She also just found out that the man and woman who raised her were not her parents. Instead, through Susana (her adopted mother) and her journal she learns that her true mother was an assumed harlot and Susana always feared the same would be true of Mercy.

Nash doesn’t want to take advantage of the young governess.  Plus, he realizes he needs to marry a woman with a large dowry to rebuild the Ashby estate.  Only, his main prospect doesn’t inflame him the way Mercy does… doesn’t look at him the way Mercy does, as though his scars from the war don’t even exist.

This is pretty standard Regency Romance fare.  It was a solid read with good sexual tension.  Both lead characters are likeable and once they stop fighting their feelings, the love scenes are sexy and well written.  There wasn’t much in the way of surprises. Things work out pretty much as you’d expect them to.  But it’s a nice enough ride to get there.  The ending is a little abrupt, but the foundation is clearly laid for a companion book featuring Mercy’s sister.  4 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley