Time and circumstance tore them apart. Could a case of intrigue unite what was always meant to be? The Allure of Attraction is appealing romance hidden inside a spectacular adventure. Lavinia and Andrew are captivating pair. 

http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2016/10/review-governess-was-wanton-by-julia.html

Mary Woodward is a highly sought-after governess with a talent for guiding her charges through the season and promoting good matches. Eric Bromford, the fourth Earl of Asten, is a father at his wit’s end and desperate for Mary’s services. Eric isn’t your typical lord. He’s widower and a doting father who cares very much for his daughter’s happiness, education, and general well-being. He simply cannot understand why Eleanora is suddenly unhappy and picking fights with him, which is when Mary enters the picture. Mary is quick to spot the problem – or rather the people causing the problem – in the earl’s life, but that isn’t what makes things complicated. Rather, it’s the attraction she and Eric feel toward one another that threatens to turn both their worlds upside down. A romance between an earl and his daughter’s governess is a dangerous proposition, but some passions burn too hot to be ignored…

The Governess Was Wanton is a delightful historical romance with a Cinderellatwist. This second book in Julia Kelly’s Governess series is fast-paced, sweet, and engaging, thanks mostly to the endearing lead characters.

It’s clear from the start that Mary and Eric make a great match. They’re both intelligent, hardworking, caring people and if it weren’t for the difference in their stations, no one would bat an eyelash at the two of them falling in love. But since this is 1850s London, the two of them are rocked by their initial physical attraction to one another. Eric is honorable to a fault and would never abuse his position of power by seducing Mary. For her part, Mary knows that to give into her desires would lead to her ruin. The sexual tension is electric, but it’s their growing emotional attachment and the way they come fully into their own in each other’s company that really sold me on their love story. Add in some fairytale villains and a lovely teenage fairy godmother and you have a solidly entertaining story. There may not be much that’s fresh or new about The Governess Was Wanton, but it is unquestionably entertaining. Ms. Kelly has a smooth writing style, the dialogue was excellent, and the characters made me smile more than once. I adored Mary and Eric’s romance from beginning to end and I’m looking forward to re-reading it in the near future.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2016/09/review-governess-was-wicked-by-julia.html

Elizabeth Porter is a governess to two young girls with indifferent parents. She adores her charges, even though they’ve been acting out and feigning illness ever since their brother, the heir, was born. Of course, their theatrics do bring the handsome Dr. Edward Fellows to their door, and Elizabeth cannot deny the pleasure his company brings. She knows the doctor can never marry someone like her, but that knowledge does nothing to halt her attraction to him. The longer they are around one another, the more Elizabeth wonders what harm there could be in a stolen moment or two…

The Governess Was Wicked is a bit of a difficult book to review. I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did. Julia Kelly has a breezy writing style that made the story easy to enjoy, but unfortunately this is one of those tales that the longer I thought about it the less satisfying I found it. Elizabeth and Edward are perfectly likeable characters who have a lot of potential but are never truly fleshed out. They have an easy compatibility and it’s clear to see that they would suit each other well. So why doesn’t he ask her to marry him on page one? It’s honestly not too clear (aside from the fact that there would be no story). The difference in Elizabeth and Edward’s stations isn’t a big leap, and the other obstacles in their path are thrown up and knocked down with little rhyme or reason. They don’t always behave with logic or sense, and though that can work in a story, it has to feel organic and it never did. At the end of the day, The Governess Was Wicked wasn’t my cup of tea, but I did like Ms. Kelly’s writing enough that I’m looking forward to reading about Elizabeth’s friends in the next two Governess books.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.