Temptations or Priorities…?Determined to help her oldest sister make ends meet, Louise Potter accepts a governess position in the northern part of England. . If this means accompanying an older gentleman on his travels, then she will. There’s only one problem: Louise is about to discover that her travelling companion is not the elderly man she expected, but rather seduction itself… Alistair … itself…
Alistair Langley has no desire to share his carriage with his niece’s newly hired employee. But the matron he expected to find at his door is instead a beautiful young woman, one he knows he can’t travel alone with. After all, he’s going to visit his brother who is pressuring him to marry and produce a Langley heir—or be cut off from inheritance. When he confides in Louise, together they form a plan. But the closer they become, the more temptation beckons…
Until finally a choice must be made: Love or money? Or is it possible to have both?
– Please note that this is a novella –
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Series: The Honorable Scoundrels #1
Publication Date: 11/7/17
I had the great honor of being a beta reader for this series and I thought it just couldn’t get much better! However, Sophie Barnes has proven me wrong. The finished version of this novella is a sweet, delightfully delicious story of a love that grows over the course of a week of travel in a carriage. Those close quarters certainly give our H/h a chance to get to know each other and to fall in love – even though the heroine is convinced that it is a relationship that can never be.
The series features three impoverished, gently-born sisters who live in a London townhouse. The older sister, Josephine is twenty-six, Louise (our heroine in this novella) is twenty-four, and Eve, the youngest is twenty. Their great-grandfather was an earl, but their grandfather was a younger son who went into law. He was very successful and provided a good foundation for his family. His son, however, just didn’t have the talent for it and when his wife passed away, he took to drink and lost case after case. He finally had to quit practicing and continually sold off properties until all that was left upon his death was the small townhouse that wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods. The two older sisters are determined to give the younger one a season in order to see her well settled. Josephine has found work in London and is doing her best to keep them afloat, but they are barely scraping by. In order to help, Louise finds a position as a governess, but it is far from London.
Louise’s new employer offers her the opportunity to travel to their estate with the employer’s uncle since it will be a much more comfortable mode of travel than the mail-coach would be. Just imagine the surprise of both the uncle and Louise when each finds the other to be totally different than they expected. Louise expected a portly, elderly gentleman and Alistair Langley expected a plump, middle-aged spinster. That is definitely NOT what they got.
Once you meet them, you can’t help but like both Alistair and Louise. They are both good, caring people. I hope you’ll read and love this book and this series as much as I have.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
To make a story that happens almost entirely on the road or in a carriage interesting, absorbing,original and engrossing is quite a feat. More than five stars!
A short, easy, fast read. This could have been longer but I found it was just right. The witty repertoire between the two characters was engaging and informative.
Miss Louise Potter is the great-granddaughter of an Earl, by his third son. Even though she is not aristocracy she is gentry. Her father and grandfather were barristers. While grandpapa was good at what he did her father was not. When her mother died of left a whole in the family and her father’s common sense. Now fighting to keep the family home Louise does the best she can do and that is employment.
Lord Alistair Hedgewick, heir to Duke of Langley, he is younger than his brother by 28 years. His brother only had a daughter and will likely not have a son. Alistair has been given an ultimatum, lose his stipend or marry Lady Gwendolyn. I
As Louise is going to be the governess for Alistair’s niece he is asked to bring her to Changing Manor with him. Each has the preconceived impression of the other. Imagine the surprise when they find out the truth.
So for seven or so days these two grave to Whitehaven in northern England. As they do, they learn about the other. The banter and quick wit are a surprising bonus that each did not count on. Plain speaking, sarcasm, and intense attraction make for “strange bed- fellows” as the pair try to make the journey peace and easy.
High tension have the pair on tender-hooks the last day. So Alistair decides to ride ahead and allow Louise to follow. After speaking with Gwendolyn, Alistair confronts his brother.
Will Louise and Alistair see each other let alone talk again? Or will he ride off with Gwendolyn or alone? Do the boys like the new governess?
These and others are answered in the romp across England and you will enjoy the ride
Louise Potter is on her way to a new job as a governess. She’s traveling with her new employer’s uncle, only he is no elderly gentleman. Alistair Langley is not anxious to marry his brother’s choice as his bride. While he and Louise talk and reveal their true character to each other, a very honest and revealing courtship ensues. The seven day trip maybe all the time they have with each other. With the question of social difference, Alistair needs to make up his mind if love is worth standing up to his brother. A very nice pace to build up a passionate romance.
Immensely Enjoyable!
Louise and Alistair are both shocked when they realize that the person they thought they would be traveling with was not who they either of them had imagined.
This is a delightful, short and passion brewing story with well matched characters with whom I quickly fell in love. The story reads like a dream, says what it has to ever so nicely and I enjoyed it immensely. This is the kind of story that I could easily read more of.
Sweet story. Deciding the only way to save the family home, Louise the middle sister of three takes the position of Governess. Her new employer arranged her transportation with her nephew Alistair. Unknown to all is how young Louise is, or the Alistair is almost the same age as is Aunt. Once they realize how improper traveling together would be, Alistair has one of his maids be Louise chaperone. Of course that lasted for one day and the maid falls ill. Louise not wanting to lose her position decides they must continue their travels. The sparks fly, as the days past. Good start to the series.
A minor twist on the governess trope. Both h and H expect to be sharing the carriage with an older person. Their joint journey gives them the opportunity to get to know each other. Nice story.
I loved it.