Does love have a chance if she doesn’t play by the rules?
Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience’s elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister’s antics—but when he accuses … he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.
Taken on as household staff by her brother’s former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth—and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn’t helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated than she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong—even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control.
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I immensely enjoyed this delightful Regency Romance. I was pulled into the story and blissfully captivated until the last page was read, I was loathed to put it down, and actually finished the book in a day. Granted I didn’t get much else done, but it didn’t hurt the family to eat PB&J and left-overs for one day.
I enjoyed numerous laugh-out-loud moments that cased some rather odd looks from others. I have to admit that on more than one occasion I quite forgot where I was. When I finished the story I closed the book with a smile on my face and contentment in my heart. Time well spent!
(I won a copy of this book in a giveaway. I am not required to write a positive review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.)
This book. Oh my this book was perfection! I absolutely loved Anthony’s character. How he’d tug on his sleeves all the time and brush off imaginary lint. I could picture him sitting in that tiny chair! He was adorable! Patience, oh the things she said and did! I recommended this to my cousin, she loved it, and then her mom read it!
This book was absolutely ADORABLE. I loved it!
Once I started reading I could NOT put it down. I stayed up waaay too late reading it because I couldn’t wait till morning to finish it.
The characters were so well written. The plot line was hilarious and the ending was perfect.
I will be telling everyone I know to read this book. It’s that good! Maybe even one of my top reads.
I have heard so many good things about Esther Hatch’s books and I knew that I had to try it myself. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. A Proper Charade is the second book in Esther Hatch’s Proper Scandals series.
Lady Patience Kendrick just wanted to prove to her brother that she was reliable. Determined to show him that she can work hard, she disguises herself and goes to work as a maid in her brother’s formal general’s home. While there Patience finds her plan getting more and more complicated. Will she be able to prove to her brother that she is reliable and able to work, as her plans spiral out of control?
I really liked Patience, she was quirky and fun. I liked how she said whatever came to mind, she was honest to a fault. Patience endeared herself to me pretty quickly, and I just really enjoyed reading about her and her adventures. She was different from the other ladies of her time, and it made it hard for her. She so wanted to prove herself to her brother, and she wanted to be better and do more.
Andrew was so serious, but he was also such a sweetheart. I really liked him also and I felt bad for him. He tried so hard to live up to his father’s expectations, but he felt like he would never be enough. I also liked his quirks. He made lots of lists and he was so orderly, but he was also kind.
Patience and Andrew were perfect together. They balanced each other. He helped her stay focused and she helped him relax. I loved reading scenes about them together. The charades that happened during this book were hilarious, nothing was quite as it seemed. Patience was a horrible maid, but she tried her best. And Andrew needed a way to prove to Miss Morgan that she was the right woman for him. I found myself bursting out laughing while I was reading this book
I also really enjoyed the side characters, Mr. Gilbert was super nice. Andrew’s family was the sweetest, I loved his niece and nephew, they really added to the book. Also his sister was amazing! Patience’s brother was kind but strict, and I really want him to have his own book now!
A Proper Charade was amazing and I really enjoyed it! Once I got into it, I didn’t want to put it down. I would definitely recommend it. A Proper Charade is a clean historical romance book.
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, other than there are just too many books and so little time. Hatch writes a darling, unconventional story that captivated me from the very first page.
Patience is a stifled young lady and hatches a hair-brained plan to pose as a maid for one month in her older brother’s general’s home. From the moment she steps into this other world, mishaps and predicaments, along with humor and swoon, abound.
I loved Patience as a character. She was so cheerfully unpredictable and optimistic, which made for a great time as she stepped into yet another charade. The layers were delightful and very entertaining. Anthony is much more serious, yet Patience managed to unraveled his uptight persona with her winsome personality. Separately they’re each likable in their own rights, but together, they’re wonderful.
Hatch does a fantastic job with this story. The romance is sweet with great sparks and banter. There are so many facets to so many of the characters and each nuance plays a part in the plan in some way. I adored everything about it and can’t wait for another proper scandal!
Content: mild romance
I absolutely loved this book. The love story, as well as obstacles and getting to know the characters, was just the way I like it. I already read it a second time.
Esther is so good at crafting stories with characters who are endearingly human and beautiful. I loved everything about this story. It’s very different from other regency romances I’ve read and was such a fun story.
Patience is a lady of the highest ranking order. She has everything she could ever want but finds herself restless and ultimately unhappy. She wants to prove to her brother, Nicholas, that she can learn to work hard and appreciate the work that their servants and others around them do to make their lives as comfortable as they are. She hatches this daring scheme to pose as a maid looking for work and do the work of a household maid for an entire month.
Anthony is desperate to prove to his worth to his father and be a man of integrity, wisdom, and hard work, even despite his choice (based on a promise) not to follow his father’s example by enlisting in the Army. Following very analytical methods, he has chosen a woman to be his future bride and has diligently courted her for two years. He is hopeful that he very near finalizing these arrangements and will soon be married to Miss Morgan.
Both of them find their worlds completely turned upside down when Patience begins working in Anthony’s household. They couldn’t be more different than one another and yet their characters seem to compliment one another so perfectly. Miss Morgan comes up with a plan to try to convince her parents to accept Anthony’s suit by each of them giving attention to other eligible people of the ton. Miss Morgan chooses the well-known rake, Lord Bryant. Anthony doesn’t want to hurt any young ladies with fake attentions and decides to create a “pretend” courtship, by having his new household maid, Patience, pretend to be a lady of standing and the new object of his attentions.
Yes, you read that right. Patience is a lady pretending to be a maid pretending to be a lady.
As one might expect, this leads to all kinds of hilarious situations and opportunities for plans to go awry. This book is laugh out loud funny but also so swoony and delicious. It’s full of one-liners and quotable characters. Esther crafted a wonderful story.
Patience does not live up to her name very well, often growing impatient and impulsive (as her plan to pose as a maid clearly suggests). Anthony is calm and determined and very analytical about how he approaches everything in life. They were so perfect for each other. It is difficult to write characters such as these, without making the one appear flighty and annoying, with the other being stodgy and stiff and colorless, but Esther pulled them both off beautifully.
I adored the butler (whose name I can’t remember right now). Sophia is so very interesting and I really liked her. Harry and Augusta are darling and pulled at my heartstrings. Nicholas seems almost harsh, but he has such a soft interior that I couldn’t help but love him. Mama is a complicated character but the scene with her and Patience near the end was so tender and beautiful. I didn’t like Miss Morgan at all and I couldn’t help but love Lord Bryant. I am anxious to read his story! And the story would just be incomplete without Ollie.
I absolutely loved this book. It will definitely be making my list of top favorites for 2021.
Quotes I Loved (that have potential to contain spoilers so read at your own risk):
“I have never known you to shirk from any of the tasks you have been asked to do. Even the ones you have been deplorably bad at.” (Pg 139)
She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. He smelled like Papa. How many times had Papa carried her like this when she was a little girl?
“I miss him.”
Nicholas pulled her tighter to his chest. “I do too.” Of course he would know she was speaking of Papa.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to be out of mourning yet.”
“It is time, my little dove.”
“I’m leaving,” Mr Gilbert said. “And I won’t bring her up again, but I will just say this: I’m not sure what type of brightness you are expecting from you, me, and Mrs. Bates. Molly is happy enough, I suppose, but Patience was different. She never seemed to know her place, and yet she somehow made a place for everyone around her. I should think a household would want to keep a person like that.” (Pig 167-168)
“I want to hear about this woman. I have yet to hear her name, but already she seems more promising than that Miss Morgan. Even after two years of courtship, I never saw your clothing or hair out of place. Some things should be won by strategies and cool headed ness. Women, on the other hand, should be won with passion.” (Pg 177)
On her way out the door, she stopped. “Did you ever answer him?”
“Just once.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I told him once he had garnered an introduction, he would be free to come call on you.”
She nearly dropped her precious load. Running back to her brother, she placed a kiss on his temple. “Thank you, Nicholas.”
“Don’t thank me. My name had come up on the betting books at White’s as having a lover because one of the servants must have spread rumors about those letters. I had to put a stop to it somehow.” (Pg 184)
When she looked up, he was smiling. Just like a duck. (Pg 188)
He had every right to dance with the woman who had crawled through his bushes and into his heart. (Pg 193)
“No plan.” She looked at the clock on the mantle. “Except the one where you quickly propose.”
“Are you certain you want me to do it here? Would you rather go to the library and stand behind the curtain?” (Pg 207)
The music room window no longer looked dark. Music had changed it somehow. Perhaps Mama had always known that was what was going to bring her family back together. At least for a little bit. At least for this moment. And what more was life than powerful moments strung together to create a vibrant melody? (Pg 215)
Praise from the Clean Romance Team:
“A Victorian era Rom-Com, this incredibly well written novel will have readers laughing out loud and swooning all at the same time.”
“This book officially disproves the adage you can’t judge a book by its cover because the story inside is every bit as beautiful as the cover outside.”
Patience is absolutely adorable! She has a heart of gold, the drive to succeed, an uninhibited nature, and the inability to lie. Combine her character with that of a serious, well-meaning, devoted son, and read how sparks will fly.
This book will not only get you engrossed but keep you there. Just as you begin to think you know where the story is going the plot twists. There are little surprises along the way that will have you chuckling and nodding. It is a great read. Patience wants to prove herself to her brother. Show him that she can be more than just a lady of privilege and sister of a duke, so she decides to apply for a job as a maid. After all she ‘s been around them for years, how hard can it be? Using a different surname she applies and is hired in a home known to have high standards. And so begins her journey of learning what it takes to run a house. Anthony, the son of the home’s owner, has a very methodical, controlled life. He has even carefully examined each eligible young woman to decide who he should marry. Suddenly a totally inept maid is added to the household. One who does not even seem to know proper behavior. Mix in a charade as a member of the upper class, trying to hide from previous acquaintances, and scheming women and you have a great read. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was so happy to get the ARC of Esther Hatch’s newest book coming out next month, ‘A Proper Charade’. This Victorian Romance follows after ‘A Proper Scandal’ but can be read out of order.
When I read a book by Esther I know I’ll love it and that it’ll make me laugh. And so it continues
Lady Patience Kendrick, daughter of a duke, hasn’t grown up and matured into the kind of lady her brother, the current Duke of Harrington, thinks she should be. In one of her brother’s lectures she comes up with the idea that she needs to learn how to work and sneaks away to become a maid for a time. Her brother served under General Woodsworth and she knows she can trust him but when she arrives at the General’s doorstep ready to start her new adventure – she remembers that servants use the servant entrance which she can’t find and forces her way through bushes before coming upon a man. She later learns that is General Woodsworth’s son, Mr. Anthony Woodsworth.
Nothing goes to Patience’s or Anthony’s plans (and Anthony makes a lot of plans!) There were so many great quotes from this book from “This is Miss Patience. She does not have syphilis.” to “Unruliness is the one thing our household needs.” Anthony is so rigid and serious and I loved seeing him be a duck (it’s explained in the book) and I loved Patience’s strong personality that despite not being able to lie, she never truly stopped being herself.
This was a really fun and sweet story. I could see it all play out in my mind and of course I want more and definitely hope there’s another proper book! The pacing was perfect as well as the external and internal conflict between both MCs. Hatch is always great at coming up with original ideas to historical romance and I honestly didn’t know how this would end because of the whole plot being so twisted.
Thank you the publisher for the book. This opinion and review are all my own.
The brilliant Esther Hatch has done it again. She weaved a story of intrigue, deception, wit, and romance. She had me glued cover to cover where I blissfully imagined myself as the leading lady. If you want a nice escape, then this book is the perfect way to do so. I highly recommend this to all regency and romance lovers out there.
Another Home Run!! This is a fun, flirty and fantastic story! Esther Hatch has a way of writing the best stories. The writing is good and thorough. The characters are so likable and endearing. The wit and bantering, had me laughing out loud. I could not put it down, there was so much depth and surprises on every page. Oh and the swoon worthy scenes, were to die for!! This is a clean regency romance with some PG kissing scenes. But oh so good! Don’t miss this story! I really hope to hear Nicholas’ story.
I love finding new authors that captivate me and delight me! Esther Hatch has done just that in A Proper Charade, a clean historical fiction set in regency London. The premise of the tale was captivating, and the execution was sweetly delivered. The characters provide an opportunity to escape into a romantic charade, and even though predictable, captivating and enjoyable. Patience is such a fun leading lady that I found myself chuckling out loud and not able to put the book down. I highly recommend this clean, historical fiction book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
From the moment Patience steps out of her privileged world and into a woman below stairs, I was hooked on this story. The heroine is sure of herself (even when she’s not doing something even near correctly) and tenacious.
The first time Anthony and Patience meet is memorable, and the story just gets better from there. These two characters are complete opposites in some ways, but they complement each other. Patience brings out smiles and light-heartedness in the uber-serious Anthony, and he grounds her.
A Proper Charade is a delightful read that had me laughing and mentally rooting for these two to get together. I can’t wait to see what Esther Hatch comes up with next.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
What a charming book! It is so full of humor, delightful characters, heartwarming moments…I just could not stop reading As well as listening to a nearly perfect audible narration! I truly hope to hear more of Anthony and Patience, as well as, hopefully, Nicholas… And perhaps even Lord Bryant!
This is the first book I’ve read from Esther Hatch and I absolutely loved it! Free-spirited Lady Patience Kendrick is born to a life of privilege but struggles to find her fit in society. When her older brother Nicholas claims she is frivolous, Patience sets out to prove him wrong. She finds herself in uncharted and complicated waters as her original “plan” begins to spiral out of her control. What starts off in Patience’s mind as a fun new adventure turns into so much more as she learns about the realities of hard work, growing up and falling in love. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I am looking forward to future books!
A big thank you to Covenant Communications for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #AProperCharade #Goodreads
** This review can be found on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon
Ms. Hatch does it again! This sweet Regency romance has it all: a clever heroine, an admirable hero, and the perfect combination of humor and romance. I absolutely adored this novel, and I highly recommend it!
I enjoy all of Esther Hatch’s writing, but A Proper Charade is my new favorite. Two things really stuck out to me in this novel.
First, this book is hysterical. In order to avoid spoilers, I can’t go into detail, but there are multiple scenes that had me laughing out loud. I generally am not a fan of comedic writing, but Hatch weaved the comedy throughout seamlessly and made it feel organic.
Second, this book had tension. A lot of tension. Writing a romance with this much tension while keeping it clean and “PG” is nearly impossible and rarely accomplished successfully. Hatch nailed it.
Hatch is a master of her craft in this fantastic romance full of romantic tension and laugh-out-loud moments. A must-read for regency romance fans.
Fun premise, unusual storyline
What a blast! You haven’t read this story before. Esther Hatch hooked me from the get-go with a surprising premise and a delightful twist. I was rooting for the characters and having fun the whole time.