Celestine Simons was of good family, but an untimely death and a shortage of funds forces the homely spinster to take a position as governess at the estate of Lord Langlow and his wife. Never one to bemoan her change in fortune, Celestine is content to spend her days raising and overseeing their children, knowing in her heart she will never have any of her own.
Lord St. Claire Richmond, … Langlow’s brother, is a rogue and seducer, content to while away his days pursuing pleasure–and driving his brother and sister-in-law mad by reducing their female staff to lovelorn fools with his flirtations. When he learns on his annual Christmas visit that the drab Celestine was hired as governess solely to thwart his dalliances, he devises a scheme to both stir her heart and spite his family’s interfering ways.
But as his game unfolds, the cunning St. Claire discovers this conquest may be more challenging than expected when the thoughtful and intelligent Celestine begins to fire an ache in his own heart. And what began as an amusement to give the plain, timid miss an innocent thrill is turning into much more as St. Claire realizes she may be the one giving him the thrill–and teaching him in a way only a governess can that real beauty lies beneath the surface and that true love is often found where you least expect it.
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Okay, so this is a sweet and cheesy historical romance, but I can’t help myself. I loved it! It may not be the most original or the most complex, but I thought it did a good job of showing the progression both characters went through. It really focuses on the hero over the heroine, but shows him go from cynical to truly falling for the heroine.
While the heroine is a little too-good-to-be-true and perfect, she is endearing and I identified with her struggle to find her place in the world as she struggles with a debilitating physical ailment. You really feel for her as she wants to find happiness and love, but feels it’s beyond her grasp.
The hero is a great example of how a jerk and a rake can make a turn around believable, if the author spends enough time developing his character. Too often, I find these types of character never really change their ways or their change isn’t set up well enough to be believable.
One thing I really liked about this story is that the supporting cast has lives of their own, but those stories don’t take focus away from the main story line. That might sound weird, but the author hints at the backstories of other characters, giving us glimpses that the other characters have these full lives that exist outside of the book, but without spending a lot of time telling us about it and pulling away focus from the main characters.
I wouldn’t say this book is incredibly well done, but it’s solid writing and it really touched me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading it again. And again. I can see it being a book I pick up when I crave a light romance.
UPDATE / CONTENT WARNING: So, I don’t know if I just didn’t notice it before, but this had just a touch more content than I remember. I’ll blame it on the fact that I don’t always comb through the make-out scenes for details. Either way, this has just a touch more graphic detail that I like for a clean romance. No, they don’t sleep together. There isn’t any sex, but there’s a bit of groping and description of the lust between the characters that made me uncomfortable. Still, a cute story, but I felt like I needed to put a tiny disclaimer on there, just in case you are someone who likes squeaky clean.
LORD ST. CLAIRE’S ANGEL by Donna Simpson
In May Victoria Hamilton messaged me and told me that when she started her writing career in the Regencies, she wrote under her real name… Donna Simpson. Her first novel was Lord St. Claire’s Angel. These days, Donna writes traditional mysteries under the pseudonym .. Victoria Hamilton and Amanda Cooper. I decided I really wanted to read her first Regency novel.
LORD ST. CLAIRE’S ANGEL is Lord Justin St.Claire (Richmond) and Celestine Simons story.
Celestine was from a very good family but when her father died the estate went to a distant cousin, she was without money or a home. She took a position of governess with the St. Claire (Marquess and Marchioness of Ladymead).
Lord Justin St. Claire was the Marquess’ brother. He spent his time in London. He was handsome and a born flirt. He liked to romance the debutantes but never commit. He was coming to Ladymeads for the Christmas holidays. It was not beyond him to have a little flirtation going with the help.
The holidays were quickly coming upon them. Celestine was walking by the drawing room when she heard Lady and Lord St. Claire talking about her.
‘She is so plain and homely that Justin will not force his attentions on an aging, plain, arthritic spinster governess. It will definitely save us all from having the problem we had last year with Miss Chambly.
Celestine hung her head, too stunned by the cruel accuracy of the words to retreat, listened while they spoke of her. Embarrassed at having lingered long enough, she began to ascend the great curved staircase.
H Justin St. Claire found her ladyship with his two nieces in the parlor. The two little girls shrieked with delight and pestered their uncle until they found the treats he had brought for them. Lady St. Claire introduced Miss Simons their new governess. Justin saw a drab little creature in an ugly gray gown. “What happened to the little charmer you had here last Christmas? He asked. You know very well what happened. When Celestine took hold of the children’s hands, he noticed her hands were malformed.
As the door closed behind her, he gave his sister in law a knowing look. “making sure I don’t dally with the governess,, Elizabeth”
Justin decided that he was going to give this little brown mouse of a governess some romance for Christmas.
Celestine was not immune to Justin’s charms. Even though she was a daughter of an untitled gentleman, she knew Lord St. Clair was above her touch but she figured she could dream couldn’t she? She knew she was but one of the many women who have been drawn to him.
When the book ended I really did not want to leave this story. I found the story riveting. I read it in one day. And to think this was her first book I liked the book very much and as they say ” Well done, Miss Simpson, well done!” Donna Lea Simpson has put out a new edition of this book in digital format .The book;s new cover page is beautiful.
Happy Reading!