The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess

This is one tremendously enjoyable story keeps you wanting to read more with all the twists and turns abound, unexpected circumstances, unpredictable surprises.

Let me preface this review to say that this is the fifteenth book I have read by Abigail Agar. 99% four- and five-star ratings. I love her books. “The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess” I found has a few highlights and several low ones.

1) As far as the theme of the overall storyline I liked it very much. 5/5

How a family lost their social status and life of privilege due to the father’s mistakes. That caused his daughter to learn to be self-sufficient and employable. She lost all her dreams of a good match. Now feeling she would end up a spinster accepted her fate.

2) Lead female character: Victoria Jamison: 3/5

I admired the core of her personality but I found her suspicious leaning to facing facts was a negative attribute. She also spent a lot of time in her head fighting petty jealousy and resentment because of her present reality. A fall from grace in society did not break her but it did affect her in very real ways. I did find her inner strength quite beautiful and determined. She was faithful and loyal to her family as fractured as it was. She wrote to her mother often. Victoria also always thought before acting despite what negative feelings she may have been experiencing. She was kind to others and thought well of them. She just did not see the wonderful attributes she had that others saw. She was able to read people and deduce how to behave and react around them. When she had to make a difficult decision, she made it based on the benefit it would bring to all those concerned even though it may have been a burden to her. Then there was her feelings of guilt and remorse and the ping pong way her emotions sometimes went. Very irritating and distracting. She almost always squelched any hope for a better future because she thought it was impossible. She had no hope. One of her redeeming qualities was that she was an excellent governess. Her charge was emotionally lashing and acting out brashly after the death of her mother. Victoria was able to identify with her and with patience was able to gain her trust and cooperation. Admirable. Now her feelings for her employer I feel the writing was lacking. The romance was not well developed. It felt like they hardly spent any time together even though it was implied. I would have rather read more intimate scenes (not sex) I mean intimate in them spending more time together and getting to know each other better and developing the romance.

3) The charge: Miss Marian Fairfax: eleven years of age: 5/5

Marian’s character could not have been written any better. She was the epitome of the emotional troubled child making everyone miserable and inviting negative attention. I loved reading how little by little she responded to Victoria’s efforts of discipline and Victoria’s genuine care for her. It was a hard road for this little girl but I loved seeing her blossom into a lovely young lady of solid character, enthusiastic to read and learn. It was touching how by extension of these changes she spent time with her father that surprised him. Overall, I loved Marian’s character. She was well written and well developed.

4) Lord Reginald Fairfax, the Earl of Hanover: 3.5/5

I liked how the Earl was an attentive father wanting only what was best for Marian. Marian had gone through thirteen governesses in two years due to her combative spirit. That must have been disheartening to him. But then Victoria applied for the job and he was immediate struck by her beauty but shoved that thought aside because socially it was an unacceptable alliance. He deliberately made time to spend with Victoria to get to know her better. He found himself able to lower his guard and be himself around her. He also was amazed almost every day at the changes brought about in Marian due to Victoria’s influence and guidance. Victoria saw in Marian what Reginald had always seen. Intelligence, wit, curiosity and a need of a friend. Victoria saw to Marian’s needs and much, much more. Reginald could not help but admire Victoria more and more each day. He knew about her past and yet never held it against her. Sometimes he wanted to treat her as the equal she used to be and then other times he fought to put her in her place as an employee. He was having a difficult time. The problem I found was that the romance between him and Victoria was not as well developed as it could have been. Although I gathered that he was a good and kind man, haunted by the guilt of the death of his wife, I learned little about his status in society, his apparent many estates. Did he have any tenants? How did he earn his wealth? There were very few clues as to his background and I was surprised to find out later in the book he had a mother. A mother that was never discussed. I wonder what kind of relationship did he have with his parents growing up? I am led to believe it was a good upbringing but why was his mother excluded from being with her granddaughter? In the end, Reginald impressed me by dealing with some delicate problems and solving them to everyone’s satisfaction so he could without commitment nor duty to anyone approach Victoria about his feelings for her.

5) Overall average score 3.3