Because running from the past is a race you can’t win….Dutiful governess Miss Caroline Robins could easily recognize the handwriting on the mysterious note. Her past is catching up and it’s returned to finish what was started ten years ago.Trapped in a loveless marriage, Moses Hayward, Duke of Barley, trudges the misty ground between propriety and his ever-growing attraction for his children’s … ever-growing attraction for his children’s governess.
But not everything is as it seems, and Caroline is hiding a dark secret that threatens to leave them in shambles. She’s been lying to them all.
When Moses’ daughter is kidnapped, he is given an ultimatum: in order for Josephine not to die in a few hours’ time, Caroline must die in her stead.
*If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess is the novel for you.
This is Hanna Hamilton’s 20th book, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Pick up “The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess” today to discover Hanna’s new amazing story!
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I’m torn between two people who accidentally fall in love and a marriage being torn apart. It is also shows the horrible reality of what could happen in a marriage of convenience. Although, they never actually commit adultery, the duke has it in his heart. I am grateful that the author took the time to give the characters some moral compass. It also shows the horrible crime that was committed against the Duke at the beginning of his marriage. Yes, the governess may have a secret that puts the Duke’s children’s governess’s life on the line, but the secret of his wife and father-in-law’s betrayal is worse.
Okay… At the beginning of the story I became annoyed and agitated at the lead female character, Caroline, the governess. She is too sweet, too subservient and seemed like she had no spine at all. She is extremely intelligent, talented and capable of caring for her charges, Josephine and Nicholas. Also, Moses, the Duke of Barley, his wife Lavinia is portrayed too vile. Her hatred toward Caroline really resonated through the writing. However, by the time I got to the end, I feel Lavinia was undoubtedly cased under too harsh of a light. The story does take an unusual twist in the middle that raises the question of infidelity. Emotional infidelity. Then there is another turn where Caroline is being stalked by her past. This part of the story is fascinating. The subterfuge, the arrogance, the insolence that Lavinia’s father displays comes across very well. Caroline’s uncle I think was supposed to be the main villain, but I found Lavinia’s father worse. Like I said, after about a third of the way in, I thought “about time the story gets a move on”. The writing really improved after an abysmal beginning. I liked the story that was unfolding. The drawback was the way Lavinia’s character was written towards the end. It kind of like did not make sense what she ended up doing. I mean I understand what she did and why she did it. But it seemed to come out of left field. There is one little hint about three fourths the way in but the reveal was too shocking. It feels like the reveal was thrown in for dramatic good measure a way to start tying the loose ends together. I am a little disappointed but overall the story was a good idea and had merit. I give it a 3.5 but will round up to 4 because the second half of the book was quite exciting. I did enjoy reading the extended epilogue but wonder why it was separate from the book.
Hanna Hamilton really is a masterful writer of historical Regency Period romance novels, and The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess is a perfect example of why. Caroline and Moses’ story is just fantastic. It’s also incredibly complex (see the publisher’s blurb for a description, it’s far better than what I’d achieve here and doesn’t spoil anything) but easy to follow, beautifully written and wonderful on so many different ways. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.