Nominated for a 2019 Booksellers’ Best AwardLocked in a competition that could change their lives…or break their hearts.Mr. James Alcott has carved out his place in the world with an esteemed position at Harrow School. But when the school changes direction, he’s set adrift. He can redeem himself by founding a scholarship program if he wins the annual Duke’s Trust competition for seed money. A … Duke’s Trust competition for seed money. A seemingly simple task. Until a beautiful and mysterious competitor arouses his curiosity and leaves him speaking in iambic pentameter.
Lady Tessa Harmsworth was denied a formal education by her father. Now she has fabricated the reclusive Mr. Pettibone as the champion of her scholarship fund to further the education of other women and girls. The deception is the only way a woman can enter the Duke’s Trust competition, let alone win it. And Tessa intends to win. Until her annoyingly clever, poetry-spouting opponent sets out to uncover her ruse.
As Tessa and James match wits, their spirited rivalry turns into a passionate affair. With the coveted prize hanging in the balance, will they choose their lifelong dreams or follow their reckless hearts?
The Harrow’s Finest Five Series books are stand-alone novels with no cliffhangers, and can be read in any order.
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Lady Tessa has always thirsted for learning. James values learning just as much. Their paths cross as competitors for an educational grant. Keeping the enemy close leads to an unexpected end.
Wonderfully written. This was a joy to read. I’ll be reading more of Ms Yeager’s work.
And the winner is…
This is James and Tessa’s story. Both competing for a scholarship in hopes of helping children with intelligence receive an education. His is in keeping with his alma mater Harrow’s and her wanting the funds to provide higher education for girls. In the process they find their hearts in competition also with both coming up the winner. Having read the other two books in Harrow’s Finest Five I found this one to be the sweetest. Not heavy on angst or misunderstandings just sweet clean romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
A delightful story with a hero who is focused on founding a scholarship program for Harrow, and winning a competition to earn the funds to get started. James Alcott is confident her can win the Duke’s Annual Trust competition until he finds a young lady determined to win the funds for her women’s education fund. But for some reason when he sees her, a Byron poem pops into his mind!! “And all that’s best of dark and bright, Meet in her spect and her eyes.”
Lady Tessa Harmsworth has to pose as representing a man, yes, it was so hard in these times to be a woman with a mind! That is the only way she can get into the competition! When James is introduced to her she can tell he is a man on a mission. “His gaze help Tessa’s for a beat longer than she thought appropriate, until she realized she’d been just as unwilling to look away from him.”
Thus the adventure begins! Tessa is of course worried that James will find her out. That there is no elusive man she is representing and get her tossed out of the competition. But sparks fly as these two interact and an attraction that cannot be denied ensues!
Loved this story and cannot wait to read more of this series!
Who will outwit who?
Lady Tessa and Mr. James Alcott’s story was well-written with a different look at the Ton it was a rather refreshing perspective. When two intelligent people as these characters were to compete there may just some sparks. I enjoyed this quick piece and I liked the characters a great deal. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I can’t even imagine how frustrating it must have been for women in that era who were so clever and yet couldn’t continue their education on a higher level. Lady Tessa Harmsworth is such a woman and to enter a competition, she even has to make up a story that she’s just representing a gentleman. Mr. James Alcott has entered the same competition and the story revolves around he and Tessa, getting to know each other, learning each other’s goals and even helping each other out.
This really was a delightful story and I love how it all ended up. How wonderful that two competitors can actually cheer each other on!
I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Lady Tessa and Mr James Alcott are both eagerly chasing the Wrexham Charitable Trust. Lady Tessa wants to help girls interested in furthering their education the opportunity to do so. Mr James Alcott works with unprivileged boys to get them advanced education to help them become prominent members of society.
Because Lady Tessa’s younger brother had difficulties with his studies, Tessa was able to shadow him in school. This is very unusual since girls were not afforded an education. She was able to attend classes beyond what most girls were allowed. She ate knowledge like the most decadent chocolate.
Mr James Alcott has spent all his time since college helping further the education of underprivileged boys by helping them secure funds. The Wrexham Charitable Trust will help so many boys with brilliant young minds. James devoted all his time to help but if he doesn’t win this trust he will have to change his plans.
Neither of them have any doubt that they will win. They didn’t realize how intelligent the other was. Who will win? What secrets will be discovered? Will they fall for each other while they plot their strategies for winning?
Sweet introduction to the series.
Too Clever By Half is book one in The Harrow’s Finest Five series by Nancy Yeager. This is a short, sweet novella. I thought that this story was very unique. Set in 1869 Victorian England, Yeager shines the light on the plight of women and their need for access to higher education at the time. Lady Tessa Harmsworth is competing against James Alcott for the coveted Duke’s Annual Trust Scholarship. Tessa wants women to receive access to education and James wants poor boys to have the means to enter Harrow. But what happens when James finds himself attracted to his enemy? I thought that this novella was very well written and set at such a pivotal time in history for women. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
The first book in the Harrow’s Finest Five Series a well written story that I was not putting down until I finished reading. Lady Tessa Harmsworth is a woman ahead of her time she loves to read physics, mechanics, mathematics, debate, philosophy,thermodynamics,and poetry. She wants to enter the Duke’s Trust competition and because being a woman she can not enter she does so under the name of Mr. Pettibone. But someone else Mr. James Alcott wants to win the contest and is determined to find out who his competitor is. Once the deception is found out they do not expect to fall in love,but the competition needs to be won as they both want the money for the betterment of others. What happens made for a very good story. I recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet, clever and witty
Nancy Yaeger has brought us a couple in competition with each other. The story is engaging as they are attracted to each other but feel they shouldn’t mingle because of the competition. Outside of the competition these two keep getting thrown together which is where Nancy shows her talent for dialog. This book is sweet in that we see the honor of a true gentleman and the respect this character has for Tessa. And Tessa is a woman who sticks to her guns. Enjoy this romp.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.