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bau9's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. I really tried but I don't think this author is for me
snaze6's review against another edition
5.0
This novella is a fun and flirty read with just a tad bit of a holiday theme. Francine/Franny is an American heiress who is in London to find an impoverished titled Brit to marry at her father’s insistence.
Franny is unconventional, not wanting to be married and enjoying her sketching. She volunteers to be serve as the Viscount of Remington’s governess for his 6 year old ward for two weeks over the Christmas holidays.
Chance, Viscount if Remington (Remy) is a known rake and definitely not someone Franny should be associated with. He is a bit depressed and stressed over the financial shambles his father left the estate and properties to him to deal without the financial means to fix. He is stunned to find an American in his doorstep claiming to be the governess his childhood friend found for him.
Mutual desire and intense chemistry draw Franny and Chance closer together. He swore to his younger self he would never consider marrying unless it was for love. Is this what live feels like?
I’ve enjoyed more than a few of the books in the Duchess Society series and this book has appearances of some beloved characters.
I received a free ARC from the author and Hidden Gems; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
Franny is unconventional, not wanting to be married and enjoying her sketching. She volunteers to be serve as the Viscount of Remington’s governess for his 6 year old ward for two weeks over the Christmas holidays.
Chance, Viscount if Remington (Remy) is a known rake and definitely not someone Franny should be associated with. He is a bit depressed and stressed over the financial shambles his father left the estate and properties to him to deal without the financial means to fix. He is stunned to find an American in his doorstep claiming to be the governess his childhood friend found for him.
Mutual desire and intense chemistry draw Franny and Chance closer together. He swore to his younger self he would never consider marrying unless it was for love. Is this what live feels like?
I’ve enjoyed more than a few of the books in the Duchess Society series and this book has appearances of some beloved characters.
I received a free ARC from the author and Hidden Gems; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
bookishmya's review against another edition
5.0
This makes my heart burst! All the feels in epic proportions. I don’t know what it is about the heroes of The Duchess Society, but they find the absolute best of men. Rakes, scoundrels and rascals that are simply biding their time, waiting for the One woman who can conquer them completely. These womanizers transform into the most selfless, devoted men who will burrow into your soul. Chance Allerton may have been ‘Lord Love-em-and-leave-em’ but that was only because he hadn’t found the woman he couldn’t let leave. Enter Francine Shaw, an American so completely apart from all the others. She completes him, and makes him a better man. The fact that they find themselves effortlessly working together is almost a foreshadowing of their future partnership. Aside from the beauty of Chance & Franny, I found myself glued to every page for a glimpse of bachelor Xander MacCauley. Reuniting with him, and glorying in all the nods to his future marital bliss was delicious. His firm disapproval of his friends love life’s made me chuckle in delight knowing that he will be the worst of them all. I could not have asked for a better addition in our delightful Duchess Society! Tracy Sumner has completely captivated me with this series!
muffreads42's review against another edition
4.0
Francine has fled to America because of a scandal. In London she needs to get married but would also like to do as she please's in the marriage. I enjoyed reading this story. I received an arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
booksplantsandtea's review against another edition
4.0
Let me tell you, Tracy Sumner is slowly but surely making me rethink my statement that novellas just aren't my cup of tea.
This novella fulfills everything you may want from a historical romance. We've got a wallflower albeit strong willed American with a large dowry falling in love with a viscount who wouldn't know love if it stood right in front of him. We get two weeks of sizzling sexual tension before being treated with a very *hot* chapter.
The best part of this book (for me at least)? Lots of Macauley, ripping his friends a new one for being in love, infatuated, married and/or having kids. It's even funnier to think that he will, soon after this novella takes place, fall to his knees even harder than all in the Leighton cluster combined (read the Wicked Wallflower to see that deliciousness happening!). That said, I now need a scene where his friends all take (good natured) revenge on him for his skeptical ways!
So, if I enjoyed this so much, why only 4 stars? I think a few extra scenes to develop their intimacy a bit more were needed. It would've helped to make the big "revelation" sting a bit more, and really make you feel it alongside Chance as a reader, because right now it fell kind of flat because their intimacy wasn't built up enough to make it sting. I also would've liked to have seen a bit more scenes between Franny and Kat, and Kat and Chance. I think it would've made the story a lot richer, and deeper than just a fierce sexual attraction that quickly turns into love.
What I also loved but felt like it could've been explored a lot more, was Chance becoming a father figure to Kat when he's still nursing his own childhood wounds. They say becoming a parent brings those to the forefront and that was certainly the case for Chance, and I would've liked to see him work through that just a little bit more.
*I read and reviewed an advanced reader copy I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This novella fulfills everything you may want from a historical romance. We've got a wallflower albeit strong willed American with a large dowry falling in love with a viscount who wouldn't know love if it stood right in front of him. We get two weeks of sizzling sexual tension before being treated with a very *hot* chapter.
The best part of this book (for me at least)? Lots of Macauley, ripping his friends a new one for being in love, infatuated, married and/or having kids. It's even funnier to think that he will, soon after this novella takes place, fall to his knees even harder than all in the Leighton cluster combined (read the Wicked Wallflower to see that deliciousness happening!). That said, I now need a scene where his friends all take (good natured) revenge on him for his skeptical ways!
So, if I enjoyed this so much, why only 4 stars? I think a few extra scenes to develop their intimacy a bit more were needed. It would've helped to make the big "revelation" sting a bit more, and really make you feel it alongside Chance as a reader, because right now it fell kind of flat because their intimacy wasn't built up enough to make it sting. I also would've liked to have seen a bit more scenes between Franny and Kat, and Kat and Chance. I think it would've made the story a lot richer, and deeper than just a fierce sexual attraction that quickly turns into love.
What I also loved but felt like it could've been explored a lot more, was Chance becoming a father figure to Kat when he's still nursing his own childhood wounds. They say becoming a parent brings those to the forefront and that was certainly the case for Chance, and I would've liked to see him work through that just a little bit more.
*I read and reviewed an advanced reader copy I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
books4everafter's review
3.0
I thought I would enjoy this more as I love a good governess trope. I did enjoy the chemistry and steam between the main characters. But I just wanted more. This is also possibly why I have a harder time loving novellas. More pining, longing, the forbiddeness and banter. That is what makes governess tropes such a fave trope of mine.
I also could get the feeling that I was missing context of the side characters and relationships, which means this is probably a spin off a main series.
This is my first read by this author, and this book has intrigued me with their writing to also try something else by them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I also could get the feeling that I was missing context of the side characters and relationships, which means this is probably a spin off a main series.
This is my first read by this author, and this book has intrigued me with their writing to also try something else by them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
readingwithmrleo's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I'm not usually a fan of love at first sight but I don't know, with the novella length and this set-up it was quite fun and easy to believe this one. I really liked the fascination our heroine had for the hero. They were both so passionate about their own art and I enjoyed that a lot. I always enjoy a found family type of story and it was easy to fall for this young kid that was able to warm the hearts of our heroes. Francine's American ways were really refreshing in this British set-up. There was great tension between our characters and they showed lots of respect to each other which I was here for. I'm definitely intrigued by the other characters I got to see in that novella, so this is a good sign considering it was fast but still let me develop strong enough feelings to want to learn more about them. I loved the Christmas setting in this one, it was just a perfect read at this time of year!
Thanks to the author for my copy. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for my copy. All opinions are my own.
loriwaz's review against another edition
4.0
Great novella...would have loved it even more if it were a full length novel.
sophiper's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75