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A review by kateh3077
The Governess Was Wicked by Julia Kelly
4.0
This book told the story of a young governess called Elizabeth living in Recency London and it follows her life as a governess including her relationships with her friends Miss Ephram and Miss Woodward as well her romance with her Families doctor Dr. Edward Fellows.
On Goodreads this book is listed as a Historical Romance which it very definitely is and a very well researched one as well which is shown in the references made about dress codes and expectations placed on women particularly unmarried ones of the time.
All the characters were well developed and multi faceted which meant that they were easy to connect with. Elizabeth is a wonderfully well developed and multi faceted character who I connected with on many levels. I loved reading about her relationships particularly the ones with her charges (Miss Norton and Miss Cassandra) and Dr. Fellows. The way the author wrote about the two girls who were Elizabeth's charges really made me the reader see what their lives were like but also that they were typical children in the way that one was the mischievous/prank puller while the other was the sensible/practical/ one.The girls had the tendency to pull pranks especially the older one probably mainly as a way to try to get their parents attention. Dr Fellows was an amazing character who was really caring and a stickler for following etiquette but when you read the scenes that concerned his interactions with and thoughts about Elizabeth you saw him as the gentle loving and considerate person he really was. I really did not like Mr and Mrs Norton at all because although they conformed to societies expectations it was clear they saw their daughters as an inconvenience which was shown perfectly when they came down with Scarlet Fever so they left them in the care of Elizabeth without a by way of leave.
The plot was developed and world building done in such a skillful way that it seemed to develop organically while keeping me as the reader wanting more. All the descriptions of the different expectations placed on men and women of the time as well as how people dressed/wore their hair etc. really portrayed the time period well.
I gave this book a five star rating because the writing was entrancing and I really connected with the characters, and it was a great start to what I am sure will be an amazing series - I can't wait to read the other books in the series. It is a book that I will both recommend to as well as buy for anyone who I think would enjoy Historical Romance.
On Goodreads this book is listed as a Historical Romance which it very definitely is and a very well researched one as well which is shown in the references made about dress codes and expectations placed on women particularly unmarried ones of the time.
All the characters were well developed and multi faceted which meant that they were easy to connect with. Elizabeth is a wonderfully well developed and multi faceted character who I connected with on many levels. I loved reading about her relationships particularly the ones with her charges (Miss Norton and Miss Cassandra) and Dr. Fellows. The way the author wrote about the two girls who were Elizabeth's charges really made me the reader see what their lives were like but also that they were typical children in the way that one was the mischievous/prank puller while the other was the sensible/practical/ one.The girls had the tendency to pull pranks especially the older one probably mainly as a way to try to get their parents attention. Dr Fellows was an amazing character who was really caring and a stickler for following etiquette but when you read the scenes that concerned his interactions with and thoughts about Elizabeth you saw him as the gentle loving and considerate person he really was. I really did not like Mr and Mrs Norton at all because although they conformed to societies expectations it was clear they saw their daughters as an inconvenience which was shown perfectly when they came down with Scarlet Fever so they left them in the care of Elizabeth without a by way of leave.
The plot was developed and world building done in such a skillful way that it seemed to develop organically while keeping me as the reader wanting more. All the descriptions of the different expectations placed on men and women of the time as well as how people dressed/wore their hair etc. really portrayed the time period well.
I gave this book a five star rating because the writing was entrancing and I really connected with the characters, and it was a great start to what I am sure will be an amazing series - I can't wait to read the other books in the series. It is a book that I will both recommend to as well as buy for anyone who I think would enjoy Historical Romance.