Stevie‘s review of The Governess Club: Sara (The Governess Club, Book 3) by Ellie Macdonald
Historical Romance published by Avon Impulse 02 Sep 14
I’ve been enamoured of the premise for this series from the very start, although the first two books didn’t quite live up to my expectations for a number of (mostly different) reasons. The idea of a group of governesses banding together in order to support each other and eventually save up the money to open their own school is certainly appealing, but I felt that the romance plots in the first two books, and the actions of the heroes in particular, rather overshadowed the heroines’ journeys towards independence, or at least greater self-reliance. Nonetheless, I was keen to find out whether the third book took more of a path towards the story that I wanted to read.
And I’m pleased to say that I’m not disappointed. Although, once again, the hero’s background feels a little under-researched, I find Sara a very believable heroine. Having been raised by a clergyman father and a domineering mother, Sara is the first to acknowledge that she isn’t that good a teacher, in spite of wanting to help her friends. So she looks after the lessons of the youngest, most easily managed children, visits the poor and sick in the area, and dreams of marrying the local vicar, if he would only notice her as an eligible match instead of being distracted by the other single young women of his parish.
Sara’s ideas regarding her destiny take an unexpected battering, however, when she meets Nathan, a former Member of Parliament, who has abandoned politics to seek a less corrupt means of earning spending his time. He lusts after Sara from their first meeting, but she is the one who pursues him, in spite of the flashbacks she experiences – a result of being severely punished by her mother for any minor deviations she made while growing up from the way a proper young woman ought to behave. Convinced that Nathan would never want to marry her, Sara offers him a bargain – to take her away on an adventure so she can experience something of life before she settles down to a respectable life as a vicar’s wife. Personally, I see flaws in this concept, and not just the standard Romancelandia tropes of characters falling in love after convincing themselves that they wouldn’t. But the plot is very well executed and fits the characters well, especially given that they both have moments of doubt about their plan that are in keeping with what we already know about them.
What I like most about this story is that Sara continues to dictate her own destiny, even after falling in love with Nathan, and it’s left to him to decide whether to follow through with her plans or risk losing both her and his chances of happiness, while she seems likely to have further adventures with or without him. The fourth book in the series is due out soon, and I’m very much looking forward to it, after the glimpses we’ve had of Louisa in this one.
Grade: B
Summary:
For fans of Christina Dodd and Elizabeth Boyle.
Sweet Sara Collins is one of the founding members of the Governess Club. But she has a secret: She doesn’t love teaching. She’d much prefer to be a vicar’s wife and help the local community. But this quiet mouse doesn’t want to upset her friends, and she resolves to help in whatever ways she can.
Nathan Grant is the embodiment of everything that frightens Sara. Which is why she can’t understand why the handsome but reclusive and gruff man is so fascinating to her. When Sara decides it’s time to take a chance and experience all that life has to offer, Nathan is the first person she thinks of.
Will Sara’s walk on the wild side ruin her chances at a simple, happy life? Or has she just opened the door to a once-in-a-lifetime chance at passion?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
