Rules For A Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley
To Kiss A Thief…
Scottish barrister Sinclair McBride can face the most sinister criminals in London – but the widower’s two unruly children are a different matter.Little Caitlin and Andrew go through a governess a week, sending the ladies fleeing in tears.
Roberta “Bertie” Frasier enters Sinclair’s life by stealing his watch – and then stealing a kiss. Intrigued by the handsome highlander, Bertie winds up saving his children from a dangerous situation and returns them to their father. Impressed with how they listen to her, Sinclair asks the lively beauty to be their governess, never guessing that the unconventional lady will teach him a lesson or two in love.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first thing I have to get out of the way is the discrepancy in the timeline. Daniel Mackenzie (Book 6) is only nineteen in this book and still living at home. So, obviously, Rules for a Proper Governess should fall somewhere before Daniel’s book. Did it make a difference in my enjoyment of the story? Not at all, but I am compulsive about reading a series in order and Daniel threw me.
Sinclair McBride is still grieving for his bride even though she died many years earlier. He buries himself in his work and spends little time at home. His two children, Caitlin and Andrew, are hell raisers and completely out of control. Sinclair is unable to keep a governess for them and his household staff have given up trying to control them.
Enter Bertie Frasier . . . Bertie comes from the lower class . . . the way lower class. Her father is a career criminal and Bertie works for him. So, of course, she ends up with Sinclair who spends his days prosecuting criminals.
Sinclair coerces Bertie into becoming the governess for his children. She knows nothing about being a governess, but since she has some control over them, she does a better job than any of her predecessors.
And Bertie and Sinclair fall in lust.
To add spice to the plot, there are two different villains after Bertie and Sinclair. We know who they are. They know who they are. The problem is how to stop them.
Of course, all comes out right in the end. Even though Bertie and Sinclair are from two totally different worlds, they find each other and fall in love. This is a romance after all.
Most of the Mackenzies make an appearance and Lord Ian (my absolute favorite of all the Mackenzies) has a fairly large role in this book. It was wonderful to see how his and Beth’s relationship has progressed.
I have loved all of the books in this series, but I have to say Bertie is my favorite heroine. She is smart and not at all shy about saying what she thinks is right. She doesn’t fit the normal mold for the family, but she still fits right in.
Elaine Reads . . . constantly! 