By Tiffany Clare
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: May 24, 2011
After accepting a position as governess, Abigail Hallaway travels to Brendall Castle, nestled in the wilds of Northumbria, to begin her new job. Abby doesn’t need to work—her two sisters are countesses and she has enough money of her own—but she longs to go her own way and gain a little independence. But when she arrives in the nearby village, she is shocked that no one is there to meet her and is forced to walk the many miles to the castle...at night...in the rain! On top of that, the master of the house, Lord Brendall, is gruff and rude to her the moment she arrives. But he soon learns that Abby is no frightened miss.
“Why is it that you don’t find me intimidating, Miss Hallaway?”
She didn’t miss the note of wonder in his voice. But it was an odd question to ask her. Was she supposed to run shamefaced and embarrassed from the stable? She should have protested his improper inspection of her injured knee.
“You are a bit of a brute at times.” She was proud of herself for keeping her voice level, uninterested. Even a bit superior.
“So I’ve been told,” he replied.
... “I doubt that.”
Elliott Wright, Earl of Brendall, is surprised to find that the new governess his long-time housekeeper hired for his son is not only young, but also pretty. He can’t help but be attracted to her, even though he knows he shouldn’t be since she is in his employ. He has too many secrets that he would like to remain hidden. After he gets to know her and sees how good she is to his son, Elliott knows he’s in over his head. And when terrible “accidents” start happening to Abby, much like ones that happened to his deceased wife, Elliott vows to do everything in his power to protect her. But at what cost?
The Secret Desires of a Governess is a book that I could not put down! Not only does it contain scorching hot romance (oh, yes!), there is also a hint of mystery. Ms. Clare does a great job by giving readers bits and pieces at the perfect spot to make you want to keep reading. Abby and Elliott are wonderfully drawn and the pull between them was potent.
Every second they were together made her want more between them.
A realization dawned on her with that admission: She was irrevocably, wholly his. Just as she’d wanted.
Which meant she’d allowed herself to do the one thing she’d always promised never to do...she’d lost herself to a man. Not because she hadn’t wanted it or because they had joined in the most intimate way a man and woman could, and certainly not because he was the only potential suitor in the wilds of Northumbria, but because he’d stolen into her heart bit by bit; wormed his way so deep that he was a permanent fixture there.
I absolutely adore these two! Abby is patient, strong, and gutsy—my kind of heroine. She sees through Elliott’s rough exterior to the good-hearted man beneath. He isn’t really a beast, but he allows people to assume he is for his own privacy and to protect his precious secrets. But to those who really know him, he is the very image of chivalry. What a guy! Add in some hot, passionate tension, a slightly aloof household, and one adorable little boy and you have the makings of a wonderful book! I can't wait to see what's next from this rising star in historical romance!
~Andrea
