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A Season of Secrets #1
Not Just a Governess
Darkly delicious Lord Adam Hawthorne doesn't care a whit for society – especially the tedium of finding a wife. So taking on a new governess for his young daughter shouldn't shake his steely disposition! Or lady in disguise? Except Mrs Elena Leighton, an enigmatic widow, is a most intriguing addition to the household. What are those ladylike airs and graces beneath her dowdy exterior? Despite great impropriety, Lord Hawthorne is compelled to discover the real Elena – no matter what secrets are unveiled along the way... A Season of Secrets: A lady never tells...
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,301 books911 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 24 reviews
harlequin-historical-romance
June 11, 2019Re Read..to go on to the next book
Setting: 1817 London
3 1/2 stars
Lord Adam Hawthorne is contemptuous of society, its rules and its pettiness.
He rarely ventures out among the Ton, preferring to concentrate on his holdings and small daughter.
And he avoids his grandmother's matchmaking schemes.
After all, one wife was more than enough for him.
However,there is one woman who intrigues him though.
Mrs. Elena Leighton, whom he has hired as his daughter's governess.
Elena arouses his curiosity and his passion, and their sparring leads to desires that scare both of them.
Once Elena's secret identity is revealed, all hell breaks loose!
Now Adam has no choice but to face his demons and society to save the woman he has come to love.
This is book one in the "A Season of Secrets."
A jaded lord, a lady in disguise, a dastardly villain and a whole lot of secrets.
What more could you want?
It was a wild adventure with a rich narrative, authentic dialogue with memorable characters that will keep the reader of this romance on the edge of their seats.
Not bad for a first in a series.
Setting: 1817 London
3 1/2 stars
Lord Adam Hawthorne is contemptuous of society, its rules and its pettiness.
He rarely ventures out among the Ton, preferring to concentrate on his holdings and small daughter.
And he avoids his grandmother's matchmaking schemes.
After all, one wife was more than enough for him.
However,there is one woman who intrigues him though.
Mrs. Elena Leighton, whom he has hired as his daughter's governess.
Elena arouses his curiosity and his passion, and their sparring leads to desires that scare both of them.
Once Elena's secret identity is revealed, all hell breaks loose!
Now Adam has no choice but to face his demons and society to save the woman he has come to love.
This is book one in the "A Season of Secrets."
A jaded lord, a lady in disguise, a dastardly villain and a whole lot of secrets.
What more could you want?
It was a wild adventure with a rich narrative, authentic dialogue with memorable characters that will keep the reader of this romance on the edge of their seats.
Not bad for a first in a series.
August 5, 2013
Grade: D-
I think I need to skim a Harlequin Presents title by this author to see how consistent her writing style and voice is across genres and categories, because it’s definitely, well, unique.
Mortimer loves ellipses and em-dashes and exclamation points, which should endear me to her. But when every question in the dialogue ends in an ellipsis, and every expository paragraph has an interjection offset with em-dashes, and five paragraphs in a row end with an exclamation point, the punctuation becomes increasingly intrusive. Also disruptive were the repetitive words and phrases; the hero was described as “cold” more than 25 times (that doesn’t include his chilliness, frostiness or iciness), and we’re told he has stormy grey eyes nearly 50 times.
I also had major issues with the plot, in which the heroine was grateful for the hero’s light-fingered Magical Orgasm Cure that allowed her to overcome the ickiness of her recent rape at the hands of her evil cousin. But, of course, her real post-rape trauma — the loss of innocence that renders her unfit for proper wifery — lingers until the cold, grey-eyed hero’s grand gesture.
NOTE: This review was first published at DearAuthor.com. I read a review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I think I need to skim a Harlequin Presents title by this author to see how consistent her writing style and voice is across genres and categories, because it’s definitely, well, unique.
Mortimer loves ellipses and em-dashes and exclamation points, which should endear me to her. But when every question in the dialogue ends in an ellipsis, and every expository paragraph has an interjection offset with em-dashes, and five paragraphs in a row end with an exclamation point, the punctuation becomes increasingly intrusive. Also disruptive were the repetitive words and phrases; the hero was described as “cold” more than 25 times (that doesn’t include his chilliness, frostiness or iciness), and we’re told he has stormy grey eyes nearly 50 times.
I also had major issues with the plot, in which the heroine was grateful for the hero’s light-fingered Magical Orgasm Cure that allowed her to overcome the ickiness of her recent rape at the hands of her evil cousin. But, of course, her real post-rape trauma — the loss of innocence that renders her unfit for proper wifery — lingers until the cold, grey-eyed hero’s grand gesture.
NOTE: This review was first published at DearAuthor.com. I read a review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 6, 2013
I'm a great fan of governess/lord historicals, and have been anticipating this one for quite a while, but alas, it vastly failed my expectations. There is far more lust in the story than love, and even more the plot twists were predictable and the resolution comically eccentric.
Second in the trilogy involving three grandmothers' schemes to get their grandson married in the same season, Lady Cicely has tried to no avail to get her reclusive grandson, Lord Adam Hawkthorne to even come out in society; he associates London frivolity with his deceased wife's numerous affairs, and society not welcoming his cold and haughty demeanor. What Adam is interested in is caring for his young daughter (despite not knowing how) and discovering the secrets his beguiling governess keeps. Sadly, he is adept at neither, and has had his legendary self-discipline crumble with just one look from his daughter's governess, Mrs. Elena Leighton. Elena is actually the infamous missing granddaughter of a duke, and has been made a wanted criminal by her degenerate cousin (this is revealed early on).
Most of the story is dedicated to Adam fighting his unwanted lust for Elena, while trying to learn how to be a good father, something he wishes to learn but never attempts to until he solicits Elena's help. Elena, on the other hand, has long disliked Adam for thinking him neglectful of his daughter, and this affair of jumping to conclusions occurs ad nauseum, with hardly any advancement of companionship or love between the two.
What I really could not abide was when Elena told Adam her real identity, and before hearing her story, Adam condemned her for her supposed crimes. For someone who has been heaping praises on Elena's integrity and character throughout the story to suddenly believe her capable of such villainy, Adam is quite the pompous hypocrite.
Naturally, a confrontation with the villain is necessary at the end, but this resolution was quite hilarious in not only its planning but also in its sudden involvement of a cast of outside characters, who collectively created Adam and Elena's happily-ever-after.
Perhaps my initial hopes were too high for this book, to have received great disappointment when its plot and characters failed to intrigue me, but I am looking forward to reading the last in this trilogy, for it will hopefully be better.
Second in the trilogy involving three grandmothers' schemes to get their grandson married in the same season, Lady Cicely has tried to no avail to get her reclusive grandson, Lord Adam Hawkthorne to even come out in society; he associates London frivolity with his deceased wife's numerous affairs, and society not welcoming his cold and haughty demeanor. What Adam is interested in is caring for his young daughter (despite not knowing how) and discovering the secrets his beguiling governess keeps. Sadly, he is adept at neither, and has had his legendary self-discipline crumble with just one look from his daughter's governess, Mrs. Elena Leighton. Elena is actually the infamous missing granddaughter of a duke, and has been made a wanted criminal by her degenerate cousin (this is revealed early on).
Most of the story is dedicated to Adam fighting his unwanted lust for Elena, while trying to learn how to be a good father, something he wishes to learn but never attempts to until he solicits Elena's help. Elena, on the other hand, has long disliked Adam for thinking him neglectful of his daughter, and this affair of jumping to conclusions occurs ad nauseum, with hardly any advancement of companionship or love between the two.
What I really could not abide was when Elena told Adam her real identity, and before hearing her story, Adam condemned her for her supposed crimes. For someone who has been heaping praises on Elena's integrity and character throughout the story to suddenly believe her capable of such villainy, Adam is quite the pompous hypocrite.
Naturally, a confrontation with the villain is necessary at the end, but this resolution was quite hilarious in not only its planning but also in its sudden involvement of a cast of outside characters, who collectively created Adam and Elena's happily-ever-after.
Perhaps my initial hopes were too high for this book, to have received great disappointment when its plot and characters failed to intrigue me, but I am looking forward to reading the last in this trilogy, for it will hopefully be better.
March 7, 2018
3.5
A good plot and written well, so why just the 3.5 stars? Well I was not too enamoured of the male lead. I quite like characters who appear austere and cynical but Adam takes this to the optimum degree. For most of the story his brains were in his breeches and after a late evening of passion he could not look at Elena the next morning. This did not warm me to him. When Elena's true identity is revealed, he jumps to all the wrong conclusions without giving her the opportunity to explain. It is Adam's grandmother who saves the day. I did not find Adam all that likable although he comes good in the end.
I did like Elena's character, a well brought up young lady not afraid to speak her mind and in trouble through no fault of her own. The grandmother is also a likeable secondary character.
I found the end a little disappointing.. I know the villain was tricked to a degree, but what villain is going to publicly admit to rape and volunteer his motives so readily. Although the final setting was okay it was not played out with enough subtlety to be credible.
And where are the editors. Page 70 Elena ate her food more slowly, then page 71, a few minutes later, she place her spoon down...... her food untouched. Oops I do notice things like that. This is the kind of thing I only expect in an indie book.
A good plot and written well, so why just the 3.5 stars? Well I was not too enamoured of the male lead. I quite like characters who appear austere and cynical but Adam takes this to the optimum degree. For most of the story his brains were in his breeches and after a late evening of passion he could not look at Elena the next morning. This did not warm me to him. When Elena's true identity is revealed, he jumps to all the wrong conclusions without giving her the opportunity to explain. It is Adam's grandmother who saves the day. I did not find Adam all that likable although he comes good in the end.
I did like Elena's character, a well brought up young lady not afraid to speak her mind and in trouble through no fault of her own. The grandmother is also a likeable secondary character.
I found the end a little disappointing.. I know the villain was tricked to a degree, but what villain is going to publicly admit to rape and volunteer his motives so readily. Although the final setting was okay it was not played out with enough subtlety to be credible.
And where are the editors. Page 70 Elena ate her food more slowly, then page 71, a few minutes later, she place her spoon down...... her food untouched. Oops I do notice things like that. This is the kind of thing I only expect in an indie book.
February 10, 2023
Virtual recluse, Lord Adam Hawthorne doesn't care for society and is not on the hunt for a second wife to be a mother to his 6 year old daughter. His grandmother, however, has other thoughts and is determined to see him married again and happily this time. But Adam refuses to attend soirees and balls, so her task seems impossible. Until she meets her Great-grandaughter's new governess!
Elena seems very young to be a widow and keeps very much to the nursery and school room. Adam finds himself attracted to her but is suspicious of the air of mystery surrounding her. Scandalous gossip surrounding a missing grand daughter to a Duke, keeps the ton busy but Adam and Elena are isolated from it all on his country estate. Until one fateful day when society catches up with them.
I enjoyed the story and the developing relationship and passion between Elena and Adam is great. The three "grandmothers" provide interesting background characters to the unfolding action.
The only criticism I have is that the sentences are incredibly long - in some cases they make up full paragraphs without a stop. I kept having to go back to previous passages to find out what the question/comment was that the characters eventually respond to 3 paragraphs on! It might just be the way I read, but it made for a very stilted reading experience. Still, I am looking forward to reading book 2.
Elena seems very young to be a widow and keeps very much to the nursery and school room. Adam finds himself attracted to her but is suspicious of the air of mystery surrounding her. Scandalous gossip surrounding a missing grand daughter to a Duke, keeps the ton busy but Adam and Elena are isolated from it all on his country estate. Until one fateful day when society catches up with them.
I enjoyed the story and the developing relationship and passion between Elena and Adam is great. The three "grandmothers" provide interesting background characters to the unfolding action.
The only criticism I have is that the sentences are incredibly long - in some cases they make up full paragraphs without a stop. I kept having to go back to previous passages to find out what the question/comment was that the characters eventually respond to 3 paragraphs on! It might just be the way I read, but it made for a very stilted reading experience. Still, I am looking forward to reading book 2.
April 21, 2020
It had the elements to be an affecting love story – the aloof hero made cynical by an adulterous love in the past, the distressed heroine hiding from a villain who would soften his heart, but Miss Mortimer’s writing prevents it from being successfully so. Her writing and her words are too informative and cold at times rather than descriptive and emotional. As a result you are never really given the chance to sink your teeth into Adam and his relationship with Elena. The bond or love they share is not really shown enough for my taste. And I find myself asking, if he hadn’t found out that she was a duke’s granddaughter, would he still have married her or stood by his offer to make her his mistress? The character is not really tested by the choice because right after the mistress offer, the truth is found out. Though he did prove her innocence in the crime accused her by the villain (though the “proof” is weak and wouldn’t really stand in court in my opinion) and there was that part in the end where he knelt in front of the ton to ask Elena to marry him when he has stayed away from the ton’s eye for all those years and he had vowed never to remarry. But still…average book.
February 8, 2020
This one is a little sad when you discover her reason for pretending to be a governess but otherwise well written.
April 20, 2025
malísimo. lo peor el personaje masculino, un imbécil de primera
no se ni cómo lo termine
no se ni cómo lo termine
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September 11, 2025Jill: Tell Not Show; Autorin wird bei Sophia James dissolut duke beworben;
May 3, 2018
Good story, good characters, interesting romance
May 29, 2013
A stolen identity, a cruel villain, and a sweet and sensuous romance. That's what you get in Not Just a Governess. This book was absolutely wonderful! I just loved it!
Elena is not who she says she is. Hiding as a governess, Elena was running away from a terrible event. I really liked her character. She was very strong dealing with the events in her past and fighting back when she needed to. She wasn't going to let anyone steamroll over her, not her formidable employer, nor her odious cousin. I though she was an awesome heroine. No complaints there.
Adam was just as great. He is somewhat of a recluse from society and harbors a mistrust of women since having to deal with is adulterous wife. He comes off as quite a formidable, unforgiving man. But, beneath all that, he was so sweet. He might not have known how to deal with a little girl, but he was still a sweet father to Amanda and a sweet lover to Elena. And I loved how adamant he was about protecting his loved ones. Towards the end, I wanted to shake him for being so stubborn about admitting his love for Elena. He wallowed in denial for a while before finally admitting his feelings. But, otherwise, I absolutely adored him.
The romance was more sensuous than hot in this book. There was constant attraction between Elena and Adam. Even though there was only one intimate scene, the sexual tension was constant and, as I said, very sensuous. There was also plenty of sweetness between these two, plenty of moments between them that had me smiling. Overall, I lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. The climax was a little anticlimactic. After all the buildup, I was expecting more. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the story. And the ending was so lovely.
Not Just a Governess was a fantastic historical romance. Lovers of the genre, you really should read this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for a copy!
Elena is not who she says she is. Hiding as a governess, Elena was running away from a terrible event. I really liked her character. She was very strong dealing with the events in her past and fighting back when she needed to. She wasn't going to let anyone steamroll over her, not her formidable employer, nor her odious cousin. I though she was an awesome heroine. No complaints there.
Adam was just as great. He is somewhat of a recluse from society and harbors a mistrust of women since having to deal with is adulterous wife. He comes off as quite a formidable, unforgiving man. But, beneath all that, he was so sweet. He might not have known how to deal with a little girl, but he was still a sweet father to Amanda and a sweet lover to Elena. And I loved how adamant he was about protecting his loved ones. Towards the end, I wanted to shake him for being so stubborn about admitting his love for Elena. He wallowed in denial for a while before finally admitting his feelings. But, otherwise, I absolutely adored him.
The romance was more sensuous than hot in this book. There was constant attraction between Elena and Adam. Even though there was only one intimate scene, the sexual tension was constant and, as I said, very sensuous. There was also plenty of sweetness between these two, plenty of moments between them that had me smiling. Overall, I lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. I was hooked the entire way through. The climax was a little anticlimactic. After all the buildup, I was expecting more. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the story. And the ending was so lovely.
Not Just a Governess was a fantastic historical romance. Lovers of the genre, you really should read this book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for a copy!
July 3, 2013
Not Just a Governess – A believable story, a too-good-to be true hero in spite of his supposedly earned play on his name – Thorne, and a sweet romance aided by a well-meaning trio of grandmoms.
Elena (changed from Magdalena to hide her identity) disguises herself in widow’s weeds with false though not invented-out-of-thin-air references to land herself a job as a governess to adorable six-year old Amanda. She is now safe but not truly – she has to contend with Amanda’s prickly, cold father – Adam Hawthorne (better known as Thorne for his charming personality). As she slowly discovers the man behind the prickly exterior and grows to love him, he realizes there is more to Elena than meets the eye – she has secrets she is not revealing. Adam finds himself laughing more often than he ever did before in Elena’s company and is falling in love too but her secrets make him pause. Enter grandma to the rescue, Adam’s grandmamma Lady Cecilia has been on a mission to get him remarried and happy for what seems like a long time. She also suspects that Elena is hiding something. Will Adam be able to discover Elena’s secret with Cecila’s help and discover true love in the process?
All the supporting characters were wonderfully included in the story and I am eager to read Ellie and Justin St.Just’s story as soon as I can.. (please please please the ARC for me)
Read it in one sitting - Rating A
Disclaimer:Thanks to NetGalley for the DRC of this book. This is my honest review of the book.
Elena (changed from Magdalena to hide her identity) disguises herself in widow’s weeds with false though not invented-out-of-thin-air references to land herself a job as a governess to adorable six-year old Amanda. She is now safe but not truly – she has to contend with Amanda’s prickly, cold father – Adam Hawthorne (better known as Thorne for his charming personality). As she slowly discovers the man behind the prickly exterior and grows to love him, he realizes there is more to Elena than meets the eye – she has secrets she is not revealing. Adam finds himself laughing more often than he ever did before in Elena’s company and is falling in love too but her secrets make him pause. Enter grandma to the rescue, Adam’s grandmamma Lady Cecilia has been on a mission to get him remarried and happy for what seems like a long time. She also suspects that Elena is hiding something. Will Adam be able to discover Elena’s secret with Cecila’s help and discover true love in the process?
All the supporting characters were wonderfully included in the story and I am eager to read Ellie and Justin St.Just’s story as soon as I can.. (please please please the ARC for me)
Read it in one sitting - Rating A
Disclaimer:Thanks to NetGalley for the DRC of this book. This is my honest review of the book.
July 1, 2016
This novel has a lot to be interested about and also a lot of things to be disappointed about. There are a few things I absolutely enjoyed. The backstory was solid and interesting and the characters made me want to read more. Especially Elena. But there were a few things that I began to find frustrating.
The majority has to do with Adam, Lord Hawthorne. I found him sadly boring and predictable. If I were Elena I would have thrown him over as soon as she found her freedom. She seems to be a lot more forgiving than I am. Adam speaks of loyalty at a certain point, in relation to his first wife, but then jumps to conclusions as soon as Elena reveals herself- Just as a side note... I thought it a little weird that she was completely okay with him remaining to call her by her assumed name, rather than her actual one. Also, the plan he concocted is if anything very unfair towards her. Not only does he make her stand in the same room as her accuser and abuser, but he doesn't tell her before hand that he is doing so. It is stated that he does this in order to make sure that she does not the Duke a sign before the 'theatrics' played out. This not only shows that he still doesn't believe or trust her. Also it's incredibly rude and unacceptable, even if he's doing it for her. In this novel I fear it's a case of the fact that nothing is entirely altruistic, which really saddens me.
I'm a great fan of Carole Mortimer's novels. But this one just didn't do it for me. Let's hope the next one once again blows me away.
The majority has to do with Adam, Lord Hawthorne. I found him sadly boring and predictable. If I were Elena I would have thrown him over as soon as she found her freedom. She seems to be a lot more forgiving than I am. Adam speaks of loyalty at a certain point, in relation to his first wife, but then jumps to conclusions as soon as Elena reveals herself- Just as a side note... I thought it a little weird that she was completely okay with him remaining to call her by her assumed name, rather than her actual one. Also, the plan he concocted is if anything very unfair towards her. Not only does he make her stand in the same room as her accuser and abuser, but he doesn't tell her before hand that he is doing so. It is stated that he does this in order to make sure that she does not the Duke a sign before the 'theatrics' played out. This not only shows that he still doesn't believe or trust her. Also it's incredibly rude and unacceptable, even if he's doing it for her. In this novel I fear it's a case of the fact that nothing is entirely altruistic, which really saddens me.
I'm a great fan of Carole Mortimer's novels. But this one just didn't do it for me. Let's hope the next one once again blows me away.
February 11, 2017
I like this author's Mills and Boon Sexy contemporary books so was thrilled to find out she writes historical romance too. But I must say I did not enjoy this book very much.
Maybe it's because this is a shorter book but the way the hero Lord Adam Hawthorne has random and sudden lusty thoughts for our heroine (his daughter's new governess) was very jarring.
Likewise when our virginal heroine Elena/Magdalena suddenly thought about her employer's kissing her down there... I mean where on earth would she have heard of such things? Instincts ? Really? !
I hated how Adam had leaped to conclusions and his knee jerk reaction when he found out Elena's real identity was nasty and cruel. Though he came back to his senses remembering the good qualities of Elena fast, his subsequent unnecessary acting cruel to be kind just makes me roll my eyes. It was so unnecessary, poor Elena.
Another thing that bugs me was how Elena was constantly jumping to conclusions or making assumptions when speaking to Adam in the beginning. Surely a disaster for any relationships?
The ending and resolution of Elena's crisis was laughably simplistic but hey it works to give our couple a HEA!
And the final and biggest issue to bug me with this book: we never know what title Lord Adam Hawthorne holds! It's not a courtesy title for sure, and everyone calls him 'my lord' so he could be a marquess / earl / viscount / baron! I reread the first few chapters and even after finishing the story there's no answer.
Maybe it's because this is a shorter book but the way the hero Lord Adam Hawthorne has random and sudden lusty thoughts for our heroine (his daughter's new governess) was very jarring.
Likewise when our virginal heroine Elena/Magdalena suddenly thought about her employer's kissing her down there... I mean where on earth would she have heard of such things? Instincts ? Really? !
I hated how Adam had leaped to conclusions and his knee jerk reaction when he found out Elena's real identity was nasty and cruel. Though he came back to his senses remembering the good qualities of Elena fast, his subsequent unnecessary acting cruel to be kind just makes me roll my eyes. It was so unnecessary, poor Elena.
Another thing that bugs me was how Elena was constantly jumping to conclusions or making assumptions when speaking to Adam in the beginning. Surely a disaster for any relationships?
The ending and resolution of Elena's crisis was laughably simplistic but hey it works to give our couple a HEA!
And the final and biggest issue to bug me with this book: we never know what title Lord Adam Hawthorne holds! It's not a courtesy title for sure, and everyone calls him 'my lord' so he could be a marquess / earl / viscount / baron! I reread the first few chapters and even after finishing the story there's no answer.
November 15, 2013
Sigh. Just...sigh.
Okay, so, as always we've got a book with some pretty decent writing in it, because this is Carole Mortimer. She is, in fact, a good writer. I don't know why her endings are always so disappointing. I mean, that's not my only issue with the story, but it's a big one. Most of the story was quite good, but I excepted more from the denouement.
And the passion was...difficult.
The only thing that saved this from being a one star (if any) book was Mortimer's writing and characterization. I will continue to read her books because every so often I come across a gem, and she really is quite good.
Okay, so, as always we've got a book with some pretty decent writing in it, because this is Carole Mortimer. She is, in fact, a good writer. I don't know why her endings are always so disappointing. I mean, that's not my only issue with the story, but it's a big one. Most of the story was quite good, but I excepted more from the denouement.
And the passion was...difficult.
The only thing that saved this from being a one star (if any) book was Mortimer's writing and characterization. I will continue to read her books because every so often I come across a gem, and she really is quite good.
January 20, 2014
I am a big fan of Carole Mortimer’s Harlequin Historicals, and Not Just a Governess is another tick on the list for me.
It had a nice dose of action and adventure, with excellent dialogue and colourful characters. There is something about the whole boss/employee romance that I sometimes don’t quite enjoy – but with this one, it worked well. I think it was probably the ever-present mystery as to Elena’s real identity that helped.
The attraction between Elena and Adam was believable and well-written. While there was more to-ing and fro-ing than actual action, it was nonetheless a very passionate romance that developed. I liked that Adam was willing to put aside his fears and dislikes to come to Elena’s aid. There could have been a little more punch to the ending, but that’s a fairly minor quibble.
I will be adding the others in this particular series to my ever-increasing TBR pile, that’s for sure.
3.5 / 5
You can read my other reviews at My Written Romance.
It had a nice dose of action and adventure, with excellent dialogue and colourful characters. There is something about the whole boss/employee romance that I sometimes don’t quite enjoy – but with this one, it worked well. I think it was probably the ever-present mystery as to Elena’s real identity that helped.
The attraction between Elena and Adam was believable and well-written. While there was more to-ing and fro-ing than actual action, it was nonetheless a very passionate romance that developed. I liked that Adam was willing to put aside his fears and dislikes to come to Elena’s aid. There could have been a little more punch to the ending, but that’s a fairly minor quibble.
I will be adding the others in this particular series to my ever-increasing TBR pile, that’s for sure.
3.5 / 5
You can read my other reviews at My Written Romance.
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December 29, 2014"This is book one in Mortimer's new series, A Season of Secrets. A jaded lord, a lady in disguise, a dastardly villian and a whole lot of secrets will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This Mortimer tale is a wild adventure with rich narrative, authentic dialogue and memorable characters." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
Miniseries: A Season of Secrets
Category: Historical Romance
Those who know me, know that historical is my favorite genre. I agree with the reviewer at RT but I would be closer to a 4 1/2. I really enjoyed the entire book although Adam stole the show. I do love a well-written hero. ~ Kim S., Harlequin Books ambassador
Miniseries: A Season of Secrets
Category: Historical Romance
Those who know me, know that historical is my favorite genre. I agree with the reviewer at RT but I would be closer to a 4 1/2. I really enjoyed the entire book although Adam stole the show. I do love a well-written hero. ~ Kim S., Harlequin Books ambassador
January 6, 2014
NOT JUST A GOVERNESS by Carole Mortimer is an exciting Historical Romance set in 1817 London. "A Season of Secrets". Meet Lord Adam Hawthorne and Mrs. Elena Leighton or is she? Governess or lady that is the question of the day. Lord Adam needs a governess for his young daughter. Enter....the enigmatic widow governess, Mrs. Leighton. Filled with mystery, secrets, passion and romance. Oh and who can resist a small child who is bright as sunshine. Fast paced and filled with emotion and passion. A great read. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net galley.
Rating: 4
Heat rating: mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
Rating: 4
Heat rating: mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
July 10, 2013
Many thanks to Net Galley for allowing me access to this title
What can I say...
...it's a romance, of the bodice ripper historical variety. Fun for a light read.
Characters were interesting. Plot was predictable.
Lots of intimate scenes, so beware!
What can I say...
...it's a romance, of the bodice ripper historical variety. Fun for a light read.
Characters were interesting. Plot was predictable.
Lots of intimate scenes, so beware!
Read
July 2, 2013Miniseries: A Season of Secrets
Category: Historical Romance
Category: Historical Romance
May 29, 2014
Easy Reading
October 29, 2023
Did not finish on the re-read, stopped at p. 115. Boring, cliché, and by the numbers.
Originally 2 stars.
Originally 2 stars.
February 4, 2016
1.25 stars
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