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Regency Diaries #4
The Observations of a Curious Governess
The fourth instalment in the sexiest set of diaries you have ever read...
When Miss Martha Swan enters the fine home of Lord and Lady Stanton to become a governess, she is full of lofty ideals. Yet something is amiss in the hallowed halls of whispers, laughter, and something darker and more wicked echoes from behind closed doors, and Martha is determined to find out what.
She soon discovers that all is not as it seems in this stately home. The lord and lady have secrets – lustful, carnal, shameful secrets that could spell ruination for all. Martha wants to be appalled, but she finds herself intrigued, and when her long–time friend Mr Jonathan Reeves comes to visit, Martha conceives a daring plan to assuage her curiosity.
Thing are not so simple however, as neither Martha nor Jonathan have the money to marry. Nothing can come from this relationship – nothing but the experience of ecstasy. In such a situation, what is a curious governess to do?
When Miss Martha Swan enters the fine home of Lord and Lady Stanton to become a governess, she is full of lofty ideals. Yet something is amiss in the hallowed halls of whispers, laughter, and something darker and more wicked echoes from behind closed doors, and Martha is determined to find out what.
She soon discovers that all is not as it seems in this stately home. The lord and lady have secrets – lustful, carnal, shameful secrets that could spell ruination for all. Martha wants to be appalled, but she finds herself intrigued, and when her long–time friend Mr Jonathan Reeves comes to visit, Martha conceives a daring plan to assuage her curiosity.
Thing are not so simple however, as neither Martha nor Jonathan have the money to marry. Nothing can come from this relationship – nothing but the experience of ecstasy. In such a situation, what is a curious governess to do?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Viveka Portman
12 books17 followersViveka Portman is an author of romantic erotic fiction, and has a fascination about times past. With a bachelor degree in anthropology, Viveka weaves historical fact into fiction to create lively, realistic and thrilling tales, sure to titillate and engage the most discerning reader. Considered an upstanding member of society, Viveka does not make a habit of eavesdropping, gossiping or making vulgar displays of impropriety — except, that is, in writing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 12, 2015
Curiosity can be a dangerous trait to have, and Martha's curiosity leads her to an awakening in sexual matters. It's been a while since I read the second one (Cecelia Stanton's story) but I think these two take place at basically the same time. I liked seeing another view of the scandolous goings-ons of Lord and Lady Stanton. It was also a delight to see how matters worked out for Miss Martha Swan and Mr Jonathan Reeves. And based on certain events in the course of this novella, I believe we might get to see Mrs. Maria Reeves story at some point in future. This is a wickedly delightful series and I hope to read many more stories by Viveka Portman.
January 27, 2015
An enjoyable novella that definitely turned up the heat, The Observations of a Curious Governess was a sweet and steamy read and I liked it
Both Martha and Johnathon were great. Martha was quiet, sensible, with enough curiosity to make her interesting. I was rather fond of Johnathon and how determined he was to find a way for him and Martha to be able to marry. I liked them both.
The romance was sweet with a ton of steam. Martha and Johnathon definitely loved each other and the only thing keeping them apart was their financial situation, which Johnathon was determined to find a way around. And the chemistry between them, along with Martha's curiosity after seeing the goings on at Stanton House, definitely turned the heat up.
The story moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. I enjoyed the story and the ending was perfect.
The Observations of a Curious Governess was a super hot, but also sweet historical romance and I really liked it. Romance lovers, if you want a quick, steamy read, then this is worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Both Martha and Johnathon were great. Martha was quiet, sensible, with enough curiosity to make her interesting. I was rather fond of Johnathon and how determined he was to find a way for him and Martha to be able to marry. I liked them both.
The romance was sweet with a ton of steam. Martha and Johnathon definitely loved each other and the only thing keeping them apart was their financial situation, which Johnathon was determined to find a way around. And the chemistry between them, along with Martha's curiosity after seeing the goings on at Stanton House, definitely turned the heat up.
The story moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. I enjoyed the story and the ending was perfect.
The Observations of a Curious Governess was a super hot, but also sweet historical romance and I really liked it. Romance lovers, if you want a quick, steamy read, then this is worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 20, 2019
The Observations of a Curious Governess is the fourth erotic novella in the Regency Diaries series. The series is a selection of five diary-styled novellas revealing the secret thoughts and desires of Ladies during the Regency era. This fourth story is a sexual awakening historical romance. It’s set in 1813 in the same Stanton household of the second novella in this series, and with one mention of a scene from the first novella in this series (when an illicit encounter on the second floor between Master Stanton and nursemaid is known).
Look, this series tackles the sexual frustrations, yearnings, and discoveries of women in an era that is vastly different to how we live. The historical attitudes, dialogue, and expectations of the Regency era were conservative, proper, austere, parochial, and based on social class. This series reflects that well. It’s written from each Heroine’s POV and presented as entries of a diary, a very unique way of story-telling.
The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley: 4- stars
The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton: 2 stars
The Private Affairs of Lady Jane Fielding: 4 stars
The Observations of a Curious Governess: 4- stars
Miss Martha Swan is the newly appointed Governess in the Stanton household. Martha is full of lofty ideals and strives to impress in her new position yet something seems amiss in the hallowed halls of Stanton: whispers, giggles, moans, and thumping. Ahem. Martha is determined to find out what is going on. Her curiosity is to be commended. Martha is a likeable Heroine who manages the unconventional situations that are thrown her way. She is an observer of some crazy sexcapades until eventually she plots her own with Mr Reeves.
Mr Jonathan Reeves is Lord Stanton’s solicitor and a long-lost acquaintance of Martha. He has been visiting the Stanton household to work in lieu of his ageing father, and becomes reacquainted with Martha. Jonathan is an upstanding Hero that seemed a bit wish-washy but he proved to be solid in the end.
There were many missing words and grammatical errors in this book. More so than the previous books.
I recommend this novella.
Look, this series tackles the sexual frustrations, yearnings, and discoveries of women in an era that is vastly different to how we live. The historical attitudes, dialogue, and expectations of the Regency era were conservative, proper, austere, parochial, and based on social class. This series reflects that well. It’s written from each Heroine’s POV and presented as entries of a diary, a very unique way of story-telling.
The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley: 4- stars
The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton: 2 stars
The Private Affairs of Lady Jane Fielding: 4 stars
The Observations of a Curious Governess: 4- stars
Miss Martha Swan is the newly appointed Governess in the Stanton household. Martha is full of lofty ideals and strives to impress in her new position yet something seems amiss in the hallowed halls of Stanton: whispers, giggles, moans, and thumping. Ahem. Martha is determined to find out what is going on. Her curiosity is to be commended. Martha is a likeable Heroine who manages the unconventional situations that are thrown her way. She is an observer of some crazy sexcapades until eventually she plots her own with Mr Reeves.
Mr Jonathan Reeves is Lord Stanton’s solicitor and a long-lost acquaintance of Martha. He has been visiting the Stanton household to work in lieu of his ageing father, and becomes reacquainted with Martha. Jonathan is an upstanding Hero that seemed a bit wish-washy but he proved to be solid in the end.
There were many missing words and grammatical errors in this book. More so than the previous books.
I recommend this novella.
March 13, 2023
too hetero….
I liked the story I read about Cecelia Stanton and Bess Miller. I was hoping for more of the same. However, this one was too hetero based for my tastes.
I liked the story I read about Cecelia Stanton and Bess Miller. I was hoping for more of the same. However, this one was too hetero based for my tastes.
March 21, 2015
The Observations of a Curious Governess by Viveka Portman
Book #4: The Regency Diaries
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 2/5 stars
My Review:
Anytime one involves oneself with a long-term series, there are bound to be low points, the installments that just don’t quite live up to the standards of the rest of the series. It pains me to say The Observations of a Curious Governess would be that read in the on-going Regency Diaries series.
Due to circumstances well beyond her control, Martha Swan knows she will never be allowed to marry the man she truly loves. In Martha’s time and place a love match is far less important than a financially good match and so, with a heavy heart she accepts her fate and applies for a position in the home of Lord and Lady Stanton. Intent on being the best governess she possibly can be, Martha enters the Stanton household with every intention of carrying herself well and performing to the best of her abilities. It doesn’t take long for Martha to figure out that not all is as it appears to be within the Stanton household and though Martha is shocked by the things she encounters, she enjoys her job and doesn’t want to jeopardize her position. Secrets such as the ones being kept in the Stanton household aren’t easy to keep and though Martha would never tell what she knows, she does find herself becoming increasingly more interested in the sexual escapes that occur on a regular basis.
When Martha encounters her love, Jonathan Reeves she taken aback and completely unsure of what to do. Away from home and dealing with the foreign feelings of sexual curiosity, Martha hatches a plan to seduce Jonathan and explore her new-found feelings. In a household such as the Stanton’s, a liaison between the two should be completely acceptable but there are others in the community who aren’t quite as accepting and just when Martha and Jonathan think they have a plan for their future, everything comes crashing down around them.
The Bottom Line: The Observations of a Curious Governess thoroughly disappointed me and certainly doesn’t live up to the standards of the previous series installments. Both Martha and Jonathan are fairly flat characters, the plot is by far the weakest to date and, the sex is not near the level of steamy that I have come to expect from Portman. Given how much I have enjoyed the previous installments of the Regency Diaries series, I am going to a chalk this one up to bad day and hope the next installment is as good as I expect Portman’s books to be.
Book #4: The Regency Diaries
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 2/5 stars
My Review:
Anytime one involves oneself with a long-term series, there are bound to be low points, the installments that just don’t quite live up to the standards of the rest of the series. It pains me to say The Observations of a Curious Governess would be that read in the on-going Regency Diaries series.
Due to circumstances well beyond her control, Martha Swan knows she will never be allowed to marry the man she truly loves. In Martha’s time and place a love match is far less important than a financially good match and so, with a heavy heart she accepts her fate and applies for a position in the home of Lord and Lady Stanton. Intent on being the best governess she possibly can be, Martha enters the Stanton household with every intention of carrying herself well and performing to the best of her abilities. It doesn’t take long for Martha to figure out that not all is as it appears to be within the Stanton household and though Martha is shocked by the things she encounters, she enjoys her job and doesn’t want to jeopardize her position. Secrets such as the ones being kept in the Stanton household aren’t easy to keep and though Martha would never tell what she knows, she does find herself becoming increasingly more interested in the sexual escapes that occur on a regular basis.
When Martha encounters her love, Jonathan Reeves she taken aback and completely unsure of what to do. Away from home and dealing with the foreign feelings of sexual curiosity, Martha hatches a plan to seduce Jonathan and explore her new-found feelings. In a household such as the Stanton’s, a liaison between the two should be completely acceptable but there are others in the community who aren’t quite as accepting and just when Martha and Jonathan think they have a plan for their future, everything comes crashing down around them.
The Bottom Line: The Observations of a Curious Governess thoroughly disappointed me and certainly doesn’t live up to the standards of the previous series installments. Both Martha and Jonathan are fairly flat characters, the plot is by far the weakest to date and, the sex is not near the level of steamy that I have come to expect from Portman. Given how much I have enjoyed the previous installments of the Regency Diaries series, I am going to a chalk this one up to bad day and hope the next installment is as good as I expect Portman’s books to be.
January 2, 2017
The Observations Of A Curious Governess, is the second novella in The Regency Diaries series. They are standalones, with interconnecting characters and its basically erotic historical fiction, with some romance but its mostly centered around the main characters sexual escapades. In this book however, the main female character is more an observer in other peoples very daring sexual encounters. At the same time, it kind of empowers her to go after what she wants despite social conventions saying otherwise. There are more sex than romance but it is very well written and the characters are quite complex despite the shortness of the book. The story is quite engaging and of course steamy and there is a very satisfying ending.
Want to read
January 16, 2015Review Pending.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher thru NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher thru NetGalley for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews