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An Improper Companion
Charming, romantic, and painted with gorgeous Regency detail, Karla Hocker’s romances will delight readers from the very first page.
Despite her fetching blue eyes and sable hair, Kate Elliott remained every bit the prim and practical schoolmistress. Few at Miss Venable's Seminary for Young Ladies would have dreamed that Kate had entertained romantic notions in her girlhood! At twenty-eight, she remained firmly on the shelf and—with the closing of the school—firmly unemployed. Hence, she welcomed the invitation to be Liza Ashcroft's chaperone for the Season at Bath. But how would she endure the girl's father? Patience was not in her nature...
Damien Ashcroft was certain that Miss Elliott would be the ideal companion for his daughter. A wallflower of quiet virtues, she would neither distract the handsome widower from scholarly pursuits nor be bothered by his impatient nature. So he was stunned to discover that the impudent Miss Elliott was outspoken to a fare-thee-well. And shocked when sassy Kate made his pulse race—and even more so when he began to not mind quite so much…
Despite her fetching blue eyes and sable hair, Kate Elliott remained every bit the prim and practical schoolmistress. Few at Miss Venable's Seminary for Young Ladies would have dreamed that Kate had entertained romantic notions in her girlhood! At twenty-eight, she remained firmly on the shelf and—with the closing of the school—firmly unemployed. Hence, she welcomed the invitation to be Liza Ashcroft's chaperone for the Season at Bath. But how would she endure the girl's father? Patience was not in her nature...
Damien Ashcroft was certain that Miss Elliott would be the ideal companion for his daughter. A wallflower of quiet virtues, she would neither distract the handsome widower from scholarly pursuits nor be bothered by his impatient nature. So he was stunned to discover that the impudent Miss Elliott was outspoken to a fare-thee-well. And shocked when sassy Kate made his pulse race—and even more so when he began to not mind quite so much…
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1989
24 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Karla Hocker
32 books7 followersKarla Hocker, a native of Germany, was the author of fourteen Regency novels and various novellas. She attributed her love of the English language and her fascination with the Regency period to a three-year stay in England. Karla lived with her family - and far too many cats - in San Antonio, Texas. She passed away after a battle with cancer on May 28, 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 8, 2016
Gosh this was fun, and so refreshing to have an older H/h. Lots of ups and downs and surprise twists as our pair bickers their way to a HEA. Clean too, only a couple of steamy kisses.
March 4, 2018
3 1/2 stars for my taste
What a surprise revelation almost toward the end and sadly that was my best part. It was a good story loved the heroine, embodies feminist principles, strong, smart, pride, independent, howeverr since I preferred the 2nd male character, Nicholas, to be her Hero instead of Demien, current H so that's mainly my killjoy on this book, hence my so-okay-rating.
What a surprise revelation almost toward the end and sadly that was my best part. It was a good story loved the heroine, embodies feminist principles, strong, smart, pride, independent, howeverr since I preferred the 2nd male character, Nicholas, to be her Hero instead of Demien, current H so that's mainly my killjoy on this book, hence my so-okay-rating.
October 30, 2016
3.8* This is the first book I have read by this author and I'm delighted I did. The backgound detail and the characters are authentic and we'll developed through the story. An engaging and enjoyable reading experience.
August 23, 2020
DNF at 32%, couldn't go on. The H is supposed to be a misogynist, but to me he was rude to the h, very uncaring to his OTT teenage daughter. The h is brisk, arrogant and bitter, so an unpleasant person. The 17 year old daughter was ridiculous, acted as if she was 7. I couldn't go on.
February 24, 2026
An Improper Companion
This is the second book I have read by this author and I enjoyed both very much.
This book has lots of laughs and intrigue and romance with a strong heroine and a hansom hero.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I enjoyed both very much.
This book has lots of laughs and intrigue and romance with a strong heroine and a hansom hero.
October 27, 2016
Two Stubborn People + Secrets + Danger = Wonderful Regency Romance
This is a first rate Regency Romance. Kate is a spinster school teacher. The school is closing soon and she is offered a position as a companion to one of her students, Lisa. Lisa's father, Damien os attracted to Kate but he and Kate butt heads almost immediately.
There are secrets on both sides of their relationship along with lots of pride, old hurts and stubbornness as well. Their path to understanding and love does not go easily...but it is a spirited path.
So take two stubborn people, more than one squabble, secrets, an old enemy, a host of vivid characters, a rescue...and more! and you have a wonderful, well pace story.
This is a first rate Regency Romance. Kate is a spinster school teacher. The school is closing soon and she is offered a position as a companion to one of her students, Lisa. Lisa's father, Damien os attracted to Kate but he and Kate butt heads almost immediately.
There are secrets on both sides of their relationship along with lots of pride, old hurts and stubbornness as well. Their path to understanding and love does not go easily...but it is a spirited path.
So take two stubborn people, more than one squabble, secrets, an old enemy, a host of vivid characters, a rescue...and more! and you have a wonderful, well pace story.
May 20, 2015
It's just okay. **Spoilers**
All the standard Regency romance elements are present and accounted for but for some reason this book just didn't 'grab' me. That said, there were a couple of things that keep 'An
Improper Companion' from being just another formulaic romance novel. The heroine is VERY outspoken and one of the main characters is divorced which was a difficult feat for this period in history.
Bottom line: I found the pacing a bit slow and I could never really connect with either of the main protagonists. It's not a terrible book but then neither is it a great book.
All the standard Regency romance elements are present and accounted for but for some reason this book just didn't 'grab' me. That said, there were a couple of things that keep 'An
Improper Companion' from being just another formulaic romance novel. The heroine is VERY outspoken and one of the main characters is divorced which was a difficult feat for this period in history.
Bottom line: I found the pacing a bit slow and I could never really connect with either of the main protagonists. It's not a terrible book but then neither is it a great book.
November 12, 2016
A romantic tale that takes place in England in the 1800's.
A young schoolteacher is hired to be the companion of one of her students. She discovers that there are many dark secrets kept from the girl by her father.
A love story (in fact , more than one!) It was a simple tale but at times too wordy and the ending was a bit obvious.
A young schoolteacher is hired to be the companion of one of her students. She discovers that there are many dark secrets kept from the girl by her father.
A love story (in fact , more than one!) It was a simple tale but at times too wordy and the ending was a bit obvious.
March 24, 2015
Ok - I'm a sucker for the Governess trope.
Liked the feisty but prim heroine.
Enjoyed the fact that hero was older with a grown daughter.
I think this book was free when I downloaded it or possibly on Kindle Unlimited
Overall enjoyable read 3.5 stars
Liked the feisty but prim heroine.
Enjoyed the fact that hero was older with a grown daughter.
I think this book was free when I downloaded it or possibly on Kindle Unlimited
Overall enjoyable read 3.5 stars
October 29, 2016
This was an OK book for me. There were some twists that worked & some that didn't. I really would have liked a little more at the end, maybe a little more grovelling. That said, I liked the interaction between the H and the h at times.
December 31, 2016
I received a free copy via eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
Fun book to read, a few twists along the line, a great ending.
This is a clean historical romance and well worth reading.
First book with this author, won't be the last.
Fun book to read, a few twists along the line, a great ending.
This is a clean historical romance and well worth reading.
First book with this author, won't be the last.
September 11, 2015
I have a hard time seeing mutual attraction in a sparing relationship.
November 11, 2016
Silly. Nothing remotely clever or new. Language cloddish, plot plodding. Skimmed most of it. It was free, no regrets.
February 28, 2022
Brilliant
This is very exciting story with unusual and complex characters, it has intrigue and romances aplenty. Well written and importantly clean.
This is very exciting story with unusual and complex characters, it has intrigue and romances aplenty. Well written and importantly clean.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews