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Havenfield
The Truth about Miss Ashbourne
Governess Juliana Ashbourne has dreams reaching far beyond the confines of her current position, hoping to someday establish her own school for girls. When she inherits a fortune from her late grandfather, she is shocked to learn that "someday" may soon be within reach. However, there is one she must spend a month at the estate of Havenfield--with the very family who disowned her mother. Intent on securing the money she needs to start her school, Juliana accepts the invitation, vowing to guard her heart against those who shunned her all her life. But Havenfield is far from what she expects. She discovers a grandmother seeking forgiveness, a cold and disapproving aunt, and a painfully shy cousin. And then there is Mr. William Rowley. Though the heir to the estate is a merciless tease, Juliana finds in him a friend and confidant--and perhaps something more. As she struggles to make sense of her new place in the world, her stubborn independence clashes with a yearning to belong and the even more confusing desires of her heart.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
94 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Barker
14 books1,294 followersJoanna Barker firmly believes that romance makes everything better, which is why she has fallen in love with writing Regency romances. When she’s not typing away on her next book, you’ll find her listening to podcasts, eating her secret stash of chocolate, or adding things to her Amazon cart. Joanna thinks being an author is the second-best job in the world—right after being a mom. She is just a little crazy about her husband and three wild-but-lovable kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
November 23, 2018
This story could have used a good editor who might have started with telling her to chop the first 15% as completely irrelevant to the main story. That wouldn't have solved the problems with characterization or with the author using this as a feminist diatribe against period attitudes towards women, though. I frankly skimmed to see where it was the story actually started. The author had already lost me when she had the main character delivering a rant on women being equal to men using Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Women as her starting point. To children she teaches as their governess (the oldest being a 12 year-old girl). This behavior by a governess was as incongruous as the attempted seduction by the father was gratuitous.
Though to be fair, I was already on the ropes before then, too. I mean, Barker has the main character hesitate to accept a £10,000 inheritance because she can't "abandon her children". She's "saving money" to open her own education establishment. Like all governesses do, you know. Because they make so much that it'd only be a matter of . . . a century? Two? All those stories of governesses opening schools for children can't be wrong! The mother of the children openly despises her and their father openly desires her. Yes, by all means, forfeit a whopping inheritance for a position with no power and less influence so you can properly indoctrinate them in feminist principles. It's just so stupid that she has to be fired before accepting the whopping big windfall that would actually let her start her "dream" right the heck now.
So on the one hand, you have the author give the main character progressive views about female empowerment. And on the other, you have the author have the main character unwilling to actually act for her own interests until acted upon by others and forced into doing the only reasonable/responsible thing. Which leads me to suspect that the real "truth" about Miss Ashbourne is that she's a shallow author stand-in for feminist wish fulfillment in period dress.
A note about the publisher: This is another by Covenant Communications so I expected the eBook price to be ridiculous. And it was. Yesterday. But as of today, this is only $2 (Black Friday deal?). I think that's still wildly overpriced for a story this weak, but if you're tempted I wouldn't hesitate because I doubt that Covenant has caught the low-price religion and suspect that this is a temporary price drop.
Though to be fair, I was already on the ropes before then, too. I mean, Barker has the main character hesitate to accept a £10,000 inheritance because she can't "abandon her children". She's "saving money" to open her own education establishment. Like all governesses do, you know. Because they make so much that it'd only be a matter of . . . a century? Two? All those stories of governesses opening schools for children can't be wrong! The mother of the children openly despises her and their father openly desires her. Yes, by all means, forfeit a whopping inheritance for a position with no power and less influence so you can properly indoctrinate them in feminist principles. It's just so stupid that she has to be fired before accepting the whopping big windfall that would actually let her start her "dream" right the heck now.
So on the one hand, you have the author give the main character progressive views about female empowerment. And on the other, you have the author have the main character unwilling to actually act for her own interests until acted upon by others and forced into doing the only reasonable/responsible thing. Which leads me to suspect that the real "truth" about Miss Ashbourne is that she's a shallow author stand-in for feminist wish fulfillment in period dress.
A note about the publisher: This is another by Covenant Communications so I expected the eBook price to be ridiculous. And it was. Yesterday. But as of today, this is only $2 (Black Friday deal?). I think that's still wildly overpriced for a story this weak, but if you're tempted I wouldn't hesitate because I doubt that Covenant has caught the low-price religion and suspect that this is a temporary price drop.
March 26, 2019
Everything I love about Regency and romance came together beautifully in this debut novel. Juliana is strong but also vulnerable, and tries to protect herself from potential hurts by holding herself back. William is so fun and charming, I loved their banter and the friendship and romance that eventually develop. There are family dynamics that Juliana needs to learn to navigate, and she learns valuable lessons from them and her new circumstances. I loved the subtle humor that gave a lighter feel to the story and the relationships especially. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
November 13, 2018
How could anyone not fall in love with The Truth about Miss Ashbourne?! The debut author writes a beautifully enticing story of finding what it means to be part of a family, having a desire to do something good and become independent, and finding someone who makes you laugh and fall in love with. I know that was a very overly long sentence but I wanted to put it all out there first!
Miss Ashbourne has guarded her heart and lived only to be a governess with a desire to open a school for girls. A school to teach them all the things of the world that are only taught to boys. She is definitely a modern day woman born in the wrong era for her goals. She has always expected to be a spinster. She never thought she would have love or a husband. She does seem to attract the wrong kind of men though. To find out what I mean by that, you will have to read the book. She learns about her mother’s side of the family and where she thought she would not care for them, she finds their unconditional love and she returns it as well. I loved watching her grow.
What I most loved though, was watching the relationship with Julianna, Miss Ashbourne, and William grow. They have such an easy banter. I found myself smiling and giggling many times with their conversations! I was just a little frustrated that I couldn’t hear what was inside William’s head to know how he felt about her. It was about ⅔ the way in until I could see how he felt for her. It is in first person, so I understand we don’t get to know. But I really wanted to know where Julianna and William were headed. Because William was helping Julianna with her dream of starting her school for girls and well I didn’t want her to start it and leave William. I was totally swooning over him! He was her confidante, her saviour, her friend and teacher. He was a man worthy of Julianna and I would accept nothing less. So the long wait was killing me. I enjoyed every minute of it though.
Just to get a tiny glimpse of Julianna’s personality, Julianna has never ridden a horse and she was a little scared. William was giving her some riding lessons and this was her first encounter with a horse (whose name is Miranda)…
If you love independent women, stories about love, family, leering men, stories with lots of bantering/teasing, stories that make you smile and laugh,balls, sewing, horses then this might be for you! It definitely was for me!!
Miss Ashbourne has guarded her heart and lived only to be a governess with a desire to open a school for girls. A school to teach them all the things of the world that are only taught to boys. She is definitely a modern day woman born in the wrong era for her goals. She has always expected to be a spinster. She never thought she would have love or a husband. She does seem to attract the wrong kind of men though. To find out what I mean by that, you will have to read the book. She learns about her mother’s side of the family and where she thought she would not care for them, she finds their unconditional love and she returns it as well. I loved watching her grow.
What I most loved though, was watching the relationship with Julianna, Miss Ashbourne, and William grow. They have such an easy banter. I found myself smiling and giggling many times with their conversations! I was just a little frustrated that I couldn’t hear what was inside William’s head to know how he felt about her. It was about ⅔ the way in until I could see how he felt for her. It is in first person, so I understand we don’t get to know. But I really wanted to know where Julianna and William were headed. Because William was helping Julianna with her dream of starting her school for girls and well I didn’t want her to start it and leave William. I was totally swooning over him! He was her confidante, her saviour, her friend and teacher. He was a man worthy of Julianna and I would accept nothing less. So the long wait was killing me. I enjoyed every minute of it though.
Just to get a tiny glimpse of Julianna’s personality, Julianna has never ridden a horse and she was a little scared. William was giving her some riding lessons and this was her first encounter with a horse (whose name is Miranda)…
I took a fortifying breath and forced myself to walk to the mounting block. William close behind. I tried to picture Miranda as a great big armchair, one I just needed to climb upon. I failed. She was very clearly a horse.
If you love independent women, stories about love, family, leering men, stories with lots of bantering/teasing, stories that make you smile and laugh,balls, sewing, horses then this might be for you! It definitely was for me!!
November 16, 2018
What a sweet regency romance! I don't think I've read anything by this author before so it was a treat to find a new author in this genre to enjoy.
While the story here is quite predictable, it is also quite regency which definitely limits how far one can divert off that beaten path. All the classic regency elements are present here from the divide in higher class and lower class, balls, gowns, proper etiquette, walking in gardens and the rare women trying to break out of the shell society has put them under (which is always my favorite part).
I kind of wish this story would have been told in third person or even a split first person point of view. William is a character I felt like I wish I had a more intimate knowledge of. He is a tease but also has a serious, loyal side. I would love to have felt more from his point of view because I think he would have stolen the show for me.
Juliana has much to recommend her though. I loved her passion for learning and teaching and how she wanted to change the way young girls were taught. The rags to riches story felt like a fairy tale and the dancing bits were of my favorites in the book.
This was a good, solid regency romance and I enjoyed it very much.
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
While the story here is quite predictable, it is also quite regency which definitely limits how far one can divert off that beaten path. All the classic regency elements are present here from the divide in higher class and lower class, balls, gowns, proper etiquette, walking in gardens and the rare women trying to break out of the shell society has put them under (which is always my favorite part).
I kind of wish this story would have been told in third person or even a split first person point of view. William is a character I felt like I wish I had a more intimate knowledge of. He is a tease but also has a serious, loyal side. I would love to have felt more from his point of view because I think he would have stolen the show for me.
Juliana has much to recommend her though. I loved her passion for learning and teaching and how she wanted to change the way young girls were taught. The rags to riches story felt like a fairy tale and the dancing bits were of my favorites in the book.
This was a good, solid regency romance and I enjoyed it very much.
Content: kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 5, 2019
This book made me so. ridiculously. happy. I'm constantly on the lookout for a regency romance reminiscent of Julianne Donaldson. And this book was just that! It was sweet and charming and the banter between Juliana and William was perfection. Their obstacles were believable...their romance was perfectly paced and adorable...and I loved the voice of the book. Juliana isn't a perfect heroine...which just made her all the more likable to me. I'm so excited to have found a new regency author to follow!
November 21, 2018
This is a sweet Regency Romance. It is also the debut novel of Joanna Barker, which made this book more impressive! The book was well written and easy to read. I loved the characters, setting, and the plot.
The book is told from Julianna Ashbourne's point of view. As the book begins she is a governess with a dream of having her own school and teaching girls subjects that were reserved for boys. She loves children and wants to help them improve. Her work position is precarious and an opportunity comes her way where she can inherit a large sum of money if she spends a month with her estranged grandmother.
The book takes some interesting turns when she discovers the heir to the estate her grandmother loves on is a man she ran into on the street. Let's just say that she didn't form a favorable impression. I enjoyed William Rowley's character. He seems to have many edges, so I wish that I could have gotten to know him better and what he was thinking.
The story has a vindictive aunt, a jealous employer, a loving grandmother, a sweet cousin, and the woman who will do anything to get the man she wants. There are many things to love about this book.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The book is told from Julianna Ashbourne's point of view. As the book begins she is a governess with a dream of having her own school and teaching girls subjects that were reserved for boys. She loves children and wants to help them improve. Her work position is precarious and an opportunity comes her way where she can inherit a large sum of money if she spends a month with her estranged grandmother.
The book takes some interesting turns when she discovers the heir to the estate her grandmother loves on is a man she ran into on the street. Let's just say that she didn't form a favorable impression. I enjoyed William Rowley's character. He seems to have many edges, so I wish that I could have gotten to know him better and what he was thinking.
The story has a vindictive aunt, a jealous employer, a loving grandmother, a sweet cousin, and the woman who will do anything to get the man she wants. There are many things to love about this book.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 30, 2020
Well, this book is absolutely delightful! The Truth about Miss Ashbourne provides such a fun reading experience. Juliana is a dynamic character, perhaps a bit ahead of her time with her goals and dreams, but still realistic in this reader's opinion. I enjoyed getting to know her. I also appreciated the romance in this novel. It's just so swoony and tender. There are complications, but they all feel genuine and are not based on a big misunderstanding or a lack of communicating with one another as so often happens - at least not until closer toward the end.
And am I the only reader who adores a pursuit? As in the hero pursues the heroine? Especially in those times in history where damage to a woman's reputation was much more problematic than it would be for a man, and in this case, when Juliana's livelihood depended on certain things in a way that William, as an heir, would not have to worry about. I'm keeping this vague because I don't want spoilers, but I adore when the hero pursues the heroine of his own volition, not in a way that it is easy or convenient for him. Something about that just gets me every time – happy sigh!
I will be working my way through Joanna Barker’s books for sure (already read her upcoming Otherwise Engaged, which I recommend as well – but read this one first). I’m excited to have discovered this new-to-me author.
And am I the only reader who adores a pursuit? As in the hero pursues the heroine? Especially in those times in history where damage to a woman's reputation was much more problematic than it would be for a man, and in this case, when Juliana's livelihood depended on certain things in a way that William, as an heir, would not have to worry about. I'm keeping this vague because I don't want spoilers, but I adore when the hero pursues the heroine of his own volition, not in a way that it is easy or convenient for him. Something about that just gets me every time – happy sigh!
I will be working my way through Joanna Barker’s books for sure (already read her upcoming Otherwise Engaged, which I recommend as well – but read this one first). I’m excited to have discovered this new-to-me author.
October 4, 2020
This is the kind of book I save my 5 starts for. I enjoyed this story so much. It captured my interest right away and I did not want to put it down. There are stories that just don't need any added elements to make them interesting. They are just true to life and tell a story about real life in a way that holds you captive. Jane Austen had that ability and many other authors do to. I think Mrs. Barker is also one of those:} I just really loved the way the story unfolded, I loved the characters and all there flaws. This is a proper regency romance with no talk of religion, and no violence and a couple awesome kisses.
December 29, 2018
Great book!!
Clean
Clean
August 17, 2020
Lovely Regency Debut! It's a sweet romance and the story line includes a couple of unsavory characters. An HEA is exactly what I needed right now. I look forward to reading other novels by this author.
November 15, 2018
I tend to like, not love, Regency romances, but this one is a delightful exception! While it doesn't tell the most original story out there, it's still a fun, well-written tale filled with well-developed characters, an engaging plot, and solid prose. I love that it's clean, uplifting, and entertaining all at the same time. I'm hoping Barker revisits these characters in future books, but even if she doesn't, I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book. And her next, and her next, and her ...
January 27, 2023
I enjoyed this sweet regency romance. Well written, good characters and entertaining storyline. Full review to come.
Content: Clean
Content: Clean
December 30, 2018
After thinking about this book and thoroughly enjoying the audiobook version I decided that I wanted to change my initial rating of 4 stars to 5.
I really enjoyed this one and it kept me company on a couple days of errands, and housework. The narrator had a great voice and I enjoyed her ability to draw the listener into the story.
Juliana and William are a perfect combination in my mind. I loved their initial meeting and their subsequent meetings until they could be considered acquaintances and friends. Lots of great moments between them. Funny, sweet, tender and swoony.
Juliana's story has some sorrow in it but I loved her discovering she had family and watching the budding relationships developing with them.
If you're looking for a sweet Regency novel that will leave you happy and smiling then I recommend reading The Truth about Miss Ashbourne. I wasn't disappointed and I hope you won't be either.
Content: Clean.
I listened through Deseret Bookshelf.
Happy Reading!!!
I really enjoyed this one and it kept me company on a couple days of errands, and housework. The narrator had a great voice and I enjoyed her ability to draw the listener into the story.
Juliana and William are a perfect combination in my mind. I loved their initial meeting and their subsequent meetings until they could be considered acquaintances and friends. Lots of great moments between them. Funny, sweet, tender and swoony.
Juliana's story has some sorrow in it but I loved her discovering she had family and watching the budding relationships developing with them.
If you're looking for a sweet Regency novel that will leave you happy and smiling then I recommend reading The Truth about Miss Ashbourne. I wasn't disappointed and I hope you won't be either.
Content: Clean.
I listened through Deseret Bookshelf.
Happy Reading!!!
January 22, 2019
This book ultimately won me over, though I had reservations about the heroine at the start. She seemed to be one of those girls who is overly ready to take offense at non-offensive things, just to create a bit of tension between her and the hero. That plot device always makes me wonder exactly what it is that the gentleman sees in the lady! She got over this tendency before it became too grating. As for the rest of the novel, it's a pretty typical Regency drama of a penniless girl who discovers family, wealth, and love, with a one-dimensional rival that never really presents that credible of a threat to her. Enjoyable when you're in the mood for a bit of gentle romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for making this digital book available to me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for making this digital book available to me!
December 3, 2018
A rare gem! As this is my favorite genre, I knew instantly that I would enjoy this book, but I had no idea just how entertaining it would be. Joanna Barker is an extremely witty and creative author. I absolutely adored William and the flirtatious banter between him and Juliana. Juliana was so unpredictable, but in a good way. She surprised me a time or two with her hilarious antics. Overall, this was just a really fun book that kept a constant smile on my face.
November 23, 2018
"The Truth about Miss Ashbourne" is a great novel. It's hard nowadays for romance authors to make their Regency Romance novel stand out from the others. I think debut author Joanna Barker did a great job of making her novel and characters original and outstanding. Main character
Juliana is strong, feisty, intelligent and humorous. She did not grow up as a lady of The Ton. So it's quite humorous at times how Juliana interacts with them. When they are turning their nose up at her, she turns things right around in her own favor.Many of these things made me LOL! I also truly loved Mr. William Rowley.Even though you knew he would be Juliana's love interest, it was a great joy to see how it all unfolded. He is a wonderful man & character. I loved how he treated others and especially how he shaved off the roughness to soften Juliana's heart to him and her extended family. Another favorite character was Juliana's estranged Grandmother who turned out to be a very bright spot in her life.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Regency Romance and those that like feisty female characters.
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Juliana is strong, feisty, intelligent and humorous. She did not grow up as a lady of The Ton. So it's quite humorous at times how Juliana interacts with them. When they are turning their nose up at her, she turns things right around in her own favor.Many of these things made me LOL! I also truly loved Mr. William Rowley.Even though you knew he would be Juliana's love interest, it was a great joy to see how it all unfolded. He is a wonderful man & character. I loved how he treated others and especially how he shaved off the roughness to soften Juliana's heart to him and her extended family. Another favorite character was Juliana's estranged Grandmother who turned out to be a very bright spot in her life.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Regency Romance and those that like feisty female characters.
****Come follow me & my reviews at:
http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com
Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WhyNotBecaus... *****
April 20, 2021
Unfortunately, the entire time I was reading this book, I could not let go of the fact that it was basically Edenbrooke with a different name … only this version was definitely not as good. There was zero character development whatsoever and the writing was admittedly extremely juvenile. I could have written a better novel. To be completely honest, I couldn’t help but notice that Juliana’s character was flat and under-developed, as well as inconsistent. I couldn’t bring myself to fathom why William liked her in the first place (and vice versa). The plot was EXTREMELY predictable and dry. While I could not overlook any of these facts for the entirety of the book, I did notice how much I loved the women in Juliana’s life, namely her grandmother, Emma, and Rebecca. I loved the message of acceptance in this book, as well. Overall, this book was okay and anyone looking for a quick (not to mention squeaky-clean romance) will probably enjoy this book.
May 10, 2025
Was this her debut?
4.5 stars rounded up
This was very sweet and put a smile on my face. This is my third book to read by the author, but I will not be satisfied until I have read them all.
4.5 stars rounded up
This was very sweet and put a smile on my face. This is my third book to read by the author, but I will not be satisfied until I have read them all.
December 26, 2018
I loved this book. The author gets regency. She knows how to write a beautiful romance. Can't wait to hear more from her.
May 26, 2021
3.5* Well, after Otherwise Engaged, I had to read another Joanna Barker book. So when I was feeling the mood for a nice sweet regency romance, The Truth about Miss Ashbourne was able to satisfy me...to an extent. I liked Juliana's character in Otherwise Engaged, but here? She was a little meh for me. I loved her spunk, but it was hard to connect with her, and so I found it harder to love LOVE her. I enjoyed reading her story, though. It was pretty entertaining and, like I said, satisfying.
The writing wasn't my favorite, but it was still enjoyable! The romance was a little disappointing since I felt that there should have been "more". It didn't match up to my hopes, and I just wanted to see more moments between Juliana and William. I was really hoping for really romantic toe-curling moments between the two, but it kind of just fell flat for me with no special or memorable "AWW" moments I was hoping to find. (Yes, it's cheesy, but I needed it...) But, I realize this was the author's debut novel and I still liked it very much. Super sweet and lovely to read!
The writing wasn't my favorite, but it was still enjoyable! The romance was a little disappointing since I felt that there should have been "more". It didn't match up to my hopes, and I just wanted to see more moments between Juliana and William. I was really hoping for really romantic toe-curling moments between the two, but it kind of just fell flat for me with no special or memorable "AWW" moments I was hoping to find. (Yes, it's cheesy, but I needed it...) But, I realize this was the author's debut novel and I still liked it very much. Super sweet and lovely to read!
January 7, 2019
What a charming story! I don’t give five stars very often, but I knew almost from the first page that this lovely book would be an exception. The moment I began The Truth About Miss Ashbourne, I was delighted. Within paragraphs, I fell in love with the author’s beautiful writing style and became immersed in the wonderful and strong first-person narration of the good and intelligent Juliana.
As the story continued, I fell in love with not just Juliana herself—despite her stubbornness and fierce independence—but all the vivid characters—her loving grandmother, her sweet, shy cousin Eliza, and the rest of Juliana's family she develops a loving relationship with throughout the story; her delightful charges; and especially William. Oh, William. I may have fallen in love with him myself. He was incredibly sweet and utterly charming. His friendship, banter, and adorable romance with Juliana was a pleasure to watch unfold.
Not only were all the characters vividly drawn, but the story unfolded at a leisurely pace that never dragged but was instead the most pleasant storytelling journey. It was a joy to watch as Juliana opened her previously guarded heart to her newfound family, the real possibility of her dreams, and especially to William. It was a delight watching their relationship develop. From their banter to their easy friendship to their many tender, swoony moments. I loved not only watching Juliana allow herself to love William and her family, but to heal from her past and open her heart for a future different from what she imagined, all without losing sight of who she was or her beautiful dreams, dreams William was a constant support to help bring to fruition. Such love and devotion deepened the already adorable romance I thoroughly enjoyed watching develop.
This sweet, rags-to-riches story of love, family, and dreams truly read like the most lovely, romantic fairy tale. I enjoyed every moment of it. I can’t wait to read more from this new and incredibly talented author.
As the story continued, I fell in love with not just Juliana herself—despite her stubbornness and fierce independence—but all the vivid characters—her loving grandmother, her sweet, shy cousin Eliza, and the rest of Juliana's family she develops a loving relationship with throughout the story; her delightful charges; and especially William. Oh, William. I may have fallen in love with him myself. He was incredibly sweet and utterly charming. His friendship, banter, and adorable romance with Juliana was a pleasure to watch unfold.
Not only were all the characters vividly drawn, but the story unfolded at a leisurely pace that never dragged but was instead the most pleasant storytelling journey. It was a joy to watch as Juliana opened her previously guarded heart to her newfound family, the real possibility of her dreams, and especially to William. It was a delight watching their relationship develop. From their banter to their easy friendship to their many tender, swoony moments. I loved not only watching Juliana allow herself to love William and her family, but to heal from her past and open her heart for a future different from what she imagined, all without losing sight of who she was or her beautiful dreams, dreams William was a constant support to help bring to fruition. Such love and devotion deepened the already adorable romance I thoroughly enjoyed watching develop.
This sweet, rags-to-riches story of love, family, and dreams truly read like the most lovely, romantic fairy tale. I enjoyed every moment of it. I can’t wait to read more from this new and incredibly talented author.
November 2, 2018
Well, it is not secret that I love a well written regency romance. Juliana and William’s story was just that. From the moment they first met I was rooting for them—even if Juliana wasn’t. Both main characters were well developed and their back and forth conversations were so fun. I can’t wait to see what Joanna Barker will write next!
February 26, 2019
Wow. I’m not even sure where to begin with this book review. I’m not sure what I thought when beginning this story, but I never imagined I would devour it so quickly or enjoy it so immensely. Needless to say I absolutely LOVED this book and read it in less than two days.
Julianna Ashbourne was such an interesting protagonist. I really enjoyed reading from her first person perspective and figuring out what made her tick. She is kind and brave, smart and bold, yet she has secrets and a vulnerability she doesn’t show anyone. She is used to being independent, and has no great love for her mother’s estranged family. She is shocked and frustrated to find that not only has her late grandfather left her quite a large inheritance, but that she has to spend a month with her other estranged relatives at Havenfield in order to obtain it.
I loved seeing her change and grow throughout the story! She learns she is not alone in the world, and while she navigates the far different world of high society and living life in the country, she learns a lot about herself. I liked how she stayed true to herself, and held tight to her dreams.
I loved watching the relationships she developed, and oh man- don’t get me started on the swoon-worthy hero!!! The romantic tension was incredible, and intertwined throughout the story with a close friendship between the two. The teasing, bantering, and many situations between Julianna and William were my absolute favorite. The build-up of their relationship had me sighing in delight and reading long into the night.
I really can’t say enough about how dearly I enjoyed this clean regency romance. There were so many wonderful characters and moments to savor- I have already gone back to re-read favorite parts. I can’t wait to read more by this author- she has such a gift for writing a fantastic story!
**I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Julianna Ashbourne was such an interesting protagonist. I really enjoyed reading from her first person perspective and figuring out what made her tick. She is kind and brave, smart and bold, yet she has secrets and a vulnerability she doesn’t show anyone. She is used to being independent, and has no great love for her mother’s estranged family. She is shocked and frustrated to find that not only has her late grandfather left her quite a large inheritance, but that she has to spend a month with her other estranged relatives at Havenfield in order to obtain it.
I loved seeing her change and grow throughout the story! She learns she is not alone in the world, and while she navigates the far different world of high society and living life in the country, she learns a lot about herself. I liked how she stayed true to herself, and held tight to her dreams.
I loved watching the relationships she developed, and oh man- don’t get me started on the swoon-worthy hero!!! The romantic tension was incredible, and intertwined throughout the story with a close friendship between the two. The teasing, bantering, and many situations between Julianna and William were my absolute favorite. The build-up of their relationship had me sighing in delight and reading long into the night.
I really can’t say enough about how dearly I enjoyed this clean regency romance. There were so many wonderful characters and moments to savor- I have already gone back to re-read favorite parts. I can’t wait to read more by this author- she has such a gift for writing a fantastic story!
**I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2018
As a big historical romance fan, I was excited to try Joanna Barker's new regency, The Truth About Miss Ashbourne.
The book opens with governess Juliana Ashbourne being called to task by the lady of the house. Juliana loves the children she teaches, but the gentleman and lady of the house are difficult to deal with to say the least. But as Juliana comes to find out that she is an heiress and her dream of opening a school might become a reality, she has some decisions to make. If she accepts the inheritance, she must spend a month with family she's never met. And then, to make things even more complicated, she has a misunderstanding with Mr. William Rowley, a man who makes her heart pound. Can Juliana accept the love of a family? And maybe even a future with William?
I really enjoyed this author's writing style. I think she captures the time period and her characters were really well-done. Juliana has a believable growth arc and readers will definitely be cheering for her to get her happily-ever-after, both with her family and with William. And let's talk about William for a minute. He is such a sigh-worthy hero and I would have loved to have had chapters from his point of view. Their banter and blossoming friendship was so sweet and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments as they navigated their relationship. The romance is slow and tender and will take readers on a bumpy, twisty road to love that will make you laugh, cry, and wish the book never ended.
I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
The book opens with governess Juliana Ashbourne being called to task by the lady of the house. Juliana loves the children she teaches, but the gentleman and lady of the house are difficult to deal with to say the least. But as Juliana comes to find out that she is an heiress and her dream of opening a school might become a reality, she has some decisions to make. If she accepts the inheritance, she must spend a month with family she's never met. And then, to make things even more complicated, she has a misunderstanding with Mr. William Rowley, a man who makes her heart pound. Can Juliana accept the love of a family? And maybe even a future with William?
I really enjoyed this author's writing style. I think she captures the time period and her characters were really well-done. Juliana has a believable growth arc and readers will definitely be cheering for her to get her happily-ever-after, both with her family and with William. And let's talk about William for a minute. He is such a sigh-worthy hero and I would have loved to have had chapters from his point of view. Their banter and blossoming friendship was so sweet and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments as they navigated their relationship. The romance is slow and tender and will take readers on a bumpy, twisty road to love that will make you laugh, cry, and wish the book never ended.
I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
February 22, 2019
This is a sweet Regency romance written, unusually, in first person. The protagonist is one Juliana Ashbourne, at the beginning of the novel a governess in a London household to a young boy and girl. She’s on shaky ground with her employers though, since the husband has nefarious intentions towards her and the wife dislikes Juliana’s influence over her daughter in particular. Hence, the news that the maternal grandfather she’s never met has died and left her a substantial fortune in somewhat fortuitous, only marred slightly by a proviso which states she must spend a month at Havenford, the family estate, before claiming her inheritance.
Now held by a distant cousin, Havenford is grander than anything Juliana has ever imagined, and she finds family she never knew she had there, from a loving grandmother to a female cousin her own age who becomes a fast friend. It’s the estate’s new master, William Rowley, who Juliana can’t help but be attracted to, though, and who could blame her? William is delightful, even if he does have a rather wicked sense of humour and delights in teasing. He’s never cruel, though, expending a great deal of effort to make Juliana feel welcome at his home and with her family.
This is a really lovely novel; though to be honest the plot of entirely predictable, the author puts a fresh and charming take on it as we experience Juliana’s slow thawing towards the family who disowned her mother. Her relationship with her grandmother was particularly delightful as Juliana’s attitude changed from a thin tolerance for an old lady who talked too much to, by the end of the book, a deep and loving regard, such that she was willing to give up everything she held dear to protect Lady Rowley and her cousin Eliza from social consequences.
Despite the predictability of the plot, I honestly can’t point to a single thing about this book I disliked. It’s a romance, after all; we know there’s going to be a happily ever after, or at least there had better be! A charming debut from an author I’m looking forward to reading more of in the future. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.
Now held by a distant cousin, Havenford is grander than anything Juliana has ever imagined, and she finds family she never knew she had there, from a loving grandmother to a female cousin her own age who becomes a fast friend. It’s the estate’s new master, William Rowley, who Juliana can’t help but be attracted to, though, and who could blame her? William is delightful, even if he does have a rather wicked sense of humour and delights in teasing. He’s never cruel, though, expending a great deal of effort to make Juliana feel welcome at his home and with her family.
This is a really lovely novel; though to be honest the plot of entirely predictable, the author puts a fresh and charming take on it as we experience Juliana’s slow thawing towards the family who disowned her mother. Her relationship with her grandmother was particularly delightful as Juliana’s attitude changed from a thin tolerance for an old lady who talked too much to, by the end of the book, a deep and loving regard, such that she was willing to give up everything she held dear to protect Lady Rowley and her cousin Eliza from social consequences.
Despite the predictability of the plot, I honestly can’t point to a single thing about this book I disliked. It’s a romance, after all; we know there’s going to be a happily ever after, or at least there had better be! A charming debut from an author I’m looking forward to reading more of in the future. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.
May 16, 2023
ANOTHER WINNER.
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Joanna Barker can do no wrong in my bookish opinion. I have sincerely enjoyed the three books (so far) that I have read by her. I love the way she crafts a story. There’s FANTASTIC banter that makes me all giddy and swoony, deep kisses that have my heart squeezing.
There’s also really solid character development. One of the biggest things I look for in a read. I loved Julianna’s growth and exploration of her self as she came to terms with her past and the options being opened for her now. It wasn’t an overnight solution and the progress made had me loving her all the more.
Enter in our heartthrob William Rowley. From a bit of a disaster meet-cute (at least to Julianna) to rousing confessions of love, I was hooked on him from the get-go. I loved how he gently teased her and taught her new things. Being a safe space to land, even if it took Julianna time to realize it.
The only thing that made me a little cranky was part of the final conflict. I think it would have been easily solved another way and I just didn’t like that it was dragged out. The last scenes were super sweet so props to bringing it back for me. That little complaint is no reason not to pick up this great regency.
Overall audience notes:
- Regency Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (off page, discussed), grief depiction
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Joanna Barker can do no wrong in my bookish opinion. I have sincerely enjoyed the three books (so far) that I have read by her. I love the way she crafts a story. There’s FANTASTIC banter that makes me all giddy and swoony, deep kisses that have my heart squeezing.
There’s also really solid character development. One of the biggest things I look for in a read. I loved Julianna’s growth and exploration of her self as she came to terms with her past and the options being opened for her now. It wasn’t an overnight solution and the progress made had me loving her all the more.
Enter in our heartthrob William Rowley. From a bit of a disaster meet-cute (at least to Julianna) to rousing confessions of love, I was hooked on him from the get-go. I loved how he gently teased her and taught her new things. Being a safe space to land, even if it took Julianna time to realize it.
The only thing that made me a little cranky was part of the final conflict. I think it would have been easily solved another way and I just didn’t like that it was dragged out. The last scenes were super sweet so props to bringing it back for me. That little complaint is no reason not to pick up this great regency.
Overall audience notes:
- Regency Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (off page, discussed), grief depiction
November 12, 2018
I love when I find new authors! The Truth About Miss Ashbourne is a a Regency Romance written by a debut author and it’s really good!
I have to say that I LOVED Miss Ashbourne, Juliana. She’s a governess in London. I loved that she wasn’t your typical governess. She’s young and pretty and willing to let her charges learn things that not a lot of society thinks they should learn. One of the things she does that her boss, Mrs Seymour objects to is taking the children to the park. Life sure is different these days!
Anyway…Juliana isn’t a governess for very much of the book. She learns early on that she’s actually an heiress. I loved the way she found out that she’s an heiress and the way she meets William Rowley. Juliana is always getting herself into scrapes that she needs help getting out of. Well…she doesn’t think she needs help getting out of them, but she does.
There is a lot going on with the backstory of this one. There were several parts relating to the backstory that I really loved. Probably my favorite part is her flashback when looking at the picture gallery. This one’s late in the story, so I’m not going to say more than that to not give anything away.
One thing about this story is that Juliana is the only character you get to be in the head of. That works sometimes really well, but I really would have loved to have seen what William thought. One thing I loved was that there were surprises for Juliana at the end of the book from her relatives that she’d gotten to spend time with.
I loved this book! Hopefully Joanna Barker is planning to write more books like this one!
I have to say that I LOVED Miss Ashbourne, Juliana. She’s a governess in London. I loved that she wasn’t your typical governess. She’s young and pretty and willing to let her charges learn things that not a lot of society thinks they should learn. One of the things she does that her boss, Mrs Seymour objects to is taking the children to the park. Life sure is different these days!
Anyway…Juliana isn’t a governess for very much of the book. She learns early on that she’s actually an heiress. I loved the way she found out that she’s an heiress and the way she meets William Rowley. Juliana is always getting herself into scrapes that she needs help getting out of. Well…she doesn’t think she needs help getting out of them, but she does.
There is a lot going on with the backstory of this one. There were several parts relating to the backstory that I really loved. Probably my favorite part is her flashback when looking at the picture gallery. This one’s late in the story, so I’m not going to say more than that to not give anything away.
One thing about this story is that Juliana is the only character you get to be in the head of. That works sometimes really well, but I really would have loved to have seen what William thought. One thing I loved was that there were surprises for Juliana at the end of the book from her relatives that she’d gotten to spend time with.
I loved this book! Hopefully Joanna Barker is planning to write more books like this one!
March 17, 2020
I have yet to be disappointed by a Joanna Barker romance....i'm only disappointed in myself for taking so long to pick this one up.
I know a book is good when it can take a character that I almost can't stand to someone I absolutely love. Julianna Ashbourne has been working as a governess when she learns that she has just come into a large inheritance by a family she thought had abandoned her years ago. In order to claim her inheritance she must spend a month at Havenfield and connect with her family she still harbors hard feelings for. Julianna is a character that is slightly rough around the edges and not easy to read. She keeps a lot to herself but as you get to know who she is, her behavior starts to become slightly more justified. The ability of Barker in this story to weave so many elements together seamlessly was something I really enjoyed. Julianna reconnecting with her lost family, and finding love, and navigating her future plans were all really endearing. She really has all these hidden faucets to her that aren't at first presented in the story.
I LOVED William. Loved. Their interactions and banter were something I never tired of and put a smile on my face. His ability to break down her walls and their ability to connect to one another was just done beautifully. Once I started reading I couldn't get enough. There are just some authors that every time I read their books, I just feel connected to their stories and Joanna Barker is one of them! Highly recommend each of her books.
I know a book is good when it can take a character that I almost can't stand to someone I absolutely love. Julianna Ashbourne has been working as a governess when she learns that she has just come into a large inheritance by a family she thought had abandoned her years ago. In order to claim her inheritance she must spend a month at Havenfield and connect with her family she still harbors hard feelings for. Julianna is a character that is slightly rough around the edges and not easy to read. She keeps a lot to herself but as you get to know who she is, her behavior starts to become slightly more justified. The ability of Barker in this story to weave so many elements together seamlessly was something I really enjoyed. Julianna reconnecting with her lost family, and finding love, and navigating her future plans were all really endearing. She really has all these hidden faucets to her that aren't at first presented in the story.
I LOVED William. Loved. Their interactions and banter were something I never tired of and put a smile on my face. His ability to break down her walls and their ability to connect to one another was just done beautifully. Once I started reading I couldn't get enough. There are just some authors that every time I read their books, I just feel connected to their stories and Joanna Barker is one of them! Highly recommend each of her books.
January 14, 2019
This was the first audiobook I'd listened to in quite a few years. It was an enjoyable story and I looked forward to listening to it each time I sat down to crochet the blanket I'm making. Audiobooks may be the only way I hit my Reading Challenge this year and this book was a nice way to start the year.
October 5, 2018
I got this book early and was so excited! It was FAB. William has become one of my favorite heroes. By the end, my heart was thumping hard right along with the heroine's and I was even creating secret scenes in my head where the hero tells off the antagonists. Also, there is a heart. pounding. kiss that had me swooning. The author creates a lovely, beautiful regency world and expertly builds the romantic tension until I was biting my fingernails and swiping pages as fast as I could.
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