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Compromise Series #1
A Compromising Situation
From a talented new voice comes this Regency tale of a young governess who finds love with her employer -- a man far above her station, who may never be able to return her affections.
223 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2000
24 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Donnelly
50 books54 followersShannon Donnelly's writing has won numerous awards, including a RITA nomination for Best Regency, the Grand Prize in the "Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer" contest, judged by Nora Roberts, RWA's Golden Heart, and others. Her work has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: "simply superb"..."wonderfully uplifting"....and "beautifully written."
In addition to her Regency romances, she has had novellas published in several anthologies, has had young adult horror stories published and is the author of several computer games.
In addition to her Regency romances, she has had novellas published in several anthologies, has had young adult horror stories published and is the author of several computer games.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 30, 2015
Lord and governess traditional regency for grownups. I’m not necessary a fan of this trope but I really liked the story, liked enough to re-read it.
As a governess, Miss Maeve Midden had no use for dreams. Her wishes for family and children of her own were destroyed long ago by an unscrupulous suitor. Hoping to find a position with younger girls which would mean a longer stay in one place, she isn’t too thrilled when Lord Rothe hired her to be a governess to his 16 year old niece Clarissa. A stubborn hoydenish Clarissa made it in no uncertain terms she doesn’t want a governess. Clarissa’s mother spends her days in bed even though the doctors can’t find anything wrong with her. Lord Rothe, who spent 18 years in the military and only recently inherited the title, has hard time adjusting to civilian life and it seems to be constantly in battles with his niece. Talk about a mad house! When Lord Rothe persuaded Maeve to stay at least until her replacement can be found, she decided to use the time to help uncle and niece to better understand each other.
This was a well written character-driven story. Both protagonists suffered disappointments and tragedies in their lives and the author did a nice job showing their graduate transformation, their growing love, affection and trust. I like that the characters were older, mature and honorable. The plot may not be action filled but moved along nicely. The only criticism I have is the ending felt too rushed.
As a governess, Miss Maeve Midden had no use for dreams. Her wishes for family and children of her own were destroyed long ago by an unscrupulous suitor. Hoping to find a position with younger girls which would mean a longer stay in one place, she isn’t too thrilled when Lord Rothe hired her to be a governess to his 16 year old niece Clarissa. A stubborn hoydenish Clarissa made it in no uncertain terms she doesn’t want a governess. Clarissa’s mother spends her days in bed even though the doctors can’t find anything wrong with her. Lord Rothe, who spent 18 years in the military and only recently inherited the title, has hard time adjusting to civilian life and it seems to be constantly in battles with his niece. Talk about a mad house! When Lord Rothe persuaded Maeve to stay at least until her replacement can be found, she decided to use the time to help uncle and niece to better understand each other.
This was a well written character-driven story. Both protagonists suffered disappointments and tragedies in their lives and the author did a nice job showing their graduate transformation, their growing love, affection and trust. I like that the characters were older, mature and honorable. The plot may not be action filled but moved along nicely. The only criticism I have is the ending felt too rushed.
May 7, 2024
I'm afraid Maeve's biggest problem is her surname, Midden, no wonder she dwells on her shitty past. The poor woman has had her hopes blighted by an unscrupulous suitor, has been disowned by her father & has been a governess for nine years, why saddle her with such a dreadful name - ? I can't imagine what the author was thinking. I know poor Miss Midden was thinking that a woman had only to be born to accept blame and consequences, & one can excuse her bitterness.
Maeve is looking for a long-term post as governess to young children but even that goes awry when she arrives at her next post to find her single charge to be fully grown - she can't win a trick. She agrees to a temporary position as companion to Clarissa Derhurst, a ward of her uncle, Colonel Andrew Derhurst, Lord Rothe. I can understand a 16-year-old girl being very upset by the death of her father, the ineffectualness of her agoraphobic mother & the introduction of the stern & forbidding guardianship of her uncle, but this one acted more like a modern adolescent than a well-brought up 19th-century miss.
At any rate, Maeve works a bit of sensible magic on the whole family & even gets the opportunity to give that base fellow from her past his comeuppance. Yay!
Maeve is looking for a long-term post as governess to young children but even that goes awry when she arrives at her next post to find her single charge to be fully grown - she can't win a trick. She agrees to a temporary position as companion to Clarissa Derhurst, a ward of her uncle, Colonel Andrew Derhurst, Lord Rothe. I can understand a 16-year-old girl being very upset by the death of her father, the ineffectualness of her agoraphobic mother & the introduction of the stern & forbidding guardianship of her uncle, but this one acted more like a modern adolescent than a well-brought up 19th-century miss.
At any rate, Maeve works a bit of sensible magic on the whole family & even gets the opportunity to give that base fellow from her past his comeuppance. Yay!
September 2, 2017
Clean Romance and a fairly good read. This story is about a 16 yr old who acts out seeking the attention of her stoic/harsh uncle and depressed mother and about the governess who is hired to tame the teen. It's a relatively good read. So much editing faux pas that the reader is distracted, though. Occasionally the characters' fretting over "the past" is overly dramatic and unrealistic. The end is wrapped up so quickly that it feels rushed. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book. The romance in this book is appropriate for ages 16+.
May 27, 2017
Nothing new here. Ruined governess and 2nd son who ascends to the title after years in the army.
Not badly written but not memorable either. Free on Kindle Unlimited as of this review. Not a book I'd pay for.
Not badly written but not memorable either. Free on Kindle Unlimited as of this review. Not a book I'd pay for.
December 30, 2023
A Compromising Situation
Disgust, embarrassment, shame about previous actions become a stumbling block in our future. We can't see how someone could love us when we don't love ourselves.
Disgust, embarrassment, shame about previous actions become a stumbling block in our future. We can't see how someone could love us when we don't love ourselves.
June 26, 2011
I liked this quite a bit better than the other regency category re-released by the Book View Cafe - although the midnight situation between governess and hero are totally inauthentic for a woman who has already lost her honour and born the consequences of her actions.
The slow attraction between the two worked very well and because we have the heroine arrive at the hero's house right away we have much more time to believe in their developing relationship. I liked the look into why they were good for each other. I liked Clarissa as the motivator and as a side character and even the few scenes with her mother Dorothy were woven in very cleverly and were just enough.
The PTSD that both hero and heroine have in their own way, the fact that talking to each other makes them reflect and find more heart and especially the lovely natural way music is brought back into the hero's life really worked for me.
Again this book would have been better served with more pages - like a standalone historical.
The slow attraction between the two worked very well and because we have the heroine arrive at the hero's house right away we have much more time to believe in their developing relationship. I liked the look into why they were good for each other. I liked Clarissa as the motivator and as a side character and even the few scenes with her mother Dorothy were woven in very cleverly and were just enough.
The PTSD that both hero and heroine have in their own way, the fact that talking to each other makes them reflect and find more heart and especially the lovely natural way music is brought back into the hero's life really worked for me.
Again this book would have been better served with more pages - like a standalone historical.
August 6, 2011
It was great! I've never met a regency I could actually make it through before. Georgette Heyer bored me with furniture, and The Leopard Prince wasn't romantic enough. This was wonderfully romantic, though I have a feeling Donnelly relies too much on wounded characters (all people are wounded, just saying it over and over again is a bit simplistic.)
I was a little annoyed by the copyediting. I know it's a e-book, but still, professionalism is important.
Overall, I thought it was wonderful, though I wanted the end to be a bit more fleshed out. And I'm really exited to read the story about Clarissa!
I was a little annoyed by the copyediting. I know it's a e-book, but still, professionalism is important.
Overall, I thought it was wonderful, though I wanted the end to be a bit more fleshed out. And I'm really exited to read the story about Clarissa!
October 25, 2016
I liked this one. Simple story, which was developed very well so that the reader won't get bored halfway through it. Focus is always on the main characters with the secondary ones providing a refreshing break. Nothing much happens as such but the journey to happily ever after is interesting nonetheless.
January 26, 2010
Really nice, fun read!
January 19, 2015
1.2015 read off Carolyn kindke. Old england time headstrong young lady losses it all and is working as a governess. Good story a few places her thoughts are a little to personal.
February 2, 2016
Interesting trad regency
September 30, 2011
Perfectly lovely
May 1, 2019
Really nice, fun read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews