Ellie Macdonald - Louisa

Louisa Brockhurst is on the run—from her friends, from her family, even from her dream of independence through the Governess Club. But sometimes it's easier for her to hide from those she loves in order to escape the secrets of her past.Handsome but menacing John Taylor is a prizefighter-turned-innkeeper who is trying to make his way in society. When Louisa shows up at his doorstep, he's quick to accept her offer to help—at a price. He knows that she's hiding something, and he can't help his protective instincts toward the beautiful woman.Their attraction grows, but will headstrong, fiery Louisa ever trust the surprisingly kind John enough to tell him the dangerous secrets from her past that keep her running? Or will the power of her feelings scare her into running yet again?

Comment: This is the last installment in the Governess Club series by Ellie Macdonald, featuring four friends who were governesses when they started the club.

Louisa is on the run again and seeing one more governess friend about to be married was the last straw for she knows the club won't last. After some weeks, she finds a new inn and offers to help cleaning in exchange of board and meals, which the owner John accepts. John used to be a fighter and has won many matches due to his size and build and it's because of his efforts he now is the owner of this inn, but he knows it does need a woman touch. At first he thinks Louisa isn't the most congenial of females but as the days go by, he finds her more and more intriguing. It also seems the feeling is mutual, but is Louisa ready to be honest and share her story with him?

Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favorite installment in the series. The books are novella sized, with all the restrictions that implies, but this time, more than the limit of characterization and plot brought the grade down. The thing is, I really disliked Louisa and that colored everything else.

It seemed to me that Louisa was very selfish in leaving her friends so suddenly and without any type of explanation, right at the end of the third book, and while her reasoning is based on something in her past which she feels was extremely grave - and it was, the way she saw it - I still think that by this time she had known her friends enough for their reaction to be something she could trust. This did paint her personality in such a way that I simply could not care much for her from then on.

The idea of her helping at the inn and than slowly but progressively become more and more a part of it was actually intriguing and a very clever way to allow her to find "peace", but between her attitude and the rather quick way John started having feelings for her, the whole thing felt a little unbalanced. Then, and call me a prude, her way of seeing John as someone ideal to have an easy affair with, no matter any conversation about feminine power and disregard for social norms, just made me see her in an even lower way. I would have preferred their romance to be set on a more traditional way, considering this is an historical setting.

Then, at some point of course she is finally in a situation in which she needs to be honest and her past catches up to her. Unsurprisingly, her past deeds aren't as terrible as she made them to seem and she is somewhat redeemed. However, I still didn't like her personality and attitude and even when the HEA happens, my main thought was that the story was over.

In general, I don't think I'll remember this series that fondly in the future and will likely not re-read, even if it were to be just favorite scenes (of which I have none). There were positive elements, some hopeful ones, but as a whole, not as much.

Grade: 4/10