Ellie MacDonald - Sara

Sweet Sara Collins is one of the founding members of the Governess Club. But she has a secret: She doesn't love teaching. She'd much prefer to be a vicar's wife and help the local community. But this quiet mouse doesn't want to upset her friends, and she resolves to help in whatever ways she can.
Nathan Grant is the embodiment of everything that frightens Sara. Which is why she can't understand why the handsome but reclusive and gruff man is so fascinating to her. When Sara decides it's time to take a chance and experience all that life has to offer, Nathan is the first person she thinks of.
Will Sara's walk on the wild side ruin her chances at a simple, happy life? Or has she just opened the door to a once-in-a-lifetime chance at passion?

Comment: This is the third novella in the Governess Club series by Ellie MacDonald. It follows the friendship of four young women who worked as governesses and who have opened a school together.

Sara is the quietest of the friends and a sweet soul. She had a demanding childhood as a vicar's daughter and her mother was terribly domineering and always accusing her of being close to sin. This shaped up Sara's personality and she prefers to not call attention to herself, which is why she has never really confessed to her friends that teaching isn't a vocation for her. She is hopeful the young vicar might propose, though, because she believes she would be a good vicar's wife, after all she already helps the community as best as she can. What she wasn't prepared for was the arrival of Nathan Grant, the new neighbor, and how much tempted she would feel to be adventurous if he is with her...

The books in this series are more novella sized than full length and in a way this can be seen negatively because more pages might help the subjects to be developed better, which is often the issue with this. The vast majority of novellas I have read seem to be quite limited in what they achieve, unless they are part of lengthier series, from which we can already have enough information to sustain what we see happening in the new/next one.

In regards to this installment, having read the others, the sequence of how things are developed isn't hard to follow, but I think a new reader would not find things to be that hard, for the author does include the necessary to make sense to certain information shared. The thing is, the stories on themselves are simply too quick and some situations are unrealistic for the type of setting we are given. Meaning that there are historical romances that are incredibly anachronistic or just too focused on improbable things that feel great to read. In these stories, i just don't think the author achieved that perfect balance.

Sara is a likable and sweet person, no doubt on it and I can understand why she has such a reserved nature and personality and why she doesn't like confrontation. I can also see why she would not be daring and why she would prefer things she is happy to do instead of pushing for something else, as her friends advise her to try sometimes. But, of course, there is also a part of anyone who would love to try different things too, everyone has dreams, and Sara's aren't that high all things compared.

Therefore, my biggest issue, apart from the lack of pages to properly develop the subjects, is how unrealistic Sara's behavior is once knowing Nathan challenges her perspective of life. I mean, I can accept that she would be tempted to think about her dreams differently, but the whole "teach me about being a woman" idea is just too out of place in such an historical setting, considering her personality, her timidity and the social pressures on how wrong her "adventure" with Nathan would be, even more so when we know she and her friends had a reputation to uphold.

I suppose something like did happen for real people in the 19th century but it just doesn't seem realistic for this her character. This means that, to me, the romance wasn't really believable, even after they say the right things in a scene one could label as romantic... plus, Nathan's character was not developed well either, and while his attitude in regards to Sara might make sense (why she would be special to me) I just didn't buy his change of mind. 

The story isn't big but there were times I wasn't impressed with the character's choices. Some times things seemed a little dull too and after a while I was thinking more about how many pages were left to finish than if those pages would be enriching or not. Perhaps I should say that this book met the minimum to be interesting but it wasn't amazing. I hope the last one, featuring the last unmarried friend, is more rewarding.

Grade: 6/10

Mini - Comments

The following two books are both part of their respective series and while I liked them both enough for their own merits, even bearing in mind the flaws I've perceived in them, they were not as bad or as fascinating that I feel like writing the amount of text I usually do in my comments.

The Governess Club: Bonnie by Ellie Macdonald, is the second story in a small collection of four novellas about four friends who happen to be governesses. The first one wasn't that great or outstanding but it was concise and, sometimes, it's enough to know the story won't be very big. In this second installment, Bonnie is the governess to two boys, who are devastated after the death of their parents. The estate affairs have not been solved yet but Bonnie cannot leave, as she promised to her friends, because she can't stand to leave the boys. Finally, their new guardian arrives and is caught unaware over what happened. With time, he starts doing what is necessary and Bonnie seems to be a great help...

Since this is a novella, the development is quick and, of course, there are some things that feel under done. I liked the setting up, that felt fluid, and the hint of romance was also believable. I also liked the relationship Bonnie had with the boys and her sense of duty and caring. It's not a big surprise to know the death of the boys' parents wasn't really an accident, and the investigation the new guardian does is understandable. I only wish the romance had been dealt with with more...skill, which I think the author has. Thus, this was a fine story, but not memorable.

Grade: 6/10

Take Us There by Louisa Masters is the fourth and final installment in the Joy Universe series. In this story, Dominic Hurst is getting used to the work and the demands that come with it, of being the new director of Joy Universe, after the debacle which happened in the previous book. He moved with his teenager daughter and things are going well, so much that he even starts dating a teacher at her school, Oliver. The problem is that someone is not a nice person and starts creating problems...

Since I've liked the previous books in the series, this too was easy and pleasant to read. I'd change a few details but as a whole, this delivered once more.Dominic and Oliver are, as all the key characters before them, competent and fair in their jobs and the conflicts sound realistic. Sometimes, a bit too much which might bring in the feeling that something is happening out of nowhere...Their relationship is cute but it wasn't as romantic as I would prefer. This feeling comes since book #1, which I think kind of had a more balanced romance (to me) and at some point they need to face some issues which were, again, a little forced. Still, it was a good enough way to finish the series and it's one I actually liked reading quite a lot, if I think about it in general terms.

Grade: 7/10

Ellie Macdonald - Claire

Claire Bannister just wants to be a good teacher so that she and the other ladies of the Governess Club can make enough money to leave their jobs and start their own school in the country. But when the new sinfully handsome and utterly distracting tutor arrives, Claire finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance that could change the course of her future.
Jacob Knightly has a secret. He is actually the notorious Earl of Rimmel. He's just posing as a tutor to escape his reputation in the city. He never expected to fall in love with the kind and beautiful governess. She is the first person to love him for himself and not his title.
But when Jacob's true identity is revealed, Claire realizes she has risked her reputation and her heart on a man she doesn't truly know. Will Jacob be able to convince her that the Wild Earl has been tamed and that she is the true countess of his heart?

Comment: I have no idea why I decided to add this book to the pile around 10 years ago, but it was likely related to the main character being a governess and, of course, I must have imagined the perfect romance for Claire...

In this story we meet Claire, a governess at a good house, she even cares for the children she is teaching, and her life goes on as predictable while she awaits from news regarding her late father's estate. Claire hopes to regain her childhood estate after her father lost control of their finances, and she estimates she will achieve it after a few years. She is also friends with three other governesses in the area and they dream of having their own school or being tutors without the constrictions of a governess role at someone else's house. While she dreams of this, the family tells her a new tutor for the male children was hired and, from the start, Claire is wary of him, while slightly drawn at the same time. Mr Knightly is not the usual type of tutor and Claire wonders if he is really suited for the task, but as they become sort of friends, everything changes again.

Well, I should say right away that it was a little disappointing this was such a short story. I didn't pay attention before getting the ebook but this is more novella sized than full length and I'm saying this because, as it often happens in these situations, the short amount of pages means the author kind of condensed some things and the story feels rushed and not always consistent. More pages to develop the characters and their circumstances would have helped.

The premise is quite appealing, though. That four friends could join efforts (and money) to be able to have a life as independently as they could felt quite interesting to me to read about. Women didn't have the same chances and rights then as they do now and I was incredibly invested in the idea that these four would want to have what they could out of life in their own terms and, financially, that wasn't always a possibility for women, so here they would try. In the prologue we learn about this but I must say the protagonists were a little too superficially presented, and I could tell the story would not be as immersive as I thought.

Claire seemed to be a very proper lady, and only negligence from her father caused her situation to be the current one. Still, Claire preserved, is trying to do her best and I did like the references to doing the necessary in a world where governesses were often mistreated and abused by others simply because of their station. Since this was mentioned in the prologue I could guess it would feature at some point in the story too... but Claire was a captivating protagonist, trying her best, doing a good job and being the person she had to be to accomplish whatever was necessary to get her goals. I liked her calm, her personality and general attitude.

Then, in comes mr Knightly, the hero. He is introduced as the boys' tutor and he acts in a way which isn't common for a person who must work for someone else, he is arrogant at times, doesn't understand a few nuances due to his role and acts as if someone should serve him. Of course, this is quickly explained when we learn mr Knightly is actually an earl in disguise, trying to keep a low profile while waiting for some issues to be forgotten by the public. It seemed the romance would be obvious, but I was surprised by how Claire did try to keep her distance... if I were her I'd probably do the same but this is romanceland, so...

We have Knightly's POV here and there and he does seem to be a bit reckless and careless of what his actions mean to others. I was not too keen on him, in fact, and when he does try a little to be a tutor and gains others' appreciation, namely Claire's, of course this is meant to be seen as positive but since we know he is playing a part I felt annoyed he would be playing with others this way. At some point, obviously things take a turn and the truth comes out in a very definitive way. Claire and Knightly had become closer (and intimate which I think was unnecessary for this story) when this happen and she makes him see the errors of his actions, but...I just couldn't see their relationship as truly emotional.

I think the author used a few situations to clarify the social class disparities, the unfairness of certain things and I do like this serious side, but I will confess the whole thing lost sense in my regard, when Claire, after so many years doing what was right so society could respect her at least, let herself be placed in a position where her ethics would be challenged... in fact, it's never her fault, but Knightly's because of his silly games, but she is the one whose reputation is questioned. This annoyed me to no end, because it didn't have to happen this way. Also, perhaps more pages could have made their relationship and their awareness in regards to those around them develop in a more believable pace and this would not be an issue anyway.

As expected, all ends well and what we imagine in the beginning turns out to be what happens, but I can't say the path was that smooth, things just happen too quickly or too inconsistent. Since the stories are this small, I will likely read the next one at some point but yes, my expectations will be lower now.

Grade: 6/10