Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd

When Queen Victoria threatens to reveal a youthful indiscretion if her friend, Devon Mathewes, earl of Kerrich, doesn't strive for respectability, the rakish earl approaches the Academy of Governesses to hire a governess and orphan to sponsor, thus lending him an appearance of kindness and decency.
Confident that she's safe from temptation since she despises rakes, Miss Pamela Lockhart disguises her youthful beauty and accepts Devon's outrageous offer of employment. But Pamela isn't prepared for the impact the handsome, blunt-spoken earl has on her heart. And Devon is fairly stunned to find himself attracted to the frumpy governess with her thick glasses and sharp moral lectures.
While the two struggle with their intense attraction, serious skulduggery is afoot that involves Devon's family bank. The perpetrators may be closely tied to the Mathewes family and scandal looms large on the horizon. And while he should be concentrating on solving the threat to the bank, Pamela and her endearing orphan prove to be monumentally distracting. In the end, however, Devon may have to choose between the two, and either way, the loss will be tremendous.




Second book of the series and I loved Beth and Pamela's story. They both were funny and bright and gave Lord Kerrich a run for his money.

This is #7 of the 2012 Book Series Challenge-book 2

Monday, February 6, 2012

Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd

Book 1 of the Governess Series:

In 1839 England, the newly formed Distinguished Academy of Governesses is a daring venture. Three young ladies--wellborn, beautiful, and poor--have decided to take destiny into their own hands and carve a societal niche as governesses. The Academy's first client employs Lady Charlotte Dalrumple to teach her untrained grandchildren the rules of proper English society. It isn't until Charlotte meets the children that she realizes she's also been hired to re-train their father, who left England at 15 for a life of adventure among the Bedouins of the Far East. Once she meets the handsome Viscount Wynter Ruskin, it becomes instantly apparent to Charlotte why his mother feels he needs instruction in manners--the viscount seems determined to shock her at every turn.

Wynter accepts his mother's edict that he pay heed to Charlotte's lessons in decorum, but only because he has plans for the lovely young woman. He needs a wife and Charlotte fills his requirements perfectly. But while Wynter is tutoring her in the art of seduction, Charlotte just might teach the stubborn viscount more about women and his heart than he'd planned to learn.


I loved it! My first book by Christina Dodd and what a great series to pick up.

The Governess Academy has just started business with 3 lovely ladies. First up is Lady Charlotte Dalrumple who is prim and proper but not only must take on two unruly children but the father too! Returned from the Far East not only do the children not understand English society the father Wynter seems to have forgotten it entirely.

The book is funny and clearly romantic. Sometimes you just want to punch them both out, but in the end all comes together.


This is #7 of the 2012 Book Series Challenge-book 1