In The Viscount's Arms

Prepare to fall in love with the Staunton sisters and in particular Octavia, the eldest of the three. It had been twelve months since the death of their parents and they were formally ending their mourning. Having grown up in a small village with their mother a teacher, the village had taken them under their wing, but now they needed a plan to earn funds so that they could pay the bills and make ends meet. Maybe even buy some new dresses. When Octavia heard that the latest governess for Simon,Lord Althorn at Caswell Hall had quit, she saw it as her opportunity to get a job. Yes she was overqualified even though she had not had a formal education. I love this part when she marched in and almost demanded the job and yes, she did get hired! What she did not expect was how handsome he was because nobody really knew much about him! A wonderful journey to love and romance you will not be able to put down once you have started! I love her charge Leah who was Simon's niece and how kind he was to her.. Loved this story! I read this through Booksprout and the publisher.

Wonderfully Written Victorian Romance with Excellent Characters It has been a while since I have read a Victorian romance that captivated me as thoroughly as this one. I kept reading it when I should have been doing other things! I can give no higher compliment to a book. Octavia is a strong woman who has guided her younger sisters for a long time, but especially during their year of mourning after losing both parents. The book opens when their mourning has ended. Their parents were never wealthy, and by this point, these young women have very little money left. Octavia, as the eldest, believe she needs to support her younger sisters and so shows up at the local lord’s manor house to apply for a position as a governess. This viscount is reclusive, the villagers knowing little about him. She gets the job and is challenged at every turn by her charge, the six-year-old niece of the viscount who has terrorized every governess before Octavia. The hero is beleaguered when we first meet him, as he has much business to attend to and the constant search for governess adds even more to his plate. He never wanted to be a viscount, but his older brother died tragically before the little girl was even born. After the girl’s mother's death soon after the birth, he has both a large estate and a young girl to look after. He is unsure about Octavia at first but soon sees that she truly cares and intends to stick around no matter what. So, what did I like about this book? Before I talk about the main characters, whom I adored, I have to say that the plot is really well done. There are no outlandish things as can often happen in stories like this; no highwaymen, kidnappings, forced captivity, or overturned carriages. instead, we see the relationships of several characters slowly unfold, revealing both the individuals and the dynamics between them. I thoroughly enjoyed both the hero and the heroine. Both were sympathetic and genuinely decent people doing their best in difficult circumstances. The viscount is a swoon-worthy hero. He is a loving and indulgent uncle who never wanted the responsibility of guardian but who rises to the challenge. He takes his faults quite seriously and does not find tears to be unmanly. There are several little lovely romantic moments throughout the book. The romance aspect only comes on gradually, which I appreciate in a book like this. Sometimes I get so tired of the instalove stories. It's as if the authors cannot imagine and write the gradual way that most people fall for each other. Luckily, that didn't happen here. The couple comes to know each other first as inevitable companions throughout their days, and they do become friends. Both believe—somewhat nonsensically—that it can be nothing more, while it is clear to the reader they are coming to care for each other as more than just friends. The evolution of the relationship was a pleasure to read, as was the relationship between Octavia and the little girl. Actually, it was lovely to see the relationships between all three characters evolve as they became a family. Such delightful little moments between them here and there, like playing skittles in the nursery wing's corridor on a rainy day to picnics in the nursery. The evolution of the romantic relationship was perhaps so slow that it almost felt a little jarring when things heated up between the couple. That's one of the downsides I saw in this book. I didn't quite believe it when things became so amorous so quickly. I kept thinking they'd get caught during the house party! That said, though, I did think their first time together was completely in character, sweet, and absolutely adorable in parts. Too often, unfortunately, this pivotal scene in a romance often seems perfunctory. Not the case here. The other thing that I didn't quite believe was that the other Staunton sisters would do what they did (no spoilers!) without contacting Octavia. These sisters are supposed to be so close. But how can they be if they don't tell their sister what is going on in their lives? Book 2 is firmly set up in

Prim and proper finds her match? Octavia has suffered a major loss yet she has kept it together for her sisters. Now she has set out to make a life for herself and takes a job as a governess. Simon needs a governess for his niece so out of need they come together to solve the problem. Now that is not all because Simon realizes that he cares for this lady yet she is a governess and making a life with her would not be the thing to do. This is a good piece very well-written and it takes its time to develop. No major steamy parts it just a good romance. The ending will leave you with questions so be prepared. I highly recommend this gem. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it