The Governess Affair

Courtney Milan

The Governess Affair
Courtney Milan
2012

The Summary
"She will not give up...

"Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position.  Unable to find new work, she's demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked:  a petty, selfish, swinish duke.  But it's not the duke she fears.  It's his merciless man of business--the man known as the Wolf of Clermont.  The formidable former pugilist has a black reputation for handling all the duke's dirty business, and when the duke turns her case over to him, she doesn't stand a chance.  But she can't stop trying--not with her entire future at stake.

"He cannot give in...

"Hugo Marshall is a man of ruthless ambition--a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner's son to the right hand man of a duke.  When his employer orders him to get rid of the pestering governess by fair means or foul, it's just another day at the office.  Unfortunately, fair means don't work on Serena, and as he comes to know her, he discovers that he can't bear to use foul ones.  But everything he has worked for depends upon seeing her gone.  He'll have to choose between the life that he needs, and the woman he is coming to love..."

The Good
After hearing so much about Hugo Marshall and Serena in following novels, I felt like I needed to go back and visit their story--and I'm glad I did.  I absolutely loved reading The Governess Affair.  On the one hand, I enjoyed filling in the gaps of my knowledge; on the other, I found The Governess Affair to be a supremely satisfying romance.

Plus, I loved the humor and heart.  I loved how Serena was able to go toe-to-toe with Hugo, who was one of the most feared men in the Duke of Clermont's employ; I loved how Hugo treated her gently, after her ordeal with the Duke of Clermont, and how he was able to gain her trust with even the smallest actions.

And I liked the way that Serena and Hugo's relationship developed.  I mean, at first, he treats her like he would treat any problem; however, as time goes on, he begins to see her as the indisputably tough, incredibly intelligent, and unexpectedly resilient woman she is.  When he grows to admire her--and when she learns to trust him in return--it's so supremely satisfying.

I loved it.  I loved the whole thing.

It's short, yes, but it's incredibly sweet and it's certainly worth reading.

The Bad
No complaints.

The Ugly
The Duke of Clermont.

I hate him.  I knew I would hate him, because I'd read of his exploits in both The Duchess War and The Heiress Effect.  However, the reality is that I hated him even more after reading The Governess Affair.  He deserves every terrible thing to befall him.