Rules for a Proper Governess
MacKenzies and McBrides, Book #7
By Jennifer Ashley
ISBN# 9780425266038
Author’s Website: www.jenniferashley.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una
Description:
TO KISS A THIEF…
Scottish barrister Sinclair McBride can face the most sinister criminals in London—but the widower’s two unruly children are a different matter. Little Caitlin and Andrew go through a governess a week, sending the ladies fleeing in tears. There is, however, one woman in town who can hold her own.
Roberta “Bertie” Frasier enters Sinclair’s life by stealing his watch—and then stealing a kiss. Intrigued by the handsome highlander, Bertie winds up saving his children from a dangerous situation and returning them to their father. Impressed with how they listen to her, Sinclair asks the lively beauty to be their governess, never guessing that the unconventional lady will teach him a lesson or two in love.
Review:
Sinclair McBride is a hard working lawyer and widower who is pick- pocketed by “Bertie” and from that moment on the chemistry between them begins. Daisy, his wife had had a turbulent past and McBride had rescued her from that. Now dead, Sinclair has started to receive mysterious notes about her. He turns some of these over to the police but not much is found out about the sender. He is constantly bullied and harassed by Daisy’s brother about his children. Edward would like to get control of them. He wants Daisy’s children raised in the proper English fashion and not by an unruly Scotsmen. As for the McBride children: Andrew is a precarious 8 year old that terrorizes every governess that they hire and Cat is withdrawn and does not show any emotions of a child. Their father has immersed himself in work since their mother’s death and doesn’t seem to have any time for them. I can picture McBride as a large outspoken Scotsman (he is known as Basher McBride) who is strictly no nonsense at work (fair but honorable) but when at home in Scotland is quite at home fishing on the lochs and dancing with his kin.
Bertie (Roberta) has grown up having to fend for herself in East London with an abusive but somewhat caring father: “He protected me from Jeffrey’s advances” but who makes her steal or pay the consequence. “I might as well do it now as he will make me do it anyway” Jeffrey her boyfriend is a cad and only her father protects her from him. She lands the governess job when the last governess leaves the children at the park in Bertie’s care. Bertie returns them home and is kept because she can keep the children under control. I love the way that Bertie is a strong woman personality of her times and actually will seek out what she wants.
Trust is built by all and Bertie and Sinclair’s love builds throughout. They have comical moments when Bertie shows Sinclair what a good pick-pocket she is. Both have pasts that threaten their own and the children’s safety but together they find their true love and loyalty to each other. The children thrive under Bertie’s care and come to trust and love her and slowly come out of their shells. Sinclair takes her home to Scotland and finds that his family loves her. Bertie finds there that she can be a part of this new life.
This is a delightful historical fiction that is great for curling up on a favorite chair on a fall afternoon. There is romance, mystery, comedy and intrigue all tied up in the love story between Sinclair McBride and “Bertie” Frasier that takes place in Victorian London.
