Marina is hiding a secret and has disguised herself as a dowdy governess when she catches Tam De Ware and he, through a series of ridiculous events, drunkenly abducts her.
Hilarity ensues as the aloof but noble knight woos the stubborn, forthright damsel. A funny, sweet and engaging historical romance for anyone who enjoys the genre.

Marina Frome takes her role as governess to her three charges seriously, but she is not one to cower to a bully. When Lord de Waare - among others - are invited to stay at the Kemp household while Lady Kemp preys upon her first daughter's future husband and said daughter simpers like a fool. Marina sees the writing on the wall and intervenes in this plotting mama's scandalous act, and winds up being abducted from her own residency by Lord de Waare himself - drunk, at that. The opening scenes were quite comical and albeit over-the-top with a fast pace. 

On the way to his northern home, Tam discovers Marina Frome is not a frumpy, frizzy-haired, overweight governess. Instead, she is a slender blonde resembling a sprite with such a mind that there is no way she is anything but from the nobility. No servant would dare speak or act in ways such as she. Set to discovering her true identity, Tam gives Marina his own nickname that follows her throughout the book. Convinced she is ruined, Tam refuses any word on the contrary that he will marry her. 

Marina soon discovers Tam's dotting aunt, who seems to do exactly as he bids. A foreign concept to her. She also meets Tam's younger brother who quickly falls into puppy love with her. Meanwhile, Marina is fighting her own growing attraction and affection for Tam. There are a few awkwardly funny scenes that weren't fully fleshed out to reveal themselves as naive attractiveness and how Marina can't handle that. The scene upon discovering Tam in the lake and stumbling all over in the snow comes to mind. 

Soon Marina's identity is revealed to Tam in the few items his friend collected from the Kemps. A small family Bible reveals her to be almost a princess in her own right. The gravity of this scene and Tam's shock underscores just how massive a scandal this was when it happened four years prior. And the lies that were told only add up to one thing: greed. Marina would have gone on living in hiding, but Tam is determined to assist Marina in getting her inheritance back. And it starts with a visit to an asylum...

While Tam now knows Marina's true identity, no one else does. They go on pretending, even as they travel to London. It is there that Tam's wartime friends come into the light, as well as Tam's very Moulin Rouge-like Uncle Quentin who tells such a tale of the war with the French...and Tam's old flame, a tall, lithe, bombshell blonde. Once the troupe arrives in London, things take some very strange turns filled with surprises, jealousy, crazy, and blows to pride.

Despite her level head and all of her reflection over the past four years of her life, in addition to her own insistence of how spiteful and mean she was growing up (sometimes just because she could), I couldn't reconcile such growth and maturity with the fact that Mariana STILL went into overly melodramatic hysterics and weeping on several occasions. The behavior was at odds with her character growth. 

Just as there is a flaw in Marina's character, there is an even bigger one in Tam's. He lives and dies by honor, but he had an ugly nasty habit of domineering and physically abusing Mariana in what today would be labeled domestic violence. I also couldn't reconcile that behavior with the man he seemed to be. When Mariana disobeyed him or refused to give in, he would grab her chin and jaw in his hand and jerk her head around to force her to agree with him on whatever subject was at hand. This didn't add up to the character Clarke built of him being such a gentleman, right out of the Medieval period. 

There was some superfluous wordiness at times that bogged down everything. I think it could have been worked out with some more editing and revising, or done away with altogether. I'm not sure the purpose of the particular scenes I'm thinking about being written in that way.  

Overall, an enjoyable book if you can look past the few flaws. I did enjoy Marina's character (minus the hysterics) and I loved Uncle Quentin's own hysterically outlandish behavior. A roué indeed! I'm interested to see the books that feature Tam's friends, the wounded Irishman and gorgeous hunk that is the prime meat of the marriage mart.

An easy and enjoyable read. Different take on the time period. A beach read.

Wow! What an amazing book!! I enjoyed every minute of it. The descriptions and dialogue are so much fun!!! Tam and Marina are wonderful characters . The pace is fast . I hope this author writes another book soon!! She is very talented and unique!!!!

This is brilliant. It's romantic, funny and captivating. Tam is a cold, pompous, prideful and condescending man, but he's extremely likable. He is honorable and chivalrous, which isn't always a good thing. As a whole, he comes off as adorable. Marina is strong, stubborn, snarky and spunky. He's no match for her wits. The storyline is amusing, the characters are entertaining and the end is absolutely fantastic. Put this one at the top of your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

This book was a fun read. After finishing it, I went looking for more of this author's books but found none. If it is a new author, bravo! Great first effort. It caught me from the first few paragraphs, into the rest of the chapter and until the end. I liked the characters and loved their interaction with each other. It was quite entertaining. My only problem was with the passage of time within the book. It took me a while to realize how much time had elapsed between the parts of the story. Other than that, the book was really good.

Lord de Waare has his holdings up North. He is extremely honorable and medival. Pretty much everyone is afraid of him. He walks around with a "stiff necked, stuck-up, cold fish he was". Miss Frome, "frizzy-haired, bespectacled frump sitting in the corner in the ugliest dress". She was the governess but she had her own opinions.
The bantering between Miss Frome and Lord de Waare is so funny at times. They just love to yell at each other, although I think he does it more. As you can see the characters are wonderful and lively. The plot is somewhat complex but it certainly keeps your attention. You do not want to put this down.
There is intrigue, danger and a lot of fear. She is so afraid of her uncle. Lord de Waare takes her North, you'll love how that comes about, and keeps her there since he has become her protector. I really loved this book the banter, the fighting, the mistakes he makes. All lead to a mesmerizing tale.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.

A Baron who is almost led to a compromising situation to marry a Lady's daughter.
A governess who hides a secret and ends up falling into the hands of the Baron, and together, they will devise a plan to help her return to Ton.

The plot might even be interesting and funny (the author seems to have a very comedic side in her narrative), but I did not feel any connection with the characters.
Maybe it was the pace too fast or the narrative too modern.
3 stars

~~Reviewed by Monique~~

Marina Frome is sitting in the parlour, watching her eldest charge Amelia Kemp make a fool of herself in her quest for a husband. Out of the potential suitors, Lord de Waare has captured Amelia’s attention, and Marina isn’t quite sure what the girl sees in the unsmiling, rigid man. Tam Beltring, Baron de Waare, cares not one bit for the debutante, but he has noticed the frumpy governess for reasons that elude him. Amelia’s mother, Lady Kemp, has a special request for Marina, and in the dark of night, it becomes all too clear what were Lady Kemp’s intentions. After much confusion and shouting, Marina finds herself slung in Tam’s carriage and carried away.

I was rather startled at the frenzied pace of the first chapters, and while I was expecting something light, I couldn’t say I was prepared for what awaited me. MY LADY GOVERNESS felt to me like a play written by Jane Austen but performed by Monty Python! Tam promptly insists on marrying Marina, as she is ruined, which she vehemently refuses. However, she does need help with something, and Tam swears he will solve her problem, all the while maintaining they must wed. MY LADY GOVERNESS feels at times overly melodramatic, frantic, as well as completely over-the-top: Tam was extremely bossy and not exactly pleasant, although he improved a tad as the story progressed, on the other hand, Marina’s growth occurred in the four years prior to the story, which was a bit odd, and not really necessary unless one counts the appearance of a character later on, which threw the story on an entirely different course, which was also rather superfluous. The book felt to me like a series of colourful vignettes, or more precisely like charms on a bracelet where the story is a very thin chain. In fact, when Tam and Marina travel to London, there were so many characters doing very little, and then I realised I had completely forgotten the purpose of the visit. My favourite character is one of those decorative figures, Tam’s Uncle Quentin, although I suspect the corseted, powdered, and rouged old roué was intended to be viewed as ridiculous – and he was – he was also very endearing, and he fitted in the whole “Moulin Rouge” tone of the story. Funnily enough, his presence served no real purpose, other than a passing entertainment.

While I did have issues with the flimsy plot, and I felt rather lukewarm towards the lovers, Elise Clarke’s prose is spectacular, the use of language is exquisite, and the dialogues superb.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

My Lady Governess by author Elise Clarke is fast-paced Regency Romance you are sure to enjoy.

Marina is a governess to the three young daughters of Lady Kemp. The two younger girls were well behaved, the older daughter Amelia is behaving shockingly while trying to attract the attentions of Thomas Beltring, Lord de Waare. Worse yet, her mother clearly approves of her behavior.

Lady Kemp is determined to get Lord de Waare for her daughter even if she has to trap him. Finding out that he has a secret intolerance to gin, she slips it into his wine to ensure his utter intoxication and sets out to trap him into marriage to her daughter.

The trap is set and sprung but de Waare isn’t fooled. As drunk as he is he realizes what is happening and refuses to offer for young Amelia. When Marina slaps him in an effort to sober him up, he is angry enough to throw her over his shoulder and storm out of the house with her.

He intended to humiliate her by making her walk back in her nightgown. He quickly realizes she isn’t the governess he thought she was though. She is clearly a lady and so he must offer her marriage.

This is just the beginning of a fast-paced adventure. Lord de Waare sets out to discover who she really is and Marina works to keep it from him. I really enjoyed how the author kept the action going and the interplay between the two.

Easy To Read

This book was fun and easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more from Elise Clarke.

Reviewed for LnkToMi iRead in response to a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review.

This book was just an okay read for me! I felt that the storyline just didn't flow well throughout the book!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Publisher's Description:

One knight, one runaway heiress, one rollicking romance: A breath of fresh air in Regency romance!

Proud and haughty, Lord de Waare is almost as medieval as his castle…until he accidentally abducts a governess, who turns out not to be a governess at all, and who shows this knight that his heart is not as armoured as he thought.

A girl with a dangerous past, Marina would happily disappear again, but since de Waare won’t let that happen, then the least he can do is help her clear her name. But moving back into society is dangerous for her and for the stern man she’s coming to love. She knows the rules of honour and society, and she won’t allow de Waare to compromise the principles that define him.

But de Waare didn’t become the Crusader by accepting defeat. Faint heart never won a fair lady, and de Waares always win.

My Thoughts:

This new author on the scene has created a fun, rollicking, out of the ordinary regency story.
This book is full of humor and danger.
Our heroine is hiding from an uncle who had her committed to an asylum. She managed her escape and has since been in hiding disguised as a dowdy, frumpy governess.
Enter her employer who wants to trap a certain lord into marrying her daughter.
Lord de Waare has only one vice. If he drinks cheap gin he gets roaring drunk and lacks control. He still knows the difference between what is right and wrong and what is real and perceived.. Thus when our heroine's employer tries to trap him into marriage with her eldest daughter, he won't be trapped.
Kidnapping her frumpy governess in error was also not in his plans. Imagine his surprise at what and whom he finds under her disguise.
Will this accidental beginning turn into love?
This is an enjoyable read with many twists and turns. Elise Clarke has written an entrancing debut book.
If traditional Regency is what you enjoy then you will not care for this book. There isn't a speck of the traditional to this rollicking, humorous and romantic tale.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 2 of 5 flames. This story has more humor and mystery than intimacy.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley by invitation.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Beautiful romance story full of humor and Drama. I really enjoyed the book.

The blurb described this as a rollicking romance. And it certainly has a rollercoaster pace.

This read to me as if the author had recently binged on Georgette Heyer's more farcical romances, and decided to take a crack at a more-or-less Heyerian world, but with modern romance elements, as many very successful regency romance writers are doing. Outside of recognizable Heyerian phrases, there is little attention paid to period speech or manners, much less correct details of dress, but most readers of Regency romance these days don't seem to care about those details, instead, they're reading for a modern sensibility focused on sexy, manly barons and earls in the "ton", and this, the author offers in spades.

In the first few pages, a scheming matchmaking Mama gets the hero drunk and thrusts her seventeen year old daughter into his room in order to force him to marry her. Bellowing with rage, he abducts the frumpy governess instead, with whom he's been verbally sparring. He takes her home, and of course they are on a first name basis as fast as any modern couple--furnishing an opportunity with some hijinks with her name.

If that suggests fun to you, then you're off for a wild ride. The relationship spins out following established romance beats (early on she stumbles on him bathing naked in a river, and of course, nearly swoons with innocent lust), with Tam, the baron, riding roughshod over Marina, our heroine, as she fights back when she isn't giving in to her traitorous body.

Around that, Clarke builds quite a plot--the mystery of Marina's guise as governess, a missing inheritance, a spurned beauty, and of course Tam's equally gorgeous and unmarried buddies rallying around, so you know this is the start of a series.

Clarke injects plenty of hilarity into the scenes--one of my favorite bits has to do with Mozart, and there is the kafuffle about Marina's real name. I really enjoyed the side characters, especially Uncle Quentin, who I suspect owes his existence to a certain elderly roue in Heyer's VENETIA.

It was clear that the author had great fun writing it, and readers who aren't looking for period verisimilitude should have equal fun in reading it.

This one started off interestingly enough. I really enjoyed Miss Frome’s wit and watching her banter with de Waare who turned out to be a fun, swoony hero. I kept imagining him as Richard Armitage (*happy sigh.*)

Overall, a fun historical!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The story is about a young woman, Marina, who is to be committed to an asylum by her uncle in order yo steal her dowry left to her by her grandfather. The story involved hiding a missing heiress, attempted seduction by a former fiancé, attempted murder and fooling everyone about her identity. The book is a good read but parts of it drag somewhat. I would recommend it as a sweet romance story.

I agree with the other reviewer that I think this is meant to be a parody of sorts and I might have been able to finish such a book a month or two previously but with the recent #METOO issues, I just can't bring myself to keep reading or give the book a positive review if I did finish it. Another reader's opinion that she didn't care for either of the two leads also mirrors mine.

I was a bit skeptical about this one because though I love the Georgette Heyer type of story, this was a bit too far fetched.

We have a governess who is sort of abducted by a Lord, who of course has to marry her now that her reputation is in tatters (nothing ever happened as he is a gentleman of course). But she is an heiress hiding away from a wicked uncle who had her incarcerated in an asylum to get his hands on her fortune.

The story with the feisty lady, the distant lord was good but the story was a little far fetched for my liking!

Goodreads review posted 2/11/2017. Amazon does not permit reviews as yet. Review on my blog mid Nov.

A sweet Regency romance with a good romance,humor and drama.
Love Tam he just wanted to protect the fumpy governess after he abducted her.But who was she?
Enjoyed reading.

Extremely clever and unusual take on a Regency romance. When Lord De Waare steals a little, dumpy governess what an entrancing tale followed.j