Something about this title did not work for me. I put it down planning to come back to it but it was not memorable enough to reinterest me.

Apologies for the late response, but I have decided not to read and review this title.

I appreciate the opportunity to have access to your titles and apologize for the delay in response, as well as taking your time for updates on these titles, when it's clear that I would not be reviewing them, based on how long ago they were published.

MR. HUNT, I PRESUME - Valerie Bowman

#10.5 of the Playful Brides series

SWEET - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - As usual, Lucy is up to her old tricks again, this time bringing together her husband's brother Collin and her new governess, Erienne. They have a history, and Lucy is determined to get them to face their past and have a future together.

Writing - 4 stars - Bowman has created a wonderful group of people, and it's always enjoyable to revisit with them. The plots are simple, but well-written.

Characters - 4 stars - Collin is a strong, determined military man who has a weak spot for his first love. Despite his love for her, he is a man who tries to do the right thing, and in this case he has decided (or been told) that he must keep away from her for her own good. Erienne had one true love, and she has been unable to move on with her life because of not having any closure.

Title - 4 stars - Collin is the Mr. Hunt in the title, and I suppose that the title refers to them finding each other again after so many years apart.

Cover - 4 stars - Pretty typical of the genre, but I like the bright colors that catch the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - Not all of this series are winners, but this is an excellent example of what I like best about it--solid characters, some humor, warmth, and a simple but effective story.

Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman is a heartfelt story of two people who once loved with selfless abandon, lost their way and then found each other again. It's full of that complicated love that anyone would enjoy reading in order to know what happens in the end. I highly recommend reading this romance!

Mr Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman
Subgenre: historical romance
Release date: 8 Feb 2019
Publisher: self-published
Format: ebook and print
Length: 148 pages
RRP: $4.00 (ebook); $13.99 (print)

Lucy Hunt, the matchmaker, is now working on her next perfect match, albeit accidentally.
The Duchess of Claringdon, Lucy, needs a new governess for her children, as she made a match for the last governess. She is reading through the applications and has decided on one particular applicant. It is then her husband makes a connection to his past. This applicant used to live in Brighton, and the applicant’s family looked down on him and his family. Derek warns his wife about matchmaking for his brother, Collin.

Collin Hunt is on enforced leave. His boss at the spy agency believes he may be burning out and has sent him for some time away from the office. But Collin has been working hard and long hours to forget. He wants to forget the girl he loved. There will obviously be a meeting between this pair and for love to rebloom.

And so, this comes to be, Lucy puts Erienne, the new governess, into a suite and does a makeover for her first dinner. It is here she must face Collin for the first time in many a year. As the days go by, both Erienne and Collin have a chance to talk and they discover what went wrong for them in the past. Yes, there are still some issues to discuss and some misunderstandings to clear, but Collin and Erienne do get their HEA.

This is a novella in the series by Ms Bowman, and a thoroughly enjoyable series it is for those readers looking for an historical series.
Reviewed by Heather

This series is amazing! This author is amazing! I enjoyed this one. A favorite author of mine indeed! The stories are always so beautiful.

I loved this book by Valerie Bowman! An inspiring story that played out very well! It's a story of second chances at love. Collin and Erienne were great together but with this being a novella I wished there was more. It kept me enthralled through the entire tale and was an enjoyable read.

Well written and as complete of a story as a novella can be. I must admit I did like the heroine much more than the hero. More groveling on his part would have been nice.

The Duchess of Claringdon is at it again. Lucy just can't help herself when it comes to matchmaking! In this novella for the Playful Brides series, author Valerie Bowman tells a story of reluctant but destined love with a lot of her signature humor.
My biggest complaint is that it is a novella and was over far too quickly.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KPC31L9?ref=cm_sw_em_r_rw_mw_qQUrZr3r8Hskw

Very good second chance story. Collin and Erienne were great together but with this being a novella, not as much character development in some of her other stories. But it was an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this. Book. Great plot and good characters. Valerie Bowman is an awesome author and she is on my shelf of go to’s

A fun matchmaking romance. I enjoyed the couples in this and the peek into the family dynamics. Great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Lucy Hunt is at it again, after all next to her family, matchmaking is her favorite thing. Once she finds that one of her current candidates for governess was more than a friend to her brother-in-law, Collin, her wheels are spinning. Exactly what happened fourteen years ago to separate them? Do Etienne and Collin deserve a second chance at finding love? If you read this book you will find the answer to these questions. It is a nice read. Though not my favorite of Valerie Bowman`s offerings, it is worthwhile reading.

Erienne Stone never imagined taking a governess position with the Duke and Duchess of Claringdon would change her life. The man who broke her heart when she was but eighteen is the brother to the Duke, Collin Hunt, and he's arrived on a much needed vacation. She panics when she discovers he's staying in the same house as her. She pleads to the Duchess to not intervene but Lucy doesn't listen. Erienne's feelings for Collin flood her heart. Why did he leave me? What must I do?

Collin is a general and overworks himself. His boss orders him to a two-week holiday. Collin agrees and decides to go visit his brother and sister-in-law. When he arrives, he's greeted with the only woman he's ever loved, Erienne. Misunderstands ensue and Collin is left with one choice: bare his aching heart to Erienne in the hopes she'll forgive him or go back to a lonely life devoid of emotion.

Wow, what a wonderful second-chance Regency romance! I've never read anything by Valerie Bowman before this one but I have just 1-clicked her entire Playful Brides series. Yes, it's that good.

Wonderfully woven with engaging characters, plenty of misunderstandings and a matchmaker intent on bringing two brokenhearted people together in the name of love. Emotional in only the best possible way, this is a must-read!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5+ stars

I love second chance love stories and this one was deliciously good! My only issue with it is that it seemed so short! Beautifully written and packed full of emotion, this one will definitely satisfy readers who love a feel-good romance. Definitely recommended!

I'm an absolute fan of Valerie Bowman's novels, so it's no wonder I liked the book.
The big problem of the book? It's a short story, that's it.

But how do you refuse to know a new second-chance novel?

Collin and Erienne (I liked her name) have known each other for many years, and were in love.
She was the daughter of a proud Baron, who would not accept this romance because of the kind of family Collin had.
With such resistance, Collin decided to abandon everything, including Erienne's love, and followed his father's career by becoming a military man.
Against her father's wish, Erienne chose to go to work as a governess.

Only many years later, when he was forced to take a vacation, as General, Collin meets Erienne again, and he is scared to see she working as governess.
But even more frightening, it is the determination of his sister-in-law, the Duchess, to play the matchmaker for them.

As I said, too pity the book is short.
4 stars

I wanted to rate this higher, but I have more complaints than praise.

My favorite moment was when the heroine is asked why the army is after her. The emotions are strong and believable but the plot...is very unconventional. The repeated references to Cinderella, a peerage female hiring herself out as a governess when her family is still alive and sending wages back to her brother, the instant fondling to oral sex to more, etc.
Not a story I will seek out for another read even though it ends happily as a second chance romance.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley.

On of my 2019 favorites already. I absolutely loved this book.

He needs holidays from his job in the Home Office. She needed a job. Once upon a time they have been in love. If the story would be this easy ...

General Colin Hunt once has been in love with a young woman but was never good enough for her family. He was a young soldier, she the daughter of a Baron. Nowadays things are different. She, Erienne, fell socially and works as a governess now and is looking for a new position. Colin has to take some days off and decided to spent time with his brother, sister in law and their children. He doesn't know that his sister in law tries to play matchmaker.

It's a wonderful story. Simply wonderful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

Oh my stars! I seriously cried at parts. This was such an emotional story. It is full of angst and joy all in one. Ms. Bowman has such a way with words. I was immediately drawn into this story. I read this in one setting. The plot flowed by so smoothly, it was like being right there in the middle of the story.

Collin was a young man in the army and gave up his true love so she could have more than he could give her. Erienne was so hurt that she moved away and become a governess. Such a tragic story. Collin was such a drool-worthy hero in this story. Erienee was adorable. For one so young, she grew up and turned her back on society after the love of her life left her. What courage and spirit she had. I fell in love with both of them. I was so drawn into their story of a second chance romance.

This story is not erotica but should be read by a mature reader. I highly recommend this book.

I just finished reading Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman. *sigh*
I love a second chance romance story. And I really enjoyed this one although it actually made me cry at times and angry at others.
This is a short read, but worth the time. I loved Collin and Erienne. They both deserved better than they got in their youth. As with any second chance story there were others involved who thought they knew better. Ugh, there's always one rotten one in the bunch.