This was a lovely second chance romance made more enjoyable by the fact that it was short novel and it wasn't dragged out unnecessarily with misunderstandings and crossed wires. Collin and Erienne got a chance at reconciling and they took it thanks to the match making machinations of Lucy.
This was a quick romantic read and a lovely addition to a popular series.

As the Duchess of Claringdon is trying to find a new governess a name sticks out from all the other applicants, Miss. Erienne Stone. When the Duchess sees that Erienne comes from the same town as her husband, the Duke; she becomes interested in Erienne because Erienne might know the Duke’s brother, Collin Hunt. When Erienne goes to the interview she is pretty apprehensive about it for she does know the Duke and Collin she has never forgot him because long time ago she was in love with him. Erienne hopes that she will never see Collin again because she is just a mere servant. While Collin the Duke’s brother is a general and forced to take a holiday. What happens when Collin and Erienne meet each other again and will love happen the second time around?
This is a wonderful little novella of second chances and a lovely romance! Yes usually it is a complaint that novellas are never long enough which true it would have been nice to read the characters past when they both broke up within the fourteen years but really the story fulfilled the perfect amount of heartbreak, angst and second chance at love is nicely told. The author is also is able to tell a good story too even with it being part of a series because this novella can even stand alone! Erienne the strong resilient passionate heroine is one to easily fall for. She’s brave, resourceful and despite everything never seems to lose heart. Collin is a great hero and also pretty hard to resist! He has lived through quite a bit but even when it comes to love it isn’t easy for him either. Collin and Erienne are both great together and really deserve each other even when their feeling could come in the way of true love. Of course while waiting for the next in the series this book will definitely be a reread!

A quick fun read!

A nice sweet little addition to the Playful Brides Series!

Valerie Bowman tells a wonderfully fun story that you will immensely enjoy. I love her characters so so much.

I can’t wait for what comes next! This is one of my absolute favorite series ever!!

Although she is just, supposedly, an incidental character in this book, Lucy Hunt is one of my least favorite characters that I have ever read about. The fact that Ms. Bowman has basically, created a whole series around her is just too frustrating. If I read (her two different colored eyes" again, my head might explode.

Lucy Hunt is intrusive, manipulative, and just plain dumb. And for some reason everyone who "knows" in these stories is just completely brainwashed. They are indulgent of her whims, and blithely follow along with her stupid plans. Heck, some even seek her out. I just don't get it.

In a serious of contrived and ridiculously coincidental events, Erienne ends up applying for a governess position in the home of Lucy Hunt. Lucy just happens to find out that Erienne used to be involved with her husband's brother. She hires her and the planning starts. Cue the unexpected arrival of said brother, and with more plotting, and more mentions of Lucy's strangely colored eyes, the pieces fall into place, and HEA soon follows.

Yawn.

Valerie Bowman's Playful Brides series offers up another winning couple. The novella Mr Hunt, I Presume, available 2-8-19, is number 10.5 in the series! Can you believe it? I'm still reading and enjoying the stories of these interesting brides, so I was tickled to snag an ARC and start the journey.

Lucy Hunt, Duchess of Claringdon, needs a new governess. Hopefully fast. Lucy, or should I say the Duchess of Matchmaking, has no one to blame but herself. She matched her previous governess and the lady moved away with her new husband. No good deed and all that. Going through a stack of resumes sent by an employment agency, Lucy stumbles upon her next project. One of the prospects has a tie to her husbands family. Tornado Lucy is on the way and we're about to get caught up in the twister.

Miss Erienne Stone was a governess in Shropshire for many years but now the children are grown and it's time to move on. She's relocated to London and signed with an employment agency. Now Erienne needs a job, quickly, she's helping her beloved brother and every penny counts. Originally from Brighton, the lovely Miss Stone grew up with the Hunt brothers. She has a past with Collin Hunt, the Duke's younger brother. Lucy doesn't know the details of their relationship but when have details ever stopped Lucy? She hires Erienne and "forgets" to tell her husband until they're all at the country house. Erienne will be up to her eyeballs in this plan before she knows what hit her.

General Collin Hunt has been told he needs to relax and regroup, he's uptight and snapping at everyone. His boss at the Home Office won't take no for an answer so Collin is on a forced vaca and heads to his brothers country estate. Thanks to his sister-in-law, Collin comes face to face with his biggest joy and biggest hurt, Erienne Stone. She's just as lovely as ever, blonde hair of course, and he's intriqued, wary, hopeful, regretful. So many emotions at once. Erienne's having the same reaction so we know there's going to be a happy ending for these two. First, there's a lot of baggage to deal with and overcome before we have our HEA. Do you like the movie An Officer and a Gentleman? If so you're going to be as pleased as I was.

Good news...book 11 is on the way. No Other Duke But You will be available in May of 2019. It's about Delilah Montebank, a mini-me of Lucy Hunt. Delilah has been in the background of several books in this series and I can't wait for her story.

Receiving a free book ARC is a privilege and one I truly enjoy and am grateful for. Being able to share my opinion is a pleasure. Both are free and without obligation. Happy reading.

#NetGalley #ValerieBowman #PlayfulBrides #MrHunt,IPresume #historicalromance

Love the Playful Brides series and Mr Hunt, I Presume was just as fun. So much story and depth packed into this novella. Collin and Erienne's story was a quick read but adorable and sexy ❤️

Mr. Hunt I Presume:
A Playfull Brides Story
by Valerie Bowman

Collin Hunt has never forgotten the woman that got away, the only one that he’s loved- Erienne Stone. That was a lifetime ago she’s more than likely married to a titled gentleman with a passel of kids. Forced to take a much needed holiday he sets off to his brothers estates and comes face to face with his past! Maybe this is his second chance, he’d be a fool to let it slip away!

Erienne Stone had pledged her heart to Collin Hunt, he promised to make her his wife but instead he abandoned her. She’s taken a position as governess for the Duke of Claringdon’s young children and is shocked to see that the duke is non other than Derek Collin’s older brother. With a little matchmaking from Lucy the duchese who believes in second chances, Collin and Erienne are thrown together. But of course Collin has to grovel a bit before Erienne forgives him for not trying hard enough for their love.

This was a heartwarming fast paced sexy read. I loved the tension and chemistry between them. So glad they got their happy ending!
I recieved a complimentary copy from the author, via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion,

"Let me go."

Who knew just three little words could be so heartbreaking? You'll see just how devastating they can be in this lovely novella in Valerie Bowman's Playful Brides series. Erienne and Collin were childhood sweethearts. They lived on different sides of the track, so to speak. As time progressed, Collin joined the army and Erienne prepared for her debut. They sent coded messages to each other. However, the last time they meet under their sycamore tree, Collin said goodbye and left, handing her a note with those three little words.

Fourteen years later, Collin is now General Hunt, while Erienne is a governess and has just joined the household of Collin's brother and sister-in-law. What would happen when they meet again? We soon find out! This is a very sweet and spicy second chance romance. What happened all those years ago? Can love rebloom the second time around? Settle in a comfy chair with a hot cup of tea and warm up on a cold winter's day with this delightful story and find out!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

London - 1824

Lucy Hunt is married to Derek, the Duke of Claringdon, and is going through applications sent from Mrs. Griggs employment office, searching for a governess for their children, Ralph. 2, and Mary, 3. One applicant is Miss Erienne Stone, age 32. Derek remembers her name from when he and his family lived in Brighton. He tells Lucy that she was the daughter of a knight, Sir Robert Stone. In fact, Derek’s brother. Collin. age 35, had once courted the woman. Today, Collin is a confirmed bachelor. However, he admitted once that he never married because there is only one woman he ever loved.

When Lucy interviews Erienne, she is very pleased with her qualifications, and hires her. Lucy loves to be a matchmaker which is how they lost their previous governess.

Collin works tirelessly for the government, so his boss tells him to take some time off as he has been working too hard. So, he decides to visit Derek and Lucy and see his niece and nephew.

When Collin and Erienne see one another again, it is difficult for both of them because they are both nursing hurt from miscommunication in the past. Is there a chance that their relationship can be renewed?

This is a nice little romance but a bit predictable. This is an example of when a novella should be a full length book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bowman has special license to break my heart. She turns love into an intriguing adventure. From the first line to the last chapter, Collin and Erienne are a colorful blend of heartache, misunderstandings and second chances. Mr. Hunt, I presume is a mesmerizing look at what a happy ending could be.

Very quick read and a wonderful novella about Collin Hunt and Erienne Stone, who were in love when they were teens. Due to her mother not thinking he was good enough for him, he left and stayed away to have a full career in the military. His loving sister-in-law Lucy the matchmaker get involved and helps give them a second chance at love. Enjoyed it overall, but I wish it had been a longer story with more details. Seemed a little rushed toward the end.

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Fun novella. Valerie Bowman does the couple justice with the quick pace of a novella. I enjoy reading a series of books. Getting to following up on previous couples is such a perk. Keep up the good work Valerie Bowman..

I love a good second chance romance, when two people meant for each other are reunited at the right time. Erienne and Collin are finally back together after years of separation due to being mislead by her meddling parents. Can they make up for lost time and finally have a future together? I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this novella. Lucy, Collin’s sister-in-law, is a brilliant matchmaker and I so need to go back and read her story with Derek. Overall this was a great read, quick and fun!

Mr. Hunt, I Presume, by Valerie Bowman is a delightful novella about Colin Hunt and Erienne Stone, who are unknowingly being set up to meet again by Lucy, the “matchmaker”, who is also the sister-in-law of Colin Hunt.
This is a fast paced book so their relationship develops quickly. I also love Lucy’s character which makes the book so amusing to read. Although I’m not a fan of novellas, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella as I do all of Valerie Bowman’s books.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for giving me an ARC for an honest review of this book.

This second chance romance between star crossed young lovers Erienne Stone and General Collin Hunt. Years ago Erienne defied her family and her life of privilege to go to work as a governess. Collin is ordered from this superior’s to take a holiday and goes to see is his brother, Derek the Duke of Clarington, but what he doesn’t know is his sister-in-law, Lucy invites the only woman he’s ever loved to be her governess. Lucy is match making at its best she’s looking for a governess and learns these two have a past. Collin definitely remembers Erienne and she knows she’s in danger of losing her heart again to the man she loved so many years ago. I loved this novella for two people getting a second chance at love and their own HEA!!!

This was such a delightful novella to read, I've always loved second chances! Fourteen years have passed since Erienne and Collin have seen each other but once they come face to face again at his brother's home, it's to learn that their chemistry and passion is alive and well! Collin had left her all those years ago because he didn't think he was good enough for her and he dedicated his life to becoming a spy for the Home Office. As for Erienne, she had become a spinster and governess because she knew she would never love another man as she loved Collin. I really enjoyed their story and thought it very well written:)

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

I should have known better –why do I keep doing this to myself? I love Valerie Bowman’s books, and I know what novellas are, and yet I keep reading them.

Novellas/short stories don’t work for me. The beginning is always great and then everything is done in a jiffy. And it works for some people, it just doesn’t for me.

If you like novellas, this is a good one. It’s a sweet story, a reunited lovers trope. It has characters that we already know and love from previous books in the series.

The writing, as always, is entertaining and funny, romantic and pleasant to follow.

This is a typical case of “it’s not the book, it’s me”. So, go for it, if novellas are your thing!

You never know when the past will awaken again and there might be a second chance at love. Collin Hunt had done what he thought was right at the time and walked away from Erienne 14 years ago. When he realized he made a mistake, but it appears he was too late. So he goes into the service for his country and all these years later, he finally takes some time off and goes to visit his brother Derek, his wife Lucy and their family.
But it seems fate is having a merry time as he finds Erienne working as a governess for them! What he doesn't know and she does not realize is there was matchmaking in play to bring these two together by Lucy. She had been working at one job for the past fourteen years and when desperately needing a new position, Lucy gave her an amazing salary!
As they see each other again, they find the old feelings are still there. But so much has gone on in between. Can she ever forgive him for leaving her in the past and can he now feel the same about her?
A fast paced story that hits all of the stops needed in a good romance. Tension, surprises, some humor and emotions that keep you engaged! I enjoyed this story and I know you will too!

I loved this story, it was such a fun, good paced read. The characters were all likeable, I had to smile at Lucy’s (the duchess) antics. Eirenne and Colin had loved each other many years ago but had lost touch due to a number of circumstances. Now they meet again. They have never forgotten each other but a number of things have happened since they last saw each other. Other influences affected their relationship last time, will it be any different now? This can be read in an afternoon, but it’s an delightful way to spend your time. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sweet & Endearing! I absolutely devoured this book starting with the first page. Beautifully written and absolutely charming second Chance romance. From the lady of the house Lucy Hunt and her inability to stop her meddling matchmaking, to the adorable little Lady Mary and her brother Ralph, as well as Erienne Stone and Collin Hunt our heroine and hero who are still in love with with the other even after fourteen years one month and sixteen days that they have been parted. Sigh inducing, Endearing, sumptuous, with heartfelt emotions.

Valerie Bowman writes a full length novel or a short story or now a novella. All with the same intensity of emotions, same depth in characters, same subtlety in feelings... She is a supreme commander of words, a true markswoman I must say, her words find the target in our hearts. Bullseye, every time. Loved it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.