Lady Patience's season is coming up soon, but her brother, a former soldier, still treats her like a useless, helpless child, and she resents it. Chance words make her decide to prove herself by secretly taking a job as maid in his former general's house. The general's son has been striving for an advantageous marriage for years, having determined the best woman to marry by means of lists and plans. But when the woman he's been chasing for two years suggests that they pretend to separate while she chases a rake to make him look better to her parents, he sees the new, strangely lady-like maid as an opportunity to show interest in another woman before the ton as requested, without raising undue hopes in some other lady. So he arranges for her to dress up as a lady, complete with wig, and accompany him to balls. What could possibly go wrong...?

Look, such an utterly incompetent servant should have been discharged in the first five minutes, but if you ignore that fact and such similar mild absurdities, this was an enjoyable, clean read. I wasn't particularly thrilled by the first book I read by this author, but then she was part of a box set I read and I enjoyed that one enough to give this a go - and I'm glad I did. The writing was good and the content clean, and the characters felt real - though I have to say that so much planning could get irritating! Some things did feel a bit overdrawn, but as far as I was concerned such things ended up merely humorous - though some might find them annoying. It's not quite up to five-star standard, but I look forward to reading more by the author.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

A Proper Charade is aptly named. There are so many "charades" going on in here that there are laughable moments and ones that have you on the edge of your seat waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Mr. Woodsworth makes a fantastic hero and Lady Patience is a great complement to him.

You'll definitely enjoy this lighthearted read as Ms. Hatch whisks you away to a lighthearted read.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

I struggled at the beginning of this story. I couldn't find anything to champion in either character, but I kept going. I found the second half of the story much more enchanting and started to cheer for the hero and heroine of this tale. Give it a try, and I hope you find it wonderful!

Oh how I loved this book! I absolutely adored it! I smiled and giggled and sighed... A LOT! One of my daughters won an ARC of the book a couple months ago and has read it multiple times already and kept telling me that I needed to read it soon. Another daughter read it, and loved it so much that she also reread it multiple times. So then I had two people telling me that I needed to read it now! That's a lot of pressure. ;-) Well, I finally got to it in my reading list and I wish I could go back and have read it earlier. Lol! But I know this is one that I will definitely go back and reread and enjoy every time I do. Plus, I'll be recommending it to all of my friends.

Lady Patience was a hoot! She's one of those characters that you can't help but enjoy and feel connected to. I loved her desire to prove herself useful and the measures she takes to do so. I can understand her brother Nicholas's frustrations and hopes to help her learn to be a little more thoughtful before acting. But I can also see her desire and need to find joy and comfort in learning and doing.

What happens when a Lady tries to act as a maid? Lots of funny moments! Her trying to "wax" the furniture had me giggling. Trying to properly light a fire...*smolder*. But her charade within her charade was perfect! A job that she could do without a second thought.

I loved her self reflection moments. She was a normal (ok she was a lady but when I say normal, I'm meaning she has dreams and hopes and desires just like every other female or male or human) girl who just wanted to feel like she mattered and that she could do something simple but important and feel confident in that. When she messed up or was asked to do something she tried hard to think about it and what it would mean if she did or didn't do it. Or if she did, what the consequences would be. Even in her somewhat charge ahead and joyous love of life moments.

There are several fabulous characters in this book. I loved Patience but I also loved her brother Nicholas, Miss Smith, Anthony, and Lord Bryant (I'm throwing out a request here for his book...pretty please Esther Hatch...I'd love to know his story!) and Miss Morgan (although some of you might disagree with me for calling her a fabulous character, I think she was great and played her part perfectly even if I'm not her biggest fan (or not her fan at all)). And how everything unravelled and was put back together was great! I laughed and swooned! *Happy Sigh*

This was most definitely another win for me from this author! And one I can't wait to tell my friends to read (if my daughters haven't already). I've loved all of her books but this one takes the number one spot as my favorite of them all.

Content: Clean. Some kissing but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This was just a great book to read over the holiday weekend. I will admit that I may have stayed up really late to finish reading this book. I may have used the excuse that I was freezing and couldn't sleep so I may as well be reading, but let's face it, I would have stayed up and finished it regardless.

I really liked Anthony and all his lists. They made me smile and made him more real because of his little quirks. I felt for him and the situation Patience put him in by trying to be his maid, but it really did make for an entertaining read.

I'm glad that Patience's family troubles were worked out, and I'd love to see her brother Nicholas get his own book. I would gladly read it. He needs a good person to make him a little more light-hearted, but he doesn't need someone silly like Patience.

Anyway, it was a quick enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more books from this author.

When Lady Patience sneaks through the bushes to find the servant entrance, she meets Anthony, son of the general that her brother had been under. This begins a fun and interesting story of a girl that is looking for a more meaningful life of being useful. She is hired on as the maid, which she has no idea how to do a maid's work. But she learns. In the next month, she works as a maid, but Anthony asks her to pretend to be a lady, thinking she won't know how to do that, being that she is only a maid. It's a fun and often humorous story of how their relationship develops to friendship, and eventually more. When he learns her true identity, he is stunned, but he finds that he really loves that girl that invaded his home as a maid. Great story!

Fun story. Loved that Patience didn’t fit the proper mold. The servants in General Woodsworth’s house were great to hire and help Patience. Anthony seemed a bit clueless at times in the beginning but he grew on me. The way Lord Bryant was portrayed makes me want him to have his own story.

This was a wonderful book. There were parts of the plot that seemed a bit contrived, but I loved the overall book enough to make up for it. I loved the two main characters, Anthony and Patience. Their relationship was so enjoyable to read about. And the ending was very satisfying!

Five stars for making me laugh and smile and even cry a little. I could not put this book down. The premise was a teensy bit far-fetched, but the plot moved along at a quick pace, and the hero and heroine were both charming in their own quirky ways. Although the heroine was clueless at times, she just really did not know what she did not know, and that made her so relatable, as well as lending plenty of amusing interactions to the story. She showed an admirable determination and humble willingness to learn and do whatever was required of her. A delightful, lighthearted tale with a sweet happily-ever-after.

I adore this book! Esther Hatch has such a way with writing; I love how she mixes humor into already refreshingly unique plots. This one captured my attention. Part of me didn't ever want it to end, while the other part just HAD to know how they all made it out of their big pile of misdirections and charades.

I will say that this story has a slightly more outlandish plot than the previous titles I've read by this author. Somehow, it all came together in a delightful story and I never found myself pulled out of the plot with one of those, "... really? Like THAT could ever happen!" moments.

Anthony and Patience are so cute together. They are the embodiment of the saying, "opposites attract". We see one individual who holds himself to a strict standard but realizes he needs more light in his life, and another whose wild, carefree spirit burns with fire who tries to prove she can behave with decorum and demonstrate responsibility. Oddly enough, a series of charades turn out to be exactly what this unique pairing needs to draw them together.

Side tangent: I hope we see more of Lord Bryant in future stories because talk about an intriguingly complex character. More! Tell me more!

Esther, you already made it onto my list of favorite authors with your very first book, but this one bumped you up the ranks. Simply put: I loved it.

Thank you, publisher and author, for sharing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are absolutely my own.

"Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience's elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister's antics - but when he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.

Taken on as household staff by her brother's former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth - and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn't helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated that she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong - even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control."
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A Proper Charade is a clean historical romance by Esther Hatch and has an absolutely grogeous cover.

I loved this book and the characters so much. It's a sweet story with many amusing moments along the way. I mean sure, on the surface the premise of a high born lady sneaking away to disguise herself as a servant in a household's saff to prove herself sounds quite unbelievable on the surface, but it's so well-written and the characters so great. As you read all that fades away and you can't picture the story going any other way.

Patience is determined to prove herself and mainly just proves that she's not a very good maid, but she's not afraid to try. She's not the most adept at subterfuge, in fact she is virtually incapable of lying, which is unfortunate for her considering the plan she has set for herself.

Anthony, the dear man. With all his list making, he was a man after my own heart. He's a bit stuffy and serious, but with a touch of obliviousness and all his planning and list making? I swoon. I adored Anthony's character and am very glad that he came to his senses about his original plan before it was too late.

I have read a few of Esther Hatch's books now and have enjoyed all of them, so I recommend A Proper Charade as well as her other writings. I'll be keeping an eye out for any new books from her and will be going back to read any that I have missed.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Covenant Communications for sharing an eARC of A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch with me for reviewing purposes. This is my honest review.

Historical romance with some interesting,diverse characters. Not sure it was really believable that Patience could masquerade as a maid !

I was not sure what to expect going into this one, as I have not read anything by this writer before, but I was delighted. This is a restrained Regency romance when thoughtful character development. For fans of Downton Abbey and the like, this take takes on the upstairs/downstairs divide with a twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the situation, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I saw an enthusiastic review for this one, and since I always love a good Regency Romance I decided to give it a try. It did indeed turn out to be good and now I have another author on my reading list.

I very much liked the two main characters in A Proper Charade. They matched each other so well and their slow fall into love was appropriate. The story could have descended into a farce at times but the author was really restrained and it always remained at the level of fun. The side characters were written well too.

There were no bedroom scenes, no clothes torn or even removed. Just two attractive people finding each other despite huge obstacles. Light, fun reading and I enjoyed it very much.

A PROPER CHARADE by ESTHER HATCH is a most enjoyable and well written regency romance with wonderful characters and an intriguing plot. Set in London, with the class distinction of the time and high society dictating correct behaviour, it is not surprising that Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington, worries about his sister's lack of seriousness about her position in society.
Patience Kendrick, with her unusual plan, strange antics, and really amusing dialogue, had me laughing out loud! Her plan to obtain recognition from her brother is rather haphazard and becomes very involved when she gets caught up in Anthony Woodsworth's very well thought out marriage plans, which take a strange twist when his, hopefully soon to be fiancee, Miss Morgan, comes up with a plan of her own! Anthony hopes to marry Miss Morgan in order to obtain recognition from his father, the famous general. This desire to please authority figures is largely responsible for their behaviour.
I highly recommend this delightful novel as a really great read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Covenant Communications. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

In this sweet romance that will touch readers’ hearts, Esther Hatch gives a story that shows the importance of being the best version of oneself. Although some parts could have been condensed, the lessons behind this sweet story will stay with readers long after the final pages. 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved, loved this book. Very sweet, clean romance. Lady Patience masquerades as a maid in order to prove her worth to her brother. While working in the home of her brother's mentor, she falls in love with his son. This book made me smile, cry and ultimately warmed my heart at the end. Wonderful book!

#AProperCharade #NetGalley

Lady Patience Kendrick, loves being outdoors and according to her brother Nicholas, this is not becoming of her station in life. Lady Patience, decides to become a maid for a month and gets hired on at General Wordsworth's estate. . Under disguise, she works her way into everyone's heart, even though she lacks the skills.. Lady Patience, is asked to play the part of a lady, so her employer can finally win his lady's heart, what he doesn't know is she has been playing at being a maid. I loved this book so much.

A Proper Charade is full of delightful characters with endearing mannerisms. Patience is a character I can't help but like. She's impulsive and adventurous, but with a good heart that wants to please her brother and I think prove it to herself that she can be more than what society expects of her. I most enjoyed that Anthony and Patience were genuine, especially with each other. They are sincerely seeking to find their place in the world without compromising their true selves or being forced to change for someone else or society. Their personalities complement each other- she appreciated how he grounded her, and found her liveliness engaging. I thought it was admirable that she was not fooled by the other charming and frivolous men in higher society, but saw clearly Anthony's superior character. And the first kiss scene is so fun- definitely not the generic kisses that are often found in the genre. I found it inventive and felt that it also demonstrated their personalities in a creative way.

One thing I really appreciated in the story was that Miss Morgan, who plays the role of villainess, wasn’t overdone. She was portrayed with just the right balance of unlikeable while still being believable that Anthony would be pursuing her for so long without suspecting her true motives. The personalities of the family members and their dynamics were complex without being complicated, and added depth to the story and aided in showing more layers of Anthony and Patience. Overall this story was highly entertaining and had such a satisfying resolution and happy ending. One of my favorites of the year and I'll definitely be re-reading it in the future. Highly recommend!!!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This book will not only get you engrossed but keep you there. Just as you begin to think you know where the story is going the plot twists. There are little surprises along the way that will have you chuckling and nodding. It is a great read. Patience wants to prove herself to her brother. Show him that she can be more than just a lady of privilege and sister of a duke, so she decides to apply for a job as a maid. After all she ‘s been around them for years, how hard can it be? Using a different surname she applies and is hired in a home known to have high standards. And so begins her journey of learning what it takes to run a house. Anthony, the son of the home’s owner, has a very methodical, controlled life. He has even carefully examined each eligible young woman to decide who he should marry. Suddenly a totally inept maid is added to the household. One who does not even seem to know proper behavior. Mix in a charade as a member of the upper class, trying to hide from previous acquaintances, and scheming women and you have a great read. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.