Our hero Drew, 40, has a huge inferiority complex, coupled with severe anxiety and panic attacks that he is hiding from everyone, or at least he thought he was.
Our heroine Sarah, 34, is a frustrated governess to a couple of small terrors who are her great uncle's kids, she's very intelligent and direct.
They meet when he almost rides her down in the road and she dives into a bush to save herself hurting her ankle. The conversation is pretty sharp on both sides as they try to put each other in their place. The name calling was quite funny as well. I don't think I've ever read a faster or more business like marriage arrangement before and it's a very intense, angry relationship as he learns to deal with his issues, Drew is so high strung it's almost painful to read.
I loved that the MC's where older and this book is basically just one big emotional pile to dig through which was alternately entertaining and stressful.

Miss Sarah Copeland has lived an unhappy life relying on her great uncle for a home. In return she is the governess to their two children. At thirty-four and living in Derbyshire she sees no hope for a different life, until the Earl of Hadley moves into his estate next door. Andrew James Storme is back in Derbyshire to try to get away from his family and the anger of trying to cope with all his responsibilities. Almost running over Sarah with his horse, this encounter will lead to a deep connection and marriage. But an angry man may do more harm than good.
Andrew suffers anxiety attacks. He unintentionally hurts Sarah. As Andrew learns to cope with Sarah's help, "love conquers all" This may not be a book for a lot of readers, but I think Sookoo has done a very good job incorporating a difficult and sensitive subject in a love story.
Possible triggers and explicit sex.
Recommended read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Soothing your inner beast can be harder than you think. Andrew Storme, the recent Earl of Hadleigh is finding his new title and all the responsibilities weighing heavily upon his shoulders. Then when his two brothers come home from the war with disabling injuries he suffers even more because he feels that he has totally let his family down. Now his mother is throwing every single eligible debutante at him to peruse for marriage. He has to get away before he breaks.
At his country estates he meets a feisty governess who is actually the niece. Sarah Copeland becomes his saving grace, but for how long?

Sandra Sookoo does a realistic view at someone who has so much stress that it doesn’t take much to break them. However, a good person who is beside them can help guide, but someone has to help themselves. I love the realistic aspect of the characters and the storyline. I think the author could have possibly taken this even further if she wanted a longer book.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

3.75 Stars
Andrew Charles Storme, ninth Earl of Hadleigh has been in a monstrous temper for the better part of two years in fact since his father died. Unable to join the fight against Napoleon due to the declining health and subsequent death of his father, his rotten mood worsened when his two brothers survived the war with life-changing injuries. Andrew retreats to his country estate in Derbyshire to spare them his ire. Miss Sarah Copeland is a poor relation. In exchange for room and board, she’s become the governess to her great-uncle’s two rambunctious offspring. It was better than being tossed in the street, but only just. Freedom and imagination are found in playing a flute. Then she’s nearly mown down by her handsome, growling neighbour & sparks fly. While Andrew battles with his guilt and anxiety, he finds safety and solace in Sarah’s company. As they enter into a surprising marriage of convenience, the earl’s temper slowly begins to improve, as does her outlook. But while an unexpected romance blooms over the summer weeks, responsibility to the title rears its ugly head, and his temper flares anew, threatening to tear apart everything they’ve built.
This is the start of a new series & is a well written book that had me sitting on the fence whilst I liked Andrew I wanted to give him a good shake but it was Sarah who I loved, she made the best of things & saw to the heart of what was causing Andrew’s panic attacks but their fledgling relationship was nearly derailed. I enjoyed their road to a HEA & look forward to the rest of the series.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read