I am not sure why I do this to myself! This is the fourth book in the series that I have read and I didn't like any of them. The author focuses to much on the convoluted backstory instead of the romance.

A Governess of Prodigious Skill is the fourth book of the Governess Bureau series by Emily EK Murdoch. I found the story to be entertaining and easy to read, it definitely made me more aware of how actresses were viewed and treated in the late medieval-Regency-Victorian times — of course, I found myself researching all sorts of things while reading this book! On a personal side note: Since I began reading Historical Romance books I have definitely found a new appreciation for history - a subject I previously avoided like a plague - maybe if history was taught in small “episodes” like romance series’ I would have paid attention to it in school. 😉

Anyway back to the review… the MCs in this story are Miss Helena Patrick and Oscar Fernsby, Duke of Kilerth. These two are brought together when Helena is sent to be governess of three children whose lives have been tragically altered by the loss of their mother, Baroness Fernsby.

Some backstory. Helena is not a governess, she is a famed and celebrated actress in London’s theater scene, who not only devoted the last ten years of her life to acting but also lived at the theater where she worked. One day Helena finds herself both jobless and homeless when her manager replaces her with a younger, more solicitous, and very eager to please actress. Helena has become the newest member of the “man’s world club” It’s the same club that women have been facing since their existence - Please the man in all ways possible or find yourself replaced - what could she do? In today’s time she may have lawyered up and raised some hell, she may have even gotten her job back; However, historically and during this books timeframe Helena had no recourse but to pick up her life and begin anew. When Helena is scavenging the streets of London for opportunities to survive, she meets Elizabeth Fletcher, the governess from the third novel of this series. Elizabeth sends Helena to Miss Clarke's Governess Bureau with hopes the shrewd Miss Clarke will be able to find Helena a new beginning. Miss Clarke assigns Helena to Baron Fernsby and his three children. This is how Helena finds herself acting as governess at a country estate, with a Baron who has seemingly had a mental breakdown as a result of losing his wife to a tragic accident, an accident nobody will speak of, and now said Baron is deathly afraid of leaving his house.

This is likely going to be Helena’s toughest role.

The romance in this story is not between master and governess it is instead between the governess and her employer’s brother, Oscar Fernsby, Duke of Kilerth. Oscar decides to visit his brother after becoming concerned with his present mental state and coping difficulties. He only planned to visit his brother for a few weeks. Prove the man was fine, then return to London to continue his anonymous bare knuckle boxing fights. Until a woman he thinks he recognizes but cannot place turns up at his brother’s house, blackmails him into silence, and distracts him with her beauty and strange skills. Because Oscar finds this Helena, the governess, is quite strange. More at home with a sword in her hand than chalk, Oscar knows that something isn’t quite right. The only way to discover her secrets is to get close to her. What a shame.

THE GOOD
▪️Helena is able to overcome her challenges.
▪️The supporting characters add a lot of depth and emotion to the story.
▪️The plot has some twists which does add some additional emotional content.

THE COULD HAVE LIVED WITHOUT
▪️The romance goes from newly meeting to falling in love rather quickly, I would have enjoyed a longer relationship prior to falling in love.
▪️The conflict when Oscar uncovers Helena’s “secret” was both expected and disappointing. Oscar behaves like a presumptuous hypocrite and I really didn’t like him.
▪️ The story felt too short and lacked the sense of completeness.

Overall while this book is not one of my favorites for author Emily EK Murdoch it is a good read and can be enjoyed as a standalone if you have not read other books in this series.

3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 2.5 Flames 🔥🔥

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄

Another wonderful book in the Governess Bureau series. I always enjoy Ms. Murdoch's books and this was no exception. Helena and Oscar are good leads and backed by an array of interesting supporting characters. Definitely a winner!
Thank you Emily E K Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

I liked this even though it was a bit formulaic. Formulas work for a reason. This was a fun romp. The governess trope is always a fun one and it’s used here with skill and some heat.

An Actress Turned Governess

When Helena is summarily dismissed from the theater after a long career, she has no idea what to do. A chance encounter lands her a job at the Governess Bureau. Luckily, her job does not require her to give lessons or to know Greek or Latin. However, things quickly become complicated as Helena finds herself falling in love with her employer’s brother. Love between a duke and a governess does not translate into marriage in Regency England, so how will it all end? Then, there are all the secrets at the abbey. Everyone who lives there has one. Helena has hers, but so does everyone else. What happens when the inevitable occurs, and all the secrets come into the light? There are emotional moments towards the end, so you might want to keep that box of tissues handy. There will be an arrogant duke who must grovel. Would Helena forgive him? Would she forgive him too quickly? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance with secrets.

I always love picking up a book by Ms
Murdoch. She writes the most delightfully entertaining and fun stories and this one is no exception. It is the fourth installment of The Governess Bureau series. Although I have not read the prior books, I had no trouble reading this as a standalone. The story features Helena and Oscar. Helena is an actress, but has lost her job at the theater, and gains a position as a governess in a Baron's home. The Baron's brother, Oscar, comes to visit and realizes he recognizes Helena who knows of his secret life. They inevitably grow closer and start to care for each other but the secrets they are keeping from each other could potentially endanger their happiness. This was a well-written and engaging story which captured my interest right from the start. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them fall in love. The writing was entertaining and creative and I look forward to reading more of this series.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest and voluntarily review.

I would like to thank netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked that the governess wasn't nobility, but the book could have been more sex positive. Interested in the rest of the series.

Entertaining and fluently written, 'A Governess of Prodigious Skills' is a great way to while away your time. I enjoyed the character of Helena, but thought Oscar self-centred and somewhat dense, with not much going for him other than a title, wealth, and a good body. Seems that Helena liked that, though, hence some sweet and at least one steamy scene, confusion, rejection - of course all with a happy end.
Light and entertaining reading - a romance in period dress.

I voluntarily received a copy of "A Governess of Prodigious Skill" via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Emily E. K. Murdoch knows how to build a relationship that is romantic and believable.

Miss Helena Patrick is a famed actress who has recently lost her position at the theatre. With nowhere to go and a strangers recommendation she finds herself at The Governess Bureau looking to start a new life. The rules are simple: Have an impeccable record (which she does not!), you must bring a special skill to the table, and you must never fall in love... Due to her failings on rule one she was take up a new identity and try to hide her actress past. Now she's in the country taking care of three wonderful children with an employer that refuses to go outside, and his brother the duke Oscar Fersnby who has his own secrets.

The romance between Oscar and Helena was really sweet and is one of the few times I have genuinely enjoyed the miscommunication trope. Probably because the miscommunication is about blackmail. So it adds a really fun underlying current of tension. I definitely did not always like Oscar but I felt that was purposeful as he was a duke that had to work through his own class issues.

The cast of characters were all really interesting and I felt the story was really built with the characters in mind, and everything just fit together so well. The kids were wonderful and I really enjoyed their dynamic with Helena and how they all kind of learned from each other.

One thing is its write up says that its steamy and I don't really agree. It does have some really good sexy moments but I didn't feel it really hit a level I would personally call steamy.

This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by Emily EK Murdoch and it will definitely not be my last. I found Emily's writing to be quickly engaging, her story well paced, the characters and setting to be fun and interesting and the romance to be sweet and sensual. Although this is the fourth book in the series I was not lost, it is definitely written as a series that can be picked up in standalone chunks and I am looking forward to going back and exploring the other romances in this series.

This romance is between Helena, a down on her luck actress who has been recently employed by the Governess Bureau and is working out in the country for an employer who is afraid to leave his home and surrounded by his sister and the Hero, his brother, who is a duke. Oscar is expecting a quick and uneventful visit with his family but with Helena there he is distracted by her beauty and the fact that he has a strong feeling he has seen her somewhere before. Being stuck in the country Helena and Oscar constantly find themselves in each others company and there attractions boil over with stolen moments and passionate kisses. Secrets that surround the family and Helena threaten to be exposed and the threat of blackmail seems to bubble under the surface as these two explore their attractions.

I found the setting of this novel to be delightful and fun, I love to step outside of the hustle and bustle of London and spend sometime in the country. It was fun watching Helena grow a relationship with her charges as well as share her love of the theatre with them, I found these scenes to be sweet and endearing, it is also fun to watch Oscar join in on the fun. Emily EK Murdoch does a lovely job of keeping the attraction between Helena and Oscar always bubbling under the actions of the story, and it is fun to watch them find moments of secrecy to explore their feelings. I did find that their relationship has a very insta-love feel, but I still felt that their chemistry and interactions were delightful. When it comes to our third act conflict I was very disappointed in the hero and I am still not quite sure if I think he groveled enough, I wish we would have seen more openness and discussion around Helena's secret that she is an actress so I could understand more what was found so unforgivable about it.

Overall, this was a really lovely novel and first experience for me with Emily EK Murdoch's writing. I am definitely looking forward to checking out more of Emily's backlist and I would definitely recommend that you check out this book or another of Emily's.

Miss Helena Patrick is not a governess but really a celebrated actress, who needs to work. However, she finds herself stuck in the country with a master, afraid to leave his house since his wife died. Yet it is the brother who has her perplexed. Oscar Fernsby, Duke of Kilerth, was only going to stay with his brother for a few weeks, but finds himself captivated by Helena, a woman who looks oddly familiar. The more time he spends with her, the more he is captivated but in staying close by her side, seems a way to uncover her secrets.
This is the fourth book in the series and again, a great addition. It can be read as a standalone. I did find the story of Baron Fernsby (Oscar’s brother) and his wife quite touching and at times, almost superseded Oscar and Helena’s romance. Childhood sweethearts, his inability to move on, impacts his children. However, despite difficulties between him and Oscar and their sister Amelia, it was lovely to see the support that gave him.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Governess of Prodigious Skill by Emily E EK Murdoch is Number Four in the Governess Bureau series but is not the best. Helena Patrick has been the toast of the London stage for years, but now out of the blue, she is being replaced. She is at the top of her game, had never sold her favors for cash or for promotion. There appears to be nothing she can say or do, so she packs her bags, mostly things she owned, and left. On the street she meets a woman who directs her to the Governess Bureau. She is pretty far from being a governess, but what else is she to do? Surprisingly they accepted her into their program and after some training she is off to the home of Baron Fernsby and this three children. She welcomed with the happy news that hers will not be an academic placement, but one of teaching manners and keeping the children happy. She is handed a rulebook written by the baron himself, full of the oddest expectations. Included in the household are the baron's siblings: Lady Amelia and the Duke of Kilerth. She suspects that the duke recognizes her. She certainly recognizes him: she has seen him in the boxing ring in London.

This book is full of second-guessing and poor communication. The baron is interesting: he has a form of
agoraphobia. In this case it has been brought on by the death of his wife, some months earlier. That explains some of the rules covering people leaving the house. Oscar Fernsby, the duke, cannot reconcile the fact he has fallen in love with someone of an unsuitable station. He spends a lot of time musing over it and when he finally discovers she is an actress, a fact she had thought he had known all along, he is beside himself. They all have secrets and as they are revealed, things tend to come right for each of them. Hardly a surprise. Entertaining book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Governess of Prodigious Skill by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #emilyekmurdoch #agovernessofprodigiousskill

In short, this book started off great with a fabulous storyline, great characters, and a good setup. Then it ended up going in circles with a lot of back and forth, unnecessary dialogue, will he/won't he, am I good enough, what future can I have with him/her. And then it wrapped up- let's get married, the end.

Spoilers-------------------

Likes- as mentioned, a great storyline with a lot of promise. I liked that Helena was an actress and uses her skills, she gets creative with the children which was fun to see. I liked the backstory of Baron Fernsby and his social phobia, it was an interesting discussion point and quite well written not only from his standpoint but that of his siblings who can't understand it but yet sympathize with it. I thought it was nice having mixed siblings (male and female) in both the adults and children.
Dislikes- so much of the middle is back and forth and assumptions. There is a lot of repetition. The reader could have guessed that once her secret was found out by Oscar, he'd shun her. But then in a flash, he was on his knees and they were married. It seemed all too rushed. I would have liked less back and forth and more on the relationship building between Oscar and Helena, not just lust.

This can be read as a stand-alone story. I have read the others in the series and really liked them, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. I do recommend it however as the author is just such a great writer and this is a fun series.
I received an advance copy in exchange for my review

I received a free copy from NetGalley and this is my freely given review.

This is the 4th novel from the Governess Bureau, and poor Miss Clarke must be getting a bit desperate and frazzled by now; who will employ her governesses if they have a reputation for running off with their employers... or perhaps start seeing her business as a matchmaking agency!

Helena Patrick, the heroine, is very different from the previous governesses from the first three books. For one thing, she is absolutely not a governess. She is a well known and respected actress from a London Theatre. Unfortunately, she has been on the scene for 10 years and was just shoved out the door by the manager for both not being young enough, and likely not being accommodating enough; it essentially sounds like he replaced her with a younger model, who was probably willing to sleep her way to fame. Regardless, Helena had literally lived at the theatre and was now not only jobless, but also homeless, and out on the street. There, she runs into Elizabeth Fletcher, the governess from the third novel, who directs her to Miss Clarke's Governess Bureau, to help her find a new job option.

Many actresses at this time were known to supplement their lifestyles by being kept by patrons as mistresses, but Helena apparently did not subscribe to that lifestyle. Regardless, she would be painted by that same brush. Miss Clarke agrees to hire her on, with training, and by concealing her past, for both their sakes.

Helena is sent out to become a caretaker for the three children of the Baron Fernsby. They recently lost their mother to an accident and the widower is essentially devastated by his loss of his beloved wife. His grief is such that he has essentially suffered a breakdown and appears to have developed a severe agoraphobia and anxiety. He has not left his home since her death, and has great fears of his children being outside and not in view of the home. His sister Amelia has been staying with him to help manage the household, and his older brother Oscar, the Duke of Kilerth, is also staying with him, both with the hope of supporting him and helping him overcome his illness. He doesn't so much need a governess for lessons, as he wants a caregiver and companion for his children. Luckily for Helena.

Oscar finds himself very attracted to Helena, though he is trying to fight it. After all, he is a Duke, and she is his brother's servant. Also he has a secret that he is hiding from his family, a hobby that could be scandalous if discovered, and Helena recognizes him, but does not out him, and they do not discuss it. She thinks he knows her secret, but while she looks familiar to him, he does not figure out from where. Ultimately, they both cannot stay away from each other and end up having a secret affair.

I empathized with Helena for her loss of her job and identity. It sounds like she is someone who loved her job; loved acting, and actually had some acclaim. She joined the theatre at the age of 16 and it literally became her entire life; living and working at the theatre. To be shunted out because she was "old" and no longer a fresh face, must have been heartbreaking and quite a shock to her. She could have easily ended up prostituting herself just to get some coin, since being an actress would paint her as being a lightskirt, and it would be hard to find a job as something like a governess, companion, or the like, and her reputation would stain others too. When Oscar discovers her history, it becomes a major barrier and breaking point in their relationship. He was being incredibly prejudicial and judging her terribly based on his presumptions of her history.

I loved the underlying story of Baron Fernsby and his wife; they were apparently childhood friends who fell in love quite young. Her death was by accident and the story of his love of her and his loss was actually very moving for me. It sounds like the relationship with him and his siblings can be contentious and irritating (as some siblings can be), especially as Oscar is quite a bit older than him and his sister. But it is also a sign of their regard and loyalty that Amelia and Oscar have suspended their lives and are staying with him to support him and help him overcome his anxiety. I thought this was a touching back story. Also, it was obvious the children were suffering from the loss of their mother, and being suffocated by their father and his restrictions, so the appearance of Helena gave them some much needed attention.

The love story between Oscar and Helena was a bit uneven for me, and it was not what I enjoyed most about the story. What made it for me was the relationships amongst the other characters. That gave it more relatable warmth for me.

3.75 stars out of 5.

I always want to like the books in this series more than I actually end up liking them. I liked the premise of this story, but in the end it just felt a little incomplete somehow. I thought it would have been better had Helena created a new play for the children rather than just taking bits and pieces from Shakespeare plays. It's a small thing, but I felt that would have been more believable and therefore made the entire situation more believable. You knew as soon as Helena and Oscar slept together the first time that he would question all of her motives once he discovered the truth about her. It would have been good to see more of Helena's interactions with the children and other adults in the house so understand better why they liked her as much as they did. Some of those interactions are just mentioned in passing and I think it would have been better to trade those scenes for some of the scenes between Helena and Oscar (which I know seems strange considering this is their romance). I did really enjoy Helena yelling at Oscar when he came to make his big romantic gesture, but then she gave into him so easily - make the man work for it a little! (especially after the things he had said about her).

Who better to pose as a governess than a out of work actress! I mean how hard could it be?

She takes the job as governess to a household where the father is not over the death of his wife and having a hard time of it. He has three children that just need a little direction!

He is the brother who is suppose to "check" on his brother and make sure he is alright. But what he finds is a beautiful "governess" installed in the household that he recognizes!

A fun, entertaining addition to this wonderful series as only Emily can write!!

When Helena Patrick loses her job as an actress, she has no idea what to do or where to go. As luck would have it, she meets a former governess from the Governess Bureau who refers her to the agency. Miss Clarke gives her an assignment that requires no lessons. Baron Fernsby, who has suffered extreme social anxiety since the death of his wife, only wants someone to entertain and “govern” his three children. She joins the baron’s household, as Miss Kirkpatrick, which includes his sister Amelia and his brother Oscar, Duke of Kilerth. When Helena and Oscar meet, there is a flicker of recognition. They each have a secret they do not the family to know. They sort of have a mutual agreement to keep these secrets to themselves. Helena turns out to be a positive influence on the entire household. Oscar and Helena seemed to be headed for happily ever after when a huge misunderstanding ripped them apart. Wow! Can the rift ever be repaired? We’ll see. This is an interesting character-driven story. Wonderful addition to the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Another book from the Governess series by Emily E K Murdoch

This book “A Governess of Prodigious Skill” was slow paced and did not interest me as much as the other books in this series.

Helena Patrick, an actress that loses her theater job as the leading lady. Not knowing what to do next, a meeting with a former Governess from the Governess Bureau sends her into the next job.

Working now as a Governess for a widow of three children, the older brother of the widowed Baron, the Duke of Kilerth makes her heart beat faster. But both are keeping secrets and could ruin both reputations.

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

This is the fourth book in the Governess Bureau Series and so far I have enjoyed them all. A Governess of Prodigious Skill tales the story of Helena, an actress who is down on her luck and Oscar, a duke trying to take care of his family. The characters, plot, and writing style are wonderful. I only wish it wasn't set as such a slow pace. However, if your looking for a light read, this is an excellent choice!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another entertaining romance in the Governess Bureau series. Oscar and Helena develop a passionate bond and a true love worth believing and fighting for. A Duke and an actress turned governess get their happily ever after.