4.5 Stars
As a girl, Euphemia Darrow had fallen desperately in love with the younger son of the Duke of Clarenden, Nicholas Montford. But he broke her heart with a cold dismissal before he left to join the army. Rather than pine for him, Effie found another purpose for her life, she poured her heart and soul into her creation the Darrow School. It was a place for girls like herself the illegitimate and often forgotten children of noblemen. Years later, fate brings Nicholas back into her life. Now the only surviving son, he is the heir to the dukedom, he’s also a master spy, working to protect the crown from threats foreign and domestic. Unable to resist the beautiful girl who has now grown into a remarkable and fascinating woman, Nicholas finds himself once more under Effie’s spell.
The seventh book in the series & even though Effie has featured in earlier books this can be read on its own but I love series so would recommend reading in order. I found it to be a well written engrossing read, I found myself caught up in their rocky journey to a HEA. I loved both Nicholas & Effie & loved their second chance romance, there was danger, some mystery & intrigue & I was one happy reader.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book was an enticing blend of drama, emotion, suspense and action that very quickly grabbed my attention and kept me invested until the last page was turned.

4.5 stars

I've read books 1,3, & 4 of this series. There was an over arcing story of Effie's romance in them and this being book 7 is where we find out about Effie and Nicholas themselves.

When I first started it I was a little confused about the time line which zips about from 1810 to 1828. Having been forced to give up Effie by his hideous father Nicholas hasn't been the pure celibate hero we'd like and Effie has put all her effort into her school for disadvantaged girls but I think the story is realistic. The author says she was originally going to stop at this point but there are other intriguing characters we meet again in this book so it sounds like the Hound and the Bow Street Runner will also get book so I'll look forward to those. Effie isn't a retiring heroine and having saved herself previously it's not surprising that she has a hand in the villain's denouement.

Its a good story which I think benefits from reading some of the preceeding work. I'd recommend.

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

The Governess Diaries is by far my favorite in the Hellion Club series. I have been waiting for Effie and Nicholas to work out their troubles and, finally, get their HEA. Absolutely, this is a stand-alone and could be read without having read the previous books, but I did enjoy reading them in sequence.

As a reader, I agonized with them while reading through the series. Their strength and courage to stay strong while all around them is determined to keep them apart is a testament to their love. Effie and Nicholas had so many working quite diligently and evilly around them to keep them apart. Yet, their love never faltered; neither did it bring them together. They both always knew they were meant to be together, but the years passed with them still separated.. The pain and anguish they felt while separated makes this romance that much sweeter as they are able to overcome the numerous obstacles keeping them apart.

There are some sweet surprises included that will tug at your heart as you will see. I am so glad that Ms. Bowlin is going to continue the series with Ettinger, Hound, Louisa, and the other sweet little ladies. Miss Dargavel may even bring us a surprise or two. Good job, Ms. Bowlin!

A heart-warming second chance love story. Effie and Nicholas are strong characters and go through a lot to get to their happily ever after. I enjoyed the story, it's a worthy love that was always meant to be.

An excellent story about strength, courage, sacrifice, generosity and caring. They were torn apart by the machinations of a malicious man and then hounded by traitorous and malignant characters but their love just grew stronger and encompassed those who were abandon by their own family. Some LOL and heartwarming moments.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Effie has her hopes of marrying her best friend Nicholas dashed as he spurns her and goes off to war. Effie opens up a school for illegitimate girls to help them to better their station in life. Years later spy Nicholas comes back into her life, bringing danger with him. They realize that they were always meant to be. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

(This review may contain spoilers)

This book was part of a series, it could be stand alone, but I did not read the series and I feel like a large chuck of the story had already been told. The author did a good job of trying to catch up the reader by inserting diary excerpts to explain certain events happening in the story, but it was not enough. The excerpts did not have the emotion or drama that actually reading the event would have. And I do not understand the title, "The Governess Diaries" when the heroine was not a governess. She was the head mistress of a school for unwanted illegitimate daughters.
The story was centered on a heroine who was the illegitimate daughter of a duke. After he married and had legitimate children, he packed the heroine off to an estate to live and be raised by servants. Her best friend was the second son of the duke who owned the neighboring estate. He is our hero and he was not the biological son of the duke, he was the product of an affair the duchess had with another man. The duke was plain evil, buying a commission for the hero and requesting him to be sent on the most dangerous duties so that he would be killed in war. And the duke also threatened the life of the heroine if the hero did not comply. So the hero tried to make the heroine hate him as he left her. They were 17 years old and 19 years old at the time.
The story picks up at various times as the hero is a spy and when he is in London, he wenches, drinks, gambles and parties his way through society. It is supposed a cover and he states that he drinks to try to avoid thinking of the heroine. Right. I don't agree with the 'I drown myself in vice because I love you too much' story line. Balderdash, I say!
In the mean time, the heroine found two girls who were being punished in a work house because they were illegitimate. The heroine used the money (and power of her father's name) given to her by her father to bring the two girls to her home and the girls school is started.
If the reader had already been reading the series, this would have been a sucessful wrap up. I did not read the series and I was confused and felt that there were large parts of the story missing. That a lot of this story had been told as a back story through out the series. I mean, it takes 18 years for them to get back together. As such, I will be giving this story 3 stars and only recommend reading if you have read the series.