The Hollywood Governess really does take you back to Hollywood in the 1930’s. It’s a compelling and star studded debut. Hester is a character that is quite intense and takes a while to warm up to. But when you do you really begin to understand her and why she is like she is as the story unfolds.
This book makes us very keen to read more from Alexandra Weston.

A bit predictable at the end but otherwise a really good read. Interesting, fully formed characters that gave an insight into life in Hollywood at that time.

After reading too many heavy books, I picked up The Hollywood Governess for a more lighthearted story and it fit the bill perfectly.

Hester Carlyle was forced to grown up too soon when she lost her mother at fourteen. With two younger sisters and a father lost in his grief her natural nurturing instincts take over. After finishing school at Oxford, Miss Carlyle works as a governess backed by a prestigious agency. When she is offered a chance to serve a Hollywood family, she is anxious to learn the child, Erin, has recently lost her own mother. Miss Carlyle has never taken directions from a male before, and widower Aidan Neal is not only a male, but Hollywood royalty.

America brings back terrible memories from her previous time in New York, but a leaking roof over her family home forces her to take the job in California. Quickly Miss Carlyle ingratiates herself with Erin and though there is a bit a rough start, Mr. Neil finds he doesn’t know how they functioned without her. Miss Carlyle’s backstory about her time in New York and Mr. Neil’s deceased wife’s death are slowly revealed as the two discover their relationship is more than that of an employer and employee.

Though somewhat predictable, Hester and Aidan’s story is a sweet one that inspires hope. And sometimes a comeback story is exactly what we need.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and the author Alexandra Weston for the advanced copy of the book. The Hollywood Governess is out now! All opinions are my own.

If there's one thing that I like doing, it's discovering new authors for me. Alexandra Weston is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis of 'The Hollywood Governess' and it certainly intrigued me. I love historical fiction and anything to do with the era of Classic Hollywood. I couldn't wait to dive in and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what proved to be an interesting few hours of reading. I really enjoyed reading 'The Hollywood Governess' but more about that in a bit.

I have to say that I was drawn into this story from the very start. I hadn't realised that at the beginning of the book, North Yorkshire featured quite a bit but it was a nice surprise to read about certain places with which I was familiar - e.g. Northallerton. I warmed to the main character, Hester Carlyle, from the start and found that I ended up feeling as though she had become a friend of mine rather than a character of the book. To say that reading 'The Hollywood Governess' became addictive is like saying that I like cake- in other words a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would end up becoming so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. I had to keep reading to find out if the story turned out as I suspected it would and as a result find out how that affected Hester. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Hollywood Governess'. I found 'The Hollywood Governess' to be an interesting and absorbing story which certainly kept me guessing.

'The Hollywood Governess' is really well written. The author has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with whilst at the same time makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway. Alexandra clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Alexandra describes the Hollywood Golden era so vividly and realistically that I got a real impression of what it must have been like to have been in Hollywood and beyond at that time.

In short, I really enjoyed reading 'The Hollywood Governess' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Alexandra's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

Exceptional. I could not put this book down. Alexandra Weston is a brilliant new voice in historical fiction.
The characters are well drawn, complex and real, and the story made for a compelling read.
I loved the style of the writing and the attention to detail.
Brava! I cannot wait to read what comes next from this author.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a historical romance set in the 1930s.

The protagonist, Hester, leaves her home in Yorkshire to accept a post as a governess in Hollywood, California. Her pupil is Erin, the daughter of a Hollywood actor named Aidan, who is still coming to terms with the death of his wife.

I felt an immediate connection with Hester, and that connection grew stronger as I carried on reading. She was a wonderful character, and there were some elements of her personality that I identified with. I thought Erin was a lovely character too, and liked what she brought to the story.

At times, I felt the references to Hollywood added an air of glamour to the story, and I quite like that. I became emotionally invested in Hester's story, more than I initially expected, and I did enjoy reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

The Hollywood Governess is the dazzling historical fiction debut from a writer with a bright future ahead of her – Alexandra Weston.

Hester Carlyle might be a highly-sought after governess, but she is sick of looking after the spoilt and pampered offspring of the rich and famous. She is desperate for a fresh challenge, but with a frail father to look after and a derelict cottage to maintain, when she is offered a placement in Hollywood, she finds herself with no other choice but to accept the job of being a governess for Tinsel Town heartthrob Aidan Neil and his daughter, Erin.

Aidan and his wife Dinah Doyle had once been Hollywood royalty – until a tragedy had left the Hollywood hunk widowed and with a young daughter to raise on his own. In desperate need of help, Aidan hopes that Hester will be Erin’s shoulder to cry on as he navigates the heart-breaking grief that has consumed him since his wife’s death. Aidan is brooding, aloof and reclusive, yet Hester finds herself unable to shake off this feeling at the pit of her stomach that the movie star might be hiding a dark secret from her…

Hester cannot help but wonder whether Aidan and Dinah’s marriage was the perfect love story everyone thought it to be. Was Dinah’s death an accident? Or something much more sinister? When the truth comes to light, Hester is shocked as she wonders whether the family she has grown to love will ever recover from these devastating revelations – and whether Aidan’s Hollywood dream will be destroyed forever…

It’s hard to believe that The Hollywood Governess is Alexandra Weston’s debut novel. Written with such flair, panache and assurance, this atmospheric, enthralling and emotional rollercoaster ride is a sparkling and seductive tale of secrets, lies and deception with a strong and redoubtable heroine it is impossible not to care about and root for.

Alexandra Weston writes so well that she immediately immerses her readers into a world full of style, glamour and pathos that will keep them turning the pages late into the night. A fantastic read that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned, Alexandra Weston’s The Hollywood Governess is not to be missed.

In this fascinating historical fiction novel, readers follow English governess Hester as she embarks on a new position as governess to Erin, the daughter of movie stars Aidan Neil and the recently mysteriously deceased Dinah Doyle, in Los Angeles. Worried about her return to the United States and the separation from her sisters and father in England, Hester discovers that this family, famous and glamorous though they seem, struggles with their grief, and she does her best to help Erin at minimum. Aidan, not the picture-perfect movie star that he seems, seems to struggle with something darker -- an unknown secret which could destroy his career -- that Hester cannot help him with. With a fascinating cast of realistic, complex, and dynamic characters, Weston’s novel is an incredible insight into the Golden Age of Hollywood and the difficulties of film contracts and careers during this time. Hester is a relatable heroine with her own challenges and insecurities which adds to her charm as a protagonist and narrator. Erin, Aidan, and the other minor characters in this novel are also complex, with big and human emotions which add to the plot and emotionality of this fantastic historical fiction novel, and have excellently developed relationships with each other and Hester.

I absolutely loved this novel. It is well written, with rich descriptions of Hollywood in the golden era and a marvelous cast of characters. The story kept me enthralled from start to finish. I look forward to more work from this author

After I finished reading this book, I had one overriding thought – that I didn’t know if I could put into words how it made me feel. The emotional depth and complexity it offered were far beyond the typical romance novel, and it was all set against the backdrop of a gorgeously realised – and well-researched – Hollywood movie making scene.

The novel’s first person perspective is Hester Carlyle – a governess for wealthy families, but whose own is considerably worse off. A collapsed roof and her father’s worsening health force Hester to look for work once more in a profession she feels she’s given everything to. Her assignment is as a governess for Erin, the seven year old daughter of film star Aidan Neil – in California.

I’ve never been to the USA – but with Weston’s talent for creating a sense of place, I didn’t need to. “There are cars everywhere,” Hester describes on one of her early journeys into the city, “much bigger ones than at home, painted in bold reds, blues and racing green. A yellow tram rattles past. In empty plots, weeds like spears grow high as eight-year-olds..”

As readers, we immediately get the sense that Hester may be out of her depth in California. Upon meeting Aidan Neil in person, that increases.

I’ve always said that I’ve loved slow burn romances. However, I’ve struggled to put my finger on exactly why this is – at least, until reading this novel.

Aidan Neil is, at first, a standoffish enigma of a man who sees Hester’s attempts to bond with Erin as a threat to her safety. As he bluntly puts it himself in an early conversation, “I lost her mother. I will not risk losing my daughter.”

This protectiveness colours much of Hester and Aidan’s early interactions – Aidan is a man with a wall around his heart, and Weston does a remarkable job at showing it.

However, it’s what lies behind this protective nature – grief – that begins to bring employee and employer closer. When they share their experiences of it with each other, “a silent sympathy” is felt, “bigger than any words we could have spoken.”

Indeed, it’s actions that make this slow-burn romance so tantalising. Whether it’s a tap on the shoulder, or hands brushing against each other as a drink is passed, the moments of fleeting connection ratchet up the romantic tension so much that it’s almost unbearable. Though the payoff may come a little late for some, to me it felt satisfying and entirely earned.

This romance is intercut with the novel’s other big plot thread – Dinah Doyle, and the mystery surrounding her death. The untimely passing of the actress leaves a chasm in the family home, one that Hester can’t help but fall into. A combination of chance encounters, and conversations with Aidan, Erin, and others help her start to slowly unravel the threads of her life. Dinah’s reality was far from what people saw in her films – as Aidan puts it, “we were both better actors than anyone gave us credit for.” What ultimately transpires about her is something I won’t reveal here, but it was equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking.

For a novel with an acting family at its core, it’s no surprise that Hollywood itself plays such a pivotal role. Weston vividly captures the reality behind the movie industry. There is the glamour that Hester’s younger sister Rosie loves so much – but also misogyny, prejudice, and a sense of ownership over its stars. “It takes a pretty girl and convinces the world she’s beautiful,” Aidan explains. “Takes an average Joe and turns him into a star. But it’s all an illusion. Don’t let the bright lights fool you.”

With scars both mental and physical, Hester struggles throughout to heed this advice. “What does he see as he looks at me?” she asks herself at one point. “My fingers go to my scarred cheek. Stupid question! I know what he sees. What all men see when they look at me.” A lot of her internal monologue is like this – centred around how little she believes she fits into the Hollywood circle – and while this is a completely believable part of her character, the amount of time it comes up is the one thing I’d change about this novel.

One thing I definitely wouldn’t change is the supporting characters, especially Aidan’s daughter Erin. Her grief is as deep as her father’s – perhaps even deeper – but with her love of fairytales and penchant for slang, she provides a very sweet counterpoint to some of the heavier moments of the novel. Not to mention that Erin herself is who brings Aidan and Hester closer together – helping him realise where his priorities lie, and showing her how she doesn’t need to hide herself for anyone.

In the end, Weston’s debut novel is as much about embracing one’s true self as it is about finding love. Like the best movies, its glitzy surface hides layers of complexity – amounting to a story I simply didn’t want to let go of.

This book was amazing! Even though this was my first time reading something from this author, I know this won't be my last!

The tag line for this book is pretty on point
“A governess bound by her own strict rules, a movie star tormented by grief, a forbidden love story you won’t forget.”

This book seamlessly weaves a tale with historical fiction, mystery and romance elements. Erin is definitely the star of this story - the poor little girl who lost her mother and whose father isn’t really all that emotionally available.

I loved the Old Hollywood setting, the juxtaposition between Hester who comes from a downtrodden family on the other side of the pond and Aiden Neil who has the world in the palm of his hand with unlimited wealth to boot.

Slowly Hester seems to be a balm to Aiden’s grief but when the mystery surrounding his wife’s death is revealed it’s more shocking than she ever could have imagined.

I loved this book so much - I was hooked from the first page - and it’s hard to believe this could be a debut.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle in return for my honest review…

The Hollywood Governess is the brand new, gorgeous, romantic story of forbidden love in Golden Age Hollywood and i absolutely loved everything about it…

This book is a perfect escapist read, good for relaxing with and curling up with a book, some chocolate and a cuppa tea.

The author has a wonderful way with words and the way that they described things in such detail was breathtaking and i honestly felt as though i was there, immersed in all of the Hollywood magic…

The Hollywood Governess captured my heart from the very first page and i loved how each chapter, very easily, pulled me along to the next one and before i knew it i had devoured it all…..

Can we just take a moment to admire that classy, evocative cover? I love it!

This is a book which reminded me a lot of some of my favourite films or books. A widower with very strict rules hiring a governess for his child who feels she doesn’t want one has echoes of The Sound of Music. The glamour of 1930s Hollywood put me in mind of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the lingering presence of the deceased wife with the loyal housekeeper had shades of Rebecca, although Mrs Walsh was a much kinder character than Mrs Danvers. So this book really had a lot going for it and it didn’t disappoint.

Hester was a wonderful character, dedicated to her own family in England and, because they were in dire financial straits, willing to move to America to take up a position as a governess for the child of a widowed Hollywood actor. Hester had worked in America before but her position and relationship had ended after some dramatic events and she had never wanted to go back there. Her relationship with her young charge Erin was so sweet to read about and it was lovely to see how she came to care for Erin while also always doing her best for this grieving little girl. I enjoyed reading the little snippets at the beginning of many of the chapters relating the rules of Padgett Governesses, rules which one by one Hester seemed to break!

The book gave a good insight into just how controlling the big studios of the 1930s could be. Acting life wasn’t at all as glamorous as it appeared. Actors under contract had to behave in exactly the way the studio bosses told them. Anything that was considered to bring the studio into disrepute was completely prohibited. We hear through a few characters just how much that impacted their lives and how they couldn’t be true to themselves.

There is a lot about forbidden love in this book which I won’t go into much as I don’t want to give away any spoilers. What the author makes clear though is that you can’t choose who you fall in love with. The slowly developing romance throughout the book was beautifully written and felt very sincere. This is a book which will have you hoping the characters find the happy endings which actors portray in the Hollywood films and you won’t be disappointed.

The Hollywood Governess is a book full of Hollywood glamour but which also lets us see the real people beneath the façade. I was transported to 1930s America in this engaging and satisfying read. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next and hope it is more of the historical fiction which she obviously has a flair for writing.

I enjoyed this golden age of Hollywood tale that takes the reader from Wensleydale in Yorkshire to Hollywood, Los Angeles. It's a story of breaking rules and what happens when you do. The death of a film star leads to a chance of a lifetime governess post for Hester. However, she is still recovering from a terrible accident and betrayal, which means returning to America is not something she wants. Her love of family means that she does, and she meets Erin, the daughter of a glamorous Hollywood couple who has lost her mother and needs a governess. Hester is a lovely woman who is caring and willing to overcome her anxieties to help Erin recover from her bereavement. Aiden, the grieving husband, is a mystery, but Hester is drawn to him and risks getting hurt to help him. There is glamour, mystery and romance in this engaging story. I like the characters, the mystery and the believable golden-age Hollywood setting. It's perfect holiday reading.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Hester is offered a governess job in Hollywood. Going back to America is the last thing she wants to do. However they need a new roof and have very little other options. Aiden and Erin are still mourning their loss and trying hard to move on.
I thought it was a good book. Some unexpected secrets come out and a new romance blossoms.
Definitely recommend

I love a bit of old-school Hollywood glitz and glamour, and this book gave us that, as well as peeling back a few layers to see what hides under that sheen.
Hester Carlisle is a much sought-after British governess who is requested to work for a family in Hollywood. This is a tough task, considering the painful memories she associates with the States and New York in particular. Physically scarred and suffering from PTSD, she is unsure whether she can do this. However, a much-needed wage packet is promised to help her family back home.
Aidan Neill is a 30s Hollywood heartthrob. He's carved his career from simple beginnings and is a huge success, but he cannot enjoy it due to a huge personal tragedy.
This is where Miss Carlisle comes in to teach his young daughter, Erin, who is now motherless.
But she uncovers secrets that change her way of thinking and sets her on a journey of discovery to discover the truth.
A third character, Maria Calvez, a scriptwriter for one of the big studios, makes up the trifecta of POVs in the book, and her slant gives food for thought.
All the characters are well formed and you feel for Aidan, as well as Hester, and their respective worries. Erin is a real sassy character, with her American 30s slang, that Hester tries desperately to curb, to no avail!
Is there romance? Well, of course there is but it doesn't come as expected.
Really enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

A delightful read . A governess sets off for America to help her family keep their home weatherproof. She has to face her own demons linked to New York and refind herself in the hurly burly of Hollywood where her employer has his own issues that need to resolved

I find this book delightful.
Although a little predictable (hence 4 stars), I really liked the story and read it in couple of sittings.
I found the characters charming and I am unable to shake them off several days later! I believe this book will stay with me for a long time.
It's a great summer read, transporting you to 1937, from a grey, cold yet familiar Wensleydale, around a loving family to a lonely, sun drenched Hollywood surrounded by secretive strangers.
I will definately be looking out for this author again.

Hester Carlye is a highly sought-after governess but when she is asked to be the governess of a famous American actor, she is close to refusing. However, with her elderly father frail, and the roof of their rundown cottage falling in, she has no choice but to accept a dazzling new placement. Movie star Aidan Neil is struggling to care for his daughter Erin, after the tragic death of his wife Dinah Doyle, hence the request for Hester. On arriving in Hollywood, it becomes instantly clear to Hester that both Erin and Aidan are grief stricken. She finds herself immersed in helping Erin but Aidan is reclusive. She begins to wonder what secrets he may be hiding, especially when she meets Marie who shines a new light on what really happened to Dinah. However, the truth is more shocking than Hester could ever have imagined.
This was such an amazing story that held my attention from the first chapter. I loved Hester and her ability to embrace Erin, when she was in pain after the death of her mother. Similarly, her ability to put her own pain aside to make this family rise above the death of Dinah, was truly admirable and showed how unique she was amidst the Hollywood glitter. Whilst Aidan seems at first brusque, his pain is evident but from the beginning, it is obvious that he is an honourable man. Erin was delightful and such a natural. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.