Customer Reviews

A Home For The Holidays

The true love affair here is really between the author and her heroine. Our governess has not one redeeming defect. She speaks five languages fluently (I exaggerate - her Greek and Latin is "only passable), is well read in all the natural and unnatural philosophies, has impeccable deportment, is incredibly beautiful, modest, witty, and is a virtuoso pianist. 90% of the book is dedicated to exposing the wonder of this girl. The paean is so overblown that one expects Beethoven to make an appearance in order to praise her playing, or maybe Einstein to thank her for solving some particularly thorny problem for mankind. She even totally corrects the horrendous behavior of her 6-year-old charge in 24 hours by logically reasoning with the child (No kidding -- one day later and the child is acting in such a mature manner that her father allows her to stay up past MIDNIGHT to attend an adult's ball).

This book is a shame, because Joy Reed has written some good material in the past. Even in this one her prose is smooth and the book is gentle to read. It is just that the author gives us no reason to read it.

Richard, a widowed earl with a troubled young daughter, finds himself attracted to Alexandra from the start. It seems obvious that she is not really a governess. Trunks of expensive clothing, a cavalier attitude toward money, and frequent slips of the tongue all point to her being a well-brought-up young lady. Could this be an elaborate plan to trap him into matrimony? Nevertheless, Alexandra's sweet nature and her successful management of his young daughter's behavior and education draw him to her like a magnet. But how can he entice her to become his countess before the permanent governess arrives?

A hero who doesn't have to be dragged to the altar? Imagine that! In this book the author has created a sensitive, caring man with the same self-doubts and insecurities as everyone else. How much more romantic and sweet than the self-assured, arrogant heroes determined to avoid commitment that proliferate in romance novels!