Temptation Of A Proper Governess (Large Print) (Romances) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Cathy Maxwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2004

In 1803 Michael Severson sails from the wilds of Canada to his home in England, now a wealthy man, determined to prove himself innocent of a murder he did not commit. Instead of a welcome, he is greeted with treachery and deceit by family and would-be friends alike. Isabel Halloran is a Governess for an unsavory family and the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Elswick. She saves Michael from being tricked into a forced marriage and from then on love blooms and grows between them as they set out to clear his name, solve a murder and restore her rightful place in society.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Having fled to the colonies to avoid being framed for murder, Michael Severson returns years later to England to find the real killer in Maxwell's latest Regency confection, a slightly darker entry than her usual fare (Seduction of an English Lady, etc.). Michael needs a way into society if he's to make any headway exonerating himself. At a house party in the country, the perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of Miss Isabel Halloran, a governess. The two find themselves in a compromising position from which marriage seems the only escape—but Isabel harbors a secret of her own, and she's not sure she can trust Michael to keep it. The murdered mistress who haunts the lovers weighs down the story, and the central mystery remains underdeveloped until the latter half of the book, when suddenly the secondary characters begin piling up. In addition, the chemistry between the protagonists isn't as convincing as it could be because Maxwell too often tells rather than shows their attraction. Still, the author's fans will warm to her appealing protagonists, even if there isn't much to distinguish this effort from the many other Regency mystery-romances crowding bookstore shelves.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Tinker, Tailor, Sailor, Spy . . .

New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell has lived a full and adventurous life. Her resume includes years as a naval officer working with Security Group to time spent managing a watch factory, with a stints as a news broadcaster and work designing costumes for theater productions thrown in for good measure. Today, Cathy spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness. She lives in the Richmond, Virginia, area surrounded by kids, dogs, cats, and horses.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: The Large Print Book Company (September 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596880007
• ISBN-13: 978-1596880009
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,063,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bestselling novelist Cathy Maxwell, a storyteller since childhood, embraces her writing romance as a way to express her belief that "loving well is the greatest adventure of all," and to explore her fascination with the Regency period.

The author of twenty-five historical romance novels and four novellas Cathy's latest THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL, the fifth of her Scandal and Seduction novels, has just been published. The others, also set in the Regency period, are quintessential Cathy Maxwell--traditional historicals with a contemporary sensibility and a touch of humor. They are A Seduction at Christmas, The Marriage Ring, The Earl Claims His Wife, and His Christmas Pleasure. Each has appeared for multiple weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.


Cathy received recognition from the start with her first novel, All Things Beautiful. Published in 1994, it was nominated for Best First Book by the Romance Writers of America and for Best First Historical by Romantic Times magazine. It also received first place recognition as Best Read of 1994 from the Reader's Voice

Born in Olathe, Kansas, Cathy's family roots go back to the Mayflower and the Revolutionary War. She has long called Virginia home, noting she is "a Virginian by choice, but a Kansan by nature." She worked in television news and spent six years in the Navy. She attended Air Force intelligence school, worked in the Pentagon and did a tour with Naval Intelligence.

Cathy began her writing career in 1991. Now, twenty years later, she is the author of sixteen national bestsellers and her novels appear regularly on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books include In the Highlander's Bed, Bedding the Heiress, In the Bed of a Duke, The Price of Indiscretion, Temptation of a Proper Governess, and The Seduction of an English Lady. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, Virginia Romance Writers, and Novelists Inc., and she is a frequent speaker at writers' conferences, libraries and special events.

She lives in rural Powhatan County with her rescued dogs Rico and Maya and with her son during college breaks, and is just a few miles from her horses, Duncan and Dinero.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good read, but Author seems afraid of love scenes, September 20, 2004

By 

Lilre1 "Lilre1" (Undisclosed Location) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temptation of a Proper Governess (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my first novel from Cathy Maxwell. I thoroughly enjoy Lowell and Barton, two excellent authors. However, Cathy Maxwell seems afraid of love scenes. They're over pretty quickly with little description and seem rushed. The plot/story was good. I was wondering how she would alter a Jane Eyre-esk story and make it new and exciting. Maxwell, your readers want more love and more steaminess in a novel.

Thanks,

LILRE1

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Lovely Regency Romance, September 14, 2004

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Temptation of a Proper Governess (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - England 1804 --- When governess Isabel Halloran found that her 17-year-old wayward, promiscuous charge was missing from her bed, she roused the nanny to help her locate the chit before she did something foolish and have the staff blamed for her mischief. Finding her charge lying naked in one of the wealthy visiting gentlemen's bedroom, she and nanny hauled her off and locked her in her bedroom. When the willful teenager taunted Isabel that she purposely left her bracelet in the bed in order to effect a forced marriage, Isabel rushed back to the room to retrieve it, only to be caught herself.

Unknowingly, Michael Severson came back to his room and found an intoxicatingly lovely woman who he was immediately attracted to. He began to seduce her and Isabel who was mesmerized by him was a willing participant until his host, and her employer, came along with witnesses to barge into his room, expecting to see his daughter being compromised and not the governess.

Initially refusing but then through a series of events and good intentioned friends, Isabel is finally persuaded by Michael to marry him - innocently putting a great deal of trust in a man who she'd only just met. Unfortunately, Michael had ulterior motives in his proposal once he'd discovered that she was the bastard child of Lord Elswick, a man who ten years earlier had attempted to have him convicted for murder. A deed Michael believed Elswick's son Henry had committed and Michael was determined to prove. However, Michael soon falls in love with Isabel about the same time she discovers the real reason he married her, but too late - for although Isabel had lost her heart to him, she had also lost her trust.

Once again, Cathy Maxwell, the mistress of unforgettable and sweet romances, hits a homerun with her latest novel having all the elements I've come to expect from her - vision, integrity, fabulous characterizations and all kinds of heart. She writes with intelligence and enormous feeling as these two wonderful protagonists come to terms with each other taking a leap of faith to accept the gift of a once in a lifetime love. The mystery of the murder was deftly handled and neatly tied up at the end. Additionally, she teases the reader with unforgettable characters that one can only hope to see revealed in greater detail in future sequels to this grand beginning. Bottom Line - This goes on my keeper shelf with spaces next to it for the sequels I pray come as soon as possible. --- Marilyn Rondeau (...)---

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid, entertaining read, September 13, 2004

By 

Bibliolati "historical romance junkie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temptation of a Proper Governess (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book (it's not a keeper-shelf 5-star read, but it's close). This is the second book by Maxwell that I've read, and she's certainly going to remain a prominent feature on my "to buy" list. If you're looking for a well written, entertaining story with characters who are fully realized and not merely cardboard cutouts, I highly recommend you pick this novel up.

The heroine (Isabel) is strong and sure of herself (even when she shouldn't be, as she realizes as she grows and develops during the novel's progression). The hero (Michael) is fabulous, a real charmer (in the good sense). I love a reformed bad boy. Especially one who reformed himself . . .

Even the titular bad guy in this novel (Riggs) has serious potential as a hero for a future novel. It's so refreshing when the secondary characters have enough life of their own that you find yourself wondering what they're up to when they're not front and center in the story.

The story I'm looking forward to is that of the hero's best friend Alex. Being half Native American myself, I usually cringe when I see novels with buff "Braves" on the cover, but for Alex I'm willing to make an exception.