From Waif to Gentleman's Wife (Harlequin Historical) [Mass Market Paperback]

Julia Justiss (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Historical | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

When a destitute governess faints on Sir Edward Greaves's threshold, chivalry demands that he offer her temporary shelter. However, the desire Ned feels when he catches her in his arms isn't at all gentlemanly....

With her large, troubled eyes and slender frame, Joanna Merrill calls to something deep inside this guarded man. For one who has purposely shunned the conniving beauties of London society, just how much is Ned risking by having this intriguing woman under his roof...?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After being unfairly discharged from her job as governess, a practically penniless Joanna Merrill sets off for Blenhem Hill, where her brother Greville works as estate manager. But when she finally arrives at the estate, she is shocked to discover that her brother’s employment has been terminated, and a new estate manager, Ned Greaves, is in charge. After mistaking Joanna for a woman of dubious reputation, Ned intends to send her packing, but once he realizes Joanna really is the lady she claims to be, he offers her a job instead. With few other options open to her, Joanna accepts Ned’s offer, but their working relationship quickly becomes complicated once Joanna realizes she is falling in love with her new employer. Justiss not only sets her expertly crafted story in the English countryside in the midst of industrialization but she also authentically portrays ordinary people, whose lives do not center around the ton, thus giving this Regency historical a delightfully different twist. --John Charles

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373295642
• ISBN-13: 978-0373295647
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,493,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Series > Harlequin Historicals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Feel good Regency, October 30, 2009

By 

Karla Bushway "7Rabbits" (South Strafford, VT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Waif to Gentleman's Wife (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

Good romance. Super-nice protagonists, a significant backdrop of period history (Luddite Rebellion), and complications between the hero & heroine that is resolved in a totally feel-good manner. The overall relationship between Joanna & Ned here reminded me of Nana & Oliver Worthy in Carla Kelly's "Marrying the Captain" and I enjoyed that one thoroughly as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great romance!, February 1, 2011

By 

Rutile Blue - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From Waif to Gentleman's Wife (Harlequin Historical) (Kindle Edition)

This is a moving and well-written romance. Joanna, a good women, has had
many misfortunes (husband's death right after a miscarriage of an almost
viable baby, left with almost no money and with almost no one to turn to).
She has managed to get a governess's job only to be almost raped by the
lowlife husband (very upper class) of the women who hired Joanna. Joanna is
promptly turned out. After more grief, Joanna reaches the estate of her
brother and only relative she can turn to. He has been turned out and is
gone. Ned, who is the upper class new owner of the estate has just moved in,
but is pretending to be merely the estate manager (for reasons that are clear
from the book). He is honorable and wants Joanna. Eventually after
difficulties these two lovely people become lovers and marry. The novel
gives a window on the social unrest following the napoleonic was. There are
several well-drawn minor characters. In particular there is a seriously
crippled soldier (loss of arm,...), who has come back to a fiancee (now no
fiancee), who was forced into prostitution. Everything works out.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed in the hero, December 30, 2009

By 

Gemma "bookworm" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Waif to Gentleman's Wife (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

From the back cover:

The governess's gallant protector...

When a destitute governess faints on Sir Edward Greave's threashold, chivalry demands that he offer her temporary shelter. However, the desire Ned feels when he catches her in his arms isn't all gentlemanly...

With her large, troubled eyes and slender frame, Joanna Merrill calls to something deep inside this guarded man. For one who has purposely shunned the conniving beauties of London society, just how much is Ned risking by having this intriguin woman under his roof...?

And my review:

I've read and enjoyed books by this author before, including The Courtesan and Rogue's Lady, so when I found this book at my local thrift store, I eagerly snapped it up. But I was left very disappointed in this book.

My big complaint was the hero. The guy had sex on the brain! Whenever the heroine was around, I swear he never thought with the head on his shoulders. All he can think of is getting her into bed. Even when he first sees her, soaked through and looking pretty much like something the cat dragged in, he gets aroused by her. Okay, I can accept that. Then, the next morning while she's recounting her story, he barely pays attention and instead ogles her bosom. Nice. It reminded me of one of those sleezy guys who never bothers to look a woman in the face when she's talking to him. Not sexy. While I certainly want the hero to be sexually attracted to the heroine, I also want him to view her as something more than just a sex object.

Then, he decides that she's probably telling the truth about being an impoverised gentlewoman, and not a doxy, except that she has "plump bite-me lips and lush, fondle-me breasts", which make him think otherwise. Excuse me? Any woman with a nice figure is automatically a woman of low virtue?! He then goes on to think that he feels sorry for the man who tried to rape the heroine--since she's so tempting it must have been difficult for the man to resist. I beg your pardon?!!! If a woman is beautiful, then a man can't help it if his lusts lead him to try to rape her? It was too much for me. Wallbanger.

I'm just glad I didn't read this one first, or I might have missed out on some of this author's other fine books.