The Governess Affair

That's 120 minutes of my life I will never get back, as they say. I could say more but the sooner I draw a line under my involvement with this book the better.

What a delight! I've already read all of the Brothers Sinister books, so going back and seeing Oliver's and Free's parents' backstory was really fun. Overall this was lovely, and the sex scene with the pins-as-favors conceit worked SO well (and was super hot, to boot).

** spoiler alert ** I enjoyed the characters a lot and I thought the theme of rape was framed well - she blamed herself to an extent for not fighting back physically and she had to overcome that, and Hugo understood that it did not mean she hadn't been forced - but not well enough. Honestly, three months after being raped is not nearly enough time for emotional recovery so that she can trust a man and feel sexual attraction to him… and add to that the shock of being pregnant as well. But for the sake of plot and the romance it works, and the consummation scene was very well written, so I'm not all against it. Both Susan and Hugo were very enjoyable characters and I hope there's more of them in the next novels!

Before you ask, I can tell you that NO, the Fluffy Siberian Bunnies (FSB™) have NOT hacked my account. This is really me non-reviewing this POC™. In my defense, I have to say that: 1/Liz forced me to do this. 2/This is the MacHalos' fault. Were it not for the bloody shrimping TBR Cleaning Challenge, I wouldn't have to get rid of all the crap stuff that's been sitting on my Kindle for centuries. 3/Being stuck on a ferry for 8+ hours has the strangest effect on one's sanity. 4/I'm innocent. Were I my younger, more enthusiastic self, I'd write a novel-length crappy non-review explaining why this gloriously short story is so suicide-inducing. But I'm not, so I won't. All you need to know about this is: ① The level of stupid is staggeringly overwhelming. QED and stuff. ② Boredom, it's a thing. ③ The unlikable characters are the most unlikable bunch ever. Also, they are as emotional as a truckload of cardboard boxes and flatter than my favorite herd of ironing boards. Also, also, their behavior make no fishing sense whatsoever. Also, also, also, I might want to slightly skewer them all. Maybe. ④ The way rape and its aftermath are handled made me feel slightly homicidal. You do not treat this subject in such an ambiguous way. No. You. Don't. You do not romanticize it and you certainly do not depict in such a frivolous manner. No moral, no nothing for this one. I am bloody shrimping done with this crap. P.S. Liz dear, I guess this means you won't be shaving your head. I'm going to kill you dead for challenging me to read this, but at least you'll make a delightfully hairy corpse. [October 2015] ➽ This is not outside my comfort zone, this is beyond my wildest imaginings. I'm never going to survive this one. ☠ Thank you Liz, I love you forever and always. I really do ☠ ETA: Liz said she would shave her head if I ended up liking this one (read the comments if you don't believe me). I think I'm just about to fall in love with HR.

I went into the book pretty blind so I was always going to be surprised by it but this novella was a really nice romance. I liked the characters. The story was good. It was just a nice romance. That is also my issue. Considering this was on a top 100 romance list I was expecting to be blown away by it. I wanted to fall in love. Whilst it was cute I know this isn't a romance which will stay with me and make me want to go back and reread in the future and for me that is the best sign of a great romance. It wasn't bad it was perfectly lovely but it's one of them.

So, romance reader confession, this is my first Courtney Milan *ducks and hides*. I haven't read her work not for a lack of wanting to, I was just waiting for the right time, and that time is now! This started a little slow for me, I was concerned that the Hugo was the Duke's right hand man, seeking to make sure the Duke would be able to get his Duchess back, no matter if that meant the "problem" of Serena needed to go away. This concern was quickly dissolved when Hugo and Serena began exchanging their barbed letters, and from there I was sold and devoured this novella in a sitting. CW rape (off page, in the past), discussion of "not forced" vs. "forced" sex, physical violence There are so many great scenes and quotes, from the letter exchange, to Hugo just being so enchanted by Serena's dogged perseverance and snarky responses, to the "he's safe" feelings Hugo inspires. Sigh. There's a great discussion of what it means to consent to sex, and that despite "letting" the Duke have sex with her that Serena did not have any power and it was in fact forced. Serena's pregnancy is handled extraordinarily and Hugo is just a peach. Of course he had to go through his little song and dance about not wanting a "real marriage" and that he was a nobody with nothing to offer (EXCEPT HIS MUSCLES AND HIS LOYALTY AND HIS OBVIOUS LOVE YOU DOPE), but I knew it would be okay! Also, Milan understands the female gaze. I adored the hairpin scene, when Hugo uses Serena's hairpins to allow her to consummate their marriage. She has all the power and control, and it is sexy consensual sex and so good. Anyway this is mostly incoherent but I loved it can you tell? Go read it all!

The loveliest novella! I've read this for my HR group and I am so glad I did - it's such a sweet story and it tackles quite dark topics for a novella. But Hugo Marshall seems like the most amazing man and they've both been through so much but they've found safety and peace in each other. My heart is bursting with love for this book! I couldn't recommend it enough ^^