3.5. I really want to love this series but I am having a hard time staying engaged. There are elements of these books I love but sometimes I get lost in the side plots. I am not a huge fan of governess plot lines but loved this one. The heroine held her own and I loved her strong personality and how she challenged the hero. I could have cared less about the 5 children, I mostly skimmed those partsl;

Pretty Good

Anna Thraxton, governess extraordinaire, is the only one who can help the Earl of Greyley who has just become the guardian to five young menaces who have already managed to run off several nannies. But Anthony doesn't want Anna to come. Though she is a nanny, her family is good ton and she is a good friend to Anthony's sister. He's also super attracted to her. Of course, Anthony has to get married and he's already picked out his future bride. She is not Anna. Anna is too loud, too brash, and too attractive. But the children, with the help of Anna's grandfather, may have other plans for him.

Very, very disappointed. I was expecting so much from Anthony. But he let me down completely. Firstly, he is bent on proving he is not a St. John, but an Elliot. I think its very insulting to that step father who took him in and raised him like his son. And if Elliot was a good family, I would have understood his desire to emulate them. On one hand he tries to improve the entire clan and on the other, he wallows in his own despair of being an Elliot. I found the struggle in him, very uninteresting to say the least. He is the one who is choosing to be an Elliot through and through.
Secondly, he keeps telling Anna to be his mistress like after 75% of the book. That is a no-no for me. I think he kept insulting Anna by offering to buy her a house.
I did not like Anna, because despite all her protests she slept with him, after knowing he was betrothed, after knowing his betrothed. I felt she betrayed and deceived the other girl.

Not a strong recommendation to anybody.

4.5 so close to being perfect!

Standard governess must tame the new wards of an earl. Only the governess used to be a lady, and grew up with the hero. No love/lust at first sight, more like enemies to lovers.

Hero: overbearing and bossy, he expects everyone to do what he says because he was thrust into the head of the family and lost his youth to getting control over the estates. He's not a wastrel, player, doesn't drink to access and not a man ho. He spends the most time with his steward and while I love me a hard working man I needed someone to get him out of the library and live life! It was so sweet watching him soften and open up. He was not perfect, spend more time trying to make her his mistress than find another way, but when he admitted the depths his feelings - boy did he not return!

Heroine: so refreshing! She's brash and bossy and headstrong and thinks she knows best. But I loved her! No self pity, she pulled up her lady breeches and moved on with life. She worked hard and held her head up, she didn't allow anyone - not even the hero! - so seduce away her morals unless she was in control. No fluttering missy here! I loved how much time she ACTUALLY spent with the kids, this wasn't a romance with a side of family, it was a family with romance intertwined. She never put her needs before them and dealt with them so sweetly, unlike how she constantly told off the hero she was all gentle parenting.

The vilian(s) were pretty obvious, and though she irritated me I Liked the 'other woman' aka the fluffy headed future bride. Was it disturbing that the hero (35) was trying to groom a girl (18)? Yes. Was this the norm? Yes.

Special shout out to the meddling grandfather! Loved him and the heroines relationship.

This was a romance book where even after reading the last page you not left with any doubts that they lived happily (arguing) ever after.

Started off really strong, with great sparks between the H&H, wonderful supporting characters, and some highly enjoyable laugh-out-loud moments ... I hate it when authors feel like they have to add in secondary potential love interests and just try to complicate matters as much as possible, including misunderstandings, things unspoken, false assumptions, etc. This was NOT one of those *BIG MISUNDERSTANDING* book, but the second half / last third of the book kind of had me gritting my teeth and ruined it a little for me. It's worth reading, especially if you're going to read the St. John Brothers / Talisman Ring Series, since this book kicks it off, however I would recommend getting it from the library instead of buying it.

Good

Anna is the best governess in England. While she can't stand her best friend brother Anthony . He practically makes her an offer she can't turn down specially since he traded a week hunting with her new assignment. Since he received five unruly wards he needs the best and Anna will do even though he can't stand her or maybe he can but don't want to admit it. Good book

Rated 3.5

I liked Anna, she was strong, determined and I appreciate that she gave as good as she got to the kids and also Anthony. He was sometimes too hard but I could still sympathize with him. Surprisingly the kids weren't annoying and I found Grandpa funny :) The plot and circumstances of the heroes didn't seem forced and also the development seemed quite natural. The last part of the book was maybe a bit chaotic with introducing new love interest, but it was still highly enjoyable light read.

I enjoyed reading.

Embarrassed to say that I have been following Karen Hawkins on FB for quite some time, but up until this novel, I had only read her contributions to the Lady Whistledown anthologies...I will be rectifying that immediately! I downloaded this title on a whim and the writing, humor and the NORMALITY of the story have almost created an obsession for the remainder of her novels! I liked the fact that the heroine of the story had baggage, but didn't allow it to define or limit her. Strong male characters need a strong female to partner with and this couple did not disappoint!

Review perhaps later when life heads back in the right direction.