The Governess Affair (The Brothers Sinister)

A very nice little novella that has surprises at every turn. The author managed to bring believable depth to the characters with a few deft descriptions, and the plot had nice twists that were beyond the normal sort for the genre.

Do you rescue yourself from the sort of poverty westerners in the 21st century can't even begin to imagine, or do you build your security doing whatever your employer demands, even if it's at the expense of a young woman also just trying to survive in a society which condones almost anything a man of birth might do? This is one of the very few historical romances I've read, that takes the very real plight of poor but gently born women in Georgian England seriously. I will be buying more from this author. BTW - the exchange of hairpins when they consummate their marriage is one of the best pieces of this sort of writing in this genre I've ever read.

Having read all the books in the Brothers Sinister series so far, I have to say this novella is the best of the bunch. I would have given it five stars, but I wasn't happy with how the book ended in the epilogue. It's a minor quibble because the rest of the book is wonderful.

Hugo Marshall and Serena Barton are two strong-willed characters who are brought together by circumstances not of their choosing, but slowly find themselves attracted to the other in spite of those circumstances.

He is a man who has been set to a task without being given a critical piece of information and she is unwilling to give it to him. It's a thread that is woven throughout their story and when she finally confirms his darkest suspicions, he sets things right.

Novellas can be tricky things because the writer has much less time to flesh out the plot, the characters and figure out how the story will be resolved. Courtney Milan managed all of those things quite nicely and frankly left me wanting more. But shouldn't a good story do that?

In this story, the author portrays the futility and hardships of the working class of England's 18th century. Although it is not what I would consider a brilliant book, it is, nevertheless, well written in that it depicts life for Serena Barton, a governess, and her quest for justice. I didn't like the fact that justice is actually never achieved, but Serena does achieve a satisfactory form of closure. The author is very descriptive in portraying the arrogance and lack of empathy of the upper class in England in that period of time and the hardships such arrogance and selfishness creates for those who are the brunt of such actions from the upper class.

Another great book by Ms Milan. I'm constantly surprised at the author's capability to write gripping, complex characters with deep internal lives that don't overshadow the rest of the books. The books are easy reading, but I mean it as a compliment in comparison to how richly described the characters are. I liked this prequel novella more than I did the first novel in the series, but I thoroughly enjoyed both. Well done. I will certainly pick up more books from the author when I get a historical romance novel craving and I've suggested the series to friends as well. May this stand as a testament to my affection for the series!

First the author should be congratulated for bringing in a such a simple and serene love story out of an innocent woman’s life.

Storyline: Hugo Marshall, a cut throat businessman and also the legal and financial assistant of the Duke of Clermont was given an assignment by his boss to solve the problem of a woman named Serena Barton, who was made pregnant forcibly, by the Duke himself, after she was hired as a governess to his forthcoming child. Serena wages a silent battle against the Duke in front of his office, claiming recognition to her unborn child. Hugo confronts her many times to withdraw her claim by offering her a meagre compensation for which she rejects. Meanwhile, Hugo slowly gets attracted to Serena’s will power and beauty, resulting in he slipping into love with her. Not being able to withstand his hidden love towards her, he offers her a proposal to marry her and hence clear her child from carrying a tainted image after he was born, without bending his ego of a self-centered advocate. Serena accepts the proposal and also later lives to realize her dream of owning a small farm for herself along with her son to acquire the best education, through Hugo’s tactical method of extracting benefit from the Duke. The story ends after many years, with Serena’s son and the Duke’s son confronting each other in a tussle in their high school, and get to know the fact that they were actually siblings of the same father but different mothers.

Pros: A serene love story which once again emphasizes on the ability of a woman to get what she wants only with strong will power….a great qualifier for Mills & Boon series of love stories. The game of hair pins mentioned in the story when Hugo had his first sexual encounter with Serena is worth trying by all males without being exposed by their thirst to dominate a woman.

Cons: I felt like Serena was taking advantage of the Duke’s weakness rather than fighting over the real cause of distress. Similarly Hugo seemed to have taken advantage of both Serena’s and the Duke’s weak positions. The entire story felt like business deals which rather might have transformed into emotional attachments.

My rating is 2 out of 5

This was a short and sweet story where both characters are interesting. Hugo is a man who has a life plan and has no intentions to change it until he meets Serena, a woman wronged by his employer. After a lot of consideration Hugo decides to help Serena, and in the process getting to know her and the kind of person she is.

The book is well written and is the beginning to a series. There is no cliffhanger, but definitely this book must be read before starting the series. Look forward to reading the rest of them.

It is a romance. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very enter resting.
It is about a woman who sits outside a duke's house. She is making the Duke nervous by sitting there.
The Duke goes to a man that works for him. The man is known as the wolf of Claremont. The Duke gives a short story why the woman is there. But the wolf thinks that the Duke isn't being truthful with him. The asks him to get rid of the woman.
The wolf goes to the woman and introduced himself as Mr.Marshall. He tries to get her side of the story. She just will not say.
This book goes through her the trials of the good and bad.
I don't want to rune the book by telling more. I hope that everyone enjoys this book as much as I did.

This is a perfect, short read. I continue to reread it from time to time. The chemistry,the realistic conflict, and the main characters are everything i look for. I rarely give five stars, but this is a gem. As always with a novella this good one always wishes "If only it were longer..."

This is the first historical romance I've read my Courtney Milan. I have to say I was instantly hooked, and this book kept me reading late into the night. I loved the historical details of this Victorian romance. I loved the strong hero and heroine. I enjoyed being swept away on an emotional journey. While this book did have graphic sex the book was focused on character development and the development of the relationship which was a pleasant change from reading many bodice rippers. This is a book I plan to read again.

I really enjoyed this book by Courtney Milan. Her characters were well developed and I loved them both. The hero was so sure of his plan and path for his life and the heroine was so very feisty and strong. I loved how Serena knocked Hugo off his chosen path, convincing him he was better off following her path!

I felt a little disappointment, at first, that not much was said about the Duke's so richly deserved comeuppence at the hands of his Duchess....but Miss Milan took care of that in the epilogue when she brought the next generation into the story. Great setup for the future books in this series. I'm looking forward to the next 3 books. My rating is 4 stars.

I enjoyed the characters in this novella, thought it wonderful they could both overcome adversity, and that this novella sets up what looks to be a great series (epilogue and excerpt at the end!) Highly recommended, quick read, free of noticed typos--always a more enjoyable read!

Really enjoyed this story about a governess who was raped by a self centred, self serving Duke. She stood outside his house every day and his book keeper Hugo came to know Serena and married her to save her and the Dukes child from retribution of the child being a bastard. Hugo falls deeply in love with Serena and all ends well. Hugo had a reputation of being a hard and ruthless person. When he and Serena consummate their marriage Hugo made it into a game so it would be all pleasure for Serena to replace her bad memories of the rape. The Duke received his come uppance.

I got this after an email promo because the cover intrigued. Loved. It. There actually aren't enough stars. It deals with the sensitive subject of rape at a time when women were always at risk of it. I admit I was worried about the bad boy hero. Then the pins. You'll see. And I was in lurve. My new book boyfriend. Sigh

I enjoyed Courtney Milan's "The Governess Affair", which actually works pretty well as a stand alone novella although I'm definitely going to read the other books in this series now.

Serena shows courage and backbone that would've been rare, yet believable, in her time period. Hugo is an unexpected gentleman and unlikely hero, whose heart of gold has earned him a place on my list of awesome male main characters. This is a quick weekend read which I highly recommend.

I liked the storyline, the characters, and Ms. Milan's style of writing. The only weak spot for me was how the "wolf" attacked even after he realized the situation. The basics were laid for him to be a real hero, but it just seemed to take him forever to resolve his personal conflicts. Still a good story and I love the epilogue...a hint of stories to come, I'm sure.

I started reading this book out of boredom, but quickly found out that it was not 'just another Duke's tale'. I enjoyed the twist in the story, how the main characters were commoners. Also the underlying philosophy with which Ms. Courtney told her story, to me was a familiar truth that can be seen in most of our lives. The comparison of the character of the two sisters, very 'night & day' yet united in love. The status quo of the Duke with no moral status, versus the ordinary man who struggled in his life to become someone but recognized that he could be extraordinary with the gift of love he was given. Better still, the union of the two young boys at the end of the story.
A very pleasant read indeed!

I enjoyed this novella. It was an interesting historical romance. It was a little different plot than the typical romance novel. Rather than a nobleman the hero is his man of business. The heroine is the ruined governess. These characters are usually secondary, I liked that we were able to hear their story.
This novella is the prequel for the Brothers Sinister books.
This is the first I read from this author. I like her writing style. This was an easy enjoyable read.
I would recommend to anyone who likes historical romance.

I never have high expectations of novellas, so I am always pleasantly surprised when I find one that is well-written. I always find it so difficult to try and get wrapped up in a story when there's not enough time to develop the plot, but Milan does a wonderful job managing to get substance in this story. I felt like I was able to get as involved with the characters and story as I would have been with a full novel. I was waiting in anticipation for the sequels.

I bought this novella just because it was .99 cents and had good reviews but I changed my view. This was a very good novella, I love the characters and the unexpected epilogue got me hooked even more. I love how the hero wasn't some rich nobleman like your typical historical romance. Serena is even more amazing, not your typical young miss and she can hold her own. I'm off to buy the sinister book/s now. Highly recommended!!

I normally does not read historical romance, This one was a full surprise nicely written and touching the subject of sexual abuse in a tasteful way and from that a new love is born removing all past negative in the main characters life. I will read more of Courtney Milan.

The book started off slow, but picked up. By the end. I was excited to see where the series would continue. As this book was obviously written after others in the series, it might not have been so slow if I had read them before the prequel. I found myself liking and more interested in the hero than the heroine. However I did enjoy the chemistry between them. I plan to start book 1 immediately!

The quality of this novella makes me regret some of the five stars I've awarded to other books. It is a tender, tough, perceptive work written with taut and effective skill. Read how the lead characters overcome past wounds to reach a satisfying conclusion.

"The Governess Affair" shows us how little power servants/hired help had during the regency period. Serena was a victim of a despicable Duke's lust, but she vows not to go away quietly. She has a plan. I admired her fortitude and enjoyed the lively banter between her and Hugo. This is a quick read. I've already read a number of the other books, but somehow missed this one. It was an enjoyable read.

The h was a strong character who stood her ground against the dastardly H who was covering up the wrong doings of the villain of this book. I have read 3 other books in this series and I liked them all, though this one might be considered my favorite. Happy reading. SQ

These two aren't from the creme of society, which is refreshing. Their arguments are just as fresh, crackling smart. This Novela is a blast to to read and makes me want more. Plus, it's great seeing how the two boys met and where they came from.

The development of the romance between Hugo and Serena was so beautiful. They argued like an old married couple even before they were. And the clear challenge she offered him was like a breath of fresh air to his otherwise and previously stuffy life, cleaning up the duke 's messes. What angered me was reading that Serena had no legal standing if she were to have brought charges up. Sorry state of affairs, but wonderfully wound novella. Surprisingly so...

I always love a good story, where the unlovable and incapable of love, not only falls in love but proves to be worthy of great love. Think, Mr. Darcy. The verbal jousting between the main characters was smart and entertaining. Although predictable in its ending, the trip there is definitely worth taking. Knowing this is a prequel, along with the sample from the first book, makes me want to read more from Ms. Milan.

I am writing my first review because Courtney Milan deserves all the praise she can get for her sublime novella, The Governess Affair. My goodness, she stole my heart for the few hours I spent reading. This romance is superlative. Let me qualify that statement. What I look for in a romance are three essentials: intelligent-stimulating dialouge between hero and heroine, a high degree of senuality, and originality (sadly elusive in most romance fare). The Governess Affair met and exceeded what I enjoy in a romance. I class this novella with The Raven Prince (Hoyt) and The Lord of Scoundrels (Chase), both full-length novels. The relative brevity of The Governess Affair in no way detracts from its greatness. In fact, I think it would have been weakened if it had been longer. And, in case you're wondering, I am not usually a novella reader.
Write on, Ms. Milan. I promise I'll keep reading if you do.

This is a very funny and rather charming romance novel. It did need to be evaluated as a romance novel, because the tropes it works within are very good examples of that genre. Unlike some books, the conflict between the characters is very real, and the signs of their affection for each other very human. This makes them sympathetic and sweet and prevents a sensation of foregone conclusions.

All in all, it's well written, funny, and once you accept some of the minor absurdities (conflict over a dukedom! A hidden heiress fighting for her family! Oh, swoon!) the book rewards you by becoming hilarious and touching by turns.

The development of the romance between Hugo and Serena was so beautiful. They argued like an old married couple even before they were. And the clear challenge she offered him was like a breath of fresh air to his otherwise and previously stuffy life, cleaning up the duke 's messes. What angered me was reading that Serena had no legal standing if she were to have brought charges up. Sorry state of affairs, but wonderfully wound novella. Surprisingly so...

I always love a good story, where the unlovable and incapable of love, not only falls in love but proves to be worthy of great love. Think, Mr. Darcy. The verbal jousting between the main characters was smart and entertaining. Although predictable in its ending, the trip there is definitely worth taking. Knowing this is a prequel, along with the sample from the first book, makes me want to read more from Ms. Milan.

I am writing my first review because Courtney Milan deserves all the praise she can get for her sublime novella, The Governess Affair. My goodness, she stole my heart for the few hours I spent reading. This romance is superlative. Let me qualify that statement. What I look for in a romance are three essentials: intelligent-stimulating dialouge between hero and heroine, a high degree of senuality, and originality (sadly elusive in most romance fare). The Governess Affair met and exceeded what I enjoy in a romance. I class this novella with The Raven Prince (Hoyt) and The Lord of Scoundrels (Chase), both full-length novels. The relative brevity of The Governess Affair in no way detracts from its greatness. In fact, I think it would have been weakened if it had been longer. And, in case you're wondering, I am not usually a novella reader.
Write on, Ms. Milan. I promise I'll keep reading if you do.

This is a very funny and rather charming romance novel. It did need to be evaluated as a romance novel, because the tropes it works within are very good examples of that genre. Unlike some books, the conflict between the characters is very real, and the signs of their affection for each other very human. This makes them sympathetic and sweet and prevents a sensation of foregone conclusions.

All in all, it's well written, funny, and once you accept some of the minor absurdities (conflict over a dukedom! A hidden heiress fighting for her family! Oh, swoon!) the book rewards you by becoming hilarious and touching by turns.

As a former lawyer, Courtney Milan can frame the question "What constitutes force?" Is it rape if you do not physically resist or call for help? As an exceptional skilled historical romance writer, Milan crafts a story that challenges the narrative that all too often blames the woman who has been sexually assaulted-- even today. Bravo for envisioning a heroine reclaiming her personal agency and a hero who joins her in holding the perpetrator accountable as they recognize each other as kindred "wolf" and "bear" perfect mates for each other. No this is not a paranormal or shape-shifter novel--metaphors only.

Read this novella to grasp the allusion to "the pleasures of hairpins" as tokens of healing.

This theme of holding a duke accountable for sexual assault is also part of the storyline of Cecilia Grant's novel "A Lady Awakened" only more as a later unfolding in that story.

The reason I called this the most expensive freebie ever, is that I had not read anything by Courtney Milan before, and I am now going to buy lots more books from her. I wanted to smack the hero for helping out that nasty duke, but he grew on me anyway. Some of the language in the book is the best I've ever seen in a romance, and if this is any example of how Milan normally writes, I foresee a long and expensive relationship reading her other books.

Apparently, I am reading something completely different from the other reviewers. I thought this story was flat, boring, difficult to read, and not truly dealing with the theme of rape in the story. I could only read through 40% of the book and I hated all of it. The absolute worst romance I've read in a while; I rarely ever give one star. I will not be trying anything by this author again for a long while.

Disappointment is an understatement, more a waste of time. There is nothing of value I can say about this book. It's just nothing. Not a good story. Not written well. Not any developed characters. Not a hint of a decent plot.
I am simply disappointed in my selection of this book, and wish I had the time back that I used in reading it.

I bought this book based on others reviews of it. Initially reading the summary it didn't sound great to me but it was inexpensive and well liked by reviewers to i gave it a shot. And i am glad i did because it surprised me, i ended up enjoying it very much.

The main character has a strength and gentleness that is fun and endearing. And because this book is the prequel to the rest of the series it moves through many events relativly quickly to set the stage for the full series.

Well written, with well developed characters and a happy ending :) This was a sweet and rewarding romance.