Title: The Footman and I
Author: Valerie Bowman
Series: The Footmen’s Club (Book 1)
Page Length: 274
Publication Date: June 20, 2020
Publisher: June Third Enterprises
Synopsis: Let the games begin…
Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong?
May the best footman win.
Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true?
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
The first book in The Footmen’s Club series, The Footmen and I follows Lucas Drake, an Earl who makes a bet with his closest friends. Lucas needs a wife but doesn’t want a vacuous, greedy woman who is only after his title. So, Lucas and his friends decide to disguise themselves as servants at a summer house party so that they can get to know the debutantes without pretenses. Lucas, as well as his friends, want to observe the women when their guards are down and see how they truly act and treat people.
Unlike Lucas, Frances is not overly interested in marriage. Instead, she is focused on social and political issues, especially concerning the plight of the poor. However, with a family on the brink of poverty and a mother who insists Frances marry, Frances begrudgingly attends the same summer house party as Lucas. Frances is persuaded by her mother to encourage Sir Francis, as he has shown interest.
In an effort to avoid Sir Francis and his enormous ego, Frances flees to the library where she keeps bumping into Lucas. The pair enjoys lively discussions and debates, especially when talking about the Employment Bill, a bill that they have very different views on. I like that Frances isn’t afraid to voice her opinions, and she insists on having her voice heard.
I also like that Lucas grows and changes so much. He listens to Frances and reflects on their conversations. Frances is definitely the catalyst for Lucas’ growth. They have chemistry from the start, and they challenge each other, which I love. Frances and Lucas are both intelligent and kind, and they suit each other well. If only those pesky secrets didn’t stand in their way!
I enjoyed reading about Lucas and his friends, as well as the budding romance between Lucas and Frances. A novel filled with secrets, hidden identities, and romance, The Footman and I will appeal to readers that enjoy historical romance with interesting characters. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance! Frances and Lucas have a lovely romance.
- The friendships and well-developed characters.
Recommendations:
This is a great story for readers who enjoy historical romances.
This sounds like one I’d like. I see your rating is a bit low, though. I’m curious what you didn’t like about it.
There was nothing I disliked. The story and characters are good, the pace is fine. It just didn’t wow me. For me, the secret identity trope isn’t always my favorite, especially when they have the chance to reveal themselves and don’t for silly reasons. That would be my only complaint about the book. There was nothing terrible about it but nothing super memorable either.