Happy December, and happy book birthday to A Gentleman Will Never Forget a Lady by Emily Windsor! I enjoyed this unique historical romance and think it’s a fabulous addition to The Governess Chronicles series. Let’s check it out:
About the Book:
Title: A Gentleman Will Never… Forget a Lady
Author: Emily Windsor
Series: The Governess Chronicles #3
Page Length: 200
Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2022
Publisher: Senara Press
Synopsis: Get swept away this winter to rugged Wales…
Having lost her beloved, Lady Gwen Evans is planning a life of travel, writing books on her adventures.
But will the arrival of a dark, scarred stranger, one winter’s eve, disrupt all her plans…
A heart-warming Regency tale with sensual scenes.
My Review:
A Gentleman Will Never Forget a Lady is the engrossing third book in The Governess Chronicles historical romance series by Emily Windsor. The story follows Tristan, Rhys’s twin brother, who was presumed dead when lost at sea. Sixteen months have passed since his disappearance, and with some of his memories returned, Tristan is now returning home to reunite with his family. If you read A Governess Should Never Deny a Duke, you’ll remember Rhys and his niece Mari were deeply grieving Tristan’s death and trying to figure out how to move on without him. Imagine their shock and elation when he finally returns!
Gwen, a neighbor to Rhys and Tristan, has decided to have a life of adventure after losing the love of her life. She was devastated when Tristan, her long-time friend turned love was lost at sea, and when she learns of his return, she is as stunned and thrilled as everyone else. But when Tristan reveals he still doesn’t remember a large chunk of time, the time he spent with Gwen, Gwen decides to keep their relationship a secret until (or if) his memories return, even though it pains her to do so. I felt so bad for Gwen. I can’t imagine how she felt when she realized that Tristan didn’t remember their time together.
Tristan is such a layered and compelling character, and he deals with so much over the course of the story. He’s readjusting to his old life, which is difficult for him. He has to reconcile the man he was before the accident to the man he is now, and he still can’t remember a big chunk of time leading up to the accident. He feels like a shell of himself, and he struggles to find his footing when back with his family and friends. He’s also confused by his feelings for his friend Gwen.
The romance between Tristan and Gwen is heartbreaking and heart-warming all at once. The couple has a soul-deep connection, and even when Tristan doesn’t remember their time together, he still feels this undeniable pull toward her. I felt for these childhood friends-turned-lovers. They are both so wounded though in different ways. She doesn’t want to force a relationship he doesn’t remember. Tristan still can’t remember a big chunk of time before his accident, much to his frustration, and he’s having a hard time readjusting to his old life. However, they are so drawn to each other that he doesn’t need his memories because he begins to care for her all over again. It’s so lovely and messy and emotional, and I adored both of them and their angst-filled romance.
I also love Tristan’s family. Rhys, Isabelle, and Mari won my heart in A Governess Should Never Deny a Duke, and to see Rhys reunited with his twin and Mari with her beloved father was so emotional and moving. I like that the story delves into all of the conflicting and confusing emotions that not just Tristan but all of these close to him go through. Those he loves, especially Rhys, Gwen, and Mari, deal with a lot – the shock of seeing the man they thought was dead, the man they grieved for, the guilt that comes with knowing he is alive when they didn’t believe so, and the fear that he will be taken away again. Rhys, Mari, and Gwen show such a range of feelings and emotions, and it was interesting to see how they each worked through it. Gwen is also dealing with her need for adventure and her desire to be more than what her father expects of her.
Other characters were also dynamic and integral to the plot. Mrs. Pugh continues to be one of my favorites. She takes a motherly role in the house, and she adds so much vivacity and dramatics to the story. I totally get her emotional reactions. Lol. And Rhys and Tristan’s cousin is fantastic. He’s so fun and charming, though I think there are some hidden depths there. The friendship between Isabelle and Gwen is also lovely, and seeing Isabelle and Rhys so in love with each other warms my heart.
I loved this story. It was emotional and moving, and the love story was slow building and lovely. Speaking of lovely, the setting sounds gorgeous as do the special celebrations they take part in and the legends they tell! I loved these elements in the previous book, and I love them even more in this one.
Special thanks to Emily Windsor for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The characters.
- The setting.
Recommendations:
Want to learn more about the series? Check out my review of the first book., A Governess Should Never Tempt a Prizefighter or my review of the second book, A Governess Should Never Deny a Duke.
Omg, this sounds like it’s going to be one heck of an emotional read! Tristan and Mari. Tristan and Gwen! Tristan and Rhys and all the relationships he has to re-form again now that he’s back and so much has changed. I’m SO glad you reviewed this cos I didn’t realise it was already out now. I loved the first two books so I can’t wait to read this! Shall go add it to my library immediately. 😍 Great review, Julie!
Omg, Dini! I love Tristan!! And Rhys has a decent size role in the book too, which was fantastic. It’s such a good story – I think you’ll really like it!
This sounds like an wonderful series, Julie. Great review.
it’s so good!! I’m loving her romances!