Book Review: A Governess Should Never… Wager a Duke by Emily Windsor

Title: A Governess Should Never… Wager a Duke
Author: Emily Windsor
Series: The Governess Chronicles #5
Pages: 150
Publication Date: Nov. 1, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:

The wintry Duke of Shawdale needs a governess.

The penniless Miss Charlotte Webster needs employment.

What could be simpler?

Yet when long-ago love, a wager, a wandering uncle and Christmas are involved… Nothing is simple.

A heart-warming short novella, inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and set in the romantic scenery of the English Lake District, Charlotte must remind the duke of his past, show him the present and let the future unfold…

With elegant balls, a Lakeland wedding and a duke who has forgotten the meaning of love, the vocation of governess has never been such a festive fairy tale.

This story was previously available as part of the Christmas in Cumbria anthology but now released standalone with additional content and epilogue. Available on Kindle Unlimited for the first time.

LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon

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A Governess Should Never… Wager a Duke was originally part of a collection of holiday-themed historical romances called Christmas in Cumbria. Rereleased with new chapters, extended scenes, and a wonderful epilogue, it’s a charming A Christmas Carol-inspired story. I adored the characters, the swoon-worthy romance, and the new additions to the original novella.

Charlotte and Marcus have such a lovely romance with feelings that started when they were young. At the start of the story, they are no longer close and haven’t seen each other in years. Trying to care for her ailing uncle, Charlotte desperately needs a job, and though working for Marcus is less than ideal, it’s pretty clear from the start that the pair still have deep feelings for each other. Both have gone through so much in the years they were apart, and Marcus, in particular, has changed drastically, much to Charlotte’s displeasure. However, their connection remains strong, as does their chemistry!

Ahhhh, Marcus! I love a grumpy MMC, and Marcus has major grumpy Scrooge vibes. He seems so cold and miserly and appears to care more about money than people. He’s very different from the carefree boy Charlotte knew, and when he hires her as a governess for his ward and makes a bet with her where they have to spend time at holiday events, Marcus begins to learn the true meaning of love, life, and Christmas. The banter between them, and their time together, is filled with sexual tension, and the sparks really fly between them. I loved seeing Charlotte peel away his icy layers and bring out the warm and kind man underneath.

Emily Windsor is such a wonderful storyteller, and I always love her books, so it’s not a big surprise that I loved this one. This whole series has been super swoon-worthy! And the fact that this one takes place over the holidays only adds to the charm, as well as the optimistic and hopeful vibes. So does Marcus’s ward, and there’s a cameo from a famous poet that’s fantastic!

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“The past should stay where it belongs. That cannot change or waver. But the future… That is anyone’s to embrace.”

About loving someone: “In failure and success. In magnificent victory and ignominious catastrophe. For love is not love if it solely endures in triumph.”

Emily grew up in the north of England on a diet of historical romance and strong tea.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t study Regency slang, so she did the next best thing and gained a degree in Classics and History instead. This ‘led’ to an eight-year stint in engineering.

Having left city life, she now lives in a dilapidated farmhouse where her days are spent writing, fixing the leaky roof, battling the endless vegetation and finding pictures of well-tied cravats.

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