Review: Good Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 28, 2012
This is a very well-written romance in which the author really took the time to develop the relationship between the hero and heroine in an authentic and believable way. The hero is a soldier and a man's man who expects his family and employees to be honest and respect his authority. The hero and the governess heroine behave as properly befitting their roles of employer and employee, thus moving from physical attraction to admiration to falling in love the old fashioned way. The hero does use a strap, ruler, and crop to punish his sister and his female employees, but it's never excited him. The heroine does find it a bit arousing to be struck upon her bottom while being punished for lying to her employer, but it is a new discovery for her. As the hero's feelings grow sronger, he feels remorse at having to physically punish the governess a second time when she is reluctant to be completely honest with him about another member of his household. It is then that he realizes his governess is slightly aroused by her punishment and he, in turn, finds his own body responding; yet, he is determined not to cross the line with her despite his own body's response.This is not a BDSM read, nor is it erotica -- it is a romance culminating in marriage and features no pre-marital sex. For those who are uncertain about the spanking theme, please note that it's not gratuitious in nature; it is more like the kind of discipline many of us received when our dad popped us a few times with the belt for fighting with siblings, or when your grandmother switched you for misbehaving. The hero, in the end, does utilize a few pops on his new spouse's bottom as foreplay, but it is administered with affection and as a distraction for her wedding night jitters. I truly thought this romance was tastefully done, especially for the Regency setting, and it wasn't one of those overly passionate and lusty reads where you would envision the relationship burning itself out in just a few years. This was a romance based on love, affection, honesty, and respect.