When Lady Rebecca is unfortunately involved in a shipwreck a solution to all her problems presents itself. Rebecca can reinvent herself as a governess but can it really be that easy? What follows is a story filled with love, family and a little bit of danger too!

I loved the special connection that Rebecca makes with the children in her care and how they slowly built up a friendship along with Rebecca earning their trust! Sometimes children in books don’t necessarily work but I think Diane Gaston did a great job with them and they really enhanced this story in such a lovely way. There is a lovely chemistry between Rebecca and Brookmore that was developed well as they try to fight a growing attraction to each other throughout the book.

If you enjoy a story with false identities and a sweet carefully built romance then I can easily recommend this book to you. I think the pacing was good, especially picking up near the last part of the story as we meet a few people with their own agendas. Causing a little bit of danger as the villains put a plan in place which helps to build up the momentum.

Warm and entertaining with a sweet romance!

An enjoyable historical romance although predictable ending.
A very easy quick read.
Ideal for the holiday.

I just found a new favourite author. This book touches on jealousy, love, danger and betrayal. Becareful of what you wish for but in this book they had a happy ending so all that start well ends well.. Pretending to be MIss Tilson the teacher to falling in love with Garret the lord of the mansion.

Diane Gaston’s ‘A Lady Becomes a Governess’ was an endearing read about learning how to accept yourself and others, and being the best you can be, regardless of the circumstances in which you have found yourself.
Rebecca and Garret’s story is an emotional journey that takes the reader on a trip of self-discovery and character development. Aboard a ship, crossing to her new life, an unwelcome life, Lady Rebecca meets Claire, a governess whose likeness to her own is uncanny, and in fact, nobody can tell them apart when they switch places. Tempestuous seas cause the ship to wreck, Rebecca to see Claire disappear overboard, and Rebecca indeed to awaken in an inn, faced with Claire’s employer, Garret, Lord Blakemore. She makes the split second decision to live the life that Claire never got to live to the fullest. Garret is reeling from the death of his brother and sister-in-law, and chafing at the restrictions that being viscount places on his life, especially as he does not know how to meet all the expectations foisted on his shoulders. His fiancée, Lady Agnes, that he met in London does not make his life any easier as he attempts to discover who he truly is, whilst his governess tempts him like nothing else, showing him the love that his wards, his nieces have been missing in their lives. Tension runs high as fiancées, jilted lovers, and lies of omission come to a head, leaving the reader and the characters on tenterhooks as they wait to find out what happens next, and if love can indeed conquer all, including social class.
Whilst I greatly enjoyed the premise, and in fact am a huge supporter of this trope, something about the writing of this particular incarnation felt a bit stilted. Don’t get me wrong, the story was there, the characters were there, and Garret, so unbending yet at the same time tender and caring as love shines through in all the little things that he does, was a treat to get to know on the page, but something was missing. Perhaps in this reading of the story I didn’t quite connect with the characters in the way that I might normally. I will definitely be giving this a reread, as the writing is flawless, and the narrative flows extremely well. If you’re looking for a sweet tale of love overcoming even self-constructed obstacles, and the power of love as a way of healing in a well described regency setting, look no further!

I really enjoyed this book. It was written with great sentimentality and the characters were well developed with a real back story. You could feel the innocence and naivety of the children as they tried to navigate a parent free life and the need for the adults to protect them. A great book and highly recommended!

I have read this author before and generally like her style but I found the opening of this story to be a bit clunky. However, once the premise was up and running I really enjoyed it. I liked the two main characters but found Lady Rebecca’s very direct propositioning of Garret to be a bit unbelievable for the Society of the time. I really, really liked the two villains, Lady Agnes and Sir Orin and look forward to reading Claire’s story to find out what really happened in Ireland! It is just a shame that we don’t even have a title for it yet!

A delightful tale of an encounter the seems to provide escape from an arranged marriage for a young lady of fashion. Very cleverly portrayed as the lady has to watch herself carefully in case she inadvertently gives away her ruse. However she cannot prevent herself giving advice and guidance, on running an estate, to the newly inherited Lord. Several close misses until the actual reveal. What happens? You’ll have to read the book and see!

Lady Rebecca Pierce is on a voyage to be be married to a man she cannot stands, arranged by her half-brother, when she meets a fellow passenger, governess Claire Tilson, who resembles Rebecca so much that the two agree to have a bit of fun and swap clothes and places for the remainder of the sailing.
Whilst dressed as Claire, tragedy strikes and the boat sinks, seemingly claiming the life of Claire. Recovering from the trauma, Rebecca meets Garrett, Lord Brookmore, Claire’s new employer, and, as she does not correct him on his assumption she is the new governess, finds herself ensconced at Brookmore Hall as the new governess to Garrett’s orphaned nieces.
In this story, Diane Gaston has a strong plot line, and has created strong characters to make the book enjoyable.
Rebecca, who has to forget to act like ‘Lady Rebecca’ and keep up the pretence that she is Claire is a believable character, who uses a twist of fate to extract herself from her arranged marriage. Garrett is a likeable man who has found himself unexpectedly inheriting a title and an estate after the death of his brother, and he comes to rely on “Claire’s” advice as he navigates his way through his new life now he has returned from his exploits in Wellington’s Army.
The beauty of the story is enjoying Garrett and Claire falling for each other, knowing that really there can be no future (not least because Garrett is betrothed), and the idea that Rebecca’s true identity will be discovered, and the consequences of the truth coming to light.
Garrett’s nieces are delightful supporting characters who steal the scenes in which they appear.
The Lake District setting is well described, and it is refreshing to find a story not set in London.
It would spoil the story to reveal what happens when Rebecca’s true identity comes to light, but the remainder of the book is fast paced, and the story does reach it’s conclusion in good fashion, with a happy ending thrown in for good measure.
Deception, intrigue, a strong villain, and a forbidden love, this book has it all, and is very enjoyable. As this is the first book in a duet, we will no doubt be re-united with the apparently very much alive Claire in the next book, where hopefully we will also re-visit Garret and Rebecca.

The first in governess swap mini series, A Lady Becomes A Governess is written by Diane Gaston and published by Mills & Boon Historical. Set in 1816, Lady Rebecca Pierce travels across the Irish Sea to marry a man she loathes, Lord Stonecroft. Her half brother, Lord of Gleneagle has virtually blackmailed her into this marriage by making it clear he will cut off her allowance and disown her if she does not marry him. Rebecca meets her mirror image on the boat - Miss Claire Tilson who is to be employed by Viscount Garret Brookmore as Governess to his two orphaned nieces at his estate in the Lake District.

Tragically the ship is caught in a storm and many lives are lost. Rebecca is one of the few that is saved, and as she believes Claire to have perished, washed over the side of the ship, she takes her identity and becomes Governess to Pamela and Ellen in the Lake District. Garret who had been the second son, had been in the army until his brother and wife died and had not expected to become Viscount. He is now engaged to Lady Agnes who does her best to discredit Rebecca/Claire. She manages to track down Claire's old employer, Lord Orin Foley from whom she fled in Ireland. His wife has died under suspicious circumstances and he is desperate to take her back to Ireland with him (although he does not realise she is a completely different person)! Garret realises he loves Claire but must marry within his social class. When Rebecca admits her deception he is furious and she agrees to leave the estate.

Orin kidnaps the girls and she rushes to the rescue,will Garret find them in time and make her his wife?

I think this is my favourite read of the year. Diane combines romance, intrigue, deception and villainous characters seamlessly in a well written and well thought out novel.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for an honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

Rebecca and Claire meet on a packet boat sailing to England from Ireland. Rebecca is a lady travelling to London for a forced marriage to a man she despises. Claire journeys to a new post as a governess in the Lake District. A devastating shipwreck leaves few survivors, Rebecca is one and as there is no sign of her new friend Claire she assumes her identity and becomes a governess.

Lord Brookmore is an unwilling Viscount, but his sense of duty makes him a selfless guardian for his two orphaned nieces and a dedicated custodian of the Lake District estate. The attraction between the Viscount and his governess is forbidden but inevitable, they both fight it but despite scheming fiancees, dangerous former employers and a disapproving housekeeper they fall in love. The historical detail sets the romance firmly in the Regency era, and the two little nieces make clever cupids.

The ending is action packed and full of menace but fortunately a well deserved happy ending and an unexpected twist.

I received a copy of this book from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Naughtiness 3 *


Absolutely brilliant read, adore this book very much, the story woven, our leading lady and our hero, a true pleasure to read.

I will not give spoilers but will say this a fantastic story with a fairytale quality or two that is truly awesome. We have adventure, tragedy, Forbidden love and foes to contend with, all brilliantly crafted into this beautiful book.

Thank you for writing this awesome book x

A Lady Becomes a Governess is the first book in The Governess Swap series by Diane Gaston.

Lady Rebecca Pierce is on a ship bound for England where she is to wed a man she despises. Her parents are both dead, and her half-brother wants to be rid of her hence arranging her marriage. Whether she marries the man or not he is cutting all ties with her which leaves Rebecca no choice but to go ahead with the wedding.

On board the ship she meets Claire Tilson, a governess on her way to a job with Lord Garret Brookmore, looking after his two young nieces whom he is the guardian of since their parents died. Claire and Rebecca do a double take when they meet because they could be identical twins. They talk and decide that they can't be related which makes their likeness even stranger. They quickly become firm friends and have a heart to heart about their lives, then, for a laugh, they decide to wear each other's clothes to see if they can make people on the ship believe that Claire is Rebecca. Before they have a chance to change into the correct clothes a storm hits and the ship is sunk. Claire is lost at sea, and Rebecca only just survives. Dressed as she is, it is believed that she is Claire. All of a sudden Rebecca sees an opportunity open to her to escape her old life and a marriage she doesn't want. She happily lets people believe she is indeed Claire Tilson.

Brookmore arrives at the Inn Rebecca has been taken to, and when she is well enough to travel they make their way to his home. There is an immediate attraction between them, one that they both know nothing can come of. Rebecca is no longer in his class, being just a governess, and Brookmore is betrothed. He doesn't want to marry but knows he must for the sake of producing an heir, and more importantly to give his nieces some stability.

The more time that Rebecca spends as governess to the girls the more she comes to care for them, and their uncle. She worries that she isn't being a proper governess to them, but does her best, and most importantly she makes them happy. Brookmore thinks her way of teaching is odd, but he sees how much happier the girls are so doesn't question her at all.

The story goes on to show us how the relationships develop between Brookmore, the girls and their governess. Throw into the mix a jealous fiance come to claim her man, an ex-besotted employee come to claim back his children's governess, and the threat of Rebecca's secret coming out and you have an exciting story that will keep you reading as quickly as possible to see how it will work out. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I suppose if I were to be critical I would wonder how Rebecca could make anybody believe that she is anything less than a lady, especially as she struggles to act subservient. BUT, I enjoyed the story so much I don't care about that. I loved the twins and how they changed from sad little cherubs into much happier girls under Rebecca's care. I didn't know how they would all end up with their happy ever after but rest assured that they do have one, and it will make you smile.

This was a captivating read. I did feel for Lady Rebecca, having to marry someone she loathed but admired her courage in taking on a role that was completely new to her. Garret, the new Viscount Brookmore, was an honourable man who took his responsibilities seriously. They would have made an ideal match as Rebecca encouraged Garret in the running of his estate and in his relationship with his nieces. However, as Rebecca had taken on the role of governess, she was beneath his station. Also, inspite of their feelings towards each other, there were other factors that played a part. There are a few villains, delightful nieces and the picturesque backdrop of the Lake District, which all added up to an engrossing story. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Part of The Governess Swap: Lady Rebecca Pierce is travelling to London to an arranged marriage. Whilst on the boat she meets Claire Tilson a governess returning to England to take up a new position. The two women bond on the short journey not only do they like each other but they closely resemble each other, so much that they could be twins. When a storm wrecks the ship Rebecca sees Claire swept overboard so she assumes Claire's the identity & enters the employ of brooding Garret Lord Brookmore, who's selflessly caring for his orphaned nieces Pamela & Ellen.
A delightful read of two people immediately drawn to each other but know there’s no future for them, throw in an ex employer & a spiteful fiancée & you’re set for a roller coaster of a read. The characters are very well developed Garret & Rebecca are made for each other, so caring & understanding. Pamela & Ellen are delightful & their change from frightened shadows to loving outgoing girls is heart warming. The pace of the story is good & I was loathe to put the book down. The teaser in the epilogue wasn’t totally unexpected but I can't wait to read it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Given that Georgette Heyer is one of my favourite romantic authors, I was very pleasantly impressed by this book. The plot races along, with many twists and turns, some reminiscent of a Shakespearean play. We have disguises leading to swapped identities, a shipwreck which offers the heroine Lady Rebecca an escape from the prospect of a loveless marriage, a dastardly villain and a deceptively sweet but utterly ruthless fiancee who are instrumental in a wicked kidnap plot which is their downfall, and of course a noble hero who fails to recognise his own worth but recognises that of Lady Rebecca in spite of her governess disguise, thus leading to the satisfying resolution of the love story.

Rebecca is nothing if not feisty, in the manner of the best romantic heroines. Travelling to an arranged marriage, she meets Claire Tilson, a governess who looks uncannily similar to her, and they amuse themselves by swapping identities. When bad weather strikes and the ship is wrecked, Rebecca sees Miss Tilson swept overboard and, believing her lost, seizes the opportunity to escape her impending marriage by taking on Claire's identity and her role as governess to a pair of orphaned girls, Lord Brookmore's young nieces. Without giving any more away, much enjoyably frantic plotting ensues, with of course a happy outcome.

The story is well written and barrels along at an enjoyable pace, begging to be read in one sitting. Enjoy!