Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 2/25/2023 + 2618 more book reviews

Fun Cinderella-style story. Louisa is an heiress who has been kept under the thumb of her cruel aunt and uncle since she was ten years old. Upon learning that they plan to marry her to their ne'er-do-well son, Louisa runs away, hoping to take refuge with her other uncle and finally get the London Season she's dreamed about. But she's waylaid on the way by a gentleman who believes she is his sisters' governess.

Wick is the head of his family while his parents are away, leaving him in charge of his three younger sisters. The girls are quite mischievous and have driven away several governesses. Wick takes his responsibilities very seriously and is often overwhelmed by their antics.

I liked both Wick and Louisa. Louisa's aunt has done a number on her self-confidence and belief in her own worth, but she has enough spunk to escape when she learns of her plans. Louisa is a kind soul who only wants to love and be loved. I loved how she was taken in by the Stringhams and made to feel like part of the family. As she experienced life away from her aunt, her self-confidence and worth grew. By the end, she had the strength and independence to stand up for herself. I especially enjoyed the friendship that developed between her and Wick's sister, Mantheria, something she'd never had before.

Wick is a good man but a little too wrapped up in responsibility. He is still grieving the loss of two of his siblings ten years earlier. He believes their deaths were his fault, even though the circumstances were beyond his control. I loved his relationships with his sisters and brother. There is a great deal of love there, which shows in their interactions. Seeing how the girls tried his patience was fun, yet he always had their backs.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Wick and Louisa. The attraction was there from the moment they met, but Wick fought hard against it. Louisa initially had a strong case of hero worship, but as she got to know him, those feelings turned to love. There are some sweet scenes between them, from balls to walks with his sisters. Wick can't deny his attraction but vehemently argues that he isn't in love. Because of those guilty feelings from the past, he believes he is not worthy of love. When a run-in with her cousin risks Louisa's reputation, Wick steps up to do the right thing. But Louisa doesn't want a marriage based on duty, not love. It takes some time with his sisters to finally let go of the past and believe in a future with Louisa. I loved the ending.

The secondary characters were great. I loved Wick's sisters. They are quirky, fun, and loving. Each has a unique personality, and I would love to see more of them. I ached for Mantheria and her heartbreaking situation. I also adored Wick's friend, Sunny. I liked how he supported Wick but also called him out when Wick denied his feelings for Louisa. The housekeeper was terrific and made me laugh out loud in the scene with the snake.

Meanwhile, Louisa's relatives were awful. The aunt and uncle who raised her were downright criminal in their treatment of her. Their son was even worse and deserved every bad thing that might happen to him. The other aunt and uncle were unsympathetic creatures, more concerned with their status than helping Louisa.

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