Lady Marguerite is a very independent and headstrong lady, so when she meets Lord Compton things heat up. Marguerite ends up working as his governess as she needs the money to protect herself from a blackmailer, so she has no choice but to accept even if she does not agree with Lord Compton's methods of taking care of the girls.

It was a very sweet story, but there have also been plenty of hot, steamy moments. The writing was good and brought the characters to life. I also adored the little girls, which is always a hard one to pull off.

The last in the Widows of Westram series.
Marguerite is a widow and now lives by herself after her sisters-in-law remarriage (previous two books). After encountering two runaways, she is offered job as their governess by their widower father, Jack Vincent. Marguerite’s adventurous nature is the complete opposite to Jack’s, and they bother have very different view on how to raise his three daughters.
Although this is the final book it doesn’t heavily rely on you having read the previous novels. There are enough details throughout the book so that the reader is bought up to speed, without giving away the other stories.
I love Ann Lethbridge’s stories and always read the next new one. This doesn’t disappoint. A great read with great chemistry between the two lead characters. The added danger of the blackmailer neatly brings a similarity to their personal histories. The ending brings the trilogy to a neat close.

Lady Marguerite Saxby is being blackmailed. She is desperate to earn the funds to pay her blackmailer off. Widowed, and now free of a cruel husband, she relishes her independence but struggles for money. A talented artist, she is gathering plants for drawing, when she bumps into the Compton children, 3 young girls who have escaped their careers to play in the fields. When she returns them to the Compton estate, she meets Lord Compton, Jack Vincent, who is incredibly protective of his children, to the point that he is controlling. His wife was murdered on the estate, and he is very anxious about the safety of his children.

He offers Marguerite the position of governess to his girls, and due to her need for money, Marguerite accepts. She battles with Jack on his overly strict rules for her and the girls, and she and Jack develop an attraction for each other.

Can Jack let go of his need to control everything, and relax, and can Marguerite learn to trust again, and how will she solve her blackmail problem.

This was a well written, perfectly good story, but for some reason I didn’t connect with the character of Jack as much as I wanted to.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Cross posted on Goodreads

A Family For The Widowed Governess is part of the Widows of Westram series and written by Ann Lethbridge. Lady Marguerite Saxby is a widow who has finally managed to escape an abusive marriage. She is currently trying to pay off her blackmailer by selling her pictures of flowers and foliage to a botanist writer. She finds two little girls - Elizabeth and Jane - wandering in the fields and takes them back to their father, Jack Vincent, Lord Compton. He has three little daughters who he has wrapped in cotton wool after his wife was found mustered close to their house. He employs Lady Marguerite as their art tutor and the pair clash as she tries to get him to relax his rules and let his children be children rather than virtual prisoners in their own home. Will she discover who the blackmailer is and will he be able to overcome his fears about his daughters’ safety?

I enjoyed this book. There is humour and chemistry between the pair and Marguerite is not afraid to challenge Jack or make him think about letting go of some of his rules.

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #MrOneNightstand #Mills&Boon #NetGalleyUK

I enjoyed the first book in this series, so was excited to pick this one up when I saw it pop up on NetGalley (though apparently I somehow missed the second!). It absolutely works as a standalone; though characters from the first two books do pop up, you don' t need to have read their stories to get on with this one.

Marguerite, the heroine is the third sister of the family on whom the series focuses - all three sisters were widowed at once by the war, and this is their second chance at happiness. For Marguerite, it's only really her first chance, as her husband was a nasty, abusive man who controlled her and physically hurt her. The hero, Jack, also has a tragic past, as his wife was murdered just outside their home about two years ago, and he has been left extremely anxious about the safety of his daughters. The two of them obviously have a lot of healing to do before they can even think about falling in love again, and the story follows the surprising ways in which they help each other get over the evils of the past.

I do like a romance with a governess heroine, and this has a particularly well-written relationship between Marguerite and Jack's daughters. The girls have been coddled and babied hugely, so they seem much younger at first than they are, but Marguerite really pulls them out of themselves and helps them to become much more personable. Jack's rules - put in place to prevent harm - are themselves harming the girls' development, and it's nice to see Marguerite come in and breathe some life into his stuffy regime. You really get the sense that Marguerite bonds with the whole family, not just with Jack. That being said, there's plenty of chemistry between Jack and Marguerite, and though their romance is a meeting of the minds, there's a great physical spark too.

Just what I want from Regency romance, really - heartwarming and easy to read, but with great characters you can really understand. I'll be going back to pick up book 2, and will continue to look out for the rest of this series!

Part of a series which reads well as a stand alone. A readable romance with well rounded characters.
My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Part of the WIdows of Westram series, but as I haven’t read the others, it reads well as a standalone. Marguerite is enjoying living as an independent woman, freed by the death of her husband, from an abusive marriage. Her first meeting with Jack is full of confrontation, but that is not her only worry. Blackmailed, she needs money desperately, and it seems working for the Earl of Compton is the only way out.

Passion sizzles between Marguerite and Jack, in this slow-burn historical romance. There are many obstacles to their passion, but Marguerite’s independent spirit makes her brave, whatever the consequences. Issues of trust and fear of being controlled threaten Marguerite’s chance of a new family.

The plot is engaging, the passion and romance lovely, and the romantic ending perfect, very enjoyable.

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

Lady Marguerite Saxby is being blackmailed! Desperate for money, she accepts Jack Vincent, Earl Compton’s offer to become temporary governess to his three motherless daughters.
This is the third book in the series & is another charming, captivating read. I loved Jack with his lists & rules & how he gradually dispensed with them all. Marguerite suffered an abusive marriage & no way does she want to be in anyone’s control again, she's strong, intelligent & independent. The attraction between the pair is there from the start & they lock horns frequently. I also loved the three young girls especially Lizzie & her becoming the lady of the house had me chuckling & she was quite a good matchmaker too. Another lovely read from the author.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This was such an enjoyable read and although I hadn’t read any of the other books in this series, this didn’t mar my enjoyment. Lady Marguerite was an independent lady and tried to fend for herself by her drawing skills. The main characters were very likeable. Jack Vincent, Lord Compton was a man who lived by his rules but he was also very caring and loved his daughters. His two daughters, Elizabeth and Jane were very endearing. I loved the way Marguerite would not stick to his rules and argued against them. Marguerite and Jack had an attraction and although their feelings grew into something deeper, Marguerite had suffered with one domineering husband and didn’t want another with rules. There is also the mystery of a blackmailer. I must admit I’m very tempted to read the other books in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved this romance. The characters were well-rounded and the story kept me enthralled.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So excited to be able to read another of Ann Lethbridge’s books. As always her Regency romances are full of love and intrigue. They are easy to read but this doesn’t mean that they are lacking in anything that makes reading a book worthwhile. It means that the whole mix of the book is just right and that when you get to the end you wish there were more!

A Family for the Widowed Governess is the third book in The Widows of Westram series by Ann Lethbridge.

It is a beautiful nicely paced story centred around two people both with pasts they have yet to come to deal with.

Lady Marguerite Saxby is a widow whose late husband treated her abominably. She now lives independently and would be comfortable financially to carry on doing that except she is being blackmailed. Her blackmailer is making demands for the money faster than she can think of ways to gather it.

Jack Vincent, Lord Compton's wife was murdered on their estate leaving him with 3 beautiful little girls to bring up. Since then he has become overbearingly controlling making rule after rule for the girls to ensure that they will always be safe. He doesn't even let them play outside even with supervision. He is shocked therefore when a woman comes to his door bringing with her two of his daughters who had gotten into a bit of bother outside of his estate! That woman was Marguerite.

Jack offers Marguerite the position as governess to his children and needing the money desperately she happily accepts. She enjoys living in his warm home, she forms a lovely relationship with his daughters, and she is determined to fight the good fight with Jack over his too strict rules. His daughters need some freedom and he needs to learn it is OK to give them some. It is a bone of contention between them though, as is the fact that Jack knows that Marguerite has a secret that she is keeping from him regarding her own life.

There is an attraction between the couple, a romance might develop, but can Jack give up his controlling ways, and can Marguerite open up to him about her blackmailer and ask for his help. Until they both learn to deal with their pasts they won't be able to move forward with any relationship they might both want.

I can't fault this story, it was believable and it had just the right amount of angst amongst the happy moments. The passion building up between Jack and Marguerite was done with just the right amount of indecision between them, and when they do give in to their lust their intimate moments were steamy and yet nice and romantically done. You will see what I mean when you read for yourself.

I hadn't read the first two books in the series, but this book was easily read as a standalone one. That said I enjoyed it so much that I intend to now read the other books. I am very happy to recommend this story.