5*****
Fiction, Historical Romance, Paranormal (Magic)
Blurb: Mary Poppins meets My Fair Lady in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humor, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds herself at sea on a ship commanded by a captivating Irishman. For readers of India Holton, Heather Fawcett, Allison Saft, Katherine Arden, Freya Marske, and Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series. Hermina Davenport can hardly believe the audacious exploit she is about to attempt. To protect an orphaned young viscount, the prim and proper governess feels she has no choice but to break the rules of the Parasol Academy Handbook! When the lad’s guardian, a ruthlessly ambitious explorer, ensorcelled by the evil Fae Queen, spirits him away on a dangerous North Pole expedition, Mina employs an invisibility spell to snatch him from the ship. But a magical misfire whisks Mina and her charge onto a different vessel, that of a ruggedly handsome Irishman—a strapping prizefighter from Dublin’s backstreets—and Mina finds she’s at sea in more ways than one . . .Phineas O’Connell, Lord Kinsale, can no more explain the arrival of this English Rose than he can adapt to his newly-inherited title—though his disgruntled pet pug clearly has “thoughts” about the fair stowaway. But their enchanted encounter sparks an irresistible offer: Phinn enlists the polished Miss Davenport to transform this misfit marquess into a mannered gentleman ready for his seat in Parliament. No magic required, just enticingly intimate lessons in etiquette and elocution to smooth all his rough edges including a stammer. . .But when enemies—both earthly and supernatural, past and present—threaten, a confrontation begins, where Mina’s nondescript umbrella is just one of her powerful weapons . . .
THOUGHTS: I absolutely loved this book! It was fun and fantastical and full of mischief and romance. It takes place in 1871 London, so is definitely a historical romance. Mina is a governess to Christopher, a very young viscount who is under the guardianship of a baron. When he decides to take the young lad on a journey to the arctic, Mina knows that something is wrong, so she kidnaps the young boy off his guardian’s ship by using her magic. But instead of landing where she hoped, they land on another ship – this one owned by a rather large Irishman turned Lord.
Through a series of events, Mina becomes a governess to Phinn’s ward and safely adds Christopher to the household, pretending he’s her cousin (or sometimes illegitimate child). In addition to the boys, she also takes on the task of teaching Phinn how to speak (he has a stutter), how to dance, and how to be a lord of the manner. While doing this, the two of them become closer. Much closer.
But there is more than a disgruntled guardian after Christopher as Mina tries hard to keep him safe using all her Fey magic at her disposal. The evil Queen Mab is after the boy and it will take all her training and help from her friends to save the boy and thwart the evil queen. Oh, and meanwhile, falling in love with Phinn.
So much fun. And magic. And romance (which gets very heated at the end).
Recommended
Thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for providing this ARC.
Sparkling Book Reviews 