brittanyt's review against another edition
3.0
Ann’s mother recently passed away and Ann is determined to not spend the rest of her life as a laundress. She applies to be a tutor for the children of Benedict Trevelyan. There is a lot of gossip in town regarding how the wife of Benedict Trevelyan died. Ann does not allow the gossip to deter her and when Benedict tries to refuse her solely based on the fact that Ann is a woman, she doesn’t back down and ends up getting the job. From the very beginning, Ann and Benedict have an attraction, but both of them refuse to act on it.
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Trevelyan family in this book, but I also have a romance pet peeve that happened in this book all the time. Gasping. I know, it’s a stupid thing to let annoy me, but it’s probably more of what causes a gasp. Someone brushing against the heroine’s arm? This should not elicit a gasp, or maybe I just think a gasp is more than a slight intake of air. ANYWAY, I really liked that Ann, who had also experienced loss, was able to come into this family home and remind them to turn toward the light instead of drowning in the dark. This whole family needed Ann. Especially the children who were essentially left to cope with the loss of their mother on their own. Shame on you Trevelyan family! I liked this book, and at times felt it was very Jane Eyre-esque, but I wasn’t completely sold on Benedict. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer St. Giles, but I definitely want to check out her other books!
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Trevelyan family in this book, but I also have a romance pet peeve that happened in this book all the time. Gasping. I know, it’s a stupid thing to let annoy me, but it’s probably more of what causes a gasp. Someone brushing against the heroine’s arm? This should not elicit a gasp, or maybe I just think a gasp is more than a slight intake of air. ANYWAY, I really liked that Ann, who had also experienced loss, was able to come into this family home and remind them to turn toward the light instead of drowning in the dark. This whole family needed Ann. Especially the children who were essentially left to cope with the loss of their mother on their own. Shame on you Trevelyan family! I liked this book, and at times felt it was very Jane Eyre-esque, but I wasn’t completely sold on Benedict. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer St. Giles, but I definitely want to check out her other books!
knittyalex423's review against another edition
2.0
Reminscent of the Victoria Holt novels I read in my teens, enjoyable fluff although not sure the American setting quite worked for me
simply_sam's review against another edition
3.0
I read this several years back as a kindle freebie pre GRs. I don't really expect great things from the freebies but every now and then I stumble upon something enjoyable and even rarer still, something great. I wouldn't say this falls in that category but I do remember thinking it was pretty good for what it was, meaning a free kindle HR with gothic tendencies. If that's your thing then maybe give it a go. I'm not going to rate it, not because it was awful but because I don't remember it well enough to do so fairly.
avhollow's review
4.0
Compelling love story with an overarching mystery and air of suspense and impending tragedy throughout. Wonderful well-rounded characters.
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