This book had so many things I love about this author’s writing - wonderful characters, wit and humor, entertaining scenarios, and just the right amount of information and background on the characters in upcoming books. That said, it also seemed slow-paced and a tad draggy in spots. Since it is unheard of for me to think that about this author's work, I’m just going to assume that the issue is with me and not the book.

We have an irresistible force meeting an immovable object and the explosion is inevitable. Her much-hated stepfather raised Georgie Rowe (the irresistible force) – a military man who was stiff, unyielding, uncaring, and cruel. The best day of Georgie’s young life was when Miss Prentice chose her to attend Miss Prentice's School for Girls. At that moment, she didn’t care where she was going – just as long as it was away from her stepfather and where she would never, ever, have to be around another military man as long as she lived. Georgie excelled at school and would make a superb governess . . . Except, Georgie could never make it through the interview to actually get a job. You see, Georgie has an inner Joan of Arc who regularly comes out to play when Georgie perceives an injustice. Georgie just cannot bite her tongue and move on. Luckily for Georgie and her career, a desperate man arrives at their school begging for a governess – one who can start immediately. Well, well, well.

Captain Harry Kincaid (the immovable object) is a workaholic who spends all of his very organized, fully scheduled time at the admiralty procuring and negotiating for Royal Navy supplies to keep his majesty’s entire navy afloat. Harry gets “twitchy” when his schedules are thrown off-kilter as he is not an admirer of chaos. He was raised in a home where everything was chaos – all the time – until his Navy Admiral grandfather stepped in and saved him. The Admiral took Harry and turned the happy-go-lucky, smiling, gangly boy into a finely oiled Navy man. Yes, he did. So, when Harry’s flighty, chaotic sister dropped off her brood (2 girls and 1 boy) at Harry’s house while he was at work – Harry was in total panic. He was busy, busy, busy, and had no idea what to do with three children – especially children who were masters at misbehavior. He loved them dearly, but he did not want the care of them. But then, maybe this was his chance to introduce a little order and discipline into their chaotic lives. Right – we know how well that is going to go.

To say Harry and Georgie had diametrically opposed views on what education and care for his nieces and nephews looked like, would be a gross understatement. Georgie tried, she really did, but all too often, Joan of Arc would slip out and things just didn’t go well. You’ll enjoy getting to know the real Harry, the one he was before his uncle ‘helped’ him. You’ll also enjoy Georgie learning that not all military men are like her step-father. Nicely woven around Georgie and Harry are the children's antics, the most entertaining of dogs, and a mishap of two that will have you laughing out loud.

If you are looking for a lighthearted romp toward a HEA, I can recommend this book to you. If you like steam in your books, you won’t find it here, but I found I didn’t miss it. We learned enough about Georgie’s friends and fellow students, Lottie, Portia, and Kitty to make us look forward to their books – and to look forward to seeing more of Miss Prentice. I did find that I would like to see more of Flora, Harry’s sister because I found her to be very likable. Happy Reading!

BTW – one of my favorite quotes from the book – “It’s one thing to have to meet your maker without ever having a ring on your finger, but it would be a travesty to do so in a package marked unopened.” That is from a conversation between Georgie and one of her friends where they were speaking of never marrying, but not remaining ‘chaste’.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

This book was an entertaining historical romance. Georgie Rowe is a governess. Well, she would be if someone would hire her. She has had 33 unsuccessful interviews so far. Her outspokenness has been her downfall.

Harry Kincaid is a busy naval officer. He is busy working for the admiralty as a problem solver. One of his biggest problems is getting the HMS Boadicea ready for sailing but there are construction delays after construction delays.

Then Harry's sister decides to go with her husband to look for the source of the Nile and leave her three mischievous children and their monster dog in Harry's care. He loves his nephew and nieces, but they are too much for a busy man to deal with. He hires Georgie out of desperation to be their temporary governess until their parents return.

Harry has been in love before, and it almost cost him his career. He doesn't need to be attracted to this feisty governess who doesn't follow his precisely laid down schedule. And Georgie doesn't need to fall in love with a rigid military man who seems so like the stepfather who made her mother's life and her own life so miserable.

These two mismatched souls fall in love. But can they ever be together?

Fun romance with well-developed characters. ( )