In this Novella we meet Elizabeth Shallcross a governess for Lord and Lady Wheatly, they have just come from back to England from a 3 year stay in New York. On the docks Elizabeth is saved from being nearly run down by a cart, by Richard Graham an employee of the Lord Wheatlys' who has come to meet their boat. Elizabeth is leaving the Wheatlys' employ, but not before she returns to New York to close up the house there, and assist the leasing agents. After a 3 week visit with her family she comes to get her instructions from the Wheatly's. Only to be asked to act as governess to Mr. Graham's 3 year old daughter for the crossing, and for a short while, upon their return. Elizabeth doesn't want to do this, as she has other plans. But she has fallen in love with the less ridged class system in the U.S. and so she agrees. So on an April morning Elizabeth joins her charge Kathleen, and Richard for the journey to New York, their ship... The Titanic!
I can't say this is a bad book it isn't, but I never really got the growing attraction between the two main characters. The author tells us that Richard sees "Beth" as his equal, any student of history will argue that Americans of this period were every bit as classist as the British; a pretty young Governess traveling alone with her handsome employer with only a 3 year old as chaperone? I don't buy it. The other thing that bothered me was why didn't the Wheatlys' close up the house and lease it before they left. Why drag Beth to England only to send her back "alone," a few weeks later, to do so? The author tries to explain this but it seems like an after thought. The descriptions of the Titanic were well done, and you can tell Ms. Humphreys' did her research. And if you want a short romantic little story, and you can over look the more modern sensibilities of the characters, I think you will enjoy this clean romance. 2.5 stars it was okay.
I can't say this is a bad book it isn't, but I never really got the growing attraction between the two main characters. The author tells us that Richard sees "Beth" as his equal, any student of history will argue that Americans of this period were every bit as classist as the British; a pretty young Governess traveling alone with her handsome employer with only a 3 year old as chaperone? I don't buy it. The other thing that bothered me was why didn't the Wheatlys' close up the house and lease it before they left. Why drag Beth to England only to send her back "alone," a few weeks later, to do so? The author tries to explain this but it seems like an after thought. The descriptions of the Titanic were well done, and you can tell Ms. Humphreys' did her research. And if you want a short romantic little story, and you can over look the more modern sensibilities of the characters, I think you will enjoy this clean romance. 2.5 stars it was okay.
