Hazel lively is the headmistress of a new school for girls in a cozy sea place, her dream is to have a school where girls can feel like they’ve found a family... too bad her school only has five students and no one else seems to want to attend. Gabriel Beckett is an Earl who needs his rebellious niece to behave and straighten out so he can finally marry the lady he wants. Gabriel’s niece, Kitty has already been kicked out of two schools and Hazel’s school is his last hope to help straighten her out. However, Hazel has her own workings, she wants to help Kitty and Gabriel become a family and to ultimately help Kitty heal after the death of her parents. She makes a deal with Beck, if he agrees to visit his niece every two weeks, she will take Kitty on as a student in her school. Beck agrees, seeing as he has become interested in the new headmistress.....while still pursuing his engagement to another woman in London. Soon awkward teen bonding and outings bring together these three. I have to say I actually liked Hazel and I liked how she stood her ground and wouldn’t settle for less. My big issue here came in the form of our love protagonist Beckett. To say I did not see how he and Hazel had any chemistry together and would work together.... The entire time he is pursuing Hazel he is also actively pursuing his courtship and intentions to marry his fiancee in London.... all while also getting together with Hazel. With his tragic backstory, the fact that he is doing this, was even more baffling, and the ending with the whole dilemma of him being like “love doesn’t exist and I can’t love you” while being in love with her? I just can’t with this man. He kept expecting her to meet his needs and when she clearly laid out her terms he still expects her to change them. Yes I can clearly see how long it took for this dude to figure out he was in love with Hazel, and to shed his “cold and snooby” demeanor but still, something about him just irritated me. So while Hazel was a joy to read, Beckett got on my last nerves. Definitely give this a try, it’s a fast and easy read and great for romance lovers. It would have been perfect for me but sadly I just couldn’t get into Beckett.

*Thanks netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*