I didn’t realize when I picked this book up, I had read it years ago. It was one of those readings where everything that happens, I was like, “Oh yeah, I remember that.” But I couldn’t recall what would happen next. I remember really loving this book when I first read it, but I guess it’s not my thing anymore.

Lord Lucas Stokehurst has a 12 year old feisty daughter on the cusp of womanhood. She’s his world and in desperate need of a governess and a motherly figure to guide her through the coming years. Tasia is a Russian exile, fleeing for her life from committing a murder she can’t completely recall. She has family in England, where she takes on the name Karen Billings and is introduced to Lucas as a governess.

There is SO much going on in this book. So so much. I found it rather tiring this time around and wasn’t a big fan of the hero. He comes off as aggressive, angry, and keeps referencing Karen as a child yet can’t keep his hands off her. I’m totally fine with the age gaps in romance, and I know this was more the thing in these 90s romances. It just came off as more of a weird obsession instead of him trying to find excuses to leave her alone.

Anyway. Murder. Faked death. Poison. Exile. Mistress. Fake identity. Hook for a hand. Magic psychic abilities. It was just non stop craziness and i just wasn’t feeling it. I actually would have liked more emphasis on Tasias abilities, they really just played into a short scene or two, why even include them with so much else going on.

Not keeping this book, yet I don’t think it’s terrible. Just more not my thing anymore.