Miss Prentiss and the Yankee (Mass Market Paperback)

Abigail Prentiss, 28, has been a professional governess since she was 17. Unfortunately, she had made the mistake of falling in love with the younger son, Eliot Windom, of her employer during her first position. Despite the fact Eliot had reciprocated the affection, his parents quickly ushered Abigail out of their household by finding her another job. They found their son an appropriate heiress for his bride. Members of nobility don't marry the lower classes unless it provides the family some advantage. It was a heart-breaking lesson, but Abigail had learned to "keep within compass;" that is, until she meets Nate Harding.

Nate, 30ish, is the son of an expatriated younger son of British nobility. Nate's father, John, fell in love with his late mother, Bess Buckmeister, an American woman, while stationed in the colonies during the Revolutionary War. John gave up everything to marry Bess, including his beloved homeland and his family's goodwill. John died shortly after receiving the news that he was forgiven and needed to fulfill his duty when his elder brother had expired without issue. The responsibility then landed on his very-American son, who promised John on his deathbed to take up the cudgels for a year before making any permanent decisions.

Nate Harding takes his British-born stepmother, Helen, and two half-sisters, Clarice and Louisa, to England with him. To prepare for a London season, the women in the family hire a governess to familiarize them with the ways of English high society. Nate sees it as frivolous since his teen-age sisters went to a perfectly good finishing school while they lived in Philadelphia, but indulges them after an entreaty by Helen. When Abigail arrives, she and Nate are immediately at odds after he insists on carrying her luggage himself and expects her to stay in one of the magnificent guest rooms. Between their flareups, Abigail and Nate develop a friendship and respect for each other. Then Eliot appears at the Hardings' house party.

There is one minor flaw when Abigail tells Nate that the Prince of Wales never sought companions among the Whigs. The statement runs contrary to historical events. George IV created an upheaval when he became Prince Regent and kept his father's Tory ministers. Until then, many Whigs considered "Prinny" their friend and even more grudges grew when their power never came. This, however, simply tells us the story takes place during 1810-1811 and doesn't totally jeopardize its historical integrity. Actually, it could even be considered a misinterpretation on Abigail's part.

Seeing Regency high society through the eyes of Nate is delightful. No matter how hard Abigail tries, she can't make Nate understand the class system in England. Nate finds the abundance of servitude excessive, but keeps his household nonetheless.

The characters in this novel are extremely well drawn. Nate comes off so sexy any woman could easily wish she were Abigail. The ending, which has to be the predictable happy one to make it a romance, has a surprise and is one of the most amusing author Susan Carroll has had.

Carroll's "little" Regency romances are among the best in the genre. She captures the spirit of Georgette Heyer famously, but gives her stories a fresh, clean, modern polish today's readers can only appreciate. MISS PRENTISS AND THE YANKEE is fun reading even for the second or third time.