Rating: 
Summary: Nice BUT....
Review: ... I expected something great, a book that would be close to Whitney my love and Knight in shining armor. As a result I was disappointed, not because it was a bad book but because it doesn't have that "something", the special magic that will make it a REALLY FANTASTIC book. Certainly not a waste of time or money, but if you're just starting on historical romance, look out for something else first... and don't get your expectations too high.
Rating: 
Summary: It's finally here!
Review: After reading Christina Dodds first book in the Governess Series: Rules for Surrender, I have been anxiously waiting for the second book and here it is! I have to admit when I started reading this one I thought of Lil Orphan Annie and sure hoped that things would change and not follow that same storyline for the entire story and I wasn't disappointed. I found this book Rules for Engagement great. I loved the little tidbits that she gave regarding Charlotte and Wynter from her first book, Rules for Surrender. I thought the characters in this book were very well written, the love scenes were great and I really loved the entire plot. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I can't wait til the next one!!
Rating:
Summary: A great new twist
Review: As soon as begin this book and realize the hero wants to hire an orphan you are ready to just hate him. And yet Christina Dodd uses humor and a strong heroine to convince you he's not such a bad guy afterall. All of the books in the Governess series are a little soft on reality but they are such fun, and really who wants to read about the real world - I can look out the window for that!
Rating: 
Summary: Cute
Review: Beginning with this Rules of Engagement I became hooked on Ms. Dodd's Governess series. It is a pleasant read if you have some lazy hours to enjoy. I, became hooked on the series because I very much enjoyed the strength in Pamela's character. But I felt Kerrich was a weak hero because seriously why would a grown man care so much about a silly childhood incident that he'd alter his whole life in order to keep the incident a secret? I also felt the transformation from cold Kerrich to warm loving Kerrich was a bit too quick. But as i said earlier the book is a pleasant read, good for a bit of escapism if you will. .
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Romantic Comedy
Review: Blythe and Linda recommended this recent release in their "Pandora's Box" on one of the web's romance review sites. Although, I can't recommend it quite as highly as they did, this is a very enjoyable romantic comedy and a good evening's entertainment. What readers will appreciate best is its combination of LOL humor with quite steamy sex. The heroine disguises herself as an ugly, much older governess to enter the employ of the titled, wealthy hero. He is trying to shore up his reputation for the good of his bank. His unique method is to adopt an orphan and hire a governess to make himself appear noble, unselfish and sentimental before Queen Victoria, who is fed up with his bachelor, unfettered existence. I liked this comedy almost as much as Dodd's earlier "That Scandalous Evening" about a heroine who sculpted the nude statute of a prominent nobleman but was all off on the size of what a man really looked like because she didn't know any better. That was a hilarious premise also and Dodd is especially good at taking the wind out of the sails of puffed up male aristocrats in both books. I've read some other books of hers and these two are her best because she sticks with what she does best, romantic comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the governess series
Review: Christina Dodd is a talented author, whose books I enjoy regularly. The first book in this series, however, I found somewhat disturbing and was reluctant to try the remainder. The series improved greatly with this, my favorite of the set. Our hero, Kerrich, is anything but a hero -- he is self-absorbed to the point where he would pretend to adopt an orphan and then discard the orphan once the pretense had served Kerrich's own, shallow, purposes. To prove the adage, be careful of what you wish, comes into his life his idea of the "perfect" governess for his orphan -- older, very unattractive, and not likely to fall in love with him as "all" women do. Not only does this perfect governess prove disturbingly attractive TO him, she is sharp-tongued and not deferential AND she adopts the wrong type of orphan who proves to appeal to Kerrich's well-hidden sense of compassion. I won't say anymore about the plot because I don't want to spoil the story for you. In contrast to some of Dodd's books (esp. the first in the series), the male hero does not feel the need to make the heroine into a shadow of himself or be degrading to her. This book is a study in the development of Kerrich's character from a shallow, superficial skimmer through life to someone who is surprised by his own depth and capability for love -- not only of the heroine but of the orphan he had intended to only pretend to adopt. The author tell a compelling and somwhat unusual story and impressively manages to do so with witty dialogue that develop the characters and with a fast paced plot similar to the best of Kasey Michaels. Definitely a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the governess series
Review: Christina Dodd is a talented author, whose books I enjoy regularly. The first book in this series, however, I found somewhat disturbing and was reluctant to try the remainder. The series improved greatly with this, my favorite of the set. Our hero, Kerrich, is anything but a hero -- he is self-absorbed to the point where he would pretend to adopt an orphan and then discard the orphan once the pretense had served Kerrich's own, shallow, purposes. To prove the adage, be careful of what you wish, comes into his life his idea of the "perfect" governess for his orphan -- older, very unattractive, and not likely to fall in love with him as "all" women do. Not only does this perfect governess prove disturbingly attractive TO him, she is sharp-tongued and not deferential AND she adopts the wrong type of orphan who proves to appeal to Kerrich's well-hidden sense of compassion. I won't say anymore about the plot because I don't want to spoil the story for you. In contrast to some of Dodd's books (esp. the first in the series), the male hero does not feel the need to make the heroine into a shadow of himself or be degrading to her. This book is a study in the development of Kerrich's character from a shallow, superficial skimmer through life to someone who is surprised by his own depth and capability for love -- not only of the heroine but of the orphan he had intended to only pretend to adopt. The author tell a compelling and somwhat unusual story and impressively manages to do so with witty dialogue that develop the characters and with a fast paced plot similar to the best of Kasey Michaels. Definitely a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Charming, Delightful, Funny!!
Review: Cristina Dodd has written some very witty, rather wickedly sensual Victorian novels that have caught my heart before. Especially one that dealt with a young lord of Scotland that was half Selkie. And I truly enjoyed even moment of the first book in this series, Rules of Surrender. But Rules of Engagement even Tops that!! It is a delightful witty romp that had me laughing out loud. Devon Mathewes, Earl of Kerrich, has more than his share of troubles. There is the fact he is sinfully handsome, of a superior title, boon friend of the young Queen Victoria and rich. But it the first that has the Queen ticked at her friend. Women just seem to through themselves at the much too beautiful man. No happily married, she believes this is also the solution for the Earl. He instead rushes headlong into a plan to remain a rake, but regain her favour. All he need to is 'adopt' a orphan, so his respectibility and all will right in his world again....well, almost. There is too sharp grandfather, and his cousin Lewis...good old cousin Lewis so respectible, so upright and a countefeiting pounds right from Devon estate!!! He needs Victoria's favour more than ever to protect his grandfather, the bank and the family name. So he needs an orphan quickly. But to get an orphan to be polished like an apple he needs a governess to do the polishing. An ancient, ugly governess with no hopes of falling in love with him. Only there is one problem....he goes to the Distinguished Academy of Governesses, presents his proposal with plenty of money to smooth things over...but the frumpy, ugly governess he gets is hiding a few things from the arrogant Earl.....WISE Writers and Readers Book of the Month for December 2000
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Devon Kerrich is handsome, wealthy, and extremely arrogant. Pamela Lockhart has a secret past and is covering up her true appearance with layers of cosmetics. Taking Queen Victoria's adivice, Kerrich adopts Elizabeth, an eight year old orphan. (The whole adopting an orphan for a good reputation, and wanting a boy, but getting a girl sounds eerily like "Annie.") Of course he cannot take care of a child by himself so he hires a governess, who has to be old and unattractive. (This is where Pamela Lockhart comes in.) Kerrich is being blackmailed by the Queen and Pamela has a secret she shares with her. What happens? Buy the book and find out. The whole story comes together very nicely in the end. It was a good book overall.
Rating: 
Summary: A big disappointment
Review: I bought this book based on the high recommendations that I read here. I must admit, I was very disappointed!! The relationship between Pamela and Kerrich was not believable in a romantic way. It seemed like he went from being a big jerk to a sweet loving person. It just didn't seem right. Plus, I didn't even like Kerrich--he was rude, mean and not very noble. I realize that rakes are supposed to be a little bad but he was too much. He didn't have any respect for Pamela and she was just a little too rigid. I didn't enjoy the book. It had great potential but it wasn't what I expected.
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