Erienne and Collin were childhood sweethearts. From the time she was 13 and he was 16, they knew they loved each other.
Then Collin went off to war. They wrote each other, incorporating secret messages in their letters so her parents wouldn't know what they were doing and how serious they were.
But her parents did know and they decided to intervene, asking Collin to end their relationship. They had bigger plans for their daughter and who she would marry.
It's now 14 years later and they have a second chance at rekindling their love.
This is a novella, so it is short but sweet.
You also get to revisit with Lucy and Derek, characters from the first book in this series.
I look forward to the next book in the series.

This is the 10th in the series. It can be read alone, but the series is so good that you’ll want to read them all. Collin and Erienne were in love when they were young but war separated them. Then years later Erienne became a governess in Collins brothers home and Collins sister-in-law Lucy puts her match making skills to work.
Sweet quick read.

Can a young love be rekindled? A sweet story, quick read. Chance brings them back together after fourteen years! She is now a governess; he a general in the home office.

Erienne Stone has been working as a governess for the past 14 years, but now that the children under her care have grown up she has come to London seeking a new position. She never expects her agency to send her for an interview at the Duke of Claringdon's home. She never expected to see him again after his younger brother, Collin, whom she'd been madly in love with, abandoned her more than a decade prior. But the salary being offered is enough to pay for her brother's much needed surgery, so after much convincing from Lucy, the Duchess, she accepts the governess position and hopes not to have to see Collin.

General Collin Hunt, valued spy and senior official at the Home Office, is being ordered to take a holiday, so he opts to rest and relax at the country estate of his brother, Derek, the Duke of Claringdon. But when the only woman he's ever loved arrives as governess to his young niece and nephew, his world is turned on its ear. Before the elevation of his family from their poor status during childhood to their wealthy, titled, military hero status now, Collin was in love with Erienne, but her gave her up thinking he was doing what was best for her. After all, she was the daughter of a baron and he was just a poor boy from the wrong side of town.

Then the two are thrown together by Collin's sister-in-law, Lucy, but the meddlesome matchmaker's endeavors may not be enough to convince either to risk their heart again.

This was a great little second chance romance. Of course it's short (it's a novella!) but these two had chemistry as soon as they met again, just as if they'd never been separated. I think if they'd had a longer book, Collin would've had more time to mess things up again. They'd already waited so long to have a chance to be together, they didn't need to wait any longer.

I received an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you!! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Short and sweet novella. This was the first book I read in the series. As a novella I didn’t get in depth details on the characters, but their back story was all kinds of sweet and heartbreaking. I kind of wanted more Collin on the page than I got. I enjoyed the story, not sure if this was the right spot to start reading the series though.

Valerie has done it again. I've read this whole series so far. Always a great read!! Great chemistry between all the characters. Happy ending. Awesome!!

Sometimes Collin let's his girl take the lead, "he cracked a smile. “Would you mind telling me what you’d like to do next, then?”“This,” she said resolutely, before tugging him down atop her, soaking his shirt." Collin has one bold woman, “Are you going to make love to me in a carriage of all places?” she asked, slightly scandalized. He arched a brow." This was a quick fun read.

I love a good second-chance romance, and this had a lot going for it. Collin and Erienne grew up next to each other, but the son of a man who was discharged from the Army because of his drinking was never good enough for her ambitious family. Separated by a mixture of "you deserve better" and meddling parents, they haven't seen each other in years. Now, she is a governess, and he climbed the ranks in the Army and is a decorated officer and celebrated war hero. Due to luck and a little help from the matchmaking Lucy, Collin's sister-in-law, they find each other being in the same house after years of longing.

I actually really loved the beginning, which set up the story nicely and did a wonderful job of showing how the two battled their feelings. But for my taste, there was too much happening in the second half that I didn't really enjoy.

All in all, this was a charming novella. Just a little too much drama for my taste in the second half.

He never forgot her…

When General Collin Hunt is ordered to take a much-needed holiday, he resigns himself to rest and recreation at his brother's country estate. But when the only woman he ever loved—and selflessly gave up—shows up as his sister-in-law's governess, his carefully ordered life is turned inside out.

She'll never forgive him…

When Erienne Stone defied her family and fled her life of privilege, she never expected to be reunited with the man who'd abandoned her more than a decade before. But Lucy, Duchess of Claringdon, is a hard woman to say no to, even when Erienne's heart is in danger of breaking all over again.

A meddling matchmaker may be the key to their second chance…

After a decade of pain and heartache, can two star-crossed lovers trust the truth in their own hearts?

This is a Playful Brides Novella.
Valerie Bowman has yet to disappoint this reader with the books in this series. I have read and reviewed most of them beginning with an ARC of The Unlikely Lady which I reviewed in May of 2015. It was the third book in the series so I had missed out on books #1 & #2.
I haven't missed another. This is a delightful series and I recommend reading them in order but they can each stand on their own. There are connecting characters however so if read out of order you can miss out on some key background characters.
This novella is a well written second chance romance with the infamous meddling matchmaker Lucy, Duchess of Claringdon playing a key roll.
I feel certain that you won't be disappointed in this short read. Like most novellas I only wish it had been longer and more detailed.
I gave this book 4.85 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. There is a little less intimacy in this one than some others in this series but it isn't non-existent.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman

When you read a Valerie Bowman book, you know what to expect: Beautiful heroines, dashing heroes, miscommunication, drama, romance, and Lucy Hunt’s matchmaking machinations.

This is a second chance romance between Collin Hunt and Erienne Stone. We have been introduced to Collin in previous Playful Brides books as he is the brother of Derek Hunt, Duke of Claringdon. Collin’s sister-in-law Lucy hires Erienne to be her children’s governess and Collin arrives at his brother’s home on a forced vacation by his boss. Collin and Erienne have a history and 14 years of misunderstandings to work through when they are thrown together by Lucy.

This is a short novella, so the drama is quick and so is the HEA. This is a nice way to update readers of Bowman’s Playful Brides series about the original Playful Bride, Lucy Hunt and a preview of the next full length book, A Duke Like No Other, which will feature Lucy’s protégé and “partner in crime” Delilah Montebank.

I enjoyed reading this book as I have enjoyed all Valerie Bowman books. A light, fun read.

Mr. Hunt, I Presume, is a great novella in the Playful Brides series. Erienne and Collin are given a second chance after so many wasted years. I'm glad that they got their HEA.

Mr. Hunt, I Presume is a fantastic historical romance by Valerie Bowman. Ms. Bowman has once again impressed me with her storytelling abilities. Mr. Hunt, I Presume is a well-written book with characters that are just plain lovable. Collin was forced to take a break from work. He decided to visit his brother, only to discover the love of his life had been hired on as the governess. Erienne works as a governess to avoid being pushed into marriage and to help pay for her brother's surgery. Collin and Erienne's story is loaded with drama, humor and steamy sex. I loved every page of this book and look forward to my next book by Valerie Bowman. Mr. Hunt, I Presume is book 10.5 of the Playful Brides Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**3.5 Stars**

This was the second book by Valerie Bowman I picked up. I was excited to see how her fun and effervescent characters would translate to a novella. For the most part, I enjoyed this cute little second chance love story about childhood sweethearts who meet again years later.

While the pacing in this novella is quick (by necessity) I immediately connected with the characters. Ms. Bowman’s historical world is fun and irreverent and full of kind people. I love it. I think the flashback scenes were exceptionally well done.

I do think there were a few superfluous scenes that could have been replaced by more present-day face time between the hero and heroine. They didn’t really hash out any of the problems in their relationship or subsequent separation.

That said, this story was cute, it was quick, and it was enjoyable. I highly recommend Valerie Bowman’s writing. The novella length was just a little restrictive to add any depth to this particular plot.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very short story, not much room for character or narrative development but is sweet and sexy romp. Perfect escapism

This is a very short romance novel where the story really needed a longer version to be satisfying. Everything from when the heroine is hired as a governess, to meeting Colin again to then sleeping with him was rushed. I prefer well developed characters and storyline so this left me wanting.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.