I received an ARC of "Mr. Donahue's Total Surrender" from Netgalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Sophie Barnes writes in a way that her readers can easily visualize everything. This is the first book in her Enterprising Scoundrel series. Calista Faulkner, a New Yorker, is in England to meet and marry her fiance. But on arrival,  finds out of his sudden death, and then must work to scrape enough funds for passage back to America. She finds work as a scullery maid living in harsh conditions at a hotel. The owner of the hotel, Stephen Donahue, is in complete shock when he learns one of his employees, who seems to be an educated lady, has been so harshly treated by her fellow employees. He is a smart businessman, who has built himself a name, and recognizes the worth of people's characters. This is a beautiful story of love, helplessness, devotion and generosity.

Calista Faulkner is stranded in Europe after corresponding with a gentleman who has offered to marry her, and consequently save her family from ruin and debt. However, when Calista arrives to be married, she discovers that her betrothed has passed away. She is then forced to find work as a scullery maid in a hotel in order to pay for her ticket back to America.

Enter Stephen Donahue, hotel owner and savior. He notices that Calista is far from an average scullery maid, and puts her up in the hotel with an offer to procure her passage back to America. During the few weeks Calista has to wait for her passage, they spend time together and their feelings for each other grow stronger.

I loved this novella! It was so sweet. Stephen and Calista’s outings were my favorite part. I loved that they actually got to learn about one another, and not just fall in love instantly. A great first in the series!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for send me an E-arc in exchange for my honest review*

This is the first book in Sophie Barnes' new series, The Enterprising Scoundrels novella series.
I found it was an a very enjoyable quick read. Even though a novella, it had a full story to it.
I liked both the main characters. I found them both to be independent thinking, intelligent and compassionate. Neither one afraid of a little hard work
Can't wait for book 2.

Callista Faulkner has been stranded in England due to circumstances beyond her control. But instead of acting like a helpless or spoiled member of the American privileged class, she does something practical and looks for a job. She is gutsy but still vulnerable as she finds a job at a hotel and navigates through her lack of experience and the ill treatment of her fellow workers. When she catches the eye of Steven, the hotel owner, the development of their relationship seems believable. I liked Callista's strength of character and thought she was a good match for Steven, who shows the same independence. A fast, enjoyable read.

Sweet, low angst, “ah” moments, kites, and lovely characters. These two characters, Steven and Calista, are really good people and you cannot help but root for them. They have some adversity but not so much that it overshadows their sweet love story. What is Mr. Donahue’s surrender? You will have to read and find out. This is a great story for when you want a quick read that makes you feel good. This is a clean story. Once I found Sophie, I gobble up everything she writes.

This was a quick and sweet read with a very adorable central couple. At first, I thought it could do with a little bit more conflict, and I still somewhat think that but considering it's a novella, I can let that slide. My only major critique is that it feels a little like insta-love instead of having more build up and seeing the reasons the two of them fall in love. I get a lot more of why Callista fell in love with Steven than why Steven fell in love with her.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful read. Calistas running away from New York to London because she will have to marry someone to save her father career and reputation. She ends up at the Imperial Hotel where she becomes a scullery maid. When Mr. Donahue the owner of the hotel finds out and realizes that she is really an upper class lady, he has her placed in one of the hotel suites until he can send her back to New York. They both soon realize that they are falling in love with each other. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and these are my opinions. I highly recommend reading this book. Congratulations Ms. Barnes on another wonderful entertaining read.

A woman from America, Calista, must take work as a scullery maid in a hotel when she becomes stranded in London. When the owner, Steven, finds out her story he shelters her and arranges for her passage back to America. As they spend time together they become friends and much more. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Sophie Barnes is always a consistent writer for me and I know when I read one of her books I won’t be disappointed. With this book, I felt I knew Steven better than I Calista, which is not normal for me, I felt the internal dialogue for him was more insightful than for Calista. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t likable, just didn’t feel as deep a connection with her. This book is pretty low on angst and while insta love, it still felt real. Strong 4 stars.

Calista Faulkner had a plan: go to England, get married, and save her father from ruin. Instead, she’s now stuck in London, penniless and without the husband she’d pinned her hopes on. Desperate to return home, she seeks employment at a hotel – as a scullery maid – a far cry from the social status she has otherwise been accustomed to. But when a chance encounter with the hotel’s owner, Mr. Donahue, leads to a change in fortune and her acquaintance with him deepens, a new problem arises. For Calista knows she must return home and marry a man she hates in order to save her family’s reputation. But how can she leave behind the man she's falling in love with? How can she marry anyone else?
The husband she hoped for has died and she is penniless. She seeks work to help her get back home. Her treatment at the hotel is deplorable until the owner takes over.
This is a great book. Sophie Barnes has written another winner!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.