I did like the fact that this was a dual POV and the fact that it rotated between the past and the present. I felt like that helped a little bit. It did start off a bit slow but it did gain my interest.

I’m glad the author did write about the past events to help, it did make that a bit better since there were a couple of parts that made it confusing to figure out what was going on. This book is part of a standalone series and I am curious to go back and see how the rest of the books were.

I also liked the ending of the book how it all worked out.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review. This was a four star rating.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the 6th and final book of the Governess Bureau series; Vivienne Clarke, the owner and proprietor of the Governess Bureau is at the end of her rope, the reputation of her business is in tatters, considering how many of her governesses have ended up at the center of scandals. They were engaged for their governess services, only to end up marrying men either in the households they were engaged in, or related to the families in some way. The Bureau has risen to the top by offering top notch governess services, and being in high demand, to being brought so low that there is no demand, and governesses are choosing to work elsewhere, and do not even want a reference from the Bureau.

But Miss Clarke is determined to repair her business and it's reputation, even if it means rolling up her sleeves and taking up the reins of being the only governess to work for the bureau.

That brings her to the Bysshe household, where the adopted daughter of the widower Viscount Bysshe is in need of education. Laura and Edwin, Viscount Bysshe, have a contentious relationship - she is disrespectful and petulant, doesn't feel like she fits in, and obviously in need of attention, and he appears cold, distant, and doesn't know how to relate to her. He engages a governess, but the added complication is that Vivienne is that governess, and she and Edwin have a history. Fifteen years prior, he was a third son with no expectations of inheriting; she was a young, idealistic entrepreneur, and they were in love. He asks her to marry him, but she thought he wanted her to give up her dreams and did not support them, so she refused him. He thought she loved her business more than him. They went down their separate paths in life, where she made a success of the Governess Bureau, and he turned around and married another woman.

In the present, he is widowed, but still holds a grudge against Vivienne, and while he wants a governess for his daughter, he still wants to see Vivienne fail, which in a way vindicates him, as he felt rejected by her and is bitter. Their relationship is contentious and hostile, despite the fact that they both seem to feel regret for their past, and are still attracted to each other. Laura initially resents Vivienne's presence, but they develop a bond, and Edwin seems to resent that as well, as he does not know how to connect to his daughter. But that changes too with Vivienne's influence, and he and Laura seem to learn to better communicate.

There is a lot of grudges, resentment, and angst in the relationship between Edwin and Vivienne, especially as they continue to be at odds, as she wants to renew and rebuild the Bureau, and he still wants to see it fail. Even when they manage to overcome their grudges to accept a sort of relationship with each other, it is frail, and his resentments and rather horrible temper and mode of communication in duress breaks down their relationship again. In the aftermath, Edwin finally realizes how much he has erred over time, and to appreciate what he has lost again, when given a second chance... but will he be given a third chance

There was a lot of emotional push and pull in this story. Edwin's resentment, angst, and frustrated anger really take over the story for me, and I can't help but feel that has poisoned his view of the world and his relationships going forward. It certainly seemed to be poisoning his current relationship with Vivienne and I certainly questioned why she would want a relationship with a man who seems to hate her, resent her presence, and wish for her failure. Not exactly a basis for a healthy, loving relationship! But then again, you also get that feeling of deep regret on both their parts for what they lost and what could have been. Ultimately, they stumble to their HEA.

I do have a slight problem with the HEA though... Vivienne and Edwin end up together, making a nice little family with Laura, but what about the Governess Bureau - it was such a bone of contention between the two of them. She worked so hard, in a time where women did not have much to call their own, let alone succeed in business. In the end, it seemed to imply that he would support her endeavours, but that she ultimately seemed to give up the business. That does not sit right with me. I appreciate the fight to the HEA - but is it really an HEA worthy of a strong, independent, intelligent business woman like Vivienne Clarke? I feel that the Bureau was abandoned and she and her business deserved some kind of revival, like a phoenix form the ashes, perhaps with the budding families of the previous successful governesses now needing a new generation of educators?

But overall, a 3.5 stars out of 5... a decent ending to the series.

The Governess Bureau is about to close over the last few years, no fewer than five matches have been made. With only one client remaining for the previously esteemed Governess Bureau now it has been called into disrepute, Vivienne Clarke has no choice but to take on the assignment herself; Caring for the daughter of Edwin, Viscount Bysshe. It would be so much easier if she had not turned down his offer of marriage fifteen years ago. Edwin wouldn’t consider himself a man who carries a grudge, he just wants to prove to the world that Miss Clarke is incompetent and her whole Bureau idea is a scam. After all, she chose it over him all those years ago. Besides, he has secrets to hide about his daughter, and her mysterious origins. All Vivienne wants to do is salvage her reputation, restore her business, and return to London with her heart intact.
This is the sixth & final book in the series & a very enjoyable series it has been. I really liked Vivienne but disliked Edwin & frankly I would have told him where to go! Not my favourite of the series & felt the series finished on a low note rather than a high one. The book was also very wordy at times & I did skip some pages until things were decided. I did like the relationship between Vivienne & Laura.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Miss Vivienne Clarke is very upset. After so many of the employees from her Governess Bureau have broken her rules, the business and herself are being blamed and destroyed in the gossip sheets. She has one more post to fill and only the last governess. This will be either the end, or recovery of her life's work.
Edwin Viscount Bysshe and his daughter can't seem to agree on anything, not even what she calls him. It's time for her to have a governess. Whether she wants one or not.
Our lead characters have a personal history that is going to cause all sorts of problems.
A lively and amusing historical romance that is the final instalment of a fabulous series of stand alone stories. I have read and enjoyed every one of them.
I'm looking forward to what ever this author will bring us next.
Great fun.

~My Thoughts

A quick and easy read. I really liked the interactions between Laura and Vivienne. Their relationship was sweet. And the way Laura was written was also believable.

The angst and pining between Edwin and Vivienne was also interesting to read. And the fact that it was written in both POVs was a bonus.

The only thing that I didn't really enjoy was the inner monologues of the characters because at times it made the book a little boring and monotonous.

4 stars

This didn't work for me as well as the previous books. I found the hero sulky and spiteful to the heroine. He just didn't understand her need to create a successful business. I thought she capitulated a bit too much at the end,

I enjoyed the others in this series and would recommend you give them a try.

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

This is the last in a series, but the first I have read. I ... quite liked it. The major drawback for me was the 'hero', Edwin, who is quite frankly obnoxious. He's self centred, self pitying and has brought 100% of the troubles in his life down on himself. He's also pretty unpleasant, especially to Vivienne, Miss Clarke who is at a low ebb, with her Governess Bureau in tatters after a string of her staff marry their clients. All in all, the story goes along in a fairly pacy manner but my gosh I just wanted to bop Edwin on the head. I think it entirely possible his personality, views and behaviour are closer to what a man in this age would have been - but ergh. One can't help but hope Vivienne tells him to hop it.

Miss Vivienne Clarke is desperate to save The Governess Bureau. In her correspondence there is only one request for a governess, a request from Edwin, Viscount Bysshe. Fifteen years ago they fell in love and Edwin asked for her hand in marriage, but he could not accept Vivienne's devotion to The Governess Bureau. From that moment on they never saw each other again. Now Vivienne has no choice but to accept the governess job for his daughter. Edwin is bitter, rigid and not a nice person. At times I see him as verbally abusive. I didn't like him at all until right before the epilogue when he made restitution. Still not my favorite hero.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I was looking forward to this final book in the governess series about the head of the school, Vivienne. Her school rocked with scandal, Vivienne finds herself going out to be a governess to none other than the child of Edwin, a man she loved but declined to marry. She would not marry him because he wanted her to give up her school. Both were hurt by the rejection. Fast forward 15 years and Edwin is bitter and Vivienne is lonely. I found I did not like Edwin, especially when he thought she could be his daughter’s governess by day and his mistress by night! I found the book too wordy in spots where there was a debate whether to do something. Many times, three or four pages would go by before the decision is made. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.