Sarah is a governess working for Lord Northcott, but when her employer summons him to her study she finds a new career unfolding - as a spy.
I bought this book as the blurb appealed to me, but I was a little wary because the plot had the potential to be weighted down with angst. Happily, this was not the case. The author skilfully handled the storyline without it being cliched. Sarah turned out to be a pretty hopeless spy and was found out early on. She was refreshingly honest with Julien, and instead of trying to pull the wool over his eyes - owned up to what she was about. Phew! No angsty misunderstandings. The story could then move on in a believable way as a new threat to Sarah was revealed.
An enjoyable read with characters I was happy to spend time with. Not a 'wow' book but I'd happily read more by the same author. ( )

I finished reading THE MAKING OF A DUCHESS last night at 1am. I just couldn't put it down. Start to finish action with a driven hero and an endearing but socially awkward heroine The characters were not typical, and their interactions both emotionally and physically felt very real. This was the first book that I have read by Shana Galen, and I am looking forward to reading the rest. ( )

Sarah is just a governess but is 'hired' to spy on Julien, a half French aristocrat living in London after escaping France as a child during the revolution. Julien thinks Sarah is a family friend who is sent to him to court and ultimately marry. The two are originally at odds but learn to trust each other. As their trust grows, they ultimately work together.

While a few plot devices had me rolling my eyes, I really enjoyed how the characters were developed and their trust built during the story. There was no silly big misunderstanding; this was a well developed relationship that built over time. ( )

Summary from Goodreads:

"Twelve years after fleeing their burning chateau, Julien Harcourt, Duc de Valère, searches for his lost twin brothers. His frequent travels between England and France at a time when the exiled Napoleon is reported to be marshalling his troops raises the suspicions of English authorities who set secret operative Sarah Smith on his trail. A risky game of cat and mouse leads the two from the ballrooms of London to the prisons of Paris and into a fragile love that neither dares to hope for."

My Thoughts:

The Making of a Duchess was a great way to spend a few days as it was filled with romance, intrigue, and passion. The story begins with the main character Sarah, a governess, being coerced into becoming a spy and pretending to be a long lost duchess from France. As Sarah meets Julien, her "future husband to be", passion instantly begins to ignite between the two of them. What I liked about this book is the hidden secrets between the two main characters. Neither of them are being honest with each other at the beginning of the book which is a recipe for disaster. Especially as they are almost instantly attracted to one another....the passion in this book was HOT! The romance between these two built slowly and came across realistically. I really enjoyed it and wanted to see them get their happy ever after. I liked the way that the author shared Julien's past from when he was a child and how it tied into the rest of the book. It was the set-up for a really great storyline in my opinion and I can't wait to read more. The book was a really fast read and I couldn't set it down.

All in all, I found this book to be an enjoyable read and a solid romance. I'm looking forward to reading more with these characters as this is the beginning of a trilogy. And I've found myself a new romance author to watch. Recommended to romance lovers!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library :) ( )

My Synopsis:

The Making of a Duchess (Sons of the Revolution series - Book 1) by Shana Galen

(For review from Sourcebooks)

Sarah Smith feels totally out of her element when she is asked to take on a secret mission as a spy. She goes from being a governess to being the daughter of a French aristocrat in order to find proof that, Julien Harcourt, duc de Valere is a traitor selling English secrets to France. Being an orphan, Sarah is unprepared when Julien asks her to marry him and become a part of his family. She quickly turns down his proposal and continues to try to find the proof she needs as her contacts within the Foreign Office become more and more impatient and dangerous.

Julien Harcourt, is a French aristocrat who was forced to leave his home during the Revolution, leaving behind his two brothers, Armand and Bastien. Julien has spent years going back and forth to France at peril to his own life, trying to find his brothers. Now he has information from a former servant that is his best lead. When the beautiful, Serafina enters his life, he feels he must do his duty and marry her to continue his family name and reek vengeance on those who tried to kill him. But, Julien is unprepared for his feelings for Serafina. Will Sarah find the proof she needs and Julien in? Will Julien find his brother Armand? Can the both see past the lies and find love? What is the secret that Sarah will find out about herself?

My Thoughts:

I am a great fan of historical fiction and this book really hit the spot. You have both the English Regency period and the French Revolution as the backdrop to this story. Shana Galen has done a wonderful job of portraying what French aristocrats may have gone through as they faced the demise of their way of life. How they were forced to flee for their lives and take up residence in other countries. This was a very interesting time period and I liked way Galen was able to give the reader that sense of urgency as Julien and his mother fled that night.

Julien was great character. He was honorable and honest and had all the qualities women look for. I enjoyed the banter between Julien and Serafina, showing a sense of humor in his character. I also liked the fact that he was loyal to his family. In this day and age that is so hard to find in families. Sarah's character was very endearing. An orphan that has made something of herself and become a governess. Then when pressed into service for her country to she takes on a mission that puts her own life in danger. I also liked that she was able to see the good in Julien and realize that there was no way he could be a traitor.

I really liked this book and I think you will too. I am giving away 2 copies of, The Making of a Duchess be sure to see the giveaway post!!! My interview with Shana was a pleasure as well.

I give this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!