Review: THE GOVERNESS AND THE ROGUE by Mimi Matthews

ABOUT THE BOOK

A down-on-her-luck Victorian governess and an unrepentant rogue enter into a fake engagement during a lengthy voyage at sea in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s sixth book in her acclaimed Somerset Stories series.

Stranded in India after being dismissed without a reference, governess Beatrice Layton exchanges her freedom for passage home to England, taking a position with the only family that will hire her. But Bea hasn’t reckoned for just how dreadful her new employers will be. Stuck with them at sea in increasingly desperate circumstances, she finds an unlikely champion in the injured ex-soldier traveling aboard their ship.

Colonel Jack Beresford has spent the last fourteen years serving in Her Majesty’s Army. Though time has lent him maturity, it hasn’t dulled the roguish impulses of his youth. When he’s confronted with the tantalizing prospect of a damsel in distress, he naturally steps in to rescue her. His solution? An engagement of convenience, of course. One that will last only as long as their voyage.

But once back on land, Jack and Bea’s simple arrangement is beset by complication after complication. There are Bea’s horrid employers to contend with, and the growing gossip in Somerset society. Most complicated of all, there’s Jack’s family—his parents, siblings, and precocious nieces and nephews—all of whom seem to think that Bea might be perfect for him. Jack is beginning to think so too. All that remains is to convince bold, beguiling Bea that he’s perfect for her.

The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews (Somerset Stories) Paperback – August 5, 2025

REVIEW by Christina Boyd

I absolutely loved (LOVED) this book by Mimi Matthews—it had me hooked from nearly the first page! The Governess and the Rogue is incredibly pacy, filled with romantic tension, witty and heartfelt dialogue, and characters that leap right off the page. I’ve long awaited Colonel Jack Beresford’s story in the “Somerset Stories” series, and I’m thrilled to say, “Matthews did not disappoint.”

Jack, with his roguish charm and hidden depths, is everything I hoped and more. Bea is equally compelling—resilient, intelligent, and so easy to root for. Pure delight to turn the pages while these two navigated their “fake” engagement through stormy seas and even stormier social situations back on land.

One of the biggest bonuses? Captain Justin Thornhill makes a cameo! Having adored him since The Matrimonial Advertisement, I was beyond excited when him reappear here; his brooding, wounded soul as he returns to England after soldiering in India only made me love him more.

Matthews continues to prove why she’s a standout in historical romance. Her ability to blend adventure, emotional depth, and sparkling dialogue is unparalleled. I can’t recommend this one enough—especially if you’ve been following the series. Jack and Bea’s journey was just the escape I needed.

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances, including The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, BookPage, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.

In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a miniature poodle, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. You can connect with Mimi via her social media and her website.