He’s desperate for a governess. She needs to escape her matchmaking sister.
Bath 1815: John Derringer doesn’t need a wife, and he certainly doesn’t need children. Devoted to studying ancient Rome, all he wants after the death of his brother is to disappear into his research. But now he must take on the family estate—and care for his orphaned nephew.
Unable to see past his grief, John cannot face the boy, leaving him to a succession of governesses who fail to tame the unruly youngster.
Evelina Shaw is resigned to staying unmarried. With no dowry and little beauty, the only men she has attracted are widowers wanting a capable woman to look after their children—and she refuses to settle for that.
When she hears of Mr Derringer’s desperate need for a governess, Evelina seizes the opportunity to escape from her sister’s futile matchmaking.
But on arriving at Duriel Hall, Evelina can see hurt and misunderstanding everywhere she looks. As she helps bring healing to the Derringer family, her life becomes entwined with theirs, and neither John nor Evelina can predict the consequences…
A story of hope and forgiveness set in the time of Jane Austen.
Characters in this book
Evelina Shaw
Philip Derringer
John Derringer
Anne Derringer
Mr Partridge
Mr Bromley
Mrs Partridge
Mrs Franklin
Explore the history behind the story
Reviews of Engaging Miss Shaw
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“I found the charm of this book to be the quiet strength of Evelina who coaxes a hidden, equal strength from John without casting her into the aggressive modern woman mold that sits ill (in my opinion) in this genre. Definitely an enjoyable read.”
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“A sweet story of intrigue and romance in a period setting, perfect for curling up with by the fire and reading on rainy days.”
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“I loved Evelina and John with Phillip who brought them together in a fabulous storyline with twists, transformations and tender romance. Very well-written that kept me turning to the end. Highly recommend!”
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“I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was very hard not to stay up half the night reading!”
