The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes
Amy Rose Bennett. Kensington, $18.95 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-49675-441-7
Mary Poppins meets comedy of manners in this twee Victorian romantasy from Bennett (Up All Night with a Good Duke). Emmeline Chase, a penniless widow and recent graduate from the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses, which equips its students with magical powers, is desperate for work partly so that she can afford to free her clockmaker father from debtors’ prison. Her nerves get the better of her during a transportation spell to a job interview, landing her in the home of Xavier Mason, seventh Duke of St. Lawrence—more commonly known as “Lunatic St. Lawrence” due to his obsession with clocks. This chance meeting turns out to be a lucky break for them both. Xavier’s three misbehaving wards, Harry, Barry, and Gary, have scared off all their previous nannies, and there’s a sinister plot afoot to discredit the “mad” duke’s horological ambitions that Emmeline, with her clockmaking background, may help prevent. All the while, she must adhere to the Parasol Academy’s strict code of conduct by hiding both her magic and her growing feelings for Xavier. The quirky cuteness of the worldbuilding occasionally grates, but there’s enough light humor to keep the pages turning. Bennett’s fans will find plenty to enjoy. (Oct.)
Details
Reviewed on: 07/16/2025
Genre: Romance/Erotica
Downloadable Audio - 978-1-76142-913-2
Paperback - 978-1-76142-911-8