A Companion for the Count - Review

A Companion for the Count (Clairvoir Castle Romances, # 2)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: May 2, 2021 by Pink Citrus Books

249 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

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Goodreads description--Miss Emma Arlen’s position as a companion never included distracting her mistress’s suitors, but when a handsome Italian ambassador arrives determined to find an English bride, Emma happily takes up the cause. Emma Arlen has spent a decade as a member of the duke’s family, in the position of companion to his daughter and ward to the duke himself. She would do anything to show her support to the ducal family for their love and kindness. When Lady Josephine begs Emma to distract a most determined Sicilian suitor, she agrees at once. How hard can it be to keep one man entertained for a few weeks?

Luca, the Conte di Atella, left his home in the newly formed Kingdom of the Two Sicilies under the direct orders of King Ferdinand I. Luca’s duty as ambassador to England includes everything from negotiating better trade agreements to strengthening the bonds between the two nations. If possible, by marrying a lady of high birth. When he optimistically sets his sights on Lady Josephine, Miss Arlen consistently disrupts his plans. The more time that passes, the more he realizes he does not mind at all.

Continually in the conte’s company, Emma recognizes in him a spirit of adventure and nobility like she has never witnessed before. When the time comes for him to go, will she be able to part with him and keep her heart intact?

As the second stand-alone novel in a new series by author Sally Britton, this story continues the Clairvoir Castle romances. This is a light-hearted, romantic series set in the Regency period.

I think one of the biggest things I need to mention upfront is that this is the second in a series that Sally Britton has dubbed a light-hearted regency romance series. This means no major, dark conflicts, plots, or twists. While each story does have conflict to overcome, nothing is too heavy or extreme. Personally, sometimes I find that I need something light-hearted like this. And I enjoyed A Companion for the Count even more than book 1, Mr. Gardiner and the Governess.

As the description states, the Duke is set to entertain a Sicilian Ambassador to strengthen the political alliance between the two countries. The Duke has hinted to Josephine that she needs to be particularly polite while hosting this guest. Josephine balks at the idea that he is encouraging her to consider Luca as a potential suitor. Josephine is determined that she is not interested in getting married any time soon. She begs Emma to distract Luca as often as possible to keep his attention away from herself. Emma doesn't mind being of service to her friend in this way.

Having grown up in the ducal family as she has, Emma has been exposed to politics and finds it interesting. Josephine, on the other hand, couldn't care less. Emma and Luca initially have a meeting of the minds over books. They come to find that they enjoy the same types of literature. Emma wants to warn the ambassador away from his pursuit of Josephine like Josephine has requested. But he is persistent that he must marry in an alliance that will strengthen the two countries. Josephine is a perfect candidate for that. But he can't seem to draw her attention at all. Emma eventually realizes Luca is a good man and would make a good husband. She becomes swayed into actually giving him advice that she thinks would help draw Josephine's attention to him, but even that backfires. Ultimately, she realizes she can no longer help Luca pursue Josephine because she has feelings for him.

Luca is almost instantly more drawn toward Emma than Josephine. But a paid companion is not the strong marriage prospect that his country is seeking for him to make to strengthen their political alliances. He is unaware that Josephine isn't so much a paid companion for Josephine as she is a ward of the Duke and a member of their family. And Emma actually possesses the qualities an ambassador's wife would need, such as attention paid to other political players and an actual interest in politics.

A Companion for the Count easily topped my opinion of Mr. Gardiner and the Governess. I liked both main characters. I needed something light-hearted and happy. And I'm even more excited to get to Josephine and Andrew's book due to their banter. A Companion for the Count gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) A Companion for the Count? What did you think? Let me know!