I’m afraid that every “governess” Regency Romance I read from now on will have to measure up to Donna Simpson’s debut novel, Lord St. Claire’s Angel. A Compromising Situation has likable lead characters who spend much time together. And while this it is a cut above the average Regency Romance, it still doesn’t have quite the same magic as Donna Simpson’s debut.

Maeve Midden is hired as a companion for Clarissa, the niece of Andrew, Lord Rothe. Clarissa recently lost her father, and her mother has since been bedridden. In a sense, then, Clarissa has lost both parents. Lord Rothe was thrust from an army command to a title and all its responsibilities, so the household is in some chaos. Maeve would like to help, but if she stays her too long, she may lose her chance of finding a more steady position. Her “dream” job is a position with a big family that will keep her on its staff for years.

Maeve helps Andrew understand the complexities of his new position. She also helps him understand how to deal with a grieving, rebellious youngster. As they grow closer, however, other problems interfere. Maeve faces pressures from a hidden scandal in her past and from her own doubts. In fact, her stubbornness on this point is one of the things that kept this book from getting a higher grade.

Both Maeve and Andrew are engaging characters. Because of her position in life, Maeve must be practical. Sometimes her practicality leads her to ignore her heart. Andrew is accustomed to bellowing orders at everyone and can’t understand why his niece refuses to cooperate. Yet for all that, he is likable underneath – simply a younger son who was given little choice but to serve in the military. Once Andrew learns not to bellow all the time, he becomes an agreeable hero. Even better, he and Maeve interact like adults, getting to know each other over time.

Like many Regency heroines, Maeve has a scandalous secret in her past. Unfortunately, while it becomes an integral part of the plot as the story progresses, it stays in the background for too long. And, close to the end, when the scandal reared its ugly (literally) head again, it distracted from the relationship between Maeve and Andrew. This aspect of the novel perhaps could have been strengthened or eliminated altogether; either would have made for a better final book.

Despite my quibbles about the hidden scandal subplot, A Compromising Situation doesn’t suffer from usual subplot problems. Readers won’t be overwhelmed with unneeded details and will find that the various sub-plots grow organically out of the main story. I also appreciated the surprises involving Clarissa’s mother and her story – what could have been a clichéd character was not.

If you like sweet Regencies with lots of interaction between the main characters, don’t let a few faults sway you from picking up this book. The focus on the lead characters makes this an enjoyable read.