Rules of Surrender (Governess Brides) 
Sensuality Rating: 8
In 1839 England, the newly formed Distinguished Academy of Governesses is a daring venture. Three young ladies--wellborn, beautiful, and poor--have decided to take destiny into their own hands and carve a societal niche as governesses. The Academy's first client employs Lady Charlotte Dalrumple to teach her untrained grandchildren the rules of proper English society. It isn't until Charlotte meets the children that she realizes she's also been hired to re-train their father, who left England at 15 for a life of adventure among the Bedouins of the Far East. Once she meets the handsome Viscount Wynter Ruskin, it becomes instantly apparent to Charlotte why his mother feels he needs instruction in manners--the viscount seems determined to shock her at every turn.
Wynter accepts his mother's edict that he pay heed to Charlotte's lessons in decorum, but only because he has plans for the lovely young woman. He needs a wife and Charlotte fills his requirements perfectly. But while Wynter is tutoring her in the art of seduction, Charlotte just might teach the stubborn viscount more about women and his heart than he'd planned to learn.
Rules of Surrender contains all of the witty repartee, detailed English society setting, and passionate romance that Dodd's fans have come to expect. You won't want to miss this wonderfully warm and entertaining tale. --Lois Faye Dyer
Reviews
Charlotte Dalrumple is the English governess hired by Wynter Ruskin to teach his children and himself some manners. They have just recently returned to England from El Bahar and are trying to adjust the best they can. Wynter is aware of the rules of the ton, he just refuses to abide by them. In fact, he compromises her so she will marry him, and ultimately sleep with him. His children (from his previous marriage), Robbie and Leila, are adorable and their antics are amusing. If only the main character was also likable.
1. Wynter does not appeal to me at all. He is self-centered, puerile, and lacks any sense of humor that bases itself on anything but someone else's embarrassments. I kept hoping he would redeem himself by the end of the novel, that he would grow as a person and mature into a charming gentleman, yet he failed in all these aspects. He is a womanizer who did not deserve Charlotte's love, not that I think too much of Charlotte in the first place.
2. There was very little character development. Wynter was, essentially, a static character whose beliefs in the beginning of the novel failed to change over the course of the story. It was difficult to get a grasp on why he felt the way he felt. Granted, his "desert father" taught him that that was the way true men behaved, I'm still not buying it. I suppose that was my over all problem with the novel.
I didn't buy the attraction between Charlotte and Wynter, and with a romance, that is the key to the entire book - getting the reader to buy into the love affair between the two main characters. I would not recommend this book, nor will I be buying anymore of Ms. Dodd's novels.