The Social Tutor

Branches of Love, Book 1

By: Sally Britton

Narrated by: Rachael Beresford

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

After years of escaping etiquette lessons in favor of the stables, Christine Devon's grand debut in London is only weeks away, though her deportment lacks the sophisticated polish she needs to achieve her goals of a lofty marriage. Desperate to take her place in society, she needs someone to instruct her in proper behavior.  

Thomas Gilbert, newly returned from Italy, is ready to begin his dream of founding a horse farm. But during his time away, the estate's finances have dwindled to almost nothing. Unless he can find a way to save his family from ruin, he will be forced to sell his horses and give up his dreams entirely.  

A chance meeting between them may solve both their problems. Christine gains a tutor in the finer arts of polite behavior, while Thomas is given access to the finest bloodlines in England. But as time passes, the arrangement is less about business and more about love. 

Will they see it in time, or will Christine leave Thomas behind for the splendor of London's ballrooms?

©2018 Sally Britton (P)2018 Tantor

<3 it!

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
After years of escaping etiquette lessons in favor of the stables, Christine Devon’s grand debut in London is only weeks away, though her deportment lacks the sophisticated polish she needs to achieve her goals of a lofty marriage. Desperate to take her place in society, she needs someone to instruct her in proper behavior.

Thomas Gilbert, newly returned from Italy, is ready to begin his dream of founding a horse farm. But during his time away, the estate’s finances have dwindled to almost nothing. Unless he can find a way to save his family from ruin, he will be forced to sell his horses and give up his dreams entirely.

A chance meeting between them may solve both their problems. Christine gains a tutor in the finer arts of polite behavior, while Thomas is given access to the finest bloodlines in England. But as time passes, the arrangement is less about business, and more about love. Will they see it in time, or will Christine leave Thomas behind for the splendor of London’s ballrooms?

MY TAKE
I LOVED this book! I've read The Gentleman Physician but didn't realize until much later that Christine's older sister is the heroine in that tale. It makes me so happy because I felt so bad for Julia.

Thomas and Christine are fun characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall in love. My only issue with Thomas was how he handled one particular lesson. It was one that needed to be taught, but he carried it too far and lowered my respect for him a little.

Christine is bright and kind of clueless in the beginning but determined to make her father proud--not understanding that no one would ever make that man proud. It was beyond his stunted emotional makeup. I think Christine must have gotten some of her feistiness from her mother because it would take a special kind of passive aggressiveness to have gotten her way in staying in the country with her daughters and horses while married to such a heartless man.

I also loved the earl who played the role of a fairy godmother. He needs to have his own happily ever after.

I listened to the audiobook, and Rachael Beresford did a great job. My only issue was that it played REALLY slow. I don't normally change the speed but I found that if I upped it to 1.15% it read more fluidly and didn't drag.

First half of story defies belief.

If you can endure (or skip) the inane first half, the ending is well done. Clean read.

Refreshing

I enjoyed this clean story because it was a lovely change of pace not to have been assaulted by a lust fest. The plot and characters stood on their own merit without trite fillers about embarrassingly detailed sex scenes. I sped it up through the slower parts, but still thought it was a light, entertaining read.

Great story, needs a different narrator

I had enjoyed another series by Sally Britton and this story sounded fun, so I thought I'd give it a go. The story itself was fun and engaging, sweet and clean for a love story, but the narrator was not great. She read at a slow, kind of strange cadence, and I had to speed it up to 1.25x to get through it. She didn't distinguish voices very much between characters and didn't put much emotion into her reading. I'd like to continue the series, but I won't be getting them on Audible since they all have the same narrator.

OK but a little slow and frustrating.

I recently discovered Sally Britton and have enjoyed most of her books. I truly appreciate the clean wholesome stories but I am on the fence with this one. It took a while for the story to capture my imagination, and I almost stop listening during the first chapter.
; however, I continued listening with the hope that the author would pick up the pace.

I found it frustrating that the older sister, Julia, did not help Christina with some information and guidance earlier on in the story. Julia's unfortunate season four years prior was something to which the author consistently alluded but the reason for the failed season was not revealed until much later. Julia could have helped Christina so much more but was quiet and secretive. Although she redeemed herself toward the end, I was already frustrated with her. The father was tyrannical and cruel, and I did enjoy how the Earl outwitted him.

Overall, the story ended well but I can't say that I was captivated by this book as I was by some of Ms. Britton's other books.

DISAPPOINTED

DULL STORY, NARRATION IRRITATING! Prosody (intonation and rhythm) often sounds like she's reading a phone book. She tries to put expression into her reading, but it is rather odd and doesn't sound natural. Her "voices" are good, but during the narrative parts it is often weird, either sing-song or just flat.

A delight!!

This was a very delightful story filled with many unexpected twists and surprises that kept the reader guessing til the very end. I had strong feelings about all of the characters in the situations that were created were so interesting and absorbing. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! I was completely absorbed from beginning to end.

Marriage Based,pn Love, or Mercenary Ambitions

This book shows ,how one daughters "Julia "choice to
renege on a contract based on making a mercenary match to further her fathers mercenary ambitions ,financially / or advance through the peerage, and choose to find one that can be based
on love snd happiness.
Deemed,as a failure ,by her next sister" Christine" inline.who
feeling inept ,about social graces,and how to
relate with ladies ,who are vying for the most ,
advantageous marriage ..
Thua,she trades for lessons from a gentleman ,who
is looking to breed his horses ,with hers .Thus he
in return tutors to prepare to make her social debut.
Will her season result as her sisters,.When she
discovers the reason" Julia's "failure ,will Christine
even want a season.?What will the youngest "Rebecca
choice ,be ?