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

Social Tutor

I really liked the story but had a difficult time understanding the narrator. Er words were mumbled at times and I believe she was just to timid for the story. I had to force myself to listen at different times because I couldn’t understand her.
I always enjoy it when someone from a higher rank comes in to do the right thing for others, to create a happy ending.
I liked Sally’s style of writing but hope she gets different narrators for her other series.

Cute and Enjoyable read

I loved this book! I liked that the main characters were able to find out what truly matters when looking for a spouse. I love every minute!

Loved this story

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was sweet and romantic and more about friendship and love and not all lust and ownership . Enjoyed the narrator.

Great, wholesome love story between friends

Lovely, sweet story. I both main characters, but I especially liked the development of the FMC, Christine. No sex but loads of charm.

Very enjoyable

Great book, unique storyline that you normally read in the Regency novel. Good character development.

Very Enjoyable!

After finishing all of Josi S Kilpack's regency romance books, I've struggled to find an author that measures up. This is my first Sally Britton book and I found it quite enjoyable. The social tutor setup is clever and rewarding. Although not quite to Kilpack's level, I'm anxious to read the second book in the series.

Beautiful

When I listen to a Regency Romance novel, I thank God that I was allowed to live in the 20th and 21st centuries and that I was given the parents I was given. This novel emphasized my prayers. My parents were both hard working, good people. My father was a specialized welder and my mother was a registered nurse. Both of them worked every day to take care of me - and my brother who was 10 years younger than I was. On weekends they helped their extended families with maintenance that needed to be done from helping my mother’s parents rebuild a small cottage where they planned to retire to helping my dad’s sisters with electrical needs and plumbing needs and anything else they needed because my dad was handy and my uncles (of blessed memory) were not. Moreover, there was never a question about whether I was going to college or not. The assumption was that I was going. They didn’t suggest what I should major in but I was going to further schooling after high school so my grades in school were expected to be high. When I came to them and told them I wanted to be an aerospace engineer and work for NASA they never batted an eye. We just started looking for schools which offered this major. (Yes, it was the late 60’s and I wanted to go to the moon! Another enclave that so far was just for men.) I cannot imagine what my life would have been like if I had lived in 1811 and had to bow to the then ideas about women’s capabilities that society had. I don’t think I would have been a very happy woman. And I probably would have been a spinster to boot because what was the likelihood of finding a man with progressive thinking. Through this entire story my heart went out to Christy. Her father not only was an unemotional man but he had no love in his heart for anyone or anything except money and power. His wife suffered at his hands, his daughters suffered and, even, his son suffered. To think that a person’s happiest moments would be when Mr. Devin was gone on a business trip and the wish was that he would stay away as long as he could. At least the son went away to school although he resented any time he had to come home. What he expected from his children was a form of slavery; bowing to every idea and notion he had and never considering what his children wanted from their lives. Thank goodness that at the end the youngest daughter got to go live with her aunt. I’m sure the entire family wished that Mr. Devin would die before she had to come out in society. I loved the way this story ended and the surprise actions of the Earl at the end. It was so good to see Mr. Devin eat crow and choke on it! And it was so good to see Christy come into her own life with the partner of her choice and the chance to work at something she loved - horses and the ranch. The narrator was adequate. I set the speed to 1.1 to keep her from sounding too dramatic. It helped.

Sweet

This was a very lovely story. No sex- it was interesting enough that the story did not Need it. It was well written. I like to listen at a bit faster speed than the normal so it even seemed short and sweet

A Lovely Story

An engrossing story with excellent characterization and plot. Romance fully developed without the use of explicit sex scenes.

Delightful!

Love the idea of romance without sex or details. Sweet story and an easy read.