It’s been quite awhile since I visited the Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche but luckily the author wrote each book to be able to stand alone. In this, the fourth volume, we read of the romance between governess Mary Wakefield and the current master of Jalna, widower Philip Whiteoak. With Philip’s mother bound and determined to prevent this couple getting together, there many moments of angst, treachery and tears.

It is the 1880s and Mary Wakefield has been hired in London to travel to Canada to become the governess of two children. She doesn’t have any experience, but Ernest Whiteoak, who hired her, was in a hurry as the woman that had been hired for the job had broken both her legs and could not travel to Canada. Mary looked upon this as a great adventure and she fell in love with the beautiful Ontario estate of Jalna when she arrived. She also fell in love with the children’s father and Mary and Philip enjoyed a couple of months before his mother returned from England, bringing Philip’s two brothers and his sister for an extended visit. She immediately sussed out the situation and did her best to intervene between Philip and Mary.

Although I found this book a little over the top in regards to emotions, it was a light, entertaining read that provided me with a giggle or two as the dowager Adeline plotted against the romance. I have the next few book in the vintage series and will definitely be continuing to read about the Whiteoak family. ( )

A new generation of characters at Jalna deals with love, hate, jealousy and pride. A great read.

As I said on Jalna, I saw these books as a child but did not read them. I did dip into this one and recall being mildly titillated by it --a sign of how easily I was titillated at the time.

The third in the Jalna series by chronology. A shift in generations, but just as fun. ( )