Educating Elizabeth by Jennifer Moore

Educating Elizabeth
by Jennifer Moore

ISBN-13: 9781524424008
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: September 12, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For years, Elizabeth Miller has dreamed of opening a school for underprivileged girls in London’s East End. But despite her best efforts, she soon discovers that the cost of running the fledgling school keep increasing. In desperation she turns to Lord Charles Chatsworth, a rich and carefree flirt with a scandalous reputation. Charles is happy to donate to the school, but in exchange for his financial support, Elizabeth must tutor his relative in elocution. It's not until a journey to Charles’s country estate that Elizabeth truly begins to see the man behind the rakish reputation. But when Elizabeth discovers that her school is being sabotaged, she realizes her country romance may not withstand the scheming of the ton.


My Review:
Educating Elizabeth is a romance set in 1874 in England. The historical details about the Poor Laws, working children, and educating girls were woven into the story. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically. Elizabeth was clever and determined, but she had trouble asking for help (even from her friends) because she felt like it made her look incompetent to run the school. She took advice well even though it went against her long-held beliefs about rich men. Then she used that information to create a good plan to save her school from sabotage.

Charles is likable, but he didn't understand the difference between teasing and mocking. He mocked Elizabeth, didn't understand why she didn't like it, but did quit when she asked him to. He's also dismissive when women told him something that's worrying them (and they were valid worries). But he apologized and tried to change any time he realized he was in the wrong.

In my opinion, the romance was rather abrupt. Elizabeth was guarded around Charles for the first half of the book, and rightly so considering his behavior. When they went to his country house, she finally saw the genuine man rather than the front Charles put on. She was just starting to like this version of him when he suddenly kissed her. No lead-up of attraction, just a sudden kiss. It surprised me as much as it startled her. When he tried to do it again (with his rakish reputation and no promises of love or marriage), he's baffled when Elizabeth avoided it. Dense man. He admired her character, they shared interests, and she appreciated his support. But the ending declaration of devoted love just seemed too soon when they were still working on building basic trust in each other. I felt like they'd get there, though, so a good match.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance mixed with some interesting history.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.