The Heiress and the Chauffeur Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 6 Sayaka Yoshimura is "new money" at her all-girls finishing school, and her chauffeur, Narutaki, often ignores decorum and breaks rules to protect her. Feelings are blossoming between master and servant, but social standing during the Taisho era is strictly adhered to. Will Sayaka be able to follow her own free spirit while still living up to her father's reputation and expectations?This is part one of two, so it's a fun little fluff story. If you like period pieces that romanticize the period while pushing boundaries, you should enjoy this, though it's more inaccurate than not due to pushing those boundaries. I like that the romance is quite subtly done -- they're flirting dangerously. There's a hurt / comfort fetish here, too, as Sayaka has a lame foot and often loses her balance or overdoes her walking. That works perfectly with a chauffeur, as his job is to help her get around -- he just expands the definition to swooping in to her aid regardless of the situation ... or the consequences. Plus, she doesn't let it hinder her. A flashback to her youth shows us that she fell and refused help in order to get up on her own, and that she's been working on getting stronger ever since her childhood accident. Her attitude with regards to people at the soiree she attends shows how hard she works (including pushing herself too far) in order to stand up for herself and others. I didn't really care for the scene where he helps an old (female) friend at her bad, but it does put a new perspective on the difference in social classes. His responses to a few of her offers is nicely done, and makes me like him even more. It also provides a bit more backstory on Narutaki other than the flashbacks of his growing up with Sayaka for the past eight years. My favorite flashback is when Sayaka is upset about her father leaving, and Narutaki consciously wipes his hands off before comforting / hugging her ... and then gets scolded for it. (Who saw them, I wonder?) One of my favorite present-day scenes is when Narutaki takes an actual order from Sayaka to drive faster (as she's trying to help a classmate catch up to the teacher she loves, who was fired and is leaving on a train); he is torn between being excited over an order / following it and panicked over the disastrous outcome. I love that some of Sayaka's school friends write fan fiction about her and her chauffeur; it provides humor and helps escalate the sense of romance within the confines of the era. I also love that one of her classmates seems infatuated with Sayaka and even jealous of the closeness she has with Narutaki. There's an extra, unrelated story at the end called "Luca and the Bandit". A famed thief is trying to help one sibling steal another to free them from slavery. I was not expecting the twist at all, and it is so good! The story itself is mediocre, but the twist made it enjoyable. This short series may not be a keeper, but it's a fun fluff read. Written: April 24, 2016
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