Autumn Vows

by Barbara Hazard

When an earl sought a wife of convenience to provide him with an heir, a beautiful young lady found herself in an arranged marriage. Despite the pretenses of their union, the earl is perplexed when his romantic gestures leave no impressions on his wife! But he doesn't realize that she is only feigning indifference, planning to make her husband fall passionately in love her...as she is with him!

223 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Barbara (Booth) Hazard, a resident of Exeter, NH, died on October 25, 2019 in Boston, MA surrounded by family. Born in 1931 in Fall River, MA, the daughter of Albert L. and Lillian (Holland) Booth, she was raised and educated in New England. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1953 and was briefly employed by Ginn & Company in Boston as a Technical Editor. She married Donald T. Hazard in 1954 and next worked as a Graphic Designer/Artist for a Concord, NH advertising firm.

Originally trained as a musician, Mrs. Hazard also studied oil painting with Amy Jones and for a time had several shows in New York and Vermont. She began to write historical fiction in 1978. First published in 1981, she went on to write and publish 48 books, several of which are also in circulation abroad. She won several awards for her writing.

Mrs. Hazard wrote that there were several things in her life that she was most proud of; being Concertmaster of the MA All State Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston, having a successful career as an artist and as a writer, which was her greatest love besides her husband, three sons and their wives.

She loved New England and in particular, Cape Cod, which she visited every year for most of her life. Her other loves included her family, reading and music. She also wrote under the pen name of Lillian Lincoln.

Reviews

[Catsalive · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad read but it does have some very annoying moments. Running away because the man doesn't love you, even though you knew this beforehand, seems like a recipe for disaster. It's so unrealistic in a time when the husband could have dragged her back by the hair had he wanted to. I just can't see this making a man fall in love, he's more likely to mount another mistress. The big misunderstanding & never actually talking to each other trope is highly irritating. As for the whole Meredith family dynamic, I can believe that Theo would have been taken advantage of but as for delivering babies, pah! It was mildly amusing in parts but neither Theodora Meredith nor Lucas Whitney, Earl of Canford, were particularly engaging characters. I've read better from this author. 2.5★

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some interesting premises.

[Spazfungus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute. liked how, because she thinks its a marriage of convenience, she interprets all of his actions and words as if he doesn't care/respects her. While he, knowing why he choose her (but stupidly doesn't tell her) thinks he is being considerate and views her reactions as if she were crazy. moral of the story: learn how to communicate/the importance of communication in a relationship.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but it could use an epilogue. The ending was abrupt and I felt that it focused more on the earl's sister, the duchess.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The elegant Lucas, Earl of Canford picks a marriage of convenience and somehow falls in love...mmm yeah?