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A Proper Romance #3
The Vicar's Daughter
Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There's only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.
Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.
A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.
As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?
Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.
A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.
As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?
319 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
111 people are currently reading
1890 people want to read
About the author
Josi S. Kilpack
82 books2,047 followers I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
December 29, 2017
#1. Don’t write a Regency novel and then insert all sorts of modern inventions and events. If you long to give the characters all these conveniences and pieces of music, write a Victorian novel.
#2. Research doesn’t make a book authentic if it is conducted in the wrong era.
First of all, the main character and I didn't bond well as she complains about her life and begins a careful plan to write to a young man in her sister’s name in order to get her sister out of the way so she can debut and have some fun. The entire story she suffers for her own fault, and until near the end she has a nasty attitude about it.
Second, THE HISTORY!!!! Oh, my. Nails on a chalkboard on this one. In careful detail we are given a description of the “ringer” Cassie uses in the laundry. Did you know the wringer wasn’t invented until 1907? Earlier water-reduction methods were called a mangle and functioned quite differently. As nearly as I could tell from my own research, the mangle they were describing was an early-Victorian era one. Nothing that sophisticated existed in the Regency period, and if they did it was so expensive that a vicar who had to ecomonize by having the ladies of his family do the housework absolutely wouldn’t be using one.
Again we encounter Lenora at the pianoforte, playing Tchaikovsky. Wow. Any classically trained pianist knows that Tchaikovsky was a Victorian era composer. He lived, incidentally, from 1840-1893. An entire generation before he was even born! Also, he didn’t compose anything for pianoforte, as by his time it had been replaced by the modern piano.
Other irksome bits included terms like “off the top of my head” (1850s Americanism) and Lenora’s age changing from 25 to 23.
The ending was cute and saved it from a one-star rating.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy.
#2. Research doesn’t make a book authentic if it is conducted in the wrong era.
First of all, the main character and I didn't bond well as she complains about her life and begins a careful plan to write to a young man in her sister’s name in order to get her sister out of the way so she can debut and have some fun. The entire story she suffers for her own fault, and until near the end she has a nasty attitude about it.
Second, THE HISTORY!!!! Oh, my. Nails on a chalkboard on this one. In careful detail we are given a description of the “ringer” Cassie uses in the laundry. Did you know the wringer wasn’t invented until 1907? Earlier water-reduction methods were called a mangle and functioned quite differently. As nearly as I could tell from my own research, the mangle they were describing was an early-Victorian era one. Nothing that sophisticated existed in the Regency period, and if they did it was so expensive that a vicar who had to ecomonize by having the ladies of his family do the housework absolutely wouldn’t be using one.
Again we encounter Lenora at the pianoforte, playing Tchaikovsky. Wow. Any classically trained pianist knows that Tchaikovsky was a Victorian era composer. He lived, incidentally, from 1840-1893. An entire generation before he was even born! Also, he didn’t compose anything for pianoforte, as by his time it had been replaced by the modern piano.
Other irksome bits included terms like “off the top of my head” (1850s Americanism) and Lenora’s age changing from 25 to 23.
The ending was cute and saved it from a one-star rating.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy.
April 16, 2017
Cassie, the youngest of 6 daughter's of the Wilton family is bright ,beautiful and ready to make her debut into society. The only problem is she has to wait until her older sister,Lenora marries before she may be presented to society. Her older sister suffers from anxiety so Cassie devises a plan that she thinks is fool proof for getting her married off. As we all know even the best laid plains often go astray and sometimes with disastrous,sometimes hilarious results. An exciting clean read, I was pleased to see how this was resolved. I wasn't sure how it would be resolved but it turned out well.
A sweet clean read I look forward to reading more books by Josi S. Kilpack.
Pub Date 04 Apr 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
A sweet clean read I look forward to reading more books by Josi S. Kilpack.
Pub Date 04 Apr 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 6, 2017
What do you do when you're so caught up in a story that you don't want to put it down for anything? You read all day, of course!
Cassie is the youngest daughter of a vicar and isn't allowed to "come out" to society until her older, extremely anxiety-ridden and shy, sister is married off. Cassie has the very best intentions at heart when she secretly writes letters to a potential beau, posing as her sister, but it all backfires in a heart wrenching way.
When my husband and I were first dating, I remember being in the computer lab at school and I was instant messaging him. I had to leave for a minute and my friend took over, pretending to be me. Understandably, he wasn't too happy about that and I could completely see how Evan felt about his whole situation with these two sisters, although his was carried much further.
I was very caught up in the whole story and felt a part of it from the start. The emotions are very tangibly written--from the attraction, to the flutters of love, to the pain and anguish associated with guilt. If I was caught in a similar situation, I'd want to run and hide, but Cassie does everything she can to repair things and I can't help but to admire her greatly. This book has a very engaging storyline, as well as fantastic characters, and I loved it all!
Content: mild romance; mild moments of innocent deception.
*I received a copy through Netgalley. No favorable review was required and all thoughts are my own.*
Cassie is the youngest daughter of a vicar and isn't allowed to "come out" to society until her older, extremely anxiety-ridden and shy, sister is married off. Cassie has the very best intentions at heart when she secretly writes letters to a potential beau, posing as her sister, but it all backfires in a heart wrenching way.
When my husband and I were first dating, I remember being in the computer lab at school and I was instant messaging him. I had to leave for a minute and my friend took over, pretending to be me. Understandably, he wasn't too happy about that and I could completely see how Evan felt about his whole situation with these two sisters, although his was carried much further.
I was very caught up in the whole story and felt a part of it from the start. The emotions are very tangibly written--from the attraction, to the flutters of love, to the pain and anguish associated with guilt. If I was caught in a similar situation, I'd want to run and hide, but Cassie does everything she can to repair things and I can't help but to admire her greatly. This book has a very engaging storyline, as well as fantastic characters, and I loved it all!
Content: mild romance; mild moments of innocent deception.
*I received a copy through Netgalley. No favorable review was required and all thoughts are my own.*
April 17, 2017
I love Josi Kilpack's Proper Romance novels. I've really enjoyed reading them. I've read all but Lady of the Lakes and have just started it. When she started writing under this line of books I was so excited. I'd read several of hers as a teenager and in college and loved them, but they weren't historical fiction or regency so imagine my pure delight when I realized a favorite author was writing in one of my favorite genres. Happy Dance!!!! Yeah, I'm way past those teenage and twenties years but I still get super excited and squeal and happy dance when something that makes me happy happens. I'll always be a kid at heart. Lol!
I felt like this book had little attributes of other books, like Cyrano and Taming of the Shrew. Cassie is the last vicar's daughter of 6 and the rule is that the older must marry before the next in line can be out and have a season or seasons. Imagine Cassie's frustration when she is waiting through the third season of her sister Lenora, who is just older than her. Lenora is timid and shy and reserved and can hardly even make it out the vicarage door on nights of social events. How is Cassie ever going to survive waiting? She's 20 and not getting any younger and besides, there's a certain gentleman she's watching and hoping to be able to court soon before he chooses someone else.
After arguing with her mother to try and convince her to let Cassie come out sooner because Lenora will NEVER get married, Cassie's mother suggests Cassie do something to help her sister rather than be angry about the situation.
Help my sister? What a novel idea....hmmmm. (I have 4 daughters so this definitely made me laugh because I live it every day). Cassie's character at the beginning of the book is so self absorbed and demanding. It's all about her wants and needs and what will help her or hinder her. So when she has to take some time to actually think outside her bubble and help her sister it's pretty humorous to see what her first thoughts are. Cassie has some pretty big decisions to make throughout the whole story and I have to say that I truly enjoyed watching her make choices, succeed at some and fail at others. There was a great arc for her character's growth and development. But the great thing is, she wasn't the only character we watched learn and grow.
Cassie and Lenora's relationship is strained but I loved the initial steps Cassie takes and watching their interaction and softening start to happen. But unfortunately pretending to be someone you're not doesn't quite work out in the end. It does tend to back fire and the deception throughout as you try to hide your deception and the guilt that ensues....yeah just doesn't work well does it. Especially for literary characters. But that's exactly what Cassie pursues, and tangles herself up in a lovely web of sticky deceit. Oh it's delicious to watch and read and laugh over the sillier parts but when it all comes crashing down....it's pretty painful and sad. I felt those emotions right along with Cassie because of the way the author writes. I love when an author is able to write in such a way that the reader experiences the emotions and story but is not told how to feel and think and act. That's how I felt about this story.
I loved Cassie a whole lot at the end of the book and loved watching her have those aha moments of growth and change. Where she was willing to accept responsibility for her actions. Her realization that what started out as wanting to help had so many more consequences than just to her or her sister when all was said and done.
Evan was another rather endearing character. He was not the normal "gentleman" of the gentry and I loved watching his transformation throughout. I loved his family and his goodness. I loved that I didn't know who he was going to choose throughout the book. Honestly there are signs that point to who but I was sweating bullets trying to figure it out. Usually we have a formula with a book and it follows right along but oh heavens Cassie and her attempts at matchmaking just have to mess that all up.
I think I've gone on and on and on for a while about this book and need to finish my review because I'm sure you're either skimming and thinking "will it ever end, oh please" or you've just skipped it all anyway. Lol. Last thought (I promise)...I loved the 'letters'!!!! My husband and I had a bit of an unconventional romance and 'courtship' (yeah I love that word). We had a fun first meeting and then had a long distance relationship for a few months. So a lot of our courtship was phone calls and letters. I have to say I LIVED for those letters and phone calls. The letters were just something so special. My mom grew up in a small (small, small, small) farming community and about 5 miles away from the bigger(small, small) town where the post office was. So to help the smaller communities, especially farming families to not have to travel to town all the time, my grandmother was the PostMaster in their small, little ville. She had an extra room on their house and had a little store in it as well as the Post Office. Oh it was such a magical thing to go to the store or visit with the people who lived there as they came to get their mail. My grandma understood the importance of mail and letters and was an avid letter writer her whole life. We wrote letters to each other the whole time she was alive and it is such a treasured memory in my life. So exchanging letters had always equated to something wonderful and exciting in my life and then to turn those letters into love letters and....*sigh*. So for me the letters were a high point in the story. I'm sure you all wanted to hear all those rambling memories but, you got em.
If you are debating about reading it, I say take the plunge and do so! It was fun and full of great moments! I'd recommend for YA and up!
Content: Clean. One character talks about going to visit London and some of the shadier areas. But it's nothing graphic, just referring to going there.
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
I felt like this book had little attributes of other books, like Cyrano and Taming of the Shrew. Cassie is the last vicar's daughter of 6 and the rule is that the older must marry before the next in line can be out and have a season or seasons. Imagine Cassie's frustration when she is waiting through the third season of her sister Lenora, who is just older than her. Lenora is timid and shy and reserved and can hardly even make it out the vicarage door on nights of social events. How is Cassie ever going to survive waiting? She's 20 and not getting any younger and besides, there's a certain gentleman she's watching and hoping to be able to court soon before he chooses someone else.
After arguing with her mother to try and convince her to let Cassie come out sooner because Lenora will NEVER get married, Cassie's mother suggests Cassie do something to help her sister rather than be angry about the situation.
Help my sister? What a novel idea....hmmmm. (I have 4 daughters so this definitely made me laugh because I live it every day). Cassie's character at the beginning of the book is so self absorbed and demanding. It's all about her wants and needs and what will help her or hinder her. So when she has to take some time to actually think outside her bubble and help her sister it's pretty humorous to see what her first thoughts are. Cassie has some pretty big decisions to make throughout the whole story and I have to say that I truly enjoyed watching her make choices, succeed at some and fail at others. There was a great arc for her character's growth and development. But the great thing is, she wasn't the only character we watched learn and grow.
Cassie and Lenora's relationship is strained but I loved the initial steps Cassie takes and watching their interaction and softening start to happen. But unfortunately pretending to be someone you're not doesn't quite work out in the end. It does tend to back fire and the deception throughout as you try to hide your deception and the guilt that ensues....yeah just doesn't work well does it. Especially for literary characters. But that's exactly what Cassie pursues, and tangles herself up in a lovely web of sticky deceit. Oh it's delicious to watch and read and laugh over the sillier parts but when it all comes crashing down....it's pretty painful and sad. I felt those emotions right along with Cassie because of the way the author writes. I love when an author is able to write in such a way that the reader experiences the emotions and story but is not told how to feel and think and act. That's how I felt about this story.
I loved Cassie a whole lot at the end of the book and loved watching her have those aha moments of growth and change. Where she was willing to accept responsibility for her actions. Her realization that what started out as wanting to help had so many more consequences than just to her or her sister when all was said and done.
Evan was another rather endearing character. He was not the normal "gentleman" of the gentry and I loved watching his transformation throughout. I loved his family and his goodness. I loved that I didn't know who he was going to choose throughout the book. Honestly there are signs that point to who but I was sweating bullets trying to figure it out. Usually we have a formula with a book and it follows right along but oh heavens Cassie and her attempts at matchmaking just have to mess that all up.
I think I've gone on and on and on for a while about this book and need to finish my review because I'm sure you're either skimming and thinking "will it ever end, oh please" or you've just skipped it all anyway. Lol. Last thought (I promise)...I loved the 'letters'!!!! My husband and I had a bit of an unconventional romance and 'courtship' (yeah I love that word). We had a fun first meeting and then had a long distance relationship for a few months. So a lot of our courtship was phone calls and letters. I have to say I LIVED for those letters and phone calls. The letters were just something so special. My mom grew up in a small (small, small, small) farming community and about 5 miles away from the bigger(small, small) town where the post office was. So to help the smaller communities, especially farming families to not have to travel to town all the time, my grandmother was the PostMaster in their small, little ville. She had an extra room on their house and had a little store in it as well as the Post Office. Oh it was such a magical thing to go to the store or visit with the people who lived there as they came to get their mail. My grandma understood the importance of mail and letters and was an avid letter writer her whole life. We wrote letters to each other the whole time she was alive and it is such a treasured memory in my life. So exchanging letters had always equated to something wonderful and exciting in my life and then to turn those letters into love letters and....*sigh*. So for me the letters were a high point in the story. I'm sure you all wanted to hear all those rambling memories but, you got em.
If you are debating about reading it, I say take the plunge and do so! It was fun and full of great moments! I'd recommend for YA and up!
Content: Clean. One character talks about going to visit London and some of the shadier areas. But it's nothing graphic, just referring to going there.
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
April 9, 2019
This is third in a series, but I don't see the connection to the others.
I'm abandoning this trainwreck at 25%. I kind of like Evan. He's kind and considerate and determined to do the right thing. He has a tough situation where he has to rise to an inheritance he never expected and that includes a higher social station than he knows anything about. But he's doing his best and treating others with respect, including his often-drunk great uncle.
Cassie, on the other hand, is a mess of stupidity, arrogance, and self-justification. Now, I've noticed that other Kilpack books have had a deeply flawed main character who has to learn and grow over the course of the novel. But Cassie is immature and careless in a way that makes it really hard for me to want to be along for the process. Plus, this has her setting up a situation that will hurt pretty much everybody we've met so far in the story—in addition to being against every stricture of propriety she's ever been taught. Her justifications are shallow. Her motivation is selfish. Her callow disregard is maybe excusable in a young teen but absolutely disgusting in a 20 year-old.
Plus, I think Evan would make a much better match for Lenora, who could use someone of his stellar qualities to support her through her anxiety so having him end up with Cassie is just that much more injustice on top of everything else. I know that later events will probably say how he's engaged by Cassie's outgoing spirit and/or her artistic nature or whatever. But that's just trimming to justify him going for Cassie once she goes through the inevitable transformation. And I prefer the story in my head where he finds real happiness with Lenora.
I'm abandoning this trainwreck at 25%. I kind of like Evan. He's kind and considerate and determined to do the right thing. He has a tough situation where he has to rise to an inheritance he never expected and that includes a higher social station than he knows anything about. But he's doing his best and treating others with respect, including his often-drunk great uncle.
Cassie, on the other hand, is a mess of stupidity, arrogance, and self-justification. Now, I've noticed that other Kilpack books have had a deeply flawed main character who has to learn and grow over the course of the novel. But Cassie is immature and careless in a way that makes it really hard for me to want to be along for the process. Plus, this has her setting up a situation that will hurt pretty much everybody we've met so far in the story—in addition to being against every stricture of propriety she's ever been taught. Her justifications are shallow. Her motivation is selfish. Her callow disregard is maybe excusable in a young teen but absolutely disgusting in a 20 year-old.
Plus, I think Evan would make a much better match for Lenora, who could use someone of his stellar qualities to support her through her anxiety so having him end up with Cassie is just that much more injustice on top of everything else. I know that later events will probably say how he's engaged by Cassie's outgoing spirit and/or her artistic nature or whatever. But that's just trimming to justify him going for Cassie once she goes through the inevitable transformation. And I prefer the story in my head where he finds real happiness with Lenora.
May 12, 2017
I loved the Regency countryside setting, with the vicar's family at the center of the story along with the newcomer heir to one of the largest estates in the neighborhood. There is a strong focus on the complex dynamics of family relationships which I enjoyed. I loved seeing the generosity Evan's uncle has for him, especially since in most stories the distant heir is reviled or seen as undeserving. Evan's genuine compassion for his uncle's sorrow creates a balance in their relationship where they are each benefiting from the other's support. In fact, that is what I liked most about Evan, his genuine nature, and that is what I think he found attractive in Cassie. Her manipulation of Evan and Lenora is not well thought out, and the deeper she gets, the more complicated the situation becomes. I initially found it hard to have sympathy for her, but the author is skilled at writing flawed characters and then bringing about a deep redemption, so when Cassie was enduring her period of penitence and self-reflection I felt for her anguish and admired her determination to make things right with those suffering from the consequences of her impulsive decisions. The cast of characters was so vivid and really came to life in my head as I read the book. I absolutely loved the resolution and it made up for some of the more depressing parts when I got my happy ending. ;)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
April 11, 2017
Happiness is reading books by Josi Kilpack. She has refined her craft and become such a fabulous writer. This book felt more like a journey than a story. Her characters, flawed yet so endearing, settled right into my mind and my heart.
This story weaves several characters together- Cassie, Evan and Lenora. Each play a vital role in the story. Cassie has become impatient waiting for her older sister Lenora to make a match and decides to take matters into her own hands. What starts as a little charade turns into a mess of epic proportions. Cassie is left to pick up the pieces and set things back to right for not just her family but Evan and his family as well. I loved Cassie's desire to make things right. She owns up to her faults and tries desperately to make restitution. You can't help but admire that. I absolutely adored Evan. He is a genuinely good person and that is portrayed all through this book. Evan is a constant- and anchor of sorts for this book. Loved him.
There is a gentle flow to this book. It isn't fast paced or surprising but kept me engaged all the way through. I was really pulling for Cassie, hoping that she would find her own happy in the end. I wasn't disappointed. The ending was worth the struggle to get there.
Content: Clean
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
This story weaves several characters together- Cassie, Evan and Lenora. Each play a vital role in the story. Cassie has become impatient waiting for her older sister Lenora to make a match and decides to take matters into her own hands. What starts as a little charade turns into a mess of epic proportions. Cassie is left to pick up the pieces and set things back to right for not just her family but Evan and his family as well. I loved Cassie's desire to make things right. She owns up to her faults and tries desperately to make restitution. You can't help but admire that. I absolutely adored Evan. He is a genuinely good person and that is portrayed all through this book. Evan is a constant- and anchor of sorts for this book. Loved him.
There is a gentle flow to this book. It isn't fast paced or surprising but kept me engaged all the way through. I was really pulling for Cassie, hoping that she would find her own happy in the end. I wasn't disappointed. The ending was worth the struggle to get there.
Content: Clean
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
June 12, 2017
I've given this a C at AAR, so that's 3 stars.
The Vicar’s Daughter is a cautionary tale in which a young woman who is frustrated with her lot in life tries to engineer her way to a better situation and ends up causing pain and heartache for herself and those closest to her. Cassandra Wilton discovers that the road to hell really is paved with good intentions when she tries to help her older sister to make a match with a suitable young man but ends up losing her own heart in the process. It’s a readable enough story, but it moves quite slowly and the emphasis is more on Cassie and her personal growth than it is on the romance, which is, sadly, rather dull.
It was the epistolary nature of the story that induced me to pick up the book in the first place, as the synopsis tells how Cassie, frustrated at having to wait for her sister, Lenora, to find a husband before SHE can go out in society, embarks upon a correspondence with Mr. Evan Glenside in Lenora’s name, hoping that she can bring them together. Cassie is twenty and the youngest of the six daughters of the vicar of a rural Bedfordshire parish, and family tradition has always been that only one sister is “out” in society at any one time, meaning that the oldest had to marry before the next sister could make her début, and so on. The problem for Cassie is that Lenora is cripplingly shy and hates going to social events; and when she does go, she doesn’t dance with anyone or speak to anyone. At this rate, Lenora will never marry, and Cassie feels that life is passing her by – but her concerns are more or less ignored by her parents who insist she has to wait for ‘her turn’.
When Lenora returns home from a ball and tells her sister about the kind gentleman who lent her his handkerchief, Cassie realises that here is a chance to change things. Lenora did not know the man in question and Cassie realises it must have been Evan Glenside, who is new to the area. She hatches a plan for Lenora to see him again when their father makes his parish visit, but Lenora is too nervous and doesn’t accompany him. That’s when Cassie hits upon the idea of corresponding with Mr. Glenside in Lenora’s name. She won’t do it for long, she reasons, and she plans to tell all to Lenora at the appropriate time; but if she can just ‘introduce’ Lenora to Mr. Glenside and spark his interest, perhaps her sister won’t be so nervous the next time she meets him.
Evan worked in London as a clerk and lived in Mile End with his mother and sisters until the sudden deaths of a couple of distant relatives made him the heir to a considerable property and propelled him into the ranks of the landed gentry. He has recently moved to Bedfordshire in order to begin to learn about the estate he will inherit and to help his uncle to run it, but while his experience as a clerk has given him the necessary organisational and numerical skills to enable him to pick up the administrative side of being a landowner fairly easily, his background and upbringing as the son of a working man has not equipped him to be able to navigate the perilous waters of good society. But even he, with his patchy knowledge of what is done and not done, suspects that exchanging correspondence with a young, unmarried lady is not the done thing, yet he cannot be other than intrigued and captivated by Miss Lenora Wilton’s engaging and sympathetic manner. Before he really knows what is happening, he is engaged in a real correspondence with the lady, and feels he is coming to know her through her letters, even though in public, she is still extremely shy and reserved.
It’s going to come as no surprise to say that Cassie and Evan fall in love without his knowing the true identity of the young lady with whom he has been sharing his inmost thoughts and dreams. But truth will out, and when it does, both of them have to face the consequences of their actions even though, as Cassie readily admits, Evan was the innocent party. She hates to think that he and his mother and sisters will be the subject of gossip because of something she did, and makes a concerted effort on behalf of the ladies to ensure that they will be accepted by local society. This act is one of the first on Cassie’s journey towards a greater self-awareness and towards her understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness. It’s in this part of the story that she really begins to exhibit the personal growth I mentioned earlier, and it certainly does go a long way towards making her into a more likeable character than the somewhat impatient, selfish young woman she was at the beginning of the book. If The Vicar’s Daughter had been billed as one young woman’s ‘coming of age’ story, then Ms. Kilpack has done a very good job. But it’s not – the synopsis points toward this being a romance, and unfortunately, it’s sadly lacking in that area. For one thing, we’re asked to believe that Cassie and Evan have fallen in love through their correspondence, but there’s nothing in their letters to suggest that they are doing anything more than becoming friends. And for another, they don’t spend a lot of time together in the first half of the book, and in the second half, their interactions are practically non-existent. We’re told they’re in love, we’re told they’re yearning for each other, but I didn’t feel any of it. There’s no chemistry and no real emotional connection between them, and while Evan’s situation as a working class man who has suddenly been elevated to a completely different station in life is intriguing and handled quite well, he’s otherwise little more than a cypher whose presence in the novel is designed to kick-start the heroine’s journey of self-discovery.
I was also bothered by the fact that I have no idea when this story is supposed to take place. I’m assuming, given the references to the conventions and social mores of the day that the story is set some time in the 19th century, but other than that, I have no clue. At one point, a lady is said to be playing piano pieces by Tchaikovsky (who was born in 1840), yet later, another lady refers to Franz Schubert as a “new” composer. He was born in 1797 and died in 1828. Unless one of them had a time machine, then I’m stumped. And honestly – how hard is it to look these things up?!
I didn’t actively dislike reading The Vicar’s Daughter, and I did become engaged with Cassie’s predicament and invested in the final outcome, but I can’t recommend the book as a romance. I should also point out that given that the heroine is the daughter of a vicar, there are some Christian messages within the tale as Cassie ponders the nature of repentance and forgiveness, but these are not heavy-handed or obtrusive. If you enjoy stories which focus more on the heroine’s personal growth than on her personal relationships, then you might like this book. But if you’re looking for a well-developed and emotionally satisfying romance, then I don’t think it’s for you.
The Vicar’s Daughter is a cautionary tale in which a young woman who is frustrated with her lot in life tries to engineer her way to a better situation and ends up causing pain and heartache for herself and those closest to her. Cassandra Wilton discovers that the road to hell really is paved with good intentions when she tries to help her older sister to make a match with a suitable young man but ends up losing her own heart in the process. It’s a readable enough story, but it moves quite slowly and the emphasis is more on Cassie and her personal growth than it is on the romance, which is, sadly, rather dull.
It was the epistolary nature of the story that induced me to pick up the book in the first place, as the synopsis tells how Cassie, frustrated at having to wait for her sister, Lenora, to find a husband before SHE can go out in society, embarks upon a correspondence with Mr. Evan Glenside in Lenora’s name, hoping that she can bring them together. Cassie is twenty and the youngest of the six daughters of the vicar of a rural Bedfordshire parish, and family tradition has always been that only one sister is “out” in society at any one time, meaning that the oldest had to marry before the next sister could make her début, and so on. The problem for Cassie is that Lenora is cripplingly shy and hates going to social events; and when she does go, she doesn’t dance with anyone or speak to anyone. At this rate, Lenora will never marry, and Cassie feels that life is passing her by – but her concerns are more or less ignored by her parents who insist she has to wait for ‘her turn’.
When Lenora returns home from a ball and tells her sister about the kind gentleman who lent her his handkerchief, Cassie realises that here is a chance to change things. Lenora did not know the man in question and Cassie realises it must have been Evan Glenside, who is new to the area. She hatches a plan for Lenora to see him again when their father makes his parish visit, but Lenora is too nervous and doesn’t accompany him. That’s when Cassie hits upon the idea of corresponding with Mr. Glenside in Lenora’s name. She won’t do it for long, she reasons, and she plans to tell all to Lenora at the appropriate time; but if she can just ‘introduce’ Lenora to Mr. Glenside and spark his interest, perhaps her sister won’t be so nervous the next time she meets him.
Evan worked in London as a clerk and lived in Mile End with his mother and sisters until the sudden deaths of a couple of distant relatives made him the heir to a considerable property and propelled him into the ranks of the landed gentry. He has recently moved to Bedfordshire in order to begin to learn about the estate he will inherit and to help his uncle to run it, but while his experience as a clerk has given him the necessary organisational and numerical skills to enable him to pick up the administrative side of being a landowner fairly easily, his background and upbringing as the son of a working man has not equipped him to be able to navigate the perilous waters of good society. But even he, with his patchy knowledge of what is done and not done, suspects that exchanging correspondence with a young, unmarried lady is not the done thing, yet he cannot be other than intrigued and captivated by Miss Lenora Wilton’s engaging and sympathetic manner. Before he really knows what is happening, he is engaged in a real correspondence with the lady, and feels he is coming to know her through her letters, even though in public, she is still extremely shy and reserved.
It’s going to come as no surprise to say that Cassie and Evan fall in love without his knowing the true identity of the young lady with whom he has been sharing his inmost thoughts and dreams. But truth will out, and when it does, both of them have to face the consequences of their actions even though, as Cassie readily admits, Evan was the innocent party. She hates to think that he and his mother and sisters will be the subject of gossip because of something she did, and makes a concerted effort on behalf of the ladies to ensure that they will be accepted by local society. This act is one of the first on Cassie’s journey towards a greater self-awareness and towards her understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness. It’s in this part of the story that she really begins to exhibit the personal growth I mentioned earlier, and it certainly does go a long way towards making her into a more likeable character than the somewhat impatient, selfish young woman she was at the beginning of the book. If The Vicar’s Daughter had been billed as one young woman’s ‘coming of age’ story, then Ms. Kilpack has done a very good job. But it’s not – the synopsis points toward this being a romance, and unfortunately, it’s sadly lacking in that area. For one thing, we’re asked to believe that Cassie and Evan have fallen in love through their correspondence, but there’s nothing in their letters to suggest that they are doing anything more than becoming friends. And for another, they don’t spend a lot of time together in the first half of the book, and in the second half, their interactions are practically non-existent. We’re told they’re in love, we’re told they’re yearning for each other, but I didn’t feel any of it. There’s no chemistry and no real emotional connection between them, and while Evan’s situation as a working class man who has suddenly been elevated to a completely different station in life is intriguing and handled quite well, he’s otherwise little more than a cypher whose presence in the novel is designed to kick-start the heroine’s journey of self-discovery.
I was also bothered by the fact that I have no idea when this story is supposed to take place. I’m assuming, given the references to the conventions and social mores of the day that the story is set some time in the 19th century, but other than that, I have no clue. At one point, a lady is said to be playing piano pieces by Tchaikovsky (who was born in 1840), yet later, another lady refers to Franz Schubert as a “new” composer. He was born in 1797 and died in 1828. Unless one of them had a time machine, then I’m stumped. And honestly – how hard is it to look these things up?!
I didn’t actively dislike reading The Vicar’s Daughter, and I did become engaged with Cassie’s predicament and invested in the final outcome, but I can’t recommend the book as a romance. I should also point out that given that the heroine is the daughter of a vicar, there are some Christian messages within the tale as Cassie ponders the nature of repentance and forgiveness, but these are not heavy-handed or obtrusive. If you enjoy stories which focus more on the heroine’s personal growth than on her personal relationships, then you might like this book. But if you’re looking for a well-developed and emotionally satisfying romance, then I don’t think it’s for you.
March 28, 2017
How delightful--a five star story I didn't see coming!
As I challenge myself to read more thoroughly and patiently throughout this year, I was initially a little wary of The Vicar's Daughter. The story starts off rather quickly and with little prelude to the main dilemma that would eventually carry the novel through. This left me feeling frustrated because I felt like I didn't know the characters enough to truly be invested in their problems. But then, somewhere around the 1/3 mark, something changed and I was totally obsessed.
This novel is pretty light on the romance and heavy on the character molding, something which I rather appreciated. As the trials and tribulations of Cassie and Lenora continued, I felt like I was right there beside them. I related to Lenora's anxiety, and Cassie's yearning for something romantic in her life. I got angry when Cassie was angry and upset when Lenora was cast aside. It takes a lot for a book to move me like this one did.
It is written superbly: imagery and senses everywhere. (Both of which were lacking in the last two books I read.) Kilpack is wonderful at putting the reader right in the drama. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes historical romance full of delightful pining and tension.
Content:
Romance: Clean
Religion: There, but not overpowering or in-your-face
Violence: None
*My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book for a unbiased review.*
As I challenge myself to read more thoroughly and patiently throughout this year, I was initially a little wary of The Vicar's Daughter. The story starts off rather quickly and with little prelude to the main dilemma that would eventually carry the novel through. This left me feeling frustrated because I felt like I didn't know the characters enough to truly be invested in their problems. But then, somewhere around the 1/3 mark, something changed and I was totally obsessed.
This novel is pretty light on the romance and heavy on the character molding, something which I rather appreciated. As the trials and tribulations of Cassie and Lenora continued, I felt like I was right there beside them. I related to Lenora's anxiety, and Cassie's yearning for something romantic in her life. I got angry when Cassie was angry and upset when Lenora was cast aside. It takes a lot for a book to move me like this one did.
It is written superbly: imagery and senses everywhere. (Both of which were lacking in the last two books I read.) Kilpack is wonderful at putting the reader right in the drama. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes historical romance full of delightful pining and tension.
Content:
Romance: Clean
Religion: There, but not overpowering or in-your-face
Violence: None
*My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book for a unbiased review.*
March 1, 2018
This is another book I've recently read that has the theme of "O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"
Cassie Wilton is the youngest of the 6 daughters of the vicar and Mrs. Wilton, and wants nothing more than to have her turn entering society and all that entails, since she is now 20 years old. There's just one thing standing in her way--her older sister, Lenora, who is extremely shy and suffers from anxiety so badly that she doesn't like to attend dances and other social events. She's in her third season and is no closer to making a match than when she first made her debut. The vicar and Mrs. Wilton are very traditional and only one daughter can debut at at time, so Cassie must wait until Lenora makes a match. When Lenora happens to meet Evan Glenside in the garden, Cassie gets her hopes up, but Lenora backs out of pursuing the relationship Cassie takes matters in her own hands and starts to correspond with Evan signing the letters as Lenora. As you can imagine things don't go as she planned, and because of the rules of society at that time matters go from bad to worse.
Evan Glenside, was a lowly clerk in an accounting office in East London until his great-uncle's other heirs died and he now was set to inherit his great-uncle's property, etc. He didn't know much about the rules of society since this was fairly new to him.
I really felt for Cassie. She had sisters that came out to society as early as 17 or 18 years old and because of Lenora's extreme anxiety in public she thought she would end up a spinster. Yes, she was a little dramatic, but sometimes I wanted to give Lenora a Xanax and send her to the dance or dinner. On the other hand, Cassie was kind of naive for being 20 years old, she and didn't think her plan through very well. Of course she had to pay for all the trouble she caused whether it wasn't done on purpose or not.
I liked Evan--he was kind to his great-uncle Hastings, who still mourned the death of his wife and child so much that he drank himself into a stupor each night after dinner. He was trying to learn all his new responsibilities and the ways of society. I didn't care much for his friend Mr. Ronald Bunderson, and I'm glad he figured out his intentions towards Cassie before it was too late, and that he was brave enough to go to the vicar with his information. I can only imagine how confused he was to get letters from "Lenora" that didn't match the Lenora he was spending time with.
I liked Lenora at the end of the book a lot more than at the beginning. She grew in maturity, and her abilities, while living with her aunt Gwen in Bath. I don't think she would've grown like that had she continued living at home where everyone coddled her because of her anxiety and insecurities. I was surprised she had it in her to talk to her father like she did towards the end of the book, and I'm glad he had enough sense to listen to her.
This is a great book with a lot of different relationships going on besides the matchmaking Cassie was trying to achieve. Cassie and her sister Lenora, Evan and his great-uncle Hastings, Cassie and her parents. All of these relationships grew and improved by the end of the book.
I love Josi Kilpack's books. I've read almost all of her contemporary books and this is my third Proper Romance by her.
Cassie Wilton is the youngest of the 6 daughters of the vicar and Mrs. Wilton, and wants nothing more than to have her turn entering society and all that entails, since she is now 20 years old. There's just one thing standing in her way--her older sister, Lenora, who is extremely shy and suffers from anxiety so badly that she doesn't like to attend dances and other social events. She's in her third season and is no closer to making a match than when she first made her debut. The vicar and Mrs. Wilton are very traditional and only one daughter can debut at at time, so Cassie must wait until Lenora makes a match. When Lenora happens to meet Evan Glenside in the garden, Cassie gets her hopes up, but Lenora backs out of pursuing the relationship Cassie takes matters in her own hands and starts to correspond with Evan signing the letters as Lenora. As you can imagine things don't go as she planned, and because of the rules of society at that time matters go from bad to worse.
Evan Glenside, was a lowly clerk in an accounting office in East London until his great-uncle's other heirs died and he now was set to inherit his great-uncle's property, etc. He didn't know much about the rules of society since this was fairly new to him.
I really felt for Cassie. She had sisters that came out to society as early as 17 or 18 years old and because of Lenora's extreme anxiety in public she thought she would end up a spinster. Yes, she was a little dramatic, but sometimes I wanted to give Lenora a Xanax and send her to the dance or dinner. On the other hand, Cassie was kind of naive for being 20 years old, she and didn't think her plan through very well. Of course she had to pay for all the trouble she caused whether it wasn't done on purpose or not.
I liked Evan--he was kind to his great-uncle Hastings, who still mourned the death of his wife and child so much that he drank himself into a stupor each night after dinner. He was trying to learn all his new responsibilities and the ways of society. I didn't care much for his friend Mr. Ronald Bunderson, and I'm glad he figured out his intentions towards Cassie before it was too late, and that he was brave enough to go to the vicar with his information. I can only imagine how confused he was to get letters from "Lenora" that didn't match the Lenora he was spending time with.
I liked Lenora at the end of the book a lot more than at the beginning. She grew in maturity, and her abilities, while living with her aunt Gwen in Bath. I don't think she would've grown like that had she continued living at home where everyone coddled her because of her anxiety and insecurities. I was surprised she had it in her to talk to her father like she did towards the end of the book, and I'm glad he had enough sense to listen to her.
This is a great book with a lot of different relationships going on besides the matchmaking Cassie was trying to achieve. Cassie and her sister Lenora, Evan and his great-uncle Hastings, Cassie and her parents. All of these relationships grew and improved by the end of the book.
I love Josi Kilpack's books. I've read almost all of her contemporary books and this is my third Proper Romance by her.
October 2, 2023
|5 Stars|Ages 12+|YA/Regency|
This has been my favorite out of the regency novels I've read recently. I bawled my face off during this book and my heart is still torn up after it, even if it had a HEA 🥹😭
This has been my favorite out of the regency novels I've read recently. I bawled my face off during this book and my heart is still torn up after it, even if it had a HEA 🥹😭
April 14, 2017
I was sort of blown away by this book; I honestly expected a good regency, but this was amazing! Cassie who is the youngest of six daughters to the local vicar cannot "come out" until her older sister is married. She feels it is so unfair, which come on, I am with her, it is completely unfair! Why does she have to wait for her sister? It is crazy, but anyway, that is the rule of their family! So Cassie has this brilliant idea that she will write to a potential suitor for her sister, as if she is her sister! So then if her sister is settled, she can be out in society and enjoy all the fun she has been missing out on. So she sends off the first letter posing as her sister Lenora, and it just spirals from there! She quickly becomes embroiled in a bigger mess than she ever could have foreseen and I kept wondering how and if it would ever resolve so that all involved would be happy and content! I could not stop reading, I just loved Cassie's story, and watching her grow and change. This is one regency I will not soon forget! Grab a copy and settle in your favorite chair because you will not be moving until you have read every last word! I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 21, 2017
4 1/2 stars TOP PICK
April 19, 2017
There are six sisters in the Wilton family and as such, the family rule is that only one girl can be "out" at a time. Poor Cassie is twenty-years old and anxious for her debut, but her older sister Lenora isn't yet married, so Cassie has to wait. And she's going to be waiting a long time because Lenora is painfully shy and horribly anxious in any social situation, so her chance of making a connection with any young man is slim. Yet, one night in a garden, Evan Glenside, a new member of the community, offers Lenora a handkerchief and Cassie gets an idea. She begins a correspondence with Mr. Glenside, posing as her sister and soon she begins to fall in love with him herself. But when Mr. Glenside shows genuine interest in Lenora, and it is finally revealed that Cassie wrote the letters, everyone's relationship will be tested. Who will be the one to find their happily-ever-after?
I really enjoyed the hero and heroine of this book. Cassie is portrayed as so confident in herself and what she wants out of life, a direct opposite of her sister. I liked how, as the book progressed, the reader could see the transformation in Cassie as she truly came to see what love is and how important family relationships are. I thought the hero, Evan Glenside, was so believable as a new heir, unsure of himself in social circles and trying to find his way, but especially in how he reacts to Cassie and Lenora. He is a good man, trying to do his best by his family and find someone to share his life, but that simple wish gets very complicated!
The journey of love for these people threaded just enough anxiety in me that I was turning pages long after I should have been sleeping to see how it all turned out. The setting was well-done, the plot had just enough turns to keep things intriguing, and the characters were compelling and relatable. Definitely another winner for Ms. Kilpack!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed the hero and heroine of this book. Cassie is portrayed as so confident in herself and what she wants out of life, a direct opposite of her sister. I liked how, as the book progressed, the reader could see the transformation in Cassie as she truly came to see what love is and how important family relationships are. I thought the hero, Evan Glenside, was so believable as a new heir, unsure of himself in social circles and trying to find his way, but especially in how he reacts to Cassie and Lenora. He is a good man, trying to do his best by his family and find someone to share his life, but that simple wish gets very complicated!
The journey of love for these people threaded just enough anxiety in me that I was turning pages long after I should have been sleeping to see how it all turned out. The setting was well-done, the plot had just enough turns to keep things intriguing, and the characters were compelling and relatable. Definitely another winner for Ms. Kilpack!
Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
August 23, 2017
A great story about the youngest of 6 daughters whose father is of course the vicar. I loved the growth that Cassie goes through as she tries to help her sister find a match. Poor Lenora! If you read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about. I loved the charming setting of the vicarage and the details of how the family worked together. The romance takes a backseat as Cassie tries to find redemption for her mistakes.
April 3, 2017
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions".
I fully expected someone to say that to Cassie in this book; with both her parents constantly moralising at her, it seemed an obvious line.
I felt deeply for Cassie in this book; the youngest of six sisters, her strict parents have decided to firmly enforce the rule about only one daughter permitted to be out in society at a time. Their first four daughters married themselves off easily enough before the next was even old enough to come out, but poor Cassie is stuck behind Lenora, who suffers from crippling social anxiety. Lenora is twenty-three, Cassie is twenty, and Cassie is frankly getting desperate because there isn't even the hint of a suitor on the horizon for her sister.
The book begins with a frustrated Cassie trying to argue the point with her mother, who is immovable on the subject. Desperate, when Cassie hears of a slight interaction between Lenora and Evan, she tries to take matters into her own hands by forging a letter from her sister.
Of course, this is where things go horribly awry. Evan falls for the artistic soul of the woman penning the letters, and Cassie in return falls for the intelligent gentleman the returning letters reveal. Once she meets him in person and finds him to be both charming and handsome, the story becomes a freight train hurtling towards disaster.
The story is very cleverly written and the main characters really came to life on the page; every move Cassie made seemed utterly logical at the time, and it was obvious that she wasn't just being selfish, she genuinely did want her sister to be happy.
I admit to feeling a little frustrated that nobody pointed out to Cassie's parents that their rigid adherence to social pressures actually caused the problem in the first place. Fully aware of Lenora's disability (because she did have a disability) letting Cassie out into society at her side would actually have made life easier for Lenora because Cassie could have been right there to help her. After three seasons of hiding from company, it was more than obvious that Lenora might never make a match, and it was deeply unfair to keep twenty-year-old Cassie from having her own chance. Having someone (other than Cassie, who was obviously self-interested) point this out to them would have felt quite satisfying.
I have to admit that I'm also put off by the price of this ebook. As an author myself, I know exactly what costs are involved in the production and distribution of ebooks vs. paperbacks, and to have them at virtually the same price is basically a greedy profit grab. Pricing any fiction ebook over $5 is entirely unnecessary.
I'm happy to give the story four stars, but I can't recommend purchasing the ebook. Grab the paperback instead or wait for a price drop.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
I fully expected someone to say that to Cassie in this book; with both her parents constantly moralising at her, it seemed an obvious line.
I felt deeply for Cassie in this book; the youngest of six sisters, her strict parents have decided to firmly enforce the rule about only one daughter permitted to be out in society at a time. Their first four daughters married themselves off easily enough before the next was even old enough to come out, but poor Cassie is stuck behind Lenora, who suffers from crippling social anxiety. Lenora is twenty-three, Cassie is twenty, and Cassie is frankly getting desperate because there isn't even the hint of a suitor on the horizon for her sister.
The book begins with a frustrated Cassie trying to argue the point with her mother, who is immovable on the subject. Desperate, when Cassie hears of a slight interaction between Lenora and Evan, she tries to take matters into her own hands by forging a letter from her sister.
Of course, this is where things go horribly awry. Evan falls for the artistic soul of the woman penning the letters, and Cassie in return falls for the intelligent gentleman the returning letters reveal. Once she meets him in person and finds him to be both charming and handsome, the story becomes a freight train hurtling towards disaster.
The story is very cleverly written and the main characters really came to life on the page; every move Cassie made seemed utterly logical at the time, and it was obvious that she wasn't just being selfish, she genuinely did want her sister to be happy.
I admit to feeling a little frustrated that nobody pointed out to Cassie's parents that their rigid adherence to social pressures actually caused the problem in the first place. Fully aware of Lenora's disability (because she did have a disability) letting Cassie out into society at her side would actually have made life easier for Lenora because Cassie could have been right there to help her. After three seasons of hiding from company, it was more than obvious that Lenora might never make a match, and it was deeply unfair to keep twenty-year-old Cassie from having her own chance. Having someone (other than Cassie, who was obviously self-interested) point this out to them would have felt quite satisfying.
I have to admit that I'm also put off by the price of this ebook. As an author myself, I know exactly what costs are involved in the production and distribution of ebooks vs. paperbacks, and to have them at virtually the same price is basically a greedy profit grab. Pricing any fiction ebook over $5 is entirely unnecessary.
I'm happy to give the story four stars, but I can't recommend purchasing the ebook. Grab the paperback instead or wait for a price drop.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
February 9, 2017
Another great one from Shadow Mountain's A Proper Romance Line.
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December 30, 2021
Nope. This book definitely wasn't for me. The writing was ok, but omg were the characters and plot annoying. The first quarter was pretty enjoyable, but things quickly went downhill. First, the main character was so selfish! I didn't mind this at the start since obviously she was supposed to grow throughout the book, but I think she was still pretty selfish by the end. And even worse, she just became really annoying (as were most of the other characters).
I could honestly forgive the annoying characters if the plot was interesting, but man did it drag. I think this book should have been a novella cause 60+% of it could have been dropped and it wouldn't have changed the overall plot. This is a romance book so the ending is pretty much a given. Why did the author make me read 300+ pages of self-flagellation and self-pity.
Even worse, the actual romance sucked. There was a little bit of chemistry between the love interests, I guess, but their relationship was unbelievable. They had exchanged maybe 10 letters (with one character impersonating her sister) and spoken literally twice, and yet they were ~in love~. I know that relationships moved quick in Regency England and even faster in Regency romance books, but this was ridiculous. They literally knew nothing about each other and yet felt so in love that they were willing to risk the reputations of themselves and all of their family members.
Ugh, I can't believe I wasted my morning reading this. I have another book by this author but it may be a while until I get to it. This book certainly didn't make me excited to read it.
I could honestly forgive the annoying characters if the plot was interesting, but man did it drag. I think this book should have been a novella cause 60+% of it could have been dropped and it wouldn't have changed the overall plot. This is a romance book so the ending is pretty much a given. Why did the author make me read 300+ pages of self-flagellation and self-pity.
Even worse, the actual romance sucked. There was a little bit of chemistry between the love interests, I guess, but their relationship was unbelievable. They had exchanged maybe 10 letters (with one character impersonating her sister) and spoken literally twice, and yet they were ~in love~. I know that relationships moved quick in Regency England and even faster in Regency romance books, but this was ridiculous. They literally knew nothing about each other and yet felt so in love that they were willing to risk the reputations of themselves and all of their family members.
Ugh, I can't believe I wasted my morning reading this. I have another book by this author but it may be a while until I get to it. This book certainly didn't make me excited to read it.
May 12, 2018
SO many thought about this book! I had to sit and just process it all when I finished, trying to decide exactly what my thoughts were! Do you ever do that?
I don't know that I particularly loved the characters, but the story was intriguing and I was satisfied with the ending. I didn't like the lying and deception, but really, that's what made the story a story, so I really can't fault that either.
I'd love to read more about Mr. Glenside's sisters and mother. They seem incredibly likable and relateable.
I don't know that I particularly loved the characters, but the story was intriguing and I was satisfied with the ending. I didn't like the lying and deception, but really, that's what made the story a story, so I really can't fault that either.
I'd love to read more about Mr. Glenside's sisters and mother. They seem incredibly likable and relateable.
August 15, 2019
3.5 out of 5 stars.
The first book I read by this author was Miss Wilton's Waltz. I really enjoyed that book. So much so that it made my top 10 read of 2018. So when I found out that there was a book before the one I read, and it was about her sister, Cassie. I was on a mission to read it.
Although I really enjoyed the writing and most of the characters, I just couldn't relate to the main character, Cassie. Everything she did was for a selfish reason. And even after she realized the damage she caused, and she was so "sorry" for hurting her sister, Lenora, and the man she fell in love with, Evan, I still felt that she was more sorry about the fact that she was forbidden to be with Evan.
I felt bad for him because he didn't know he was being deceived by Cassie and Lenora. At first Lenora didn't know that Cassie was writing letters to Evan on her behalf, but when Cassie told Lenora what she has done, Lenora decided to keep up the pretense. That, to me, was annoying too.
Even though I had problems with the main character, I will still recommend this to people who enjoys romance novels. Just because I felt that Cassie was being selfish, you might see it another way!
The first book I read by this author was Miss Wilton's Waltz. I really enjoyed that book. So much so that it made my top 10 read of 2018. So when I found out that there was a book before the one I read, and it was about her sister, Cassie. I was on a mission to read it.
Although I really enjoyed the writing and most of the characters, I just couldn't relate to the main character, Cassie. Everything she did was for a selfish reason. And even after she realized the damage she caused, and she was so "sorry" for hurting her sister, Lenora, and the man she fell in love with, Evan, I still felt that she was more sorry about the fact that she was forbidden to be with Evan.
I felt bad for him because he didn't know he was being deceived by Cassie and Lenora. At first Lenora didn't know that Cassie was writing letters to Evan on her behalf, but when Cassie told Lenora what she has done, Lenora decided to keep up the pretense. That, to me, was annoying too.
Even though I had problems with the main character, I will still recommend this to people who enjoys romance novels. Just because I felt that Cassie was being selfish, you might see it another way!
February 4, 2017
Let me first start off saying, I was not a fan of this author. No offense to the author but a few of her novels I just didn't connect with. I was reluctant to read this after a recommendation from a friend. But I thought the storyline sounds good, so lets give it another shot. Three times a charm is what I call it. This surprised me big time. I wanted to know what would happen between Cassie, Lenora, and Evan. Would the deception continue when feelings for one of the sisters felt real? Then through letter writing the truth comes out and everyone suffers! I mean suffers! No one is happy and amends need to be made due to hurt feelings. I had to know how this would turn out. I was not disappointed either.
I was left with the happy feeling all is right in the regency world and not why did this book irritate me? Clean romance.
I was left with the happy feeling all is right in the regency world and not why did this book irritate me? Clean romance.
April 28, 2017
This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. I knew right away I was going to love Cassie from her first line to herself, "Please help me remain clam." That sentence is constantly running through my head. Cassie was a delightful character. She had her flaws (mostly in starting to write the letters to help herself with her own debut), but in time things changed for her. Evan was also a great character. He had a calming presence. I felt his heart breaking over his uncle's struggles. I enjoyed the point of view changes, it was a great way to get to know the characters so well. Josi has a talent with pacing and how she writes. Every scene and character is important. Cassie gets herself into quite the mess and it was enjoyable seeing how it was cleaned up.
Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2017
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!
A fun telling of a girl who just wants love and desires to help her sister gain it before she can. But, as all things go, it doesn't go as planned and becomes a thing that must be corrected. Cassie tries so hard. I adore how this all plays out. Definitely a MUST-READ!
A fun telling of a girl who just wants love and desires to help her sister gain it before she can. But, as all things go, it doesn't go as planned and becomes a thing that must be corrected. Cassie tries so hard. I adore how this all plays out. Definitely a MUST-READ!
February 7, 2017
I'm officially a Josi S. Kilpack fan!!!
June 2, 2017
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There's only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.
Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.
A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.
As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?
MY TAKE
This is the second Regency I've read by Kilpack. It started out with another main character who was a bit selfish and self-centered but Cassie does have a good heart. When the letter writing began, I thought it was going to be Cyrano de Bergerac kind of comedy. Nope. Kilpack doesn't seem to go into light-hearted.
Things went bad once Cassie started falling in love with the man in the letters. It was hard to read the series of events that followed and was a little startling after my comedy expectations. But as I said, Cassie has a good heart, and she accepted responsibility for her actions and had the courage to face adversity to limit the impact her actions would have had on others.
Her parents bugged me, her mother especially. She might have been married to a clergyman, but she wasn't very Christian in her attitude about a lot of things. But she had some things right, so there was that saving grace.
The resolution is sweet and well worth the rough journey to get there.
4 1/2 stars
Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There's only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.
Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.
A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.
As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?
MY TAKE
This is the second Regency I've read by Kilpack. It started out with another main character who was a bit selfish and self-centered but Cassie does have a good heart. When the letter writing began, I thought it was going to be Cyrano de Bergerac kind of comedy. Nope. Kilpack doesn't seem to go into light-hearted.
Things went bad once Cassie started falling in love with the man in the letters. It was hard to read the series of events that followed and was a little startling after my comedy expectations. But as I said, Cassie has a good heart, and she accepted responsibility for her actions and had the courage to face adversity to limit the impact her actions would have had on others.
Her parents bugged me, her mother especially. She might have been married to a clergyman, but she wasn't very Christian in her attitude about a lot of things. But she had some things right, so there was that saving grace.
The resolution is sweet and well worth the rough journey to get there.
4 1/2 stars
April 19, 2017
This was a wonderful read. I enjoyed all the characters and their different personalities. Cassie's spunk and Lenora's shyness create a perfect combination for trouble. It's a wonderful mess that's created and I wasn't sure how things were going to end. When the natural consequences played out, I accepted that and knew it was okay. However, there was a surprise at the end that brought a smile to my face. I would recommend this book to any romantic at heart.
April 2, 2017
A story about missteps, good intentions, making amends, and choosing to learn from the past rather than letting it cripple you. Sprinkle in a love story, and you've got a good recipe for success.
Read
April 18, 2017Another enjoyable read!
April 8, 2017
Romance, clean, Christian faith elements
This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the dilemma that Cassie faced, and her growth, and that of Lenora over the course of the novel made for an interesting read. I suspended my disbelief that she would write knowing the societal restrictions at the time.
Evan's honest heart, and character as he tries to struggle through his assimilation into genteel society, trying to help his family, and heal his Uncle's heart as well was an interesting read. The manipulations of those not quite honest about their motives help stir up the dilemmas facing Evan as he tries to work his way through the difficulties of his heart. Cassie's desire to make good her mistake, and make amends and help the Glenside Mother and sisters adapt to the society in their small parish made for an interesting read. As things swirled around them as Evan and Cassie dance around each other and try to keep their promise to her father with regard to their interactions, their feelings, and hurts
This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the dilemma that Cassie faced, and her growth, and that of Lenora over the course of the novel made for an interesting read. I suspended my disbelief that she would write knowing the societal restrictions at the time.
Evan's honest heart, and character as he tries to struggle through his assimilation into genteel society, trying to help his family, and heal his Uncle's heart as well was an interesting read. The manipulations of those not quite honest about their motives help stir up the dilemmas facing Evan as he tries to work his way through the difficulties of his heart. Cassie's desire to make good her mistake, and make amends and help the Glenside Mother and sisters adapt to the society in their small parish made for an interesting read. As things swirled around them as Evan and Cassie dance around each other and try to keep their promise to her father with regard to their interactions, their feelings, and hurts
February 5, 2017
It's been a while since I read a Kilpack Historical Fiction I enjoyed, which is not to take away from her talented writing. Rather, I have decided that I'm not a fan of true stories within this genre. The problem is because I struggled with the latest couple books, I was unsure as whether to try again.
The Vicar's Daughter is a fresh new approach to a heavily saturated market of stories. Often you will come across a story you love, amazing characters, lots of chemistry etc, but yet the plot will be blatantly overused. This was great! In contrast to Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' - all the daughters being out at once - the Wilton family of 5 daughters must each wait their turn. All well and good, if they are equally sufficient in catching the eyes of suitors. But what happens when one of them has had 3 seasons, and suffers with what today we would classify as Social Anxiety Disorder? It is such a crippling struggle, that I can imagine in this kind of society in which you are limited to making a match through how you performed publicly, finding personal happiness must have been nigh impossible. Unless you have this yourself or know someone close to you that does, it can be very difficult to truly understand it. Your heart will break with the same desires as those around you, yet trapped by lack of ability to behave as carefree as those who don't. People call it shyness or nerves. It is not. They want to love and have happiness and fun just the same way you do.
I am drawn to the plight of Leonora Wilton. Equally empathetic to the frustration of youngest daughter Cassandra (Cassie). Will she ever get her turn? Leonora cannot converse, or attract the attention in order to dance at the social events she is in attendance of. Cassie is now 20, and as most girls were 18 at their debut, she is starting to worry. I must admit I thought considering the circumstances the Vicar & his wife seemed a bit short sighted, but then I am looking thru the lens of the 21st century, and knowing that having the right people present with those with anxiety, it can be an incredible support.
Evan Glenside is a like-able character, that endears the reader quickly. He's a fresh face to the gentry, having inherited the heir to the title position unexpectedly. The sections written between him and Cassie were beautifully done and I could not put this book down. Heavy on the remorse, and harsh punishment it felt like at times, I was grateful to see all come to rights in the end. I appreciated the insight that sometimes taking someone away from the comfort zone and protective behaviors that were born out of love, that Leonora found the space to find the courage to 'be'. That isn't always the answer, but I do agree that in discovering that you can do something yourself, the knowledge in that brings great power, to move forward!
Thank you to Shadow Mountain & Netgalley for the complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
The Vicar's Daughter is a fresh new approach to a heavily saturated market of stories. Often you will come across a story you love, amazing characters, lots of chemistry etc, but yet the plot will be blatantly overused. This was great! In contrast to Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' - all the daughters being out at once - the Wilton family of 5 daughters must each wait their turn. All well and good, if they are equally sufficient in catching the eyes of suitors. But what happens when one of them has had 3 seasons, and suffers with what today we would classify as Social Anxiety Disorder? It is such a crippling struggle, that I can imagine in this kind of society in which you are limited to making a match through how you performed publicly, finding personal happiness must have been nigh impossible. Unless you have this yourself or know someone close to you that does, it can be very difficult to truly understand it. Your heart will break with the same desires as those around you, yet trapped by lack of ability to behave as carefree as those who don't. People call it shyness or nerves. It is not. They want to love and have happiness and fun just the same way you do.
I am drawn to the plight of Leonora Wilton. Equally empathetic to the frustration of youngest daughter Cassandra (Cassie). Will she ever get her turn? Leonora cannot converse, or attract the attention in order to dance at the social events she is in attendance of. Cassie is now 20, and as most girls were 18 at their debut, she is starting to worry. I must admit I thought considering the circumstances the Vicar & his wife seemed a bit short sighted, but then I am looking thru the lens of the 21st century, and knowing that having the right people present with those with anxiety, it can be an incredible support.
Evan Glenside is a like-able character, that endears the reader quickly. He's a fresh face to the gentry, having inherited the heir to the title position unexpectedly. The sections written between him and Cassie were beautifully done and I could not put this book down. Heavy on the remorse, and harsh punishment it felt like at times, I was grateful to see all come to rights in the end. I appreciated the insight that sometimes taking someone away from the comfort zone and protective behaviors that were born out of love, that Leonora found the space to find the courage to 'be'. That isn't always the answer, but I do agree that in discovering that you can do something yourself, the knowledge in that brings great power, to move forward!
Thank you to Shadow Mountain & Netgalley for the complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
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