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Sherton Sisters #3

A Gentleman to Avoid

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To save her reputation, she’ll have to marry the one man she said she never would.

Mr. Ashford Northcott, fourth son of the Earl of Everleigh, has been highly successful in business. The only thing missing is a partner for the life he’s built. Ash can’t seem to stay away from Lady Vigilia. Too bad she doesn’t seem to return his regard.

Lady Vigilia Sherton—Vicky to her friends—thinks being a debutante is a dead bore. Stuck in London for her third Season, she’s hoping to find a suitable husband, but she can’t get the charming Mr. Northcott out of her mind--even if she knows too much to consider a match.

When Vicky finds herself at a house party with Ashford Northcott, circumstances get even trickier. Can she extricate herself with both her heart and her reputation intact? Or might she had been wrong about the assumptions she had made?

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2021

255 people are currently reading
90 people want to read

About the author

Wendy May Andrews

50 books160 followers
Wendy May Andrews has been reading whatever she could get her hands on since the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long, although Tempting the Earl was the first story she was willing to share with anyone other than her mother. Since then, Wendy has published more than forty Sweet Historical Romance novels.

Wendy lives in Toronto with her own real-life hero. When not writing or reading, she loves traveling with her husband, wherever the mood takes them.

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5 stars
287 (42%)
4 stars
243 (35%)
3 stars
111 (16%)
2 stars
29 (4%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
135 reviews
January 24, 2021
A book to avoid

The author's first two novels in the series were rather pleasant, if not for the formulaic writing. But this one is not worth the read. It's as if she exhausted all plot and story devices in the first two. At least the title is accurate: avoidance is key. Pages upon pages of, I chase her and she runs from me, I pursue her and she eludes me, I seek her and she escapes me. If you're tired of me saying it, imagine how much more annoyed you will be when you spend hours reading it. It doesn't help that the secondary nefarious plot device is absolutely ridiculous. This seems to be an issue with the author across several of her novels. The servant's speech is anachronistic, as are their attitudes. The mother allows them to prance around unchaperoned. But even worse is the underdeveloped highly implausible story that Bertram, an uninvited antagonist, could launch such a slanderous claim about treason and he wouldn't be taken to task for it. Treason is an immediate hanging offense and one's lands would revert to the crown. And the response to that, "take care of your mess." Really? If you're not even going to make an effort to create a credible side story, then a decent editor should have told you to remove it.
All in all I was sadly disappointed as these were both promising characters in the earlier books within the series and they came to such an uninspiring end.
Many things come in threes, but this should have stopped at two.
2,433 reviews27 followers
January 20, 2021
3.5 stars
Lady Virgilia (VIcky) Sherton is looking for a husband. Vicky does like Mr Ashcroft Northcott but believes he is in love with her older sister. Her friend, George, has arranged a house party and invited eligible gentlemen to see if Vicky can make a match. Unfortunately, an uninvited guest is out to cause trouble. This did confuse me a little as I couldn’t understand why this person had such a dislike against Ashcroft. There is also a suggestion of treason but it wasn’t explained in detail. Vicky was quite a mix of character, in one way she acted as an adult but in other ways, quite immaturely. This was an enjoyable read, I just wish that some things were explained in greater depth. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Margaret Watkins.
3,541 reviews87 followers
January 10, 2021
One of the younger Sherton sisters, Vigilia, also known as Vicky to her friends, has embarked on a last-ditch attempt at finding a husband with the help of her best friend. When Mr Ashford Northcott, who previously paid court to her old sister, makes a play for her, Vicky is suspicious. However, accusations made by an unsavory character make it difficult for Vicky to sort out the wheat from the chaff, and it is only when she is once again in the safe arms of her family that she is able to see the situation more clearly. The story is sweet with a bit of mystery and a fair amount of humour. I did enjoy this romance but felt that Vicky’s assessment of Mr Northcott was rather unfair. Fortunately, the truth about him comes out before she makes the mistake of a lifetime. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
344 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2021
Horrible

The first two books in the series were good, but this one was awful. Also the book’s entire description didn’t happen until the very end.
Profile Image for Kiley.
1,861 reviews46 followers
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October 19, 2021
A Gentleman to Avoid, Book 3 of the Sherton Sisters series, was about Mr. Ashford "Ash" Northcott, fourth son of the Earl of Everleigh, and Lady Vigilia 'Vicky" Sherton, the third daughter of five daughters to the Earl of Sherton.
While both Ashford and Vicky held the other in high regard, neither knew it. Vicky thought Ash still held a tendre for her eldest sister, Rosabel, and Ash thought Vicky had little regard for him. While Ash still tried to show her his interest, she continued to rebuff him.
Vicky was a very self-centered young lady who, though she loved them all, had very little regard for her sisters, her best friend, even her baby brother, and thought more highly of herself than anyone else.
Ash was...sweet but clueless. He felt that there was something about him that bothered Vicky but he didn't bother to figure out what it was...and still he pursued her. She ran, he chased, even going so far as to follow her to a house party in order to woo her.
Side Note: The author spent entirely too much time addressing Vicky as "the girl" instead of "lady" or "woman". The overuse of the word was a bit irritating and, at times, demeaning. And then there was the part where the author wrote, "Vicky could barely look at Wexford...as she returned his stare..." Uhm...if she could barely look at him, why was she returning his stare? That made absolutely no sense at all.
As the two attended the same house party, one that was thrown by Vicky's friend in the hopes of helping her find a husband, they were rarely in each other's company, though not for the lack of trying on Ash's part.
There was a part of the story that made little to no sense. A man, who had not been invited to the house party and, although he was not sent away, the only purpose he was there was to enlist Vicky's help in bringing about the ruin of Ash. He had a vendetta against him for something that had nothing to do with Vicky, even though the man insinuated that it did.
The story had a great deal of angst, drama, and intrigue...but little to no romance. There was absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters, nor was there a lick of trust between them. Why would there be a HEA between two such characters without something being between them?
The storyline of this book was lame and was not very well developed at all. It was a straight-line plot, leading from point A to point B without any twists or turns, which made it utterly boring. It took me longer t read this story than it normally would because I lost interest in it...repeatedly. There were even times when I nearly gave up and didn't finish it.
The HEA was a bit flat. After absolutely no romance, the two main characters were suddenly so in love they couldn't keep their hands off each other. The whole book was a total disappointment and did not earn even a one-star rating and most decidedly did not earn a place with the Keeper for the Shelves collection.
509 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2024
A clean story. Story is okay but there are a few bits I found odd. Lord Bertram arrives at the house party uninvited, yet initially it seems that neither Lord nor Lady Crossley knew he had arrived and was staying. The housekeeper seemed to have allocated a room, but I think either the Earl or Countess would have been asked if he could stay and he would have had a reason? Then there are allusions to him being involved in traitorous things but they are never explained. I think given the times of he was involved in those sort of things Ashford would have reported it and he would have been dealt with. Instead he seems to have done nothing until the issues at the house party, and then he just offers him a job! Odd. Ashford is also the 4th son of an Earl, so he would have been brought up in a noble household and should be very familiar with the ways of nobility and ton, yet there are thoughts from him about no doubt nobility have their own ways.
I felt that Vicky was a bit drippy and a pain at times, especially ans she thinks Ashford is still
interested in her sister merely because he was interested in her briefly before she became engaged. There’s no evidence that he was heartbroken or tried to pursue her after her engagement, and as Vicky met him whilst this was happening her sister to some extent is their link so it’s only natural he would ask after her, it’s manners. Ashford could have been more positive about his wish to court her. He’s waited all this time, and intends to really pursue his suit yet…. At one point he’s even looking at other ladies. Nothing wrong in that, if he hadn’t been so positive about pursuing Vicky.
Soma pleasant story, that’s quite light and maybe lacks a bit of depth.
376 reviews
April 20, 2024
Acceptable


I found the storyline to be weak and unconvincing. The main female character, Vigilia, believes the gentleman she likes (Mr Northcott) is actually attracted to her sister Rosabel, in spite of the fact he seeks her out repeatedly AND that Rosabel is married! So Vigilia refuses his attentions. But in truth, she is very attracted to this gentleman. Her belief seems based on the flimsiest of evidence. It would seem the gentleman in question, when meeting with Vigilia, would ask about Rosabel and this was sufficient for Vigilia to believe he had a tendre for her sister. Not very credible.

And then, to stretch the reader’s credulity even further, a gentleman, which Vigilia dislikes as well as mistrusts, tells her in secret some story about Mr Northcott being involved in treasonous activity and the fact that her brothers-in-law are friends with Mr. Northcott could damage her family’s reputation. These revelations cause Vigilia to have more doubts on Mr. Northcott’s character.

The writing is sloppy and very “Americanized”; little to no effort was made to adhere to even a semblance of Regency-era vocabulary and/or expressions.

On a positive note, there were no typos that I found and the grammar was acceptable, except for the misuse of the word “elder” and “older”. The former refers specifically to birth order, the other refers to age.

It’s a nice clean story.



Profile Image for Bethany Swafford.
Author 45 books90 followers
July 1, 2021
Lady Vigilia Sherton is in the middle of her third season, and is bored by the formality of it all. The only gentleman to catch her eye is the charming Mr. Northcott, but she is certain he is still in love with her married sister. A house party is planned so that she may become better acquainted with a few eligible gentlemen, but things only become more complicated.

I would rate this one as more of a 3.5 stars, which I hate to say. I was looking forward to the middle daughter of the Sherton's since she seemed like a sensible young lady in the previous two books. However, I didn't see that here, and I found myself frustrated with many of the decisions she made. I found it difficult to believe a lady who had such a close friendship would not confide in that friend when something treasonous is brought up.

Ashford Northcott was an exceptionally clueless young man. I was astonished at his persistence in the face of Vigilia's coldness towards him. I also never understand the animosity between him and another character.

Though parts of the plot were a little too much for me to believe, it was a calming afternoon read. I would recommend it to readers following the series or those looking for a sweet regency romance.
4,558 reviews31 followers
January 23, 2021
I’m so glad there are two more daughters to introduce to society because I have enjoyed this series so much. Wendy May Andrews proves she knows the dynamics of sisters and best friends. Lord Ashford Northcott had his hands full trying to court Lady Vigilia Sherton. I have to say straight out that I’m glad she had Vicky as a nickname I’m not sure I could have read Vigilia too many times without giggling. My thoughts were, poor girl having to live through elementary school with that name. So glad my parents weren’t scholars. Like the previous stories, this one has a well-developed story line, interesting characters, humor, intrigue and romance. It is amazing what wrong conclusions we can come to when we think we know the facts. Treat yourself to this book. Previous books aren’t necessary but are good and do provide background information on the family.
870 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2022
Another sweet read to fall in love with.
Lady Vigilia (Vicky) Sherton isn't having success finding a match during her third season and now the Season has been cut short. Her friend hosts a houseparty to try to help Vicky find which gentleman she feels most comfortable with but how did Mr. Ashford Northcott manage to be the first person invited when she isn't even sure she wants to spend any more time with him? How will she manage through the entire houseparty?
This was even more fun because it crosses over with characters from 2 other series by this author, the Northcott Kinship books and also "Inheriting Trouble" in her Bequest series. I really Wendy's style of writing, her clean content and he great characters. This is a great book.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,188 reviews155 followers
June 11, 2021
An angsty romance

Vigilia Sherton, known to her friends as Vicky, is staying with her best friend, Georgia. Vicky is almost desperate to find a husband before she is firmly settled on the shelf. However, she seems to only attract the attention of Ashton Northcott and Lord Bertram, the two men she is determined to avoid.

When Georgia decides to have a house party so Vicky can meet more eligible gentlemen, the two ladies delight in drawing up the guest list and planning the entertainments. However, when one person shows up who was not invited, there is trouble on the horizon.

11
6,191 reviews40 followers
August 20, 2023
This is another Regency romance book, the third in a series of women looking for husbands. In this case the sister Vigilia is the one wanting a husband and going through a 'season' to find one.

As is often the case her potential husband and her do not get along at all. Period. Not for the majority of the book. There's also a very odious man who hates the potential husband for some reason.

All of this brings about a confrontation between the possible husband and the trouble maker and, as in these books, the romance works out quite well.

This type of book is so good because there is almost no real violence, the characters are done well and they end happily.
2,528 reviews46 followers
February 11, 2021
Not my favorite in this series but I won't go into detail as to avoid spoilers. Some things just didn't feel realistic.

Ashford is certainly likable but a glutton for punishment as he continues to pursue Vicky despite her unwillingness to be pursued. I like that each of the sisters has been so different in personality. Vicky is incapable of hiding her feelings even while her older sisters excel at doing so.

This is a clean romance and it of course has a happily ever after.

No sex, language or violence
Profile Image for Celeste.
1,105 reviews128 followers
August 7, 2021
Much of the same as the rest of the series before it, except we follow Vigilia, the next sister in line to marry and fall in love.

Quick, cute and simple - with a couple sprinkles of insta-love - this is Regency romance that while not the flashiest, still manages to focus on the romance such that as long as you're willing to overlook the lacklustre subplots and the subtleties of misogyny present in the women themselves (see: women playing dumb for the sake of men's fragile egos), you can still have a decent time with it.
810 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2021
A sweet romance for all...
This is the third book in "Sherton Sisters" series but could be read as stand alone.
A sweet story with a misunderstanding and a mystery...
Wonderful characters and plot...
Lady Virginia is in search of a husband... she is attracted to Mr. Ashford Northcott, but she doesn't want...
He is in search of a wife...
Surprises... a villain... and fun...
I received a free book and this is my voluntary and honest review...
78 reviews2 followers
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April 3, 2021
I liked the title and the low key romance between the two protagonists. But there was a burning question in my mind, can you debut for multiple times? I thought a young lady would be a debutante just once, and if she doesn’t marry in her first season, she might do the season again but is no longer a debutante. A sentence spoken by the heroine, that she debuted for multiple times jarred, and couldn’t stop wondering about it the whole of he book.
Profile Image for Nancy Baker-krofft.
138 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2021
Characters you can relate to

While all t he sister's stories so far have been captivating, it seems the Ashford Northcutt character was so available to Lady Virgilia that it hurt to see her rejection of his interactions due to a misunderstanding. He patiently continues to pursue her and protect her, little realizing how she has come to care for him, but is in denial. Description of their conversations seemed so believable. I really was sorry to have it end!
Profile Image for Heather W.
4,064 reviews35 followers
January 21, 2021
A Gentleman to Avoid is the third book in the Sherton Sisters series and is a sweet Regency romance.

I loved this story. The characters are well depicted and interesting. The storyline is well written and captured my interest from start to finish with humour, rumours, mystery, misunderstandings, friends, and romance.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Profile Image for Jean Volk.
159 reviews
January 29, 2021
I am a huge fan of Wendy's books and stories. She writes clean and sweet romance books. This is the 3rd sister in the Sherton Sisters Series. I have enjoyed all 3 of them so far and waiting for the final book to come out.

Wendy's stories are believable and have some humor in them.

I received an ARC from the author but not persuaded to leave a positive review.
862 reviews
February 28, 2021
There wasn't much to the conflict. She thought he was still into her sister and he was clueless. It could easily have been cleared up with a conversation with her sister or friend. I also didn't like that she didn't confide in her friend about the other guy's vague threats about her family being pulled into a scandal. Her excuse was my friend is too pregnant to have to deal with this.
Profile Image for Veronica.
448 reviews
April 2, 2021
This book was very disappointing. Not only did Ashford continually refer to Vicky as a "girl" which was very off-putting (if you still view someone as a girl and not a lady or woman you should not be thinking about marrying them) but the one conflict was just ridiculous and the other conflict made no sense.
Profile Image for Gina.
2,378 reviews31 followers
January 22, 2021
Vigilia is on the shelf and she is fine with that. If only she could keep avoiding Ashford. He really cares for Vigilia if only he can convince her he is right for her. But love always finds a way and this couple can't hide from it.
202 reviews
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February 20, 2021
Sweet Story

Sheraton Sisters Series book 3. This is Lady Vigilia's story. She has watched her very best friend and two older sisters find their love matches. Will she find a love match of her own. Will Ashford convince Vicky he's the one for her.

Enjoyable read.
6 reviews
July 4, 2021
Glossed over

The guy wasn’t very likable and the story didn’t progress with a natural feel. Second half glossed over everything that was alluded to the whole book in a rush to stick the two leads together.
Profile Image for Richelle .
410 reviews33 followers
July 13, 2021
Romance - Clean
Language - None
Violence - None
Series - Book 3

While I did enjoy this book, it did fall a little flat for me. Especially when compared to the first 2 books in the series.

This is a great series if you want something light and easy to read.
2,370 reviews13 followers
September 20, 2021
Gentleman to Avoid

This was an interesting story. It was about Vickie finding her a mate. The London season was cutting short so her best friend was giving a hosuseparty to give her more opportunities.
Profile Image for Connie Skief.
911 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2022
It is a sweet love story of misunderstandings.

She misunderstands who he is interested in until the end. Highly recommended for all readers. Fun series full of interesting situations.
323 reviews
February 19, 2023
Miss conception make you miserable.

Being attracted to someone but thinking he could still have feelings for some one else make everything out of reach. Will she ever get the courage to finally believe she could be wrong?
161 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2024
Cat & Mouse

This book was a fun, love chasing story. Vigilia it's convinced that her feelings are unrequitted and leads Ashford on a merry chase. Twists, turns, and a villainous plot as to the chase.
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