Marrying Kind

by Elizabeth Cadell

Originally published by Hodder in 1980 and now reissued, a romance about a young woman who is sent to France in an attempt to uncover an art fraud. En route she meets and finds herself attracted to the wealthy bachelor who is the new owner of her family home, but he already has a fiancee. From the author of HONEY FOR TEA.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, France, British Literature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1980

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sisters Laura and Jess Seton are very unlike: Jess lives in London and juggles a number of suitors; Laura lives in their home village and quietly spends time with old friends. But when their eccentric, solitary father Claud seems to be heading for trouble, Laura heads for Paris. Her paths cross with rich, handsome Yorkshireman Finch, who has bought the Seton's old home. Finch is engaged to the actress who was formerly engaged to his best friend, and Laura wants to dislike him, but nonetheless knows in her bones that the two are destined to be together.

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura loves the country. Her sister Jessica loves London. Their father, Claude, is the most emotionally disconnected father in Cadell World.

Laura goes to Paris because she things that Claude might be in trouble. There, she gets better acquainted with Finch, her soon to be next door neighbor. Meanwhile, Jessica has an on again off again relationship with a local boy. (I wish this part of the book had been better developed.)

A lovely, light read.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked the main couple quite a bit, and their part of the story gets 4 stars. One of the most romantic moments in the book actually occurs when the hero isn't even there. I wasn't as fond of the sister, her promiscuity, and the man who loves her in spite of it. This is one of Cadell's last books, and her standards seemed to grow more lax as she she neared the end of her writing life, so even though there is definitely nothing graphic in the book I still feel like the sister's character taints the story a bit. So minus one star for the sister.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this light read by Elizabeth Cadell, one of my favorite authors of light romantic novels...she often throws a mystery into her stories, even though I tend to read more for the people and relationships and setting..

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Seton is content with her life and is sure that she's not "the marrying kind." She travels to Paris and meets Finch Falconer. They unexpectedly fall in love. A most pleasant and gentle read.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one thinks the Seton sisters are the marrying kind, but maybe they haven't met the right men? Or have they?

https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

One of Cadell's romances. As usual, the book is filled with characters, eccentrics and cranks. There is a slight mystery, but as often the case, it is a gentle one, and not so much resolved as accepted. I particularly like that Cadell paints characters that are filled with flaws. Even the heroine is not blameless in this regard, being quiet and a bit put upon. I enjoyed this and would recommend it as a lovely gentle romance, with quite a bit of wit and charm.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these little stories and her writing style.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Laura Seton is sent to Paris to confront her father about the provenance of a picture, she crosses paths with Finch Falconer, the wealthy bachelor who bought her childhood home. But can growing attraction overcome the obstacles of an unknowable father or his all-too-well-known fiancée?

I am a huge Elizabeth Cadell fan and was thrilled to run across this hitherto unknown novel. Fits right into her catalog—delightful love story, amusing side plots and characters, some with questionable ethics. Recommend

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had mixed results from Cadell, but I found this one a pleasure. It trots along at rather an uneventful pace, but I appreciate any heroine described thusly:

She wanted to live what she thought of as a jeans-and-sweater existence, free from social obligations. Above all, she wanted to live at a leisurely pace.

My kind of gal. The hero—not to mention their romance—is equally low key. A satisfying read.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️. This was a unique book! It was very light on romance. I was more interested in the side stories (learning about h’s father’s life and her sister’s love life). The ending was still a little vague at least concerning her father’s career and whether he was crooked or not. I think there would have been more romance or at least some tension.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread Cadell every so often when I want a breeze of uplift with some humor and some suspense. I'm so glad they are on Kindle now. Some titles I haven't read for years.

[Marion · Rating 2 out of 5]

I once loved all Elizabeth Cadell books and read many, if not all of them. This time round, I found the story long, slow and not that interesting.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art fraud? A wandering, artist father. An old family home. A new neighbor. A tour of Paris with said handsome new neighbor. Grumpy, rigid aunts. So many ingredients in this one...not to mention a fiancee. How will Laura and Phin negotiate the ins and outs; ups and downs.