Lovers' Vows

by Joan Smith

Lord Dewar visits St. Alton's Abbey, his ancestral estates, infrequently, preferring the cultural atmosphere of London, for the handsome young landowner is a great devotee of the arts—music, painting and especially the theater. It has been more than two years, then, since Holly McCormack has laid eyes on his lordship. Not that she minds, for Holly is eminently practical, as a poor relation making a home with better-off relatives must necessarily be. If she gives any thought to Dewar at all, it is only to condemn him in her mind for neglecting the duties incumbent on the lord of the Abbey. Things change however, when Dewar comes home on a rare visit.

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1981

About the author

Joan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant

Reviews

[Seema Khan Peerzada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! And though after a whilr I was annoyed with Holly's constant lecturing, the story kept me turning the pages. Dewar was endearing and loved some of his reactions. Parts with Rex Homberley and Swithin Idle are real laugh out loud moments. Overall the book kept me entertained and I wonder why it does not have more reads and reviews.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful characters and witty dialogues. Really, from Holly and Dewar, through Rex Homberly, Idle Swithin, Lady Dewar, Sir Egbert, to even Jane and Mr Johnson - they were a bunch of brilliant characters for the genre.

Also, the love story was original, in how it went, mostly because Holly wasn't a beauty and Dewar had a habit to fall in love a bit with "his beauty actresses".

Unfortunately, I wasn't interested in all that preparing the play. In those parts, my mind drifted away. So, I can't give it 5 stars (somewhere between 4-4.5).

[Gabrielle Maes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dewar is so mean to Holly. It's not Holly's fault that she is being responsible while Dewar is acting like a child. This book reminds me a lot of Pride and Prejudice. It's a fast paced read even for someone who's just started back at school.

[Danker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just finished a re-read of a Joan Smith HR, Lover’s Vows. It was originally published in 1981. How the genre has changed in 30 years. I can’t imagine this title holding its own in 2021. No sex. Not even a kiss until the last page. And yet, it comforted me in a way that most recent HRs just don’t. The story is underpinned by the staging of Romeo and Juliet. As is the case with many of Smith’s HRs, some of the characters are “colourful” at best and stereotypical at worst - but the strength of her writing, the nuanced plotting and the very evident erudition of the author all combine to create an enjoyable read. I so regret that Smith is no longer writing HRs and am grateful to her for the many hours of happiness she has given me.

[☆Ruth☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Effortless to read; light, clean and amusing, very much in the style of Georgette Heyer, with a well-worn plot and very recognisable characters - this is just the right kind of book to while away a warm, summer afternoon.
I look forward to reading more of this author's Regency novels and thanks to my friend Seema for sharing ;).
*3.5 stars for a very enjoyable read.

[Judith Hale Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tale of two unlike persons who find they are perfect for each other. A plain but good and dutiful lady takes the local lord to task for the undutiful running of his estate and sparks fly. The staging of a play is the backdrop and supplies plenty of fodder for misunderstanding, correction, and romance.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The character of Swithin was wonderful. In most of these regency novels there is little question about gender roles. Lover's Vows pokes some fun and Swithin in particular frequently had me smiling.

[neebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

All her stories don’t end well. I don’t mean the ending isn’t happy. But they’re always so rushed, there’s always too many other people involved and not the main couple. I’m beginning to get annoyed by her endings now but it isn’t just her. I think other regency era books I’ve read do the same thing.
The third act is often chaotic or abruptly short, often with a proposal out of literally nowhere, some of those proposals not even good (this book in particular. Terrible proposal. I wanted to slap Dewar, he actually said he fell in love with another woman IN the proposal and then insulted Holly ugh)
I can’t help but feel if the authors put as much effort in the ending as they do the beginnings I’d like these books a lot more. The setups and intros go for more than a third of the book and the conclusion in literally the last five pages. Totally downs whatever mood you were in

[MissKitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite.

A lot of the story involved the group of characters putting on a play.

The heroine has a sharp tongue and always takes the Hero to task. She is made out to be quite competent at this but comes out a shrew.

Frankly, I don’t even know how or when they fell in love w each other, which is the main failing of this novel.

So yes sadly, boring, then annoying and tepid at best. 😒

[Kimberly Bizzanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't stop smiling

This love story is flavored with Shakespearean fun! Not only are the characters reenacting a form of Romeo and Juliet, some of the dialogue snacks of Much Ado About Nothing. I'm a fan of Joan Smith and this novel will be in my re-read collection.

[Patrizia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosa chiedo a Joan Smith? Che mi distragga e mi faccia divertire. Non sempre le cose vanno così, ma stavolta non ho di che lamentarmi: i dialoghi sono vivaci e intelligenti, ci sono alcune scene esilaranti, e la storia (seppure, come sempre, affrettata nel finale) è ben condotta.

[Jackieannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely couple than these main characters. The fun comes in their conversations and some supporting characters that behave outrageously. One conversation made me laugh.

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous book; funny, elegant, and smart. Love crept slowly and realistically into our couple’s hearts. I loved the way their growing affection and jealousy were hinted indirectly through their actions. Very clean romance that didn’t fail to give me butterflies in my stomach. Very sweet.

[Christin · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute. the middle meanders

Cute. The middle got a bit slow but it picked up. There were some very humorous characters descriptions. The ending was a bit rushed. Also, I wish Dewar had complimented Holly a little more at the end.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, somewhat funny story, relaxing and without an ounce of angst. I wasn’t sure I liked Dewar, the hero and his treatment of the put-upon heroine, Holly, at first. But he redeemed himself in the end and the ending, though predictable, was a nice HEA.

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unfocused book, full of bland characters, with a meager, bland plot. Smith wrote many funny, brisk and readable books. This isn't one of them.

[Janci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and light, I'll read this author again.

[Miriamgreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic regency with some excellent secondary characters. Great fun.

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

I love Joan smith. Great dialogue. Fun characters. Great story. Lot of Shakespeare allusions in this one and a satisfying ending.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book finished strong. Gets better as you read it!!

[Sam Bret · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters were fabulous, but the ending felt a little lacklustre

[ELC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swithin is very entertaining :) I smile a lot reading his part, and the vow! Lol

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different love story

Review in August 2023

Loved it even more in 2023. Joan Smith knows her Shakespeare and it shows well in this portrait of a small town putting on Romeo and Juliet under the direction of Lord Dewar from London while he visits his estates.

Holly McCormack, the niece staying with Lord and Lady Proctor, can chaperone their beautiful daughter, Jane, or run an errand to town or play with Jane's two little brothers. Holly is a very smart lady but not yet married. Smith writes about Dewar's plans to put on a play while he is visiting his estates in great detail. Dewar is of course very attractive but the the description of Swithin Idle, a friend of Dewar's, is absolutely wonderful. Of all the characters in this novel I remembered mainly Swithin. What a treat he is.


Review from December 2022

Wow, what a Regency romance. I adored the plot of this different love story. Lord Dewar descends on his town with friends from London. He decides to put on a play and chooses Romeo and Juliet to be acted by members of the town and his friends. Young and exquisitely beautiful Jane is to be Juliet and Lady Capulet is to be played by her cousin, Holly McCormack, whose only beauty is her voice. They put on the show together with Idle Swithin, Dewar's friend from London. And the town is never the same again.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good old timer. A village in Kent is charmed into putting on a Shakespeare play at the request of their landlord Lord. And most of the action takes place in all those efforts. (i loved that when the actual performance happened in the text it only took about 2-3 paragraphs and was not described further than that, brilliant!) The greatest part was how the main couple argued and fought, but no definite words of love or even bonafide affection occurred until the very last three pages. No bodice ripping, no one falling off a horse, nicely done indeed.

I almost forgot, the guy, Dewar makes an offhand comment about the 'Great God Cheddar' when discussing his new cheese barn, and i thought to myself 'wow, in a way that is so totally true! Cheddar is a God among cheeses!'

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story, but rather slow, and the ending was unaccountably rushed.