The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter: A Victorian Romance

by Mimi Matthews

Overview

England, 1861. A world-weary rake and a prim vicar's daughter are thrown together during a holiday house party. Will they discover there's more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

A WORLD-WEARY RAKE

After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society's most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking...until an unexpected encounter changes his plans--and threatens his heart.

A PRIM VICAR'S DAUGHTER

Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady's companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England's most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future--a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount.

A MATCH MADE IN SCANDAL

A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there's more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780999036433
Publisher:	Perfectly Proper Press
Publication date:	01/23/2018
Pages:	230
Sales rank:	390,293
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

Editorial Reviews

"Matthews' tale hits all the high notes of a great romance novel. Valentine, the heroine, is a spunky underdog completely unaware of her own beauty and uninterested in material wealth. Tristan is a smoldering hunk of love, a bad boy with a soft heart who just wants someone to believe in him. Their mutual attraction is a joy to behold....Cue the satisfied sighs of romance readers everywhere." -Kirkus Reviews

"Matthews' latest is filled with amusing, colorful characters placed within an engaging plot that will lure readers in. Tristan is a dashing, charismatic, commanding hero, and Valentine's intelligence and innocence is endearing. Tristan and Valentine's romance is tender, genuine and passionate. With descriptive storytelling and natural conflict between characters, Matthews pens a heartfelt romance that culminates into a sweet ending that will leave readers happy. A wonderfully romantic read." -RT Book Reviews

"Matthews (The Lost Letter) delivers a sweet, fast-paced read that will be appreciated by fans of Victorian romance." -Library Journal

"An unbelievably great book...hugely romantic, fabulously written and researched...the change in [Tristan] from his black rakish reputation to the man he becomes is beautifully composed...If you like the marriage of convenience with a light twist and transformed rakes and cynical, shy heroines this is the book for you--even if you don't like all that, this is still a must read." -Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

"A wonderful story, steeped in historical fact...the ideal book to lose yourself in and drift off to a different place and time." -Readers' Favorite

"A wonderful Victorian tale of two people from different worlds...This story had superb pacing and was unbelievably romantic...Miss Matthews' writing and characterization brings the story and characters to life immediately. If you're looking for a light-hearted, charming, and completely swoon-worthy romance, you'll find it in this delightful story." -Love at 1st Read

"This will be the second book I have read by this author, and she has yet to fail in delighting me with her storytelling...I enjoyed both Valentine and Tristan, and their interactions were genuine in every scene. I felt like I was reading of someone's real life...It was such a journey for both of them, and I enjoyed reading it every step of the way. " -Lady with a Quill

From the Publisher

2017-11-28
An angel and a playboy find love in Matthews' (The Lost Letter, 2017, etc.) latest Victorian romance.Valentine March is all alone in the world after the death of her father, a small-town English vicar. With few options, Valentine takes a position as a companion to the abominable Lady Brightwell. Despite some unattractive clothing and a lower social status, Valentine's beauty and innocence attract the attention of Tristan Sinclair, the infamous Viscount St. Ashton. When the love-struck couple are caught in a passionate kiss, the playboy swears off his life of gambling, brawling, and women and promises to make an honest woman of Valentine. But his father, the Earl of Lynden, has other ideas about his heir's future. He sends Tristan to his remote estate in Northumberland and, in a Cinderella moment, ascertains that Valentine is a woman of high breeding and connects her with her long-lost and wealthy family. Happily, the two lovers are determined to uphold their promises, though they both battle uncertainty regarding the other's true feelings. Despite a formulaic plot and predictable outcome, Matthews' tale hits all the high notes of a great romance novel. Valentine, the heroine, is a spunky underdog completely unaware of her own beauty and uninterested in material wealth. Tristan is a smoldering hunk of love, a bad boy with a soft heart who just wants someone to believe in him. Their mutual attraction is a joy to behold. But this romance is not a bodice-ripper. Except for a few steamy kisses, this is a rather chaste love story that focuses on emotions rather than sex scenes. Matthews is a polished writer who knows her genre and audience. Several scenes, as when Tristan swoops in to boot out Valentine's sleazy former suitor, are particularly entertaining and allow the Viscount to play the hero. "No one has ever stood up for me before," Valentine gasps. "You were magnificent." Cue the satisfied sighs of romance readers everywhere.With an ending that is never in question, this tale offers the pleasant experience of simply enjoying a lighthearted frolic in the past.

Kirkus Reviews