The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter

Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton, is trying to escape the melancholy of his life – as well as the scheming, matrimonial-minded Felicity Brightwell. His world is about to be turned upside-down, though, when a chance encounter with Mrs. Brightwell’s new companion makes Tristan do the impossible: fall in love at first sight.

Valentine March is very much out of place as companion/maid to Mrs. Brightwell. Attending the notorious Christmas party only makes things worse, but when she falls for London’s most notorious – and handsome – rake after an earth-shattering kiss, her life gets even more complicated. With their reputations on the line, St. Ashton promises to marry her, but can love overcome revelations and secrets from the past? 

“The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter” is a refreshingly lovely tale about love, redemption, and finding your way home. St. Ashton is a world-weary, one-time rake on the point of losing his fortune. Valentine is an orphan with a secret and a plan to become a missionary in the Indies. Their relationship is built on love-at-first sight, but Ms. Matthews doesn’t leave it there, allowing their various circumstances to shape and mold her main characters. Both are sturdy characters with their own quirks, and if there’s a drawback, it’s that there isn’t enough time in this short book to do justice to the various crises the characters face and overcome. That said, Ms. Matthew’s book hits all the right notes and is a refreshingly bright story that reminds the reader that personal change is possible – as is true love at first sight.

Janice Martin