I really enjoy the books in the series A Proper Romance. I like Ms. Kilpack’s stories and characters. I’ve read a few of her books and I really like her as an author. The Vicar’s Daughter was an entertaining read with likable characters. I always look forward to being transported into a Josi Kilpack world.

Ms Kilpack had me at Lemon Tart, ever since then I’ve tried to read everything she’s put out. This book was no exception, funny witty romantic and heartfelt. I loved it!

I really,really,really wanted to like this book. I was interested in this book because it was published by the same company that published Edenbrooke and Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson.
I’m always ready to step out of my comfort zone when it comes to reading books because I think that is the only way to find a good read.

The synopsis sounded very interesting so I decided to give this book a go. The beginning started out really well and it kept my interest at first and not to mention the book cover is beautiful. That’s one of my weaknesses is to read a book with a beautiful book cover.
As the book progressed I lost interest pretty quickly.

I was just disappointed because the plot sounded so mesmerizing but the book just didn’t do it for me. It fell flat. I’m not giving up on this author just yet but this book just wasn’t a
favorite of mine at all.





*I received a free copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

#1. Don’t write a Regency novel and then insert all sorts of modern inventions and events. If you long to give the characters all these conveniences and pieces of music, <i>write a Victorian novel</i>.

#2. Research doesn’t make a book authentic if it is conducted in the wrong era.

First of all, the main character and I didn't bond well as she complains about her life and begins a careful plan to write to a young man in her sister’s name in order to get her sister out of the way so she can debut and have some fun. The entire story she suffers for her own fault, and until near the end she has a nasty attitude about it.

Second, THE HISTORY!!!! Oh, my. Nails on a chalkboard on this one. In careful detail we are given a description of the “ringer” Cassie uses in the laundry. Did you know the wringer wasn’t invented until 1907? Earlier water-reduction methods were called a mangle and functioned quite differently. As nearly as I could tell from my own research, the mangle they were describing was an early-Victorian era one. Nothing that sophisticated existed in the Regency period, and if they did it was so expensive that a vicar who had to ecomonize by having the ladies of his family do the housework absolutely wouldn’t be using one.

Again we encounter Lenora at the pianoforte, playing Tchaikovsky. Wow. Any classically trained pianist knows that Tchaikovsky was a Victorian era composer. He lived, incidentally, from 1840-1893. An entire generation before he was even born! Also, he didn’t compose anything for pianoforte, as by his time it had been replaced by the modern piano.

Other irksome bits included terms like “off the top of my head” (1850s Americanism) and Lenora’s age changing from 25 to 23.

The ending was cute and saved it from a one-star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy.

Cassie is the youngest of the six daughters of the Wilton family. Cassie’s father is the Vicar. Cassie is ready to make her debut into society. But in Cassie’s family the oldest has to be married first so there was only one girl out in society at a time. So Cassie has to wait for her older sister Lenora to marry before she can be presented to society. Lenora has anxiety problems and is shy. Lenora also doesn’t like to attend social events and when she does she doesn’t dance or even talk to anyone. Then Lenora goes to a ball and when home mentions how a kind gentleman let her borrow his handkerchief. This gave Cassie an idea as she figured it had to be Evan who had just came to the area. Evan had worked as a clerk in London. Then some distant relatives pass away and he is to inherit some property in the future. Evan goes to Redforshire to begin to learn about the estate and to help his uncle run it. But Evan doesn’t really know how to act in good society. So cassie secretly writes letters to a potential husband Evan as Lenora. Evan figures a correspondence with a single woman isn’t done but he is intrigued by Lenora’s manner. But it is Cassie and they fall in love. Evan shares his innermost thoughts and dreams in his letters. But the truth does come out and both Cassie and Evan must deal with the consequences even though it was all Cassie’s fault and she is trying to make it right.
This book just didn’t work for me. I felt it dragged too much for me. I also felt Cassie wasn’t a likable character she didn't write those letters to really help her sister but to try to get Lenora married off so she could come out in society and that was selfish as well as she never considered the consequences on everyone just what she wanted. I also didn’t really see where Evan and Cassie acted like more than friends in their letters. I just didn’t feel any spark between them really. So this just wasn’t for me. I am sure others will like it.

A #historicalromance affected by a second character's anxiety from @josiskilpack. Strong plot with fascinating observations & reactions.

You won't be disappointed in this beautiful historical romance.

There are six sisters in the Wilton family and as such, the family rule is that only one girl can be "out" at a time. Poor Cassie is twenty-years old and anxious for her debut, but her older sister Lenora isn't yet married, so Cassie has to wait. And she's going to be waiting a long time because Lenora is painfully shy and horribly anxious in any social situation, so her chance of making a connection with any young man is slim. Yet, one night in a garden, Evan Glenside, a new member of the community, offers Lenora a handkerchief and Cassie gets an idea. She begins a correspondence with Mr. Glenside, posing as her sister and soon she begins to fall in love with him herself. But when Mr. Glenside shows genuine interest in Lenora, and it is finally revealed that Cassie wrote the letters, everyone's relationship will be tested. Who will be the one to find their happily-ever-after?

I really enjoyed the hero and heroine of this book. Cassie is portrayed as so confident in herself and what she wants out of life, a direct opposite of her sister. I liked how, as the book progressed, the reader could see the transformation in Cassie as she truly came to see what love is and how important family relationships are. I thought the hero, Evan Glenside, was so believable as a new heir, unsure of himself in social circles and trying to find his way, but especially in how he reacts to Cassie and Lenora. He is a good man, trying to do his best by his family and find someone to share his life, but that simple wish gets very complicated!

The journey of love for these people threaded just enough anxiety in me that I was turning pages long after I should have been sleeping to see how it all turned out. The setting was well-done, the plot had just enough turns to keep things intriguing, and the characters were compelling and relatable. Definitely another winner for Ms. Kilpack!

This was a super sweet historical romance filled with secret affection, betrayal, and forgiveness. I don't usually read anything dealing with romance, but I truly enjoyed this one. There was one detail that bothered me, though. One character suffered from extreme anxiety, so everyone else treated her like she was a little kid, and kind of acted like she didn't deserve to fall in love with anyone because her anxiety would prevent her from being a good wife. But that attitude kind of improved by the end, which saved it for me.

What a great novel! The book held my interest the entire time, and I thought about it when I wasn’t reading.

I liked this heroine. She was strong and confident, if a little misguided. She’s motivated to outsmart a system that is holding her back. She’s conflicted within herself, which offered interesting layers. Her parents were mysterious (we stayed in the heroine’s POV), overbearing, and judgmental. They withheld love when they disagreed with her. While this may have been true for the era, it wasn’t fun to read, but it made me cheer harder for the heroine.

The letter-writing premise (see summary above) was great and the romantic arc, very strong.

The story’s hero is a “fish out of water.” He’s trying to find his way and may have blundered by exchanging these letters. I enjoyed watching him humbly try to find his way.

Although some of the theology didn’t seem entirely biblically sound, overall this novel is very enjoyable. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year. Highly recommended!

Oh, my swooning heart! This book was so sweet and romantic. I swear there were butterflies in my belly the entire time. The Vicar’s Daughter had a very “Emma” feel to it, but with a twist.

Cassie hated the rules her parent’s instilled that only one daughter at a time would be put in society. So in order to speed things along she tries to help her very anxious sister in making a match. But as things began to progress, she starts to get feelings for the man she wanted for her sister. She tried to put her them aside but when push comes to shove, her heart can’t take the pain.

Mr. Glenside is new to society so he’s learning the ins and outs and soon finds himself caught up in a situation that had only one outcome. But in order to be true to his heart he must make the unfortunate decision and cause himself lots of trouble and gossip to be flung his way. Not exactly how he wanted to come out in society, but some things can’t be helped.

I loved Cassie. Her heart was in the right place, but her execution was flawed. Royally flawed It’s was very hard to see her suffer. But as a vicar’s daughter there was no escaping it. SHe was well known,therefore people were going to know what happened. She had me in tears towards the end. Gah!! My heart was invested and was wishing for no more suffering.

As I’ve said before, I love this Proper Romance series. This one had more religious tones than the many of them. Since it was about a vicar’s family, I’m not surprised. If you love historical romances with all feels, then I recommend you grab this one.

The Vicar’s Daughter is a cautionary tale in which a young woman who is frustrated with her lot in life tries to engineer her way to a better situation and ends up causing pain and heartache for herself and those closest to her. Cassandra Wilton discovers that the road to hell really is paved with good intentions when she tries to help her older sister to make a match with a suitable young man but ends up losing her own heart in the process. It’s a readable enough story, but it moves quite slowly and the emphasis is more on Cassie and her personal growth than it is on the romance, which is, sadly, rather dull.

It was the epistolary nature of the story that induced me to pick up the book in the first place, as the synopsis tells how Cassie, frustrated at having to wait for her sister, Lenora, to find a husband before SHE can go out in society, embarks upon a correspondence with Mr. Evan Glenside in Lenora’s name, hoping that she can bring them together. Cassie is twenty and the youngest of the six daughters of the vicar of a rural Bedfordshire parish, and family tradition has always been that only one sister is “out” in society at any one time, meaning that the oldest had to marry before the next sister could make her début, and so on. The problem for Cassie is that Lenora is cripplingly shy and hates going to social events; and when she does go, she doesn’t dance with anyone or speak to anyone. At this rate, Lenora will never marry, and Cassie feels that life is passing her by – but her concerns are more or less ignored by her parents who insist she has to wait for ‘her turn’.

When Lenora returns home from a ball and tells her sister about the kind gentleman who lent her his handkerchief, Cassie realises that here is a chance to change things. Lenora did not know the man in question and Cassie realises it must have been Evan Glenside, who is new to the area. She hatches a plan for Lenora to see him again when their father makes his parish visit, but Lenora is too nervous and doesn’t accompany him. That’s when Cassie hits upon the idea of corresponding with Mr. Glenside in Lenora’s name. She won’t do it for long, she reasons, and she plans to tell all to Lenora at the appropriate time; but if she can just ‘introduce’ Lenora to Mr. Glenside and spark his interest, perhaps her sister won’t be so nervous the next time she meets him.

Evan worked in London as a clerk and lived in Mile End with his mother and sisters until the sudden deaths of a couple of distant relatives made him the heir to a considerable property and propelled him into the ranks of the landed gentry. He has recently moved to Bedfordshire in order to begin to learn about the estate he will inherit and to help his uncle to run it, but while his experience as a clerk has given him the necessary organisational and numerical skills to enable him to pick up the administrative side of being a landowner fairly easily, his background and upbringing as the son of a working man has not equipped him to be able to navigate the perilous waters of good society. But even he, with his patchy knowledge of what is done and not done, suspects that exchanging correspondence with a young, unmarried lady is not the done thing, yet he cannot be other than intrigued and captivated by Miss Lenora Wilton’s engaging and sympathetic manner. Before he really knows what is happening, he is engaged in a real correspondence with the lady, and feels he is coming to know her through her letters, even though in public, she is still extremely shy and reserved.

It’s going to come as no surprise to say that Cassie and Evan fall in love without his knowing the true identity of the young lady with whom he has been sharing his inmost thoughts and dreams. But truth will out, and when it does, both of them have to face the consequences of their actions even though, as Cassie readily admits, Evan was the innocent party. She hates to think that he and his mother and sisters will be the subject of gossip because of something she did, and makes a concerted effort on behalf of the ladies to ensure that they will be accepted by local society. This act is one of the first on Cassie’s journey towards a greater self-awareness and towards her understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness. It’s in this part of the story that she really begins to exhibit the personal growth I mentioned earlier, and it certainly does go a long way towards making her into a more likeable character than the somewhat impatient, selfish young woman she was at the beginning of the book. If The Vicar’s Daughter had been billed as one young woman’s ‘coming of age’ story, then Ms. Kilpack has done a very good job. But it’s not – the synopsis points toward this being a romance, and unfortunately, it’s sadly lacking in that area. For one thing, we’re asked to believe that Cassie and Evan have fallen in love through their correspondence, but there’s nothing in their letters to suggest that they are doing anything more than becoming friends. And for another, they don’t spend a lot of time together in the first half of the book, and in the second half, their interactions are practically non-existent. We’re told they’re in love, we’re told they’re yearning for each other, but I didn’t feel any of it. There’s no chemistry and no real emotional connection between them, and while Evan’s situation as a working class man who has suddenly been elevated to a completely different station in life is intriguing and handled quite well, he’s otherwise little more than a cypher whose presence in the novel is designed to kick-start the heroine’s journey of self-discovery.

I was also bothered by the fact that I have no idea when this story is supposed to take place. I’m assuming, given the references to the conventions and social mores of the day that the story is set some time in the 19th century, but other than that, I have no clue. At one point, a lady is said to be playing piano pieces by Tchaikovsky (who was born in 1840), yet later, another lady refers to Franz Schubert as a “new” composer. He was born in 1797 and died in 1828. Unless one of them had a time machine, then I’m stumped. And honestly – how hard is it to look these things up?!

I didn’t actively dislike reading The Vicar’s Daughter, and I did become engaged with Cassie’s predicament and invested in the final outcome, but I can’t recommend the book as a romance. I should also point out that given that the heroine is the daughter of a vicar, there are some Christian messages within the tale as Cassie ponders the nature of repentance and forgiveness, but these are not heavy-handed or obtrusive. If you enjoy stories which focus more on the heroine’s personal growth than on her personal relationships, then you might like this book. But if you’re looking for a well-developed and emotionally satisfying romance, then I don’t think it’s for you.

Grade: C

I loved the Regency countryside setting, with the vicar's family at the center of the story along with the newcomer heir to one of the largest estates in the neighborhood. There is a strong focus on the complex dynamics of family relationships which I enjoyed. I loved seeing the generosity Evan's uncle has for him, especially since in most stories the distant heir is reviled or seen as undeserving. Evan's genuine compassion for his uncle's sorrow creates a balance in their relationship where they are each benefiting from the other's support. In fact, that is what I liked most about Evan, his genuine nature, and that is what I think he found attractive in Cassie. Her manipulation of Evan and Lenora is not well thought out, and the deeper she gets, the more complicated the situation becomes. I initially found it hard to have sympathy for her, but the author is skilled at writing flawed characters and then bringing about a deep redemption, so when Cassie was enduring her period of penitence and self-reflection I felt for her anguish and admired her determination to make things right with those suffering from the consequences of her impulsive decisions. The cast of characters was so vivid and really came to life in my head as I read the book. I absolutely loved the resolution and it made up for some of the more depressing parts when I got my happy ending ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Cassie, the youngest of 6 daughter's of the Wilton family is bright ,beautiful and ready to make her debut into society. The only problem is she has to wait until her older sister,Lenora marries before she may be presented to society. Her older sister suffers from anxiety so Cassie devises a plan that she thunks is fool proof for getting her married off. As we all know even the best laid plains often go astray and sometimes with disastrous,sometimes hilarious results. An exciting clean read, I was pleased to see how this was resolved. I wasn't sure how it would be resolved but it turned out well.
A sweet clean read I look forward to reading more books by Josi S. Kilpack.
Pub Date 04 Apr 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved every word of this story of sisters and the man that could come between them. This was really the perfect regency romance. Interesting, likable, well developed characters in a perfect, historical setting. Loved it!

THE VICAR’S DAUGHTER, by Josi S. Kilpack, Shadow Mountain, April 4, 2017, Softcover, $15.99 (young adult, new adult)

If you live in Utah or are a fan of clean fiction, then you’re probably familiar with Josi S. Kilpack. In less than 20 years, Josi has made a name for herself writing 25 books for Shadow Mountain Publishing and Covenant Communications.

Josi’s latest novel, The Vicar’s Daughter, is part of Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance series, which, according to the publisher, “allows readers to enjoy romance at its very best — and at its cleanest — portraying everything they love about a passionate, romantic novel, without busting corsets or bed scenes.”

At the center of The Vicar’s Daughter is Cassie, the Wilton family’s youngest daughter. Cassie dreams of entering society. After all, most girls her age are already “out.” But Cassie is the youngest of six daughters and she has to wait until her older sister Lenora is settled before she can have her turn. The problem is Lenora is shy, and not just a little bit, but gets tongue-tied and throws up kind of shy. Lenora is entering her third season, and Cassie is stuck at home waiting her turn.

Enter Evan Glenside. Evan grew up in London’s East End. He never thought to be more than a clerk, but when circumstances land him next in line for his great-uncle’s estate, everything changes. Evan can’t thumb his nose at a chance at a better future but quickly discovers being named heir doesn’t immediately equal acceptance in his new town and new position.

When Lenora and Evan meet by chance, Cassie sees her chance. Lenora is too shy to pursue a relationship, so Cassie decides to write to Evan for her. Evan is immediately taken with “Lenora.” Cassie can’t help but be encouraged until she realizes she’s falling in love with Evan. And when Evan starts courting Lenora, Cassie realizes she might have let her own chance of a happy match fall through her fingers.

The Vicar’s Daughter is in keeping with Josi’s other Proper Romance novels. It’s clean, easily accessible and entertaining. Two of her three main characters — Cassie and Evan — are well developed and likeable. I would have liked to know more about Lenora, especially given her social anxiety disorder. Instead, we’re given a quick flyby that makes her feel more like a plot ploy than anything else. She ends up being rather one-note, and given the role she plays, that’s disappointing.

When you read a Proper Romance novel, you go into it knowing that there’s going to be a happy ending. Even if that’s not how things work in real life, it’s very much what readers want from this sort of book. Because of that, the ending is fairly predictable. Again, you’re going into this book expecting that, so there’s really no big surprise.

I enjoyed The Vicar’s Daughter more than Josi’s Lady of the Lakes, which felt like two separate novels. The Vicar’s Daughter has a more cohesive feel and reads a lot faster. If you’re new to Josi’s work, I’d suggest starting with The Vicar’s Daughter or Lord Fenton’s Folly, both of which are also Proper Romances.

Opening line:
"Cassie fidgeted with the skirt of her day dress and said a silent prayer: Please help me remain calm."

Cassie is the youngest daughter (out of six) of the vicar and he and his wife have decided that only one daughter will be out in society at a time. This is frustrating for Cassie because her sister, Lenora, is shy and anxious. To "help" Lenora, Cassie starts writing letters to Evan, a man Lenora met at a ball, in Lenora's name. Cassie could not have seen the problematic outcome of her innocent actions. This "help" proves to have a ripple effect that is negative to those involved and those not. This is really where the story sucked me in and held me tight.
Cassie fell in love with Evan. Evan fell in love with the woman in the letters but was determined to get to know Lenora better. Lenora was happy Evan paid attention to her. Then Evan proposed to Lenora and everything went downhill.
I wanted to keep reading to find out how in the world the characters got out of this mess! It really seemed hopeless. Josi Kilpack is an excellent writer who keeps her readers guessing and reading.
I really, really loved the character arcs. Cassie's was especially fascinating to read. She grew and matured so much in the story it was delightful to read.

Thanks to netgalley for the early read. I loved it! AND I loved the cover!

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the dilemma that Cassie faced, and her growth, and that of Lenora over the course of the novel made for an interesting read. I suspended my disbelief that she would write knowing the societal restrictions at the time.
Evan's honest heart, and character as he tries to struggle through his assimilation into genteel society, trying to help his family, and heal his Uncle's heart as well was an interesting read. The manipulations of those not quite honest about their motives help stir up the dilemmas facing Evan as he tries to work his way through the difficulties of his heart. Cassie's desire to make good her mistake, and make amends and help the Glenside Mother and sisters adapt to the society in their small parish made for an interesting read. As things swirled around them as Evan and Cassie dance around each other and try to keep their promise to her father with regard to their interactions, their feelings, and hurts and finally heal their hearts as conditions bring them together.
It was a wonderful read with the growth and maturation of the characters, the parents desire to have the happiness of their children, and how everything combined to make for a beautiful, endearing, lovely read. Seeing Cassie struggle to make her heart right in her parents eyes, and with God made for a beautiful story.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Well written but didn't have much of a kick to it.