The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter

Just like with Ms. Roger's previous book, "The Lost Letter", this is a easy to devour Victorian era romance with deeply thought out characters, fantastic dialogue, enough historical details to make the story realistic but not too much to make it frustrating and a completely lovely, tender romantic arc. Our hero is a wearied rake (and while that word can be so over used in this genre, I appreciated the author's interpretation of the term. He spent years really engage in bacchanalian behavior) but he's not a totally lost cause and while he resents his meddling family he also is unwilling to completely write them off. Our heroine is a down on her luck ladys companion with no familial connections in the world. Their relationship has both highly predictable moments followed by surprising scenes of honesty and realism. I read it in one sitting because I could not possibly put it down.

Reading Ms. Rogers reminds me of Mary Balogh in her best works, theres just an ease and a warmth slipping into the worlds these characters live in and I love it. Looking forward to more!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

After enjoying the author’s first Victorian romance so much, I snapped The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter up immediately. Mimi Matthews writes “proper” Victorian books, where the characters act era-appropriately, the conversations are entertaining, and there’s a focus on the *romance*.
The relationship in this one moves fast - it has to, as hero and heroine are caught together and forced into an engagement. Now, this is a plot device used a million times over in historical romance, but it is handled differently here and it felt different - refreshed.
There are few books I’ve read where I believe in an instant connection, “love at first sight” more or less. In fact, I can think of only three: this is one of them. The first meeting and the hurried arrangement between them was convincing to me, and it was helped by the two spending a lot of time together over the course of only a few days.
The characters - hero, his father, heroine, various relatives - come across as real, well-rounded people. Rakish aristocrats aren’t exactly what they seem, and prim vicar’s daughters have secrets, disappointments, hopes and dreams.
The Victorian setting is always special to me, and never more so than when written by an author who knows the era inside out. This is very much a *Victorian* book, and couldn’t be mistaken for a Regency romance. The fashions, the train travel etc. It’s an era of so much energy and change, which is why I love it.
I enjoyed The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter for heaps of reasons, but especially because it took well-used (almost over-used?) tropes and turned every single one of them around, making them new again.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc to read in exchange for an honest review.

I completely enjoyed this book. The characters development was well thought out and I loved them. For the first time in ages, I found myself not wanting a book to end. I wanted more. Their budding relationship was endearing.