Book Review: The Vicar's Daughter

I'm so happy to be part of the tour for Josi Kilpack's new book, The Vicar's Daughter. Her romances are quickly becoming auto-buys for me because of how well-drawn her characters are. You won't be disappointed in this one, either!

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!

You can download your Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There's only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.

Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted.

A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister but her good intentions may lead to disaster.

As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?