The Vicar's Daughter

by Josi S. Kilpack

Overview

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 since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, 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 in a new town and in his new position.

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. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.

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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629722801
Publisher:	Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date:	04/04/2017
Series:	A Proper Romance
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Josi is the author of twenty-five novels, including A Culinary Mystery series and several titles in A Proper Romance series and A Historical Proper Romance series. Her novel A Heart Revealed was a 2015 Publishers Weekly Best Romance Book of the Year. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents to four children.

Read an Excerpt

In nearly three years of eligibility, Lenora had only ever shown interest in one man. This man-Mr. Glenside. If no one intervened, she would throw this opportunity away, and who knew when she might have another. Surely if she remained unmarried in another two or three years their parents would have to consent to let Cassie have her debut-but she would be the same age then that Lenora was now. Not on the shelf, yet, but competing for attention with girls five years her junior. Mr. Bunderson would surely have married by then. Such thoughts made the edges of Cassie's vision shimmer with frustration.

"I shall be an old maid forever," Cassie grumbled as she left the music room and climbed the stairs to her bedchamber as though crushing each step underfoot. Her mother's words rang back to her: "You could help her."

Cassie snorted as she entered her room and closed the door behind her. She had helped, and Lenora had rejected the perfect opportunity to further her acquaintance with an eligible man! "She needs far more help than I could give her," Cassie said to her paintings. Still fuming as she crossed the room, her eyes fixed on her writing desk and her mind spun toward a new possibility.

Was there another way she might help her sister?

With a slower step and a more focused mind, Cassie moved toward the desk. She ran her fingers across the worn wooden surface while a new-and rather desperate-idea began to build itself brick by brick in her mind.

A slow smile spread across Cassie's face. The confidence Lenora needed would only come through success gained through action she was too nervous to take. Cassie, however, could take that action for her and write letters on Lenora's behalf.

She sat down at the writing desk and extracted a fresh sheet of paper.

The first obstacle would be learning to write in Lenora's same hand, but for a woman of artistic talent who could draw nearly anything it did not seem too much of a challenge. The second obstacle would be the delivery of the letter without her parents' or Lenora's knowledge. Young could help there; she was a trusted confidant among the children and had protected Cassie from trouble with her parents before.

Cassie would have to confess after the exchange of just one or two letters, enough to intrigue Mr. Glenside and give Lenora the feeling of being "known" by him. Cassie would be disciplined for her deception if her parents learned of it, but if that confession came on the heels of a young man's interest in Lenora who would come alive in her letters . . . well, then, Cassie would accept whatever penalty might come. And once her penance for the act-not quite a sin since her intent was good-was complete, Cassie would have the chance to truly live her life.

Dancing.

Gowns.

Mr. Bunderson.

Oh, and Lenora's happiness, of course.

Editorial Reviews

11/21/2016
After a leisurely start, this Regency romance picks up steam as the plot unfolds. Cassie’s ambitions are hampered by her shy, emotionally fragile older sister, Lenora, who must marry before Cassie’s parents will allow Cassie to come out in society. Cassie hatches a plan to kindle a love affair between Lenora and handsome Mr. Glenside, a newcomer to their small village. Circumventing decorum and her stringent mother’s watchful eyes, Cassie begins a secret correspondence with Mr. Glenside, pretending to be Lenora, explaining her sister’s terrible social shyness. Before long, Cassie falls for Mr. Glenside herself, only to be dismayed by her plan’s unexpected success. Once her sham is revealed, chaos erupts, afflicting people throughout the village and leaving Cassie with a complicated mess to untangle and a determination to alter her methods. Kilpack (A Heart Revealed) creates convincing chemistry between the two protagonists and captures subtle nuances of familial conflict and affection. Themes of betrayal and reconciliation, forgiveness and redemption, and the high value of integrity and kindness in all relationships make for a sweet and satisfying tale. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

“Kilpack’s romance novels rarely play out the way one might first suspect. Instead, the reader is treated to a story deeper and richer than expected, with exquisite emotional dilemmas and unpredictable plots. This latest novel is a prime example. All three protagonists, the sisters and their mutual love, are people of highest character, and the decisions that come to bear are neither easy nor obvious. Breath-stealing kisses do manage to find their way in, so readers may want to stick a fan in their [handbags] before setting out.”
 

Romantic Times

"If it were left up to her older sister Lenora, Cassie Wilton would wind up being a spinster for the rest of her life. Family tradition dictates that only one Wilton daughter at a time can make her debut in society. So far, the four oldest Wilton daughters have successfully made matches, but for the last three years, the painfully shy Lenora has failed to make a connection with even one eligible suitor. So Cassie decides to give Lenora a little help by writing some letters to Evan Glenside, the hottest matrimonial prospect in Leagrave, under the guise of her sister. Upon receiving Evan’s thoughtful and considerate replies to her letters, Cassie is even more certain her plan will work until she begins to wonder what it might be like to be married to Evan herself. With its perfectly imperfect heroine and charmingly realized English village setting, Kilpack’s sweetly romantic love story is a superb choice for fans of traditional Regencies and readers of inspirational historical romances."

Booklist

"Remarkable tale of love, forgiveness and family.The novel's characters are strikingly realistic...A sweet Regency...the chemistry between characters is palpable and makes the novel impossible to put down. An excellent addition to Josi S. Kilpack's repertoire and should not be missed."

Compass Book Ratings

"If it were left up to her older sister Lenora, Cassie Wilton would wind up being a spinster for the rest of her life. Family tradition dictates that only one Wilton daughter at a time can make her debut in society. So far, the four oldest Wilton daughters have successfully made matches, but for the last three years, the painfully shy Lenora has failed to make a connection with even one eligible suitor. So Cassie decides to give Lenora a little help by writing some letters to Evan Glenside, the hottest matrimonial prospect in Leagrave, under the guise of her sister. Upon receiving Evan’s thoughtful and considerate replies to her letters, Cassie is even more certain her plan will work until she begins to wonder what it might be like to be married to Evan herself. With its perfectly imperfect heroine and charmingly realized English village setting, Kilpack’s sweetly romantic love story is a superb choice for fans of traditional Regencies and readers of inspirational historical romances."

Booklist