Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Book Review: The Vicar's Daughter by Josi S. Kilpack


The Vicar's Daughter, by Josi S. Kilpack
2017, 336p, Clean Regency Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way



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?


Cassie is ready to enter society but her parents won't allow her to until her older sister, Lenora, is married. Lenora is shy and has no prospects so Cassie is a bit discouraged. Evan Glenside is new in town and a meeting between him and Lenora gives Cassie hope. She starts corresponding with him, posing as Lenora. This strategy backfires and nothing will ever be the same between Cassie, Evan, and Lenora.

Cassie is young and I understood her frustration. She made some poor choices, not realizing at the time how many people would be affected by her decisions. Once she did, she worked to make amends, knowing that what she wished for would never be able to happen. Lenora jumped at the opportunity to make a match and wound up getting hurt in the process. She also had some learning and growing to do. Evan was caught in the middle of two sisters--one who he was attracted to in person and another who he fell in love with through letters. He was easy to like and I felt bad for him as he was put in a difficult position.

There was plenty of drama as Cassie created a huge mess. These characters were flawed and their situation was sticky. This is the third book Ms. Kilpack has written in this genre and it's another winner! I love the unique situations she writes about. There are no easy answers which makes it more interesting to me to see how it will end. I was drawn in and couldn't stop reading until I knew how it ended. This is a book you will want to read if you enjoy clean regency romance!


Josi S. Kilpack has written twenty-five novels, a cookbook, and several novellas. She is a four-time Whitney award winner, including Best Novel 2015 for "Lord Fenton's Folly, and has been a Best of State winner for Fiction. Josi loves to bake, sleep, eat, read, travel, and watch TV--none of which she gets to do as much as she would like. She hates to talk on the phone, learn how to do new things, and sweep--all of which she gets to do a lot :-)

Josi and her husband, Lee, have four children and live in Northern Utah.

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