The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter: A Victorian Romance

Written by Mimi Matthews

Narrated by Justine Eyre

A WORLD-WEARY RAKE



After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society's most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking . . . until an unexpected encounter changes his plans—and threatens his heart.



A PRIM VICAR'S DAUGHTER



Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady's companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England's most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future—a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount.



A MATCH MADE IN SCANDAL



A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there's more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781977381583

Reviews for The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter

[rosarioacastroc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I give it 4 stars in general, because it is a good book. It's hard to find romance books that aren't filled either with mediocrely written smut or an obvious christian agenda (nothing against christian people, but those books gets really annoying fast); and this book is one of the rare ones. But if I could give it 3.5 stars I would. The female protagonist's pessimism and catastrophizing way of thinking, while understandable within the context of the book, is still very annoying.

[Berly · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mimi Matthews can write! I love her style. This book was a little too crass for me. Without description, it mentions quite a bit of lewd behaviors. It was a little uncomfortable for me to listen to. But none of the activities were taking place on page. If that makes sense.

I listened to the audiobook and was glad to hear Justine Eyre again. For awhile I listened to several books she read, and I got a little tired of hearing her. But after not having heard her in months, I enjoyed having her narrate this story.

[Valrie Golaub · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Characters realistic, the narrator gave the characters life , well written.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A nice story, I liked both main characters. They were separated for part of the book, which isn't as much fun, and the ending seemed a bit sudden to me, but both were fine.

[sunnydrk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So sweeet and a nice read. I was rooting for everyone.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1861 and rake Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton arrives at the home of Lord and Lady Fairford for one of their notorious house parties. Valentine March, daughter of a vicar, is there as a lady's companion and at a folly on the estate they meet.
A very entertaining Victorian romance, well-written, with some lovely drawn characters. This is the second book by this author I have read and have thoroughly enjoyed reading both.
A NetGalley Book

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable story, although not a lot really happens in this one. I would have liked to see more of Tristan making a go of things on his estate, or for the dastardly Phil to have had more of a role.

[schatzi_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mimi Matthews is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, but this book was only so-so in my opinion. I think that the story would have benefited if it had been at least a hundred pages longer; as it stands, the entire thing felt rushed. Tristan and Valentine barely knew one another before they were "in love." And I felt like there were too many different threads that the author had to hurry and tie up in the end, some of which felt very underdeveloped (Phil returning and insisting that Valentine marry him, for example. He threatened to take her to the courts and sue her and ruin her name if she didn't marry him, but Tristan just threw him out in the street and that was that? Why bother reintroducing Phil at all?).

That said, I did like the two main characters a great deal. Valentine comes across a little rough in the first chapter or two, but I warmed up to her after that. As for Tristan, I kept wondering when the author would explain what had made him change his ways a few years ago. Was he depressed? Had something happened? Was he bored? I'm not sure, because it was never discussed.

Tristan feels VERY much like the older brother in the author's book "The Work of Art," even though he isn't. Much of the background (Tristan being the heir and completely lost to "vice," John being a dutiful second son, John being horribly wounded in war, John and Elizabeth marrying and it causing a huge scandal, John and Elizabeth being a love match, John and Tristan's father being as he is, etc) is so similar. Arthur is pretty much John, and Philly sounds a lot like Elizabeth. I find myself wanting to read John and Elizabeth's story (hint hint, Mimi Matthews ;D) a great deal.

It was a fine book, but having been spoiled by the author's other stories that I've read, I found this one a bit lacking.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick read -- another take on the Cinderella story. Improvished young woman is hired as a companion to a horrid woman and her husband hunting daughter. They are a house party where the daughter has set her sites on a wealthy rake. As he arrives for the party he sees a woman crying on the grounds and sees her poorly fitting clothes and glasses. There's lots of miscommunication and misunderstandings before the HEA.

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Valentine March has been hired as a companion to a lady of doubtful reputation who takes her to a house party known for 'parlor games'. Viscount St. Ashton is attending; he has a bad reputation as a rake though lately he's tired of that life. When the two are caught in a compromising situation, they suddenly have to deal with big changes in their lives.
I have now read all of Ms. Matthew's books out so far and enjoyed them greatly. This one is a bit rote in that the plot has been used many times before. Her writing is lovely though and it's a short novella so I didn't mind the same old story. I wish she had expanded more on St Ashton, or Tristan, and his renovations at his run-down estate; I think there would be great fodder there to add to the story. The same with Valentines's life in London. I expected her to get out some and have some fireworks with some of the people who'd been at the house party. I also didn't understand the Earl; he vacillated back and forth over his son's relationship with Valentine, and I couldn't see why he wouldn't be happy about it.
Still, it's another enjoyable read from this author, and now I have to wait for the next book.

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful!

Charming regency romance with the requisite rakish viscount who is unaccountability struck by cupid's arrow in the most irregular of circumstances.
Well written with an interesting mystery, circumstances that add tensions to the romance your having when your not having a romance.

A NetGalley ARC

[thequietreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Viscount St. Ashton is seeking an escape when he visits one of the most notorious house parties in society. What he finds, however, is an innocent young lady and his heart is caught.

This was a sweetly told tale. St. Ashton was believable young man, wishing to be independent of his family. The one point I did not like was the insta-love he had for Miss March. His determination to prove himself worthy of this young woman, despite his father's opinion, made me root for him.

Miss March has her own back story and baggage weighing on her. The friendship she had with St. Ashton was enjoyable and I liked seeing her come into her own.

Overall, this was a well written story and a lovely follow-up to the first book. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy Victorian Romances.

I received from Netgalley for the purpose of reviewing.