Lover's Vows

LOVERS’ VOWS
BY
JOAN SMITH.
PUBLISHED BY ROBERT HALE LONDON.
ISBN978-0-7090-7390-9.





This Regency romance is somewhat different from the normal line of this genre.
Lord Dewar, who is the infrequent visitor to his Ancestral home, St Alton’s Abbey which was situated in Harknell in the heart of Kent, surprised everyone including his eccentric mother, by a sudden unannounced visit to his Seat.

It had been two years since his last visit and Miss Holly McCormack had not even missed him, but was quick to relay to him the fact that she considered him very remiss in his duty to his dependants in the village, when she did see him. She was mainly interested in the local orphanage, which Lord Dewar supported, albeit rather sadly according to her reckoning. Holly McCormick herself reliant on the charity of her Uncle and his family, worked hard on supporting this particular charity. The local vicar who ran the orphanage, thought her eminently suitable to be his wife, but he was not in too much of a hurry to ask her. He told her that he would ask Lord Dewar for a donation for the orphanage to do very necessary repairs to the home. Holly decided that she would give Lord Dewar a list of the things she deemed he should attend to before he went back to London, herself. His visits were usually short but this time it seemed he had no desire to rush away in fact he decided to stage a play in the Abbey and intended to enlist the help of the entire village to do this. This course of action was a surprise to Holly and to many others in the village. Holly considered that he had many other duties, which should come before his play acting and told him so.

The play, which Dewar had decided on, was Romeo and Juliet and soon the whole village was drawn into the excitement, except Holly, who at first refused to have anything to do with the presentation, but was later unwillingly seconded into the play by Lord Dewar.

What was to happen during the time Lord Dewar was so engrossed in his presentation was a complete surprise to everyone including Holly herself. She was courted by a rich friend of Dewar who had come down from London to help with the play. Sir Swithen who had ties to the London theatre and was well respected fell in love with Holly and determined to make her his wife. She was amused by his attentions, but had no intention to marry him. But was thrown together with him at every opportunity by Lord Dewar.

But is this to be Holly’s fate? Can she really marry this dandified fellow and why has Lord Dewar decided to prolong his stay, will the Vicar eventually ask Holly to marry him and would she accept him anyway? Read this unusual book and follow it’s twists and turns it will keep you well amused, especially in this dreadful weather. I award this book 4 red Roses. AS.