Pure Textuality Blog Tour: The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter by Mimi Matthews

The Story:
England, 1861.

A world-weary rake and a prim vicar’s daughter are thrown together during a holiday house party. Will they discover there’s more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

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?
The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter is a sweet (i.e. clean) standalone Victorian romance of approximately 50,000 words. Some swearing.

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My Thoughts:
Marriage of convenience stories are my absolute favorite romances to read. I just adore the chaotic mess that those love stories spring up from. While this isn't quite a marriage of convenience story, more like a proposal of convenience, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I read Christian fiction, I read general market romances and love many aspects of both romance subgenres. The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter is fairly clean (no on page sex, some mild language) that is somewhere in between the aforementioned genres of romance. I think this will appeal to a wide audience.

That said, I don't really like love at first sight stories. They just tend to be completely unbelievable. That might sound strange coming from someone who devours MoC stories, but I can't help it. I believe this book could be an easy 4.5 star read if it weren't for Valentine declaring to herself that she was in love without having spent all that much time with a rogue with a bad reputation. Maybe if as a reader I was given a bit more of his backstory and they didn't spend such a huge amount of time apart with no communication, it would be a little more feasible.

The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter is still a good book that I'm happy to have read! I appreciate being able to take a break from my Christian romance, which can sometimes seem preachy or the mass market books that can be too smutty, with a book that was right down the middle. I am definitely reading Mimi Matthews' next book, The Advertisement. It's a Beauty and the Beast story! *Dreamy sigh*

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

Happy Reading!