Tens List, Review, & Giveaway: The Vagabond Vicar by Charlotte Brentwood

The Vagabond VicarThe Vagabond Vicar
by Charlotte Brentwood
Adult Historical Romance
Ebook, 279 Pages
October 14th 2014

Summary

All William wanted was to save the world. Now he cannot even save himself.

William Brook is an idealistic young cleric, desperate to escape dreary England for a mission adventure in exotic lands. It's his worst nightmare come true when he is posted to a parish in a small backwater village, populated with small-minded people and husband-hunting mamas. He’s determined not to form any ties and to escape the country as an independent single man.

A free spirit, Cecilia Grant is perfectly content to remain in her family home in Amberley village - when she's not wandering the countryside at all hours painting. Marriage options are few, but that won't stop her mother from engineering a match with one of the ruling family's sons. Cecilia attempts to win the man, but what is it about the new vicar and his brooding ways that is so appealing? Could he be the only one who has ever really understood her, and can she discover what he is running away from?

As William struggles not to fall in love with the lady's intoxicating beauty and mysterious eccentricity, he finds himself drawn into the lives of the villagers, despite their best efforts to alienate the newcomer. When he makes it clear he's not sticking around, Cecilia strives to restrain her blossoming feelings for him. Just when it seems love may triumph, dark secrets are revealed in Amberley and a scandal from William’s past may see the end of not only his career, but his chance at finding an everlasting love.

The Vagabond Vicar is an unashamedly romantic historical novel you'll fall in love with. If you love Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, can't get enough of Downton Abbey or Cranford, or just prefer old-fashioned boy-meets-girl stories, try reading Charlotte Brentwood.
    

10 Reasons to Marry a Vicar

In the market to marry a second son? You could do a lot worse than a clergyman.
  1. Your man is guaranteed a steady income but he doesn’t have to be a soldier or in the navy (and therefore away from home for lengthy, life-risking periods).
  2. As he has chosen an occupation which requires selflessness and compassion, it’s a good bet he embodies these qualities as a person.
  3. As a vicar’s wife, you are automatically invited to every social occasion.
  4. What’s lurking beneath that parson’s collar? Potentially all kinds of interesting surprises!
  5.  His job comes with a house and usually a garden and lands.
  6. All vicars need to have completed a degree at Oxford or Cambridge, so he should be able to make intelligent conversation.
  7. As his family could afford the above education, chances are they are of the nobility so you will probably have some wealthy in-laws to visit with.
  8. If he works in a large parish, he could become the rector and hire a curate to do most of the work. This leaves the two of you to travel to visit friends or attend the season in Bath or London.
  9. Your husband is probably more likely than most to remain faithful as society holds him to different standards (and hopefully he has good moral character anyway!).
  10. If you were to marry our hero William Brook, he’s tall, dark and handsome!
My Review 

I really, really enjoyed The Vagabond Vicar! It flowed well, I felt immersed in the setting and the story, I liked the characters, and I felt the romance between Cecilia and William. There were also the usual societal niceties from the time and a quaint village with interesting and quirky characters that kept things lively.

I thought this was such an interesting premise, not for the plot alone, but how the story takes two unique characters who appear somewhat opposites in nature, sets them in a small town, gives them expectations that they have no desire to fulfill, and then throws in some sparks. I also liked that the romance slowly built and that friendship came before anything else, well, except attraction. I also liked the humor, such as when Cecilia just presumes that the new vicar will be an old man and then is practically dumbfounded when he is a rather attractive man instead.  And she shouldn't be attracted to the vicar and the vicar shouldn't be attracted to one of his parishioners, right? There were lots of other moments that had me smiling. I also enjoyed the almost-kisses and how the romance became more intense as the story progressed. Just marvelously done.

I really enjoyed these characters! I loved Cecilia in all her distraction, how genuine she was, her eye for beauty and how she would get lost in the moment, but also her sensibility. I also loved William. He's serious, caring, a hard worker, loyal, and above all a gentleman. They each balanced the other out. I also liked the way the villain came to play his role, the town gossip, the other townspeople and farmers, William's maid, and Cecilia's family who added a whole other dynamic. There were quite a few different personalities, but they were each unique and added to the story.

If you enjoy historical romance that is traditional and clean, but still with plenty of sparks, I'd definitely recommend The Vagabond Vicar. I'm looking forward to seeing what Brentwood writes next.

Content: There was a reference to a lady being taken advantage of and a brothel, but this was definitely clean.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.

About the Author

Charlotte Brentwood developed serious crushes on a series of men from age fifteen: Darcy, Knightley, Wentworth and Brandon. A bookworm and scribbler for as long as she can remember, Charlotte always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world.

Earning a degree in communication studies, she was seduced by the emerging digital world and has since worked with the web and in marketing. She lives in beautiful Auckland, New Zealand.

When she's not toiling at her day job, writing or procrastinating on the Internet, Charlotte can be found snuggling with her cat Sophie, warbling at the piano, sipping a hot chocolate or enjoying the great outdoors.


Giveaway

Ebook of The Vagabond Vicar
Open internationally
Ends April 9th

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11 comments

  1. Another historical romance! Wonderful review and thank you for sharing. This is one genre I won't ever get tired of.

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  2. I have to say more than a few of these catch the eye but I would probably select numbers 9 and/or 10!

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  3. Great list- my favorite is #4 ;) Definitely plan to read this one!

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  4. These both sound really good! I haven't read anything by either author but I would like to now.

    My WoW

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  5. Cali Willette3/25/15, 2:58 PM

    I am waiting on Love Arrives in Pieces; I like the summary. :)

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  6. My favorite reason to marry a vicar is "Your man is guaranteed a steady income but he doesn’t have to be a soldier or in the navy (and therefore away from home for lengthy, life-risking periods)."

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  7. I can't wait to read both of them! I read All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes just because the cover was gorgeous :) She has a great designer!

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  8. I do too and that cover is so fun!

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  9. She does have a great designer. That was a good book too.

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  10. Again, both WOW picks I'm *dying* to read as well! :)

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