What is real and what is fiction when it comes to Marcus Lancaster’s life?An overactive imagination has never been too much of a problem for the viscount. It comes in handy during boring sessions of Parliament and keeps the widower entertained on lonely nights when there are no events to attend. Now that his daughter is making her come-out, he is looking to remarry and has set his cap on a … on a widowed countess.
Charity, Countess of Wadsworth, is relieved to be widowed and has no intention of finding another husband—except for others. She has just accepted an offer to become the matchmaker at the charity, ‘Finding Wives for the Wounded.’
Until Lancaster makes a comment about having spent an evening in the gardens with her, Charity has no idea she’s a major player in the viscount’s daydreams. Her only interaction with him was a waltz! So just how much has this man imagined? He seems to know far too much—including her secret wish. And does he realize it’s not about to become reality?
Or is it?
The lines between dreams and real life are about to become blurry in “The Charity of a Viscount.”
more
This was just a really enjoyable book with great characters. Well done!
This story read like a farce and it is quite fun. The Viscount lives in his head, and it gets him into a lot of trouble. The Dowager Countess of Wadworth is short funds and takes a job as a matchmaker. The characters are delightful and to thoroughly enjoy this story, you must not take anything seriously.
There’s a lot of love going around in this silly, fun Regency romance with a large cast of characters. It takes a bit of reading to get involved in the story, but once you do, it’s a fun ride.
Contains some suggestive moments and conversations, but nothing to graphic.
“I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
If one goes into this book treating it as light-hearted humour with a conglomeration of stories wrapped up in one, it will be easier to understand what is going on. The hero of the novel, Viscount Lancaster has something of a Walter Mittie complex and gets lost in his daydreams, sometimes leading to unforeseen events. Lady Charity has had her fill of bounders and rakes and is reveling in her freedom, even though she is living in borderline poverty. Taking up a position as a matchmaker in order to earn some “pin money” – i.e. much needed finance – Charity gets wrapped up in the lives of the servants in big mansions as she attempts to find them marriage partners. Marcus has loved Charity from afar for years but because of his bumbling, almost loses his chance to make his feelings known to her. There were laugh-out-loud moments and also some cringe-worthy events but all in all I did enjoy this book. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
A Sweet and Smile-worthy Tale
It’s been two years since Marcus Batey, Viscount Lancaster’s wife died birthing his second son. Although he and Joan didn’t have a passionate marriage, still he misses being married. Especially since twenty years ago he never had the opportunity to marry the woman he truly loved. A woman who is now widowed.
It’s been two years since Charity, Countess of Wadsworth’s husband died. When forced to marry him, she had hoped for more than a cheating husband who ignored her. Now she just wants to find place for herself within London society, and never, ever, marry again.
The Charity of a Viscount is a delightful novel with interesting and likable characters. Author Linda Rae Sande is very talented, and it’s evident within each scene and each conversation. I especially enjoyed the dry humor and Marcus’s tendency to get lost in his own imagination. So adorable. This sweet romance also features characters from prior books, which is always a fun way to get updated on their lives.
All in all, I loved this engaging read. I hope you will too.
Content alert: For the most part this is a clean and sweet read. There are a few mild swear words, and the sexual content is only via innuendo. Thankfully it is not described and Ms. Sande kept the bedroom door firmly closed.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
FYI: I also posted my review on Amazon (as Rural Reader) and on Good Reads. Since (for me) this book rated 5 stars, I also posted its cover on Pinterest ( https://www.pinterest.com/marthajane65/rural-reader-my-favorite-5-star-reads/).
This series with its somewhat older h and H is quite refreshing. Here there is a 2nd chance as well; unknown to Charity, Viscount Lancaster admired her from afar some 20 years earlier, only for her to be married off under his nose. Now both he and Charity are widowed and he is determined not to lose her again.
I like the re-appearances of characters from previous “Aristocracy” books, not just this series. Also, there are side stories of other unexpected pairings, all nicely intermingled with the story of our main couple
This is the most delightful book! It is bright, funny, entertaining, and filled with romance. The characters are fully developed and you get a nice dose of the characters from previous books in each new book. Oh! And the ending is absolutely the best I’ve read in a very long time. But, if you want a lot of navel-gazing, angsty, poor-pitiful-me scenarios, then this book isn’t for you. However, if you want witty, imaginative and endearing characters with wonderful romances this is exactly the read you want. Yes, I did use the plural – romances – because there are two lovely romances in this book. Another great thing – one of those romances is between an older mature couple. BTW – I guess I should mention that there are no sex scenes – other than those behind closed doors — but that was definitely not a problem for me.
The Mature Romance is between widower Marcus Batey, Viscount Lancaster, and Charity, widowed Countess of Wadsworth. Marcus saw and wanted to court and marry Charity over twenty years ago, but because of trickery and deceit, she had to marry a cold, faithless man she neither loved nor wanted. When Charity was betrothed to the earl, Marcus married his good friend Joan as all of his family had expected. Unlike Charity, Marcus and Joan had a good marriage although neither actually loved the other romantically – they were really good, affectionate friends. Marcus and Joan had two sons and a daughter and Charity had two sons and longed for a daughter.
Charity is barely surviving because the estate was bankrupt when her eighteen-year-old son took charge. He’s trying to turn things around, but, being young, inexperienced and not yet fully matured, it is hard to do. Charity isn’t sure what to do with herself in London after all those years living in the country, so when she sees an advertisement for a matchmaker at a local charity, she thinks she’ll apply. Turns out, she’s quite good at it.
Marcus is aware that Charity is now widowed and in London and he has every intention of wooing and winning her – never mind that she has no intention of EVER marrying again. Marcus inveigles an invitation for Charity to attend the Abercrombie’s ball where he plans to begin his wooing. Marcus has quite an active imagination and has ‘seen’ some of the most delightful things taking place between them. Now, if he can just make them come true.
The younger romance is between Analise Batey (Marcus’ daughter) and Luke Merriweather, Viscount Wessex (Marcus’ younger friend). Theirs is the secondary romance, but it is no less lovely. Luke had never met Marcus’ daughter, but when he saw her at her come-out ball at the Abercrombie’s he knew that had to change. He finagled an introduction and the sparks flew – yet, somehow, Marcus never picked up on what was happening. Then, Oh! My Goodness, when he does learn – that scene is priceless and you just have to read it.
Marcus and Charity have a harder time getting their HEA, but seeing their journey is a really nice thing. You quickly come to admire all of the different characters – and there isn’t a scoundrel in the lot.
I definitely recommend this wonderful read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.25 STARS
I purchased this as a 4 book bundle the author offered called THE WIDOWERS OF THE ARISTOCRACY: Boxed Set.
Many character’s with personalities all over the place. One lose end was with the h’s eldest son. Was he able to make a go of things when he had to abide by a provision in a Will (no spoiler’s).
The h had a rough marriage and is now a widow. Her husband cheated on her all the time so her view is tainted on men. The H was kind and caring but his daydreaming was a put off. He’s an adult over 40 male and acted like he was a teenager who couldn’t focus. The first scene with the h in the garden was very confusing for the reader, even with the author’s notes.
The love scene with the H/h was talked about after the fact as was “tupping” a lot with a maid and footman – action not described.
As with all the books in the series, no real suspense, one drama scene with eldest son. HEA and romance fast paced. (ljb)
This was a nice story. It took a little bit to get into but once in, moved along nicely. The characters were entertaining and the two love stories were nice. I have not read the other stories in this series and I had no problem reading this one on its own. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
Easy read. Will go back to read earlier books in series. I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.