Member Review
Review by
Stina S, Reviewer
What a delightful escape from reality IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH by Valerie Holmes is! I do enjoy a little Regency romance from time to time set in sweeping historical times...though not the Mills & Boon or Harlequin kind. While this book is part of the Yorkshire Saga series, it is a standalone story not related to the first three and can be read as such.
The story opens in 1799 with Sophia Baxter-Lodge's world being torn apart with her mother dying in childbirth, leaving Sophia the only child of her father Sir Kenneth. Growing up, her father was cold and distant so Sophia sought comfort in her only friend - a stable boy named Isaac. But when Sir Kenneth found them together he was furious and banished Sophie to Ladies College and Isaac to the army, never to return.
Yorkshire 1809: Sophia has returned a lady, taking charge of Fenton Hall and organising the estate on behalf of her father's new and much younger but charming wife, Cynthia. Although Sophia cannot bring herself to think of Cynthia as her mother she is incredibly fond of her as the two women eventually become friends and allies of a kind. However, Sir Kenneth is determined to marry Sophia off before she gets herself into more mischief. But Sophia claims to marry only for love or not at all. Sir Kenneth believes that to be a foolish notion.
Sir Kenneth has organised for a friend of Cynthia's family, Charles Huntley, to visit in the hope that Sophia can pilfer information about his son with the idea to match him with Sophia's distant cousin. However, Charles Huntley has taken ill and sent his son Lucas in his place to settle the business dealings he has with Sir Kenneth. En route, Lucas meets a returned soldier, Lieutenant Isaac Daleman, injured in the Pensinula Wars when they both arrive to book a room for the night and end up having to share the last remaining room available. As both men are en route to Fenton Hall, Lucas insists that Isaac accompany him as his guest. But how would Sir Kenneth react to a former stable lad returning through the front doors of Fenton Hall? One who was flung out after being caught in a tryst with his daughter?
However, upon arrival at Fenton Hall as soon as Lucas sets eyes on Sophia, it is soon made clear that he intends to take her as his wife and to the colonies in Australia. He does everything to woo her and charm her but Sophia only has eyes for Isaac and is thrilled to find he has returned to her as he promised he would. But alas, though Isaac may now be a war hero and a lieutenant no less, is that enough for Sir Kenneth to accept him as a match for Sophia?
But Isaac's injury is worse than he thought and he finds himself bedridden in one of the Hall's grandest rooms and all the while as he recovers at Sir Kenneth's generous expense, Lucas attempts to woo his way into Sophia's heart and finalise an agreement with her father for her hand. But Lucas has underestimated his new friend. Will the truth about Lucas Huntley come to light in time? And will Isaac's new-found fortune find him in favour with Sir Kenneth as a husband for Sophia?
A truly delightful and engaging read from beginning to end, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH had a Downton-esque feel about it and was just as compelling. There are loves, losses, death, tragedy, villains and the like - from both upstairs and downstairs - that all make up this entertaining read which I read in two sittings. It is a quick read that is captivating from the start, and incredibly easy to devour.
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH is the fourth book in the Yorkshire Saga series but can be read as a standalone, which I did. I will, however, endeavour to read the first three as soon as I can.
A traditional romance that captures the essence of a regency romance and its historical setting, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH is the perfect escapism from the depressions of today.
Thoroughly recommend!
I would like to thank #ValerieHolmes, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #InSicknessAndInHealth in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens in 1799 with Sophia Baxter-Lodge's world being torn apart with her mother dying in childbirth, leaving Sophia the only child of her father Sir Kenneth. Growing up, her father was cold and distant so Sophia sought comfort in her only friend - a stable boy named Isaac. But when Sir Kenneth found them together he was furious and banished Sophie to Ladies College and Isaac to the army, never to return.
Yorkshire 1809: Sophia has returned a lady, taking charge of Fenton Hall and organising the estate on behalf of her father's new and much younger but charming wife, Cynthia. Although Sophia cannot bring herself to think of Cynthia as her mother she is incredibly fond of her as the two women eventually become friends and allies of a kind. However, Sir Kenneth is determined to marry Sophia off before she gets herself into more mischief. But Sophia claims to marry only for love or not at all. Sir Kenneth believes that to be a foolish notion.
Sir Kenneth has organised for a friend of Cynthia's family, Charles Huntley, to visit in the hope that Sophia can pilfer information about his son with the idea to match him with Sophia's distant cousin. However, Charles Huntley has taken ill and sent his son Lucas in his place to settle the business dealings he has with Sir Kenneth. En route, Lucas meets a returned soldier, Lieutenant Isaac Daleman, injured in the Pensinula Wars when they both arrive to book a room for the night and end up having to share the last remaining room available. As both men are en route to Fenton Hall, Lucas insists that Isaac accompany him as his guest. But how would Sir Kenneth react to a former stable lad returning through the front doors of Fenton Hall? One who was flung out after being caught in a tryst with his daughter?
However, upon arrival at Fenton Hall as soon as Lucas sets eyes on Sophia, it is soon made clear that he intends to take her as his wife and to the colonies in Australia. He does everything to woo her and charm her but Sophia only has eyes for Isaac and is thrilled to find he has returned to her as he promised he would. But alas, though Isaac may now be a war hero and a lieutenant no less, is that enough for Sir Kenneth to accept him as a match for Sophia?
But Isaac's injury is worse than he thought and he finds himself bedridden in one of the Hall's grandest rooms and all the while as he recovers at Sir Kenneth's generous expense, Lucas attempts to woo his way into Sophia's heart and finalise an agreement with her father for her hand. But Lucas has underestimated his new friend. Will the truth about Lucas Huntley come to light in time? And will Isaac's new-found fortune find him in favour with Sir Kenneth as a husband for Sophia?
A truly delightful and engaging read from beginning to end, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH had a Downton-esque feel about it and was just as compelling. There are loves, losses, death, tragedy, villains and the like - from both upstairs and downstairs - that all make up this entertaining read which I read in two sittings. It is a quick read that is captivating from the start, and incredibly easy to devour.
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH is the fourth book in the Yorkshire Saga series but can be read as a standalone, which I did. I will, however, endeavour to read the first three as soon as I can.
A traditional romance that captures the essence of a regency romance and its historical setting, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH is the perfect escapism from the depressions of today.
Thoroughly recommend!
I would like to thank #ValerieHolmes, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #InSicknessAndInHealth in exchange for an honest review.
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