Review: Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount by Catherine Tinley

I'm delighted to share my review of Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount by romance author, Catherine Tinley, today. If you love a fabulous Regency romance combined with an intriguing family mystery and a hint of danger, then this one's for you!

It's currently on blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel and Harlequin / Mills & Book for a copy of this delightful novel.

Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount

Catherine Tinley

This novel begins with an intrigue. A young lady, heavily pregnant, flees into the Scottish Lowlands from pursuers we learn nothing about. Just as she thinks she may be safe, she passes out...

Fast forward 21 years, and identical triplets Annabelle, Isobel, and Rosabella are leaving their familiar school for girls in Elgin, in the north of Scotland. With their mother dead when they were ten, they were placed in the school by their guardian, kindly lawyer Mr Marnoch, for whom their mother had worked as an assistant. Their guardian has agreed they should have a season, as their mother was gentle-born and clearly attended a season herself. But he knows nothing else about their mother save her name: Mrs Maria Lennox, and letters she gave him, to pass to the daughters when the time was right.

Rose, the youngest, is reluctant to leave the comfort and safety of her home, whilst Izzy, the outgoing middle girl, is excited. Anna, the eldest Miss Lennox, is the cool-headed, sensible one. Handed a challenge by their guardian, they are keen to investigate who their mother truly was, who their father was – and if their parents were married at all!

The girls head to London, where they will remain under the watchful eye of their guardian's sister, Lady Ashbourne, who will present them to the queen. Unbeknownst to them, James, the current Viscount Ashbourne, also resides there, and when he spots Rose in her nightgown one night, and remembers her from her sisters, Rose soon becomes vexed by his – what she perceives as – arrogant jibes. 

A delighted Queen Charlotte announces all three sisters to be the diamonds of the season, and so begins a series of curious, and sometimes to the point of vicious, social engagements. 

Despite his intentions, James becomes smitten with Rose, but as no one knows her parentage, a marriage would be deemed inappropriate. Several members of the ton deem them curiosities, but not worthy of a place in their midst until their origins are explained.

Rose, tasked with finding out who her mother was, soon hits a dead end, as some do seem to recognise the sisters’ appearance, but offer no clues about her mother. When she realises that she has no future with James, she flees, but will James catch up with her, despite her unknown heritage, or will he listen to the voice of the ton? Find out in the novel!

Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount is the first in a trilogy about the triplet sisters and their quest for their family history. It is an intrigue that threads through the plot, with hints, tantalisingly close, but still proving elusive. Each sister has a task, and the other two novels will reveal more about the origins and fate of their mother.

Rose is a sweet character, befitting her name perfectly. Gentle, but turning more and more confident in time, she is keen to discover her mother's background. She hates the bustle of the balls and soirées, but makes friends with some other girls present. She is intrigued by James, but unsure of her feelings, as she fully expected to become a teacher, ideally at the school in Elgin. 

James is a realist. He knows how much the members of the ton are sticklers to the rules, and how vicious they can be. Despite his misgivings, he soon becomes protective of the sisters, especially Rose, and doesn't hold back when challenged. His aunt, Lady Ashbourne, is a delightful widow who thrives on the intrigue of presenting triplets to court, but she also knows that James’ marriage must be acceptable to everyone.

Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount is a wonderful novel. Sweet, intriguing, with hints of danger, but also with fascinating characters who bring this mystery romance to life. I'm looking forward to reading the other two titles in the series, hopefully soon.

Highly recommended!

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Blurb:

An unsuitable match for the viscount

And not just because she vexes him!

Bookworm Rose Lennox has no interest in making her debut. She’s only in London to discover the truth of her parentage. Her sponsor’s nephew, James, the Viscount Ashbourne, is equally cynical about the marriage mart, yet they still rile each other every time they speak! But the sparks of animosity soon become flames of attraction. Still, Rose’s unknown past means she can never be a viscount’s wife…

Buy Link: https://mybook.to/MissRoseVV

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About the Author:

Catherine Tinley

Catherine Tinley is an award winning author of historical romance. She writes witty, heartwarming Regency romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her first book, Waltzing with the Earl, won the Rita® Award for Best Historical Romance 2018, while Rags-to-Riches Wife won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romance 2021 as well as the HOLT Medallion, and A Waltz with the Outspoken Governess has won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romance 2022.

She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now manages a maternity hospital. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, cats, and dog and can be reached at catherinetinley.com, on facebook, twitter, and instagram. Full links are here.

Connect with Catherine: https://linktr.ee/CTinley