Daisies and Devotion

March 15, 2019
When an impoverished gentleman learns he'll earn a fortune once he's married, he changes his plans to offer for a certain heiress, but as his search for the perfect bride becomes tedious, he wonders if she isn't the right one after all.After a few seasons, Timothy Mayfield "was officially tired of the hunt for a wife and was, instead, eager to marry and settle." He feels drawn to heiress Maryann Morrington, the sister of his best friend's wife, who is adamant that she doesn't want to marry anyone who only wants her fortune. During an unexpectedly candid conversation, he admits to being without means and hints he's interested in discovering if they're well-suited but also lets her know, "I will remain a bachelor all my life if the only other choice is a loveless marriage." After their conversation, he visits his wealthy uncle, who tells him he will provide him adequate funds so he can marry the woman he chooses. Timothy returns to London, and, after a few days of basically ignoring her, he tells Maryann of his newfound good fortune. Secretly broken-hearted, she decides to help him with his bride quest, hoping he'll see her qualities and appreciate their obvious rapport and mutual respect. All seems lost when Timothy meets the ostensible woman of his dreams, and Maryann must decide whether to continue to risk her heart or give him up completely. Kilpack's newest release is a slow-building love story that asks the hero and the reader to choose the simple daisy over hothouse roses, and it is generally persuasive despite Timothy's slow uptake, Maryann's sudden obstinacy toward the end, and a slight overuse of the daisy theme.A sweet, original romance.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2019
Friends help friends. At least, that is what Maryann Morrington tells herself because, after an initial attempt to court her, Timothy Mayfield appears to have relegated Maryann to the status of good friend. The unexpected prospect of a rosier personal financial picture now gives Timothy the luxury of not having to marry for money, and he has drawn up a list of all the qualifications he most desires in a wife. Unfortunately, other than possessing a tidy fortune herself, Maryann doesn't have any of the spousal characteristics Timothy seeks. Just the same, as a good friend, Maryann is determined to help Timothy find his perfect mate, even if that person is not her. With the second elegantly executed addition to her Mayfield Family series, following Promises and Primroses (2018), Kilpack expertly and delightfully gives fans of traditional Regency romances everything?engaging characters, dry wit, and a sweet love story?that they could ever desire.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)