I liked Miss Wilton's Waltz quite a bit more than the first in this series...although I enjoyed the first one, as well. But overall, I just found the characters so much more sympathetic in this one. It's a pleasant read...perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon. I can't say that it blew me away, but honestly, I wasn't really expecting it to. It was exactly what I wanted...a sweet and enjoyable romance.

An introvert by nature, Miss Lenora Wilton is an accomplished musician, who has always been in her sister's shadow. When her intended breaks their betrothal in order to wed her younger sister, Lenora goes back to Bath to be with her aunt, and teach music at a girl's school. Lenora helps tutor voice, as well as pianoforte. One of her students Catherine is quite the challenge, she can play by ear ear, but doesn't like to read music.



Aidan Asher is Catherine's uncle, and he is determined to do right by her after being named her guardian. She has been shipped around from relative to relative and to various schools. He will do anything to keep his daughter in school. After running into Lenora down by the river after nightfall, he knows that he has the leverage he needs to get Catherine some extra help.



But will Aidan and Lenora be able to work together to help Catherine, and perhaps find more?



A well written book from beginning to end, it was engaging, and I liked Lenora from the very beginning. She is a very good teacher, and even though Catherine is difficult, she really wants to help her. Lenora is clever, and witty, though she hides it behind her quiet nature.



It is an engaging story with well developed characters, and great interaction. I liked how Lenora is an honorable woman, she forgives, and really does her best by Catherine, despite the fact that Catherine despises her. I like Lenora's aunt, who is a kindly and wise woman, who is a rock for Lenora.



A fantastic read, even though I know that this is something of a sequel/companion to a previous book, it stands wonderfully on its own. Well written, with fantastic characters. I can't wait to read more from this series!





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I read The Vicar's Daughter earlier this year and was so excited when I found out that Josi Kilpack had written Lenora's story. NOTE: You don't have to read The Vicar's Daughter (her sister Cassie's story) before reading Miss Wilton's Waltz to understand what's going on, but it will give you a greater understanding of Lenora.

Lenora is extremely shy in large groups of people, even around people she knows, but moving to Bath to live with her Aunt Gwen has made her deal with her shyness because Aunt Gwen doesn't coddle to her fears, or allow her to hide behind her love of the pianoforte like her parents did. In Bath she's seen as her own person, not the Vicar's shy and awkward daughter. Lenora has come into her own, and is comfortable with the life she's made for herself as a respected music teacher at Mrs. Henry's all-girls' boarding school.

Her unexpected run in with a man late at night at the River Avon surprises her and it's an even bigger surprise when the man turns out to be Aiden Asher, the Uncle and guardian of her newest, and most troublesome students, Catherine Manch. Lenora works with Aiden to try and find non conventional ways of helping his niece, and Lenora is surprised by her attraction to Aiden. Of course, love is never a smooth course and when something unforeseen comes up to separate them, Lenora retreats within herself where she feels safe.

Aunt Gwen is there to give Lenora wonderful advice "If," Gwen repeated. "Will you base your entire future happiness on one word? Will you let fear rule your future?"

I loved these words of wisdom from Aunt Gwen.
"Life never comes with guarantees, Lenora, and there is security in never taking a chance. But if you do not take hold of the opportunities of happiness that come your way, you will only find empty tomorrows. Life is both too long and too short to allow fear to guide your ship."

I loved the main characters in this book--Aiden was such a good man to put his life on hold to step in and take care of his niece who had been mistreated by those who should've protected her when she most needed protection. I admit I had to get used to Catherine, but as the story of her background unfolded I understood why she acted as she did. Aunt Gwen is the best! She's no pushover, but she's there for those she loves and she saw through Catherine long before anyone else did.

As another reviewer said, this isn't your typical Regency romance, and I agree. Josi Kilpack somehow includes things like alopecia (in A Heart Revealed), social anxieties, and learning disabilities into her Regency romances and they make the stories more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

After a failed engagement, Lenora decides to go to Bath and start fresh. She lives with her Aunt Gwen, who loves to socialize and draws Lenora into her circles. Lenora also teaches music at an all-girls boarding school and loves her job---until Catherine arrives. Catherine is a student who loves to cause trouble and she upends Lenora's life in cruel and shocking ways. I felt awful for Lenora and wondered how she would deal with this obviously troubled girl. Catherine does have one thing going for her, and that's her Uncle Aiden. He loves her and would do anything to help her, but he is often at a loss himself. When Aiden meets Lenora, he's sure she can help his niece, if only she'll find the motivation to try. Lenora is willing and she starts to develop feelings for Aiden, only to find out he's been hiding something from her that will alter all of their lives. Can she ever trust Aiden again?

I loved the depth and richness to these characters. Lenora is trying so hard to overcome her shyness and put herself out there again, that when Catherine and Aiden end up hurting her, you can't help but feel all the hurt along with Lenora. Yet, at the same time, Aiden is sympathetic as a man just trying to do right by his niece who is struggling to overcome a terrible childhood. Everyone is multi-faceted and there are no easy answers to any of their problems. I thought the author did an amazing job with the setting, the plot was tight and believable, and though there are some twists and turns where I wondered if a happy ending was even possible, the author made sure we all closed the book with a satisfied smile.

This is a romance that is realistic and relatable and reminds us all why Josi Kilpack should be on everyone's auto-buy list.

I loved this book! Even though I hadn’t read The Vicar’s Daughter, which is about Lenora Wilton’s sister, I was not at all lost.

Although, my sympathies for Lenora may have been deeper had I been versed in the full story before.

Lenora Wilton’s extreme case of social anxiety has made her quiet, easily fading into the background. But when she moves to Bath to live with her aunt and teach piano at a school, she begins to shine. Sure, she still is uncomfortable in situations but her walks to the river at night help calm her nerves and anxiety. So when she’s caught by Aiden Asher, she’s disappointed she can no longer risk her solace in the water.

As Lenora deals with Aiden’s troubled niece at school, she grows more fond of the man.

Lenora’s transformation throughout the book is laid out well. The addition of Catherine (the niece) keeps everyone hopping but when the root of the disobedience is discovered, Catherine becomes less of a brat. Aiden is honorable yet tormented. He wants to do the right thing, but what Lenora asks of him does not line up with his heart. And his first priority is Catherine.

Josi S. Kilpack evokes emotion throughout Miss Wilton’s Waltz. Whether the characters are angry, upset, happy, uncertain, or in love, the reader feels those things with them. And that is why Kilpack is an author I will return to.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Miss Wilton's Waltz is a sweet follow up to The Vicar's Daughter. If you've read the first, definitely read the second.

** I received a complementary copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own, as always.**

I thoroughly enjoyed The Vicar’s Daughter by Josi Kilpack and was excited to see this book was continuing the story of a character from that book. I don’t think it’s necessary to have read that book to enjoy this one, but it will add more understanding to Lenora’s choices here.

This is a book about what is right and wrong and do circumstances dictate allowing greater margin for freedom or should the measuring stick be strict?

While I didn’t agree with the Lenora’s choices, I did understand them. She wanted to know herself and be herself, not play to a role that made everyone comfortable except herself. Everyone wants to be loved for who they are - Lenora, Catherine, Aiden, Aunt Gwen, etc - and while Lenora felt she knew herself, it was satisfying to watch her guide Catherine along a similar path of discovery.

Random: Aunt Gwen is fabulous. Everyone needs an Aunt Gwen. And I always love epilogues. Stories don’t stop being interesting when relationships finally work out, that’s just a plot point. Thank you, Josi, for adding it to the story. It makes me happy to get a glimpse of the progress a few years can produce.

I so loved this book! I loved the character and was great to see how Lenora turned out after her sister stole her would be husband. I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. Highly recommend.

A waltz can be a complicated thing. You're moving this way or that restricted to a 3/4 beat, one partner leads while the other follows, and maneuverability is limited due to the other dancers on the floor. Yet with all these parameters something graceful and beautiful comes forth. The same things happen when lives intertwine in this book. Society's rules create restrictions as Lenora and Aiden begin a waltz to one another. The rigid decorum of a teacher at a girls school and the people they 'bump' up against are very controlling as Aiden leads Lenora in an unexpected dance. It's all rather unsettling for a woman just finding and learning to be comfortable with who she is.
I had two favorite aspects of this book. First, is how it illustrates the strings by which a Regency woman was yanked around. Anyone and everyone could pull on them and there was often little the woman could do about it. The second aspect was the excellent characterization of Lenora. Capturing the inner workings of an extreme introvert is no small thing, especially when she is in transition to let her butterfly wings peek out. Josi Kilpack does an outstanding job.
This book would be a good match for any fan of traditional Regency romance and a brilliant match for anyone that enjoys Regency tales that envolve other than Lords and Ladies.

I loved Cassie's story in The Vicar's Daughter. But at the end, while I was happy that Lenora's story ended somewhat happy, I really wanted to know how her story would end. I was SO excited when I learned that this would be the continuation of this story and I would finally get to find out Lenora's story.  I loved watching her personality blossom and really come to life in this book.  The walks by the river at night were entertaining and I loved the challenges that she faced with Catherine.  There were times I really wanted to put Catherine in her place, her character was so well done.  This is just like SO many of Kilpack's book though, to take a subject, like illiteracy or dyslexia and weave it into a story.  Clearly Catherine had some sorts of learning disorders, if not more.  I also really enjoyed the role of Aunt Gwen in Catherine's life.  I wouldn't mind if Kilpack jumped in years and we got to read Catherine's story next!  I have always enjoyed Kilpack's novels, but I am so glad that she has found a niche in the proper romance/historical romance settings.  I really love her books, I come away from reading them and feel like I've learned a little something and feel uplifted from the story as well.  Well done!  Loved this one, I can't wait for the next!

I love when I can empathize with the struggles of the main character. Lenora's shyness and social awkwardness is something I experienced outside my family and close friends all the way through high school. Lenora's move to embrace a new life allows her to become more confident and I felt that going to college and leaving behind the role I felt trapped in opened up a refreshing sense of freedom to be happy with myself and all the opportunities before me. I admired Lenora's fortitude with the daunting situations and people she had to deal with. Catherine is not the typical orphan from stories like these- instead of being filled with gratitude, she is manipulative, cruel, and uncaring. I felt like it was a realistic portrayal of an abused child and it was gratifying to see her layers peeled back as Aiden doesn't give up on her, but is determined to help her in any way possible. Lenora's reactions to Catherine were realistic as well, and depicted the real struggle and sacrifice it took to be a part of her recovery and success. I loved Lenora's aunt and the compassion, nurturing, and wisdom she brought to both Lenora and Catherine's lives. The sweet and tender romance between Lenora and Aiden is worth fighting for, and I was filled with tension and anticipation until Lenora reached her happily ever after.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

4.5

4.5
I would like to thank Netgalley and Shadow Mountain for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always a risk to start reading a series starting on the 4th book in but I was able to read this as a standalone and not feel lost. Yet it does reference Lenora’s sister Cassie and this is the follow up book to her book, The Vicar’s Daughter.

This is a clean, sweet period romance. I love this style of writing and am a sucker for regency books. I was really drawn to Lenora in this book and her strength. In the previous book she is jilted and leaves to live with her aunt and accepts a position as a music teacher at an all- girls’ boarding school. While there she meets Aiden, who’s difficult niece has just started attending the school. I love the chemistry between Lenora and Aiden. I love how they keep being drawn together. I love how Lenora starts off as shy but is able to grow and become her own woman. I loved how the two love interests didn’t just come easily together.

If you are a fan or regency books then you’ll want to pick this up. It was overall a very enjoyable, easy to read clean romance.

Lenora Wilton, age 23, is a daughter of the vicar of Leagrave. Her betrothed, Evan Glenside, has broken his engagement to her because he has fallen in love with Lenora’s sister, Cassie. Her parents are angry about it, but Lenora insists the couple be allowed to marry because it is the right thing to do.

Lenora has 5 sisters and she is known to be shy. She is also an accomplished pianist. Quite honestly, she had not been in love with Evan. She just felt the marriage would give her a place in life and secure her future. But now she wants to go to Bath and live with her Aunt Gwen. She is also pursuing a position as a music teacher at a girl’s school in Bath. She wants to seek her own happiness in life.

It has been 2 years since Lenora has been in Bath and her mother is pushing her to return home to Legrave for Christmas. Lenora lives at the girl’s school during the week and at her aunt’s home on the weekends. Nights on the weekend are Lenora’s special time. She dresses as a man and walks around town and along the river. She loves the quiet and calls it her Night Walks in Bath. But one night she is seen by a man who asks what she is doing but she manages to outrun him.

The next day, the new class of girls arrive and one girl, Miss Catherine Manch, age 12, is rude and disruptive in class. It appears that her wealthy uncle, Mr. Aiden Asher, has paid a lot of money for the school to accept the girl. In addition, Lenora realizes he is the same man she had run from the night before. The girl had lost her parents years ago and she had been shuffled from place to place until her uncle, who had lived in Jamaica, rescued her and brought her to live with him in Bath. Aiden asks Lenora to take special interest in Catherine to help her. She is skeptical but agrees to do what she can. Catherine continues her defiance until Lenora realizes that the girl cannot read. Extra attention is required to try and help the uncooperative girl which puts Lenora and Aiden in numerous discussions. When an attraction sparks, there are repercussions that causes great hurt to Lenora.

Can their relationship be saved? Can Lenora reach the damaged Catherine and be able to help her learn?

This is a good book. I liked Lenora but wished she had possessed a stronger personality. Aiden is just a total wimp. He really needs a backbone. However, Aunt Gwen is a delight and any parent of a pre-teen will probably recognize Catherine. This is a good story and I think readers will enjoy it.

Copy provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From the publisher: Lenora Wilton has spent her life hiding behind the keys of her beloved pianoforte and the vibrancy of her younger sister, Cassie. But Lenora is ready for a change and begins her journey of self-discovery by traveling to Bath to live with her Aunt Gwen and teach music at an all-girls’ boarding school. She is different in Bath and enjoys the freedom and independence of her new life there. When Lenora meets Aidan Asher, she finds herself attracted to him; unexpected feelings that become more complicated when she learns that Catherine—Lenora’s newest and most troublesome student in the school—is Mr. Asher’s niece.

Miss Wilton’s Waltz is a sequel to The Vicar’s Daughter. Both are part of Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance series of clean romance stories. Author Kilpack writes gentle romance novels that feature characters with issues. In the first book, Lenora was a secondary character dealing with social anxiety. She gets the spotlight in this book, still coping with social anxiety and learning how to be independent and successful. Catherine, the troubled student, turns out to be dealing with a learning disability.

I enjoyed this book more than the first. The characters were more developed, the plot was smoother and more believable, and the messages were not so heavy handed. I recommend it for lovers of historical romance.

I read an advance reader copy of Miss Wilton's Waltz. It and other books by Josi S. Kilpack are available at the Galesburg Public Library.

Lenora Wilton has spent her life hiding behind the keys of her beloved pianoforte and the vibrancy of her younger sister, Cassie. After Cassie marries Lenora’s fiancé, Lenora is ready for a change and travels to Bath to live with her Aunt Gwen and teach music at an all-girls boarding school. She is different in Bath more comfortable with herself and enjoys the freedom and independence of her new life there. Lenora likes to walk at night as a means to calm herself & one night meets Aiden Asher, she finds herself attracted to him, but her unexpected feelings become more complicated when she learns that Catherine Lenora s newest and most troublesome student in the school is Mr. Asher's niece. When the chemistry between Lenora and Aiden increases, they share a passionate kiss by the River Avon late at night, and Lenora feels it is the beginning of a new forever until a letter arrives at the school & her world falls apart again as she learns that Aiden has withheld an important detail about his life.
A well written moving book that held my interest all the way through. A gentle romance with a couple who find themselves manipulated by a young girl & Miss Keighley. Both Lenora & Aiden annoyed me at times as I found myself saying stand up for yourself several times. Lenora is gentle & always does the right thing even if it almost destroys her, Aiden too is honourable & does the right thing until, finally, he stands up for Catherine. Lenora also finally decides to fight for what she wants. Although Aiden & Lenora are strongly attracted to each other they share no more than a kiss. I loved Aunt Gwen & gradually came to like Catherine.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I confess that my favorite books are the ones where not only am I connecting to the characters, but through the character’s the author’s teaches me something about myself. Josi S. Kilpack has a gift for writing characters like that.

Lenora is a delightfully flushed out character. Following her journey is a fascinating and beautiful immersion into the mind of a person with anxiety.

Josi Kilpack's use of the relationships throughout the book not just between Lenora and Aiden, but between all the character’s, including Catherine and Aunt Gwen, is a tender illustration of how our actions good and bad affect those around us. We can elevate a child, calm fears and pull someone out of their shell. I found myself wanting to be better because of her story.

This book taught me that I can be heard and be kind, right is not always easy, and wrong is sometimes right. All with a dynamic plot and passionate characters. Call it what you want; a triple threat, the whole package, I’ll just call it great story telling.

I have read quite a few of Josi Kilpack's books, this one is my favorite. After Lenora's broken engagement leads to moving in with a relative and working as a music teacher at an all girls school. Lenora has a secret, she dresses as a young man and likes to go on walks late at night, but one walk changes everything. A novel about relationships, trust, struggles and forgiveness. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to. This is a sequel to The Vicor's Daughter, but could also be read on it's own.

After spending her life as the "shy" daughter with only her musical talent to make her stand out in any way in her large family, Lenora Wilton reached her breaking point with a broken engagement. Heading to Bath to stay with her Aunt Gwen in order to soothe her wounds, she began to find herself. Now she has begun to establish a life in Bath--she's learning to come out of her shell and not retreat from social interactions, and she is enjoying her position as a music teacher at a girls' school. Things get a lot more complicated for her, however, when Catherine Manch arrives at the school. The obstinate twelve-year-old appears not to like school in general and Lenora in particular. However, her uncle Aiden Asher, armed with a bit of information Lenora needs kept secret, leaves Lenora little choice but to help his niece succeed. As Lenora does her best to help Catherine, she finds herself growing closer to Aiden and starts to dream of possibilities to come--until she finds out that Aiden neglected to tell her a significant detail about himself, one that threatens to break Lenora all over again.

I really enjoyed this book! It's full of engaging, well-developed characters; I really liked seeing Lenora blossom and try to face things she might have run from in the past. Aiden had such a good heart and makes an excellent leading man. Catherine is a brat, but Kilpack has done a great job showing WHY and how she is calling out for help that even she is lovable. The writing is excellent and made the characters feel very real, with realistic struggles and emotions.

This is a follow-up to The Vicar's Daughter, which I enjoyed but not nearly as much as this one. (You don't have to read the first one to understand this one, but it is a good book, too!)

I read a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book. It was good to see her come into her own and stand strong.

I noticed this title pop up on social media, so I wanted to get my hands on a copy. I had read and enjoyed The Vicar’s Daughter.

This story continues with Lenora’s story. She’s not residing in Bath with her Aunt Gwen and teaching music as a school for girl. Lenora is also naive and is now sneaking out dressed as a man to sit by the river at night, which has become her place of solitude. Her false sense of security is shattered when a stranger catches her at the river. Their paths cross again at the school, and Lenora’s quiet life becomes quite a challenge. Will she rise to it, or run away again when things become too hard?

I loved this book. You really got a sense of Lenora’s personality, and found her admirable. I also liked Aiden and his niece Catherine, and I rooted for them to find their happy ever after.

I received an ARC.