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.

A new to me author who has penned a charming historical romance. While the characters were enjoyable and multi-dimensional, there is some lack in depth. Sophia and Isaac wrestle against societal expectations and boundaries to find their happy ever after. Recommended for those who enjoy clean historical romance with emotions, tensions, and satisfying resolutions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

A traditional romance which I truly enjoyed. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review

Will Sophia be ruled by her head or her heart…?

1809, Yorkshire

Ten years ago Sophia Baxtor-Lodge’s world was torn apart when her mother died in childbirth.

Her father, Sir Kenneth, became cold and distant, and Sophie sought comfort in the only friend she had ever known – the stable lad, Isaac.

But when Sir Kenneth found Sophia and Isaac locked in an embrace he drove them both out in a fury.

Isaac was sent to fight for his country in the Peninsula Wars, and Sophia was shipped off to a Ladies College.

Now Sophia is back at Fenton Hall, helping organise the estate on behalf of her father’s new, much younger, wife Cynthia.

Sir Kenneth is determined to marry Sophia off before she gets up to any more mischief, and introduces her to the charismatic trader, Mr Lucas Huntley.

But Sophia’s heart still lies elsewhere…

Can Sophia ever repair her relationship with her father? Will she obey him and marry Mr Huntley?

Review: Not the most intriguing book i've ever read but an interesting introduction into the genre of historical fiction and romance. A bit boring for me but still enjoyable

This book was a little too bland for my taste. The plot felt predictable but the characters were good. It moved at a smooth pace which was wonderful but I didn't find myself reflecting on the story once it was through.

I did enjoy this book. Isaac, returning after many years away, is still in love with Sophia. Sophia feels the same way as Isaac. Isaac is an honourable man and even though he comes from a poor background, he intends to prove himself worthy of Sophia. Unfortunately, Sophia’s father, Sir Kenneth still clings to the idea that Isaac is not of the same class. Sophia is torn between her love fore Isaac and her father. Also in the scene, is Mr. Lucas Huntley who is another suitor for Sophia. He is charming and also quite glib but he has secrets that may ruin his chances, should they be discovered. One of the standout characters for me was Cynthia, Sophia’s young stepmother. Cynthia appears to be quite artificial and fluffy at first meeting but there is much more to Cynthia than first appears. I did like the fact that Sophia and Cynthia got on really well. There are a few surprises towards the end and also the theme of what is acceptable for a gentleman to do may not be for the supposed lower classes. This was an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found this didn’t hold my attention, and the book felt disjointed and clumsily written to me.

The book opens when Sophia is a girl, and her mother is dying, she is prevented from seeing her, and she runs to her friend stable boy Isaac, he tries to comfort her, her father Sir Kenneth sends Isaac to join up and fight in the Peninsula wars. 10 years later, she manages the household to assist her young stepmother Cynthia, and she has a strained relationship with her autocratic and domineering father.

When Isaac returns, badly injured, but having moved up in the ranks and acquired some money and a business idea, with Sir Kenneth’s friend’s son I tow, Lucas Huntley, will Sophia be able to marry her first love Isaac, or will her father refuse Isaac as a suitor, or will Huntley compromise her into marriage.

The whole tone of the book was odd. The characters are all a little odd. Kenneth seems to practically dislike Sophia, and there is no warmth shown between them, despite being told that Sophia loves him. Her stepmother is odd, capricious and childish one minute, and knowing and arch in an annoying way on the other. Isaac feels only half realised until the last third of the book, and overall the writing was very clumsy and poor.

I struggled to finish it.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

This book was a historical romance that had a very good premise. The heroine had grown up with the hero on her father's estate. They became very close and once they were of age, fell in love with each other.. The hero lived on the estate with his father, the stable master. The heroine's father, a member of the gentry, found them together, and forced the hero to go into the Army and fight the French. Because the heroine's father respected the hero's father, the hero's father did not lose his job, he just had to send his only child away to war. Then about 8 years later, when the hero is injured, he returns to the only home he had ever known. This would have been a great story, but we start with a very drama filled scene where the heroine's mother is giving birth. Everyone is being called by name and the reader has no idea who is what or where they place in the story. It is a mess and then the story skips a few years, when the hero gets kicked out, then the story skips around again. The story does eventually get going, but the first few chapters are hard.
The hero and heroine are supposed to be in love, but they don't act like it. They act like they can turn their emotions on and off at will. I did not see any growth or dimension. The spelling is okay, but the grammar is odd. It is as if the author is trying to make it sound like speech patterns from the past, but the reader has to decipher what the characters are saying. The story is so disjointed, it lacks continuity. I was disappointed because I really wanted to like this story. I tried until the last page. I would not recommend this story. Zero stars.

Sophia is supposed to be a strong young woman trying to make her own choices in a man's world but all she does is antagonise everyone then does as they ask. Her father is doing as all fathers of that era does and looks to make a suitable match and invites two young men, one he has already thrown off the property, to stay. Cynthia, her father's second wife is too frivolous to organise a household but manipulates everyone. I found the book a bit mixed up and I didn't warm to the characters too well.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I enjoyed the story, but I felt like something was missing. I think flashbacks may have helped in this case. And the characters seemed inconsistent in their personalities, though their intentions never wavered.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Ten years ago Sophia Baxtor-Lodge’s world was torn apart when her mother died in childbirth. Her father, Sir Kenneth, became cold and distant, and Sophie sought comfort in the only friend she had ever known – the stable lad, Isaac. But when Sir Kenneth found Sophia and Isaac locked in an embrace he drove them both out in a fury. Isaac was sent to fight for his country in the Peninsula Wars, and Sophia was shipped off to a Ladies College. Now Sophia is back at Fenton Hall, helping organise the estate on behalf of her father’s new, much younger, wife Cynthia. Sir Kenneth is determined to marry Sophia off before she gets up to any more mischief, and invited Mr Lucas Huntley, the son of an old friend to visit. On his way to visit Lucas’ horse falls lame & he meets Isaac who has been injured & is returning to his old home, together they arrive at the manor.
This is the fourth book in the series & is easily read on its own. An entertaining read that I read in two sitting. I liked both Sophia & Isaac who were still in love after ten years but the course of their romance was strewn with obstacles. As more information was revealed about past events the more I came to understand everyone’s motives. A traditional romance that held my interest all the way through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read