[Historical Romance] The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen

Backlog #11

This is the second book I DNF-ed during the period. And I do not regret it. Some books are just not it.

And even if there is nothing particularly bad about them, but they're kinda bland.

I was surprised because the beginning was so vigurous and promising.

(this is a new cover, obviously, this novel is from '05 and the original cover is pretty much early Photoshop)

To rescue her family from financial ruin, lovely Victoria Shelby has no choice but to marry. Her options for a bridegroom are limited...until she remembers the shy servant boy next door. Then she discovers that her childhood friend is actually Viscount Thurlow—ruthless businessman, future earl, and a man whose family is shrouded in scandal.

After two rejected marriage proposals, David Thurlow needs a wife who will give him an heir, someone who will not only overlook his past but also be above reproach. Victoria is the ideal candidate—quiet, unassuming, and in desperate need of funds. But even as she strives to be the perfect wife, her calm demeanor masks a shocking secret...one that is overshadowed by David's slow, heated lessons in the art of seduction that threaten to transform a "convenient" marriage into a torrid and passionate affair.

Sisters of Willow Pond. Book 1

This book started promising.

Vistoria had a journal hidden in the garden between two neighboring houses, but it was found by the neighbor's boy. The boy was actually the heir pretended to be cook's son.

The two had an extensive exchange in the journal as means of communication, it was lovely to see how the two shared something about their lives, and although David even used an alias, he still held this connection close to his heart, but this connection became thinner at some point when the two grew up.

Now years later Vistoria finds herself in predicament, her father who once was a figure with solid financial foundation left them with debts, soon they will be evicted from the house and have nowhere to go.

Note: Tbh several of similar premises made me think of what can woman in such situation do, since they're s dependant on men. Their father wasn't a lord, but a banker, but still.

Now that her two sisters went to work, she stayed in the house with her mother. She wasn't as talented as others in things that would be beneficial in a profession, she loved to play music the most and had affection for embroidery. But now they have nothing to sell in the house to keep on going.

And this is where she remembers the boy she conversed through journal and wanted to find him (yes, to marry him). Which to me already kinda dropped a shadow on the logic, since why would you think a cook's son will be able to handle this financially.

But then she finds out that David is the boy and he actually a lord.

David needed a wife, while she needed a husband. Due to David's father infamy he couldn't find a wife among the ton, so he directed this attention towards Vistoria and they made a deal.

I did not read much, Victoria felt kinda meek, but then I read that she will change and become almost a London's sensation... Since she is needed to support David in his political career as well.

But then when they basically only married or were soon-to-be married David had a meeting with a woman who was supposed to be his lover / mistress. Who actually was mentioned during one of the dinners and you could feel her weird vibes towards Vistoria.

I'm not a fan of such situations in general. I don't say that a man like a woman should come into marriage as a blank sheet, after all it's historical setting as well. But the need to make him have someone almost before marriage made me feel the ick. And plot-wise I saw no need.

But Victoria is good-natured and the first thing she did was think how good it would be to connect David and his father again. Mind you, she has no idea what the scandal was (for real no one talked directly what exactly happened) and this scandal made David bear the consequences for years. Why she thought of this I have no idea.

But this Victoria aka good wife material made me lose interest pretty quickly. The plot felt bland and not exciting at all. Although I could be thankful for one thing, there were time skips, which was nice.

It was obvious that all three books will be the Cinderella type of poor girl and a man in power coming like a knight in shining armor to save them and elevate their status.

So because I didn't vibe with the book I put it down. There is no need to hang on it just for the sake of finishing it. 

RATE: DNF.