His Lordship's Vow

by Cheryl Bolen

Heat Index: Sweet
Short novel (approximately 31,000 words)
* * *
Bereft of beauty as well as fortune, the exceedingly plain Miss Jane Featherstone has failed to attract any suitor during her three Seasons. Rather than be a burden to her brother and his obnoxious wife, Miss Featherstone vows to accept the first man who asks—even though she's always worshipped a lord who's far above her touch. . .

Lord Slade must marry an heiress in order to honor the deathbed vow he made to his father, and he needs Miss Featherstone's help in wooing her beautiful cousin. After her initial anger, Miss Featherstone agrees to his scheme, telling him she's doing so because she admires his Parliamentary record of humanitarian legislation and his reverence for truth. But the more he's with the two cousins, the more attracted he becomes to Miss Featherstone. What's a man of his word to do? Break a vow to a beloved father—or follow his heart with Miss Featherstone?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Regency, Historical, Novella, Historical Fiction, British Literature

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2012

About the author

Since being named Notable New Author for 1997, Cheryl Bolen has published more than 35 books with Kensington/Zebra, Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical, Montlake, and independently. She has broken into the top 5 on the New York Times and hit the USA Today bestseller list. Her 2005 One Golden Ring won Best Historical, Holt Medallion, and her 2011 My Lord Wicked was awarded Best Historical in the International Digital Awards, the same year her Christmas novella was chosen as Best Novella. Her books have been finalists for other awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, and have been translated into eight languages. She’s also been the number 1 bestselling historical romance author in Germany.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of Houston. Her favorite pursuits are reading diaries of dead English women, traveling to England, and watching the Texas Longhorns play football and basketball. She and her recently retired professor husband are the parents of two sons. One is an attorney, the other a journalist.

Website: www.CherylBolen.com
Blog: www.cherylsregencyramblings.wordpress.co
Facebook: http://fbl.ink/Facebook

Reviews

[Cheesecake]

found in a compilation and here's what I wrote there;

Jane has loved Lord Slade since she was a girl and he has never noticed her as anything other than his colleague's daughter. Now he is spending a lot of time with her but only to court her younger much prettier and very wealthy cousin. I would have loved this one, but I wasn't convinced of he loved her.
He doesn't miraculously discover his affection for Jane til the 11th hour and only because his sister's pointed it out to him. So not very romantic.

[Mariana]

Re-read. A sweet story. I have enjoyed all Cheryl Bolen books read.

[Xenia]

This is the first book I read by the author Cheryl Bolen. If this is any indication of what her romance books are like I will be reading all of them. His Lordship's Vow is the kind of romance story I love to read. It is a shame that I cannot find any modern romance books where the same values prevail. I love reading love stories where the hero and heroine fall in love before any sex occurs. One reviewer wrote that she was glad there are no sex scenes written in this book, but I would not have minded it at all if it is written in good taste and occurs after they fall in love. It was lovely to read about the wedding at the end. What is passing for romance novels today is really about lust and superficial love based on the extraordinary looks of the heroine. It is entirely possible for a handsome man to fall in love with a women who is not drop dead gorgeous, but pretty in her own right. It is one of the reasons I loved the last 2 episodes of The Vicar of Dibley where the handsome stranger played by Ricahrd Armitage falls in love with and marries Dawn French who plays the vicar.

I liked that Jane Featherstone was plain, but I wish it was not written about as if there is something wrong with being plain. I am sure that Miss Featherstone is pretty in her own right. I love that even though Miss Featherstone is an innocent she is not stupid, but smart and thinks for herself.

All in all this is a great short romance story and I highly recommend it. This book is more than worth the .99 cents Kindle price if you love reading about romance.

[JoRead]

Lord Slade must honor a vow but in doing so may have to put aside his growing feeling for the somewhat pretty but plain and extremely lean figured Ms. Featherstone. I swear, every time she was called plain I felt a punch to my own ego. This is one of the few stories I recall show an extremely intelligent but slighted heroine, not so much because she was plain but because she didn’t have much to her name. She was no wallflower, she knew her own mind and wasn't afraid to speak it out loud, and she also knew she didn't have a dowry therefore no man looking for a position would ask for her hand in marriage. I liked that about her. She knew her circumstances and yet she was making the best of them, as I’m sure many woman of the time had to. Lord Slade didn't think of her as a woman of overt beauty at the start but little by little her mind took possession of his heart and of course after that it was only a matter of time before they found a way to end up together. I mean no offense to any Austen fans but I can imagine Ms. Jane imagining a story like this one ;)
I read this story as part of the box set Captivated by His Kiss, which was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

[☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾]

I really wanted to like this more, because Jane was a great self-sacrificing, plain, wallflower heroine. But the whole thing felt a bit contrived. One would think Lady Sarah was the only heiress on the market that Season. The hero could have courted any number of women, it didn't have to be her, and after she frequently indicates how non-compatible they are, he could have chased another heiress instead. Part of my issue is that I detest love triangles, and there are too many elements of that here. Also,I was prepared for Poppinbotham to be a semi-villainous foil for the hero to realize his feelings for the heroine, but he turned out to be a perfectly nice, if silly person, who just got hurt in the end. Boo. (2.5 stars)

[M.A. Nichols]

I'm rounding up here from about a 3.5, and frankly, that has more to do with the fact that I'm a sucker for historical romances with plain spinsters as the heroine. The story was entertaining, though felt too brief. I'm fine with a short novel, but not at the expense of the story. The climax and denouement happened far too quickly, but all in all, it's a sweet novel about the average gal getting the man, which I love. What can I say?

Sweet, fun, quick read. If you love spinsters in clean historical romances, then this might be a good one for you to pick up.

[Sara]

This is a quieter book by comparison to others by the same author, but Slade/Jane might be my favorite of Bolen's couples so far. While the heavy-handedness of the political views here was a bit hard to take, reading about a couple so well-matched intellectually and in temperament was truly delightful. They don't always need to be opposites!! And the hero's inner journey in figuring out he's in love with the heroine was spot on.

[Angie]

This was a really good book about Jane and Lord Slade. Lord Slade is trying to honor a deathbed confession of his father and he asked Jane to help him. Once Jane finds out the real reason he is interested in her cousin she decides to help him. Jane has a gentleman that is wanting to marry her, but Lord Slade realizes that Jane is the girl he wants and not her cousin.

[Becky Leonard]

Everyone should read

I love all of Cheryl's historical romance novels. They have never disappointed me. The actual facts she uses along with intriguing plots, beautiful settings, and characters make it difficult to put her books down. Everyone that loves historical fiction should read her books.

[Sara G]

Exactly what I thought it would be. Also, I hate Sarah with a passion but I guess that's fine.

[Lyn Sweetapple]

Intesting angle

[Roy]

You know the end from the beginning, which is the case in many Regency Romances. The story then becomes all about the journey. This story for the most part lacks a journey.

[Amur3n]

2.5. Very speedy read

[Leslie Marshman]

His Lordship’s Vow is a fun novella about Jane Featherstone, who may be plainer than her beautiful cousin Sarah, but clearly exceeds a lot of young women in the intelligence department. Having come out three years previously (and still never being courted), Jane must now assist with Sarah’s coming out. While young men are lining up to win Sarah’s heart, Jane is facing a dismal future of living with her brother and unpleasant sister-in-law as the unwanted maiden aunt, since women without beauty or a dowry have few options.

Among Sarah’s courters is Lord Slade, a man Jane came to know through playing hostess at her father’s political meetings. Ever an admirer of Slade’s political views and brilliant orations, she can’t deny that he’s also the most physically appealing man she’s ever seen. She knows a man of Slade’s status puts him far beyond her reach, but that doesn’t stop her from dreaming.

What Jane doesn’t realize at first is that Lord Slade’s interest in Sarah is not due to her beauty or charming wit, but rather a deathbed vow he’d made to his father. In addition to having to pay for his brother’s commission and his three sisters’ coming outs, he’d promised to restore the family’s crumbling Dunvale Castle to its former glory. His only hope to uphold his obligations is to marry a woman of wealth, which Sarah definitely is.

As Slade has enlisted Jane’s help in courting Sarah, the three of them spend a lot of time together. Slade must try to deny his attraction to Jane and live with the guilt of pursuing Sarah for money rather than love. Jane must fight unwanted jealousy of her cousin and accept that Slade may be joining the family, but not as her own husband. And Sarah, well, Sarah has a mind of her own as well as beauty and money.

This is a quick read with plenty of conflict but not overloaded with angst. The characters are well-developed and, without giving away any spoilers, of course there’s a happy ending. I enjoyed His Lordship’s Vow very much.

[Cass]

This was probably the first of the really cliched bodice busters that I read. In fact I download a collection of 7 of them, all pretty much the same.

We have a girl, we have a duke, they fall in love at first site, in most cases he has her in a dark corner with her bodice undone and nipple in mouth at their first meeting.

I should explain that. Sex in a bodice buster is always the same. First she moans into his mouth. This mouth moaning happens frequently. Next his hands grab her buttocks. He always does that, regardless of who he is, he will grab her buttocks and we must be told about it. With his left hand (never his right) he will cup her breast. Breasts are always cupped in a bodice buster, it is a preamble to his killer move, which is to get her nipple out of the bodice and into his mouth. A favored move of any good Duke hero, if she is particularly wanton he will be able to get two nipples out before they come to their sense. If a carriage is involved you can guarantee he has had his hands down her pants and almost has her orgasming before the carriage arrives at their destination.


Now specifically about this book. I did like that they knew each other, where good friends, valued each other's intelligence, and then fell in love. It was quite a sweet story if you can ignore all the mouth groaning.

[Krys]

I wish this would have been longer than a novella. To me, it felt as though I didn't get a chance to really understand these characters - and honestly the entire story felt rushed.

I have read longer novels from this author - and all of them were exceedingly well done, which is why this one was a bit of a disappointment. Now don't get me wrong, this did leave me with a "warm and fuzzy feeling" upon finishing it, and I thought the ending was done nicely and in a way that tied everything up for the reader, but I wanted MORE.

I wanted there to be more of a build-up between the characters leading to the choices they made at the ending, I wanted there to be a longer romance than what we were presented with (for example how two characters fell in love without it seeming rushed). I think if this had been a full length novel it would easily have been a five star read.

Overall, I would recommend this to people who enjoy a sweet romance and are looking for a quick read.

[Reading In Uraniborg]

4 stars

I liked it a lot! It was clean and sweet and I wish it was longer.

In this story, the hero - Lord Slade - made a vow at the deathbed of his father that he would restore their castle to its former glory and provide for his three younger sisters. For doing all these he would have to marry an heiress.
Miss Jane Featherstone has always admired and loved Lord Slade. But she is penniless and plane and Lord Slade is far above her station. Then we meet her cousin Lady Sarah who is very beautiful and rich.
When Lord Slade asks Jane to help him woo her cousin she is heartbroken.
But while she helps him we see Lord Slade fall in love with her. It's obvious from the start that they were perfect for each other!!

It was very well written and I will be definitely reading more from this author.

[Dennis Hinton]

A Nail Biter

Now Cheryl, I really did bit need to add another gray hair to my head, however since I'm quite sure it will blend in nicely with the others - you are forgiven ;),
What a lot of punch you are able to pack in a novella! I practically inhaled this book. You make your characters not only believable but knowable.
I felt each emotion along with Miss Jane Featherstone.
That is what convinces me of what an outstanding author you truly are. Oh, and please write more as I am quite close to counting down to the last few books I have yet to read... But one good thing about aging is that if I wait several months I can start from where I began and may not remember every detail about every book!?! Eh, c'est la vie.

[Mari Pequenos Retalhos]

Too much drama and a rushed ending. Also, the author kept repeating the same expressions all through the story, which was extremely annoying. The plot was good but the characters were not developed enough, and in the end they seemed too shallow. Also, it never felt right the way they talked. It was too formal, and while it is expected that the characters in a Regency era book will not talk like we talk today, it felt pretty unnatural.
The ending was rushed and there were too many loose ends without any conclusion. In the end, I just finished reading because sometimes you need the kind of book that is so silly you don't even have to think while reading it.

[Zehra Rizvi]

It was a bit too short for me. And the drama around "the Vow" was all a little more than I really liked although I understood it. I just wish she had taken a bit more time to develop the romance between the hero and the heroine because it just seemed to quick for him to suddenly go "Oh wait I love her! Even though I've barely thought of her romantically." Still nice if you're looking for something quick.

[Darla Stokes]

Got this in the Kindle bundle "Captivated by His Kiss".

It's nice to get back to Regencies for a change--I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed them.

This has a fairly common trope in which the heroine is in love with the hero but agrees to help him woo someone else. What makes it worth reading is that the characters are all well-defined and not simply caricatures.

[Sarah]

SHORT BUT WONDERFUL! This is the kind of sweet and romantic stories we used to read and love. The characters are likeable, and the book is well written. This is the first book I have read by Cheryl Bolen, but I am looking forward to reading others.

[Kirsten Lenius]

This is a proper and true regency romance novel. It is short, but is neither over, nor under written. And true love wins the day. There are a few editorial boo-boos and one word that I feel was misused, but overall, it was a rather refreshing read.

[Olivia]

Maybe I have been reading too many traditional regencies, but I don't think the unmarried women of this book should be running around without chaperones, nor maids. Just a bit too much wtf for me. The story was nice and I saw the ending coming.

[Lourdes]

I loved it!! This is a short story but it's sweet, fast paced and clean - no ravishing the maiden at any time. I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Bolen's work and can't wait to start!!

[kate]

A soft 4

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile"]

Captivated By His Kiss: A Limited Edition Boxed Set of Seven Regency Romances

[Jennifer]

Disappointed that the hero in the book who is supposed to be intelligent chose such a silly path but glad remain true to his heart in the end.

[Carrie]

3.5/5
Ending felt a bit rushed, but I liked the characters.

[Lesia Chambliss]

This is a sweet, romantic story, almost fairytale like. A wonderful edition to my library, and one that I recommend to you. Lovely characters, and a handsome hero.