The Gentleman Farmer

The Mercer's House #7

by Mary Kingswood

A family in trade moving up in the world. A family of landed gentry stepping aside for them. And the sons and daughters caught in the middle.

This is a complete story, a sequel to the Mercer’s House series. Please read book 6, A Christmas Betrothal first.

A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. The ebook of this story is available free of charge from the Mary Kingswood website.

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Romance, Regency

302 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2023

About the author

I live in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with my husband. I like chocolate, whisky, my Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in my campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. I dislike driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, hospitals.

The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.

NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a glorious surprise to learn about this free book when I finished Book 6! I always go through a bit of a book "hangover" when I blow though a Mary Kingswood book, knowing I've read them all and must now await a new release...but the party wasn't over, so the hangover starts today!

This was a wonderful addition to the series. It provided me with some closure after the shocks from book 6 for a character who was so deserving of happiness. The plot was wonderful, with lovely characters and twists while providing finality to all the beloved characters in the series...and more time with Captain Edgerton and team!

Can't wait for the release of the next series!

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey finally gets his HEA, as does his brother Anthony and his new friend Dom. Have we have a Mary Kingswood book with three HEAs yet?

Redmond was such a sad character in this series, under the thumb of his terrible father. In this book, he gets away to attempt to rehabilitate a derelict farm in the family portfolio. Captain Edgerton, Lucy, and their friends joined to investigate the murder of Redmond’s uncle who had been running the farm. We get to meet and eclectic cast of locals both common and aristocratic. This one was great fun.

The epilogue includes an update about Rosie and her apothecary in Sagborough!

[Kellye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy that Mary wrote this special sequel. I finished book 6 feeling like there were too many loose ends that I would want revisited at some point. Lord Alsbury’s true love story is special and I love the theme in this installment and in book 6 of the men learning to stand on their own feet and stand up for themselves and the women they have chosen. While I still want more of Bella’s story when the time is right, I feel like this put the bow on the package of this series. While it could stand alone, it will be far more satisfying if you have read the rest of the Mercer’s series.

[Tilde D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, was this lovely!

After Book 6 I'd been suffering withdrawals. It's often that way when I come to the end of a series that's been totally immersive and all-engrossing the way this one has been. But all of a sudden here we have The Gentleman Farmer! A delightful last entry in the series; more than a post script or short story to wrap up a couple of loose ends; this is a full length book 7, and a true, well-rounded, very satisfying conclusion to the Mercer's House series.

The Gentleman Farmer is Albury's story, and let me just say that never has there been a character who I so profoundly changed my mind about over the course of a series than Albury -- bland, pleasant, always correct, always ever so slightly dithering Redmond Landers, the Viscount Albury.
In Christmas Betrothal we saw him make the first moves to stand up to his overbearing father and the crushing demands placed upon him as the heir, and also got a glimpse of his terrible loneliness. Learning these things about him led me to realize that Albury is a good man, and very deserving of his own HEA, and that is exactly what we get here.

I won't say too much more; but boy oh boy are there delights to be found all the way through this, including the presence of the dashing Captain Edgerton and associates; getting acquainted with Albury's new neighbors; the joys of real friendship with people of one's own age and background; an adorable dog named Clem, and especially, a laugh-out-loud encounter with what must be the silliest marquess of all time.

Putting this on my Favorites and To-Be-ReRead shelves. I wholeheartedly loved it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

by my regular guidelines this should really be 4*. (A very good book that I am happy to recommend to all fans of the genre). But my squeee at getting and devouring this book forces me to give it 4.5* minimum. It doesn't make my 5* requirements (An excellent book that I would recommend to any of my friends, regardless of their genre preferences) but I don't care - 5 it is!

This is effectively a follow up to A Christmas Betrothal in which Lord Albury gives his overbearing father the figurative middle finger, then goes off to live the life he wants. As an added bonus we get a little bit of Captain Edgerton and co.

Thank you Mary Kingswood for this Christmas present!

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Kingwood certainly isn't Jane Austen, but she's in the running for one of the best Regency romance writers since Georgette Heyer. In fact, Kingswood often combines period romance with Heyer's other specialty, murder mysteries, and her crew of investigators are a lot more fun than Heyer's--I've never enjoyed hers.

Kingswood added this as an extra book-the 7th book in her "Mercer's House" series. If you read books 1-6 you were likely to expect what happened at the end of book 6, and the 7th book allows a character left with an unhappy ending to get a happy ending. Satisfying and fun.

Note: I have read most of Ms Kingswood's books via Kindle Unlimited. This one is available for FREE as a download from her website, and I thank her for doing so.

[Rod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clean story. The final book in this series and deals with what happens to Anthony, his brother, Amelia, and of course whether the Earl of Faulkbourne gets money for the east wing. I was surprised this was a free full book, and enjoyed it as I have the others. There are a couple of anomalies. The Earl cannot understand why the state in the north since the death of his brother is not generating income, and eventually sends Anthony to find out. I am sure as an Earl he would have dispatched an employee long ago, and not just kept accepting his sister-in-law’s refusal to tell him anything. Also, whilst amusing, I am sure the Marquis would have had more idea of how society worked in London, or his mother and married sister would have done. But it did not spoil it for me hence the score.

[Jinjre · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have the kindle version of the "Christmas Betrothal", you can get a free copy of this book (read the author's notes at the end).

I really adore that our hero gets his heart UNbroken in this book. I'm quite glad that the author didn't leave us wondering "What ever happened to...." at the end of Christmas Betrothal. And quite a change in our hero from "Christmas..."

Awwwwwwww!

[Flo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing make this book totally enjoyable although maybe the ending is much too happy ever after. I did like Albury and Rachel although she seemed to fall in love way too fast but that is how she did things. Mary Kingswood writes a really good regency and I admit I am waiting impatiently for her next novel.

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

(My 4 stars is probably your 5.) I'm so glad there was a 7th! It would have been a loss not to find out what became of Redmond, Viscount Albury. A major change and a coming-into-his-own for our hero, an unexpected love, and even a murder mystery. (For sale in paperback thru Amazon but it can also be obtained electronically for FREE; see author site.)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For once I didn’t care that the ending was improbable given the social norms of the nineteenth century. I liked the characters. I liked how they grew and settled into themselves. It’s a romance—not a history. For me it was a satisfying end to the series.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kisses only. What a delightful surprise to get this bonus book! It wrapped up the Fletcher story very nicely (the book is about Lord Albury not the Fletchers) and gave closure to Redmond’s tale. I love that he grew a backbone and gained friendships. It was also fun to see Edgerton and crew.

[Sallie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ms. Kingswood for giving us the last bit of the Fletcher's story. Everyone is where they should be and we are on to the next! I will miss the Fletchers terribly and hope that some of them will show up down the line.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent culmination of the series

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.25. Really enjoyed! Glad for Redmond’s happy ending. Interesting plot!

[Veniece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m delighted you wrote the story of this Gentleman. He had a great deal of growth over the past few years. It was nice to see him become his own man.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when Lord Alsbury got his own story. I loved this series so much! I love Captain Edgerton and can't wait for his next adventures!

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh bravo, excellent finish to the storylines!