Joan Smith: Lovers’ Vows

Lord Dewar visits St. Alton’s Abbey, his ancestral estates, infrequently, preferring the cultural atmosphere of London, for the handsome young landowner is a great devotee of the arts—music, painting and especially the theater. It has been more than two years, then, since Holly McCormack has laid eyes on his lordship. Not that she minds, for Holly is eminently practical, as a poor relation making a home with better-off relatives must necessarily be. If she gives any thought to Dewar at all, it is only to condemn him in her mind for neglecting the duties incumbent on the lord of the Abbey. Things change however, when Dewar comes home on a rare visit.

A spinsterish heroine, a dandyish hero, and a country production of Romeo and Juliet. In the hands of Joan Smith, its at once familiar and surprisingly fresh. Here we have the tension of duty and beauty playing out between two characters who are so sure of themselves, but find themselves challenged by the other. I like that the hero is the “flighty” one who is admittedly a bit of a flake, but shrugs it off as part of his “artistic temperament.” I also love the way we see the true impact beauty, and fun, has on all the characters towards the end of the novel, making this understated theme really rise to the top. Although the characters and their “types” may be familiar, the themes felt new.

The most laughs by in large come from the supporting cast. Naturally, with an older heroine we have the ingénue foil who is a beauty. Jane is the perfect Juliet, quiet, pretty and kind. Also, a bit silly (or at least wide-eyed and not up to snuff). Holly, on the other hand, is not particularly beautiful and is very serious. Her most attractive feature is her voice.

Dewar gets his own hyper-real manifestation in the character of Swithin Idle, who reminds me (although not as over the top) of Romeo from Babe and Lovers’ Quarrels.

I most loved Dewar’s mother, who is lady of the manor for the area but dresses in her dead husband’s cast offs, and is more interested in receipts than riches.

Lovers’ Vows is fairly standard Joan Smith fair, a subtle romance that progresses mostly through looks and sometimes tense interactions. It is not as funny as other Smith versions, but is nonetheless readable—the last hundred pages were hard to put down.

I have heard said a couple of times that Smith’s books aren’t “romantic”. That criticism, I am guessing, is directed at the very light touch she gives romance which to me feels era appropriate. No, her books don’t feature a lot of on the nose dialogue, moonlight kisses, or other overt manifestations of romance. What she is playing with is much more the stuff of reality. So for those looking for a very strong, central love story that is obvious and involves lots of twists, turns, and plot points you will be disappointed.

However, if you are looking for a quiet romance with an elegance, look no further.

5 Stars 3.75 out of 6 A house party setting with a sparring H/h bring Regency to life