Sophie Leigh Fox: Vying for a Groom

Vying for a Groom by Sophie Leigh Fox
Series: Love, Most Ardently #2
Published by Mellow & Mayhem Publishing on September 23, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Romance / General
Pages: 159
Format: ARC
Source: The Author
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A lady’s companion and a Royal Navy captain are secretly involved…but not with each other.

Alarmed after receiving news of her adoptive parents’ perilous missionary assignment to India, Cassandra Lawton leaves her position as a companion to seek solace with her only remaining family in Surrey. At Heighbury Manor, the dutiful Cassandra reconnects with her childhood friend, now a ruggedly handsome groom. Their difference in class forces them to conceal a budding romance. As she struggles to navigate these new feelings, Cassandra’s hopes are challenged when an unexpected rival appears.

After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Royal Navy Captain Sir Raleigh Burgess returns home ready to settle down and marry. But the woman to whom he was forced to become engaged after being caught in an intimate embrace refuses to announce their plans to wed formally. After receiving a stark warning that casts doubts on her character, Raleigh’s misgivings about his betrothed further complicate his future.

I received this book for free from The Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This short novella transitions from summer to Autumn, with bright, crunchy leaves underfoot of this story of a companion experiencing a big change who also gets a chance at love.

There is a gentleness about the book combined with a lot of action packed into a novella page length, so readers looking for a more cozy with a little melodrama read can find much to enjoy.  I think Leigh also uses history as a good enhancement for her story.

I found myself wanting more character depth, which is admittedly hard to achieve in a novella, and so much intrigue left me confused.  I tend to prefer the romance rather than drama taking center stage, so I wanted more time with the MCs. This left me feeling a confused by some of the resolution, not really clear on what happened.

This novella has inspirational (Christian) elements and themes, including quoted scripture. Its kisses only, with some mature themes and no violence.

I think readers who want inspirational romance with lots of action may really enjoy this second in a series.  I would recommend readers start with the first in the series and that may help with some of the character depth.