The Rector’s Daughter by Jean Fullerton
Charlotte,
daughter of Reverend Percival Hatton, has been content to follow the
path laid out for her. Charlotte has an understanding with Captain
Nicolas Paget – every inch the gentleman – who she expects
someday to marry. But then she meets Josiah Martyn, and everything
changes...
A
driven and ambitious Cornish mining engineer, and the complete
opposite to Captain Nicholas, Josiah has come to London
to help build the first tunnel under
the river Thames. When unpredictable events occur at the inauguration
of the project, Josiah and Charlotte are suddenly thrown into an
unexpected intimacy.
But
not everyone is happy with Charlotte and Josiah growing closer. As
friends turn to foes, will they be able to rewrite the stars and find
their happy ever after, although all odds seem to be stacked against
them…?
I've
always been a reader who prefers choosing a book by reading the blurb
rather than seduced by a cover. The Rector's Daughter is a perfect
example of this and far exceeded my expectations as well as
introducing me to a new author whose work I will seek out more.
Charlotte lives with her Father, Reverend Percival Hatton at St. Mary's Church in Rotherhithe, London. It's her job to assist her father in the way the wife of a clergyman would assist her husband in his work within the parish because her mother died. When work begins on a tunnel to go under the river Thames, in Rotherhyde, she meets Josiah Martyn, an engineer on the project. Even though she's expected to marry Captain Paget, she and Josiah are determined to be together. The result is an understanding they will find a way to be together. The beginning of a journey fraught with familial dislike.
The history and research for this novel are outstanding. I always love learning about real-life events and understanding the social impact on these feats. It adds a fulfilling depth to the narrative for the reader to become enveloped in. As someone who reads mostly romance, I was invested in Charlotte and Josiah's relationship and appreciated the forbidden love aspect of their journey to a happy ending.
It's saga full of action, drama and facts. Aided with plenty of colourful characters adding insight and villainy along the way. The author wraps this all together beautifully creating a wonderful novel for readers who love history and romance.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources***
Jean Fullerton is the author of thirteen novels all set in East
London where she was born. She also a retired district nurse and
university lecturer. She won the Harry Bowling prise in 2006 and
after initially signing for two East London historical series with
Orion she moved to Corvus, part of Atlantic Publishing and is half
way through her WW2 East London series featuring the Brogan family.
Website:
http://jeanfullerton.com/
Twitter:
@JeanFullerton_
