A Provincial Peer (Georgian Gentlemen, # 6)
By: Sian Ann Bessey
Publication: May 7, 2024 by Covenant Communications
248 pages
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Georgian
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)
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Goodreads description--Lord Benning is no ordinary nobleman. The heir to an earldom, he feels more at home working on the farm at his country estate than socializing in the ballrooms of London. So when a mysterious, veiled woman mistakes him for a farmhand, he takes the assumption in stride. And though he is not offended, he is intrigued.Following a devastating outbreak of smallpox, Caroline Granger and her young daughter, Meg, retreat to Caroline’s childhood home in the village of Leyfield in Gloucestershire. Left widowed and weakened by the ravages of the disease, Caroline wears a veil to hide her facial scars and to prevent the inevitable gasps of horror or murmurs of pity others offer in response to her altered appearance.
Caroline is mortified when she learns of her error in addressing Lord Benning—or Benedict, as she called him during their growing-up years—as a farmhand. But shared childhood memories and a precocious four-year-old inevitably draw Benedict and Caroline together, and it’s not long before Caroline realizes that Benedict accepts every part of her—including her scars. With newfound courage and a growing love for Benedict, Caroline feels the first stirrings of hope. But when the disease that took so much from Caroline finds its way to Leyfield, she stands to lose more than she can bear, and Benedict must decide exactly how much he is willing to risk for a chance at love.
I've had an up and down relationship with the Georgian Gentlemen series. Overall, my biggest complaint has been that the mysteries can take over the plot. But that wasn't the case with A Provincial Peer, and I'm so happy that the series ends with this book.
Benedict is the leading male in this story. He is the big brother to Henry who was the leading male character of the previous book, The Unassuming Curator. He is the heir to the estate and title of Lord Farwell. He likes being active on the estate with the cows and wheat. I liked that his father was an active character in the story. Often, the main male character is already the head of the estate and property, even though Benedict is very involved in the estate, his father is still the head of the house, property, and family. His father was needed for necessary estate business, but he was also a source of wisdom and advice for Benedict.
Caroline is the daughter of the local vicar. Her husband recently died of smallpox and Caroline suffered from the illness as well, but thankfully lived. Caroline and her young daughter Meg have moved back into the vicarage with her father. Caroline is still regaining her strength from her illness, but Meg is an active young girl and wanders onto the earl's property which reintroduces Caroline to Benedict. Of course, they've known each other since their youth. Caroline and Henry were close friends growing up.
I enjoyed the slow build between Caroline and Benedict. They had history, but not enough to have any hurdles to overcome with past traumas. Caroline was the sweetest character. She wanted only to help those around her and never seemed to think of herself too highly. She couldn't consider Benedict as even in the realm of possibility because of the differences in their station as well as her scarring from the illness. Benedict has no lack of humility. And he also is working hard to help all of the tenants and villagers.
The mystery in this book wasn't so much about some robbers or kidnappers. And the story was layered in a way that you could easily feel for all of the characters involved. That's all I'll say about that so I don't spoil anything.
Favorite quotes:
-"It has been my observation that those who find beauty and joy in their current circumstances will find it anywhere they may go; whereas those who always yen to be somewhere else will find those same feelings resurfacing no matter where they find themselves."
-"It is remarkable how God works within the confines of the most trying circumstances to help us improve ourselves. I would not wish the hardships you have experienced upon you or anyone else, but I see the strength and wisdom you have developed because of them."
-"Everyone deserves kindness. It should be at the foundation of every act and every conversation. I only wish that those who refuse to accept so simple a truth would understand that when all is said and done, thoughtless or cruel behavior ultimately causes more damage to the giver than the receiver."
-Frustration was a poor companion, and he knew full well that he would be better off without it, but that did not make relinquishing it easy.
-"But that is what it means to love completely and to live to its fullest, is it not? We willingly set aside our fears and take a step into the unknown--a leap of faith, if you will--so that we might experience true joy."
Side note, I appreciate how Meg wasn't dumbed down. Often times when an author isn't immediately around children of a specific age that they're writing, it can be easy to write a 4-year-old in a way that a 2-year-old might act. This is easy to understand the confusion, but as a parent of young children (my youngest is 3), it can be a pet peeve at the same time.
A Provincial Peer was such an encouraging story about a trying time in history. Smallpox was so deadly. Caroline and Benedict had a sweet journey. And I loved Meg and Benedict's relationship with her. The mystery was just enough for me that it didn't take over the rest of the plot, but it enhanced instead of taking away from the plot. A Provincial Peer gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Provincial Peer? What did you think? Let me know!
