But their conversations with each other are also key. Long spends quality time on the set up, and you understand what drives both of them. But you can feel their uniqueness almost immediately. Either of them could have been a “type” – or worse, a stereotype. No one is really rooting for these two to get together – except the reader, who can see how ideal their match is. Adam has a carefully guarded reputation, and his standing in the community depends on his ability to continue to guard it. The conflicts are about what one would expect.

I hesitate to say much about the romance for fear of spoiling it. It seems an unlikely match, but of course it is perfect. Obviously, Evie and Adam will fall in love.

Evie is intrigued by Adam and decides to engage his help in her endeavors to befriend the local population. Adam hears a brief recounting of Evie’s history at the local tavern, and can’t help remembering her hurt expression. Both of them think about the encounter later. He catches her unawares, and her conversation with Adam is not what she expects he doesn’t respond to flattery or flirtation, and seems vaguely offended and bored. Evie’s horse throws a shoe, and an unpleasant encounter with one of the locals who has heard Evie’s unpleasant nickname leaves her feeling out of sorts. He meets Evie and her maid Henny after the service and figures he’ll never see her again – his sermon was so boring after all.īut he runs into her on the way home, accidentally surprising her into using her Irish accent. But Evie hears a few words of his sermon (which starts with his thoughts on goats) and can’t keep her eyes open. His single female parishioners have been known to drop by with all manner of gifts hoping to attract his attention. He’s related to the infamous Everseas (he got the vicar post through his uncle), and he has the family good looks.

If she could ditch the unfortunate epithet bestowed upon her by the ton, so much the better.Įvie catches Vicar Adam Sylvaine’s attention in a very unflattering way when she falls asleep during his sermon on Loving Your Neighbor. Her ambitions at this point are relatively modest she’d like to live on her small property in relative obscurity and economy, continue to support her needy brothers and sisters, and make a contribution to the community. A Notorious Countess Confesses may sound like the type of title you see all the time – but the book is much, much better than the title suggests.Įvie Duggan has arrived at Pennyroyal Green by way of Ireland, the London theater world, and most recently, as a result of her husband’s – the Earl of Wareham’s – untimely death. I’ve read romances about former courtesans (too many to count), and I’ve read romances about ministers (not as numerous as ex-courtesans), but I’d be hard pressed to think of one I liked as much as I liked this one.

A notorious countess confesses