Before I get to my review of Daisies and Devotion today, I wanted to let you know that I won’t be posting five days a week for the time being. I’m having a hard time keeping up with that much reading for the moment. I’ll probably get back to that schedule in the fall, but for now, it’s too much. Thanks for your understanding.

About Daisies and Devotion

Timothy Mayfield has nearly given up on his search for a wife. Though he is the picture of a fine, social gentleman, Timothy wishes his finances provided a more stable foundation. Then his Uncle Elliott presents to him a solution: participate in his “marriage campaign,” and upon approval of his choice for a wife, Timothy’s inheritance will be his.

Freed from the constraints of having to marry for money, Timothy is ready to marry for love instead. And he knows exactly what he wants in a wife: youth, optimism, beauty, blonde hair, fine-boned features, shapely shoulders, small waist, blue eyes, button nose, solid fashion sense, a light laugh, low voice, arched eyebrows, fair skin, elegant fingers, quick wit, calm manner, and a dazzling smile.

His friend, Maryann Morrington, an heiress in her own right, tells him outright that his expectations are ridiculous—no such woman exists. Maryann had considered Timothy as a potential suitor for a time, but then their relationship shifted to friendship and she has avoided allowing herself to have feelings for him again.

She agrees to help him find his “perfect wife,” because she’s certain that the search will render nothing. Until it does. Miss Shaw appears to fulfill every single item on Timothy’s list—unlike Maryann who has brown hair, brown eyes, lacks delicate features, and possesses a laugh that is definitely unladylike.

But when Timothy and Miss Shaw begin courting, Timothy realizes something profound. He’d rather spend his time with Maryann. But can he trust his judgment when his heart has led him wrong so many times before?

It is only when Maryann leaves the London season early, that Timothy realizes that he had truly fallen in love with her and that his list of requirements were nothing but fantasy. If he hopes to build a strong relationship, Timothy must convince Maryann that she is the very woman he’d been looking for all along—before it is too late.

My review

I got to read the first book in this series, Promises and Primroses, last year. This made me super excited to get to read the next installment. I loved the way the characters from that one made an appearance in this one. It just makes the series fit together so much better than if they hadn’t.

This one is about Maryann and Timothy. I loved the way these two characters are together! They’re honest with each other about everything, even down to Timothy needing to marry a woman of means at the beginning. And Maryann knowing that she was an heiress that was a big concern for her, she was always having to fend off men who just wanted her money.

Maryann is witty and just a fun character. I loved the way she cared fiercely for her family. She had given up her whole life to care for her ill mother. And she gives up much to care for her older sister in this one as well. It just shows the kind of person she is and how much family means to her.

Then there’s Timothy. I loved the way he was the kind of gentleman all the girls would have been looking for in the season. He was honest and watched out for Maryann’s reputation, surprisingly even more than she did. And when he heard Uncle Elliott’s plan to give him more if he got married, things changed for him. He no longer needed money the way he thought he did. I loved watching his character open up a bit at this point.

The list…Timothy has a list of things he wants or does not want in a wife. And that is a big part of the plot of this one. He and Maryann actually had a bit of a tiff over his list. And he was unkind to Maryann about a thing or two on his list without ever meaning to be. I loved how this factored into the plot and the story. Such a great addition to it.

I can’t wait to see how the author uses Uncle Elliott’s ideas in the rest of the series!

If you love Regency romances, you won’t want to miss this one. I think you could read this one first if you wanted, but I’d highly suggest that you start with Promises and Primroses. I’ve included a link below if you want to use it.

I was sent a copy of Daisies and Devotion as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon – Deseret Book

About author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack is the author of twenty-five novels—including the twelve-book Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series—one cookbook, and has been part of several coauthored projects and anthologies. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of four children.

What to read after Daisies and Devotion

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