Weekly Reader: The Lazy Bachelor (The Rowland Sisters Series Book Two) by Catherine Dove; Darker, but Still Memorable Follow Up To Mr. Harding Proposes
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: So we come to another Regency era Romance by Catherine Dove, her second in The Rowland Sisters Series, The Lazy Bachelor. It is the darker older sibling to the previous book.
It has a decent female lead, some interesting moments particularly with two very young orphaned sisters, and while the male protagonist isn't the most likeable, he learns the obligatory lesson becomes a decent guy in the end. But it also has a slight edge which puts such issues as parental death, child abandonment, and class division in the forefront. It is not as light and airy as Mr. Harding Proposes and it certainly isn't meant to be. If the answer to the previous book would be "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" The answer to this would be "Uhhh, I would have to think about it."
Pergerine "Perry" Tyndall is the eponymous bachelor and he certainly lives up to the name. He is the type of guy who would rather coast by with money, looks, and charm rather than anything else. Even though his family is nobility, he doesn't even have to deal with the tedium tasks that come with being a title. That is all left to his cousin, Earl of Shipton. The good news is Shipton is fairly young man in good health. Unfortunately, Shipton is seriously injured. He survived but his near accident fills Perry with terror. If Shipton dies, Perry would have to be an Earl and work...and...stuff.
Unlike some of the more recent male protagonists in period romances that I have read so far, Perry probably begins as the least likeable. Far from The Baron and the Enchantress' Walter who intends to use his wealth to aid others and Mr. Harding Proposes' Richard who has an engaging down to earth personality, Perry offers very little likeability as a romantic lead. He is more farcical in nature, more similar a character from P.G. Wodehouse, broad and humorous than the gentle comedy usually associated with Regency Romance. He is almost too silly to be believable as a romantic lead.
However, he is not a hardhearted man or a snob. He shows some genuine heart, especially in his moments with Frances and Eleanor Armitage, two orphaned sisters. Their plight is not sugarcoated. Both sisters are orphaned at a young age and Frances is someone that comes across as very mature for her age. The two suffer from abandonment issues and are tired of being shuffled around and raised by detached guardians. Perry is just someone who pays money without any emotional involvement until the sisters basically call him out on his attitude. While Perry at first is reluctant, he bonds with the sisters. He helps guide Frances in her interest in men and he has some moments with Eleanor that are just too precious and would melt the hardest of hearts. The Armitage Sisters help turn Perry into a man who takes more involvement in life than just being there.
Another person that helps change Perry's character is Portia Freestone. Perry's appearance and behavior is counterbalanced by the female protagonist, Portia, Perry's cousin by marriage. She harbored an unrequited crush on Perry for years,but is not the type to be noticeable even during her Season. She starts out very shy and has a bit of a sardonic nature that mocks romantic conventions such as when she is told that she has acquired the interest of the local rake by planning on "feigning interest" in her pursuit.
Portia provides a contrast to a familiar face, Cecilia Rowland, the younger of the two sisters. They are extremely different, Cecilia is pretty, flirtatious, and lighthearted. While Portia is considered plain, serious, and quiet. I suppose it is confusing why Cecilia is not the lead female character in a series called The Rowland Sisters, instead of just the close friend of the female lead. Perhaps because of the darker tone, there needed to be a more serious lead to counterbalance Perry's foolishness.
Portia provides a guide to help Perry become a better person. She opens him up to friendship with the Armitage Sisters and occasionally isn't afraid to call him out on his B.S. These are traits that the more frivolous and dizzy Cecilia does not always possess.
If the theme to Mr. Harding Proposes is to accept people as they are, then the theme to The Lazy Bachelor is change, that the right person may like you even love you, but they also will help you become a better person. Through their rocky courtship which involves other pairings and typical mistaken assumptions Perry becomes more active and less self-centered and Portia gains a lot of self-worth and confidence that allows her to help Perry on his journey.
Because Perry begins the book so farcical, but the rest of the book deals with darker subjects, the tone is somewhat uneven but it levels out when Perry becomes more involved in Portia and The Armitage Sisters.
The Lazy Bachelor is a nice continuation to Mr. Harding Proposes, the dark counterpart to Mr. Harding's light. However, they both present lovely romances to bring the Reader back to the Regency era.
