Review
Title: Love and Lavender
Author: Josi S. Kilpak
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Proper Romance
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 320
Binding: Softcover
ISBN-10: 1629729299
ISBN-13: 978-1629729299
Price: $15.99
Reviewed by Christine Tensmeyer for the Association for Mormon Letters
Love and Lavender is book four in the Mayfield Family series by Josi S. Kilpack. While I read book one in the series a few years ago when it first came out, I haven’t read books two and three. Despite this, I was easily swept into the Mayfield Family world and was able to keep track of the characters. I am now looking forward to reading books two and three.
This particular proper romance is unique due to the main characters. In Love and Lavander we meet Hazel Stillman. Instead of the classic poor, not of equal status but enchantingly pretty female love interest that is so commonly found in proper romance novels, Hazel is a mature teacher in her late twenties. Hazel has had to support herself in all ways since she was a young girl because she has a clubbed foot and is considered undesirable as a wife. Another unique aspect about Hazel is that she teaches advanced mathematics and enjoys maths in a time when a girl’s education was very limited and considered barely necessary.
Early in the story, we meet Duncan Penhale. He is also not a stereotypical romance novel character. Duncan is not a brooding male that is completely out of touch with his feelings with a high dose of snobbery thrown in. The best way to describe Duncan, I believe, is neurodivergent. Duncan tries his best to live a normal life, but acknowledges what is normal for him, isn’t for everyone else. A noticeable trait with Duncan is that he hates being touched in any form. He also has a difficult time understanding jokes and nuance in social situations.
Duncan and Hazel’s paths cross because they have sort of the same relation, even though they are not blood-related. This person is a meddling uncle who is ridiculously wealthy and has excess funds. This uncle decides to leave large inheritances for his various relations if they marry under certain circumstances as he decides case per case. For Hazel, she would receive a large sum of money if she marries, however, Hazel knows that her foot is a major deterrent, and wonders if she would even respect a man who would marry her solely for her fortune.
Duncan proposes that he and Hazel marry to receive their inheritances, but they would have a marriage of convenience, and it would not be a true marriage. This decision changes the course of their lives. Because they decided to get married, they both learn more about trust, hope, and love than they thought possible.
I really enjoyed reading Love and Lavender. It was great to read a story about truly different characters who are usually left in the background of the story. I found Love and Lavender to be very sweet and full of humor. I loved how Josi S. Kilpak wrapped everything together for a satisfying ending.