Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Amanda McCabe is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release The Earl’s Cinderella Countess, book one in the Matchmaker’s of Bath series, a Regency historical romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Hello, and thank you so much for hosting me here today!  I am so excited to talk about The Earl’s Cinderella Countess and my new “Matchmakers of Bath” series, I loved seeing Ella and Frederick’s story unfold, and I hope readers do, too.

The question I was asked is—what was life like for a vicar’s daughter in the Regency?  Since I am a research junkie,  I love this question!  Eleanor (Ella) and her sister Mary (who will be the heroine of the next book in the series!) are in a slightly different situation, since their mother died when they were young and Ella took over many of the responsibilities of the vicarage. When I first started this book, my knowledge of clergy life in the 18th/early 19^th century was mostly from Charlotte Lucas (ewww, Mr. Collins! But she did seem to enjoy the job itself, having her own house and helping parishioners), and Mrs. Elton from Emma, who didn’t seem to do much besides be snobby and form musical societies. (Plus the Brontes, of course, though Patrick Bronte’s parish was very different from that of the St. Aubins’ father in my book, since Haworth was poor and industrial).  So I enjoyed diving into it all a bit more.

A vicar’s wife would, like most women of the time, keep her household. If her husband had a good living (like Mr. Collins, thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh!), it could be quite substantial, with a rather large staff, a nice garden, chances to entertain.  If it was poorer, like the Brontes, she might take on some of the more menial chores herself, but this was a position of respect and authority in the neighborhood. The wife (or, in my story, daughter) of the vicar would visit the poor and sick, counsel with them, bring them hampers, coo over new babies, witness weddings, keep her husband apprised of what’s going on with parishioners. She would also attend parties, charm the local gentry, organize church events like fetes, the flower roster, childrens’ activities.  It was a big job!

Ella St. Aubin has been in love with Frederick Fleetwood, the younger son of their neighbor the Earl, since they were children, but never expected that she, the daughter of a vicar (who probably owes his living to Fred’s father!) could marry him. And she has to take over her mother’s role in housekeeping and parish duties, as well as looking after her younger sister, so is kept busy while Fred goes into the Army. Things change when they grow up, though! 

Amanda Vickery’s The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England is a great source for more about women’s roles in the period!  It’s a fascinating time….

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Title: The Earl’s Cinderella Countess
Series: Matchmaker’s of Bath, book one
Author: Amanda McCabe
Genre: Historical Regency Romance
Length: 272 pages
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Enjoy this friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency Bath

The one match

She doesn’t want to make…

Blurb: The Earl of Fleetwood was Eleanor St. Aubin’s first love, but being a mere vicar’s daughter held her back from admitting her feelings. Now she’s a successful matchmaker, and the prospect of finding Frederick the wealthy wife he needs to settle his inherited debts is a nightmare come true! But returning from war, Frederick’s facing nightmares of his own. Eleanor feels compelled to help him, but could she ever be his Cinderella countess?

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He suddenly took her gloved hand in his, holding it very tightly.  She curved her fingers around his,  holding onto him as if he was the only thing that kept her from flying away.

“See?” he said, staring down intently at their joined hands.  “Warm and real, not an icy queen at all.  You always had such a kindness about you, like a fireside on a winter’s day.  A place to curl up and stay, to be safe.”  He pressed her hand close against his chest, and she could feel the beat of his heart through linen and wool, as if it moved through her whole self and became a part of her. 

“And so are you, Fred, though I know you never give yourself such credit.  You are—are such a wonderful friend, so…”  So wonderful.  She’d always thought that, and now she found it had not changed.

“I can only be that way with you, Ella,” he whispered.  “Once, I…”

Eleanor stared up at him, entranced, flooded with a bittersweet longing she’d never known before.  She dared give in to those feelings, and leaned closer to him, resting her forehead against his shoulder.  It was so warm, that heat surrounding her, blanketing her against the world.  He smelled of lemon soap and clean linen, of sunshine and Fred.  And, for that moment, she didn’t feel alone at all.

“What could bring us back to that, Fred?” she said.

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Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)

She’s never since used algebra, but her books (over 100 so far!) have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with two rescue dogs, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.

Follow Amanda: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

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