Lord Seeks Wife by Heather Barnett #Review

 

Let me introduce you to the eccentric world created by Heather Barnett in her latest romcom, Lord Seeks Wife. It was published in paperback by Serpentine Books on 3rd February. 

 Take 1,000 women, add one earl and whip into a media frenzy.

Reclusive academic Lord Noblet de Beeble doesn’t want to get married but his overbearing mother, Lady Caroline, is insisting he must. When he places an advert for a wife in the Situations Vacant section of his local newspaper, the national press pick up the story. A desperate Noblet calls on his handsome younger brother, Henry, to help him navigate the subsequent media frenzy.

Among the hordes of hopeful candidates to descend on the village of Gently Rising is the beautiful and mysterious Mia Wild, who befriends local primary school teacher, Alice Brand. Alice has been looking for something to spice up her life, but getting embroiled in a very public wife-hunt wasn’t what she had in mind.

In a summer packed with suspicious exes, snobbery, social climbers and sausage rolls, Gently Rising will bear witness to a public courtship like no other. But who will come out on top?

The idea for Lord Seeks Wife was based on wondering what would happen if you crossed the 'open audition' format of reality TV shows with a quintessential English village, peopled with eccentric characters and different social classes. Plus I’ve always been fascinated by the weird and wonderful announcements to be found in local newspaper classified ads - in Lord Seeks Wife that became the Situations Vacant section where Lord de Beeble advertises for a wife.' —Heather Barnett

 My Thoughts

There is an almost nostalgic air about this story. It has a full cast of quirky, sometimes eccentric characters who add to the fun of the read. The humour runs throughout the book from start to finish and the pace of the writing never lets up. At the centre of the story, it turns out there are a few surprises which I had not seen coming.

   I also enjoyed the different agendas of the women who all stepped forward to apply to be the wife of the Lord. Some were just social climbers, others have a specific quarry in their sights and Alice, it seems, is an almost accidental applicant. You have a feeling you know what is going to happen almost from the start, but this does not spoil the story. Take down a copy of this book from your bookshelf when you fancy a light, fun escape into the quintessential English village of Gently Rising.

In short: An escapist, fun romcom

About the Author

Heather Barnett gained a degree in English and French from the University of Leeds and has written ever since: from copywriting to stand-up comedy and sketches. She is now focusing on writing novels. Heather’s influences span Jane Austen and Douglas Adams at one end of the alphabet through to PG Wodehouse at the other.

Heather’s debut novel, Acts of Kindness, is an uplifting, light-hearted mystery. It was inspired by witnessing commuters helping a woman who’d fallen down the stairs at Paddington station; intermingled with wondering what was behind some grand stone gateposts that she used to drive past in Wiltshire.

Her second novel, Lord Seeks Wife, is a romantic comedy and will be published summer 2021.

Aside from writing, Heather's interests are classic literature, cats and comedy.

Heather is head of marketing at an agency near Oxford and lives by the river Kennet in Berkshire.

You can follow Heather here: Website  |  Twitter |  Instagram

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Heather Barnett, Serpentine Books and Anne Cater of Eandom Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

                                                         Check out the rest of the tour!