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A review by readwithkaitlin
Love and Lavender by Josi S. Kilpack
4.0
The Mayfield Family stories have been so great to read. I love that the premise of the whole series is a marriage contract that a loving uncle proposes to his niece and nephews, with a few stipulations. Each contract has an incentive for each individual family member, with expectations to meet for them to get it. Hazel and Duncan were wonderful to get to know in this particular book.
Hazel has been living a life of independence as a mathematics teacher at an all girls school. Her idea of a substantial inheritance to be bestowed to her upon marriage is not a good one. She finds it quite offensive. How could she, a woman with a deformed foot, ever get married?
Duncan is a junior clerk in an accounting office. With his brilliant mind, social quirks, and his tendency to thrive with order and stability, the changes in his work life bring a lot of unsettled feelings. When he goes to Elliot Mayfield's home (his guardian's brother) to find out about his marriage contract and inheritance, he finds it intrusive. But after meeting Hazel and corresponding with her for over a year, he sees the marriage contract as a chance for them both to move forward in standing, while not exactly being married in anyway other than name. A marriage of convenience.
Hazel comes to agree and the two of them convince Uncle Elliot to agree, but not before agreeing to live together and act fully married outwardly for one year. But as they get further into the year, they realize their marriage is more than they anticipated. As the year comes to a close, they have to chose if they part ways, or continue in marriage in more than name.
I really enjoyed that Duncan was written as a character that, I'm guessing, has high functioning autism. His bluntness and Hazel's physical deformities made them an interesting couple with a really beautiful dynamic. Hazel's ability to see his quirks and show understanding is really beautiful for me, as a person who has a younger sibling with a disability, Duncan's easy way of pushing his comfort zone a little at a time is something I think I can learn from.
Josi Kilpack did a wonderful job with this book. I can tell she treated these characters with care. I loved it. I give it a 4.5 stars. Would read it again.
Hazel has been living a life of independence as a mathematics teacher at an all girls school. Her idea of a substantial inheritance to be bestowed to her upon marriage is not a good one. She finds it quite offensive. How could she, a woman with a deformed foot, ever get married?
Duncan is a junior clerk in an accounting office. With his brilliant mind, social quirks, and his tendency to thrive with order and stability, the changes in his work life bring a lot of unsettled feelings. When he goes to Elliot Mayfield's home (his guardian's brother) to find out about his marriage contract and inheritance, he finds it intrusive. But after meeting Hazel and corresponding with her for over a year, he sees the marriage contract as a chance for them both to move forward in standing, while not exactly being married in anyway other than name. A marriage of convenience.
Hazel comes to agree and the two of them convince Uncle Elliot to agree, but not before agreeing to live together and act fully married outwardly for one year. But as they get further into the year, they realize their marriage is more than they anticipated. As the year comes to a close, they have to chose if they part ways, or continue in marriage in more than name.
I really enjoyed that Duncan was written as a character that, I'm guessing, has high functioning autism. His bluntness and Hazel's physical deformities made them an interesting couple with a really beautiful dynamic. Hazel's ability to see his quirks and show understanding is really beautiful for me, as a person who has a younger sibling with a disability, Duncan's easy way of pushing his comfort zone a little at a time is something I think I can learn from.
Josi Kilpack did a wonderful job with this book. I can tell she treated these characters with care. I loved it. I give it a 4.5 stars. Would read it again.