The Rector's Daughter: A stunning saga with a sweeping sense of place for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin

The Rector’s Daughter is actually the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from author Jean Fullerton. I was so impressed with this story and Ms. Fullerton’s writing style that I’m planning on going back and reading her backlist! This was an absolutely fantastic read set in London 1825 during the building of the underwater Thames Tunnel that connects Rotherhithe and Wapping. Such an interesting and intriguing backdrop for a story! Charlotte Hatton is the daughter of the Rector in Rotherhithe. She helps with the tasks at the rectory and within the parish in place of her mother who passed away. She’s a kind young woman who is always looking out for others. Josiah Martyn is the Senior Engineer on site for the Thames Tunnel project. He’s a miner’s son from Cornwell who has worked hard to get where he is today. I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end and I struggled to put it down! I instantly liked both Charlotte and Josiah and started rooting for them as a couple. From the moment they meet, they can’t stop thinking about each other. As their love grows and their feelings become known to each other and the people around them, people do their best to keep this couple apart. They were a sweet couple who faced many obstacles to get to their HEA. Ms. Fullerton did an amazing job of pulling you into the story with her wonderful writing. It’s obvious she does tremendous research as the book is richly detailed. There were so many fabulous secondary characters that added to the suspense and enjoyment of this book. From Charlotte’s family, Mrs. Palmer & her son, Josiah’s brother & wife, the people in Rotherhithe, I could easily revisit these characters and the setting to get more of their stories. I’ll admit this story had me on the edge of my seat more than once and I found myself picking up this book frequently throughout the day to read just one more page... I would love to catch up with Josiah and Charlotte at a later date to see their family and where they ended up! With a fabulous storyline, a couple who captured my heart and wonderful secondary characters, I absolutely loved everything about this story. This one is definitely a keeper! Highly recommend!

A fine historical read from an author who always delivers! Charlotte Hatton, though young, has taken on the traditional role of a vicar's wife for her widowed Reverend father. She is expected one day to marry Captain Nicolas Paget, a man of breeding complete with a family fortune to meet her father's expectations of her future match - but then, one day she makes the acquaintance of a certain Josiah Martyn, a Cornish mining engineer working on a local project who makes her heart beat faster than Captain Paget ever has . . . This is a superb historical read, painting a wonderful picture of the life in the time it's set with a great cast of characters, both likeable and not. I always enjoy the fashion details in books like this, finding they add to the mental image I have of the characters! The story is attention-grabbing and entertaining, and rather gripping towards the end. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it and read faster and faster as I got further in. Quite a delightful and satisfying novel which I'm happy to recommend to all lovers of good historical fiction; completely earning all five stars.