Stevie‘s review of Charming the Vicar (Axedale, Book 2) by Jenny Frame
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 16 Jan 18
I have a bit of a thing for LGBT stories featuring spiritual leaders; I’m not drawn specifically to those involving Church of England clergy, but that does seem to be the faith in which the majority of those protagonists seem to crop up. Rural communities are also a common factor, possibly because it’s trickier both to be different and to meet like-minded people in a village setting, compared to in the big city. Having recently read Beacham’s story about a romance between a female vicar and an atheist, I was keen to see how Jenny Frame tackled a similar set-up, so much so that I read the first book, set in the same village, immediately beforehand, in order to get some idea who all the other residents might be.
Bridge Claremont cropped up in the first book as the best friend of one of that book’s heroines, as well as the local vicar. This time around, it’s her turn to fall into a relationship with someone who she considers totally unsuitable. Finnian Kane is renowned for her big stadium magic shows, as well as for her television programmes debunking spiritual healers and other charlatans who prey on the beliefs of the unwary. Following the death of her younger sister, however, Finn worries that her outspoken opinions – greatly at odds with her sister’s New Age beliefs – may have caused hurt at a time when the comfort of that belief was all her sister had left. Finn cancels all her upcoming engagements and retreats to a place where she expects no one to look for her.
Bridge and Finn are attracted to each other – and also at odds – from the moment they meet. Bridge is nothing like the clergy Finn has met before: especially the TV evangelist father, now serving a long prison sentence for fraud and attempted murder, that Finn and her sister ran away from as teenagers. Meanwhile, Bridge finds their verbal sparring awakening facets of her personality buried since before she decided to study theology and turn her back on her previous persona of Mistress Black. Although the two turn many of their arguments into rational debates, and are encouraged in their burgeoning relationship – in the absence of Bridge’s best friend and her new wife – by the only other lesbian in the village, they face opposition from at least one of Bridge’s parishioners, not to mention her homophobic bishop.
I loved this book so much; Bridge is a wonderfully unconventional vicar, even compared to some of the eccentric clergy I’ve met in my parents’ village. Finn had the potential to be annoying, but she never quite came across that way, and I was delighted by how various of the other characters from the previous book were further developed without ever overshadowing the main protagonists. I was also pleased to see that while Bridge had friends in high places, it was actually her hard work for her current and previous communities that really helped her overcome the opposition to the choices that she made. In a real turn-up for the books, the sex scenes were right up my street too. Of course, now I want to find out if Quade, the lesbian farmer and assistant estate manager, is going to get a romance of her own too.
Another auto-buy author to add to my list.
Grade: A
Summary:
Finnian Kane, famous master of illusion, mentalist, and renowned atheist, has a crisis of faith after her sister’s death. She rents a cottage in the village of Axedale in Kent, desperately trying to find a safe haven from the intrusive media to grieve and work out how to move on.
The Reverend Bridget Claremont makes it her mission to help the enigmatic Finnian find her faith in life again. Bridge has long yearned for a life partner, and her best friend’s wedding has intensified that desire. But when you’re a lesbian vicar in a small English village, it’s not easy to find your perfect match.
Their chemistry is clear from the start, despite their different beliefs and Bridge insisting Finn isn’t her type. But will the mentalist find the magic that can charm the vicar?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
