The Shoemaker — Lisa M. Prysock

This is the delightfully entertaining story of an impoverished vicar's daughter. Born the youngest of four daughters and one son -- Miss Catherine Edwina Lyndon finds she has no other choice than to accept hand-me-down dresses and one delayed, broken dream after another; all whilst her parents make every possible effort to attract husbands for her three older sisters. They spend every extra shilling with this in mind. Her three sisters are now "out" in fashionable society, but Vicar Lyndon is old-fashioned and won't permit Catherine the same opportunities until at least one or two of her sisters are wed. Catherine has grown so accustomed to being overlooked, she doesn't realize her hopes lay on a pile of wasted dreams when she sacrifices the desire for a marriage and family of her own. She is barely holding onto the idea of championing the cause of education reform for women across England after being denied a bold request for entry to a leading university. Aggravated by a contentious new sister-in-law, she escapes the confines of a sheltered life at home in the countryside of Essex by journeying to Northampton. There, she accepts the position of companion to the daughters of an aristocratic family. Amidst a household full of silly young ladies visiting the daughters of the peerage recently out of mourning, many sent for the holiday by their mothers, with their eyes on the handsome older brother now in possession of the Duke's title, will mercy look down and make a miracle for her this year at Christmas? If so, what situations and who will be the catalysts and antagonists mercy chooses to use? This novel includes a Regency Era Glossary and illustrations, shines a brief spotlight on William Law (Church of England priest, writer, and theologian who inspired the evangelical Wesley brothers), Charles Wesley (a leading voice in the founding of the Methodist church and writer of thousands of hymns), and Richard Baxter (Puritan leader, theologian, and writer of the 1600's).