One who has faced the evil that lurks in darkness comes to cherish the gentle grace of moonlight... Innocent mistake unravels dark secrets and divine deceptions among people of faith. In the early morning of the month of May, 1952, the African sun blazed with its usual intensity as the missionaries arrived, their presence met with warm, curious hospitality. They approached the local customs with sensitivity and humility, navigating the complex introduction of a foreign deity to the native people. The serene community's peace was soon disrupted by an unexpected event—the mysterious disappearance of Collar, the Vicar’s wife’s beloved Chihuahua. This seemingly trivial incident set off a chain of events that tested the faith and resilience of both the missionaries and the villagers. The Vicar’s Dog is a satirical exploration of the intricate dynamics between an African settlement and the influence of foreign religions, when a single act of youthful folly ignites a cascade of revelations and consequences.

"Matthews' tale hits all the high notes of a great romance novel...Cue the satisfied sighs of romance readers everywhere." -Kirkus Reviews A World-Weary Rake After years of unbridled debauchery, Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton has hit proverbial rock bottom. Seeking to escape his melancholy, he takes refuge at one of Victorian society's most notorious house parties. As the Christmas season approaches, he prepares to settle in for a month of heavy drinking...until an unexpected encounter changes his plans--and threatens his heart. A Prim Vicar's Daughter Valentine March is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. When her new job as a lady's companion lands her smack in the middle of Yorkshire with England's most infamous rake, she resolves to keep her head down and her eyes fixed firmly on her future--a future which most definitely does not include a sinfully handsome viscount. A Match Made in Scandal A friendship is impossible. An affair out of the question. But when one reckless act binds them together, will two star-crossed souls discover there's more to each other than meets the eye? Or will revelations from the past end their fragile romance before it begins?

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.