Search - Falling in Love Again

I haven't liked Maxwell's books in the past, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this Regency romance. Sixteen year old Mallory is deserted on her wedding night by the titled husband she barely knows. Seven years later, she travels to London to ask him for a divorce; next thing she knows, they're on the lam from the law together, with plenty of time to finally get to know one another. Although the husband seems like a terrible jerk at first, by the middle of the book I was rooting for him to convince her to give their marriage a try. The mystery element of the story is wrapped up very quickly at the end, which is just as well, since it wasn't very interesting anyway. The heart of the story is the two wounded spouses learning to care for each other and discovering what it means to be married.

At the start of every chapter in this charming Regency title are lines from English folk songs. And like these songs, the romance between Mallory Edwards and John Barron is at times quaint, humorous, ironic, touching, and heroic. Mallory's family has always owned Craige Castle, so when financial circumstances require that Mallory marry to keep the Castle in the family, she does so out of duty. Young and inexperienced, she is willing to take her mother's advice about relationships. When her new husband abandons her on their wedding night she makes peace with her new and lonely life until John's debts force Mallory and her mother out of their family home. Seven years after her wedding night, Mallory goes in search of her husband, and finds he has much more to offer than financial stability.

Lady Mallory and John Barron had no say in their arranged marriage. He was given a nights notice and Mallory was given about a day - all was arranged and two strangers met the wedding night. The wedding night was not to be remembered by Mallory, other than her humiliation that her groom left and would be gone for 7 long years.
Having been forced from Craige Castle for unpaid bills, she went in search of her errant husband with the sole purpose of gaining a divorce. She had heard that he had returned from the continent's wars and was whooping it up in London.
What follows is an absolutely lovely romantic story of love, trust and redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed the attempts of John to woo back his wife and finding himself falling in love with the woman that was once the girl he had left behind. It was so terribly sweet and so romantic. I did not find it boring at all ... This was truly a very touching love story and showed the growth and maturity of the two individuals who learned to overcome obstacles and find themselves to be friends who rather liked one another and then found that once in a lifetime....lasts forever kind of love! Great story!

John Barron and Mallory Edwards are married the day after they meet. The next night John departs with no word for seven years. After losing the castle she lives in, Mallory heads to London to find her husband. He just happens to be at a party at his mistresses house. Believe me the sparks fly. John insists he provided for her and the estate but Mallory never saw the money. The new courtship is entertaining to behold and the mystery keeps the story moving along. Very enjoyable.