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Book Review of The Would-be Widow (Signet Regency Romance)

The Would-be Widow (Signet Regency Romance)
Sly1 avatar reviewed on + 43 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


It was impossible that Major David Lancaster had refused to die, but instead kept on being incredibly alive. It was impossible that he should have left the hospital, where he was safely situated, and taken up residence in Lady Jocelyn's elegant London mansion. It was impossible that Jocely remain married to the impecunious officer who was so far beneath her in title and station. But nothing was quite so infinitely impossible as that this man might not be satisfied with her aristocratic hand in wedlock but might want still more, beginning with her heart...
(from inside cover)

I loved this book! Lady Jocelyn believes herself to be love with the Duke of Candover, but he in not interested in marriage, and a stipulation of her father's will requires her to marry by her 25th birthday or lose most of her income. She finds a friend of her uncle's (who is in the army) on his deathbed, and they agree to marry so that she can collect her money and in return she will support his sister. Great plan, except that he recovers, and finds himself smitten with his wife and sets out to win her love. I wish the author would have resisted the temptation to have him inherit a title. I thought the love spanning the classes would have been a little more original. When she is confused by her feelings, she flees to London and into the arms of the Duke. He is now willing to carry on an affair with this married woman, but she suddenly realizes that he in not the man she loves, unfortunately this occurs as her husband enters the room to find them in an embrace. The Duke's advice to Lady Jocelyn at this time was very tender (and makes me believe he deserves his own story!). She sets off to try to win her husband back.