Thursday, October 8, 2020

Widows of Somerset by Rebecca Connolly, Jen Geigle Johnson, and Heather B. Moore {Review}

 













Widows of Somerset by Rebecca Connolly, Jen Geigle Johnson, and Heather B. Moore

Paperback, Timeless Regency Collection #15, 320 pages
Publication: October 6th 2020 by Mirror Press 
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given 

  

Rules of the Secret Society of Young Widows:
Rule 1: Be a widow.
Rule 2: Have an impeccable reputation.
Rule 3: Don't fall in love again.

AN HEIR TO SPARE by Rebecca Connolly
Widowhood has changed much for Anna—Lady Lyndham—but an unconventional heir to the estate was not something she had anticipated. Nor had she anticipated that he would have no intention of forcing her out, although he has every right to. And she certainly did not anticipate finding him handsome, charming, and unfailingly generous. But Ned Richards, the new Lord Lyndham, has a world of surprises in store for her, and not anticipating them will become quite the adventure.

THE WIDOW OF LAVENDER COTTAGE by Jen Geigle Johnson
As a widow, Lillian Hunter has never been in love and plans to never marry again, so the rules of the Secret Society of Young Widows suit her just fine. Her days are spent attempting to transform her newly inherited Lavender Cottage into a livable space until Oliver Wentworth shows up, asking for her late husband. Anxious to establish himself as a landed gentry in Somerset, Oliver is none too pleased to discover that a widow lives alone in a tiny run down cottage bordering his new property. The fact that she’s young and attractive only adds frustration to his sense of responsibility over her. And confound her, she challenges his every attempt to help manage her affairs.

A PROMISE FORGOTTEN by Heather B. Moore
Charlotte Ashford never thought she’d marry a vicar, and she never thought she’d find herself widowed with a young child to care for on her own. She certainly never thought she’d return to Somerset to live with her mother again, and Charlotte never thought she’d see him again. But Lord Wilshore has never forgotten her, and he has never forgotten their promise made long ago. Charlotte would love nothing more than for Lord Wilshore to forgive her, but too much heartache and too much time might make that impossible. Friendship is all she can hope for, but that hope may be dashed as well.
 
 
My Review: 5 Stars
 
I think a secret society for young ladies in the Regency time period would be so much fun--but not exactly under these circumstances. Each of these ladies is invited to join because she's a widow. I absolutely adored how different each story was, yet how they had a common thread of this society ran by Lady Joanna to connect them. And can I just say that Rule #3 is definitely meant to be broken.
 
Each story was charming in its own right. We're treated to watching Lady Joanna teach these women to understand finances and become independent, while watching each widow move on. In AN HEIR TO SPARE, Anna and Ned are awkwardly delightful in their dance of life and love. I almost felt evil for delighting in their discomfort.

THE WIDOW OF LAVENDER COTTAGE delivered a story of boundaries and two individuals determined to work hard and to be fair in all things. I loved the challenges that arose from their interactions.

And finally, the collection was capped with a tale of broken promises and a shared past.
A PROMISE FORGOTTEN was the icing on the cake with its threads of hope and forgiveness, mingled with newness and love.

This is a wonderful set for those who enjoy Regency romances and left me curious about the other women in the group. I hope there's a continuation.

Content: mild romance

No comments:

Post a Comment