Megan Bryce’s TO WED THE WIDOW – Early Victorian with a Seductive Widow and an Earl’s heir, both want a child and marriage but not with each other

George Sinclair loved India but when his brother’s wife gave birth to a fourth daughter, Sebastian, the earl, demanded his brother return to England as his heir. And he wanted George to marry. Any respectable woman would do, but not “The Widow”, Elinor, Lady Haywood. She’s been widowed five times and with no children to show for it. She is a distraction George very much wants in his bed, but what he needs is a wife from a good family. What Lady Haywood wants is a child and her next husband.

 

The story is well told with rich emotion and some great characters, even a villain in Elinor’s brother. No real history here except the references to India and trade, which George was once engaged in. But it’s a delightful story of the tug of war between George and his staid brother, the earl, that will draw you in. And there is a side story of the earl and his wife, who befriends Elinor. I recommend it.

 

Megan Bryce’s TO WED THE WIDOW – Early Victorian with a Seductive Widow and an Earl’s heir, both want a child and marriage but not with each other

 

George Sinclair loved India but when his brother’s wife gave birth to a fourth daughter, Sebastian, the earl, demanded his brother return to England as his heir. And he wanted George to marry. Any respectable woman would do, but not “The Widow”, Elinor, Lady Haywood. She’s been widowed five times and with no children to show for it. She is a distraction George very much wants in his bed, but what he needs is a wife from a good family. What Lady Haywood wants is a child and her next husband.

 

The story is well told with rich emotion and some great characters, even a villain in Elinor’s brother. No real history here except the references to India and trade, which George was once engaged in. But it’s a delightful story of the tug of war between George and his staid brother, the earl, that will draw you in. And there is a side story of the earl and his wife, who befriends Elinor. I recommend it.

 

Megan Bryce’s TO TEMPT THE SAINT – Witty, Clever Tale of a Vicar’s daughter and a nobleman’s son intended to be a Vicar

 

No date is given for the setting of this book. The author lists it as both a Victorian and a Regency so it’s set sometime in the 19^th century. It’s the 4^th in the Reluctant Bride series. The hero, George St. Clair, the youngest of a viscount’s four sons, has been targeted for the church and trained as a vicar but he has no love for the job. He wallows in the angst of losing his love to his twin and now just drifts along, attending lectures on steam power.

 

Along comes Honora Kempe, who is in disguise as yet another woman seeking a man to become betrothed so she can get him to cry off and leave behind a large payment for her lost reputation—a reputation that, in reality, was lost long ago with a child out of wedlock. A disgraced vicar's daughter, she is determined to get her revenge and have a life on her own terms. But she meets her match in George St. Clair.

 

I loved the witty banter, the dry humor. It is a cleverly told tale where its tit for tat the whole book through. And it kept me reading pages. I was a bit surprised, however, that the man trained for the church should fail to wonder at the origin of Honora’s Scripture-spouting. (She quotes verses for every occasion.) Still, weren’t they perfect for each other—the vicar’s daughter and the vicar?

 

Megan Bryce’s TO WED THE WIDOW – Early Victorian with a Seductive Widow and an Earl’s heir, both want a child and marriage but not with each other

George Sinclair loved India but when his brother’s wife gave birth to a fourth daughter, Sebastian, the earl, demanded his brother return to England as his heir. And he wanted George to marry. Any respectable woman would do, but not “The Widow”, Elinor, Lady Haywood. She’s been widowed five times and with no children to show for it. She is a distraction George very much wants in his bed, but what he needs is a wife from a good family. What Lady Haywood wants is a child and her next husband.

 

The story is well told with rich emotion and some great characters, even a villain in Elinor’s brother. No real history here except the references to India and trade, which George was once engaged in. But it’s a delightful story of the tug of war between George and his staid brother, the earl, that will draw you in. And there is a side story of the earl and his wife, who befriends Elinor. I recommend it.

 

Megan Bryce’s TO TEMPT A SAINT – Witty, Clever Tale of a Vicar’s daughter and a nobleman’s son intended to be a Vicar

No date is given for the setting of this book. The author lists it as both a Victorian and a Regency so it’s set sometime in the 19^th century. The hero, George St. Clair, the youngest of 4 sons of a viscount, has been targeted for the church and trained as a vicar but he has no love for the job. He wallows in the angst of losing his love to his twin and now just drifts along, attending lectures on steam power.

 

Along comes Honora Kempe, who is in disguise as yet another woman seeking a man to become betrothed so she can get him to cry off and leave behind a large payment for her lost reputation—a reputation that, in reality, was lost long ago with a child out of wedlock. A disgraced vicar's daughter, she is determined to get her revenge and have a life on her own terms. But she meets her match in George St. Clair.

 

I loved the witty banter, the dry humor. It is a cleverly told tale where its tit for tat the whole book through. And it kept me reading pages. I was a bit surprised, however, that the man trained for the church should fail to wonder at the origin of Honora’s Scripture-spouting. (She quotes verses for every occasion.) Still, weren’t they perfect for each other—the vicar’s daughter and the vicar?

 

Megan Bryce’s TO CATCH A SPINSTER – Delightful Novella! Contented Spinster Looking for Experience in Love

Olivia Blakesley, a spinster who is content with her love of astronomy and books, nevertheless wants to experience physical love. So, she sets out to find a man who can provide it. He must be an unattached gentleman and not a rake. Nathaniel Jenkins is just perfect.

Nathaniel is supposed to choose a bride from the balls and soirees. However, he is bored by the debutantes’ chatter. When Miss Blakesley appears to make him a most improper offer, he is shocked and intrigued. After some consideration, he agrees. After all, she does not chatter.

As you might imagine, there are some explicit, albeit well written and tasteful, love scenes in this story. Nathaniel comes to see Miss Blakesley as his perfect match but she is disdainful of her ever being a proper wife and refuses his proposal.

Another well-written early Victorian by Bryce and with enough back and forth to hole your interest, I recommend it.

Megan Bryce’s TO WED THE WIDOW – Early Victorian with a Seductive Widow and an Earl’s heir, both want a child and marriage but just not to each other

Megan Bryce is a new author for me but, after this one, I'll be reading more of her books.

George Sinclair loved India but when his brother’s wife gave birth to a fourth daughter, Sebastian, the earl, demanded his brother return to England as his heir. And he wanted George to marry. Any respectable woman would do, but not “The Widow”, Elinor, Lady Haywood. She’s been widowed five times and with no children to show for it. She is a distraction George very much wants in his bed, but what he needs is a wife from a good family. What Lady Haywood wants is a child and her next husband.

The story is well told with rich emotion and some great characters, even a villain in Elinor’s brother. No real history here except the references to India and trade, which George was once engaged in. But it’s a delightful story of the tug of war between George and his staid brother, the earl, that will draw you in. And there is a side story of the earl and his wife, who befriends Elinor. I recommend it.