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Tallants #3
Wayward Widow
Nominated for the RWA 2004 RITA Award for Best Short Historical Romance. Not all rakehells are male! Lady Juliana Myfleet is the Ton's most notorious widow, a lady profligate in her gambling and with a reputation for taking and dismissing a whole legion of lovers. Unmarriageable, untameable, unforgiveable, she lives down to her reputation as the worst Lady Rakehell in town. It is therefore most disconcerting for Juliana to find that she has taken a tendre to a man of unimpeachable virtue and cannot seem to do anything to cure herself...
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2003
11 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Cornick
224 books1,173 followersInternational bestselling author Nicola Cornick writes dual-time historical mysteries that draw on her love for genealogy and local history. She studied History at London and Oxford and worked in academia for a number of years before becoming a full time author. Nicola acts as a guide and researcher at the stunning 17th century hunting lodge, Ashdown House and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Lydiard Park in Swindon. She gives talks and tours on a variety of historical topics.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 24, 2009
Don't read this book looking for a bad, bad girl. Juliana really isn't that bad. But she's bad enough to be interesting. The story begins with Juliana posing naked on top of a tray of fruit. She's scandalous and a bit risky, but she's not promiscuous (unless you call her having ran off with one man, who she married soon after, and trying to entice the second--not the hero--into her bed around the time of the book starting), nor is she overly cruel or hateful.
Yes she says some borderline nasty things to her brother Joss' future wife Amy in The Earl's Prize. But I've read much worse as far as mean, spiteful heroines. Despite the fact that this book fails to deliver on the 'truly fallen, irredeemable, scandalous heroine,' (comparatively speaking) I enjoyed it. I got it with my monthly Harlequin Historicals books and read it first, nearly in one sitting. This is the first Cornick that I read and I really liked it, in fact. Of course, it helps that she's paired with Martin, who is very much a goody hero. I won't add 'two-shoes' because he's really a nice, upstanding guy. He's not priggish, judgmental, or stiff to me. He's just a genuinely good man, although he is considered a prig by the wilder element in town.
I like that he challenges her to be a better person, without being cruel to her or looking down on her. It's because he remembers her as she was before life and her parent's cruelty broke the sweet, innocent part of her. I think the thing that really helped me to like Juliana is seeing that she is nursing a hurt spirit from her troubled past, and she is very much in need of saving. This book is a cool twist on the unredeemable rake saved by the virtuous innocent, in that Juliana is the rake, and Martin is the innocent (although I don't think Martin was a virgin. He certainly wasn't the slightest bit rakish or the sleep-around type).
If you would like to read a book where the heroine is quite scandalous, but not ready for a full-on promiscuous heroine, you might enjoy Wayward Widow.
Yes she says some borderline nasty things to her brother Joss' future wife Amy in The Earl's Prize. But I've read much worse as far as mean, spiteful heroines. Despite the fact that this book fails to deliver on the 'truly fallen, irredeemable, scandalous heroine,' (comparatively speaking) I enjoyed it. I got it with my monthly Harlequin Historicals books and read it first, nearly in one sitting. This is the first Cornick that I read and I really liked it, in fact. Of course, it helps that she's paired with Martin, who is very much a goody hero. I won't add 'two-shoes' because he's really a nice, upstanding guy. He's not priggish, judgmental, or stiff to me. He's just a genuinely good man, although he is considered a prig by the wilder element in town.
I like that he challenges her to be a better person, without being cruel to her or looking down on her. It's because he remembers her as she was before life and her parent's cruelty broke the sweet, innocent part of her. I think the thing that really helped me to like Juliana is seeing that she is nursing a hurt spirit from her troubled past, and she is very much in need of saving. This book is a cool twist on the unredeemable rake saved by the virtuous innocent, in that Juliana is the rake, and Martin is the innocent (although I don't think Martin was a virgin. He certainly wasn't the slightest bit rakish or the sleep-around type).
If you would like to read a book where the heroine is quite scandalous, but not ready for a full-on promiscuous heroine, you might enjoy Wayward Widow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
Nicola Cornick is always worth reading because she can flat-out write her face off - and the banter and interplay between the romantic couple in this book is A+ top-notch. I'm also a sucker for heroines with "bad reputations." For this heroine, part of that reputation is earned, part of it "misunderstood" because she abhors hypocrisy, has Daddy Issues (sigh, of course she does...) and loves to shock for the sake of shocking. She's not always "likeable" which is precisely why I liked her. I also LOVED that she calls out the hero when he's being a sanctimonious prig.
Unfortunately it was the final two chapters that sunk this one to 3 stars for me. The author inserts some hastily added external conflict that's resolved thanks to a GIANT AMAZING COINCIDENCE and it's sloppy with a side of WTFBBQ. Oh well, can't win 'em all.
Unfortunately it was the final two chapters that sunk this one to 3 stars for me. The author inserts some hastily added external conflict that's resolved thanks to a GIANT AMAZING COINCIDENCE and it's sloppy with a side of WTFBBQ. Oh well, can't win 'em all.
July 7, 2017
Leído en Agosto 2009
May 30, 2023
My first Nicola Cornick and definitely not the last. This was such a fun book — our heroine Juliana is bored, lonely and mischievous, cultivating a rakish reputation and engaging in all manner of pranks. I felt just as exasperated with her behavior as our hero, Martin Davencourt, did, which was a clever choice.
Rest assured this is not a “starchy hero tames the wild child” story. Instead, he’s merely a catalyst to her finding a purpose in life, and it’s lovely to see.
Cornick’s writing is light and witty, quite Heyer-like, yet there is plenty of emotional depth to be had.
One star off for the random-feeling last-act conflict, although I LOVED that it was solved by COMMUNICATION (and also a surprise twist).
Rest assured this is not a “starchy hero tames the wild child” story. Instead, he’s merely a catalyst to her finding a purpose in life, and it’s lovely to see.
Cornick’s writing is light and witty, quite Heyer-like, yet there is plenty of emotional depth to be had.
One star off for the random-feeling last-act conflict, although I LOVED that it was solved by COMMUNICATION (and also a surprise twist).
December 15, 2018
This story was interesting and well written. The heroine was a rebel seeking her father's attention by behaving outrageously in society. The hero was someone who had known her when she was younger and innocent. I liked the characterization of both the hero and heroine. She seemed to almost have an addictive personality. It was a gradual redemption and turn around for her. The ending almost spoilt the book for me. It was unnecessary and didn’t make any sense. However, overall it was still a good read. I may have read it before but didn’t remember anything.
January 5, 2016
I loooove lady rakes. Especially ones who are just so bored because they're brilliant and stuck in a stupid gender role, so they act out and cause acres of trouble. And then a steady, handsome man comes along ... again. Yep. Go read it.
May 11, 2023
Spoilers
3 Stars
Nicola writes her villains well. The platter carried by the footmen was a great start. I often love her h&h.
The 3rd book in the series has an interesting plot. However, third party conversations between Juliana and a few characters bored me to sleep (Joss, Selena, Amy, etc which is weird bc J and A were great in the first novel). The villains were exceptional. Juliana did not live up to her rakish description (for shame). And the comparison that Selena was worse than Juliana is laughable. Martin was steady and unwavering ( I loved that). The ending was also exceptional (and I would have loved more detail). I skipped about 40 pages on nonsensical fluff. That brought my rating below 3 stars. But, the conclusion saved the day. I would read a novella on the mother's story (Marianne).
3 Stars
Nicola writes her villains well. The platter carried by the footmen was a great start. I often love her h&h.
The 3rd book in the series has an interesting plot. However, third party conversations between Juliana and a few characters bored me to sleep (Joss, Selena, Amy, etc which is weird bc J and A were great in the first novel). The villains were exceptional. Juliana did not live up to her rakish description (for shame). And the comparison that Selena was worse than Juliana is laughable. Martin was steady and unwavering ( I loved that). The ending was also exceptional (and I would have loved more detail). I skipped about 40 pages on nonsensical fluff. That brought my rating below 3 stars. But, the conclusion saved the day. I would read a novella on the mother's story (Marianne).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
This book was interesting for a few reasons. One is that Juliana, at the beginning of the book, behaves in a way that I would think, widow or not, would get her "ruined" in the eyes of the ton. I wonder if Cornick implies that because of her status as a Marquis' daughter that she is kept from that type of scandal? I think it just should've been clearer.
Another reason is that this is a fairly tame book, sexually speaker, and not at all like the other two Cornick books I've read, that had a lot more sex and earlier in the book. I'm not saying it was a bad thing, it just surprised me.
There was a good twist right at the ending that I didn't see coming which kept things interesting even after you think the book is tied up. I did like that.
Another reason is that this is a fairly tame book, sexually speaker, and not at all like the other two Cornick books I've read, that had a lot more sex and earlier in the book. I'm not saying it was a bad thing, it just surprised me.
There was a good twist right at the ending that I didn't see coming which kept things interesting even after you think the book is tied up. I did like that.
October 14, 2018
Hmm, I didn't feel any chemistry between Martin and Juliana. I would've liked it if there was more written about het former marriage and why she is so hurt because of it. Het dead husband is named numerous times, but you don't get to know much about him. The characters felt flat and bland.
Nicola Cornick wrote much better books than this one.
Nicola Cornick wrote much better books than this one.
July 3, 2018
This book was actually good. For once, the guy respected a lady's wish in a historical romance novel, unlike Scandal of it all by Sophie Jordan.
January 3, 2025
That final act is an insult to literature
January 23, 2022
The wicked widow
I seldom read Harlequin romances these days (so many books, so little time), but well, it's Nicola Cornick.
It's a fantastic story from beginning to end with a shocking twist at the finish.
Lady Juliana nurtures her unsavory reputation so it will not be forgotten. She glories in every wicked act she commits to shock the sensibilities of the ton. Her friends are Society's outcasts, and she moves from one flamboyant event to the next to alleviate her boredom. Juliana never intends to marry again, and her reputation ensures that she will never be suitable as any man's wife.
13
I seldom read Harlequin romances these days (so many books, so little time), but well, it's Nicola Cornick.
It's a fantastic story from beginning to end with a shocking twist at the finish.
Lady Juliana nurtures her unsavory reputation so it will not be forgotten. She glories in every wicked act she commits to shock the sensibilities of the ton. Her friends are Society's outcasts, and she moves from one flamboyant event to the next to alleviate her boredom. Juliana never intends to marry again, and her reputation ensures that she will never be suitable as any man's wife.
13
February 23, 2012
This is the final full length story about the Tallants and their love lives. Julianna takes center stage here. Like her brother Joss, she is destroyed by their mother's abandonment of them as children to follow her lover. However, it's worse for Julianna because her father believes she's another man's child and does all he can to ignore her.
She grows up to marry a man she loves, he dies early in the marriage leading her to become a wild thing scandalizing part of and delighting the other part of the "ton". Julianna makes a second marriage to the man her mother once ran away with but he abandons her and is said to have died in a debtor's prison.
When the story opens we find ourselves back in her childhood where she encounters young Martin Davencourt. They innocently form a marriage pact and years later come across each other. He is drawn to her despite his plans for politics and seven half siblings left in his care after the death of his parents.
Julianna is a damaged and flawed woman but there are plenty of glimmers of goodness in times of crisis for others. She is fascinating as is Martin.
She grows up to marry a man she loves, he dies early in the marriage leading her to become a wild thing scandalizing part of and delighting the other part of the "ton". Julianna makes a second marriage to the man her mother once ran away with but he abandons her and is said to have died in a debtor's prison.
When the story opens we find ourselves back in her childhood where she encounters young Martin Davencourt. They innocently form a marriage pact and years later come across each other. He is drawn to her despite his plans for politics and seven half siblings left in his care after the death of his parents.
Julianna is a damaged and flawed woman but there are plenty of glimmers of goodness in times of crisis for others. She is fascinating as is Martin.
June 16, 2024
If you are looking for a different kind of heroine, you should read this book. Lady Juliana Myfleet is notorious for her scandalous behaviour. And it's scandalous with a capital "S". She does not care for the rules of high society and she doesn't care what others think of her. At least she is trying to convince herself that she doesn't.
Despite the fact that I truly enjoyed it's originality, I was a bit disappointed with this book. In my opinion, the reasons behind Juliana's behaviour were not convincing enough and that the explanation came too late to make me like her. All in all, the book is worth reading.
Despite the fact that I truly enjoyed it's originality, I was a bit disappointed with this book. In my opinion, the reasons behind Juliana's behaviour were not convincing enough and that the explanation came too late to make me like her. All in all, the book is worth reading.
Read
January 1, 2011The book has been beautifully written, winging in the the heroine who is named a rake, but is in essence innocence.. I loved how the hero and heroine come together when he has to ask her help for his sister's sake.. Who would have thought that Lady Julianna would be the one to take his younger sister under her wing?!
June 2, 2010
A fun read. The ending comes out of left field and is a bit abrupt. Still, not a bad read.
November 28, 2011
Loved it! Nicola Cornick can't go wrong for me...
March 15, 2017
The Tallant's 3rd of 4
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2012
Fun sequel to 'earl's prize', but somehow the character of Amy got lost in the gap between the two novels.
Read
December 31, 2016I know I read this but I remember absolutely nothing so it must not have been too horrible but also not that great. It was probably in the two star "it was okay" range.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews