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Merry Widows #2
Just One of Those Flings
Fans of the historical romances of Sabrina Jeffries, Loretta Chase, and Jo Beverly will enjoy this sexy, National Readers' Choice Award winner by New York Times bestselling author Candice Hern. Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy acting as chaperone for her headstrong niece to take her friends' advice to find a lover. Until a dark stranger at a masquerade ball makes her realize what she's been missing. When she finally discovers his identity as the Marquess of Thayne, the very man she has practically been pushing into her niece's arms as the Catch of the Season, Beatrice is horrified. But Thayne is thoroughly captivated by Beatrice, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the beautiful, sensual, more mature and sophisticated Lady Somerfield, and soon discovers he wants more than a love affair. Beatrice, however, has vowed never to marry again. But when their private fling leads to public scandal, more than one life is turned upside down. "Effervescent, unconventional, and brimming with honest sensuality." Library Journal (starred review) "A rare reading experience. Leaves you begging for more." Romantic Times (Top Pick) "Candice Hern writes as an artist paints—with beautiful lines and special attention to details. The final piece of work is something to treasure. The May/December romance between Beatrice and Gabriel only made their love affair even more special, and Ms. Hern graces this topic with elegance. The final declaration of their love is unforgettable." – Romance Reader at Heart (Top Pick)
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
33 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Candice Hern
32 books250 followersCandice Hern is the award-winning, bestselling author of historical romance novels set during the English Regency period. Her books have won praise for the "intelligence and elegant romantic sensibility" (Romantic Times) as well as "delicious wit and luscious sensuality (Booklist). Candice's award-winning website (www.candicehern.com) is often cited for its Regency World pages, where readers interested in the era will find an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline, illustrated digests of Regency people and places, articles on Regency fashion, research links, and much more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 27, 2018
Really cute! I liked that the heroine already has children, so she's not a young virgin like most historical romances.
January 12, 2019
Leída hace mucho y el otro día la ví en mi biblio y la leí en dos tardes.
Me encantó.
No está super valorada pero yo la pasé muy bien.
Acá tenemos una viuda apasionada, aunque seria y sin conflictos (segura en su viudez con dos hijas adolescentes) y un galán serio, experimentado (estuvo viajando por oriente durante siete años trabajando para el gobierno), 6 años menor que la prota y sin traumas.
Todo empieza con sexo explosivo y sin siquiera conocer sus nombres. WOW.
Me enamoré de Gabriel y super identificada con Beatriz (aunque no soy viuda pero sí mayorcita).
Recomendable.
Me encantó.
No está super valorada pero yo la pasé muy bien.
Acá tenemos una viuda apasionada, aunque seria y sin conflictos (segura en su viudez con dos hijas adolescentes) y un galán serio, experimentado (estuvo viajando por oriente durante siete años trabajando para el gobierno), 6 años menor que la prota y sin traumas.
Todo empieza con sexo explosivo y sin siquiera conocer sus nombres. WOW.
Me enamoré de Gabriel y super identificada con Beatriz (aunque no soy viuda pero sí mayorcita).
Recomendable.
October 24, 2015
El 2º de la serie Las viudas alegres me ha decepcionado bastante. Quizá porque la 1ª "En la pasión de la noche" me gustó mucho y esperaba más de esta. Dividiría la novela en 3 partes: la 1ª y la 3ª son buenas, pero la central es repetitiva y me costó avanzar en ella. Como argumento, es una novela distinta en cuanto a la relación de una mujer mayor (35 años en el XIX era mayor) y un joven de 29 destinado a casarse con una jovencita a la que moldear para ser una duquesa. La lucha contra los convencionalismos de la época está muy bien reflejada y las personalidades de los protagonistas son atractivas, por lo que engancha bastante desde el principio. También la pareja de secundarios me ha mantenido en vilo, pero creo que a la historia le sobran páginas. Y me ha chocado (y desagradado) que ninguno de los personajes se tutee en ningún momento: ni la pareja después de haberse acostado varias veces, ni la protagonista a sus hijas (una de 13 años) ni a su sobrina de 18, que es hija de un baronet mientras ella es condesa. No sé si es un fallo de traducción (por no arriesgarse), pero hace que todos los personajes acaben resultando distantes al lector. Si no has leído nada de esta autora recomiendo empezar por cualquiera de las otras de esta serie o incluso por alguna de su otra serie publicada en castellano, Ladies’ Fashionable Cabinet, “El soñador y las damas” o “El truhán y las damas”
September 26, 2015
me lo paso pipa con estas viudas
January 12, 2022
Mejor que la primera entrega. Más pasional y romántica. Me encantó lord Thayne, idiota y adorable
January 30, 2008
This is book 2 in the Benevolent Widows series. I started it with some expectations because I did read the first one and didn't find it entirely bad even if it had some problems.
Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy acting as chaperone for her headstrong niece to take her friends' advice to find a lover. Maybe next year, she thinks. Until one night at a masquerade ball when a dark stranger makes her realize what she's been missing.
When she finally discovers his identity as the Marquess of Thayne, the very man she has practically been pushing into her niece's arms as the Catch of the Season, Beatrice is horrified. But Thayne is thoroughly captivated by Beatrice, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the beautiful, sensual, more mature and sophisticated Lady Somerfield, and soon discovers he wants more than a love affair. Beatrice, however, has vowed never to marry again. But when their private fling leads to public scandal, more than one life is turned upside down.
This one has the merit of an original start. It's so often we hear how widows and married ladies engaged themselves in illicit affairs but then we are always stuck with a virginal heroine who no matter how TSTL always ends up compromised by a noble gentleman who does his duty. It was rather refreshing to start this story with one of those ballroom dalliances just for the sake of the moment, no questions asked. Even if soon that's not only what it is...
I didn't much care for that plot device that had him pursuing her niece before he knew who she was , it seemed the kind of thing that usually brings about big misunderstandings. It was however nice to have Thayne and Beatrice as lovers, just enjoying themselves and sharing things about each other's life. And I was quite happy with the action going in that direction - spending time together, falling in love and marrying. So I was extremely annoyed with Beatrice for refusing Thayne, he had been a pleasant fellow and her fears of marriage seemed a bit artificial to me. I guess Hern felt she needed a conflit to stir up the action but to me those last chapters seemed a bit unnecessary unless you count it as a setup for the next book. Anyway this last part made me lower the grade a bit.
Grade: B-
PS. I love the cover
Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy acting as chaperone for her headstrong niece to take her friends' advice to find a lover. Maybe next year, she thinks. Until one night at a masquerade ball when a dark stranger makes her realize what she's been missing.
When she finally discovers his identity as the Marquess of Thayne, the very man she has practically been pushing into her niece's arms as the Catch of the Season, Beatrice is horrified. But Thayne is thoroughly captivated by Beatrice, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the beautiful, sensual, more mature and sophisticated Lady Somerfield, and soon discovers he wants more than a love affair. Beatrice, however, has vowed never to marry again. But when their private fling leads to public scandal, more than one life is turned upside down.
This one has the merit of an original start. It's so often we hear how widows and married ladies engaged themselves in illicit affairs but then we are always stuck with a virginal heroine who no matter how TSTL always ends up compromised by a noble gentleman who does his duty. It was rather refreshing to start this story with one of those ballroom dalliances just for the sake of the moment, no questions asked. Even if soon that's not only what it is...
I didn't much care for that plot device that had him pursuing her niece before he knew who she was , it seemed the kind of thing that usually brings about big misunderstandings. It was however nice to have Thayne and Beatrice as lovers, just enjoying themselves and sharing things about each other's life. And I was quite happy with the action going in that direction - spending time together, falling in love and marrying. So I was extremely annoyed with Beatrice for refusing Thayne, he had been a pleasant fellow and her fears of marriage seemed a bit artificial to me. I guess Hern felt she needed a conflit to stir up the action but to me those last chapters seemed a bit unnecessary unless you count it as a setup for the next book. Anyway this last part made me lower the grade a bit.
Grade: B-
PS. I love the cover
August 24, 2012
I actually really liked this one, and from the three "Merry Widows" books by Candice Hern, I liked this one best.
To me the whole story was very believable: Beatrice, already almost convinced by her Merry Widows friends, that a lover would be "just the thing" for her right now and feeling a little lonely since beeing a widow was easily tempted by Thayne to cross the line during the masquerade ball.
Also the fact that Thayne falls in love with an "older woman" (come on... Beatrice is just a couple of years older than he is and it is not like he is a teenage boy and she a mature woman... his life overseas was very adventourus and he's had lot of experience, certainly more than most 29 year olds back then.)
What I particularly like about Candice Hern's heroines is, that they have a mind of their own and are not the kind of women that are attracted by men that treat them badly. On the contrary they are strong and want to remain strong and not submit to a man. I really appreciate that, because I think there are far too many way too popular so-called "romances" out there, where the "heroine" shows her "hero" her eternal love by enduring all kinds of mistreatments, abuse or domination (and I think it very scary, that these books are so popular...).
All in all, very good read.
To me the whole story was very believable: Beatrice, already almost convinced by her Merry Widows friends, that a lover would be "just the thing" for her right now and feeling a little lonely since beeing a widow was easily tempted by Thayne to cross the line during the masquerade ball.
Also the fact that Thayne falls in love with an "older woman" (come on... Beatrice is just a couple of years older than he is and it is not like he is a teenage boy and she a mature woman... his life overseas was very adventourus and he's had lot of experience, certainly more than most 29 year olds back then.)
What I particularly like about Candice Hern's heroines is, that they have a mind of their own and are not the kind of women that are attracted by men that treat them badly. On the contrary they are strong and want to remain strong and not submit to a man. I really appreciate that, because I think there are far too many way too popular so-called "romances" out there, where the "heroine" shows her "hero" her eternal love by enduring all kinds of mistreatments, abuse or domination (and I think it very scary, that these books are so popular...).
All in all, very good read.
March 23, 2008
Read writerlibrarian for why it's a good book. I'm just too disappointed because Hern had seemed different, none of the genre romance cliches, hope for something like actual love being shown not just gassed on about ... there are glimpses of ideas, possibilities of characters, but they and so much time and money was wasted - no effort from the author though. Less than from this reader, whose mind and soul are tarnished by being lured with promises of unconventional romance, real relationships, interesting stories, and then fogged with empty words. Sullied with meaninglessness. I'm not sure if all these writers could do better, but I think spending more than a week on a book would help.
October 1, 2018
LOVED IT! The whole scene outside the ball room was smokin' hot! I could have gobbled the hero up. The only disappointment for me is when he first saw the heroine after the masquerade ball he didn't even have the slightest inkling that she was the same masked woman from the ball. I would have liked him to have some sort of feeling like maybe a twinge of familiarization(is that the right word? idk. o'well, you get what I mean). ANYTHING. But nope. Nothing. Anyhoo, this whole trilogy is great and I would highly recommend it to anybody that loves historical romance :)
July 10, 2009
The first two chapters are rather exciting and contain a very sexually illicit encounter. This exciting start is followed by 100 pages of boring back and forth while the H/H find each other again. This almost made me put down the book. It was that boring. At chapter 7, page 106 it heats up again and contains til the end.
I really liked the characters of Lord Thayne and Beatrice. They were very likable and real. If it wasn't for those 100 pages, this would be a 4 star book.
I really liked the characters of Lord Thayne and Beatrice. They were very likable and real. If it wasn't for those 100 pages, this would be a 4 star book.
July 15, 2017
I do prefer Candice Hern's clean romances but apart from the many explicit scenes the story was interesting and the characters developed. It was an enjoyable read.
August 13, 2021
Dopo aver letto il primo romanzo di questa serie (Merry widows) eccomi qui con il secondo dedicato a questo gruppo di vedove che per rendere la loro vita più soddisfacente decidono di trovarsi un amante e con la scusa delle riunioni per le loro opere caritatevoli colgono l'occasione per spettegolare sulle arti amatorie dei loro amanti.
La protagonista questa volta è una contessa di 35 anni con due figlie, un marito despota e una nipote (Emily) da far sposare con uomo ricco per coprire i debiti della madre mentre il protagonista è un marchese (futuro duca) di 29 anni che dopo 8 anni trascorsi in India torna a casa per rispettare la promessa fatta al padre: sposarsi entro i 30 anni.
I due s'incontrano durante un ballo in maschera e vivono una notte magica ignorando le loro identità fino a quando Gabriel decide di scegliere come possibile moglie Emily ignorando che sua zia sia la sconosciuta che non ha mai dimenticato e che continua a cercare nonostante debba sposarsi.
Una trama semplice e scorrevole con un livello di sensualità alto ma senza essere volgare o di disturbo.
Essendo una serie c'è la possibilità di ritrovare personaggi già incontrati nel libro precedente come le vedove amiche di Beatrice ma non mancano personaggi nuovi. Decisamente tutti simpatici e ben delineati.
L'epoca in cui è ambientato il romanzo è il periodo Regency e l'azione si svolge in contemporanea con le vicende del libro precedente solo che in questo caso sono raccontate dal punto di vista di Beatrice e Gabriel. I due protagonisti essendo titolati, rispettati e con un certo patrimonio fanno sì che l'intera vicenda si svolga nelle sfere del Bel Mondo e più precisamente durante la cosiddetta Stagione londinese (periodo in cui le donne in età da marito frequentano feste, balli, concerti con lo scopo di contrarre un buon matrimonio).
Interessante l'idea di trattare una storia d'amore tra una donna più grande (6 anni) e un uomo più piccolo soprattutto in un epoca come quella ottocentesca.
Un libro da leggere tutto d'un fiato...
La protagonista questa volta è una contessa di 35 anni con due figlie, un marito despota e una nipote (Emily) da far sposare con uomo ricco per coprire i debiti della madre mentre il protagonista è un marchese (futuro duca) di 29 anni che dopo 8 anni trascorsi in India torna a casa per rispettare la promessa fatta al padre: sposarsi entro i 30 anni.
I due s'incontrano durante un ballo in maschera e vivono una notte magica ignorando le loro identità fino a quando Gabriel decide di scegliere come possibile moglie Emily ignorando che sua zia sia la sconosciuta che non ha mai dimenticato e che continua a cercare nonostante debba sposarsi.
Una trama semplice e scorrevole con un livello di sensualità alto ma senza essere volgare o di disturbo.
Essendo una serie c'è la possibilità di ritrovare personaggi già incontrati nel libro precedente come le vedove amiche di Beatrice ma non mancano personaggi nuovi. Decisamente tutti simpatici e ben delineati.
L'epoca in cui è ambientato il romanzo è il periodo Regency e l'azione si svolge in contemporanea con le vicende del libro precedente solo che in questo caso sono raccontate dal punto di vista di Beatrice e Gabriel. I due protagonisti essendo titolati, rispettati e con un certo patrimonio fanno sì che l'intera vicenda si svolga nelle sfere del Bel Mondo e più precisamente durante la cosiddetta Stagione londinese (periodo in cui le donne in età da marito frequentano feste, balli, concerti con lo scopo di contrarre un buon matrimonio).
Interessante l'idea di trattare una storia d'amore tra una donna più grande (6 anni) e un uomo più piccolo soprattutto in un epoca come quella ottocentesca.
Un libro da leggere tutto d'un fiato...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2019
What a cutie!! This one has a nice story, I loved how the couple met (and when they met again)! Gabriel and Beatrice plot was very consistent and funny, but Emily was so vain that sometimes was annoying. But how the moghty fall lol I just really loved the Duchess part in the hea, it was cute. Lovely book!
November 20, 2020
Me encantó el desarrollo de esta historia. Lo prohibido de la relación entre los dos protagonistas es gasolina pura, y el hecho de que la sobrina de Lady Somerfield pensara casarse con Thayne fue la chispa que encendió esta historia.
Definitivamente me gustó más que el primer libro de esta serie.
Definitivamente me gustó más que el primer libro de esta serie.
July 1, 2024
Something Different
I truly loved Thayne and Beatrice truly different, love story. I was hooked on this story from the very beginning. Having Thayne & Beatrice making love for the first time as strangers was very sexy to me and I loved how the story just got sexier and sexier as I read it. Mm, mm good.
I truly loved Thayne and Beatrice truly different, love story. I was hooked on this story from the very beginning. Having Thayne & Beatrice making love for the first time as strangers was very sexy to me and I loved how the story just got sexier and sexier as I read it. Mm, mm good.
July 7, 2017
On the whole, this was a fast paced, sexy and fun read that does make me want to pick up the other books in the series, so I recommend it for readers looking for something steamy for the summer.
More review here: http://www.regrom.com/2017/07/06/cand...
More review here: http://www.regrom.com/2017/07/06/cand...
September 7, 2017
me encanta el club de estas viudas, el mejor el 1º, esperaba mas de esta historia, esta bien, pero creo que el nudo de la historia es un poco repetitivo .
January 26, 2019
Such a great couple!!!
I loved the characters in this book! Gabriel was a wonderful hero and I loved his persistence!! A must read!!
I loved the characters in this book! Gabriel was a wonderful hero and I loved his persistence!! A must read!!
January 30, 2019
skimmed
December 11, 2020
Did not like this one in the series. Both were selfish and irresponsible. No care for their families, but only what they wanted. Hope Grace’s story is better.
March 26, 2023
Hot and steamy Regency Romance.
November 1, 2023
Niet zomaar een minnaar
November 19, 2025
2 Stars. Bland, mostly enjoyable read. Give me more widows and older fmcs. But oof, for an HR published not too long ago, I was surprised by the exotification of Indian culture.
December 26, 2022
The problem was that he simply could not muster up real enthusiasm for any one of them. It had no doubt been a bad idea to embark on a passionate love affair at such a time. His thoughts were consumed by a certain red-haired countess. Compared with her, every other young woman seemed incomplete—less vivid, less self-assured, less genuine.
*4.5 stars
Yay! It's better than the first book. I guess when it's a masquerade ball, the ton became more bold and daring. The mystery and the magical aura the theme created might also be one of the reasons. Why, the hero and the heroine got so carried a way. This book is much more intense, deeper and have better plots than the first one. And my, "it" was so hot. What was lacking in the first book was kind of present here. I just expected an epilogue. I wanna see how would he interacted with Charlotte and Georgina now that they were considered as his daughters, they adored him, okay. That must be so cute and might reflect the soft side of the hero but nah, it was not there! But I really like the hero and heroine though. I just can't decide with Lord Rochdale. I really think he would be paired up with Grace. I'm so excited to discover that I'm right. He's just so mysterious because he was portrayed as debauche rake who ruin that lady named Selena but he was likable in book 1. Who is Rochdale??? Oh my.
*4.5 stars
Yay! It's better than the first book. I guess when it's a masquerade ball, the ton became more bold and daring. The mystery and the magical aura the theme created might also be one of the reasons. Why, the hero and the heroine got so carried a way. This book is much more intense, deeper and have better plots than the first one. And my, "it" was so hot. What was lacking in the first book was kind of present here. I just expected an epilogue. I wanna see how would he interacted with Charlotte and Georgina now that they were considered as his daughters, they adored him, okay. That must be so cute and might reflect the soft side of the hero but nah, it was not there! But I really like the hero and heroine though. I just can't decide with Lord Rochdale. I really think he would be paired up with Grace. I'm so excited to discover that I'm right. He's just so mysterious because he was portrayed as debauche rake who ruin that lady named Selena but he was likable in book 1. Who is Rochdale??? Oh my.
December 10, 2007
Regency romance novel. Part of the Merry Widows series. Beatrice, Lady Somerfield is chaperoning her niece Emily for the Season and helping her get a husband. At one of the many balls of the Season under the guise of masks Beatrice meets and has a one time fling with a dark, tall, stranger. All members of the Merry Widows club had a pact to live life and find a lover. And find a lover Beatrice did. Too bad he turns out to be the man Emily has set her sights on. Gabriel Thayne, heir of duke. This is like reading a Barbara Cartland regency novel but turned on its head. The heroine is not this pure as snow, barely out of diapers young woman but a woman with a past life and her relationship with a younger man. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a romance novel as much as this one. Beatrice and Gabriel are interesting and a good match for each other. Emily is the innocent girl with character and Beatrice's merry widows friends are interesting enough for me to hunt down the other 2 books in the series.
January 3, 2012
I really like the cover! i was attracted to this book because of the said cover.
Once i read it, it doesn't disappoint. The plot is quite different from other romance as the heroine is older than the hero and she is quite settled in her own way to ever consider marrying again. While the hero is no dandy from the ton. And he has fetish with arms!
So they begin a love affair, with both [seemingly] do it with open eyes - so no expectation of something more from both of them.
One thing that complicated the matters though is the heroine's niece. A beautiful, willful and sometimes down right bratty. The hero supposedly tries to win this niece because she is what society (and his parents) deems as the best possible match for him.
i like that it is the hero that tries to convince the heroine to marry him and not the other way around. And i like the fact that though the hero portrays as dark and brooding, he is not selfish bas**** like any other heroes in romance novel
Once i read it, it doesn't disappoint. The plot is quite different from other romance as the heroine is older than the hero and she is quite settled in her own way to ever consider marrying again. While the hero is no dandy from the ton. And he has fetish with arms!
So they begin a love affair, with both [seemingly] do it with open eyes - so no expectation of something more from both of them.
One thing that complicated the matters though is the heroine's niece. A beautiful, willful and sometimes down right bratty. The hero supposedly tries to win this niece because she is what society (and his parents) deems as the best possible match for him.
i like that it is the hero that tries to convince the heroine to marry him and not the other way around. And i like the fact that though the hero portrays as dark and brooding, he is not selfish bas**** like any other heroes in romance novel
May 19, 2010
I'm just not a fan of those "I don't know you but I will check my conscience at the door and sleep with you the first time we meet" stories...... with Passion by Lisa Valdez being the exception to that rule. This story wasn't quite as convincing.
I liked the first book in the series, and I was anxious to read Beatrice's story. It was a bit of a disappointment. I'm okay with a "younger man" premise, but this one just didn't sit well. I didn't like the way these two met, the part Beatrice's niece and sister played in the plot, or the chemistry between these two people. I did appreciate that there was no murder or mayhem and that Candace Hern sticks to the basics.
I'm hoping for a better final book in "Lady Be Bad". If you're looking for chemistry... the first book of this trilogy "In the Thrill of the Night" has plenty!
I liked the first book in the series, and I was anxious to read Beatrice's story. It was a bit of a disappointment. I'm okay with a "younger man" premise, but this one just didn't sit well. I didn't like the way these two met, the part Beatrice's niece and sister played in the plot, or the chemistry between these two people. I did appreciate that there was no murder or mayhem and that Candace Hern sticks to the basics.
I'm hoping for a better final book in "Lady Be Bad". If you're looking for chemistry... the first book of this trilogy "In the Thrill of the Night" has plenty!
June 4, 2023
There was a lot to enjoy in this book but the plot fell off in the last quarter or so. The resolution of Beatrice's lack of interest in marriage or having more children really did not work for me. Admittedly I generally don't like plotlines about a character who doesn't want children changing their mind, but was just annoying. And I felt that Beatrice's reasons for not wanting marriage were so sound that I didn't like how quickly she changed her mind after .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews