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The Widower Without a Will
This secret love affair risks nothing except his legacy—and her heart.
Lord Martin Preston is not looking for love. All he wants is to secure his legacy as a progressive baron and caring father. When the rector’s widow needs a place to stay, he doesn’t think twice before offering her a room at Northfield Hall.
Martha Bellamy lives in shadows. For a decade, she has been under the cloud of scandal around her son’s demise, and now she must also live in the darkness of her husband’s death. Enchanted by Lord Preston, Martha volunteers to be his private secretary—and, she hopes, his new private friend.
Martin didn’t know how much he craved a confidante like Martha. Yet as they share more and more of their hearts with each other, he cannot forget she is a poor widow in his care, not a woman he can love. When tragedy strikes, Martin finds himself doing everything he can in order to protect all he has worked for—and he must decide whether Martha is included in his legacy.
In this final installment of The Prestons, Martin reckons with the legend of Northfield Hall and must prove once and for all whether he deserves the reputation he has earned.
Lord Martin Preston is not looking for love. All he wants is to secure his legacy as a progressive baron and caring father. When the rector’s widow needs a place to stay, he doesn’t think twice before offering her a room at Northfield Hall.
Martha Bellamy lives in shadows. For a decade, she has been under the cloud of scandal around her son’s demise, and now she must also live in the darkness of her husband’s death. Enchanted by Lord Preston, Martha volunteers to be his private secretary—and, she hopes, his new private friend.
Martin didn’t know how much he craved a confidante like Martha. Yet as they share more and more of their hearts with each other, he cannot forget she is a poor widow in his care, not a woman he can love. When tragedy strikes, Martin finds himself doing everything he can in order to protect all he has worked for—and he must decide whether Martha is included in his legacy.
In this final installment of The Prestons, Martin reckons with the legend of Northfield Hall and must prove once and for all whether he deserves the reputation he has earned.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
9 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Grant
20 books445 followersKatherine Grant writes Regency Romance novels for the modern reader. Her writing has been recognized by Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, the Romance Slam Jam Emma Awards, and Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards. If you love ballgowns, secret kisses, and social commentary, a book hangover is coming your way.
Katherine also hosts the weekly Historical Romance Sampler podcast! Find out more at www.katherinegrantromance.com
Katherine also hosts the weekly Historical Romance Sampler podcast! Find out more at www.katherinegrantromance.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 16, 2025
A forced proximity romance that has an almost instant connection and chemistry between the secretary and rhe Baron! Over the years, the Baron has lost his adult children's blind affections once they're out in the world. Martin (the Duke) fights his desires for Martha, because of their differences in station. Can Martha help the Baron win his adult children's affections again and become indispensable to the Baron??? Some twists and wake up calls. A senior love is like a fine aged wine- warm and comfortable . I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
October 6, 2025
I know I'm an easy crier but boy howdy did this book make me bawl. It's the final entry in the Prestons series, and Daddy Preston gets (another) HEA. Because yes, the series prequel novella is Martin Preston's first HEA. (We often say that Katherine Grant is an author who isn't afraid to try new things in romance, and this is just another example.)
If you're not familiar with the Prestons, they're a family of Regency progressives whose legacy started with Martin and his first wife, Lolly. When we say "Regency progressives," we're not only talking about historical romance that deals with contemporary issues through a different lens, although that is an element of many of Grant's books. Grant also does significant research to give the family historically accurate politics, e.g. they boycott sugar as a protest against the slave trade, or run their estate as a social experiment by giving workers a share of the profits. Martin may have provided the inception of his family's radical political stance, but in many ways his children have moved beyond his original intentions. For example, his youngest daughter married a member of the lower classes, a glazier, who also happens to be the son of estate servants and the son of Chinese immigrants.
While Martin always tries to do the right thing, he more and more finds himself at odds with many of his children. And when he begins an affair with the vicar's widow after he invites her to stay at the estate while she is figuring out where her life is going next, he's consumed with guilt. Yes, he worries that she may feel coerced, although she repeatedly tells him she doesn't, but he also feels like having an extramarital affair with a woman not of his class is not providing a good example to the world. And this is in large part because he's spent most of his life defending his choices to the world at large.
For her part, Martha knows her own mind, but she's in a different position financially than Martin is. While Martin's charity isn't contingent on their affair, she still has a lot to lose if it ends, both monetarily, as she will need to find a new place to live, and emotionally, since she's falling in love with a man who absolutely cannot admit it.
So here's the deal: I said I cried a lot, and that's because this book deals with a lot of grief. Martin still misses his wife, although she died over a decade ago at this point; his best friend and staunch supporter at the estate is dying; and in many ways he's estranged from his adult children. Martha's husband just died, but what's more difficult for her (and for me as a reader) is that her only son died at his own hand years before the book begins. This book is really good, but treat yourself kindly if any of these topics hit home for you.
As the Prestons series comes to an end, this feels like the right place for it to stop: the same place it began, with Martin. It's really been a great project to explore this kind of radical story through a historical romance series, and on the whole, it's a real success.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
If you're not familiar with the Prestons, they're a family of Regency progressives whose legacy started with Martin and his first wife, Lolly. When we say "Regency progressives," we're not only talking about historical romance that deals with contemporary issues through a different lens, although that is an element of many of Grant's books. Grant also does significant research to give the family historically accurate politics, e.g. they boycott sugar as a protest against the slave trade, or run their estate as a social experiment by giving workers a share of the profits. Martin may have provided the inception of his family's radical political stance, but in many ways his children have moved beyond his original intentions. For example, his youngest daughter married a member of the lower classes, a glazier, who also happens to be the son of estate servants and the son of Chinese immigrants.
While Martin always tries to do the right thing, he more and more finds himself at odds with many of his children. And when he begins an affair with the vicar's widow after he invites her to stay at the estate while she is figuring out where her life is going next, he's consumed with guilt. Yes, he worries that she may feel coerced, although she repeatedly tells him she doesn't, but he also feels like having an extramarital affair with a woman not of his class is not providing a good example to the world. And this is in large part because he's spent most of his life defending his choices to the world at large.
For her part, Martha knows her own mind, but she's in a different position financially than Martin is. While Martin's charity isn't contingent on their affair, she still has a lot to lose if it ends, both monetarily, as she will need to find a new place to live, and emotionally, since she's falling in love with a man who absolutely cannot admit it.
So here's the deal: I said I cried a lot, and that's because this book deals with a lot of grief. Martin still misses his wife, although she died over a decade ago at this point; his best friend and staunch supporter at the estate is dying; and in many ways he's estranged from his adult children. Martha's husband just died, but what's more difficult for her (and for me as a reader) is that her only son died at his own hand years before the book begins. This book is really good, but treat yourself kindly if any of these topics hit home for you.
As the Prestons series comes to an end, this feels like the right place for it to stop: the same place it began, with Martin. It's really been a great project to explore this kind of radical story through a historical romance series, and on the whole, it's a real success.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
October 1, 2025
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
My bad, I made a mistake when reading this book. I had started reading the Prestons series, but did not realize over the years that I have not read all the books as they came out. I have them - but did not get around to reading them, and I do think that I am missing nuances of the relationships between the baron and his children in not reading all of them, and those relationships impact Martin, his sense of self, and his inner conflicts and decisions a great deal in this story. So, while I did enjoy this story and did not feel too lost, I do feel I would have understood the relationships and backgrounds better if I read the preceding stories as they came out.
On saying that, I was eager to read this story as I am entering that stage of life where I greatly appreciate and relate to stories featuring more mature characters. This story explores two people who find each other later in life, social classes and expectations, familial relationships/conflicts and expectations, mourning and loss, and the stigma of suicide, to name a few themes.
Baron Martin Preston has been a widower for a great number of years, ever since losing the love of his life. Since then, he focused his energies on raising his children, and making Netherfield a successful, thriving community, and using his influence to spread the progressive ethos that drives their community. He is at the stage in his life where he is reflecting on that legacy, and how to secure it for the future. This also forces him to reflect on his children and his relationship with them as well. He is not looking for love or anything like that.
But when the local widow of the rector, Martha Bellamy, is rendered homeless when the new rector and his family arrives, before she is able to secure a new residence, Martin steps in and offers her a temporary home at Netherfield Hall. Martha is not just in mourning for the loss of her husband, but has been forced to loss much of her reputation, community, and family ties because of the passing of her son and his scandal many years before. Her future is tenuous and uncertain. But while she is offered a reprieve by the Baron, and she determines to earn her keep somewhat by acting as his secretary and aide while she is in residence.
Martin has stayed true to his wife, Lolly, even though it has been years since her passing. But Martha shows an unexpected earthy sensuality and the both of them find themselves greatly attracted to each other, and that draws them into a secret affair. But they are ultimately, despite the Baron's progressive views, from differing social classes. Being older, does not necessarily mean being wiser, especially when messy emotions and hearts are involved. And while they eventually find their way to a happily ever after, both Martha and Martin have to face the past and find some peace in themselves before they reach that reward together.
4 stars out of 5
My bad, I made a mistake when reading this book. I had started reading the Prestons series, but did not realize over the years that I have not read all the books as they came out. I have them - but did not get around to reading them, and I do think that I am missing nuances of the relationships between the baron and his children in not reading all of them, and those relationships impact Martin, his sense of self, and his inner conflicts and decisions a great deal in this story. So, while I did enjoy this story and did not feel too lost, I do feel I would have understood the relationships and backgrounds better if I read the preceding stories as they came out.
On saying that, I was eager to read this story as I am entering that stage of life where I greatly appreciate and relate to stories featuring more mature characters. This story explores two people who find each other later in life, social classes and expectations, familial relationships/conflicts and expectations, mourning and loss, and the stigma of suicide, to name a few themes.
Baron Martin Preston has been a widower for a great number of years, ever since losing the love of his life. Since then, he focused his energies on raising his children, and making Netherfield a successful, thriving community, and using his influence to spread the progressive ethos that drives their community. He is at the stage in his life where he is reflecting on that legacy, and how to secure it for the future. This also forces him to reflect on his children and his relationship with them as well. He is not looking for love or anything like that.
But when the local widow of the rector, Martha Bellamy, is rendered homeless when the new rector and his family arrives, before she is able to secure a new residence, Martin steps in and offers her a temporary home at Netherfield Hall. Martha is not just in mourning for the loss of her husband, but has been forced to loss much of her reputation, community, and family ties because of the passing of her son and his scandal many years before. Her future is tenuous and uncertain. But while she is offered a reprieve by the Baron, and she determines to earn her keep somewhat by acting as his secretary and aide while she is in residence.
Martin has stayed true to his wife, Lolly, even though it has been years since her passing. But Martha shows an unexpected earthy sensuality and the both of them find themselves greatly attracted to each other, and that draws them into a secret affair. But they are ultimately, despite the Baron's progressive views, from differing social classes. Being older, does not necessarily mean being wiser, especially when messy emotions and hearts are involved. And while they eventually find their way to a happily ever after, both Martha and Martin have to face the past and find some peace in themselves before they reach that reward together.
4 stars out of 5
October 17, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant second chance at love romance and finale to this great series with its added forbidden love and class disparity tropes. The plot is very well written, highly emotional, and steamy, filled with interesting historical tidbits and featuring a mature couple in their sixties.
For me, however, the focus of the story was not the romance, but the lovable and tortured protagonists, who both struggle with their lives in different ways. I empathized with Martin throughout the book. Torn between tradition and progress, his family and his vision, his love and social expectations. His inner conflicts and frustration were so palpable that they teared me up more than once. He may sometimes make stupid decisions and act cowardly, but he always has the best intentions.
Martha is, in her own way, a strong, confident, and compassionate heroine who has never been able to come to terms with her past and has not had the opportunity to mourn her son. I really liked how their relationship developed slowly and how they supported and comforted each other.
This time, Martin's daughter Caroline was very unsympathetic to me for a long time with her vindictive, obstinate, and provocative behavior.
I think it's a shame to have to say goodbye to the Prestons, but the end of the series was beautiful and moved me to tears. I can highly recommend the book and the whole series!
Since the escalation with his daughter Caroline over her marriage to Eddie Chow, Lord Martin Preston has been feeling lonely and overwhelmed by the decisions he has to make regarding the future of his children and Northfield Hall. When the widow of the late rector, Martha Bellamy, is forced to leave her home and faces an uncertain future, he invites her to stay with him at Northfield Hall until she hears from her relatives.
After the death of her husband, Martha is left to fend for herself. The scandal surrounding her deceased son, who committed suicide, prevents her relatives from taking her in. But after years of silence and omission, she now has the chance to finally mourn him.
Martha wants to make herself useful at Northfield Hall, and Martin offers her the position of temporary secretary. Soon, they become friends and confidants who support and comfort each other. But when they feel attracted to each other, they embark on an illicit affair. A secret and temporary friendship with benefits—that's all there can be between them...
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
For me, however, the focus of the story was not the romance, but the lovable and tortured protagonists, who both struggle with their lives in different ways. I empathized with Martin throughout the book. Torn between tradition and progress, his family and his vision, his love and social expectations. His inner conflicts and frustration were so palpable that they teared me up more than once. He may sometimes make stupid decisions and act cowardly, but he always has the best intentions.
Martha is, in her own way, a strong, confident, and compassionate heroine who has never been able to come to terms with her past and has not had the opportunity to mourn her son. I really liked how their relationship developed slowly and how they supported and comforted each other.
This time, Martin's daughter Caroline was very unsympathetic to me for a long time with her vindictive, obstinate, and provocative behavior.
I think it's a shame to have to say goodbye to the Prestons, but the end of the series was beautiful and moved me to tears. I can highly recommend the book and the whole series!
Since the escalation with his daughter Caroline over her marriage to Eddie Chow, Lord Martin Preston has been feeling lonely and overwhelmed by the decisions he has to make regarding the future of his children and Northfield Hall. When the widow of the late rector, Martha Bellamy, is forced to leave her home and faces an uncertain future, he invites her to stay with him at Northfield Hall until she hears from her relatives.
After the death of her husband, Martha is left to fend for herself. The scandal surrounding her deceased son, who committed suicide, prevents her relatives from taking her in. But after years of silence and omission, she now has the chance to finally mourn him.
Martha wants to make herself useful at Northfield Hall, and Martin offers her the position of temporary secretary. Soon, they become friends and confidants who support and comfort each other. But when they feel attracted to each other, they embark on an illicit affair. A secret and temporary friendship with benefits—that's all there can be between them...
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
October 6, 2025
The Widower Without a Will is an utter delight! Katherine Grant wraps up her Preston series with a book that’s a treat because it explores tropes in new ways.
The focal point is the head of the Preston family, Martin. And here’s one area where Grant does something distinctive: she takes the hero of her first book in the series and makes him the hero of the last book as well after he has been widowed (which wasn’t jarring at all; he had a long, successful marriage with his first wife). That means we also get older protagonists!
Both Martin and Martha are in their 60s, both have lost their spouses, and both are navigating a changed world. Martha’s situation is dire. As a minister’s widow, she has almost nothing of her own. So Martin offers to bring her to the Northfield community—but he takes her to live in his house and serve as his secretary. Martha is used to being helpful and organizing things as a minister’s wife, but what she doesn’t expect is the interest she has in Lord Preston.
Both these characters are dealing with grief and difficulties with their children, but in very different ways. Martin is a bit of a wreck, repeatedly blaming himself for every supposed sin he’s committed. Martha has been in avoidance over what happened to her son, and she has to learn how to make that situation work for herself.
Seeing them explore the possibilities of a relationship and passion is a large part of the delight of this book. I loved how Grant addresses head-on what it’s like to have sexytimes as an older person, where thoughtfulness and accommodations have to be made. It’s a quite nice touch.
I just loved this book. If you like reading a romance that isn’t quite like every other one out there, you’ll find a great one in The Widower Without a Will.
The focal point is the head of the Preston family, Martin. And here’s one area where Grant does something distinctive: she takes the hero of her first book in the series and makes him the hero of the last book as well after he has been widowed (which wasn’t jarring at all; he had a long, successful marriage with his first wife). That means we also get older protagonists!
Both Martin and Martha are in their 60s, both have lost their spouses, and both are navigating a changed world. Martha’s situation is dire. As a minister’s widow, she has almost nothing of her own. So Martin offers to bring her to the Northfield community—but he takes her to live in his house and serve as his secretary. Martha is used to being helpful and organizing things as a minister’s wife, but what she doesn’t expect is the interest she has in Lord Preston.
Both these characters are dealing with grief and difficulties with their children, but in very different ways. Martin is a bit of a wreck, repeatedly blaming himself for every supposed sin he’s committed. Martha has been in avoidance over what happened to her son, and she has to learn how to make that situation work for herself.
Seeing them explore the possibilities of a relationship and passion is a large part of the delight of this book. I loved how Grant addresses head-on what it’s like to have sexytimes as an older person, where thoughtfulness and accommodations have to be made. It’s a quite nice touch.
I just loved this book. If you like reading a romance that isn’t quite like every other one out there, you’ll find a great one in The Widower Without a Will.
October 13, 2025
Autumn, the season for new beginnings... even in life
Discrete and dutiful rector’s wife Martha loved her husband, but their union never recovered from their son’s shameful demise, and now the man is gone and his replacement has come to claim her home. Her life packed into two trunks and a valise, she has nowhere to go.
Lord Martin Preston has devoted his entire life to make the world a better place. Still faithful to his late wife, his offspring settled and his best friend gravely ill, he’s forced to consider his own legacy – his family and the community her created.
Feeling responsible for the widow’s unlucky circumstance, he doesn’t hesitate and offers her a room in his home. Not one for idly sitting around, she offers her assistance as his secretary in return. Somewhere between regretful confessions, secret glances and comfortable companionship, their close-quarter collaboration blossoms into feelings – forbidden and impossible, yet completely irresistible.
Their pasts and presents are nothing alike, yet they both understand grief, regret and the uncertainty of ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ when it comes to strained relationships and their children.
I loved their bond, the vulnerability, the honesty and the second youth playfulness; so precious and heartwarming! And their steamy times... yummm!
The struggles with class-difference, village gossip and Martin’s deep-rooted sense of order and honour felt real and heartbreaking. So did Martha’s journey to find her son; so moving and beautifully written!
Having read this series from the start, I also loved revisiting Northfield Hall, the grounds and its people! To see the change, and discover its future. However, I did not expect nor appreciate how resentful and moralising his daughters had become, especially Caro. Yes, dad made mistakes, but he deserved better.
Still, what a heartfelt way to conclude this unique family saga, and be sure to check out all the accompanying novellas as well!
Discrete and dutiful rector’s wife Martha loved her husband, but their union never recovered from their son’s shameful demise, and now the man is gone and his replacement has come to claim her home. Her life packed into two trunks and a valise, she has nowhere to go.
Lord Martin Preston has devoted his entire life to make the world a better place. Still faithful to his late wife, his offspring settled and his best friend gravely ill, he’s forced to consider his own legacy – his family and the community her created.
Feeling responsible for the widow’s unlucky circumstance, he doesn’t hesitate and offers her a room in his home. Not one for idly sitting around, she offers her assistance as his secretary in return. Somewhere between regretful confessions, secret glances and comfortable companionship, their close-quarter collaboration blossoms into feelings – forbidden and impossible, yet completely irresistible.
Their pasts and presents are nothing alike, yet they both understand grief, regret and the uncertainty of ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ when it comes to strained relationships and their children.
I loved their bond, the vulnerability, the honesty and the second youth playfulness; so precious and heartwarming! And their steamy times... yummm!
The struggles with class-difference, village gossip and Martin’s deep-rooted sense of order and honour felt real and heartbreaking. So did Martha’s journey to find her son; so moving and beautifully written!
Having read this series from the start, I also loved revisiting Northfield Hall, the grounds and its people! To see the change, and discover its future. However, I did not expect nor appreciate how resentful and moralising his daughters had become, especially Caro. Yes, dad made mistakes, but he deserved better.
Still, what a heartfelt way to conclude this unique family saga, and be sure to check out all the accompanying novellas as well!
September 21, 2025
This book completes the ‘Preston’ series a deep look at a remarkable estate that was egalitarian, principled and considerate to those deemed unworthy by society. The book itself has a tortured hero, but unusually it is of an older widower who acts indecently by the standards of the day to a local widow. It is a refreshing change to see an older couple being the focus of a book which is as usual well researched and well written. There is an appropriate HEA which sees the widower reconciled with a family who he thought he had let down and plans afoot to establish a democratic legacy. A really eye opening read.
September 27, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This is a romance between two older people, Martha, the widow of the local minister, and Martin a Baron.
When Martha is awaiting her nieces' reply to go live with her, Martin takes her in at his estate where she helps him as his secretary. They soon realize that there is an attraction between them, but Martin thinks it would be unseemly to act upon it.
There were some plot twists in the story, lots of wonderful secondary characters, and a very satisfactory ending to the Preston's story.
This is a romance between two older people, Martha, the widow of the local minister, and Martin a Baron.
When Martha is awaiting her nieces' reply to go live with her, Martin takes her in at his estate where she helps him as his secretary. They soon realize that there is an attraction between them, but Martin thinks it would be unseemly to act upon it.
There were some plot twists in the story, lots of wonderful secondary characters, and a very satisfactory ending to the Preston's story.
October 4, 2025
Oh my goodness, this book touched my heart! First, as an older reader, this story was very relatable. Add to that the parenting of adult children and working through past hurts was so true. Martha carries so much sorrow, yet she is willing to embrace life wholly. She is practical and passionate. Martin's character feels so much conflict. The story is so realistic and believable. I felt so much from reading this story and find myself thankful to the author for creating it.
October 12, 2025
I loved this later in life story of Martin and Martha.
Katherine Grant writes such unique regency stories. This is the final in the series but can be read as a standalone as I did.
I loved the perspective of Martin, the very radical lord for his time, struggling with dealing with his relationships with his adult children.
This was just a great story. Highly recommended.
Thank you BookSirens and Katherine Grant for supplying this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Katherine Grant writes such unique regency stories. This is the final in the series but can be read as a standalone as I did.
I loved the perspective of Martin, the very radical lord for his time, struggling with dealing with his relationships with his adult children.
This was just a great story. Highly recommended.
Thank you BookSirens and Katherine Grant for supplying this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
October 10, 2025
This was almost a DNF for me. The first half seemed disjointed and I put the book down many, many times thinking I’d not pick it up again but managed to push through past the halfway mark where the writing picked up. Overall I enjoyed it but am not going to pick up other books in the series.
I received this book as an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this voluntary review.
I received this book as an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this voluntary review.
October 18, 2025
What a roller-coaster of emotions! And 60 year old mmcs!
What an emotional, complicated tale of grief and old hurts. I WANTED Martha and Martin to be happy. I was INVESTED. I was rooting for them. I also was impressed at how down and dirty they were. GOOD for them!!!
Thank you to Katherine Grant and BookSirens for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
What an emotional, complicated tale of grief and old hurts. I WANTED Martha and Martin to be happy. I was INVESTED. I was rooting for them. I also was impressed at how down and dirty they were. GOOD for them!!!
Thank you to Katherine Grant and BookSirens for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
October 19, 2025
Was a good ending to a great series. The final chapter that set out the future for Northfield Hall is a brilliant idea. I do prefer a clean read romance and I did feel that some of the terminology used would probably not have been around in those times, but otherwise a good romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews