Truly a Wife

Free Fellows League #4

by Rebecca Hagan Lee

What’s a duke to do when he sullies the reputation of London’s favorite bridesmaid? Daniel, ninth Duke of Sussex, has big plans—and they don’t include marriage. A member of the covert Free Fellows League, he’s determined to become one of England’s greatest war heroes. But his plans go awry when he’s injured during a mission and forced to take refuge in the home—and bed—of Miranda, Lady St. Germaine, one of society’s perpetual bridesmaids. Soon all of London is abuzz with gossip about Miranda’s mysterious lover… Realizing his stay has compromised Miranda’s reputation, Daniel goes against his better judgment and proposes marriage. But Miranda will have nothing to do with a marriage of convenience—especially with the one man she’s always secretly adored. Unless, of course, she can convince him to make her truly his wife… Book 4 of the “Free Fellows League” Series, which includes BARELY A BRIDE, MERELY THE GROOM, HARDLY A HUSBAND and TRULY A WIFE “Tender, enthralling romance straight from the heart!”—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author “Sparkling romance and passion that sizzles…Rebecca Hagan Lee taps into every woman’s fantasy!”—Christina Dodd, New York Times bestseller “Every Rebecca Hagan Lee book is a tender treasure! She warms my heart and touches my soul.”—Teresa Medeiros, New York Times bestselling author “Rebecca Hagan Lee warms my heart and touches my soul. She’s a star in the making!”—Sabrina Jeffries, New York Times bestselling author “Rebecca Hagan Lee is a writer on the rise!”— Romantic Times

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, British Literature, Fiction

281 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2005

About the author

Rebecca Hagan Lee has had many different jobs, earning her beads of experience on the necklace of life with each one, but her desire to write was constant. After graduating from college, she set out to make her mark in the world of television journalism, but somewhere along the way, she decided she was a small town girl at heart and settled in a town where the media consisted of a weekly newspaper and an AM radio station.

Seeking a creative outlet, she turned to writing romance and began to write stories far different from those in the world of television news, but not that far removed from the hundreds of episodes of Daniel Boone, Big Valley, Gunsmoke and Bonanza she had watched growing up. She decided to create stories where good guys win, bad guys lose, prostitutes have hearts of gold and the heroes and heroines who fall in love and persevere are richly rewarded with incredibly bright futures and happy endings. In her world, heroines don't die or get killed off to make way for the next episode's new love interest. Her heroines get their men and help them become ideal husbands, lovers, friends and fathers.

Rebecca lives in a small southern town with her husband, a miniature schnauzer, two rat terriers, a half dozen barn cats, and two extraordinary horses. She is currently seated at the computer working hard to make her dreams come true, or riding off with her hero into the sunset. . .

Reviews

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the H/H Daniel and Miranda of Truly a Wife in bk 1 Barely A Bride. This is a cat and mouse tale of The Ninth Duke of Sussex Daniel and the Rightful Marchioness Miranda. Miranda inherited her title from her father. There were some women who could inherited titles from there fathers. But the first Marchioness was Anne Boylen 2nd wife to King Henry VIII. He elevated Anne to aristocracy so he could marry her. Anyway, Miranda has her title and wealth and doesn't have to marry to be elevated in the aristocracy. Mirada is a spirited strong and loving female who has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride. But finally she marries the man she has loved for many years Daniel the Duke of Sussex.

Daniel has been shot on a mission for the Free Fellows League and the only one who can help him hide this fact is Miranda but he knows by forcing her to leave his Dowager Duchess Mothers ball and riding off in her coach with her alone will lead to scandal. Daniels hurries them off to Saint Michaels to be married by one of the Bishops of the church. But with fever and chills from being shot he forgets he has married Miranda. They do turn out to be one of the best couples in the Free Fellows League series. But its takes too long for Daniel to remember he married Miranda. The story is also a bit repetitive and drags at times. But they do get there HEA and basically this was a good story.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda St Germaine was my favorite of all the characters within the Free Fellows League stories. It's no secret that I love the Free Fellows and even more than that I love that they all choose strong, smart women with which to fall in love. I read the first three on audio and I wish I could have found this one on audio as well but it was a fast read and a great story. Probably one of my favorite historical romances.

[Alicia Catlos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whole chapters recycled from Hardly a Husband. Tsk.

[Mary23nm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of 'telling' in this installment and repeated conversations from the last book. Certain events after the hero was shot just didn't make sense. Also, I was not feeling the love from the hero, Daniel, for Miranda until the very end. This is the weak link in the series, so far.

[Tenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how this appeared on my e-reader and should have left in the abyss of oblivion. It is not the worst but also absolutely not my favorite.

[Silvia Prego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo!!!

Truly another great story to follow the previous books. Miranda and Daniel share such a lovely book and adventure along this book. I got a bit nervous with Daniel but love won in the end! A must read!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was just something about both the Duke of Sussex, Daniel, and Miranda, the Marchioness, that grabbed me from their introductions in previous books in this series so I was thrilled to read their book. These two characters get a happily ever after ending following some great action and romantic scenes. Personally, this is my favourite read of the series because I loved the anguish and emotion, especially for Miranda, that preceded the feel good ending. The author has done a wonderful job of creating strong characters and engaging the reader in a story that will make you cry and eventually feel joyful. This sweet and spicy story will be remembered.

[Michelle Quintana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read, this book continues with The Free Fellow League and their missions. Daniel, the Duke of Sussex, is returning to England after a covert mission gone wrong. He is seriously injured but knows he must show up to a very important gala- his mother's ball. Miranda is a Marquessa in her own right. Not from marriage but from birthright. This part I really liked because it was something that was not done. However, because she is a woman, Miranda has a hard time trying to be accepted. In order to save each other's reputation, they secretly marry but with mitigating circumstances. Miranda has always loved Daniel and has no problem being with him. When Daniel realizes he has always loved Miranda, marriage doesn't scare him the way he thinks it will. He doesn't get scared until his last mission goes awry. He knows there's a traitor in the government and comes up with a plan to flush him out. The ending was sweet and romantic and the perfect ending to their story

[Harold E Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Fellows league Book 4

Wow as hopped for, another great story. Well written continuation of the story line. Sad to say only one book left to read. Expecting another good book. Some authors work in adding new characters to expand on the series, but that has a tendency to cause some readers to lose interest. Not so for this series with one last book to be read. Will have to look into other books by the same author.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Hagan Lee gives us more Free Fellows League storytelling and romantic intrigue.

In this novel of the Free Fellows League, Truly a Wife, we follow Daniel's mysterious spying for the crown and Miranda, the eternal bridesmaid, who has secretly loved him from afar for years. Follow their journey as secrets come to light and romance blossoms into love.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read this series when the books were published. I think my taste has changed, although this author was one of my favorites then. I will have to see if she's written anything since this series. More like 3.5 stars on second reading.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smugglers or Snugglers

Loved book 4! So much more spicier and so loved more action happening with the storyline on the war smugglers. If you haven't read the Free Fellows League Series, Yet, You Need To!

[Janet Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fear to love

Having been wounded and needing help the Duke seeks his love Miranda. But in his pain and drunken state marries her then collapsed. She cares for him then when he leaves not remembering any of it. Can they resolve the problems before it is to late?

[Michelle Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story

I actually liked how the story ended, but I felt sorry for Miranda through the whole book. She seemed too much of a doormat sometimes

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was wondering about their story from the 1st book. Very disappointed in the fact that whole chapters were repeated from book 3.

[Golden Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cuppa I guess... I like slow pace stories but there's nothing much happened on this book. I stopped around page 120.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pbs copy, part of a series

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle version hasn't been edited, but loved Miranda as the heroine in this installment

[Jane Marchionna · Rating 2 out of 5]

He is a jerk and she is just pathetic. Sorry but I couldn’t say much good about this book.

[Maps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 stars

[Maria Vazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding

Such a lovely story!!! The authors’ description of the heroine of this story is magnificent!!! Very well written, kudos to her!

[Sandra Bensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #4

Daniel's story of how he becomes a Free Fellow and ends up marrying g Miranda his one true love. This was a great story I loved it.

[karan hemmings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is Manners book

I really enjoyed these books, but was very disappointed that one of the free fellows is missing his story
Very disappointed

[RLV · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rooted for Miranda in the first book of this series and so I grabbed this one right after I finished the first. It wasn't as good but still enjoyable. I wish the author hadn't written about the heroine height so many times - it got tiring after the third time it was mentioned.

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good, but there were typo issues stemming from spell check I assume, in the Kindle edition I read. I liked the story of Daniel and Miranda and their romance, but when it came to the whole spying thing I'm afraid I zoned out, as there were too many characters, too many background explanations and it was all a bit boring. I kept skipping those bits until I hit the romance sections and the H/h interactions again - which were really well done. This author is a favourite of mine and I have read the other books in this series, so maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read about espionage yesterday...

I also had to giggle when the characters had Yorkshire pudding and vegetables for dinner. No mention was made of the beef that actually is the basis for the roast meal. Also if you want to be politically correct, the English version of tidbit is titbit (tidbit is American) Never mind - all American authors use this incorrect word in every book I have read set in England.

[suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last book of the Free Fellows series, I think, and is my favorite of the lot (though, to be fair, I haven't finished the second book yet). Even in the previous books, I was always looking for scenes between Miranda and Daniel. I didn't like that they've, sort of, been forced to get married though. I wanted them to have a better reason to marry than circumstance especially since this is their second chance (or maybe third) at love. And it felt like Miranda was always the giver in the relationship. I liked that most of the scenes (from what I remember) between them really showed genuine emotion aside from lust. Daniel did step up in the end though. Not as grandly as I would have liked but I'm not the author, so ... :P

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 of the series and (for me), the long awaited storyline for the Ton's favorite Bridesmaid and the Elusive Duke. Full of drama and thrills, wit and humor and of course the romance of hidden and unacknowledged love. Then there's the delicious feuds: the one~sided one that the Duchess of Sussex wages with Miranda and the mutual quarrels between (yet again) the Duchess of Sussex and the Marchioness of St. Germaine, Miranda's mother. Daniel is the first of the non~original members of the FFL to get married and here, the FFL revised their childish concepts about women and marriage and reaffirmed their oath to still fight for king and country so that their progeny will reap the fruits of their legacy in relative peace.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet, quick read.

A sensual, witty, funny, cute romance. We already know the characters and at least I've been waiting to read this book because Miranda and Daniel needed to get their act together and get together! And they did and they were great and lovely.

This book goes a little more into the missions of the Free Fellows and that was quite interesting. I wonder how the missions will progress with all these men taking wives.

This is a sensual book with some sex scenes that may offend some readers.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My appetite for Daniel's story was whetted during this series. I was not disappointed. This is another story where the hero and heroine have known each other since childhood and Miranda has loved him for years. The author treats this one a bit differently and it was so well written I cried more than once. I thoroughly loved this entire series and will look for more by this author.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Free Fellows book, because I love Miranda & Daniel. The first book git me hooked, the second enchanted, & the third seemed like an afterthought & just a way to get the marquis married off. This one was worth waiting for.