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The Worldly Widow
Ignoring the dangers still lingering in the aftermath of Waterloo, Annabella Jocelyn arrives in Paris on a mission - to purchase the publishing rights to a scandalous dairy written by a notorious femme fatale. An astute businesswoman, Annabella knows that securing this diary will certainly bring both fame and fortune to her fledgling company, Bailey's Press. All that stands in her way is a cadre of dangerous gentlemen determined to bury their indiscretions, and a brave war hero (and incorrigible rogue) determined to keep her safe, preferably in his bed. David Falconer, the Earl of Dalmar, knows how to fight and win, be it for his country or any woman who takes his fancy. His need to possess the cool, composed Annabella is unrelenting and deliriously consuming, yet his duty as a gentleman to keep her safe from the hands of merciless men is growing even stronger. Both desires are proving treacherous at best, for fearless Annabella is a formidable match for his skills at both soldiering and seduction...
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
10 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
61 books154 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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April 12, 2022
The first half? SPECTACULAR. The best of Elizabeth Thornton - a hero who's instantly struck with a sense of possession when he beholds the heroine, whom he believes to be married. The fact that Dalnar informs Annabella he expects her to be *completely* his when he knows she's got a husband is just classic Thornton, and I love it.
She's also a nice plucky heroine - a widows, as it happens, not a virgin, and a businesswoman whose publishing interests are at odds with the hero's. No blushing misses here (though after her first couple of novels, Thornton didn't really write those kinds of heroines anyway).
Unfortunately, the latter half of the novel becomes a lot more... irking. Dalmar turns into a COMPLETE arse, and I just longed to knock his head into a wall. While they're broken up he also sleeps with OW - only mentioned in passing, but I disliked this a lot.
Still, four stars because Thornton's writing here is vivid and passionate, and had it not been for the above, this probably would get five.
She's also a nice plucky heroine - a widows, as it happens, not a virgin, and a businesswoman whose publishing interests are at odds with the hero's. No blushing misses here (though after her first couple of novels, Thornton didn't really write those kinds of heroines anyway).
Unfortunately, the latter half of the novel becomes a lot more... irking. Dalmar turns into a COMPLETE arse, and I just longed to knock his head into a wall. While they're broken up he also sleeps with OW - only mentioned in passing, but I disliked this a lot.
Still, four stars because Thornton's writing here is vivid and passionate, and had it not been for the above, this probably would get five.
May 21, 2020
Thoroughly disliked the main "hero". He was domineering (in an insufferable and borderline abusive way), forces the heroine to be in a relationship with him, and basically blames her for almost getting assaulted (her clothes and she is too good looking) before making her have sex with him.. He wasn't charming at all. At one point he has her arrested and sent to a jail because she was defying him. Honestly his actions throughout the book were unforgivable (and for some reason she thinks she was in the wrong?!) and I was actually rooting for them not to be together. Not going to be reading more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2016
Sadly I was little bored with the book. I didn't like the hero at all. Over the top arrogant and puffed up with his own conceit. There wasn't one thing that would make a strong willed independent woman fall in love with him.
March 26, 2024
Book of its times. There is an ow, there is a jerk of a hero, there is a "plucky heroine". I went into the attic to get my physical copies of old books about cheating, ow and such, found this one. Don't remember much. Modern readers really dislike. From what I remember it's more of a 3.5 rounded up bc it's well written.
July 18, 2017
D'accordo, l'idea è originale, la trama è ben costruita, l'autrice conosce la storia di Francia e Inghilterra tra le guerre Napoleoniche e la restaurazione... Ma in tempi di violenza sulle donne e di femminicidi, si può proporre – ma sì, ma certo, in un romanzo di evasione, in un prodotto di 'mock-literature' – un protagonista dedito a ogni sorta di bullismo (fisico e morale) sulla donna che 'ama'? E, soprattutto, si può accettare la morale implicita che «dopo tutto, è proprio quello che lei in fondo voleva»?
April 2, 2010
This is the second book I read from this author, "Princess Charming" being the first. Annabelle Jocelyn, the worldly widow, and the secret boss of Bailey's Publications would soon have a break with the scandalous diaries of a French demimonde which would surely put to public shame powerful figures such as Wellington, Argylle, and the like.
I found myself intrigued whether Annabelle would be able to publish the diaries or not. That was the first concern, but then David, the Earl of Dalmar and hero of the story came into view. There was the initial attraction on his part, mild in Annabelle's part. Based on her observation he's a libertine just like any other man. Then came the seduction, the chase, and soon they were engaged to be married. I liked how he prepared to meet Richard, Annabelle's son and how he handled the boy. I laughed at Annabelle's foiled plan.
Anabelle's character immediately appealed to me since I've always liked headstrong women. Though strong she has moments of weakness like all women, her strength, wit, and will were admirable. Even David admitted to himself that when it comes to times of distress, women handle themselves better than men, who resort to whoring, drinking, sometimes gambling, or all of the three.
I also liked the way the author introduced secondary characters as Anabelle's support system, and how each found her own happiness in the story. Bertie finally married to Ransome, and Harry (Henrietta) lovingly reunited with her husband Charles (Annabelle's brother-in-law). I liked how the women held up no matter how trying the times were, they were really strong and good friends of Annabelle. Even Lady Diana, Dalmar's former fiancee, whom Annabelle had been jealous of before, gave Annabelle a piece of her mind and comforted her. Though to Annabelle's point of view David was just making her jealous (as suggested by Diana), she didn't know he was falling apart.
Though David somehow redeemed himself, I can't really forgive him for being an ass. I didn't like the way he manhandled Annabelle just to protect her. I felt her hurt and the hollow feeling of being betrayed. I can somehow identify myself with her character because what she did after was what I would do - turn a cold shoulder, try to get on with my life without the man. David was really a domineering ass until the end though he mellowed down a little.
I cried a little when Annabelle was confiding in her father, and how her father the vicar comforted her at the same time preached. It was a touching moment and it really did me in. I can say that I enjoyed reading this, but not that much.
I found myself intrigued whether Annabelle would be able to publish the diaries or not. That was the first concern, but then David, the Earl of Dalmar and hero of the story came into view. There was the initial attraction on his part, mild in Annabelle's part. Based on her observation he's a libertine just like any other man. Then came the seduction, the chase, and soon they were engaged to be married. I liked how he prepared to meet Richard, Annabelle's son and how he handled the boy. I laughed at Annabelle's foiled plan.
Anabelle's character immediately appealed to me since I've always liked headstrong women. Though strong she has moments of weakness like all women, her strength, wit, and will were admirable. Even David admitted to himself that when it comes to times of distress, women handle themselves better than men, who resort to whoring, drinking, sometimes gambling, or all of the three.
I also liked the way the author introduced secondary characters as Anabelle's support system, and how each found her own happiness in the story. Bertie finally married to Ransome, and Harry (Henrietta) lovingly reunited with her husband Charles (Annabelle's brother-in-law). I liked how the women held up no matter how trying the times were, they were really strong and good friends of Annabelle. Even Lady Diana, Dalmar's former fiancee, whom Annabelle had been jealous of before, gave Annabelle a piece of her mind and comforted her. Though to Annabelle's point of view David was just making her jealous (as suggested by Diana), she didn't know he was falling apart.
Though David somehow redeemed himself, I can't really forgive him for being an ass. I didn't like the way he manhandled Annabelle just to protect her. I felt her hurt and the hollow feeling of being betrayed. I can somehow identify myself with her character because what she did after was what I would do - turn a cold shoulder, try to get on with my life without the man. David was really a domineering ass until the end though he mellowed down a little.
I cried a little when Annabelle was confiding in her father, and how her father the vicar comforted her at the same time preached. It was a touching moment and it really did me in. I can say that I enjoyed reading this, but not that much.
April 19, 2020
Another of those over-the-top hero jerks that the author seems to think the reader should like ... The very first time he meets the heroine, he assaults her (but doesn't actually rape her the way other "heroes" by this author do) and refuses to listen to anything she says to him, just believing his own preconceived ideas about her and her life (yes, he was stalking her as well). Yuck.
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May 28, 2017I wrote this in April 2006. The book is long gone.
Read this many months ago... enjoyable read.
Read this many months ago... enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews