Having lost her husband in the Battle of Ligny, Lady Lydia Barrymore is determined to resume her work for the Foreign Office when her mourning period is over. She's spent a year solving puzzles and assembling dissected maps to maintain her skills. Her first assignment has her perplexed, though: do what she must to help a fellow operative recover his sanity. Although she finds the man rather beautiful, Sir Donald has also proved most annoying.
Newly knighted Adonis Truscott returned from the Continent with a tendency to get lost in his thoughts. His frequent episodes of staring into space have his sister claiming he's a candidate for Bedlam—and he's not about to argue. He doesn't always remember where or when he was when he recovers, but he remembers he made a promise, and he's determined to keep it.
A promise to provide protection for Lydia, whether she wants it or not.
When a puzzle’s directions require Lydia to solve it with the help of Adonis, she discovers the man harbors secrets that may be impossible to reveal. With her own sanity in jeopardy—a year-long mystery involving her late husband may be more annoying and dangerous than an errant knight—Lydia will have to piece together a solution that suits them both in “The Enigma of a Widow".
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.
Series: The Widows of the Aristocracy #2 Publication Date: 7/31/18
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the Widows of the Aristocracy series. I have not read the first book in the series– even though it sounds wonderful – but I didn’t need to read it in order to enjoy this one. I always enjoy Sande’s characters, their humor, their flaws and their path to love. This one is well written, well-plotted and populated with likable characters – well – except for the hero’s sister, but she hardly has any page time – Oh – and the villain, he isn’t very likable. I also enjoy that the book isn’t populated with Dukes.
Adonis Donald Truscott is a war hero who suffers from what I guess we would now call PTSD. He just gets lost in his own thoughts on occasion. This tendency to ‘space out’ (not a period correct term) has caused his sister to think he needs to be in bedlam. ** Note – said sister seems to be a bitc* and I’m glad she is featured very little in the book. Adonis is a sweet, sweet man who made a promise to his commander just before his commander died. Adonis was badly wounded and was in the hospital for almost a year after that battle and the promise. Now, he’s back in London to fulfill his promise and to see his boss – the spymaster.
Adonis is afraid that he’ll be dismissed from being a spy because of the problems he has left over from that horrendous battle and its outcome. So, he’s pleased when he is given a task to do. He knows it is a test, but he is glad to have even that much. There is a traitor in their ranks. The spymaster is sure of who it is, but Adonis is to find out for sure.
The promise Adonis made to his commander was to look after and protect his wife (widow) when he gets back to London. Adonis pictures an older, frumpy lady (one wonders why) and is surprised to find out that she is none of those things and he is very, very attracted to her. He knew that nothing could develop between them because of his affliction, but that didn’t keep him from desiring her or just desiring to be near her. Their first meeting in the museum is cute and funny – and then he secretly steals into her bedchamber each night to sit in the corner and watch over her as she sleeps.
Lady Lydia Barrymore is now the widow of a Viscount. Lydia is also a spy, she decodes and analyses messages and codes, but she has been inactive and in mourning for the last year. She’s ready to get back into her work, so she visits the spymaster. She’s given an assignment that just floors her – she is to assess the sanity of Adonis and to see that he comes back to normal because the spymaster needs him. She is to do whatever it takes to see to his sanity – even seduce him and marry him if necessary.
Adonis drives Lydia insane – he says inappropriate things at the wrong time, he turns up in places he shouldn’t be, and he’s sneaking into her bedchamber at night. But, strangely, she is drawn to him and would miss him if he stopped sneaking in. She knows she’s not supposed to know that he sneaks in – but – she awakened one night and realized he was in her room – sitting quietly – watching over her.
Their journey through traitors, puzzles to solve, unkind relatives and into love and their HEA is a lovely thing and I really enjoyed the read!
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
I thought the concept and the plot for this book was very original and fresh.
But, unfortunately have not read the previous books and was not familiar with the characters, that along with some timeline issues made the book a bit hard for me to follow.
I thought the writing was good and the story flowed well and I think if you have been following this author's series, you will enjoy this book.
London, June 1816, Regency Period. Alpha Male 🐺🍆🌋Adult Romance! Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 finds himself lost at times, as if he was asleep and just woke up! The crazy weather isn't helping! It's snowing!
The Widow of wealthy Viscount Barrymore, for a year, Lady Lydia💃💋 does whatever she wants to in her spare time. She is just out of mourning and doesn't have to wear black anymore.
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 finds Lydia💃💋 looking at ancient Greek nude sculptures in a museum. He approaches her and introduces himself, telling her he is the human embodiment of Adonis! How Scandalous! They have not been properly introduced!
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 follows her home and watches her house. He is a spy who has been assigned to follow Lydia💃💋 by her late husband, Viscount and Commander Barrymore. He made Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 promise to be Her protector.
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 is the survivor of the battle which killed Lydia's husband, his Commander. Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 was badly injured at the same time, but he saw it all, and it is etched in his mind. So burned into his brain, that he sketches an almost photographic rendering of the instant Commander Barrymore was killed by a French soldier.
Lydia💃💋 is also in her Majesty's Service as an analyst and a decoder. Her boss assigns her to get to know and watch Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔫, now Sir Donald, Knighted🔪 for his bravery in the war against Napoleon. He tells her to even marry👰 him if possible. He is too valuable a spy to lose to insanity or into the inner recesses of his mind where he seems to lose himself at times.
ARC Received from Candid Book Reviews. The book📕 is $3.99 on Amazon at the time of this review.
I loved this book📕! It is so well written and so different than most of the Regency Period Romances I have read. This is a very interesting and involved story which incorporates the war going on against France at the time.
I loved reading The Enigma of a Widow. As usual, Linda Rae Sande displays her special touch with this novel. Every book of hers I've read has been unique, and this was no exception. Once started, I couldn't put it down! I loved the story line and the characters. Mystery, intrigue—combined with romance and adventure—this book has it all. A superbly enjoyable read!
London, June 1816, Regency Period. Alpha Male 🐺🍆🌋Adult Romance! Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 finds himself lost at times, as if he was asleep and just woke up! The crazy weather isn't helping! It's snowing!
The Widow of wealthy Viscount Barrymore, for a year, Lady Lydia💃💋 does whatever she wants to in her spare time. She is just out of mourning and doesn't have to wear black anymore.
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 finds Lydia💃💋 looking at ancient Greek nude sculptures in a museum. He approaches her and introduces himself, telling her he is the human embodiment of Adonis! How Scandalous! They have not been properly introduced!
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 follows her home and watches her house. He is a spy who has been assigned to follow Lydia💃💋 by her late husband, Viscount and Commander Barrymore. He made Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 promise to be Her protector.
Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 is the survivor of the battle which killed Lydia's husband, his Commander. Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 was badly injured at the same time, but he saw it all, and it is etched in his mind. So burned into his brain, that he sketches an almost photographic rendering of the instant Commander Barrymore was killed by a French soldier.
Lydia💃💋 is also in her Majesty's Service as an analyst and a decoder. Her boss assigns her to get to know and watch Adonis🐺🍆🌋🔫, now Sir Donald, Knighted🔪 for his bravery in the war against Napoleon. He tells her to even marry👰 him if possible. He is too valuable a spy to lose to insanity or into the inner recesses of his mind where he seems to lose himself at times.
ARC Received from Candid Book Reviews. The book📕 is $3.99 on Amazon at the time of this review.
I loved this book📕! It is so well written and so different than most of the Regency Period Romances I have read. This is a very interesting and involved story which incorporates the war going on against France at the time.
"...a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma..." W. Churchill
Oh, the deliciousness! Linda Rae Sands second in her Widows of the Aristocracy series features a multi-layered Regency spy thriller seamlessly interwoven with a slow-burn story of obligation, honor, attraction, and love. This is Regency romance for grown-ups; no reformed rake-hell viscounts, no ascetic widower earls, no virginal debutantes, no rebellious chits, no wallflowers. The hero is an "old fogey" - Regency slang for wounded veterans of the Napoleonic Wars - and a spy. The heroine is a lovely young war widow - whose deceased husband involved her in his spying as well! Their spymaster in the Home Office needs them back, functional, recovered, and ready to serve. Making that happen is the goal, but who knew what lengths each one would go to in order to fulfill the mission? Subtle humor, compassion, and very heated sexual tension will captivate readers as they unpack the secrets and clues that lead to HEA for a sharp-witted widow who knows her own mind, and a weary warrior still finding his way home. My thanks to Ari of Candid Book Reviews for the ARC, and this is a voluntary, independent and uncompensated review.
I found this story to be amazing. Lord Adonis Truscott was a spy who had been badly wounded in a battle. He sat with his commander while he died. Jasper Barrymore made him promise to look after his wife and protect her. Lady Lydia Barrymore was also a spy who was very good at puzzles. She had just come out of mourning, she had loved her husband and missed him. The tale started kind of sad but things happened that had her confused, as well as Adonis AKA Donald. Lord Chamberlain was the head of the war office and their boss. He wanted them to work together. He needed Lydia to make Adonis sane. This is a well written, interesting and with a touch of a mystery book. The characters seem so alive and you find yourself rooting for them. I love where Lydia actually looks forward to seeing Adonis, while he is protecting her. It has some fun moments when they laugh together at something one of them said. It is very spicy but so worth the time to read. I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
This is entertaining, amusing and sweet. Adonis is charming, chivalrous, loyal, caring and bold. Lydia is independent, daring, tough and sympathetic. Adonis made a promise to protect Lydia, made to her dying husband, and he meant to do it whether she wanted him to or not. Lydia was very surprised to find Adonis in her bedchamber in the middle of the night, sleeping, repeatedly. When she was told by the office of foreign affairs that she was to do whatever necessary, including marrying him, to insure that he was sane, she grew concerned. But they built a comfortable, if entertaining, relationship. I loved these characters, they both just rolled with whatever came along, and were perfect for each other. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candid Book Reviews. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
I am volunteering to leave a review of this ARC book. I really enjoyed this historical romance by Ms. Sande. Adonis is sent by Lydia's deceased husband to protect her. So each night, Adonis stealthily enters her home and bed chamber to keep watch. Both employed by the foreign service, the head of the service wants Lydia to bring Adonis back from his "blackouts" so he may be placed back in service. They're getting to know one another. Could love be growing between them, just as it had with Lydia and Jasper. This was wonderfully done, and you will enjoy reading this to find out!
I give this one a 3.5. It was an good read. This is the second book by this author that I have read. I will read more books by her. I liked Adonis and Lydia. They were interesting characters. I liked how he was loyal to keeping his promise to her dead husband. I thought Lydia was a good strong woman. I think others would enjoy reading this book too.
Never grew to like any of the characters very much although I did finish it. Adonis seemed like a stalker and the “heroine” was very stupid to allow him to follow her. This one felt very contrived. I had to rewind the audio several times as the story just couldn’t hold my attention. I am not going to read any more of this series
I think I may have enjoyed this book more than book one. The characters were well-written and I really would like to read more about them. I am looking forward to book three.
4.5* Before her marriages to Jasper, Viscount Barrymore, Lydia was a Grandby, and never quite sure why the British Spy/army officer married her. Now a year after being widowed, she's still not sure how he felt about her, and she still missed him. Being out of mourning she hopes she can return to her work as an analyst for the foreign office. But she's told her first assignment if the newly knighted Sir Donald Truscott. Adonis Truscott known as Donald was badly injured in battle at Ligny, in the same battle where his commander Viscount Barrymore was killed. He stayed with his friend and fellow spy until his death, and promised to look after his widow, not realising it would a year before he was fit enough physically to return home. Enjoyed this book at various levels, took a while to work out Lydia's age and how long she'd been married. Some of the twists were a little telegraphed, but that may be Just me. Great as always to meet characters from previous books in the series. I think I've read this one out of order, not that it really matters.
Adonis has horrible memories of the war! He was with her husband when he died. Secrets revealed, a new assignment given and Lydia realized that things were not as they seem! Adonis is an odd character and seems to be very broken. Lydia quickly realizes he is sent to protect her and offer a future not yet dreamed! I love this book far more than the first!