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The Widows' Club #4

Much Ado about a Widow

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Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father's power...

Victory is sweet—but England's triumph was Georgie's rout. Now that she's widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom... Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother's rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she's prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual...

St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady's maid—and her little dog, too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady's entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all...

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 31, 2019

55 people are currently reading
235 people want to read

About the author

Jenna Jaxon

76 books651 followers
Jenna has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic
herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to
incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and
a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre,
working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their
own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t
stop.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,251 reviews99 followers
March 14, 2020
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick earned her father's wrath years ago when she married a vicar's son for love rather than the odious earl her father had betrothed her to. But now her beloved husband has been killed and Georgie's options are limited for the next six years until she can claim her inheritance from her mother. Her father has agreed to take her back if she goes through now with the first marriage he originally arranged for her, so Georgie agrees and cherish the last few weeks of freedom she has. Until she and her lady's maid are kidnapped on the way to her father's house. They manage to escape and luckily encounter her brother's friend Robin Kerr, the Marquess of St. Just, in the coastal town of Portsmouth. St. Just knows he must help his friend's sister, even if she despises him, and soon he has them sailing away, though the lady is somewhat less than willing to accept his aide. Rob sails for his home with Georgie's family, kidnappers, and abominable betrothed in pursuit, but he and Georgie grow to form an unlikely bond and soon it seems they'll be strong enough together to take on anyone.

There may be spoilers ahead as we dip into rant territory.
Before I'd even made it to 20% on this book, Georgie had already firmly planted herself as one of the dumbest heroines I've read. She knew her kidnappers were dangerous and that her father couldn't care less about her and she still wanted to go "home" to said father. It amazed me that she'd even consider a place where she apparently suffered at the hands of a cruel father to be home. She displayed no autonomy, despite being a widow and having some options; even lacking money she could've easily secured a position as a paid companion. Her initial vitriol toward Rob also made no sense to me; it was definitely a case of the lady protesting too much, but I just didn't buy it or the obsession with propriety coming from a 24 year old widow. Her brother and maid were also ridiculous in their insistence on propriety and chaperonage and the maid spoke to Georgie in ways no maid would've dared speak to her mistress. This insistence also made Jemmy, Georgie's brother, quite the hypocrite from what I've learned of his and Elizabeth's story, though I haven't read it, and this made me dislike him enough that I really don't want to read it.

Beyond these rather technical issues I had, the storyline had so many pieces and different side characters telling things from their point of view that it became very farcical, rather than having a dramatic effect that actually held my attention. Georgie went from hating Rob (for no discernible reason), accusing him of kidnap after he rescued her and was trying to help her and keep her from running right back to her kidnappers, to her slightly liking him, to her suddenly being madly in love with him. Combined with a play by play of every ludicrous thought Georgie had, and there were many, I just didn't buy it and didn't feel any chemistry between her and Rob. Several phrases were also repeated ad nauseum, such as Georgie's plan to "ring a peal" over some man's head (this was made all the more ridiculous by her total lack of autonomy or gumption), and the many references to Rob as a pirate when it was made clear many times that he was nothing of the sort, ever. In fact, Rob is vilified by both Georgie and her brother, supposedly his best friend, for really no reason.

I found myself skimming this one because I had to DNF a book, especially for review, but I was disappointed. I hoped for improvement but as it wore on, the plot just grew even more far-fetched and nonsensical, with rushed love scenes and ridiculous behavior from Georgie's father, who is somehow magically forgiven in the end. Much of this was just a nonsensical farce to me and didn't really live up to my hopes for it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Profile Image for eyes.2c.
3,112 reviews111 followers
November 26, 2019
I just couldn't raise must enthusiasm for this regency romance. I started off quite liking the widowed Georgina. I applauded her actions in escaping her kidnappers. Eventually I came to like her lapdog Lulu. I particularly liked Rob's mother Lady St. Just.
I could even understand why Georgina might decide to bow to her tyrannical father's wishes.
However once Georgina was rescued by her brother's friend Robin Kerr, Marquess of St. Just, (and that was early in the piece) I felt that the storyline devolved into a farce with the very occasional highlight, such as the way Georgina and Lulu worked their magic to thwart Travers' despicable behaviour. Grr!
Mostly however I found myself flipping through the pages trying to reach the end rather than reading avidly. No being glued to the pages here. There was just too much happening, things became somewhat ridiculous and the promise of the beginning didn't follow through.

A NetGalley ARC
Profile Image for Zøe Haslie.
Author 4 books47 followers
January 11, 2020
*I got an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

“Much Ado About a Widow” is the sort of Historical Romance I was dying to read and it didn’t let me down!! In fact, all the contrary. On the one hand, the premise sounded quite cliché and exactly the kind of read I was looking forwards to, but I found this book to be full of refreshing elements to the genre.

It all starts when Lady Georgina is returning to her father’s castle from her friend’s wedding. Much to her surprise, she, her maid and her dog Lulu ♥ find themselves kidnapped! After some failed attempts, they finally manage to escape their captors only to end prisioners of Lord St. Just (or Rob).




In the time they spend together, Georgina and Rob go from enemies to… friends. And that friendship in itself is quite refreshing. There’s attraction, allright, but the characters manage to subdue it while they get to know one another and grow in each other. Another refreshing element to the story is the fact that Georgina, far from an innocent maid or a woman that was previously married to an awful man, is a widow who’s already known the love of her life (and lost it). This translates into her being more outgoing and quite passionate, and she’s not ashamed of it! (Go, Georgina!)




In due time, their share friendship turns into love, making these characters an amazing team who can face any obstacle that lies ahead of them—as long as they have each other.

All in all, in spite of the long (and sometimes reiterative) descriptions regarding Lady Georgina’s alcoholic and ill-tempered bethroded, I really enjoyed this invigorating tale full of adventure, romance and sass.

Profile Image for Elodie’s Reading Corner.
2,554 reviews152 followers
December 5, 2019
Much Ado about a Widow
The Widows' Club Series #4
Jenna Jaxon
https://www.facebook.com/JennaJaxonHi...
Release date 12/31/2019
Publisher Kensington Zebra

Blurb :

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power . . .
 
Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom. . . . Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual . . .
 
St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all . . .

My review :

What a lady is to do when her road is paved with dents and holes ...

This is my first read by this author Mrs Jenna Jaxon, and even if I felt it might have been better to read the other books in this series as it introduced some of the protagonists seen interacting here, it still can be read as a standalone.

While I quite liked St Just from the beginning, I can’t say the same for Lady Georgina.
First, to play the obedient spineless daughter to her abusive father, with her upbringing she could also have sought a paid position, instead she let him sell her to the higher bidder.
Plus what a ninnyhammer she is at time, unable to add two thoughts to her brain, ready to be harmed again because she has a sort of dislike for the man who rescued her.
What surprised me even more was she is described as a spirit young woman, taking matters in hand when here she is painted more as a feather-brained lady, acting first, thinking later. Holding a grudge to St Just when he means only to protect her.

After the turn of events as they progress in the story becomes far fetched, they have no time to breath before a new challenge rises and it appears constant.
As for the romance, it fells short, a few days and they became friends then suddenly they were in love.
I came to like a bit more Georgie by the end but the sequence of events rushes everything around them, it became far from believable.
Why a 3.75 rounded to 4 stars.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Zebra through Netgalley.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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Profile Image for Caitlyn Lynch.
Author 210 books1,825 followers
January 13, 2020
Georgina defied her father once to follow her heart, but now a widow, she’s financially dependent on him and has little choice but to agree to the marriage he dictates. On her way home to marry the detestable Lord Travers, she’s kidnapped and taken to Portsmouth, where she escapes and runs into Lord Robin St. Just, a friend of her brother. Rob agrees to help her out, but the only help he can give is passage on his ship to Cornwall. Georgie has no real choice but to agree.

I’ve previously enjoyed quite a few of Jenna Jaxon’s books, but this one really didn’t cut it for me. Georgie goes from distrust of Rob to wanting to marry him in the space of literally three days. He’s utterly juvenile; everything is ‘a lark’ as far as he’s concerned, and about the only decent thing he did in the entire book was rescue Georgie’s dog from drowning. The plot grew increasingly far-fetched towards the end, with Georgie’s father threatening her for absolutely no good reason and apparently having enough pull with the British Navy to require them to board the ship of a nobleman of higher rank than himself? I don’t think so. The Navy aren’t going to involve themselves in that kind of nonsense. Raising his own militia to literally attack the estate of another lord was a step too far, and frankly I wanted to see Georgie’s father arrested for that alone.

The increasing drama in the plot felt forced, as though the author wasn’t quite sure what to do with the characters once she’d managed to get them together, and resorted to manufacturing external conflict instead of actually delving into her characters and letting them get to know each other. Since the entire book takes place in the space of about a week, I wanted less insta-love and more character development, and got contrived drama instead. Two stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Brenda.
3,486 reviews46 followers
January 10, 2020
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé', and married the man she loved. But her beloved husband died at Waterloo so she was delivered right back into her father's power. Now he has chosen another unwanted and unsuitable suitor.
So Georgina once more flees and this time into the arms of a band of ruffians who overtakes her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside of Brighton she encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St.Just.
St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid and her little dog too sailing for his castle in Cornwall.
This story now turns into a whirlwind of a tale with kidnappers, the lady's family and possible pirates all rolled into one delightful and adventurous book. So far this to me is the best of this series.
I gave this book 4.45 of 5.0 stars for story line, plot and characterization.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Profile Image for Melissa.
155 reviews26 followers
January 13, 2020
A young widow is kidnapped by an unknown to her villain only to end up in the arms of another “kidnapper”. Georgie had been on her way to to marry a man she didn’t love. She had married for love once... what are odds she would find love for a second time?

I found Much About A Widow to be a cute quick read. I loved Georgie’s little dog LuLu. While being good, the characters were missing a little bit of depth. Overall though, it was a fun filled, fast paced adventure.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Rob Imes.
119 reviews14 followers
August 6, 2020
MUCH ADO ABOUT A WIDOW by Jenna Jaxon was published by Zebra/Kensington in January 2020, according to the copyright page (the actual release date was on December 31, 2019 according to Goodreads). It is book #4 in The Widows' Club series, but this is the only one of them that I've read. The story concerns a young widow, Lady Georgina, who is being forced by her stubborn and strict father to marry the unworthy Lord Travers. Georgie agrees to this arrangement but before it can take place she is kidnapped by Travers' men so that he may bed her to ensure that she will not change her mind and elope with another man, as she had done before to him years earlier. Georgie escapes from her kidnappers and is rescued by a friend of her brother: Rob, Lord St. Just, the hero of the book. (I think this is the first romance novel I've read where the hero had the same first name as me, although of course that is where the resemblance ends!) Soon Georgie's brother, father and Lord Travers, as well as their agents, are each on their trail.

The thing I liked best about this book is that there was a lot of movement in the plot, not padded with a lot of internal monologue about what everyone was feeling at every moment. At first I didn't care for the heroine Lady Georgina or the hero Lord St. Just -- the latter because he seemed too bland and without any edge, and the former because she acted ungrateful to the hero for trying to rescue her, since she had abandoned hope of avoiding the unwanted marriage to Travers. It wasn't until Chapter 10 where the hero rescues her little dog when it slips off his boat into the sea that I grew to like them both, since he showed his selfless heroism and she finally showed some recognition of all that he was doing for her. There are only a couple sex scenes, near the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, although I found the stubbornness of Georgie's father to be maddening, showing no respect for his adult daughter's wishes regarding her own choice of husband and going to extreme lengths to thwart her wishes. I think Travers also got off a bit light in the end (although still punished in a way) considering the fact that he kidnapped Georgie and later tried to rape her. Rob has dark hair, but I kept picturing him as blond for some reason, perhaps because he seemed like such a nice guy and not the typical dark haired brooding hero that I prefer. Georgie had red hair and freckles but this was mentioned rarely, and I think if it had been played up more it would have made her character more visually memorable. This was nearly a 5-star book for me, but I'm knocking a half-star off for those little nitpicking flaws. The novel had a timeless feel for me, like it could have been published in any decade and not just in our own, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading old school historical romance.
Profile Image for Janet.
5,175 reviews64 followers
December 16, 2019
3.5 Stars
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick, daughter of a managing Marquis ,defied her father, jilted the man he wanted her to marry, and married the man she loved, the son of a vicar. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power. Now her father first arranged marriage has simply been renegotiated. Georgie can either submit to her father’s machinations of be disowned without a penny. Returning from her friend’s wedding a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. She escapes in Portsmouth and literally runs into her brother’s best friend, Robin Kerr Marquis St Just. Rob decides to take Georgie to his home in Cornwall so within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog Lulu too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit.
I’ve really loved the earlier books in the series so was looking forward to Georgie's story. Whilst I did enjoy it I did find it a bit farcical at times. I liked both Rob & Georgie but I didn’t love them & found Georgie in particular to be a bit two dimensional although she has a strong grip!! I must admit I thought her father was mad & he was the one that should have been locked up. There was a lot happening, maybe too much at times. So for mr a fence sitter as whilst I enjoyed it I didn’t love it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
998 reviews13 followers
November 8, 2019
This story should be titled Too Much Ado About A Widow! I liked the story in the beginning but felt it dragged on towards the end. The author should have ended the book with Georgie and Rob sailing off and getting married in Scotland. The father’s men attacking St. Just’s place and the father demanding she marry Travers or get put in Bedlam was too much. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Profile Image for tysephine.
1,052 reviews39 followers
December 11, 2019
3.5 stars

Georgie had her epic love story with her deceased husband Isaac, and has now resigned herself to marrying the odious Lord Travers, the man she jilted several years ago. On the way back to her father's estate, she is kidnapped by a group of men and taken to Portsmouth for some unknown purpose. Georgie uses her wits to escape, running into the arms (literally) of her brother's best friend.

Rob is in Portsmouth to get supplies for his family's tin mining operation, and welcomes Georgie, her maid, and her dog onto his ship set to sail back to his family estate in Cornwall.

From the beginning, there is tension between Georgia and Rob. They have an attraction to one another, but mostly they get on each other's nerves at first. Over the 3 or so days of the voyage, Georgia and Rob become more friendly and develop a relationship. A lot of the tension in their relationship once they have decided to be together has to do with the marriage contract she signed with her father and Lord Travers, but they are determined to get out of it somehow.

I enjoyed seeing the hero and heroine become closer over the voyage, but the chemistry wasn't always believable. The dialogue felt stilted at times, and the advanced copy had several editing issues that will hopefully be taken care of before publication.
Profile Image for Candace N.
318 reviews10 followers
November 5, 2019
Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon is the 4th book in The Widow’s Club Series. The story is a little far fetched yet charming! I enjoyed it very much. The characters were great! I absolutely loved Rob and Georgie. Their relationship was full of chemistry and mostly believable. My only issue was how the heroine confessed that she could never love another man the same as she loved her first husband. The hero seemed relatively unfazed by this fact and then fell completely in love with her anyways, despite knowing that and he did it without any insecurities. The heroine then falls so in love with him that her world pretty much revolves around him. Her original confession and how it was executed kind of took away from the believability a bit for me. Beyond that though, absolutely no criticism of the story. It’s well written, full of emotion, and kept my attention. All in all a pretty wonderful read. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Michelle.
572 reviews121 followers
November 11, 2019
I’m so disappointed. I was really excited to read this book. I have read a few of of Jenna Jaxon’s books and I loved them. When I started this one, something seemed different about this one. Not necessarily a good thing. I felt like the writing didn’t flow nicely like her other works. Our main heroine, Georgina seemed likable but also flat for me. I really couldn’t connect with any of the characters really. I thought once the kidnapping was going on I would be more invested. I was getting a little more invested but the plot was dragging on for so long, I was like enough already. I like having the multiple perspectives but it didn’t make the story go any faster like it usually does for me. Then I started skimming and I was forcing myself to continue on which I hate to do but in case I am reviewing this one, I stayed on for a bit. With the dragging of the plot and disinterest in the characters, this one was a no go for me.
Profile Image for Diane Burton.
Author 16 books249 followers
May 10, 2022
The most exciting of the Widow's Club series! Dangerous and thrilling. Poor Georgie. She defied her father by marrying her true love. He had the misfortune to die in battle. Her father is stubborn, determined to punish her for defying him. No matter what she happens to her, he refuses to believe she's innocent--even when she's kidnapped.

Her brother's best friend, Lord St. Just comes to her rescue. After a harrowing escape, Georgie finds herself in close quarters with the man she used to think was a pirate. Lots of humor gives needed relief from the tension caused by the dastardly "gentleman" her father has contracted to marry her.

If you like a good romp, check out Much Ado About a Widow.
Profile Image for Lori D.
4,079 reviews129 followers
December 31, 2019
A delightul fast paced story full of great characters, intrigue, humor, engaging banter and the journey to an unexpected romance. Georgie had married for love against her father's wishes, but then her husband was killed in battle and she became a widow. Now she is again to be married to the the man her father originally wanted. But it seems not to be when she is kidnapped and then rescued by Robin Kerr, one of her brother's good friends.
It seems a bumpy ride to the road to happiness, but is an adventure along the way you do not want to miss! I have really enjoyed this series so much!
Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
January 1, 2020
Much Ado about a Widow by Jenna Jaxon is book 4 in The Widow's Club Series. This is the story of Robin Kerr, Marquess of St. Just and Georgina 'Georgie' Kirkpatrick. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Georgie has escaped her father's marriage agreement once when she left and married the man she loved. But now she is a widower being forced back into her father life and to his awful plans. But she ends up getting away again and saved by St. Just. St. Just agrees to take her with him and of course some adventures start.

176 reviews
October 3, 2019
Georgie is a widow who is under her father's power. Her father is trying to force her to marry a man she does not like. She runs away but is kidnapped. Later she escapes and goes with her brother's wild best friend, Rob St. Just. Rob takes her to his castle in Cornwall and the two fall in love. This story is fun to read and has a good plot.
Profile Image for Michelle Claypot_Reads.
2,513 reviews61 followers
November 16, 2019
This was a fun read. A little silly at times with kidnappings and overbearing families but I definitely liked Rob and Maggie had some sass for a HR heroine. I will need to check out more of these Widows Club stories.

I received an arc of this book.
Profile Image for Les Romantiques.
575 reviews21 followers
January 24, 2020
Review posted on Les Romantiques – le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review copy by the publisher
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Much Ado About a Widow is the fourth volume in the Widows’ Club series following a group of friends widowed after Waterloo, but it can more or less be read alone. In fact we only really see the characters from the second volume, Wedding the Widow, as its hero is our present heroine’s brother. I had totally forgotten I read this previous volume and I wasn’t convinced (my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) We meet Georgie when, on the road to go back to her father, her carriage is assaulted by armed men obeying orders from a mysterious kidnapper.

From the start I had mixed feelings for Georgie. She alternates moments where she seemed likeable and others where she was annoying. For example during her kidnapping she doesn’t wallow on self-pity but she tries – and succeeds – in saving herself, but as soon as she meets the hero who offers to take her to safety she wants to go to her father by the road without listening to caution. And as the hero takes her more or less by force on his boat she gets angry at him and calls him a kidnapper – fortunately sea sickness shuts her up…. A few days later she doesn’t hesitate to raid the boat’s larder because she supposes nobody will bring her food, when in fact it’s just too early for a meal.

Rob, the hero, left me less perplexed, even if I thought he changed his mind a bit fast about the heroine. He doesn’t always behave like a gentleman, especially during a scene that had me laughing because highly unlikely, when he decides to put into practice his grand-father’s remedy against sea sickness : Besides he doesn’t hesitate to jump from the boat in winter to save her dog who very predictably went overboard (because dog on deck + big swell don’t go well together).

The relationship begins badly. In fact, for a reason we don’t understand if we only read this volume but is – I suppose – explained in the volume about the heroine’s brother (who’s friend with Rob, but I don't remember seeing the hero in this book), there’s a certain animosity between our two heroes from the beginning of the novel. In spite of it they go quickly from that to attraction then love, and I didn’t really understood why, especially on the heroine’s part as she repeats herself several times one happy marriage is enough in one’s life and she doesn’t need to feel anything for the hero.

As for the secondary characters, we have Georgie’s servant, who doesn’t hesitate to make reproaches or give advices with too much liberty for her position. There is also Georgie’s family, in which no one believes her kidnapping story (nice for her), the hero’s mother, and the fiancé who’s presented under the most negative light throughout the novel. And of course the dog.

As for the plot, there are some moments that are more about bad comedy. For example the fiancé succeeds in entering the castle and finding the heroine’s room to try and rape her during the night to force the wedding (the hero supposes later that he interrogated someone in the village to learn about the secret tunnels and the emplacement of the heroine’s room), but that doesn’t shock the father who estimate he has every right to it because they’re almost wed – but he’s going to take offense when he learns There’s also the moment about fifty servants sent by Georgie’s father storm the castle to pick her up and fight against the hero’s servants (sigh). And to end it all, the ending is settled in a ridiculous way through a big discussion, and the fiancé who has duel pistols in hand let everyone go without try anything except say to the hero “and our duel?”

You’ll have understood I totally missed out on this novel, and if at first I wanted to give it 2 stars, just writing my review has me lowering my rating.
Profile Image for Kathy.
1,110 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2019
It took me a while to get through this book. The author goes into too much minutia and the dialog weighs the story down. There is way too much information, the readers don’t need to know every silly thought in Georgie’s head, and oh what a silly woman our heroine is! As a widow I was really annoyed at her simpering. Her maid had more gumption than she did. Several of the events in the story were not plausible and it was like reading an installment of the Perils of Pauline!
Profile Image for Nicole Pinto.
462 reviews
November 8, 2019
This book is a head shaker for sure, and not in a good way. I really wanted it to be. DNF but I felt obligated as I was reviewing it. It is completely ridiculous. The heroine, the hero, the secondary characters... honestly there isn’t one redeeming quality. It’s a shame because I like this author but this was a no for me. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
December 23, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

I believe there are Historical/Regency Romance readers who will enjoy Much Ado About A Widow – unfortunately, I simply liked parts of it as I found it to be a basically good book with far too many parts that simply frustrated me to no end. Georgie is now widowed but she won’t come into an inheritance in time to save her from her evil father’s scheme in insisting that if she wants back into the family fold then she’ll marry the man she jilted in order to marry for love. While returning to her father she, her maid and her dog are attacked and kidnapped. Rob St. Just will come to her rescue and sweep them all away to his estate where she should be protected… but trouble and determined men follow.

This story feels overtaken by secondary characters and their voices often added to the chaos instead of making things clearer. I liked Rob, have mixed feelings about Georgie’s brother, Jemmy and loathed the betrothed and her father. Georgie… well, I think I’ll let you discover her for yourself. She had her moments for me but I could not connect – that may be just me so you’ll discover Georgie on your own. Much Ado About A Widow is a good book, it simply wasn’t a book that was for me. You should make up your own mind on this story for there is an audience that will love Rob and Georgie and their unusual, crazy romance.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Profile Image for Anne Morgan.
863 reviews28 followers
December 13, 2019
A fast-paced, bouncy and fun romance, "Much Ado About a Widow" is full of kidnappings, escapes, ships, humor, and rapier sharp wit by both the main characters Rob and Georgina. They may not have liked each other much the first time they met, but after a rocky start, this time is different. Both show their true selves and give each other more of a chance- with the end result that they realize they are pretty perfect together. Both have a lively sense of humor and enjoy excitement, and are stubborn enough to ensure they stay together in the face of danger. Georgie's tyrannical father is determined she wed the sleazy alcoholic (but supposedly very rich) Lord Travers and both men chase Georgie and Rob all the way to Cornwall to try and have their way. But neither Georgie nor Rob are the type to give up at the first hurdle, and with a little help from their friends, they'll pull out all the stops to make sure that love triumphs.

I loved how well matched Georgie and Rob were. All of Jaxon's characters were fully formed and practically bubbling with life -except for Georgie's father and Lord Travers who were overbearing and nasty characters. I was a little disappointed that the villains got off so easily, but I am apparently more blood-thirsty than our heroes. This was my first book by Jenna Jaxon, but definitely won't be my last. A fun and enjoyable book from first to last.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for TLynn.
1,467 reviews17 followers
January 1, 2020
Much Ado about a Widow is the fourth book in The Widows’ Club series, but it was fine as a standalone. The book had a good plot, lots of drama, and twists. Lady Georgina “Georgie” Kirkpatrick had escaped marriage to Lord Travers but now that she is widowed, she agrees to marry him in order to be reunited with her father. On the way to her home her carriage is highjacked and when she escapes, she runs into Lord Robin St. Just. Robin decides the only way to keep Georgie safe is to take her to his home in Cornwall. But with Lord Blackham and Lord Travers following them they must act upon their newly discovered love and get married before she is forced to marry Lord Travers. I thought the book dragged a little in some parts, but it was interesting. I would have preferred reading more about the main characters courtship rather than all the side characters, but overall it was a fun book full of adventure and drama.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Georgina.
132 reviews4 followers
July 23, 2022
I liked it. I even liked the villains. The ending twist was a favorite of mine. The love story was entertaining. I would say that the entire novel was entertaining. I skipped about 15 pages. And I skipped the love scenes as I would like to have pure thoughts. 4.90 stars. I took off a partial point for the father's behavior at the end. Plus I thought the heroine (with my name) was actually interesting (although a tad annoying at the beginning trying to rescue herself).
1,396 reviews11 followers
October 31, 2019
St. Just is a true hero. Not once but several times did he prove his heroism. Lucky for Georgie, who shows us that she's also able to save herself when needed. It's just more fun when you let a handsome pirate do the saving.
Profile Image for Dennis.
945 reviews27 followers
November 5, 2021
Terrific Historical

This Historical is a somewhat of a Gothic in many ways. It starts off with a kidnapping plot and involves danger and intervention by an angry Father, and there are some 🔥 scenes, but eventually there is a very nice HEA at the end.
277 reviews
September 5, 2020
3.5 This book started out well, but I felt it started to drag about 3/4’s through. Overall, a good story except for Georgie’s father and his threats, which became tedious.
Profile Image for Kim Shepherd.
69 reviews
February 15, 2020
Much Ado About A Widow ⭐️

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power . . .
 
Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom. . . . Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual . . .
 
St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog
too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all . . .

So wow, where to begin. Much Ado About A Widow is supposedly the 4th book in the series The Widows' Club. Not having read the 3 previous books I can’t say that any of the characters intertwine so I would consider this a stand alone book. If this had been written as the first book I doubt I’d be interested in reading any of the others. As it is being the 4th again I have no interest in reading more so unfortunately this is a one and done book for me.

Written as a Historical Romance, I found it to be so stretched that it became more a farce than a romance. I actually made it thru about 28% of the book before I started skimming thru and was was ready to “cast up my accounts”. Since this review was already late I really wanted to get it finished rather than a DNF

Lady Georgina’s character comes across with about as much intelligence as her irritating dog, and I like dogs! Our hero Lord St. Just barely squeezed beyond being a boor, but just barely. Throw in as many evil villains and their henchmen as your imagination can conjure, including but not limited to Georgina’s father, the drunk fiancée and at times her protective brother all bumbling in and out of the story much like an episode of “keystone cops”.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley.
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