What do you think?
Rate this book
The Virgin Widow
May 1862. The world has not been kind to Caterina Pennington. Banished as a toddler to a remote convent in the Scottish Highlands to be raised by nuns, she is sold by her father at the tender age of thirteen to become the bride of a despicable man old enough to be her grandfather. An old man who is incapable of consummating the marriage. After years of abuse, her husband dies. His son orchestrates her complete ruination by auctioning her off to the highest bidder at one of London's most exclusive pleasure palaces. Shipping magnate Raven Sinclair, the illegitimate son of the Marquess of Danbury, discovers a young girl about to be sold into sexual slavery and makes the winning bid. Without consulting her and to protect her, he decides to send her to a remote county where her late husband's son will never find her. Caterina has other plans. For the first time in her life, she has an opportunity to determine her own destiny. Upon learning that Raven Sinclair is sailing a new ship to America, she stows away on it. Raven Sinclair is a wealthy trader, as well as a successful blockade runner whose ship brings in much needed supplies and weapons to the South. But the dashing blockade runner hides an even darker secret. When that secret is discovered, it's up to Caterina to save the only man she's ever loved, the only man who has ever loved her in return. Will they survive to build a future together? Or will their many enemies destroy them completely?
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 28, 2022
JoAnna Marie really writes the best plots. After the last two books I've read by her recently, I was impressed by the excitement of the plot and I knew I was in for an interesting story with this one. To be honest, I think she's better at writing plot than romance. I'm glad it had a romance, but I don't know if it really needed a romance to make it interesting. A lot of romance novels I read, while they may be entertaining, have a more flimsy plot, so it's nice to read something more substantial once in a while.
Caterina (love that name; it sounds so elegant) really had a rough life. For the first time in her life, instead of someone dictating what she does next, she takes more control of her life and sneaks aboard Raven's ship disguised as a boy to start a new life in America. (The author's bias for America over England really shone through. It amused me. I'm not surprised considering the author IS American after all. JoAnna Marie also seems to have a fondness for plots set during the time of the American Civil War.)
The villains were great, though I'm not sure why . I want an epilogue where we find out what their next dastardly scheme is in Spain...or America. That made the story feel less concluded, because what if in the future the villains run into Cat & Raven again, this time in America?
I didn't think Caterina's personality was as spirited or whatever Raven and the author was making it seem like. She didn't seem so interesting to me, but I probably wouldn't have felt that if she and Raven hadn't had more conversations. I was trying to understand how Raven fell in love with her. Him calling her "my love" was really cute, though.
Setting: England, the Atlantic Ocean aboard a ship, and America (New York & South Carolina)
Steam: 1/5 (not entirely clean), one sex scene I think
Caterina (love that name; it sounds so elegant) really had a rough life. For the first time in her life, instead of someone dictating what she does next, she takes more control of her life and sneaks aboard Raven's ship disguised as a boy to start a new life in America. (The author's bias for America over England really shone through. It amused me. I'm not surprised considering the author IS American after all. JoAnna Marie also seems to have a fondness for plots set during the time of the American Civil War.)
The villains were great, though I'm not sure why . I want an epilogue where we find out what their next dastardly scheme is in Spain...or America. That made the story feel less concluded, because what if in the future the villains run into Cat & Raven again, this time in America?
I didn't think Caterina's personality was as spirited or whatever Raven and the author was making it seem like. She didn't seem so interesting to me, but I probably wouldn't have felt that if she and Raven hadn't had more conversations. I was trying to understand how Raven fell in love with her. Him calling her "my love" was really cute, though.
Setting: England, the Atlantic Ocean aboard a ship, and America (New York & South Carolina)
Steam: 1/5 (not entirely clean), one sex scene I think
May 22, 2019
This book had a 1970s-80s feel to it. I have been reading historical romance since those days, so I feel that I would know. While it was a well researched book, there were a few modern terms in it that were jarring. It also made it seem that crossing the Atlantic took very little time.
The villains in this story almost seemed too dastardly to me. There was a "Perils of Pauline" feel to it, in my opinion. I read the whole thing, and it just wasn't my style. I never felt a connection with the H or h.
There are sex scenes, but mainly skimmed over. Too much detail before the act, but the act itself is not described. I'd rather have one or the other, or settle for a happy medium. I will probably read the book about Flynn, a secondary character who had more appeal to me.
The book wrapped up right and tight into a happy ending after all the drama.
The villains in this story almost seemed too dastardly to me. There was a "Perils of Pauline" feel to it, in my opinion. I read the whole thing, and it just wasn't my style. I never felt a connection with the H or h.
There are sex scenes, but mainly skimmed over. Too much detail before the act, but the act itself is not described. I'd rather have one or the other, or settle for a happy medium. I will probably read the book about Flynn, a secondary character who had more appeal to me.
The book wrapped up right and tight into a happy ending after all the drama.
May 6, 2019
Adventures in Abundance
Had a good time reading this book. This was a longer book than usual, but if it had been broken into two books it would have been infuriating leaving one unfinished, thanks for not doing that.
The adventures in this book are fun and mostly playful, good job.
Had a good time reading this book. This was a longer book than usual, but if it had been broken into two books it would have been infuriating leaving one unfinished, thanks for not doing that.
The adventures in this book are fun and mostly playful, good job.
May 3, 2019
Good
I really enjoy reading stories by this author. Her characters are believable and I love the romance and love development in her books. Every character adds a new dimension to the tale and action. I will continue reading this author.
I really enjoy reading stories by this author. Her characters are believable and I love the romance and love development in her books. Every character adds a new dimension to the tale and action. I will continue reading this author.
August 15, 2019
Amazing
I enjoyed reading this. It was hard to put down. The relationship between Cat and Raven was fun to watch grow. They went through a lot together.
I enjoyed reading this. It was hard to put down. The relationship between Cat and Raven was fun to watch grow. They went through a lot together.
June 4, 2020
Fun read
I really enjoyed this book because the characters were amusing and the story had several layers that were great to follow.
I really enjoyed this book because the characters were amusing and the story had several layers that were great to follow.
June 17, 2020
The Virgin Widow
This is a good story about a woman that is a widow but still a virgin is drugged and placed in a auction but the man that rescued her fell in love and they married
This is a good story about a woman that is a widow but still a virgin is drugged and placed in a auction but the man that rescued her fell in love and they married
May 24, 2019
Entertaining love story that also shows the effects of abusive and evil people.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews