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Kiss Trilogy #1
The Widow's Kiss
Dear Reader,
When I first saw her, I realized that the miniature portrait I had shown to the king did not do her justice. Lady Guinevere Mallory’s beauty transcended even a portrait painter’s skill. It was nearly impossible to believe that this woman, who had buried four husbands before her thirtieth birthday, could have used murder and the dark arts of witchcraft to achieve her great wealth.
I carried the king’s writ to investigate Lady Guinevere’s oft-repeated widowhood. Was it mere coincidence that each death had left her wealthier than the last? The fact that I believed she also held lands that rightfully belonged to my family made my investigations all the more personal and all the more thorough.
Surely, I thought, such a woman would bear some obvious mark of treachery on her countenance, in her manner. But when we met I saw only the beauty of her pale blond hair and her deep violet eyes that seemed to me to offer a glimpse into the intriguing world of her brilliant mind and spirit. I began to wonder how the gentle hands of such an elegant woman, whose cool composure belied her dubious past, could have committed cold-blooded murder.
Now as I learn more about the mysterious widow, I find myself growing more curious about the secrets of her heart–and more determined to reveal those secrets. Guinevere is the most captivating and intriguing woman I have ever met. I have but one
Will my interest in her prove to be a fatal one?
Hugh of Beaucaire
When I first saw her, I realized that the miniature portrait I had shown to the king did not do her justice. Lady Guinevere Mallory’s beauty transcended even a portrait painter’s skill. It was nearly impossible to believe that this woman, who had buried four husbands before her thirtieth birthday, could have used murder and the dark arts of witchcraft to achieve her great wealth.
I carried the king’s writ to investigate Lady Guinevere’s oft-repeated widowhood. Was it mere coincidence that each death had left her wealthier than the last? The fact that I believed she also held lands that rightfully belonged to my family made my investigations all the more personal and all the more thorough.
Surely, I thought, such a woman would bear some obvious mark of treachery on her countenance, in her manner. But when we met I saw only the beauty of her pale blond hair and her deep violet eyes that seemed to me to offer a glimpse into the intriguing world of her brilliant mind and spirit. I began to wonder how the gentle hands of such an elegant woman, whose cool composure belied her dubious past, could have committed cold-blooded murder.
Now as I learn more about the mysterious widow, I find myself growing more curious about the secrets of her heart–and more determined to reveal those secrets. Guinevere is the most captivating and intriguing woman I have ever met. I have but one
Will my interest in her prove to be a fatal one?
Hugh of Beaucaire
435 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
44 people are currently reading
654 people want to read
About the author
Jane Feather
170 books629 followersJane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 4, 2020
Most of the stars are for the chatterbox moppet Pippa who kept us thoroughly entertained. H wants to improve his son's lot so he lays claims to h's lands and brings King's attention to h's wealth, accumulated after losing four husbands through previous marriage contracts tilted in her favor. h pushes against his efforts. H suppresses his lust for her and forces her to face a murder trial. h stubbornly refuses to yield to her needs and heart's desire. They both go through hell, hurting each other, helping each other heal and finally accepting the reality that they love each other and belong together.
This book has to be read with a lot of willing suspension of disbelief. I don't mind strong heroines. But this was entirely too much. h has vast amount of land and money with no protector. I would commend author for making the effort to make it believable but h's stubbornness went too far. The h is supposed to be such a sharp legal mind that she could get away with humiliating Henry VIII who chopped off his wives' head like he was making a salad. Pleaaasse!!!
This book has to be read with a lot of willing suspension of disbelief. I don't mind strong heroines. But this was entirely too much. h has vast amount of land and money with no protector. I would commend author for making the effort to make it believable but h's stubbornness went too far. The h is supposed to be such a sharp legal mind that she could get away with humiliating Henry VIII who chopped off his wives' head like he was making a salad. Pleaaasse!!!
May 11, 2018
DNF.
Twee kids, instalove/lust, annoyingly anachronistic independent heroine (whose standardized Womens Lib ranting reeks of "MODERN READERS WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH ME!"), spoon-fed psychology, & no real sense of era.
Also: girl, you're rich, beautiful, four times widowed under suspicious circumstances by the time you're 30, & handling your multiple ostentatious properties gained by those four marriages, AFTER drawing up your own legal-perfect marriage contracts BY YOURSELF for the final three husbands, who were already rich & money'd before marrying you. And yet you're shocked that the King & Privy Seal have taken notice? WTF. Seriously. How could you think they wouldn't be aware of this stuff, let alone send minions to see you brought low?! *facepalm*
...No thanks. I'll pass.
Twee kids, instalove/lust, annoyingly anachronistic independent heroine (whose standardized Womens Lib ranting reeks of "MODERN READERS WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH ME!"), spoon-fed psychology, & no real sense of era.
Also: girl, you're rich, beautiful, four times widowed under suspicious circumstances by the time you're 30, & handling your multiple ostentatious properties gained by those four marriages, AFTER drawing up your own legal-perfect marriage contracts BY YOURSELF for the final three husbands, who were already rich & money'd before marrying you. And yet you're shocked that the King & Privy Seal have taken notice? WTF. Seriously. How could you think they wouldn't be aware of this stuff, let alone send minions to see you brought low?! *facepalm*
...No thanks. I'll pass.
March 17, 2017
Lady Guinevere adalah janda kaya raya yg sdh 4 kali menikah. Kematian suaminya yg terakhir, mengusik Privy Seal dan King Henry, maka diutuslah Hugh Beaucaire utk menginvestigasi dan membawa Lady Guinevere ke London.
Sepanjang perkenalan, ternyata keduanya saling tertarik dan mengagumi. Dan Hugh tidak kuasa utk menolong janda cantik ini dan memperistrinya. Sayangnya ada pihak lain yg dengki, yg mulai menyebarkan racun kematian dan kecurigaan pd pasangan baru ini. Berhasilkah mereka mengatasi intrik-intrik jahat di seputar kehidupan mereka?
Dengan setting era Tudor pd masa pemerintahan Henry VIII dan Thomas Cromwell sbg Privy Seal, kita dibawa pd zaman yg penuh persekongkolan jahat, para pembesar yg sibuk menjilat Raja demi keuntungan pribadi masing-masing. Ironisnya tokoh Hugh benar-benar bertolak belakang dgn orang-orang di sekitarnya. Hugh adalah pria sederhana namun kompeten, loyal tapi memiliki nurani. Sedangkan figur Guinevere agak anti mainstream utk wanita pd zamannya. Dirinya cerdas sekali, cantik dan memiliki aura misteri yg melingkupi kematian para suaminya.
Menurut saya, chemistry diantara Hugh dan Guinevere terbilang alamiah dan relevan situasi dan kondisinya, begitu pula kecurigaan dan kesalahpahaman yg terjadi masuk nalar dan logika. Tetapi ada sedikit kurang "jatuh bangun" usaha Hugh utk mendapatkan kembali cinta Guinevere. Guinevere terlalu mudah memaafkan Hugh. Kemungkinan krn cinta yg sangat mendalam dan usia yg sudah matang, menjadikan kisah cinta mereka yg sdh dewasa dan tidak mendramatisir.
Sepanjang perkenalan, ternyata keduanya saling tertarik dan mengagumi. Dan Hugh tidak kuasa utk menolong janda cantik ini dan memperistrinya. Sayangnya ada pihak lain yg dengki, yg mulai menyebarkan racun kematian dan kecurigaan pd pasangan baru ini. Berhasilkah mereka mengatasi intrik-intrik jahat di seputar kehidupan mereka?
Dengan setting era Tudor pd masa pemerintahan Henry VIII dan Thomas Cromwell sbg Privy Seal, kita dibawa pd zaman yg penuh persekongkolan jahat, para pembesar yg sibuk menjilat Raja demi keuntungan pribadi masing-masing. Ironisnya tokoh Hugh benar-benar bertolak belakang dgn orang-orang di sekitarnya. Hugh adalah pria sederhana namun kompeten, loyal tapi memiliki nurani. Sedangkan figur Guinevere agak anti mainstream utk wanita pd zamannya. Dirinya cerdas sekali, cantik dan memiliki aura misteri yg melingkupi kematian para suaminya.
Menurut saya, chemistry diantara Hugh dan Guinevere terbilang alamiah dan relevan situasi dan kondisinya, begitu pula kecurigaan dan kesalahpahaman yg terjadi masuk nalar dan logika. Tetapi ada sedikit kurang "jatuh bangun" usaha Hugh utk mendapatkan kembali cinta Guinevere. Guinevere terlalu mudah memaafkan Hugh. Kemungkinan krn cinta yg sangat mendalam dan usia yg sudah matang, menjadikan kisah cinta mereka yg sdh dewasa dan tidak mendramatisir.
July 1, 2012
This one came as close to five stars as any book has gotten in ages. It lost a star towards the end when things wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes, but it's still a powerful read. I actually started writing the review about midway because I was feeling so strongly about the story, and I think I'll post it as it was written:
Setting. Henry VIII's England. He's on wife #3, and she's harboring a uterine parasite.
Heroine: Lady Guinevere Mallory. The story opens with the maybe kinda sorta accidental demise of hubby #4; he drunkenly lunges at her with the intention of inflicting bodily harm. She moves aside and her foot "happens" to trip him, and he goes sailing out the window. She ducks into the privy and comes out as if she was indisposed at the fateful moment. Dead hubby was a violent and tyrannical SOB so nobody cares to ask questions.
Hero (IF one can call him that): Hugh of Beauclaire. We first meet him in counsel with Henry and his Lord Privy Seal, Thomas Cromwell (now I gotta know—any relation to Oliver?). It seems Hugh wants some land that Lady Mallory obtained through an airtight marriage contract with a distant relation of his. He makes sure that the King, Privy Seal, and the Bishop of Winchester are aware of some really shady facts. Seems this "lady" is one spouse up on Henry (so HRM feels qualified to judge at this point), and all of her husbands died untimely and in ways that could be attributed as much to murder as to illness or accident. She also personally negotiated the marriage contracts in each case, and they all left her much enriched at each husband's death. Cromwell and the king are keen to see some of this woman's wealth make its way to the treasury, and the other toady in the room, the Bishop, suggests she may also be guilty of witchcraft, having ensorcelled four men to enter these astonishing contracts. Hugh volunteers to accept the Privy Seal's commission to go find out what he can about these odd deaths.
When Hugh informs the lady of his commission, she quickly and quite rightly recognizes that she's pretty much toast. She's been accused of four murders and witchcraft, and the king and privy seal want her wealth, and the man who has been sent to find the facts has much to gain by finding her guilty. There's honestly not much chance she will survive this.
And here's where I have trouble. She also recognizes that Hugh is the person who brought all this to the King/Privy Seal/Bishop's attention, and if he's got HALF of her brains he must realize that he's condemned her to death to get her land. She has two daughters who because of this man's greed are about to lose their one remaining parent and because of her ruin, they have no hope of any future. But she has the screaming thigh sweats for the guy. Worse, she's actually relieved when he volunteers to care for her children if it comes to the worst. Because I'm just sure her kids are going to want to breathe the same damned air as the bastard who engineered their mother's unjust and greed-motivated execution. I'm just sure they will be thrilled to share their rightful inheritance with this son of a female dog and his offspring (tho his son Robin is a nice kid). I wanted to deprive this guy of his pecker for even thinking that he had any qualification to care for the girls he was orphaning out of greed.
Worse, he can't figure out why she blames him. He has the unmitigated chutzpah to be offended when she questions his objectivity in this investigation. At one point she says something nasty to him, then admits it was a terrible thing to say (!?), whereupon he says, "Yes, it was. I wish I knew what I'd done to deserve it." Really? He's actually presented as a somewhat intelligent guy, and he can't figure out why she thinks he deserves a spiteful jibe? OK, he scores a half point for feeling vaguely guilty a time or two. But I personally am ready to see him drown in the Thames by this point—preferably in the part with the most floating sewage.
Once again I'm struggling with the idea of a HEA involving this spawn of a cesspool and a woman who, at worst, intentionally ducked a punch from her last hubby knowing that his flab would pull him on out the window to his likely death.
And yet the dramatist in me is caught up. Not many stories get me this angry or this teary. So despite the fact that I really kinda hate where this seems to be heading, I'm already dusting off a spot in my permanent library shelf for this one. Books that can engage my emotions as this one does, even if I want to gak at the eventual HEA, fascinate me. What is it that kept me turning pages long after I wanted to see this guy hang by his balls from a scaffold? As a writer, how can I evoke a similar emotional response, creating drama that makes readers angry, makes them cry, and leaves them wanting more?
And then there's Feather's fondness for research and detail. It's fun (at least for a history buff) to dig into the odd small references to see if shes' making stuff up as she goes. In general, she isn't, so this lends authenticity to the story.
Upshot, unless the ending really sucks (I'm writing this at P 207, hardcover), it works for me, even tho I would liked to see Hugh spend a couple minutes with Rudy Eugene before it all sorts itself out.
=====================================
There was nothing in the trials, which happen about 2/3 the way thru the book, and the later dangers the two of them face that changed my mind about this opinion. As I say, parts of the ending were a bit too easy for me (not nearly enough groveling, IMO), but this comes with my highest recommendation!
Setting. Henry VIII's England. He's on wife #3, and she's harboring a uterine parasite.
Heroine: Lady Guinevere Mallory. The story opens with the maybe kinda sorta accidental demise of hubby #4; he drunkenly lunges at her with the intention of inflicting bodily harm. She moves aside and her foot "happens" to trip him, and he goes sailing out the window. She ducks into the privy and comes out as if she was indisposed at the fateful moment. Dead hubby was a violent and tyrannical SOB so nobody cares to ask questions.
Hero (IF one can call him that): Hugh of Beauclaire. We first meet him in counsel with Henry and his Lord Privy Seal, Thomas Cromwell (now I gotta know—any relation to Oliver?). It seems Hugh wants some land that Lady Mallory obtained through an airtight marriage contract with a distant relation of his. He makes sure that the King, Privy Seal, and the Bishop of Winchester are aware of some really shady facts. Seems this "lady" is one spouse up on Henry (so HRM feels qualified to judge at this point), and all of her husbands died untimely and in ways that could be attributed as much to murder as to illness or accident. She also personally negotiated the marriage contracts in each case, and they all left her much enriched at each husband's death. Cromwell and the king are keen to see some of this woman's wealth make its way to the treasury, and the other toady in the room, the Bishop, suggests she may also be guilty of witchcraft, having ensorcelled four men to enter these astonishing contracts. Hugh volunteers to accept the Privy Seal's commission to go find out what he can about these odd deaths.
When Hugh informs the lady of his commission, she quickly and quite rightly recognizes that she's pretty much toast. She's been accused of four murders and witchcraft, and the king and privy seal want her wealth, and the man who has been sent to find the facts has much to gain by finding her guilty. There's honestly not much chance she will survive this.
And here's where I have trouble. She also recognizes that Hugh is the person who brought all this to the King/Privy Seal/Bishop's attention, and if he's got HALF of her brains he must realize that he's condemned her to death to get her land. She has two daughters who because of this man's greed are about to lose their one remaining parent and because of her ruin, they have no hope of any future. But she has the screaming thigh sweats for the guy. Worse, she's actually relieved when he volunteers to care for her children if it comes to the worst. Because I'm just sure her kids are going to want to breathe the same damned air as the bastard who engineered their mother's unjust and greed-motivated execution. I'm just sure they will be thrilled to share their rightful inheritance with this son of a female dog and his offspring (tho his son Robin is a nice kid). I wanted to deprive this guy of his pecker for even thinking that he had any qualification to care for the girls he was orphaning out of greed.
Worse, he can't figure out why she blames him. He has the unmitigated chutzpah to be offended when she questions his objectivity in this investigation. At one point she says something nasty to him, then admits it was a terrible thing to say (!?), whereupon he says, "Yes, it was. I wish I knew what I'd done to deserve it." Really? He's actually presented as a somewhat intelligent guy, and he can't figure out why she thinks he deserves a spiteful jibe? OK, he scores a half point for feeling vaguely guilty a time or two. But I personally am ready to see him drown in the Thames by this point—preferably in the part with the most floating sewage.
Once again I'm struggling with the idea of a HEA involving this spawn of a cesspool and a woman who, at worst, intentionally ducked a punch from her last hubby knowing that his flab would pull him on out the window to his likely death.
And yet the dramatist in me is caught up. Not many stories get me this angry or this teary. So despite the fact that I really kinda hate where this seems to be heading, I'm already dusting off a spot in my permanent library shelf for this one. Books that can engage my emotions as this one does, even if I want to gak at the eventual HEA, fascinate me. What is it that kept me turning pages long after I wanted to see this guy hang by his balls from a scaffold? As a writer, how can I evoke a similar emotional response, creating drama that makes readers angry, makes them cry, and leaves them wanting more?
And then there's Feather's fondness for research and detail. It's fun (at least for a history buff) to dig into the odd small references to see if shes' making stuff up as she goes. In general, she isn't, so this lends authenticity to the story.
Upshot, unless the ending really sucks (I'm writing this at P 207, hardcover), it works for me, even tho I would liked to see Hugh spend a couple minutes with Rudy Eugene before it all sorts itself out.
=====================================
There was nothing in the trials, which happen about 2/3 the way thru the book, and the later dangers the two of them face that changed my mind about this opinion. As I say, parts of the ending were a bit too easy for me (not nearly enough groveling, IMO), but this comes with my highest recommendation!
June 15, 2022
I really tried to get into the story but for the life of me, I couldn’t. It was very difficult to believe the love affair between Hugh and Guinevere. I can’t help but feel resentful towards Hugh. 2 stars
October 26, 2024
1 ⭐
This is a train wreck. Don't read it if you like romance novels.
This is a toxic relationship of one dumb person who had the answer to all her problems, but was too lazy to do anything about it, and one gaslighting, toxic and petty misogynist who lets his greed guide everything he does.
Guinevere the FMC is 28. She has been married four times since she was 16. Not unusual for the time period (Tudor Era) but Guinevere is educated and somehow got each husband to sign over all of their wealth to her upon their deaths in every marriage contract. By the time the fourth one dies, she is insanely rich and owns a majority of the land in the area she lives in. Since it is far away from London all is well and dandy...until our MMC, Hugh sends her a letter claiming that one of her many properties that she inherited from her dead husband actually belongs to him because the property was originally owned by that husband's previous wife. After his aunt's death, the property should have gone back to her family/him. But instead it stayed with the husband, who then gave it to Guinevere upon his death. He wants proof that it was legal for the husband to do this, otherwise he wants his inheritance back. This is the situation that starts everything. Hugh has been sending letters to Guinevere for MONTHS and she doesn't reply except to say that the property is hers, leave her alone. She never provided the legal documents stating that the husband had every legal right to give the property to Guinevere. Why? Did she lose it? Nope. She had it the entire time, but apparently wasn't bothered enough to dig it up and send it to Hugh. She is supposed to the smart learned woman, but she is too lazy to send proof? She didn't think it would escalate?
So what does Hugh do? He goes to King Henry and Cromwell to plead his case. Which then sets off Henry and Cromwell to start an investigation into Guinevere for murder. She is crazy wealthy, and her marriage contracts are crazy in her favor. AND she wrote them herself. Women are not supposed to be learned to that degree. Did she use witchcraft to get each husband to sign them? All valid assumptions for the time. So they send Hugh off to confront Guinevere in person and investigate the deaths of her husbands in the area.
Guinevere is extremely rude to Hugh when he arrives and she and her staff obviously lie to him about her last husband's death. He finally does get some circumstantial evidence and proof of her lying to him, so he arrests her and takes her London along with her children. She and Hugh have super instalust and start sleeping together on the way to London. Even though Hugh thinks she killed at least one of her husbands. Yep. But of course, he slowly falls in the love with her and starts to question if it matters or not if she did. So he lies during her trial, but also proposes to her in front of the King so she cannot refuse. He does this on purpose to get her to marry him! Which, okay this happens in romance novels. But Hugh still believes she is a murderer! He just wants to have sex with her and get the property that he wants.
He goes after her and everything she owns when they get married. He purposely draws up marriage contracts taking all of her wealth and properties, including the stuff she has set away for her own daughter's dowries and gives it to his son! I couldn't believe this shit. He claims he loves her, then cripples her to the point of being poor and destitute without him. Extremely toxic. And she has to marry him at this point, or face execution. And he knows this. That is why he made the marriage contracts so dire for her, she has zero choice but to sign them. Even though she begs him not to. That her financial independence is important to her and always has been. That is why she always wrote her own marriage contracts. It wasn't her fault her husband's never bothered to actually read them. He doesn't care. He is poor and wants to better himself and also says he is doing it for her own good because she is a woman and needs to know her place.
And if THAT wasn't enough...We find out Cromwell also wants the land that Guinevere owned and now plans on killing Hugh in order to get it. Because remember, he stole all of her wealth when they got married to better himself. So Cromwell sends assassins after Hugh and his son. But instead of searching the fucking bodies of the assassin, he assumes Guinevere (who has only been in London two weeks and was imprisoned a majority of the time) hired the assassins as revenge for the marriage contracts! I don't get it. Even if he and his son die, he made sure she only gets back a small bit of what he used to own. There is 0 benefit of killing Hugh and his son for her. ZERO. The horrible things he says to her and then tells her to be gone in one hour is disgusting. When he finally actually searches the body and realizes his mistake and apologizes I hated him so much, I wished he had been successfully assassinated. There was zero reason for the author to make Hugh believe Guinevere was a murderer the entire book. The evidence against it was there and he was a horrible husband who beat her and her children. So even if she did, why does he care that she killed a husband who would have killed her eventually. He was supposed to be in love with her, how can he be in love with her and trust her, but also believe she murdered all of her husbands??
Oh yes. I almost forgot the most tragic story in this book. It is the side romance of the Hugh and Guinevere's kids. The author purposely has multiple scenes of these two kids (they are about 12 and 13) falling in love, holding hands, kissing, etc. only for their parents to get married and be like, "yeah...we know what is going on with you two. time to shut it down now. you are now siblings." It was so sad! There was no reason to add that storyline. The son then spirals into this pitiful drunken depression that made me want to cry.
Worst book I have read all year.
This is a train wreck. Don't read it if you like romance novels.
This is a toxic relationship of one dumb person who had the answer to all her problems, but was too lazy to do anything about it, and one gaslighting, toxic and petty misogynist who lets his greed guide everything he does.
Guinevere the FMC is 28. She has been married four times since she was 16. Not unusual for the time period (Tudor Era) but Guinevere is educated and somehow got each husband to sign over all of their wealth to her upon their deaths in every marriage contract. By the time the fourth one dies, she is insanely rich and owns a majority of the land in the area she lives in. Since it is far away from London all is well and dandy...until our MMC, Hugh sends her a letter claiming that one of her many properties that she inherited from her dead husband actually belongs to him because the property was originally owned by that husband's previous wife. After his aunt's death, the property should have gone back to her family/him. But instead it stayed with the husband, who then gave it to Guinevere upon his death. He wants proof that it was legal for the husband to do this, otherwise he wants his inheritance back. This is the situation that starts everything. Hugh has been sending letters to Guinevere for MONTHS and she doesn't reply except to say that the property is hers, leave her alone. She never provided the legal documents stating that the husband had every legal right to give the property to Guinevere. Why? Did she lose it? Nope. She had it the entire time, but apparently wasn't bothered enough to dig it up and send it to Hugh. She is supposed to the smart learned woman, but she is too lazy to send proof? She didn't think it would escalate?
So what does Hugh do? He goes to King Henry and Cromwell to plead his case. Which then sets off Henry and Cromwell to start an investigation into Guinevere for murder. She is crazy wealthy, and her marriage contracts are crazy in her favor. AND she wrote them herself. Women are not supposed to be learned to that degree. Did she use witchcraft to get each husband to sign them? All valid assumptions for the time. So they send Hugh off to confront Guinevere in person and investigate the deaths of her husbands in the area.
Guinevere is extremely rude to Hugh when he arrives and she and her staff obviously lie to him about her last husband's death. He finally does get some circumstantial evidence and proof of her lying to him, so he arrests her and takes her London along with her children. She and Hugh have super instalust and start sleeping together on the way to London. Even though Hugh thinks she killed at least one of her husbands. Yep. But of course, he slowly falls in the love with her and starts to question if it matters or not if she did. So he lies during her trial, but also proposes to her in front of the King so she cannot refuse. He does this on purpose to get her to marry him! Which, okay this happens in romance novels. But Hugh still believes she is a murderer! He just wants to have sex with her and get the property that he wants.
He goes after her and everything she owns when they get married. He purposely draws up marriage contracts taking all of her wealth and properties, including the stuff she has set away for her own daughter's dowries and gives it to his son! I couldn't believe this shit. He claims he loves her, then cripples her to the point of being poor and destitute without him. Extremely toxic. And she has to marry him at this point, or face execution. And he knows this. That is why he made the marriage contracts so dire for her, she has zero choice but to sign them. Even though she begs him not to. That her financial independence is important to her and always has been. That is why she always wrote her own marriage contracts. It wasn't her fault her husband's never bothered to actually read them. He doesn't care. He is poor and wants to better himself and also says he is doing it for her own good because she is a woman and needs to know her place.
And if THAT wasn't enough...We find out Cromwell also wants the land that Guinevere owned and now plans on killing Hugh in order to get it. Because remember, he stole all of her wealth when they got married to better himself. So Cromwell sends assassins after Hugh and his son. But instead of searching the fucking bodies of the assassin, he assumes Guinevere (who has only been in London two weeks and was imprisoned a majority of the time) hired the assassins as revenge for the marriage contracts! I don't get it. Even if he and his son die, he made sure she only gets back a small bit of what he used to own. There is 0 benefit of killing Hugh and his son for her. ZERO. The horrible things he says to her and then tells her to be gone in one hour is disgusting. When he finally actually searches the body and realizes his mistake and apologizes I hated him so much, I wished he had been successfully assassinated. There was zero reason for the author to make Hugh believe Guinevere was a murderer the entire book. The evidence against it was there and he was a horrible husband who beat her and her children. So even if she did, why does he care that she killed a husband who would have killed her eventually. He was supposed to be in love with her, how can he be in love with her and trust her, but also believe she murdered all of her husbands??
Oh yes. I almost forgot the most tragic story in this book. It is the side romance of the Hugh and Guinevere's kids. The author purposely has multiple scenes of these two kids (they are about 12 and 13) falling in love, holding hands, kissing, etc. only for their parents to get married and be like, "yeah...we know what is going on with you two. time to shut it down now. you are now siblings." It was so sad! There was no reason to add that storyline. The son then spirals into this pitiful drunken depression that made me want to cry.
Worst book I have read all year.
December 5, 2016
A parte la cover e il titolo italiano diverso ("Il bacio della vedova" aveva ben più senso), posso dire che questo romanzo non mi è dispiaciuto affatto?
Vari punti a favore.
Prima di tutto, la credibile e interessante la ricostruzione storica (che mi ha spinto ad approfondire, ad esempio, il Pellegrinaggio di Grazia di Robert Aske, di cui - lo ammetto - non sapevo nulla...), poi un gran bel personaggio femminile che lotta con le unghie e con i denti in un'epoca in cui saper leggere un contratto, curare con l'echinacea o esprimere pensieri razionali poteva solo essere indice di stregoneria o di anima peccaminosa-assassina.
Non posso dire altrettanto del protagonista maschile.
Per carità, un vero uomo dei suoi tempi, e quindi lasciamolo lì.
Hugh, diciamolo, per metà libro è uno str..., e anche dopo. Alla fine salva la sua lady solo perché è una bellissima donna e con la dote di lei potrà mantenere lui e i suoi discendenti.
Un libro corposo ma avvincente, anche se non lo definirei un romance in senso stretto.
A me personalmente ha lasciato un lieve gusto amaro in bocca.A me personalmente ha lasciato un lieve gusto amaro in bocca.
Vari punti a favore.
Prima di tutto, la credibile e interessante la ricostruzione storica (che mi ha spinto ad approfondire, ad esempio, il Pellegrinaggio di Grazia di Robert Aske, di cui - lo ammetto - non sapevo nulla...), poi un gran bel personaggio femminile che lotta con le unghie e con i denti in un'epoca in cui saper leggere un contratto, curare con l'echinacea o esprimere pensieri razionali poteva solo essere indice di stregoneria o di anima peccaminosa-assassina.
Non posso dire altrettanto del protagonista maschile.
Per carità, un vero uomo dei suoi tempi, e quindi lasciamolo lì.
Hugh, diciamolo, per metà libro è uno str..., e anche dopo. Alla fine salva la sua lady solo perché è una bellissima donna e con la dote di lei potrà mantenere lui e i suoi discendenti.
Un libro corposo ma avvincente, anche se non lo definirei un romance in senso stretto.
A me personalmente ha lasciato un lieve gusto amaro in bocca.A me personalmente ha lasciato un lieve gusto amaro in bocca.
January 2, 2014
เรื่องนี้เคยอ่านในเนตว่ามีคนบอกว่าสนุกเราก็ซื้อไว้นานมากแล้ว ได้จังหวะหยุดยาวก็เลยได้ขุดมาอ่าน อ่านแล้วไม่ผิดหวังจริงๆ มันเป็นอะไรที่เต็มไปด้วยอารมณ์ความรู้สึก การเอาคืน ชิงไหวพริบระหว่างพระเอกนางเอกตลอดเวลา ตั้งแต่เริ่มแรกที่พระเอกเดินทางมาหานางเอก เพื่อพานางเอกเข้าลอนดอน มีการแก้เกมกันอยู่ตลอด สนุกมากๆ แม้กระทั่งตอนจบของเรื่องที่พระเอกตามไปขอโทษนางเอก ซึ่งใจจริงตอนอ่านแอบคิดว่านางเอกน่าจะเล่นตัวให้มากๆให้พระเอกคลั่งตายไปเลย แต่เรื่องก็จบลงด้วยดีมีเหตุผล ก็เพราะว่ารัก ถ้าไม่รักจะไม่ยอมเจอ คือ...เยี่ยมมมมมค่ะ
ชอบความรู้สึกกดดันของเรื่อง ชอบเวลาอ่านนิยายแล้วเจอนางเอกที่น่าสงสารแต่อดทน(ไม่ใช่อารมณ์นางซิลที่ยอมอยู่ตลอดเวลานะ) ดิ้นรนต่อสู้จนถึงที่สุด ผู้หญิงแข็งแกร่งที่น่าสงสาร แล้วยังมาเจอพระเอกที่ไม่เคยจะเชื่อใจแบบนี้อีก โอ้ยยย มันโดนใจสุดๆอ่ะ
ปล. ใครมีนิยายสนุกๆอารมณ์นางเอกแบบเรื่องนี้แนะนำบ้างนะคะ
ชอบความรู้สึกกดดันของเรื่อง ชอบเวลาอ่านนิยายแล้วเจอนางเอกที่น่าสงสารแต่อดทน(ไม่ใช่อารมณ์นางซิลที่ยอมอยู่ตลอดเวลานะ) ดิ้นรนต่อสู้จนถึงที่สุด ผู้หญิงแข็งแกร่งที่น่าสงสาร แล้วยังมาเจอพระเอกที่ไม่เคยจะเชื่อใจแบบนี้อีก โอ้ยยย มันโดนใจสุดๆอ่ะ
ปล. ใครมีนิยายสนุกๆอารมณ์นางเอกแบบเรื่องนี้แนะนำบ้างนะคะ
October 25, 2018
Con Jane Feather no sé qué hacer: unas veces me gusta mucho y otras me parece de un aburrimiento supino. Esta novela es una mezcla de ambas sensaciones, a lo que se une la horrorosamente horrosa portada. Me ha gustado la historia en sí, pero su desarrollo no me ha convencido del todo. Tal vez lo mejor sea la ambientación histórica.
September 13, 2020
Aunque consigue entretener gracias a algunos componentes rescatables, no es una historia que recomendaría.
No llegué a conectar con sus personajes, la trama también me importó poco y su narración, pese a tener un ritmo ágil, se extiende en descripciones de poca importancia, diálogos innecesarios y escenas intrascendentes que se podrían haber ahorrado.
En general, la gran parte del libro pasa sin pena ni gloria, y al final surge un conflicto que me resultó muy predecible y solo logró irritarme por la falta de comunicación y confianza de los protagonistas, terminando de inclinar la balanza hacia el lado negativo.
No llegué a conectar con sus personajes, la trama también me importó poco y su narración, pese a tener un ritmo ágil, se extiende en descripciones de poca importancia, diálogos innecesarios y escenas intrascendentes que se podrían haber ahorrado.
En general, la gran parte del libro pasa sin pena ni gloria, y al final surge un conflicto que me resultó muy predecible y solo logró irritarme por la falta de comunicación y confianza de los protagonistas, terminando de inclinar la balanza hacia el lado negativo.
January 7, 2015
Really hate the hero. He claimed he loved her, but how could he accused her as a murderer? But, of course, in the end he was forgiven. Without putting much effort. Cliche!
If I were her, I wouldn't accept him ever again. It was not just a simple accusation, but a murder one! That meant he thought that she was able to kill him and his son to get "his" property. He further said that there's a history evidence, which was the death of all her former husbands.
From the beginning, deep down in his heart, he already distrust her. He kept his suspicion about her killing her husbands. Despite that, he "claimed" he loved her. Even when he decided to marry her, it was not because of his so-called-love. But because she was rich, and he wanted her wealth for his son. Such a motive, and yet he dared to say love. What a disgusting hero! He is the worst hero I've ever encountered so far. May he rot in hell!
I gave it 2 stars for the sake of completing it, and the cuteness of Pippa, the heroine's daughter.
If I were her, I wouldn't accept him ever again. It was not just a simple accusation, but a murder one! That meant he thought that she was able to kill him and his son to get "his" property. He further said that there's a history evidence, which was the death of all her former husbands.
From the beginning, deep down in his heart, he already distrust her. He kept his suspicion about her killing her husbands. Despite that, he "claimed" he loved her. Even when he decided to marry her, it was not because of his so-called-love. But because she was rich, and he wanted her wealth for his son. Such a motive, and yet he dared to say love. What a disgusting hero! He is the worst hero I've ever encountered so far. May he rot in hell!
I gave it 2 stars for the sake of completing it, and the cuteness of Pippa, the heroine's daughter.
November 8, 2011
I am debating between three and four stars.
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, this is the story of a woman who at the age of 28 has just been widowed for the fourth time. With each marriage she has become wealthier and wealthier because of the terms of the marriage contracts she has drawn up before each wedding.
This has drawn the attention of Thomas Cromwell, who suspects her of murder and a bishop who suspects her of witchcraft.
I enjoyed the family relationships and the look at this period of history that I don't often read about.
I hope to read the other books in this series.
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, this is the story of a woman who at the age of 28 has just been widowed for the fourth time. With each marriage she has become wealthier and wealthier because of the terms of the marriage contracts she has drawn up before each wedding.
This has drawn the attention of Thomas Cromwell, who suspects her of murder and a bishop who suspects her of witchcraft.
I enjoyed the family relationships and the look at this period of history that I don't often read about.
I hope to read the other books in this series.
December 15, 2011
Yeaaaaah...brhub ini crita romance, tentu aja si janda akhirnya lolos dr hukuman n malah nemu jodoh yg tampan yg akhirnya brgelar earl. Tp seandainya aku bs mnentukn jln crita, sdh psti si janda ini bakal kubikin dihukum gantung ato penggal sekalian! Benar2 ilpil sm janda pengeruk harta ini, yg giliran hartanya mo dikeruk sm Hugh, dia mencak2 jg. Aduuuuuh...gak brkaca pd dirinya sndri!
Weeeeeell...kasih 3 bintang krn Pippa yg lucu n aku suka sm Hugh yg meski dilanda gairah sm Guinevere, tp gak lgsg tunduk bgtu sj sm kemauan janda ini.
Weeeeeell...kasih 3 bintang krn Pippa yg lucu n aku suka sm Hugh yg meski dilanda gairah sm Guinevere, tp gak lgsg tunduk bgtu sj sm kemauan janda ini.
May 17, 2023
The female mc was awesome and the male lead atrocious. He made me so angry! He was so heavy handed and obstinate and plain mean to her. He never tried to truly understand her and look after her. Made me so mad.
February 28, 2011
A little different premise from all the medieval novels, but, of course, with the inevitable reluctant attraction between the two main characters. The children characters in the book are delightful.
July 25, 2011
An exciting tale, that might have went just a little long for my taste. Still you can not deny the chemistry between the two many characters or the humor the children add to the drama.
January 4, 2015
Strong, grown-up heroine who holds her own.
May 31, 2020
I really enjoyed it. Guinevere reminded me of the real and formidable Bess of Hardwick (without the ambition) who was married 4 times, although none died under suspicious circumstances.
SYNOPSIS:
A beautiful noblewoman who has lost four husbands under mysterious circumstances, and the man who is sent to find out if she is an unlucky victim of fate -- or a black widow whose abundant charms hide a heart of ice....
As a lone and wealthy widow in Henry VIII's kingdom, Lady Guinevere Mallory knew that she was in a precarious position. But she never imagined that when danger arrived, it would be in the form of Hugh of Beaucaire, a man with the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. A man of such power and determination that when he rode up to Mallory Hall, intent on claiming a vast tract of her land, Guinevere couldn't suppress a frisson of fear - or deny a shiver of anticipation.
A seasoned soldier, Hugh had seen his share of battle and known his share of women. But nothing had prepared him for the reality of Guinevere -- a woman so elegant and alluring, with luminous eyes and hair the colour of palest wheat. And when she smiled her damnable smile, so filled with invitation, Hugh found himself confused, aroused, and infuriated. For he suspected that the widow had committed the blackest of crimes.
How else could a woman of eight and twenty have been so unfortunate as to bury four wealthy husbands? How else could she have managed to persuade each of them to sign a marriage contract she herself had drawn up -- documents that ensured she would inherit everything they owned upon their deaths?
As Guinevere stalls for time, Hugh begins to investigate her mysterious and tarnished past. Yet even as they try to fathom each other's motives, temptation explodes into a consuming passion, clouding their minds to the coming peril.
Whatever Hugh uncovers, he must escort Guinevere to London to face the king and the terrifying and ruthless power of the Lord Privy Seal. And if Guinevere is indeed charged with murder, Hugh knows there's only one way he can save her -- by taking the risk that he will become the next victim of the widow's kiss....
SYNOPSIS:
A beautiful noblewoman who has lost four husbands under mysterious circumstances, and the man who is sent to find out if she is an unlucky victim of fate -- or a black widow whose abundant charms hide a heart of ice....
As a lone and wealthy widow in Henry VIII's kingdom, Lady Guinevere Mallory knew that she was in a precarious position. But she never imagined that when danger arrived, it would be in the form of Hugh of Beaucaire, a man with the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. A man of such power and determination that when he rode up to Mallory Hall, intent on claiming a vast tract of her land, Guinevere couldn't suppress a frisson of fear - or deny a shiver of anticipation.
A seasoned soldier, Hugh had seen his share of battle and known his share of women. But nothing had prepared him for the reality of Guinevere -- a woman so elegant and alluring, with luminous eyes and hair the colour of palest wheat. And when she smiled her damnable smile, so filled with invitation, Hugh found himself confused, aroused, and infuriated. For he suspected that the widow had committed the blackest of crimes.
How else could a woman of eight and twenty have been so unfortunate as to bury four wealthy husbands? How else could she have managed to persuade each of them to sign a marriage contract she herself had drawn up -- documents that ensured she would inherit everything they owned upon their deaths?
As Guinevere stalls for time, Hugh begins to investigate her mysterious and tarnished past. Yet even as they try to fathom each other's motives, temptation explodes into a consuming passion, clouding their minds to the coming peril.
Whatever Hugh uncovers, he must escort Guinevere to London to face the king and the terrifying and ruthless power of the Lord Privy Seal. And if Guinevere is indeed charged with murder, Hugh knows there's only one way he can save her -- by taking the risk that he will become the next victim of the widow's kiss....
October 2, 2022
I’m honestly not certain why, but though I enjoyed this book I spent a good portion annoyed. I looked forward to reading it for the most part. I guess maybe because the narration was so stinking slow. I had to speed it up to 1.10 and eventually went ahead and moved it up to 1.15 and at that point was when I really started to enjoy the book the most. I totally thought that the characters were great I loved the maternal and paternal sides of both the main characters and I loved all of the children. It’s not often that we read a book where the children are such a main part of the story. The characters all had loyalty and honor and it was nice to read. I have to admit that if I knew somebody who had four husband’s that have all died, I would be pretty judgy on the how and why.
All in all a decent read. I will look for the two following in this series on the sale rack.
All in all a decent read. I will look for the two following in this series on the sale rack.
March 2, 2018
This one was a s l o w starter. It took me a long time to get into it. However by the end I was enjoying it and hated for it to end. I have enjoyed many Jane Feather books but this is the only one that's taken me so long to get into. The heroine could be described as a "black widow" as she's buried three husbands. To save her from possible death by beheading, the hero Hugh takes a chance and marries her. Gabrielle is an exceptional and learned woman of her time. She has studied law and managed to inherit her late husbands' estates upon their death. This makes her a target. This one is set in the sixteenth century I believe....not my favorite time in English historicals. Had the writing not been superb as usual, I'd give it three stars instead of four.
January 21, 2022
Meh … le premesse erano buone in realtà non è stato proprio malvagio… ci sono degli spunti interessanti, Specialmente nel riportare le realtà storiche e contestualizzarle all’interno del racconto. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è stata effettivamente diversa dal solito. Lei, Guineviere è una donna con già delle figlie con delle caratteristiche non più da ragazzina, la sua fisicità è raccontata con delicatezza , lui Hugh non è l’immagine del lui tipico da romanzo rosa storico. Ho apprezzato anche la situazione di famiglia allargata, è l’emancipazione raggiunta da lei come vedova.
Solo che è stato incredibilmente lento a tratti. Molto spesso si è perso in dettagli inutili che mi hanno costretta a una lettura meno attenta di quanto avrei voluto. Bello l’epilogo. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solo che è stato incredibilmente lento a tratti. Molto spesso si è perso in dettagli inutili che mi hanno costretta a una lettura meno attenta di quanto avrei voluto. Bello l’epilogo. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 23, 2018
4.5 stars
Set during the reign of Henrey the 8th, Lady Guinevere Mallory is a wealthy intelligent widow who has buried four husbands. Because she owned many properties and land and managed it herself, she was targeted for investigation by King Henry and the privy seal Thomas Cromwell. Of course this was just a ploy to take the wealth she had accumulated. And we think independent women today have it rough! during that time women were not expected to be smart at anything except running a household, having babies and obeying their husbands. This was a good book that made me thankful to live in the current era.
Set during the reign of Henrey the 8th, Lady Guinevere Mallory is a wealthy intelligent widow who has buried four husbands. Because she owned many properties and land and managed it herself, she was targeted for investigation by King Henry and the privy seal Thomas Cromwell. Of course this was just a ploy to take the wealth she had accumulated. And we think independent women today have it rough! during that time women were not expected to be smart at anything except running a household, having babies and obeying their husbands. This was a good book that made me thankful to live in the current era.
November 18, 2025
When I read this last I really liked it. I think I felt it was four stars. Maybe my tastes have changed but I'm going to knock it down to three. It is a time period I don't really enjoy reading, but Hugh annoyed me. There was entirely not enough groveling. They were apart for what, one night?? Not enough. He decides he's going to court his wife and does this by...giving her her own books back? And buying a book, which he doesn't give her. Nah, I'm going to need more than that for someone who accused his wife and sent her into exile in what could have been a death sentence. The power dynamics were entirely on his side the entire book and I'm not into that.
July 13, 2019
Enjoyable historical fiction .
Henry VIII court, Lord Privy Seal T. Cromwell, plots, deceits, a beautiful and intelligent woman acused of murder and even witchcraft by a greedy lord and a zealot bishop.
The plot is interesting enough to keep reading/listening till the wii hours.
Among the characters there are children that give a refreshing if not very realistic side to the story.
Suffice to say it is not your usual historic romance.
Also it is performed beautifully by the narrator Jenny Sterlin.
Henry VIII court, Lord Privy Seal T. Cromwell, plots, deceits, a beautiful and intelligent woman acused of murder and even witchcraft by a greedy lord and a zealot bishop.
The plot is interesting enough to keep reading/listening till the wii hours.
Among the characters there are children that give a refreshing if not very realistic side to the story.
Suffice to say it is not your usual historic romance.
Also it is performed beautifully by the narrator Jenny Sterlin.
Read
November 17, 2023I have the impression it's been a very long time since I've read a book by Jane Feather, and even longer since I've read one by her set in the middle ages.
I don't always enjoy books set in this time period, but once my initial surprise set aside, I quite enjoyed this.
Of course the heroine is a total anomaly and the hero closer to the norm, but their chemistry works most of the time. The challenges set by a mercurial king and evil Privy Seal are indeed menacing.
A fun read. I should have the third somewhere on my shelves - not sure about the second.
I don't always enjoy books set in this time period, but once my initial surprise set aside, I quite enjoyed this.
Of course the heroine is a total anomaly and the hero closer to the norm, but their chemistry works most of the time. The challenges set by a mercurial king and evil Privy Seal are indeed menacing.
A fun read. I should have the third somewhere on my shelves - not sure about the second.
September 5, 2018
I thought I would give this period of English history another try. I still do not like to read stories in that time period. On top of that the characters were not appealing to me. There was a lot of history covered in this story. The story was weighted down in it. I got half way through and gave up. I started skipping groups of pages. I got to the end and skipped on to the Epilogue. I don't think I missed much. The story was too long and I really got bored with it.
January 9, 2024
"Lady Guinevere Mallory's beauty transcended even a portrait painter's skill. It was nearly impossible to believe that this woman, who had buried four husbands before her thirtieth birthday, could have used murder and the dark arts of witchcraft to achieve her great wealth." So begins a tale of strange happenings, romance & intrigue in the court of Henry VIII.
A fun light read. The type that Jane Feather does well.
A fun light read. The type that Jane Feather does well.
May 6, 2022
The was the earliest historical romance that I've read. It was quite good. It was a bit grimmer than I expected from a romance, but it did have a HEA. The tension keeps coming back once you think it's resolved. The enemies to lovers in this book is super hot, and the conflicted feelings of the leading lady seems very understandable and real to me.
July 28, 2022
Interesting story! Enjoyed historical setting! Characters believable and the plot was very good. Recommend to readers who like historical romances. Also, liked this author plot with its twists and turns. Characters were very believable and the settings were well described, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2017
It was Ok. I like the time period and I liked the characters.
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