Seducing Mr. Heywood

Rating:
Summary: Role Reversal In A Most Original REGENCY
Review: Setting - Rowley Hall, Yorkshire, 1811 --- The very notorious Lady Sophia Rowley, thrice married, thrice widowed and smarting from the loss of her latest lover she had intended on making husband number four, was not in the best of moods. On the advice of her solicitor she had come home to Rowley Hall to make the acquaintance of the vicar of St. Mortrud's, Mr. Charles Heywood, whom her late husband had appointed guardian of their two sons. To say the least, their first meeting could in no way be termed favorable, - but I'll let the reader delight in THAT inauspicious moment. In spite of her bad humor, and Charles' mortification it would be days before they would once more, accidentally meet and Sophia, thought to make the very handsome vicar her next lover while she rusticated in the country.

Charles had always admired the beautiful woman from her portrait during his many visits and had it not been for the confidences shared with him by the late baron of how Sophia had been sold into a brutal and hideous first marriage by her despicable father, he might have the same unfavorable opinions of her that others had. Armed with that knowledge, and as their friendship developed he began to admire the intelligent and tenderhearted woman that was kept hidden behind the jaded and brittle mask she donned to hide her vulnerability. There seemed to be a real chance at happiness for both of them if only they could survive the vicious manipulations that the re-emergence of her obnoxious father would bring back into her life.

I found this to be a divine read. I absolutely loved how Sophia the once-jaded and totally selfish heroine (from THE RELUCTANT GUARDIAN) finally came to her epiphany realizing her self worth as a caring, loving mother and found her true love in such an unlikely candidate. It was also a very original read in that the female/male roles were reversed where she was the rake, so to speak, and he the innocent. In addition, I found the many varied characters were so very well defined that the reader could feel a part of the entire ensemble.

Of particular note, is the way the author conveyed warm and loving feelings for the character of the deceased Baron Rowley. Due to his unselfish regard in maintaining for his sons the illusion of a mother's love, he thoughtfully paved the way for her re-emergence into their life. I thought that this very cleverly done to have such a warm and wonderful feeling for a character whom you never really meet in the story but who plays such a seemingly big part due to the fond remembrances and good deeds he'd done during his life. Bottom line - With elegant prose, fresh and charming dialogs, and lovely regency touches the author had me totally enchanted from start to finish in this wonderfully feel-good romance. --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicromancewriters.com