The Widower's Folly (Signet Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: a pleasurable read
Review: "The Widower's Folly" is the second installment in the series that focuses on the Barlow sisters and the magical locket that allows them to see the face of the man they are destined to find happiness with. This time it is Theresa's turn. The second of the Barlow sisters, Theresa is somewhat shy and prefers to spend her time writing stories for children, to attending fashionable get-togethers and balls. One morning, as she's on her way to turn in her latest book to her publisher, her aunt, Margaret Winsham, gives her the family locket, and tells her the legend behind the locket. And when Theresa opens the locket, she catches a glimpse of the face of a rather handsome gentleman. Imagine her shock when minutes later, she practically runs into him outside her publisher's!

William, Lord Rivendale, currently has only one purpose in life: to get his young six year old daughter, Anna, to talk again. Anna had witnessed her mother die in a carriage accident, and she's not spoken word since. The only time she shows any signs of liveliness is when her father reads to her the books by her favourite authour. And when the latest specialist that Rivendale has consulted holds out little hope for Anna's improvement, Rivendale hits on the idea of discovering the identity of Anna's favourite authour, and asking her for her help in bringing Anna out of her shell. Rivendale of course expects this authour to be a grandmotherly old woman. And he's quite surprised when he discovers that the unknown authour is actually a beautiful and shy young woman. Moved by Anna's plight, Theresa agrees to spend time with Anna. And the more time she spends with father and daughter, the more she comes to care for them both, esp Rivendale, with whom she finds herself becoming perilously attracted to, even as she tells herself that nothing will come of her growing feelings for Rivendale, as wealthy men of the ton do not marry shy, penniless young authours. And then Theresa finds herself in the middle of a scandal. Her unscrupulous publisher has used her latest work to lampoon members of society, and he refuses to agree to cease in this activity. Theresa is aghast at this turn of events, especially when no other publisher will accept her manuscripts. What is she to do if she cannot write? And this is where Rivendale suddenly finds himself proposing a marriage of convenience to Theresa. He needs a wife primarily for Anna's sake, however he has no intention of consummating the marriage or begetting an heir. Theresa agrees to marry Rivendale, but she has her own agenda. Somehow she's going to get him to open himself up to the prospect of falling in love again, and with her. Will sweet-natured Theresa succeed in her quest to win her husband's heart?

"The Widower's Folly" is a rather fun read. I especially enjoyed the second half of the book that dealt with Theresa slow and steady seduction of her husband, which April Khilstrom handled in a light and tasteful manner. Both the principal characters (Theresa & Rivendale) were well developed, and I liked that the other characters from the previous novel were inserted into this book, esp Aunt Margaret Winsham. A little more of her background and her dangerous crusade to save the helpless children who are being cruelly used, is detailed in this book. (I do hope that there will be a novel featuring Aunt Margaret at some point.) And while it is not absolutely essential to have read the first book in this series, "The Ambitious Baronet," it does help, as certain episodes (the Barlow women's propensity to rescue children, the sad upbringing that the sisters had, and their unique relationship with their aunt) are described in more detail in that novel.

The Barlow sisters series is shaping up, in my opinion, to be the best series that April Khilstrom has written to date. The novels have all been a little more serious in nature, dealing with men and women who have been emotionally scarred in one way or another, and who all learn that there is still the chance and hope of healing and finding love. "The Widower's Folly" is certainly a good read, esp if you're looking for something other than a light comedy of manners that deals with beaux and balls.

Rating:
Summary: a pleasurable read
Review: "The Widower's Folly" is the second installment in the series that focuses on the Barlow sisters and the magical locket that allows them to see the face of the man they are destined to find happiness with. This time it is Theresa's turn. The second of the Barlow sisters, Theresa is somewhat shy and prefers to spend her time writing stories for children, to attending fashionable get-togethers and balls. One morning, as she's on her way to turn in her latest book to her publisher, her aunt, Margaret Winsham, gives her the family locket, and tells her the legend behind the locket. And when Theresa opens the locket, she catches a glimpse of the face of a rather handsome gentleman. Imagine her shock when minutes later, she practically runs into him outside her publisher's!

William, Lord Rivendale, currently has only one purpose in life: to get his young six year old daughter, Anna, to talk again. Anna had witnessed her mother die in a carriage accident, and she's not spoken word since. The only time she shows any signs of liveliness is when her father reads to her the books by her favourite authour. And when the latest specialist that Rivendale has consulted holds out little hope for Anna's improvement, Rivendale hits on the idea of discovering the identity of Anna's favourite authour, and asking her for her help in bringing Anna out of her shell. Rivendale of course expects this authour to be a grandmotherly old woman. And he's quite surprised when he discovers that the unknown authour is actually a beautiful and shy young woman. Moved by Anna's plight, Theresa agrees to spend time with Anna. And the more time she spends with father and daughter, the more she comes to care for them both, esp Rivendale, with whom she finds herself becoming perilously attracted to, even as she tells herself that nothing will come of her growing feelings for Rivendale, as wealthy men of the ton do not marry shy, penniless young authours. And then Theresa finds herself in the middle of a scandal. Her unscrupulous publisher has used her latest work to lampoon members of society, and he refuses to agree to cease in this activity. Theresa is aghast at this turn of events, especially when no other publisher will accept her manuscripts. What is she to do if she cannot write? And this is where Rivendale suddenly finds himself proposing a marriage of convenience to Theresa. He needs a wife primarily for Anna's sake, however he has no intention of consummating the marriage or begetting an heir. Theresa agrees to marry Rivendale, but she has her own agenda. Somehow she's going to get him to open himself up to the prospect of falling in love again, and with her. Will sweet-natured Theresa succeed in her quest to win her husband's heart?

"The Widower's Folly" is a rather fun read. I especially enjoyed the second half of the book that dealt with Theresa slow and steady seduction of her husband, which April Khilstrom handled in a light and tasteful manner. Both the principal characters (Theresa & Rivendale) were well developed, and I liked that the other characters from the previous novel were inserted into this book, esp Aunt Margaret Winsham. A little more of her background and her dangerous crusade to save the helpless children who are being cruelly used, is detailed in this book. (I do hope that there will be a novel featuring Aunt Margaret at some point.) And while it is not absolutely essential to have read the first book in this series, "The Ambitious Baronet," it does help, as certain episodes (the Barlow women's propensity to rescue children, the sad upbringing that the sisters had, and their unique relationship with their aunt) are described in more detail in that novel.

The Barlow sisters series is shaping up, in my opinion, to be the best series that April Khilstrom has written to date. The novels have all been a little more serious in nature, dealing with men and women who have been emotionally scarred in one way or another, and who all learn that there is still the chance and hope of healing and finding love. "The Widower's Folly" is certainly a good read, esp if you're looking for something other than a light comedy of manners that deals with beaux and balls.

Rating:
Summary: Too sweet for my tastes
Review: I had this book recommended to me, and although it's well written, it's too sweet and saccharine for my tastes. I prefer my heroines feistier, my plots more adventurous and my heroes with more edge.But if you like books abut heroines who manage to coax little girls to speak, doing more for them in a few minutes than anyone else has been able to do in years, then you'll probably like this book.

Rating:
Summary: Not another mute child!
Review: The Regency romance genre is distressingly full of mute children who can only be coaxed to speak by kind heroines, and who, when they do speak, invariably reveal dark secrets about the past. Don't expect anything different from this child.

The heroine is the best part of the book - she really is shy and sweet-natured, without being cloying or secretly hoydenish. The hero is pleasant enough, but is pretty much the stock nice-guy - nothing sets him apart from a hundred other heroes. The heroine's aunt and younger sister are good secondary characters, and the older sister and her husband (from the first book) reappear here.

My main criticism of the book, however, is that there are far too many plot threads. The heroine's scandal is a paltry affair forgotten for most of the book and blithely swept away at the end. The heroine's aunt's children-saving efforts seem to take over everything else, including the romance.

But Kihlstrom's style, as always, is neat and clean and she makes an effort to avoid blatant anachronism. The book, overall, is well-paced and never dull. For those who like romances with strong adventure plots, this would be a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Not another mute child!
Review: The Regency romance genre is distressingly full of mute children who can only be coaxed to speak by kind heroines, and who, when they do speak, invariably reveal dark secrets about the past. Don't expect anything different from this child.

The heroine is the best part of the book - she really is shy and sweet-natured, without being cloying or secretly hoydenish. The hero is pleasant enough, but is pretty much the stock nice-guy - nothing sets him apart from a hundred other heroes. The heroine's aunt and younger sister are good secondary characters, and the older sister and her husband (from the first book) reappear here.

My main criticism of the book, however, is that there are far too many plot threads. The heroine's scandal is a paltry affair forgotten for most of the book and blithely swept away at the end. The heroine's aunt's children-saving efforts seem to take over everything else, including the romance.

But Kihlstrom's style, as always, is neat and clean and she makes an effort to avoid blatant anachronism. The book, overall, is well-paced and never dull. For those who like romances with strong adventure plots, this would be a good read.