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Romancing the Countess (Romancing #1)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 571 ratings · 115 reviews

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he'd married the perfect woman-until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend's widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their...more

Mass Market Paperback, 302 pages

Published September 6th 2011 by Signet Eclipse

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Sep 28, 2011 Juliana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, fiction-vixen-print-or-e-books, advance-reading-copy-or-galley, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, victorian-historical-romance, hr-hero-not-drop-dead-gorgeous-gasp, hr-heroine-early-to-mid-20s, 2011-aug-reads, 2011-reads, 4-to-5-stars, 0-still-need-to-review, hr-emotional-read, hr-have-a-past-together, hr-hero-aristocrat-lord-titled, hr-hero-arrogant-autocratic, hr-hero-has-children, hr-hero-head-of-family, hr-hero-nice-guys-dont-finish-last, hr-hero-nobility, hr-hero-rough-haunted-tortured, hr-hero-silent-quiet-type, hr-hero-stuffy-strict, hr-heroine-argumentative, hr-heroine-good-girl, hr-heroine-plain-jane, hr-heroine-shy-quiet-wallflower, hr-heroine-recluse-loner, hr-heroine-scandal, hr-hero-scandal, hr-heroine-spitfire-opinionated, hr-heroine-unusual-odd, hr-heroine-widow, hr-marriage-of-convenience, hr-opposites-enemies-attract, hr-some-type-of-cheating-adultery, hr-sizzling-chemistry, set-in-england, set-in-england-london, set-in-1840s, set-in-19th-century, best-romance-heroes-ever, best-romance-heroines-ever, challenge-2011-wllk-all-things-smmr, challenge-2011-2012-rrrc-romanc-101, challenge-2011-2012-nbrc-women-type, challenge-2011-nbrc-read-your-name, challenge-2011-nbrc-all-about-you, challenge-2011-2012-rlci-locations, hr-hero-widower, 4-half-stars, challenge-2011-bb-summer, went-a-little-status-update-crazy

4.5 stars | Grade: A
This book was an absolute treat to read – like drinking a delicious cup of hot chocolate on a rainy Saturday afternoon. There were no crazy mass murderers that apparently disproportionally populate 19th century fictional England, no gorgeous but evil ex-mistresses spreading confusion and mayhem, no massively intricate and slightly ridiculous revenge plots. Instead, Romancing the Countess gives us a quiet, emotional, and heated love story between two people who have both been...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Donna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

This heroine is willing to risk ruining three lives for the sake of hosting a dance party and wearing a pretty dress. The hero repeatedly compares her unfavorably to his late (adulterous) wife. How am I supposed to care about these jerks?

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Feb 28, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, marriage-of-convenience, plain-jane, regency, tortured-hero

First up, I have to say I did not like Ashley March’s

and was quite annoyed with myself for not paying better attention when I realized that

was by the same author. And in this case, I am glad I did not pay attention because I loved

.

It describes a young woman, trying to escape the restrictions placed upon women during the “good old” days. Unfortunately, with predictable results. The heroine had made an unfortunate (for her) decision in her first marriage and continued to suffer from the fal...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Laurie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-donations-jan-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a really hard book for me to rate. At first I was leaning towards 4 stars because it was well written and held my attention throughout, but there were enough things that bothered me about it that I felt I had to give it only 3 stars. Primarily, I had a hard time understanding why Leah acted the way she did at times. For example, she admitted to being lonely even before Ian's death, which was supposedly her motivation for throwing the scandalous house party only four months after the car...more This was a really hard book for me to rate. At first I was leaning towards 4 stars because it was well written and held my attention throughout, but there were enough things that bothered me about it that I felt I had to give it only 3 stars. Primarily, I had a hard time understanding why Leah acted the way she did at times. For example, she admitted to being lonely even before Ian's death, which was supposedly her motivation for throwing the scandalous house party only four months after the carriage accident. If that were the case, then why would she hatch her plan to wear a scandalous gown and dance on the final night of the house party? Sure, it was a way for Leah to assert her freedom from both a miserable marriage and the restrictive rules of the ton, but it was also guaranteed to get her exiled from society, thus exacerbating her loneliness. It's not like she had all that many friends (or even family members) who would stick by her in spite of the scandal. It almost seems as if Leah wanted everyone to find out about Ian and Angela's affair, which makes no sense. Aside from her agreement with Sebastian to keep the affair a secret for Henry's sake, it seems like she would want to keep it a secret to save herself from further humiliation. There are probably a lot of people who, like Sebastian, would have assumed that Ian cheated because Leah wasn't able to satisfy his desires.

Aside from all of that, if Leah truly wanted to be independent, it seems like she had the perfect situation after Ian died given that her father-in-law had granted her the use of both Linley Park and the London townhouse. After she "served her sentence" (completed the expected period of mourning), she could have returned to society and done just about whatever she pleased as an independent widow, as long as she was discreet. It would have been a vast improvement over having to return to her parents' house and choose between marrying the village butcher or having to make her own way as a companion to a socially inferior widow. Neither of those options would have offered Leah much in the way of freedom or independence!

Speaking of Leah's options after returning to her parents' house, I found it incredibly hard to believe that Leah's social climbing mother would have chosen a butcher to be Leah's second husband. The vicar I can kind of understand, but it seems to me that having a butcher in the family would have been an even bigger source of embarrassment than Leah's scandal.

The other thing that really bothered me about this book was the development of the relationship between Leah and Sebastian. There was nothing about either of their behavior that screamed "true love" to me. There was certainly an attraction there, at least on Sebastian's side, but it was really hard to see his love for Leah grow. While I truly want to believe in their HEA, I can't help but feel that Leah might have been right in fearing that Sebastian wanted to be with her mainly to get back at Ian and Angela for their betrayal. What was it about Leah that made Sebastian fall in love with her? He obviously didn't find her as attractive as Angela - he made that clear early on. I would have liked to see their feelings for each other articulated a bit better so that I could believe in their HEA without reservations.

Overall, this wasn't a terrible book, but neither was it a keeper. The concept was certainly unique for a historical romance (at least in my experience), and despite my problems with some of their decisions and motivations, I truly liked Sebastian and Leah and found myself rooting for them to be happy.(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: electronic-library-loan

I don't know what it is about the name Sebastian. I'm thinking Ryan Phillipe made it sexy in Cruel Intentions, but whatever the reason, name the H Sebastian, and he's immediately dark, brooding, and sexy as hell for me. It doesn't matter how the author describes him.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. While the lady who has been ostracized by the ton is referred to often in romance novels, rarely do we get to read her entire story. (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Tina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical, 2011-reads

The set up and first third of this story is actually great, filled with all kinds of angsty potential.

Ian Gregory and Angela, Lady Wriothstley were having a torrid affair for more than a year. Finally they got the nerve to run away together only to be killed in a carriage accident during the getaway.

Their left behind spouses deal with the death and the affair in different ways. Leah George, the widow of Ian, has known about the affair for a whole year having walked in on them during a...moment....more The set up and first third of this story is actually great, filled with all kinds of angsty potential.

Ian Gregory and Angela, Lady Wriothstley were having a torrid affair for more than a year. Finally they got the nerve to run away together only to be killed in a carriage accident during the getaway.

Their left behind spouses deal with the death and the affair in different ways. Leah George, the widow of Ian, has known about the affair for a whole year having walked in on them during a...moment. She isn't at all sad her husband is dead.

But Sebastian, the Earl of Wriothesly is devastated. He'd been madly in love with his wife and Ian had been his best friend. Now all those times in the past year when his wife was "too sick" to be with him take on a new meaning.

So, yeah, this is a great set up. Unfortunately as I read on I wasn't completely engaged in the aftermath of events. And sometimes I scratched my head at some of the actions of the characters, especially Leah.

I dunno, I wanted Leah and especially Sebastian to somehow come to terms with what their spouses did. I don't feel that happened very well. Leah felt so suppressed and imprisoned during her sham of a marriage as a result of the affair, that she acts out after her husband's death. Just a mere few months later she gives a house-party, scandalizes people and ruins her reputation. Why? How is this supposed to restore her self esteem or heal herself? What power does she gain in that time and place? It just felt like a bone-headed decision that killed about 2/3 of the book and the possibility of a great emotional read.

I also did not get why Sebastian fell in love with Leah. He was so in love with his wife. I mean, he was schmoopy in love! He does some grieving over the death and the affair, but not enough, imo, for a man who was that in love. Too much of what went on was from Leah's pov. I would have loved to follow Sebastian's journey from rage to acceptance of the affair. As it was, it happened off-screen and rather quickly.

Sadly, the most fascinating thing about this book wasn't the H/h but rather the two dead people. Each chapter opened with a snippet of one of Angela's love letters to Ian (Leah finds them after Ian's death). It is clear that Angela wasn't just having an affair, she was in love. Really in love.

Ian was a bit more enigmatic. There are no letters from him. And, disturbingly, even after Leah discovers the Angela and Ian together, Ian continues his conjugal relations with her.

But I was intensely fascinated by the adulterers. What made them fall in love so much so to cheat on the spouses who by all accounts loved them so? How did Ian feel about Angela? Obviously he loved her enough to run away with her. But I wanted to know why? What did Angela say or feel when Leah came upon them?

See? This it is not a good sign when I want to know more about the dead pair than the live pair.

The book had potential but did not live up to it, imo. (less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

ROMANCING THE COUNTESS by Ashley March
09/11 - Penguin Group - Paperback, 320 pages

What is the true cost of obtaining my freedom?

When you have suffered through the infidelity of your husband like Leah George has, his death comes as a relief not a burden. For Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly the news that his wife has died is not a celebration but a terrible loss until he discovers that she was running away with Leah’s husband. This scandal could ruin everything for his son and his only...more ROMANCING THE COUNTESS by Ashley March
09/11 - Penguin Group - Paperback, 320 pages

What is the true cost of obtaining my freedom?

When you have suffered through the infidelity of your husband like Leah George has, his death comes as a relief not a burden. For Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly the news that his wife has died is not a celebration but a terrible loss until he discovers that she was running away with Leah’s husband. This scandal could ruin everything for his son and his only salvation from disgrace is Leah.

This situation forces Sebastian to keep a very close eye on Leah to make sure that the rumors do not become facts about their respective spouses. Sebastian must do whatever he has to in order to protect his young son Henry from gossip and damage to his reputation. The careless act of his mother may ruin the future for this child and Sebastian will not let that happen, whatever the cost. Sebastian does not trust Leah to control herself so he appoints himself her keeper, this however interferes with the plans Leah has made to spread her wings.

Leah has agreed to protect Sebastian’s son, but at the same time, she wants to experience some independence. The balance between respectable widow and carefree woman is a fine line that Leah is prepared to walk and perhaps move it a little to suit her needs. Before the rules of mourning are met Leah hosts a house party, explores a tender kiss in the garden, and wears a scandalous dress all knowing the consequences for her actions. Leah will finally have people see that she is something more than ordinary and the one person that is taking notice is Sebastian. She is not his late wife she is something much more and his attraction to her has nothing to do with grief and everything to do with desire.

The course of action Leah has taken leads her straight into a situation she never expected to have or enjoy. Will Sebastian turn out to be her keeper or her freedom?

This is an unconventional love story so well written and completely believable that you are drawn into the characters’ lives from page one. Ms. March has shown how wonderful she is at telling an improbably story and intertwining lives with exceptional strokes of the pen making the story fascinating and believable.(less)

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Oct 03, 2011 Book Binge Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Leah George should be wracked with grief over the loss of her husband but she feels nothing but relief. She’s known that he was having an affair with his best friend’s wife and the knowledge ate at her every day that he was alive. Leah wants nothing more than to move on with her life – she’s only 20 years old after all – but there are many things and people standing in her way. First there’s society. They expect her to be in widow weeds for a year and she hates that! Then there is her dead husba...more Leah George should be wracked with grief over the loss of her husband but she feels nothing but relief. She’s known that he was having an affair with his best friend’s wife and the knowledge ate at her every day that he was alive. Leah wants nothing more than to move on with her life – she’s only 20 years old after all – but there are many things and people standing in her way. First there’s society. They expect her to be in widow weeds for a year and she hates that! Then there is her dead husband’s best friend, Sebastian, the Earl of Wriothesly. He wants Leah to say that her husband was just accompanying Sebastian’s wife, Angela, and to quell any rumors of the affair that might appear. She agrees but only because he’s doing it because of his son, Henry. He wants absolutely no speculation that Henry might not be his son.

Leah decides that she needs to break out of the mold a bit and throws a house party just 4 months after Ian’s death. She says to the attendees that the party is to honor Ian and to have them all do the things that he loved to do – but they’re really just things that Leah herself wants to do. Since she only invited those who didn’t know Ian well they have no clue. Sebastian shows up at the house party to berate Leah for her callousness and to try to stop her but he doesn’t succeed. What does happen is that Sebastian finds himself becoming attracted to this woman who was once just an extension of Ian with no personality of her own – but he’s found that’s not who she is at all.

Sebastian himself has been tortured with the knowledge that the wife that he loved and could hardly be away from not only was having an affair but with his best friend. If that wasn’t bad enough Leah says that she has letters that Angela wrote to Ian that state her love for him. Sebastian wants to wallow in his grief but instead he decides to live. He starts spending more time with his son which is a wonderful thing. But then he needs to keep Leah in check – especially when she goes a bit crazy at her house party and people start spreading rumors about not only Leah and Sebastian but also Angela and Ian. In order to stop the rumors Sebastian proposes a marriage to Leah. He states that it is in name only and they won’t consummate the marriage until she’s ready – if she ever is. He tells her it’s because of the rumors and the need for a mother for Henry but he’s really fallen in love with her and wants her near. Leah, though she agrees has issues that stemmed from her marriage with Ian and they are holding her back from truly giving the marriage her all.

This was a very good story that had my attention from start to finish. The tension throughout the book was palpable. From the carriage accident to the house party to the marriage between Sebastian and Leah I could feel whatever the characters were feeling whether it was anxiety, sadness or love.

I have to admit to being confused about Leah for a long time during the book. I understood some of her motivations but for a long while in the story we weren’t given all of the information. The minute everything was brought to light my feelings for her character changed and she became much more likeable. I felt bad for her with regard to her relationship with Ian but was so happy to see her have the possibility with Sebastian who truly loved her.

Sebastian seemed a little obsessed with Angela when I first started the book and I wasn’t sure if I liked him very much. I guess after reading that in the letters she wrote to Ian that she couldn’t stand to be touched by Sebastian any longer I thought maybe Sebastian was a bit dense and blind because how could he not see that? I assume in this case he loved her, never thought badly of her and chose not to notice how she was pulling away from him. I felt as horrible for him as I did Leah after a bit and was quite happy with him when he chose to start living again.

The romance between Leah and Sebastian was not always easy but it was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. The ending was quite satisfying with a conclusion that made me smile. I can say that if you like historical romance you will like this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This review was originally posted by Tracy on Book Binge.(less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this book for Night Owl Reviews:

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March is a delightful and lively historical romance set mostly in the English countryside during the Victorian Era. I found Ms. March’s writing style easy and quite enjoyable to read, I found myself reluctant for the story to end. Both the primary and secondary characters are well developed with glimpses into even the deceased characters through letters discovered after their deaths.

The story begins in April of 1849 an...more I reviewed this book for Night Owl Reviews:

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March is a delightful and lively historical romance set mostly in the English countryside during the Victorian Era. I found Ms. March’s writing style easy and quite enjoyable to read, I found myself reluctant for the story to end. Both the primary and secondary characters are well developed with glimpses into even the deceased characters through letters discovered after their deaths.

The story begins in April of 1849 and ends exactly one year later. Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, is deeply in love with his wife Angela. When she insists on departing from their London home early and traveling to their country estate alone, he reluctantly agrees to let her travel ahead. When news of a tragic accident arrives, he’s shocked to discover his wife wasn’t alone. She’d been traveling with his best friend, Ian George, who was apparently her lover. With both of them dead, Sebastian is determined to shield his young son, Henry, from scandal by concealing their affair. He hadn’t planned on Leah George’s sudden sense of freedom or on her bold plans to move ahead with her life.

Married to Ian George for four months, Leah received a nasty surprise when she arrived home early one night. Discovering her husband’s affair with his best friend’s wife has left Leah disillusioned about love and about her worth as a woman. When she’s given the news of his death, her tears are tears of relief –she’s not sorry he’s gone. Determined to enjoy her new freedom, she feels stifled by society’s expectation that she wear black and mourn his death for a year. She wasn’t expecting on having to deal with Sebastian, Lord Wriothesly and his desire to keep their spouse’s affair a secret. While she reluctantly agrees to keep silent to spare Sebastian’s child, she secretly looks for ways to assert her independence and decides to break with tradition.

The scenes between Sebastian and Leah are full of tension, great chemistry and razor sharp dialogue. Sebastian is surprised by how assertive Leah has suddenly become – she’s no longer the quiet woman he’s known for the last year. Leah dislikes Sebastian’s determination to hide the truth. I liked how Ms. March provided insight into what both Sebastian and Leah were thinking and feeling throughout their scenes. I also liked the letters, which Leah discovered in her husband’s drawers and written from Angela Madinger’s viewpoint, which provided us glimpses into the events of the past year and their spouse’s affair. When Leah throws a house party only 4 months into her mourning period – all bets are off as the simmering attraction between Sebastian and Leah heats up. As the party continues, the situation escalates and when Leah insists on dancing at the party - the gossip really hits the fan.

The secondary characters are well developed; we even get a sense of what Angela and Ian thought and were like from Leah and Sebastian’s memories. I especially liked Abigail and Beatrice Hartwell, Leah’s mother and sister, who provided some additional tension and some reluctant support. Sebastian’s son Henry was really precocious. Even the antagonists in the story, Lord and Lady Renell, Ian’s parents, weren’t completely heartless though British society at the time still left a lot to be desired. It’s always difficult to make allowances for the fact that women in the past had little or no rights to their husband’s property, whether he was living or dead – we’ve definitely come a long way baby.

The end of the story is very well done, both Sebastian and Leah are forced to face their fears and join forces to protect little Henry in more ways than one. When Sebastian is willing to lay his love on the line, will Leah be willing to take a second chance on love? You’ll have to read “Romancing the Countess” to find out. If you like historical romance, Ms. March is definitely an author to watch – she’s definitely made my auto-buy list.
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Jan 14, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

This was a very enjoyable Victorian Era Historical Romance by a newer author on the scene. The book is not written to be a historical piece so much as a romance which needs to be taken into consideration if you prefer a heavier dose of history in your reading.

The story is set in motion when a married man and woman are killed in a carriage accident. The trouble is that the man and woman are not married to each other, but have been meeting in a clandestine manner. Thus begins the tale of how the s...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow... That's all I can say after reading this book. I was blown away by the fantastic character driven plot and development. While the premise of the book starts with the focus on two people who's lives have been so dramatically changed in different ways by their spouses' betrayals and then deaths, it develops into a heart warming romance about these same people falling in love. I love how both Leah and Sebastian change at different speeds and yet their insecurities and issues are not glossed o...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this on my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

The above blurb does a wonderful job in teasing the brain and getting my `reader juices' bubbling with a question about how do you get two people with so much baggage to accept the wrong done to them, grieve for the loss and fall in love within 302 pages?!

And the answer is to trust this young, new and upcoming author, Ashley March, who seems to know her characters and trust them to guide her hand in penning their story.

Leah Georg...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Regina rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was different from the usual round of historical romances. This one explored the emotional fallout of a couple's love affair that turned tragic and how it affected their surviving spouses, Leah and Sebastian. Their stark agony was deeply moving, especially Leah's anguish upon discovering the affair shortly after, and throughout the remainder of the marriage. Bravo to a the woman who was desperate to take charge of her life and feel alive again by flaunting society's strictures of widowhood....more

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Feb 23, 2012 Eli Yanti rated it 5 of 5 stars

Betrayed by someone who you think you love and love you, Leah George has known that she has been betrayed by her husband for a whole year, but because of doctrine of a noble, she had to keep it even from her family until one accident that caused her husband and her secret lover died, she think finally she could feel free especially from the pain of being betrayed but this is not happen to Sebastian who has not only be betrayed by the women he loved - his wife but by his best friend (Leah’s husba...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Laylah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is a work of contradiction. It begins with so many promises. Protoganists both betrayed in the worst way by their own spouses. A tale of a woman who has been suppressed her whole life and finally finds the strength to stand up and fight for her independence. Who could resist such an inspirational story?

Obviously, I for one can't stand it.

With a lot of potentials mentioned, the execution's somehow gone very wrong -- to turn a very sympathetic, rootable character into a stubborn dimwit...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Miki rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review was first published on my blog Lecture Toute une Aventure

did want this book a lot, I followed all stop of the tour, tried every contest and finally I bought it. Why? Because from the excerpt and interview I got the feeling the author really did made research and wanted to stay true to the society of that time. I can tell you that I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The whole world and society is really well portrayed, the tone of the story is perfect; the characters are well thought, thei...more This review was first published on my blog Lecture Toute une Aventure

did want this book a lot, I followed all stop of the tour, tried every contest and finally I bought it. Why? Because from the excerpt and interview I got the feeling the author really did made research and wanted to stay true to the society of that time. I can tell you that I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The whole world and society is really well portrayed, the tone of the story is perfect; the characters are well thought, their personality in accordance with their past and upbringing. The plot is also original and feels quite just.

Leah is young and has been hurt by her husband’s infidelity that she had to keep secret for one year…pretend everything was fine, that she was happy and such while all she waited was freedom from all these obligations. Her mother really strict dictated all her life, decided her marriage and now she still think that she somehow failed so when her husband died in an accident she is determined to change things even if it(‘s risky for a woman to be unconventional.

Sebastian is a man really in love with his wife so when she died in an accident he is devastated but the worse is only coming when he learns that she wasn’t alone but with his best friend with who she had a liaison. All is world is crashing down, his perfect wife wasn’t perfect at all, his love, his life a lie and he is hurt by that and by the fact he never suspected anything. Now he wants to protect her reputation because if her liaison his known their child Henri will suffer, people could say he wasn’t legitimate. He didn’t think he could start loving again even less someone like Leah but soon he is captivated and fight his attraction by irritating her until he must act but once again it will be under the cover of some other reasons than his true feeling.

I enjoyed this book but perhaps it’s because of the time it takes place it’s not my favourite perhaps because I need something else but for me it was a bit slow, perfectly normal for the story and the characters but I guess I’m needing something more at the moment. I was frustrated by the rules she had to observe; by the fact that appearances were everything and her lack of freedom even as a widow she must refer to someone else. It seemed so unfair and I pity these women, they were definitively more courageous than I . Now I was also frustrated by their relationship one step forward, then two backward… like I said it’s understandable but for me , for once, I would have loved if things weren’t so hesitant.

I didn’t like the illicit couple but I learned to know them thank to the excerpt of their correspondence and I understand they were also caught by the time and society but still they her Leah and Sebastian by acting like that and I resent them for that.
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Sep 07, 2011 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, z-2011, historical-romance

3.5 stars probably, but rounding up because it made me cry several times.

Absolutely fantastic heroine, who after 1 year of horror in her marriage, and 4 months of mourning her cheating dead husband, decides that it's to chase down her own happiness and independence, no matter society or convention.

What's so amazing is that she actually goes through with her plans (though in a strangely unselfish way - she keeps scandal at bay as long as possible for the sake of her in-laws). And when the consequ...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Melanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: marriage, tower-team-d

I really thought I would like this book. The story was promising but the execution not so much. I didn't feel much for the characters. The lead Sebastian one minute he is madly in love with his wife, later he finds out she had been cheating on him with his best friend. Then you have the best freinds wife Leah who has been living with the knowledge of her husband's affair for almost a year. When there respective spouses die they are left to pick up the pieces with Leah deciding she had enough of...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Stella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, for-review, historical, romance

My first thought when I read the blurb of Romancing the Countess was that Ashley March was a very brave author. To build a romance story around widowed and cheated spouses finding their happiness with each other had so many dangers that I was very much curious to see whether she would succeed in pulling it off and how she would do that. I can tell you that she did and Romancing the Countess is a highly unusual love story.

Leah has been married to Sebastian's best friend Ian for years, but has bee...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Alex rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

At First Sight: Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly thought he had the perfect marriage to the perfect lady... until his beloved wife was found dead next to his best friend.

Leah George had known about the affair between her husband and Lady Wriothersly for almost a year before they were killed in a carriage accident. She had married in love and believed her husband loved her, but finding out about the affair was the death of her marriage when they were still basically newlyweds.

Leah hate...more At First Sight: Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly thought he had the perfect marriage to the perfect lady... until his beloved wife was found dead next to his best friend.

Leah George had known about the affair between her husband and Lady Wriothersly for almost a year before they were killed in a carriage accident. She had married in love and believed her husband loved her, but finding out about the affair was the death of her marriage when they were still basically newlyweds.

Leah hated living with the secret and she slowly withdrew from society, her friends and even her family. And upon her husband's death, she decided she was going to live her life anyway she saw fit.

So Leah decides to throw a house party, even though she's only a few months into her mourning period and this would be a huge no-no. Sebastian is none too pleased with this, as he's determined to keep the affair secret so his son's legitimacy is not called into question, so he takes it upon himself to make sure Leah behaves as is proper and in doing so he finally gets to know her as a woman rather than just as Mrs. George, his best friend's wife.

Second Glance: I was actually quite excited to read Romancing the Countess but it turned out to be a different book than I expected. There were parts that I did like, however. like seeing Sebastian and Leah get to know each other better - as before they only knew each other according to their relationship to the late Mr. George and they sort of assume things about each other than later turn out to be untrue.

But the rest of it was only so-so. I could understand Leah's loneliness and how much she resented her husband but her actions were mostly self-destructive to the point that it made her seem silly. The only parts I liked where when she stood up to her mom because her mom was rather awful.

Sebastian was a bit stuck up and I didn't like him as much. More than than, though, I just never felt the chemistry between them.

Bottom Line: Maybe I was expecting a lot from this book, but in any case, Romancing the Countess fell a little flat for me. The writing is pretty good though so I might check this author again in the future. (less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Ineta rated it 5 of 5 stars

I got the book yesterday in the mail, and uncorrected proof and i loved it and would definately recommend the book, i think i loved the down to earth bluntness the most and i think the characters are well developed from the very first chapter you get insight of the state that leah's in. also for the first time ever i was on the guy side... he felt things very strongly, and was passionate. Leah was gaurded and selfish (in a good way), and independent.... this is all i can say without spoiling the...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Ewa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hero-nice-guy, marriage-of-convenience, sexy-sexy-times, so-much-angst, victorian

The blurb for this book is a bit misleading. Never mind, the essentials are correct.
Leah wants to shock society by throwing a party after mere 4 months since her husband's death. Her husband was a total dirtbag who cheated on her with his best friend's wife so he obviously doesn't deserve to be held in loving memory. Nevertheless I wondered if heroine was aware of consequences to her actions, that she would be cast out by the ton. I actually liked the idea of a woman defying rules of high socie...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Angelc rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-own-read, 5-stars

I'm so glad I read this book because it really reminded me of why I love historical romances so much. This is really a standout book with a very unique story and lovable characters.

We get a glimpse of how honorable Sebastian is at the beginning. In fact he was so hopelessly in love with his first wife that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to believe his love story with Leah. But I was very wrong. His first wife's betrayal definitely makes his falling in love again more believable, but its no...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Book Review Diva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalromance

“Romancing the Countess ” by Ashley March

Leah George has been keeping the affair her husband had with his best friend's wife a secret for over a year now. Leah has struggled to put a smile on her face in public and act like nothing has happened. She thought that was all behind her, until the day Leah learns that her husband has been killed in tragic carriage accident along with his mistress by his side. When Leah hears of the news she does not shed a tear she actually feels free from her husban...more “Romancing the Countess ” by Ashley March

Leah George has been keeping the affair her husband had with his best friend's wife a secret for over a year now. Leah has struggled to put a smile on her face in public and act like nothing has happened. She thought that was all behind her, until the day Leah learns that her husband has been killed in tragic carriage accident along with his mistress by his side. When Leah hears of the news she does not shed a tear she actually feels free from her husband and that she can move on with life. Leah already did her mourning over her husband a year ago when she gave up on her marriage after catching her husband and mistress together in bed. What Leah must do now, is try and put on a show for everyone societies upper class making it appear that she really and truly devastated over her husbands death. She must become the sad widow.

While being in mourning for over four months, Leah becomes lonely with not seeing anyone or being able to go to dances. She decides that she wants to throw a house party in memory her husband's name. She can finally have some comforting company around for once and she can be with some of her friends. Leah invites some of her husbands close friends to her party, so she can show everyone that she is still struggling with her husbands death. While hosting her house party, Leah has no idea that Sebastian Madinger, the husband of Ian's mistress, has shown up after overhearing at a local pub that she is hosting a house party. How is Leah going to handle having Sebastian in her home and avoid causing a scandal with hosting this party when she is suppose to be mourning her late husband? This is the very last thing Leah wants right now, she has had enough stress with trying to deal with her husbands affair. Leah also does want anyone to know about the affair her husband had with Sebastian's wife, this could rune her reputation.

Sebastian Madinger thought he had the perfect wife and loving marriage. He also thought he had a best friend and that he could trust his best friend no matter what happened. Sebastian could have never guessed that his best friend, and his beloved wife, were together and killed in a tragic carriage accident together. Sebastian also finds out that they were both lovers and that he had no idea of this affair. Sebastian is not sure if he should be upset or angry at his wife and his best friend for betraying his trust. Sebastian also now must confront his best friend's widow and find out if she knew about the affair and if she did, he must tell her never to breath a word to anyone of the affair for his son's sake, as this could cause the biggest scandal ever with the upper society. While out at a local pup Sebastian over hears that Leah, his best friends widow, is hosting a house party in memory of Ian. Sebastian quickly attends the party to keep to keep an eye on Leah so she does not speak of the affair.

Leah George and Sebastian Madinger are both suffering from broken hearts, but each are dealing with it differently. They both will come together after learning of the affair that their spouses had on them? Scandalous passions will fly in this fiery romance by Ashley March. I read Ashley's first book and just loved it, this book is just as good. I was hooked from page one, and was drawn further into the book all the way to the end. This book not to be missed.

5 Hearts Out Of 5

Reviewed by Victoria Heart-HistoricalRomanceBooks.ca

Visit my Website at http://www.historicalromancebooks.ca (less)

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Oct 05, 2011 willaful rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of character driven romance

Shelves: angsty-goodness, fresh-scent-of-pining-hero, good-boy-bad-girl, forced-arranged-or-conv-marriage, free-to-be-a-family, hero-makes-me-swoon, sexy-beta, bye

4.5 stars. For Sebastian, Lord Wriothesly, the death of his wife and of his best friend -- together -- is a source of agonizing grief, rage, and fears for his young son’s future. But for Leah George, whose heart has long since been broken, the death of her husband is mostly a relief -- she’ll no longer have to play the good wife to the man who betrayed her with Lady Wriothesly. For the first time in her life, she feels able to be herself.

Proper Victorian mourning is almost as confining as marria...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story of those left behind after their cheating spouses died in a carriage accident while running away together, was not the usual romance novel setting, but it was very satisfying. Leah George had discovered the affair of her husband and his best friend’s wife when she walked in on them, but still suffered her husband’s visits to her bed for nearly a year in an effort to have a child and heir. Sebastian Madinger, Earl of Wriothesly was completely unaware of his beloved wife’s infidelity an...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Rie_dominique rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-novel, ada-di-rak-gw, favorites, fiksi, historical-romance

cerita dimulai dengan kematian Ian dan Angela, sahabat dan istri Sebastian, Earl of Wriothesly. sang Earl sangat terpukul karena sepengetahuannya istrinya hendak berangkat ke rumah mereka di pedesaan. Karena kecelakaan itu ia mengetahui bahwa istri dan sahabatnya tersebut berselingkuh dan bermaksud untuk melarikan diri berdua.

dalam kedukaan dan kemarahannya, Sebastian menemui Leah, istri Ian dan sangat terkejut karena ternyata Leah sudah mengetahui perselingkuhan tersebut. Leah juga menemukan su...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance, review-on-blog

*4.5 of 5 Stars*

I am very happy to share that I have found a new Historical Romance author to love. Romancing the Countess is a book that pulled me in and I got lost in the story of two people who overcome loss and loneliness in very different ways.

Life changes drastically for Sebastian and Leah on one fateful night, their spouses are killed in a carriage accident together. Leah's husband and Sebastian's wife had been having an affair, and their relationship was a shock to Sebastian, and almost...more *4.5 of 5 Stars*

I am very happy to share that I have found a new Historical Romance author to love. Romancing the Countess is a book that pulled me in and I got lost in the story of two people who overcome loss and loneliness in very different ways.

Life changes drastically for Sebastian and Leah on one fateful night, their spouses are killed in a carriage accident together. Leah's husband and Sebastian's wife had been having an affair, and their relationship was a shock to Sebastian, and almost a relief to Leah. Leah had known about the affair for awhile, and she had tried to keep up the appearance that she had been happy in her marriage, even though she had been devastated. Sebastian was shocked by the affair, and he was determined to keep the affair secret. Sebastian is determined to keep Leah from revealing the affair, but Leah had enough grief and longs to live and to be happy, even if that means defying society's expectations. Sebastian comes to realize that to protect the secret, he will have to keep Leah very close.

I love Leah as the heroine in Romancing the Countess. She is a woman who has had her heart trampled by her cheating husband, and she has had to keep that secret for so long. When her husband dies, she still feels grief and loneliness, but she is ready to move on and live again and have fun. However, society expects her to be in grief and act the part of sorrowful widow. Her sense of propriety wars with her desire to not be lonely anymore, and she begins to act out, to live. Sebasian was completely devastated by both his wife's death and by her betrayal. As he goes through different stages of grief and denial, the one thing he knows he must do is keep the affair secret, but Leah's actions do not make it easy. As Sebastian tries harder to keep Leah under control, the more he starts thinking about her. Soon, Leah is the number one woman on his mind.

Sebastian and Leah's relationship slowly builds, and theirs is a story of finding love after hurt, betrayal, and loneliness. Their story is emotional, and written in a way that is realistic, and I believed it. It is easy to identify with Leah, she is tired of mourning, tired of being lonely, and tired of playing her part. She wants to be real, and she challenges the rules of society in her desire to live again. Sebastian evolves from angry and grief-stricken into a tender, romantic man who if afraid to love again. Reading their story, and how their emotions and lives evolve was very satisfying, and the book proved to be wonderful.

Overall, I really liked Romancing the Countess, the book is well-written, the story is tender and highly engaging. Historical Romance readers, I urge you to read Romancing the Countess and give a relatively new author a chance.(less)

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Nov 03, 2011 Kelly_Instalove rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-romance

I originally gave this three stars, but only a day or two after finishing it I had to go back and skim through to recall enough to write a review - so, downgrading to two stars.

I was expecting a lot more from this. The blurb promised Scandal! and Passion! but what I got was Angst! and Internal Monologuing!

While the writing was really good - the author has a great "voice" and the angst was actually very affecting - the whole premise was pretty predictable. The scandal wasn't very scandalous, the...more

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Mar 17, 2013 D.G. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I've read plenty of books where the hero has been betrayed by his wife, but in all the cases (except this one), we met the hero years later after the betrayal (when he's already distrusting and cynical.) In Romancing the Countess, we see the hero deals with the fallout after he learns that his beloved wife and friend were lovers.

Although this treatment was novel (this is the first time I've read about it in romance), the book felt flat for me because it was more focused on the heroine. Don't get...more

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About Ashley March

Ashley March has never forgiven Margaret Mitchell for making her fall in love with Scarlett and Rhett in Gone with the Wind and then not giving them a happy ending. She likes to think that she makes up for the injustice done to them with each romance novel she writes. When she isn't telling stories about sexy, headstrong heroes and intelligent, independent heroines, Ashley stays busy chasing after...more

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Quotes from Romancing the Countess

“Oh? And what was I to say? I beg your pardon, Lord Wriothesly, but your wife seems to have acquired a distinct liking for my husband's cock. Would you mind kindly retrieving her to your own bed?” — 11 people liked it

“Leah tilted her chin and smiled. “I thought we disliked each other.”

“Oh, we do,” he said, taking another sip. “I detest you quite thoroughly. Especially when you smile.”

Her lips flattened. “Do you?”

He gestured toward her with the drink, the liquid sloshing out the side to drip over his thigh. Leah’s gaze followed the brandy’s path where it darkened on his trousers, then jerked upward again as he spoke. “You’re too bloody happy. It’s very offensive.” — 4 people liked it

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