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Hamelin Family #1
The Ideal Husband
He was her hero
Leah of Pecham has no choice but to return home from France to Cornwall in disgrace, to face her father's wrath and her brother's scorn. Fate takes an odd twist when a handsome, gallant stranger ensures she survives a shipwreck, and as result he suffers injuries so grievous that the doctors hold no hope of recovery for the man they assume is her husband. Unwilling to abandon Geoffrey, she arranges to take her unconscious 'husband' home to die, allowing the falsehood to stand in an attempt to help mend her tattered reputation. She prepares to live life as a respectable widow - until the day Geoffrey wakes.
She saved him from certain death
Geoffrey Hamelin remembers nothing before waking in a strange bed with a beautiful woman hovering over him - not the shipwreck that left him broken and battered, nor the woman who has tenderly nursed him. Not even his name. Confused, he isn't unhappy to learn that Leah is his wife, though he loathes having landed in a nest of smugglers. Geoffrey struggles to regain his strength and falls deeply in love with the woman he believes is his - until the day his less-than-reputable past catches up with him.
Leah of Pecham has no choice but to return home from France to Cornwall in disgrace, to face her father's wrath and her brother's scorn. Fate takes an odd twist when a handsome, gallant stranger ensures she survives a shipwreck, and as result he suffers injuries so grievous that the doctors hold no hope of recovery for the man they assume is her husband. Unwilling to abandon Geoffrey, she arranges to take her unconscious 'husband' home to die, allowing the falsehood to stand in an attempt to help mend her tattered reputation. She prepares to live life as a respectable widow - until the day Geoffrey wakes.
She saved him from certain death
Geoffrey Hamelin remembers nothing before waking in a strange bed with a beautiful woman hovering over him - not the shipwreck that left him broken and battered, nor the woman who has tenderly nursed him. Not even his name. Confused, he isn't unhappy to learn that Leah is his wife, though he loathes having landed in a nest of smugglers. Geoffrey struggles to regain his strength and falls deeply in love with the woman he believes is his - until the day his less-than-reputable past catches up with him.
365 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Shari Anton
18 books37 followersShari Anton's resume lists an impressive string of job titles, from personnel clerk to executive secretary. When she took a creative writing class and found she possessed some talent for writing fiction, she dared to dream of a career that allowed her to work at home, shun panty hose and take unlimited coffee breaks.
Determined to write what she loved to read - historical romance - she spent the next few years learning the craft of writing a novel and entering various writing contests, winning first place in several. Emboldened by her success, she submitted her work to agents and publishers.
Her persistence paid off in 1997. With subsequent publishing contracts signed, Shari left the work world behind. She now spends her days in her home office weaving romantic tales set in medieval England.
Shari and her husband live in Wisconsin, have two grown children, and do their best to spoil their grandsons. Every chance they get, they pack the saddlebags on their Harleys and hit the road. Traveling companions expect to find a visit to a Civil War battlefield, a medieval fair, or an historical society on the itinerary.
Shari is a member of Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA), Hearts Through History Romance Writers, Novelists, Inc., and The Authors Guild.
Determined to write what she loved to read - historical romance - she spent the next few years learning the craft of writing a novel and entering various writing contests, winning first place in several. Emboldened by her success, she submitted her work to agents and publishers.
Her persistence paid off in 1997. With subsequent publishing contracts signed, Shari left the work world behind. She now spends her days in her home office weaving romantic tales set in medieval England.
Shari and her husband live in Wisconsin, have two grown children, and do their best to spoil their grandsons. Every chance they get, they pack the saddlebags on their Harleys and hit the road. Traveling companions expect to find a visit to a Civil War battlefield, a medieval fair, or an historical society on the itinerary.
Shari is a member of Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (WisRWA), Hearts Through History Romance Writers, Novelists, Inc., and The Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 15, 2020
It's not a bad read. I liked the characters. Not a slow read but not that exciting.
April 26, 2011
This author came highly recommended.
I believe it is set during medieval times but I'm not familiar with this period ... the time frame is 1333.
Regardless, not being a stickler for historical accuracy, I've just rated this book based on my enjoyment level scale...and I really enjoyed it.
Lady Leah (h) meets Geoffrey (H) at the railing of their ship while he is trying desperately not to up-chuck all over himself in front of her. The Dover cliffs loom before them, but before they can dock the storm tossed ship meets it's end when it is torn to smithereens, leaving few to survive. Geoffrey heroically assures Leah is to be one of the survivors...at the cost of his own life.
Leah does survive, and the lying begins.
In spite of tragic situations, I had to laugh as Leah's lies finally got to the point that she was good and caught in their web...knowing all the while that her time would eventually come when she had to come clean - or - get so trapped she had to get found out. I was really looking forward to when that would happen. And I wasn't disappointed.
Although the story is set in the mid 1300's, the characters seemed to have a few modern day overtones. Did they use the word "Damn" back in the 1300's? I don't know, but it's use didn't spoil the story for me.
Geoffrey ends up in Dover where he is condemned to death by the physician tending the few survivors. Everyone assumes he is Leah's husband and she just lets them assume away. When the dock is to be cleared for new ships coming in, she is at a dilemma...leave this unconscious dying man who saved her life and who everyone thinks is her husband? or take him with her as she returns to her father's Keep with her tail between her legs after her dishonorable romp in France?
This turned into a really fun story in spite of tragic events and murderous schemes.
Now I want to read the next in this series.
Rating: 4.75
I believe it is set during medieval times but I'm not familiar with this period ... the time frame is 1333.
Regardless, not being a stickler for historical accuracy, I've just rated this book based on my enjoyment level scale...and I really enjoyed it.
Lady Leah (h) meets Geoffrey (H) at the railing of their ship while he is trying desperately not to up-chuck all over himself in front of her. The Dover cliffs loom before them, but before they can dock the storm tossed ship meets it's end when it is torn to smithereens, leaving few to survive. Geoffrey heroically assures Leah is to be one of the survivors...at the cost of his own life.
Leah does survive, and the lying begins.
In spite of tragic situations, I had to laugh as Leah's lies finally got to the point that she was good and caught in their web...knowing all the while that her time would eventually come when she had to come clean - or - get so trapped she had to get found out. I was really looking forward to when that would happen. And I wasn't disappointed.
Although the story is set in the mid 1300's, the characters seemed to have a few modern day overtones. Did they use the word "Damn" back in the 1300's? I don't know, but it's use didn't spoil the story for me.
Geoffrey ends up in Dover where he is condemned to death by the physician tending the few survivors. Everyone assumes he is Leah's husband and she just lets them assume away. When the dock is to be cleared for new ships coming in, she is at a dilemma...leave this unconscious dying man who saved her life and who everyone thinks is her husband? or take him with her as she returns to her father's Keep with her tail between her legs after her dishonorable romp in France?
This turned into a really fun story in spite of tragic events and murderous schemes.
Now I want to read the next in this series.
Rating: 4.75
August 27, 2018
In the beginning I wasn’t so sure, it was taking me a bit to get in to it but in the end it turned out being a decent read. I liked Geoffrey, his character, personality, disposition. He was like the perfect man, kind, humble, honorable not to mention tall and handsome...almost too perfect.
April 30, 2018
Cute take on a cliché
May 5, 2011
I could not believe Anton wrote this, stoopid!
August 11, 2016
This was interesting and fun to read besides the characters seem to react in the way that felt right.
March 16, 2013
rated this very good to excellent at the time I read it in Jan 2006
October 22, 2015
This boob of Shari Anton wasn't my favorite of her works. But good reading
July 28, 2021
Leído hace años (~2014). Creo recordar que estaba bien y que se pasaba incluso un poco mal cuando él se entera de que "ha sido engañado" por su supuesta mujer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews