The Scandalous Widow

by Evelyn Richardson

Beautiful young widow Lady Catherine longs to live her new life free from spiteful in-laws. So she opens a school for girls. But when the dashing Marquess of Charlmont considers enrolling his niece, Catherine fears more for her heart than for her independence.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Clean Romance

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 6, 2004

About the author

Even before studying eighteenth-century literature in graduate school, Evelyn Richardson decided she would prefer to have lived between 1775 and 1830. Now living in Boston, she enjoys access to the primary sources that allow her to explore the specific details of the period and immerse herself in the same journals that her heroines enjoyed.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lady Catherine has scandalized her relatives by insisting on doing something, rather than sitting prettily and enjoying her widowhood. In fact, she has opened a school and is teaching young ladies to think for themselves.

The Marquess of Charlmont has agreed to investigate this school at the request of his latest flirt. It turns out that they are acquainted.

Rather unbelievable romance ensues, dastardly relations try to interfere, but true love conquers all.

Not a favorite, as the heroine is not very believable and both main characters are too modern in their outlooks and relationship. I'm put off when writers of historical fiction try to make their characters behave in a way that is acceptable by today's standards. I can't really recommend this one.

[Cassandra Ulrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about a love that was thought to be lost. I’m interested in checking out other books by this author.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rake Lucian and proud bluestocking Cath click. He flees with an actress, gets secrets that are later surprises. She weds another, who dies; heir is a villain. She founds an academy in Bath, too stubborn to ask Luce's help.
Typo:Bi1.233 you uncle IS your uncle; Bi2.173 thinking IS all the thinking

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Catherine Granville is a young widow who has been ruthlessly shoved aside by the greedy new Lord Granville and his social climbing wife. Though Catherine has been left with enough money to live comfortably, she can't rest unless she's doing good works. Her latest and most ambitious project is an academy for young ladies to learn how to be more than "decorative objects for the marriage mart." Unfortunately for Catherine, the new Lord and Lady Granville are furious about having their name connected with trade and will do anything to shut down Catherine's school. Lady Granville turns to her lover, the rakish Marquess of Charlmont to order Catherine to cease and desist. Flattered into agreeing to try, Lord Charlmont decides to investigate Catherine's school for his headstrong niece. When Lord Charlmont and Lady Catherine Granville meet, they discover that they had once been friends, ten years ago during Catherine's first season, but their friendship was ended when Charlmont ran off. Charlmont would like to renew his friendship with Catherine, whom he greatly admires, but she resents the intrusion of a man into her well-ordered life. Charlmont doesn't give up easily and there may come a time when Catherine needs his assistance to fight against the injustices of the world and her heart may not be up to the task. Catherine is an incredibly admirable character because she is so fiercely independent and unwilling to rely on anyone for help. She is true to her beliefs, even in the end. Charlmont, rake that he seems to be, is deeper than he appears and as his story unfolded, I grew to respect him as well. Though the characters think and act very modern, there was a growing reform movement at the time and certainly there were educated, strong-minded women and followers of Mary Wollstonecraft, so I am willing to believe it. It's a romance novel and not a serious work. I enjoyed this novel and if you like well-developed characters and plots with meaning, you will too.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Reasonably well written and enjoyable. However, there was limited interaction between the main characters, making the ending a little too pat. The book would need to be about 25% longer to accomodate enough binding story elements to make it all hang together.

[Isabel. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I pushed myself to finish this book , very boring book.