Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Wenna” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Wenna

(South Landers #4)

Virginia Taylor (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 29 ratings · 13 reviews

The lady’s maid meets her match…
Wenna Chenoweth’s future is secure, until dashing Devon Courtney’s illicit flirtation gets her dismissed from her job as a lady’s maid. With nowhere to turn, Wenna is forced to accept Devon’s bold proposal: To be his bride. To enter society on the handsome aristocrat’s arm. To give him the heir he requires. It’s a foolproof plan. Except Wenn ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback

Published January 31st 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Wenna, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Wenna

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

really liked it Average rating 4.00 ·

Rating details

· 29 ratings · 13 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Wenna

Jan 14, 2017 Stacey is Sassy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, aussie-author, aussie, historical-series, steamy

The red-haired hussy strikes again…

I find it extremely funny that in a lot of historical romances a red-headed lady is considered a hussy, fast or loose. I can honestly say that when I look at a lady with red hair, hussy is not my first thought. Maybe it’s because the first person I think of with red hair is Anne…of Green Gables. She is the LAST person I would think of as fast or loose. Wenna, the redhead in this story is not a hussy but she does have a trait that seems to be attached to the col ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2018 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WENNA: SOUTH LANDERS..... this short series, WENNA, ELLA, CHARLOTTE and STARLING are the best Historical Romances I’ve read in a long time. My favorite female is Starling and favorite male Nick. Every woman needs a Nick !
The stories are interesting, the ladies are feisty and the men are loving men..... I gobbled the books up in 4 days.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2017 Suze Lavender rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's 1865 and both men and women in Australia have the opportunity to make something of themselves. Wenna works as a lady's maid and has a secure business plan for her future. Unfortunately Devon messes things up for her. Because of him she loses her job and her reputation. Devon loved a fiery redhead in his past and decides to help the red haired Wenna by marrying her in exchange for an heir. Devon is the son of an earl from Cornwall. He needs to go back to England and they plan to travel toge It's 1865 and both men and women in Australia have the opportunity to make something of themselves. Wenna works as a lady's maid and has a secure business plan for her future. Unfortunately Devon messes things up for her. Because of him she loses her job and her reputation. Devon loved a fiery redhead in his past and decides to help the red haired Wenna by marrying her in exchange for an heir. Devon is the son of an earl from Cornwall. He needs to go back to England and they plan to travel together, it is where Wenna wants to go to as well to visit her only living relatives. The match seems to be a good one, but can a man with a high status in society fall in love with someone from a much lower class? Wenna wonders why Devon married her. What will Wenna's future be like now that she doesn't even know if she's financially secure, does she need to look for work to support them and can Devon be trusted?

Wenna is an ambitious and driven person. She has a kind heart and she has a good head on her shoulders, which are ideal qualities for the business she wants to start. Devon doesn't seem to take earning money seriously and Wenna has no idea where his monthly payments come from. For her money is incredibly important, but Devon doesn't seem to care about it at all. They're from different backgrounds, but Wenna is a classy lady and can easily be taken to any society event. Devon might have made a good match, but at first he's a bit rude and incredibly selfish. He likes Wenna, but has a lot to learn about the woman he married. Their match seems random and unusual and that makes it really interesting and fun to read about.

Virginia Taylor's writing flows easily and I enjoyed reading about Australia in the nineteenth century. The relationship between Wenna and Devon is complicated, every day is a new challenge and because of that there happens a lot. I admired Virginia Taylor's ability to always be in control. She makes the sequence of events seem entirely natural. I loved how the two headstrong main characters are trying to find their place in their impulsive marriage and was fascinated by the many unexpected twists and turns. I was spellbound by Virginia Taylor's impressive descriptions of society and the large number of issues women were struggling with in that time. Wenna is an entertaining story and I loved reading it. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 14, 2016 Sharon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received an advance reading copy of Wenna from Net Galley for my fair and honest review. I loved this book, the characters and the setting. Well-written and well worth your reading time.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2017 Mandi Schreiner rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

A little slow and had some problems with the hero - review coming

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2017 Theresa Smith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aww2017, netgalley

I have long been a fan of Australian historical fiction set in the colonial era. I particularly enjoy those novels which examine the social history of our country's early days, the stuggle between old country manners and new world ideas and the development of a national identity where anyone, man or woman, can get ahead if they are willing to work hard. Virginia Taylor captures this perfectly within the pages of Wenna, a truly enjoyable novel. Wenna herself is a worthy heroine, ambitious and hon ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 20, 2017 Lynn Spencer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

C+ on AAR, so 3.25 stars? I initially picked this book up because of its unusual setting. While Wenna provides a vivid picture of life in colonial Australia, I often found myself frustrated with both the hero and heroine. The book is well written, and definitely has some strong scenes, but much of the tension comes from a series of big misunderstandings and secrets, and those are just not my favorite plot devices.

Wenna Chenoweth is a bright, determined lady’s maid in the employ of the wealthy Br C+ on AAR, so 3.25 stars? I initially picked this book up because of its unusual setting. While Wenna provides a vivid picture of life in colonial Australia, I often found myself frustrated with both the hero and heroine. The book is well written, and definitely has some strong scenes, but much of the tension comes from a series of big misunderstandings and secrets, and those are just not my favorite plot devices.

Wenna Chenoweth is a bright, determined lady’s maid in the employ of the wealthy Brooks family. The family’s spoiled daughter, Patricia, is the bane of her existence. She’s not eeeevil, but spoiled, self-centered Patricia most definitely has an inflated opinion of herself. As the novel opens, she is at her worst because the handsome, eligible Devon Courtney has come to visit and she wants to show herself to best advantage in order to garner a proposal.

Patricia’s plan goes awry when Wenna and Devon find themselves accidentally entangled in a corridor. Given to believe their lady’s maid was throwing herself at a houseguest, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks fire Wenna on the spot. Overcome by guilt at being the cause of her plight, Devon offers to escort her from the Brooks’ country house to town. And along the way, he somehow convinces her to marry him. Devon needs an heir and also needs to sail home to Cornwall to attend to family business, and Wenna – coincidentally – wants to go to her grandparents in Cornwall. Though Wenna was born in Australia, these grandparents back in England are her only surviving family – and while she and Devon do discuss their prospective trip there, the events of the novel take place entirely in Australia.

What starts off as a marriage of convenience turns into an interesting relationship. Even though they don’t love each other (yet), the two certainly have physical chemistry together. Devon comes from an aristocratic background, but having largely turned his back on it, he lives in humble lodgings and spends many of his days as a laborer. Wenna has no idea that Devon owns the site where he is working, and he allows her to keep right on thinking that he is a somewhat unambitious manual worker. Wenna, for her part, has more than her fair share of initiative and she soon starts up a side business of her own – which she keeps a secret from her husband. This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie... ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 18, 2017 Kelly The Sassy Book Lover rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading a book set in Australia and it was a nice change. I loved their meeting and how opposite they were of each other. The back and forth between them was good entertainment and at times I didn't know what would happen next with them because they weren't always on the same page. the ending wasn't what I expected with his letter from home. I wish there had been a bit more back story for both of them.

Wenna ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2017 Robby Dennis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love that the female characters in Virginia Taylors books are always admirable, feisty and determined. I had to laugh out loud in the middle of the night when Devon was off to buy a mattress and meets up with a slightly drunk character from another one of her books. I enjoy travelling back in time to the historical past of my own home town. Well done!

flag Like · see review

Dec 31, 2018 Carol Potenza rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read any and all of South Landers books.

The South Landers books do not disappoint. I have loved every one I have read, and Wenna is no exception.

flag Like · see review

Nov 13, 2016 Kelly Tyree rated it liked it · review of another edition

Wenna is a book about a Lady's Maid that attracts the attention of Devon, a son of an Earl. She captures his attention because of her red hair and Devon's desire to be intimate with her. He also wants to get back at his father for decisions his father made about Devon's future that cost him the love of his life. Devon's attention got Wenna fired from her job as a Lady's Maid. It also cost her any references she would have gotten and makes her unemployable as a Lady's Maid. Devon takes responsibi ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 22, 2017 Sissy's Romance Book Review rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, arc-netgalley, series, trt

'Wenna' by Virginia Taylor is book Four in the "South Landers" series. This is the story of Wenna Chenoweth and Devon Courtney. I have read some of the other books but feel this is easily a standalone book. Wenna is a ladies maid but also does other things for the family she works for. The family's daughter is spoiled and hateful to Wenna. Wenna is just a hard working women who is trying to keep her promise to departed parents that she will take care of her Grandparents. Devon had come to visit ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2016 Nicole added it · review of another edition

I received this book from net galley for an honest review. Thank you!!

This book was a decent read. Wenna is a lady's maid and Devon believes he is currently his father's heir to the earldom in England. Wenna loses her job due to a misunderstanding with a dress with Devon. The daughter of Wenna's employer told a false tale which caused her to lose her job. Devon wants Wenna the moment he sees her. He proposes marriage so Wenna can travel to Cornwall to see her grandparents and he to handle his re ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Kathleen Kuziel rated it it was amazing
Mar 22, 2019

Susan E. rated it really liked it
Jul 03, 2017

Rob Escudero rated it it was amazing
Jan 27, 2018

Mary rated it liked it
Nov 27, 2016

Cassie rated it liked it
Jun 20, 2018

Booboorocksout rated it it was amazing
Aug 24, 2017

Cassie rated it did not like it
Aug 29, 2017

Corine Gordon rated it really liked it
Aug 05, 2017

Laura rated it it was amazing
Jul 20, 2017

Concepcion Dominguez Suarez rated it really liked it
Jun 25, 2017

Hazi rated it really liked it
Sep 07, 2020

Heather rated it it was amazing
Jan 17, 2021

Dottiebears rated it it was amazing
Jul 03, 2018

jesse rated it liked it
Dec 08, 2017

Jennifer rated it really liked it
Feb 26, 2017

Nemszoke rated it liked it
Apr 13, 2019

Jessica rated it liked it
Nov 07, 2019

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Librari...: Author error message when adding new book	3	41	Jun 07, 2016 05:37AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance > Historical Romance

3 users

See top shelves…

About Virginia Taylor

Virginia Taylor

84 followers

Virginia is a full time writer who used to be a nurse/midwife, a scenic painter and designer, a renovator of heritage houses, and still is an avid gardener. She is also a bad driver, an unenthusiastic cook and a reader of all things bookish.