The Return of Her Long-Lost Husband

by Joanna Johnson

A husband’s redemption…

A second chance at love?

Nathaniel Honeywell returns from being presumed dead expecting to be welcomed home with open arms. He’s shocked when his wife, Hester, isn’t pleased to see him! But Nathaniel can’t blame Hester for believing he abandoned her when she needed him most… During their marriage, he foolishly valued money over his wife. Now his experiences have left him a changed man, and as the simmering attraction between them grows, Nathaniel is determined to prove it!

From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.

Genres: Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 25, 2022

About the author

Joanna Johnson lives in a little village with her husband and too many books. After completing an English degree at university she went on to work in publishing, although she'd always rather she was working on her own books rather than other people's. This dream came true in 2018 when she signed her first contract with Harlequin and she hasn't looked back, spending her time getting lost in mainly Regency history and wishing it was still acceptable to write a manuscript with a quill.

Reviews

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel return home, after being away for 5 years. Hester is not to happy to see him.

Enjoyable read. With the worst father you could have

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel Honeywell returns after five years from being presumed dead expecting to be welcomed home with open arms, but is shocked when his wife, Hester, isn’t pleased to see him! Nathaniel can’t blame Hester for believing he abandoned her when she needed him most. During their marriage he’d foolishly valued money over his wife. But his experiences have left him a changed man, and as the simmering attraction between them grows, Nathaniel is determined to prove it!
A well written interesting second chance romance. I liked both Nathaniel & Hester who entered into an arranged marriage but the pair were attracted to each other & things were progressing well for the first month until Nathaniel’s despicable father stuck his oar in. Now when Nathaniel returns after five horrendous years his father once again meddles. Hester has become a strong woman after fending for herself & Nathaniel has realised money isn’t the be all & end all but with shame & secrets still between them their HEA isn't a given. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & recommend this charming romance
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Hilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either his absence or her eventual revulsion would drive them apart and they were doomed either way.

Man, the back and forth was painful. The hate/love and lust/hate was so much of the story. Like 80% of does he love me? Does she love me? It was annoying when they got in their heads BUT when they were enjoying themselves together having fun. Those times brought so many happy sighs and smiles to my face. To bad it was so unevenly distributed in the book. I enjoyed these two so much. I wish there was more good times.

I saw someone on bookstagram recommend this and I had no idea it was a clean romance. At the only, yes only once, juiciest part it fades to black. Nothing wrong with that but I expected a pirate husband who returns to take what’s his. A man who can’t be tamed. Instead he was kind of bleh. Honestly the MVP in this story was his friend Jacob. We all need a Jacob in our lives. These two were kind of cute, definitely toxic. Hester was a strong female. But her arrogance and pride got in the way of her happiness and poor Nathaniel was scared of everything. Again, Jacob saves the day. And I’m assuming Nathaniel was suffering more than physical trauma but emotional and mental. He was a cinnamon roll that needed protection not resentment and hurtful words and behavior towards him.

Also can someone explain his father to me? Becaue that man was awful. He hated everyone especially his wife. He was not a husband to her. Or father. He was an asshole.

[Veronica (Honey Roselea Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shockingly cute and enjoyable

[GONZA · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment this book was, a whole series of false assumptions just because two people can't talk to each other... I was definitely expecting something better from this author.

Che delusione questo libro, tutta una serie di false assunzioni solo perché due persone non riescono a parlarsi..., mi aspettavo decisamente qualcosa di meglio da questa autrice.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Soon after she married Nathaniel Honeywell, Hester realised that life wasn't going to be everything she wanted. Nathaniel was more bothered with his work, and doing his father's bidding than being with his wife, loving his wife, and before long, Hester lost her newlywed hope, and resigned herself to a second rate life. When Nathaniel is lost at sea, she mourns him, but soon relishes life as a widow - so waking up one morning, years later, to find her very much alive husband has returned, Hester is shocked. But nowhere near as shocked as Nathaniel is that his once loving wife isn't happy to see him, and is cold and frosty. Can Nathaniel recover from his time away, and reconnect with his wife, before it's too late?

I wasn't too sure on what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. Hester had spent years as the 'dutiful, bidding wife' under the heel of her husband, without any way out, and though not abused, she was in a difficult situation. Losing her husband was difficult, but it awarded her some freedom and safety, and she was happy, in a way. Nathaniel's return threw her for six, and she wanted to be happy he wasn't dead, but she couldn't be happy that her life would return to what it once was. I do feel that Nathaniel really grew, and his time away, as hard as it was, was the making of him. He soon realised that he didn't need to be a carbon copy of his father, and that his father's treatment of his mother was awful, and just what Nathaniel was doing to Hester. It takes him time, understandably, to win Hester over, but with the help of his friend, Jacob, he manages it, and proves himself deserving of his wife.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hester is a widow whose short marriage gave her little to recommend it. When her husband, Nathaniel, returns unexpectedly, she is confused about her feelings. Nathaniel's physical injuries belie deeper mental scars. Finally aware of his father's manipulation, Nathaniel tries to win back his wife, but will she trust him again?

This engaging second chance historical romance is complex and immersive. Determined not to be ignored in her marriage, Hester cannot deny this new version of the man she married intrigues her. Nathaniel's experiences have changed him, and he wants to make amends and reclaim the woman he cannot forget. The couple has emotional barriers and Nathaniel's father's malicious interference to overcome to achieve their happy marriage.

The angst, likeable protagonists and passionate attraction make this a rewarding historical romantic read.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Mary Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

An interesting read. Nathaniel is heavily influenced by his father but genuiely liked Hester and so married her. Coerced by his father he becomes cold towards her and agrees to go on a voyage even though at the time Hester was at death's door. Nathaniel's ship goes down and he ends up as a slave for five years in Algiers. The author started her story by relating a rescue of slaves and wondering what happened to all those people released. Nathaniel is deeply ashamed of having been in a position of weakness and even though his friend and rescuer has worked on changing Nathaniel's view points when he returns there are problems re-starting his marriage.
I enjoyed this story and recommend you to read it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a character growth metamorphosis, Nathaniel Honeywell has 'returned from the dead' after five years in Algiers. Hester, the wife he left behind, is not happy to see him. His behavior towards her before his disappearance was not loving or attentive, so obsessed was he to please his tyrannical father and keep the family business a success.

At the beginning of the story, Nathaniel is arrogant, believing that his wife will be happy to see him. The fact that she is not, gives him pause for thought. Her indifference to him as well as the memories of his hideous five years in Algiers and what he suffered there, couple to complete his metamorphosis.

This was a refreshing story, not about a Duke or a Viscount, but about a nose-to-the-grindstone businessman who finally makes the ultimate choice to obtain the freedom to live his life as he chooses.

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Return of Her Long Lost Husband is a second chance romance with Nathaniel Honeywell coming back home after a five year absence to find his wife less than happy about his return. For Hester, Nathaniel brings back all her feelings about being abandoned when she needed him most and she can't trust that he won't do the same again, giving his business, money and profit more importance in life than her.

I found this to be an enjoyable and easy read with strong main characters and an engaging plot. I felt for both characters and thought the push and pull between them was well written. There were some lovely moments between the two and I found the last part to be quite gripping, picking up pace to get to a highly satisfactory ending.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another highly enjoyable read from this author interestingly set against a real historical event. Nathaniel returns from captivity to his wife Hester, both changed by time and events. There begins a beautifully crafted depiction of their changing feelings for one another as they negotiate the ebb and flow of their emotions.
The reader is effortlessly carried along by this delightful love story, knowing the truth that is eventually revealed to the characters.
Joanna Johnson's lively writing flows across the page with pace at times yet sensitively lingers at moments of tenderness and sensuality drawing the reader in.

[GG · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much anger, so many secrets, and a long time to a HEA. Nathaniel is browbeat by his bully of a father, then sold into slavery where he continues to be terrorized. After 5 years he returns to his wife and doesn't tell her anything. No wonder she is angry. I felt sorry for Nathaniel and annoyed with Hester. I won't even speak of his father, an arrogant tyrant. The MCs worked it out at the last minute, but it really took too long.

[Sonia Bellhouse]

Couldn’t help but feel for Hester over the return of her thick-headed husband. Then, her happiness of discovering a changed man. Hints of his past suffering…and why his character changed. All good. But I lost patience with Nathaniel ..

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed review to come...