Helpful Score: 7
Lady Jocelyn Kendal needs a husband. Dying, opium-addicted Major David Lancaster needs peace of mind knowing that his sister Sally will be provided for after his death. What better way to solve both problems than by getting married. What happens though when things don't work out quite as planned?
I loved this book for the imperfections of the main characters--Jocelyn isn't necessarily likeable throughout and there are times you want to shout at her stubborness. David is maybe a little too trusting. The cast of supporting characters in this book is great and I want to read their stories too. I know they are out there. The scene where the author finally lets us into Jocelyn's heart had me reduced to tears. It was so well-written and also was realistic, especially considering the time period Jocelyn grew up in. And when all is forgiven, I cried again. Always a good read in my experience.
I loved this book for the imperfections of the main characters--Jocelyn isn't necessarily likeable throughout and there are times you want to shout at her stubborness. David is maybe a little too trusting. The cast of supporting characters in this book is great and I want to read their stories too. I know they are out there. The scene where the author finally lets us into Jocelyn's heart had me reduced to tears. It was so well-written and also was realistic, especially considering the time period Jocelyn grew up in. And when all is forgiven, I cried again. Always a good read in my experience.
Helpful Score: 4
A memorable romance with many couples. Mary Jo Putney does a splendid job in involving the middle class and discussing the forefront of medicine and other well researched aspects of the Regency period.
Helpful Score: 3
I thought this was a very touching love story. The characters are so intriguing and likable and had a lot of depth to them. (I can't wait to read the stories about the secondary characters because they really drew me in, making me want to know more about them.) Through Lady Jocelyn, Putney did an excellent job of portraying the emotional damage that some people carry around all their lives when they have experienced traumatic events (in this case her parents' very nasty and public divorce, in addition to losing some people who were very close to her, all while she was at a very young age). Because of this, she decides to only enter into "safe" relationships where her emotions are not truly engaged. This comes crashing down when her "safe" marriage of convenience to a dying man falls through when he unexpectedly recovers. Her husband, David, does what he can to accommodate their bargain, but this becomes difficult when he falls in love with Jocelyn. It was very emotional when Jocelyn came face to face with her issues, and David was the perfect guy to end up with. I wish I could clone him. He had the perfect combo of passion, strength, patience, intelligence, sexiness, gorgeousness, humility. The list goes on and on.
Helpful Score: 1
While I don't have anything remarkable to say about this book I did really enjoy reading it. I stayed up until 8:00 in the morning to finish it so I guess that says something.
Helpful Score: 1
Great book--Lady Jocelyn marries a dying military man to save her inheritance and help him secure his younger sister but then he ends of living.....
Helpful Score: 1
Facing a marriage deadline, Lady Jocelyn Kendal impulsively weds Major David Lancaster, a penniless officer dying of wounds received at Waterlook. In return, his younger sister will receive a generous income--and David will have the enchanting Jocelyn for a wife, if only for a few days...Then fate takes a hand, and Jocelyn suddenly finds herself with a healthy, vibrant husband--aseasoned campaigner who wants to renegotiate the terms of their bargain, and will use every bit of charm and passion he possesses to win the heart of this bewildered bride.
Helpful Score: 1
Ten years after publishing THE WOULD-BE WIDOW, the author, Mary Jo Putney reworked the novel and re-titled it THE BARGAIN. The idea of a hero/heroine marrying in order to save an inheritance is not a new plot line. However, Putney writes so well that she has made the story feel fresh.
According to the terms of her fathers will, Lady Jocelyn Kendal needs a husband in order to inherit. She meets a dying officer, gravely wounded in the Battle of Waterloo. He worries about leaving his sister penniless and alone.
Jocelyn offers to trade a generous annual income for his sister in return for the majors name in a marriage of convenience. What could be the harm; he was dying anyway? They agree and a minister performs the wedding.
Fate then takes a hand in the lives of these 2 people. Davids sister, Sally, refuses to let him die without trying any and all options. She learns of an unorthodox Scottish surgeon, Dr. Ian Kinlock, and begs him to intervene.
After Davids surgery and weaning him from opiates (that made his symptoms more severe), David begins to recover. Although Jocelyn is delighted with his recuperation, she has a problem; she has a husband that she doesnt want.
They discuss the problem and decide for Jocelyn to pursue an annulment based on Davids impotence (real or imagined). However, they have to live under the same roof for a number of months.
What Jocelyn doesnt know about her husband is that he was an accomplished war campaigner; he doesnt give up easily. David realizes he loves Jocelyn and wants to stay married to her. He begins his subtle campaign to win his wife.
Actually, there are two romances in this book: (1) wealthy Jocelyn and penniless David; and (2) wealthy Dr. Kinlock and Davids sister, Sally, who earns her keep as a governess.
The real reason that Jocelyn doesnt want a husband comes to light over the course of the book. It surprises Jocelyn and she starts to rethink her choices.
The book is enjoyable because it calls on all four of the main characters to move out of their comfort zone to help others without thought of compensation. This is my first book by Putney and I look forward to others!
According to the terms of her fathers will, Lady Jocelyn Kendal needs a husband in order to inherit. She meets a dying officer, gravely wounded in the Battle of Waterloo. He worries about leaving his sister penniless and alone.
Jocelyn offers to trade a generous annual income for his sister in return for the majors name in a marriage of convenience. What could be the harm; he was dying anyway? They agree and a minister performs the wedding.
Fate then takes a hand in the lives of these 2 people. Davids sister, Sally, refuses to let him die without trying any and all options. She learns of an unorthodox Scottish surgeon, Dr. Ian Kinlock, and begs him to intervene.
After Davids surgery and weaning him from opiates (that made his symptoms more severe), David begins to recover. Although Jocelyn is delighted with his recuperation, she has a problem; she has a husband that she doesnt want.
They discuss the problem and decide for Jocelyn to pursue an annulment based on Davids impotence (real or imagined). However, they have to live under the same roof for a number of months.
What Jocelyn doesnt know about her husband is that he was an accomplished war campaigner; he doesnt give up easily. David realizes he loves Jocelyn and wants to stay married to her. He begins his subtle campaign to win his wife.
Actually, there are two romances in this book: (1) wealthy Jocelyn and penniless David; and (2) wealthy Dr. Kinlock and Davids sister, Sally, who earns her keep as a governess.
The real reason that Jocelyn doesnt want a husband comes to light over the course of the book. It surprises Jocelyn and she starts to rethink her choices.
The book is enjoyable because it calls on all four of the main characters to move out of their comfort zone to help others without thought of compensation. This is my first book by Putney and I look forward to others!
Re-work of "The Would-Be Widow" -historical romance.
a good, moving story.
A wonderfully romantic falling-in-love story
Great story!
Ten years after publishing THE WOULD-BE WIDOW, the author, Mary Jo Putney reworked the novel and re-titled it THE BARGAIN. The idea of a hero/heroine marrying in order to save an inheritance is not a new plot line. However, Putney writes so well that she has made the story feel fresh.
According to the terms of her father's will, Lady Jocelyn Kendal needs a husband in order to inherit. She meets a dying officer, gravely wounded in the Battle of Waterloo. He worries about leaving his sister penniless and alone.
Jocelyn offers to trade a generous annual income for his sister in return for the major's name in a marriage of convenience. What could be the harm; he was dying anyway? They agree and a minister performs the wedding.
Fate then takes a hand in the lives of these 2 people. David's sister, Sally, refuses to let him die without trying any and all options. She learns of an unorthodox Scottish surgeon, Dr. Ian Kinlock, and begs him to intervene.
After David's surgery and weaning him from opiates (that made his symptoms more severe), David begins to recover. Although Jocelyn is delighted with his recuperation, she has a problem; she has a husband that she doesn't want.
They discuss the problem and decide for Jocelyn to pursue an annulment based on David's impotence (real or imagined). However, they have to live under the same roof for a number of months.
What Jocelyn doesn't know about her husband is that he was an accomplished war campaigner; he doesn't give up easily. David realizes he loves Jocelyn and wants to stay married to her. He begins his subtle campaign to win his wife.
Actually, there are two romances in this book: (1) wealthy Jocelyn and penniless David; and (2) wealthy Dr. Kinlock and David's sister, Sally, who earns her keep as a governess.
The real reason that Jocelyn doesn't want a husband comes to light over the course of the book. It surprises Jocelyn and she starts to rethink her choices.
The book is enjoyable because it calls on all four of the main characters to move out of their comfort zone to help others without thought of compensation. This is my first book by Putney and I look forward to others!
According to the terms of her father's will, Lady Jocelyn Kendal needs a husband in order to inherit. She meets a dying officer, gravely wounded in the Battle of Waterloo. He worries about leaving his sister penniless and alone.
Jocelyn offers to trade a generous annual income for his sister in return for the major's name in a marriage of convenience. What could be the harm; he was dying anyway? They agree and a minister performs the wedding.
Fate then takes a hand in the lives of these 2 people. David's sister, Sally, refuses to let him die without trying any and all options. She learns of an unorthodox Scottish surgeon, Dr. Ian Kinlock, and begs him to intervene.
After David's surgery and weaning him from opiates (that made his symptoms more severe), David begins to recover. Although Jocelyn is delighted with his recuperation, she has a problem; she has a husband that she doesn't want.
They discuss the problem and decide for Jocelyn to pursue an annulment based on David's impotence (real or imagined). However, they have to live under the same roof for a number of months.
What Jocelyn doesn't know about her husband is that he was an accomplished war campaigner; he doesn't give up easily. David realizes he loves Jocelyn and wants to stay married to her. He begins his subtle campaign to win his wife.
Actually, there are two romances in this book: (1) wealthy Jocelyn and penniless David; and (2) wealthy Dr. Kinlock and David's sister, Sally, who earns her keep as a governess.
The real reason that Jocelyn doesn't want a husband comes to light over the course of the book. It surprises Jocelyn and she starts to rethink her choices.
The book is enjoyable because it calls on all four of the main characters to move out of their comfort zone to help others without thought of compensation. This is my first book by Putney and I look forward to others!
It has been ages since I've read this book, but I know that Putney is always a winner! This is an expansion/rewrite of her earlier title "The Would-Be Widow". If you enjoy character driven romances with a Regency flair, you'll enjoy this book!
I quite enjoyed this book. The heroine's drive to not get close to her husband was rather annoying after awhile but it comes to light why in the end, though I wish it wouldn't have taken so long for her to realize. Other than that, the hero was great and I enjoyed all the other couples' stories that were in the book. I don't think it detracted at all from the main story.
enjoyed this book very much. not your typical boy meets girl book. very good read
A nice re-write of the original with some more mature plotting and writing. Well done.
I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful book ... loved David and Jocelyn!
Good read. Author writes well. Fast read with worthy story line.
This book is a rewrite as a regency historical of The Would Be Widow, a Signet traditional regency. Although my preference is for the earlier version, this is well done too.
This book is a rewrite as a regency historical of The Would Be Widow, a Signet traditional regency. Although my preference is for the earlier version, this is well done too.
I really enjoyed this book. Good storyline, enjoyable characters.
very good
