Helpful Score: 1
I have most of Laura Matthews' books; she's a Regency writer I enjoy very much. Unfortunately, this one falls short of her usual brilliance. Although it's a well-written story, the character of Prudence gets tedious by the middle of the book. Rather than looking innocent and pure, her constant fears of having her own husband touch her in ANY way made her look a bit stupid and borderline paranoid. I can see her being flustered and frightened the first, possibly even the third time, her new husband holds her and gives her a kiss. But if after several weeks she still cannot figure out that her body's reactions to him feel *good*, and that this sensation is not something to stop immediately just because it is new to her, then she's too dense and insensitive for words.
This is the one and only book of Matthews' that I didn't finish. After a while I simply didn't care.
I highly recommend reading "A Rival Heir" or "The Village Spinster," two of my favorite Laura Matthews books.
This is the one and only book of Matthews' that I didn't finish. After a while I simply didn't care.
I highly recommend reading "A Rival Heir" or "The Village Spinster," two of my favorite Laura Matthews books.
Prudence knew that William married her for the money she inherited from her former fiance, but she hoped that once they got to know each other, their marriage would be more than just "convenient." After being neglected so long by her former fiance, she had no intention of allowing her new husband to relegate her to the country while he enjoyed the pleasures of London.
William's feelings for his wife were deeper than he let on; he had been attracted to her years ago and was disappointed to hear of her engagement. Now he was married to her and desperately wanted to consummate the marriage, but his passion frightened her. He couldn't just force himself on her. Just a little patience, he kept telling himself. But for how long?
William's feelings for his wife were deeper than he let on; he had been attracted to her years ago and was disappointed to hear of her engagement. Now he was married to her and desperately wanted to consummate the marriage, but his passion frightened her. He couldn't just force himself on her. Just a little patience, he kept telling himself. But for how long?
Prudence knew that William married her for the money she inherited from her former fiance, but she hoped that once they got to know each other, their marriage would be more than just "convenient." After being neglected so long by her former fiance, she had no intention of allowing her new husband to relegate her to the country while he enjoyed the pleasures of London.
William's feelings for his wife were deeper than he let on; he had been attracted to her years ago and was disappointed to hear of her engagement. Now he was married to her and desperately wanted to consummate the marriage, but his passion frightened her. He couldn't just force himself on her. Just a little patience, he kept telling himself. But for how long?
William's feelings for his wife were deeper than he let on; he had been attracted to her years ago and was disappointed to hear of her engagement. Now he was married to her and desperately wanted to consummate the marriage, but his passion frightened her. He couldn't just force himself on her. Just a little patience, he kept telling himself. But for how long?
I am ordinarily a big Laura Matthews fan, but I found this book strangely uninteresting. Heroine marries without clearly understanding what is entailed and shrinks from consummating the union. Hero is first presented as an arrogant, demanding, arbitrary creep who makes an effort (on his terms) to understand his bride's reluctance. By the end of the book we see why these two people are the way they are, but I found it a bit of a slog as neither character interested me much. Laura Matthews probably can't write a bad book, but I'd put this at the bottom of her list.
For those who care, this book contains a lot of sex for a traditional regency, both in heroine's seduction into married life and in the results of sex, namely, an unexpected childbirth in heroine's house at which she assists and learns something about birth control. So not for those who do not like graphic sex.
For those who care, this book contains a lot of sex for a traditional regency, both in heroine's seduction into married life and in the results of sex, namely, an unexpected childbirth in heroine's house at which she assists and learns something about birth control. So not for those who do not like graphic sex.
