Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Wicked Widows League #18
Publication Date: 7/11/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 168

If ever you find yourself deep in a hole, just keep digging. At least that appears to be the philosophy of Caden Landon Scott, the Duke of Justamere when he is mistaken for a solicitor by the lovely widow upon whom he has just called to inquire about a land purchase. He should tell her the truth, but … After all, she really does need help … And, those lips surely look as if they want him to kiss them … There is plenty of time … He’ll tell her later …

Baroness Fredda (Freddie) St. George is fearfully afraid. After a chaste marriage to the kindest, sweetest man on earth, she is in danger of losing everything he had tried to do to save her. Her brother and sister-in-law are trying to get the marriage annulled by declaring her a fortune hunter who took advantage of an ailing man and by claiming the marriage was never consummated. What to do? What to do? When a woman from the Wicked Widows League approaches Freddie at her husband’s funeral and offers help, she quickly realizes they might be the resources she needs to fight her in-laws. What she needs is a solicitor and someone to make sense of the estate books – and a friend, she could really use a friend.

The whole thing quickly spirals out of control and Cade bypasses opportunity after opportunity to tell Freddie the truth. What will happen when she finds out who he really is? He knows she will find out; he’d just like to be the one to engineer the circumstances when she does. Right…

When Freddie does find out, in the worst way possible, she is deeply hurt and deeply angry. Then, to have to pretend she’s never known him… and then, her sister-in-law, the hateful, spiteful witch has set her cap for him… Oh! My! Sparks are going to fly, heads are going to roll, and Cade may never manage to dig himself out of that hole. But he wants to – so badly. Can he convince her? Can she forgive him?

I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining read with lovely characters and a well-paced plot. I haven’t read any of the other Wicked Widows League books, but I do know that each of them can be read as a standalone. Perhaps this story has inspired me to read the novella detailing the beginning of the League. Curious minds want to know.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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