THE ABSENT WIFE

Author: Sandra Wilson ISBN: 978070983672 12/2007 HISTROICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.
Time Period: 1811, Regency

A proper young lady must hide her love for a lord who has even more to hide. Miss Roslyn Meredith had so many questions about Lord James Atherton. Why had this handsome, charming, sensitive aristocrat married the notorious Vanessa, society's most heartless and most scheming beauty? And what had happened to her? Had she vanished off the face of the earth? And now, why did Atherton invite Roslyn and her improvident portrait-painter father to his secluded estate in Foxcombe? But one question overshadowed all others. Could Roslyn trust this man who had no right to make her lose her heart to him—and could she trust herself...?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE ABSENT WIFE by Sandra Wilson is a wonderful example of Regency romance storytelling. It opens on a cold January evening in 1811, but quickly warms up, and before long the romantic dance between an unlikely couple heats the pages of this story. I completely enjoyed every minute of this, especially loving the rigid adherence to and observation of social protocol of the time. No fan is left unfluttered, no cravat without a pin to secure it. Everything is as it should be in a novel set during this period, making it effortless for the reader to lose herself to the story.

This is a story that highlights change, and the natural progression of circumstances. When Roslyn first meets James she is a young girl. He makes a big impact on her then, but makes an even larger impression when she meets him as a young woman. He's come into his title, but is no longer even remotely pleasant. He is obnoxious, an unlikely hero. James does have his reasons for acting the way he does, although the true extent of his reason isn't revealed until the very end of this tale. When it comes to light, everything that's gone before makes sense. Until then, the reader is left guessing what his problem really is. I didn't mind that. James actually amused me! The secondary characters are just as intriguing, eliciting strong responses in the reader. Vanessa, Sir Owen and Lady Gallermayne are all fully developed and superbly round out the action between Roslyn and James.

As I said, everything about Sandra Wilson's THE ABSENT WIFE is top rate. This author is a talented writer who pens a tale that is engaging, entertaining and consuming. I enjoyed every word, especially those attributed to Lord Byron! Very well done!

Kay James