The entire concept of the Merry Widows series has a brilliant plot invention with several widows, having endured both good and bad marriages, now determined to enjoy their freedom in taking lovers to their beds – promising to share their experiences with one another. The most reserved, prim and proper lady of the group was Mrs. Grace Marlowe, the Bishop’s Widow. She listened to the others tell their tales and though secretly curious that all seemed to find such pleasure in the act could never see herself in that role.
John Grayston, Viscount Rochdale had a reputation as the worst rake in London, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts. Jaded and cynical he lived for pleasure not caring a whit for any of the numerous conquests he made. He also never refused a wager and after boldly announcing there wasn’t a single woman in London he couldn’t seduce, was asked to put up his most prized race horse as the prize in a wager that there would be one he could not seduce. He accepted the wager pleased to find that at least the woman was beautiful, but concerned also that she was the most moral and scrupulously proper widow of London, Mrs. Grace Marlowe.
*** As a long time fan of Regency historical romances, I’ve come to realize that author Candice Hern is in the top echelon of writers whose research into the period combined with a succinctly divine cast of characters will keep readers glued to the pages. In LADY BE BAD, Ms. Hern has brought to a close her spectacular “Merry Widows” series in a dazzling and heartwarming finale.
From the very first pages I was hooked by this story. The author used the notion that women of all ages and eras were basically the same. Women, no matter how prim and proper would always be attracted to the dangerous ‘bad boys’ possibly for the adventure, but mostly for the experience. The ‘Bishop’s Widow’ Grace Marlowe had been molded as a young girl by a husband more than twice her age to think of unbridled passion as being wanton and un-virtuous. So much guilt was heaped upon her by her late husband that the attentions of Lord Rochdale left her rattled. She no longer knew who she was; wanting, but not wanting; feeling lost but also found; and ripe for the picking.
Lord Rochdale knew that he would truly need to use all his skill to seduce Grace, but she was wary enough of his scandalous reputation to lead him on a merry chase. What was endearing and beautiful was how, along the way, they both would gain new insights not only about each other, but about themselves.
Grace couldn’t believe how anyone could disparage the late great Bishop Marlowe, who for all his faults had been kind to her, but eventually with the help of Lord Rochdale, found that the Bishop had been wrong about passion. Rochdale would also discover that not all women were schemers and liars; that there were truly good and pure, honest women in this world and Grace was at the top of that list. Discovering this, and knowing he was beginning to care, possibly love Grace gave the author the opportunity to reveal his agony and disgust with himself for agreeing to such a detestable wager. Sensual with a perfectly scrumptious love story, Ms. Hern continues to gift her readers with another fantastic Regency tale in LADY BE BAD. Be prepared to savor every word and passionate embrace.
