The Enigma of a Widow (Regency Rendezvous #4)

Lady Lydia Barrymore is at loose ends.  Widowed for nearly a year, she has had her fill of trips to the lending library, hosting teas and visiting the museum; even a brief affair hasn't done much to lift her spirits.  On a mundane trip to the museum, Lydia encounters a living Adonis — and his scandalously forward ways leave her blushing.  She thinks never to see him again, until the night she awakens to find him standing at her bedside.  Adonis Truscott is haunted by his experiences in battle. His family thinks him a Bedlamite; Donald is simply trying to keep a deathbed promise. When he vowed to protect the widow Barrymore he had no idea he would fall in love in the process. 

"The Enigma of a Widow" is an out-of-the-ordinary historical romance. Set during the Peninsular War and featuring characters embroiled in intrigue and deception, there is a little bit of everything here for romance readers.  These little bits, however, leave readers skimming the surface of the story; there isn't much here to grab onto.  Although the story is virtually stuffed with information, it is difficult to see through it all to connect with the characters. This could be because this book is part of a series. Which series is not clear — the cover refers to one, the author's website to another (and the book has a different title), which is confusing. Readers who like a bit of espionage with their regency will snap this one up, and fans of Linda Rae Sande will be delighted with her latest effort.

Tammy Grant