Review: Three stories very much alike
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 30, 2014
The first two stories were about young women marrying men they didn't know.  And in both stories the 'hero' put some distance between his wife and himself in order for them to make the adjustment to marriage.  The hero either goes to another part of the estate or suddenly needs to go off to town on pressing business.In one story the hero doesn't want to tell the heroine she is in danger from her cousin.  Doesn't want her to worry her pretty little head apparently.  But as a result, she wanders around the garden when she can't sleep -- and behold! -- she is kidnapped and almost raped.In another story the hero doesn't have enough gumption to make his stepmother move out of the house.  That lady is clearly villainous, but he has to leave.  So our heroine is left at her mercy -- and kidnapped and threatened with rape (again?).  To tell the truth I was skimming at that point so I could be wrong.The last story was about a woman who had been carrying a torch for a man for three years.  He had married a woman older than himself in order to save his estate.  The wife has died by the time the heroine meets up with the hero again.  No direct threat to the heroine this time, but she is poisoned by a drink meant for him.There are no explicit sexual situations other than the threat of rape, and there are only long kisses between the couples.  Fluttery feelings and no heat.  The characters are pretty much the same in all three stories: loving couple and terrible villain.  No surprises.This was a so-so at best.