Review: What a pair of idiots - spoilers ahead!
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 16, 2013
OK, let's start with what I did like.  I gave 2 (more like 1.5) stars because I did finish, the writing was OK, the editing better than many, and the basic plot had some good points.  His assumption about her, and the way he treated her, were over the top, even with the explanation of two women in his past, but I was willing to go along with that for the story, starting with the dramatic opening scene.But then... so he thought she must be an adulterous, out-for-what-she-could-get, slut, so in the interests of proving him right?? she welcomed him into her bed not that long after they met, and without any improvement in his attitude?  There were repeated comments about what a 'gentleman' he was, yet he was bedding someone under his own roof, where his grandmother was also living, someone that he was otherwise mostly treating as a servant?  Oh yeah, and the two of them were using a bed in a very small servant's room.  Wasn't that uncomfortable?  The bed was probably barely large enough for her, let alone for two, but there was no comment about any difficulty that I can recall.Even when he started to realize that he might be wrong about her, as another reviewer has commented, he still kept telling himself that he has good 'reasons' for thinking that way, and justifying, in his own mind, the despicable way he had treated her.  And where had he been since his cousin died?  Despite his skewed perception of her, he'd left her in charge of his ward, her son, and his cousin in charge of the estate?  I'd have expected him to be on her doorstep before her husband's body was barely cold, ready to take up his responsibilities, even if he'd thought she would be a good mother.Also the ending was unsatisfactory, though I probably would have accepted it if I hadn't already been in critical mode.  There was no mention of what happened with the young woman he had supposedly been going to propose to (or not, he couldn't seem to decide), the pair hadn't really known one another very long to be getting married, even without all the baggage from their shared, and separate, pasts, and there was no mention of capture (unless I missed it) of the last villain?Usually I archive a book for possible re-reading once I finish, but I'll be deleting this one.  I don't recommend it unless you are desperate for something to read; there are lots better out there.