Mr. Dale and The Divorcée

Sophie Barnes

Nov 2021 · The Brazen Beauties Book 1 · Sophie Barnes

About this ebook

He's a respectable barrister...

She's the most scandalous woman in England...

Wilhelmina Hewitt knows she's in for a rough ride when she agrees to help her husband get a divorce. Nothing, however, prepares her for the regret of meeting Mr. Dale on the eve of her downfall. No other man has ever sent her heart racing as he does. Unfortunately, while she'll soon be free to engage in a new relationship, no upstanding gentleman will have her.

James Dale would never pursue another man's wife. Or a woman reputed to be a deceitful adulteress. Furious with himself for letting the lovely Mrs. Hewitt charm him, he strives to keep his distance. But when her daughter elopes with his son, they're forced into a partnership where passion ignites. And James soon wonders if there might be more to the divorcée than meets the eye.

Ratings and reviews

Amazingly complex, romantic, and heartwarming story! How can we get behind a female main character who willingly ruins her reputation just to help her husband divorce her? The author really took on a daring challenge here, and I was absolutely blown away by the exquisite execution of the story. Mina turns out to be one of the most heroic of historical heroines, and I adored every bit of her story. James, on the other hand, is such a staunch rule-follower that he's positively beastly toward her until he starts to question the facts of her divorce. Still, Mina handles it all with grace and dignity, which ultimately forces James to reevaluate his opinions and what he thought was true. I loved the coincidence that brought these two into each other's personal lives, forcing them to look past their public personas and work together for a common goal. Even when you think there's no possible path to a HEA for everyone involved, still you hope, and trust that the author will get you there by the end. And the ending truly is splendid for everyone. The writing is simply sublime. Because we understand where each character is coming from we can sympathize with them even though they're at odds with each other. Here's a wonderful example of the lyrical, heartfelt writing: He tilted his head. “You truly do think the worst of me, don’t you?” “It’s no less than what you think of me,” she countered. Pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, he closed his eyes briefly and finally shook his head. “God help me but I’m bound to regret this.” With apprehension in his eyes, Mr. Dale sighed and gestured toward the carriage. “Get in.” When Wilhelmina hesitated, he took a deep breath and appeared to reach for a secret supply of good manners and patience. With a grimace, he offered his hand to assist her and said, “Please, Mrs. Lawson. Time is of the essence.” There are some truly despicable people in this story, and I loved how they were put in their places. One of the main reasons I read romance is for the "good wins over evil" satisfaction and the author easily delivers that here. I admit that the premise made me hesitate a bit, but I'm so very glad I gave this book a chance. As much as I've loved this author's other books, this one is hands down the best I've read. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Mr. Dale and The Divorcée Book 1 in the The Brazen Beauties Series by Sophie Barnes is a great way to start a new series. Wilhelmina Hewitt graciously gave her husband and her friend George a divorce when he asked for it and even agreed to his publicly naming her an adulteress at a ball in order to obtain the divorce. She has become a branded woman and subject of untold snickers and gossip! I can imagine she didn’t think the ramifications through very clearly, but out of devotion to George agreed blindly to this plan. Attending the same ball was James Dale, a noted and respected barrister in London, with his friends. He is introduced to the loveliest, most charming woman he’s ever met and she awakens something in him he thought long dead, that is until he finds out she’s married. When her husband proclaims she is an adulterous for all the room to hear he is shocked beyond belief. And yet she had been so charming, so much so that he had been taken with her. But an adulteress, never! You see he had been the cuckolded husband himself, immediately reminded of his wife Clara. He was angry at himself for falling for her charms and her wickedness. Upon meeting James, Wilhelmina too felt something she’d never felt before. She loved George to be sure but their relationship was always one of friendship, they were never in love but lived a marriage of convenience. She rather regretted that she hadn’t me James earlier in her life. Her reputation ruined she knew that no self-respecting man would ever want her. Enemies they had become and then they were forced to work together when his son Michael and her daughter Cynthia falls in love and they elope to Gretna Green to get married. This is an emotional story that highlights the stark differences and double standards of adultery and divorce in the Regency period. It’s a convoluted story of two people trapped in circumstances brought on by their pasts. I could certainly understand James feelings upon finding that Mina was an adulteress but felt he was awfully cruel to her. Mina was an exceptional character, selfless and loyal to the bitter end. She was willing to sacrifice her self to ensure George’s happiness. No she had become a pariah she carried her fate with it amazing grace. What is an independent woman with great strength and endurance. James was a wounded man, still reeling from the betrayal of his wife, a man who had sadly lost his belief in love. The story is beautifully written and so wonderfully told with perfect pacing so as to showcase the developing friendship between James and Mina, the emotions they feel, and the growth they both experience as their journey continues. I found Michael and Cynthia delightful. I love the fact that James and Mina were older. My heart went out to Mina watching her endure the judgement of others. To say I was emotionally involved in the characters and story was a gross understatement. The duel point of view was done with such finesse and the author has an incredible talent for writing. I’ve not read one of her stories I didn’t enjoy but this is the best yet. This is a story not to be missed! Thank you so much Ms. Barnes for this wonderful story of a love that defied the odds.

After a twenty-year marriage of convenience to her best friend, Mina suggests they divorce so he can marry the woman he loves. At first he resists—the only remedy is to brand Mina as an adulteress. But his lover's unexpected pregnancy changes the landscape. When he meets Mina, widowed barrister James is struck by her beauty. But he quickly discovers that she's not only married, she's a scandalous temptress with no regard for her vows. He tries to suppress his attraction, but remains fascinated by her throughout the long divorce proceedings. Will the truth free him to marry the woman he can't forget? This original storyline made for an entertaining read. The major players were all admirable people doing their best in a society that imposed harsh punishments on people for seeking happiness and following their natural desires. Mina and James were both forced to overcome long-standing fears and prejudices in order to find love together. Ultimately, it's a beautiful, uplifting story with just enough intrigue to keep it interesting. Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

About the author

Born in Denmark, USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She's lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. But, most impressive of all, she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she's not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.