Mr. West and The Widow

Sophie Barnes

Mar 2023 · The Brazen Beauties Book 3 · Sophie Barnes

About this ebook

He's a powerful landowner...

She's an irresistible wallflower...

For nearly a year, Victoria Leighton has shut out the world. Her sole focus has been on paying off the debt she inherited from her husband and securing a comfortable income. Unaccustomed to independence, to stepping out into Society and getting noticed, she ignores the cravings of her heart. Until a stranger arrives on her doorstep and presents her with a daring invitation.

Colin West hates complications. But when he seeks shelter from a storm and meets a reclusive widow, duty compels him to save her from her self-imposed prison. Soon, he's hosting a house party and doing his best not to fall for the kindhearted beauty. To do so would be disastrous. For if the scars he received in war have taught him anything, it is that he is incapable of instilling desire in any woman, never mind love...

Ratings and reviews

Two very wounded people did not believe in happily ever after. Victoria tried to save her home by bettering herself. Colin had a tough time overcoming his war scars. Together, they were supportive of each other and realized that maybe a second chance was worth it. I loved Victoria's smarts and Colin's willingness to help her succeed. The secondary characters added a fun and loving touch to the story. I found the story a bit longer than I felt it needed, but overall, I found it wonderful.

4.75 stars I received an ARC copy for an unbiased review! Whew there is a lot to unpack. Colin is the most in need of love and affirmation out of the three! Victoria is wounded in ways she doesn’t even realize. She doesn’t know she’s smart, beautiful, capable and sexy. Her deceased husband was trifling and she didn’t even know how much. The constant verbal abuse to her self esteem. In this way they are both victims. Victoria doesn’t understand or know what to do with her attraction to Colin.

What a wonderful cap to this series! I absolutely loved Mr. Dale's and Mr. Grier's romances, but this one is the best of the three. Mr. West has suffered so much - both during the war and since - so he makes for a perfectly sympathetic match to the forlorn Victoria, a recent widow trying to settle all her late husband's debts. I was charmed by their quiet friendship and was surprised - yet delighted - by the discovery of their past connection. This is a story as much about overcoming adversity as it is about taking charge of one's own destiny, and how finding the right partner along the way makes it all the more sweeter. I loved Victoria was bolstered and empowered by her new friendship with Wilhelmina and Olivia, and how Colin found his strength and security in his friendship with Grayson and James. Colin and Victoria have a wonderfully sweet HEA, and I also was thrilled to see Juliana find her HEA as well. I could not have loved this book more and highly recommend it for anyone who loves historical romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

About the author

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.