No Regrets by Michele Ann Young

Caroline Torrington is an impoverished vicar's daughter with sisters to look after, so it would make sense that, when her childhood friend Lucas, Lord Foxhaven, asked her to marry him she would accept, but she didn't.

Caroline feels fat and dowdy, wears glasses and doesn't want to marry Foxheaven just because his father made it a condition for Lucas to get his inheritance, and she still can remember how relieved he was when she refused him the first time he proposed.

But, since then, a year has passed and Foxheaven is now decided he's going to marry her. Since her sisters are sort of suffering now that their father is dead and there is no money, Caroline reluctantly agrees to the marriage with the condition that there will be No Regrets between them.

Well, a couple of months ago when I read The Lady Flees Her Lord by the same author, I liked it quite a bit so I was hopeful I would like No Regrets, but sadly it wasn't the case, this book for me was a bit of a yawn, it went around in circles and at times I found it silly., there are misunderstandings and even a kidnapping that seem pointless sometimes. I also grew annoyed at how many times it was mentioned Caroline was a 'large' woman.

Grade:
2/3

The Lady Flees Her Lord by Michele Ann Young

Lucinda, Lady Denbigh once made a terrible mistake: she married Lord Denbigh who abuses her both physically and emotionally because she hasn't given him an heir and because she's both tall and plump and not traditionally pretty. One day, Lucinda decides to leave her husband and hides in the country posing as a widow - along with her newly adopted daughter Sophia - living the sort of quiet life she always dreamed off.

However, things change when Lucinda's landlord returns from the war. Lord Hugo Wasnted spent many years in the army and returns to Kent to find his family home practically in ruins - thanks to his father's obsession with having more children to secure the family line - and a young widow whom he finds very attractive living on his land.

His first impulse is to send her away, he doesn't need to be attracted to Lucinda or anyone, he doesn't want to marry ever again - he was married once before but his wife died - or have children; but Lucinda isn't going anywhere, not with the threat of her husband still lurking out there.

All right, first let me say that this is not a fluffy, lighthearted romance novel; the things Lucinda goes through are pretty awful but, that being said, Lucinda is a great heroine, both vulnerable and strong, very resourceful and smart. Hugo makes a fine tortured hero: a gentle man who was hardened by war, life and loss.

The writing is very engaging and it hooked me right from page one, I wanted to know more. There is plenty of mystery and a great cast of characters; as well as a twist I didn't quite see coming.

Grade: