Scan barcode
emmalb1984's review
4.0
The Runaway Countess falls in love whilst hiding from her husband. Lucinda, Lady Denbigh, is trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage to the odious Lord Denbigh who abuses her both mentally and physically. Finally plucking up the courage to leave, she leaves home in the early hours of the morning, and, whilst waiting for the stage to take her away, unwittingly becomes responsible for a young girl who she names Sophia.
Posing as a widow, she rents a cottage under her new persona as Mrs. Thomas Graham, and settles into the village community hoping no one will uncover her true identity.
Lord Hugo Wanstead, a former Captain in Wellington’s army, haunted by what he witnessed in the siege of Badajoz, returns home to hide himself away whilst he recovers from his wounds, only to find he has gained a new tenant in “Mrs Graham”, and nearly running down young Sophia with his horse the first time they meet.
The story is well written, descriptive and engaging as Hugo and Lucinda fight, and eventually give in to their attraction to one another, although Hugo insists he cannot commit to anyone, and Lucinda isn’t actually free to marry, although, of course, Hugo doesn’t know this.
Naturally, Lucinda’s past comes back to haunt her when Hugo is introduced to Denbigh at a gaming den called The Missing Countess, so named by Denbigh with a portrait of Lucinda hanging in room. Realising he has been deceived, Hugo heads back to confront Lucinda and remove her from his land.
The scenes at the beginning describing Lucinda’s escape from the marital home are pacy and exciting to read, however the plot did seem slightly lacking tension in the middle section as, although Lucinda keeps expecting Denbigh to track her down, there doesn’t seem any danger of this happening until Hugo makes his visit to London, and Denbigh eventually (and inevitably) catches up with Lucinda.
The plot regains its strength after the truth is revealed, and there are some tense, gripping, page turning moments as the plot gathers momentum towards the end, and you really do root for Hugo to forgive Lucinda and for the two of them to have the happy ending they deserve.
A good escapist Regency read not set in a ballroom for a change, with a solid plot and two likeable characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Posing as a widow, she rents a cottage under her new persona as Mrs. Thomas Graham, and settles into the village community hoping no one will uncover her true identity.
Lord Hugo Wanstead, a former Captain in Wellington’s army, haunted by what he witnessed in the siege of Badajoz, returns home to hide himself away whilst he recovers from his wounds, only to find he has gained a new tenant in “Mrs Graham”, and nearly running down young Sophia with his horse the first time they meet.
The story is well written, descriptive and engaging as Hugo and Lucinda fight, and eventually give in to their attraction to one another, although Hugo insists he cannot commit to anyone, and Lucinda isn’t actually free to marry, although, of course, Hugo doesn’t know this.
Naturally, Lucinda’s past comes back to haunt her when Hugo is introduced to Denbigh at a gaming den called The Missing Countess, so named by Denbigh with a portrait of Lucinda hanging in room. Realising he has been deceived, Hugo heads back to confront Lucinda and remove her from his land.
The scenes at the beginning describing Lucinda’s escape from the marital home are pacy and exciting to read, however the plot did seem slightly lacking tension in the middle section as, although Lucinda keeps expecting Denbigh to track her down, there doesn’t seem any danger of this happening until Hugo makes his visit to London, and Denbigh eventually (and inevitably) catches up with Lucinda.
The plot regains its strength after the truth is revealed, and there are some tense, gripping, page turning moments as the plot gathers momentum towards the end, and you really do root for Hugo to forgive Lucinda and for the two of them to have the happy ending they deserve.
A good escapist Regency read not set in a ballroom for a change, with a solid plot and two likeable characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More...