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webbsusa's review
2.0
I really couldn’t get into this one. I didn’t find the characters appealing, especially the heroine. I have not read the previous books in the series, which may be the problem—perhaps I would have been drawn in by prior knowledge. But this one didn’t work for me.
sarah_moynihan's review
3.0
‘It is a truth rarely acknowledged—at least in public—that a wealthy widow is free to pursue a great many adventures. For two years, Jane has privately enjoyed her independence. Why should she remarry, even when the gentleman proposing is as wonderful as Gareth, Lord Kinellan? She entreats him never to ask her again. But as her Widows' Club friends—now all joyfully remarried—gather at Castle Kinellan, Jane begins to wonder if stubbornness has led her to make a terrible mistake...
Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?’
_________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jeanna Jaxon’s The Widow’s Club series and is a historical romance.
I thought the book was a bit slow to start, but once the two main characters came to an understanding the story really started moving forward and the mystery began to unfold. The plot really builds, Early on there is only the uncertainty of their relationship, but then some mysterious and dangerous circumstances are introduced. Then that builds even more to throwing the characters into a real life or death situation, leaving them stranded and unsure of their chances. The level of danger and consequence is quite high for the second half of the book and that really made the book for me. I really enjoyed the book and really the only issue for me was Jane’s character.
I’ll be honest I really did not care for Jane. Although she did grow on me as the story progressed. I was able to look past my annoyance with her to enjoy the book, but I found her quite unlikable. I assume, as the series is titled The Widow’s Club and Jane is one of those Widow’s that we are meant to have prior background knowledge of Jane and be quite familiar with her character over the course of the previous books. Perhaps that is part of the reason I didn’t like her, I wasn’t already familiar with her character and, if I was, perhaps I would have sympathized more. Both her disregard for Gareth’s feelings and her seeming lack of interest in her children(although supposedly this is her first husband’s fault and now she’s too nervous to change the nature of her relationship with her kids). However I will give props where due and she redeemed herself quite a bit in showing such strength during difficult and harrowing situations. But let’s be honest, Gareth deserves far more credit for being able to keep his patience while dealing with her crap.
I think I would definitely read another book by this author and as long as there isn’t another Jane-like character, I’m sure to enjoy it.
_____
I would like to thank Kensington Books, Zebra for sharing an eARC of The Widow Wore Plaid by Jeanna Jaxon with me. This is an honest review.
Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?’
_________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jeanna Jaxon’s The Widow’s Club series and is a historical romance.
I thought the book was a bit slow to start, but once the two main characters came to an understanding the story really started moving forward and the mystery began to unfold. The plot really builds, Early on there is only the uncertainty of their relationship, but then some mysterious and dangerous circumstances are introduced. Then that builds even more to throwing the characters into a real life or death situation, leaving them stranded and unsure of their chances. The level of danger and consequence is quite high for the second half of the book and that really made the book for me. I really enjoyed the book and really the only issue for me was Jane’s character.
I’ll be honest I really did not care for Jane. Although she did grow on me as the story progressed. I was able to look past my annoyance with her to enjoy the book, but I found her quite unlikable. I assume, as the series is titled The Widow’s Club and Jane is one of those Widow’s that we are meant to have prior background knowledge of Jane and be quite familiar with her character over the course of the previous books. Perhaps that is part of the reason I didn’t like her, I wasn’t already familiar with her character and, if I was, perhaps I would have sympathized more. Both her disregard for Gareth’s feelings and her seeming lack of interest in her children(although supposedly this is her first husband’s fault and now she’s too nervous to change the nature of her relationship with her kids). However I will give props where due and she redeemed herself quite a bit in showing such strength during difficult and harrowing situations. But let’s be honest, Gareth deserves far more credit for being able to keep his patience while dealing with her crap.
I think I would definitely read another book by this author and as long as there isn’t another Jane-like character, I’m sure to enjoy it.
_____
I would like to thank Kensington Books, Zebra for sharing an eARC of The Widow Wore Plaid by Jeanna Jaxon with me. This is an honest review.
bookishmya's review
I fell in love with Gareth and Jane almost immediately. Coming onto the story as they were getting betrothed seemed at fist like jumping into the middle of the story, but quickly realized that it was to be a tumultuous engagement. The struggles they faced to come together in a span of less than a week was very engaging. I especially enjoyed the side story of Bella and Lord Harold and hope we may see their story in the next book. I for one eagerly await the coming Little Season. Seeing Gareth and even Jane finally bonding with her other children was long awaited. Great story that kept you on the edge of your seat.
rainelle_barrett's review
3.0
The book was a little entertaining, but it threw me off some. For instance the romance between the main couple was totally skipped over as the two are already in a romantic interlude. Well that just deflated my expectations of a entertaining love story that builds through the story. Both main characters personalities are charming and sweet. I believe that they work very well together in the story.
kyeruhh's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
The summary of this book is a bit misleading, as pretty much all of what’s described happens in the first 40 pages. That said, I thought the plot after what was described in the summary was resolved was much more interesting. I didn’t love any of the characters, but it was still a fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death
kstep1805's review
3.0
The story was good but the dialogue felt stilted. Not sure if I missed a lot from not reading them in order but I never really got invested.
bridgets_books's review
4.0
While The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jenna Jaxon's Widows Club series, it's the first book I've read. Occasionally, I felt like there was a bit I might be missing from the earlier books, but it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the tale.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Set it in Scotland, and I'm in!
The book has incredibly described settings; whether it's a ballroom, estate gardens, gowns, or even a rustic forgotten hunting lodge, the author excels at putting the reader in the middle of the scene.
Jane seems to have her life figured out. After losing her husband in the battle of Waterloo, she has settled into widowhood and is quite happy. Love and marriage will only complicate things by taking control of her finances and life out of her hands. However, she begins to question whether she was wrong to discourage the offers of marriage from her lover, Lord Kinellan.
Gareth, Lord Kinellan, is a perfect hero for Jane. He respects her wishes yet knows there is more for them if they acknowledge their love. He sets out to win her over. Along the way, there are murder attempts and mysteries. This book certainly has enough plot to keep you turning page after page.
There were occasional instances that pulled me out of the story, but certainly not enough to take away from my recommendation of The Widow Wore Plaid. I can't wait to read more from Jenna Jaxon.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Set it in Scotland, and I'm in!
The book has incredibly described settings; whether it's a ballroom, estate gardens, gowns, or even a rustic forgotten hunting lodge, the author excels at putting the reader in the middle of the scene.
Jane seems to have her life figured out. After losing her husband in the battle of Waterloo, she has settled into widowhood and is quite happy. Love and marriage will only complicate things by taking control of her finances and life out of her hands. However, she begins to question whether she was wrong to discourage the offers of marriage from her lover, Lord Kinellan.
Gareth, Lord Kinellan, is a perfect hero for Jane. He respects her wishes yet knows there is more for them if they acknowledge their love. He sets out to win her over. Along the way, there are murder attempts and mysteries. This book certainly has enough plot to keep you turning page after page.
There were occasional instances that pulled me out of the story, but certainly not enough to take away from my recommendation of The Widow Wore Plaid. I can't wait to read more from Jenna Jaxon.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
jlee76's review
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Widow Wore Plaid had the promise of being an excellent book. The book finished much more substantially than it started. I enjoyed the plot, especially the last half. Unfortunately, I disliked the heroine Jane. I found her cold and selfish; however she did try and redeem herself, I had difficulty believing she had fundamentally changed. I enjoyed Gareth’s character more after he quit begging for Jane’s hand in marriage. Gareth was sweet and patient towards Jane, never getting irritated. I found that endearing, yet at times I had wished he had spoken up for himself.
That being said, I enjoyed the plot immensely. Once the couple came to an understanding, the story moved quickly and flowed well. There was some mystery and a lot of intriguing danger. The couple faced a barrage of difficulty and forged a stronger bond. The passion between Gareth and Jane was undeniable. There were four points of view in the story, making it more robust and well developed. One point of view teased for a new book or series.
The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in The Widow’s Club series. I would read another book by this author. Jane’s character was the only stumbling block I encountered, and I feel most of that is a personal preference. Bottom line, I liked the book, the storyline was solid, and I think the writing style and plot encouraged me to read more by this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Widow Wore Plaid had the promise of being an excellent book. The book finished much more substantially than it started. I enjoyed the plot, especially the last half. Unfortunately, I disliked the heroine Jane. I found her cold and selfish; however she did try and redeem herself, I had difficulty believing she had fundamentally changed. I enjoyed Gareth’s character more after he quit begging for Jane’s hand in marriage. Gareth was sweet and patient towards Jane, never getting irritated. I found that endearing, yet at times I had wished he had spoken up for himself.
That being said, I enjoyed the plot immensely. Once the couple came to an understanding, the story moved quickly and flowed well. There was some mystery and a lot of intriguing danger. The couple faced a barrage of difficulty and forged a stronger bond. The passion between Gareth and Jane was undeniable. There were four points of view in the story, making it more robust and well developed. One point of view teased for a new book or series.
The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in The Widow’s Club series. I would read another book by this author. Jane’s character was the only stumbling block I encountered, and I feel most of that is a personal preference. Bottom line, I liked the book, the storyline was solid, and I think the writing style and plot encouraged me to read more by this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
bridgets_books's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jenna Jaxon's Widows Club series, it's the first book I've read. Occasionally, I felt like there was a bit I might be missing from the earlier books, but it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the tale.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Set it in Scotland, and I'm in!
The book has incredibly described settings; whether it's a ballroom, estate gardens, gowns, or even a rustic forgotten hunting lodge, the author excels at putting the reader in the middle of the scene.
Jane seems to have her life figured out. After losing her husband in the battle of Waterloo, she has settled into widowhood and is quite happy. Love and marriage will only complicate things by taking control of her finances and life out of her hands. However, she begins to question whether she was wrong to discourage the offers of marriage from her lover, Lord Kinellan.
Gareth, Lord Kinellan, is a perfect hero for Jane. He respects her wishes yet knows there is more for them if they acknowledge their love. He sets out to win her over. Along the way, there are murder attempts and mysteries. This book certainly has enough plot to keep you turning page after page.
There were occasional instances that pulled me out of the story, but certainly not enough to take away from my recommendation of The Widow Wore Plaid. I can't wait to read more from Jenna Jaxon.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Set it in Scotland, and I'm in!
The book has incredibly described settings; whether it's a ballroom, estate gardens, gowns, or even a rustic forgotten hunting lodge, the author excels at putting the reader in the middle of the scene.
Jane seems to have her life figured out. After losing her husband in the battle of Waterloo, she has settled into widowhood and is quite happy. Love and marriage will only complicate things by taking control of her finances and life out of her hands. However, she begins to question whether she was wrong to discourage the offers of marriage from her lover, Lord Kinellan.
Gareth, Lord Kinellan, is a perfect hero for Jane. He respects her wishes yet knows there is more for them if they acknowledge their love. He sets out to win her over. Along the way, there are murder attempts and mysteries. This book certainly has enough plot to keep you turning page after page.
There were occasional instances that pulled me out of the story, but certainly not enough to take away from my recommendation of The Widow Wore Plaid. I can't wait to read more from Jenna Jaxon.
onthesamepage's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start with the one thing I wish I'd known before picking this up: you need to read the other books in the series first. This one does not stand well on its own. From the very beginning, you are dumped into a pre-existing relationship, so you've missed out on all the fun "getting to know each other" and "unresolved sexual tension" parts and skipping straight ahead to "we've been having some fun in bed, when are we getting married?" But Jane really likes her independence and isn't looking for anything more than a good time. Or so she claims anyway. Meanwhile, Gareth has babies on the brain because he needs an heir, so Jane's constant refusal to marry him is really ruining his plans. He's confident in his ability to talk her around though, but something strange is afoot and he keeps getting into weird accidents that could kill a person who isn't the main character. Will he manage to impregnate Jane before he runs out of time to do so?
Honestly, I'd say the hints of danger are the most fun parts of this book, but if nothing else it taught me a few new things about what I really don't like in my romances:
- overuse of nicknames like my love, dear, darling, sweetheart or anything along these lines. If there was a page where a character could go two sentences without using one of these, I must've missed it.
- the total and complete focus on that most important of things: impregnating the woman you love. Addendum: also the heroine really hoping she gets pregnant fast because that would be the ultimate proof of her love for the hero, even though she already has kids and isn't very involved with them. That is quickly blamed on her ex-husband though; he just didn't want her to be close to her kids, and even after his death she apparently never bothered to change that.
- 2D villains who are also just really stupid and secretly 5 year old boys who're just mad the world doesn't work the way they want it to. To clarify, I don't like this in any genre.
One thing I did like to see was the friendship between this group of women that formed a bond when they all lost their husbands during the Battle of Waterloo. I can't necessarily say I liked the characters because they all felt rather flat, but I like the idea behind it.
Speaking of flat characters, the characterization of Gareth can be summed up as "loves Jane, much strong, want babies", whereas Jane is more "dnw marriage no I do want, my purpose is to please Gareth". I don't feel like I learned anything about either of them, and because the start of their relationship is (probably?) in a different book, I can't say I felt much chemistry either. If you've had the chance to root for them as a side couple in other books, I can see this book being a bit more enjoyable than it was for me.
Let me start with the one thing I wish I'd known before picking this up: you need to read the other books in the series first. This one does not stand well on its own. From the very beginning, you are dumped into a pre-existing relationship, so you've missed out on all the fun "getting to know each other" and "unresolved sexual tension" parts and skipping straight ahead to "we've been having some fun in bed, when are we getting married?" But Jane really likes her independence and isn't looking for anything more than a good time. Or so she claims anyway. Meanwhile, Gareth has babies on the brain because he needs an heir, so Jane's constant refusal to marry him is really ruining his plans. He's confident in his ability to talk her around though, but something strange is afoot and he keeps getting into weird accidents that could kill a person who isn't the main character. Will he manage to impregnate Jane before he runs out of time to do so?
Honestly, I'd say the hints of danger are the most fun parts of this book, but if nothing else it taught me a few new things about what I really don't like in my romances:
- overuse of nicknames like my love, dear, darling, sweetheart or anything along these lines. If there was a page where a character could go two sentences without using one of these, I must've missed it.
- the total and complete focus on that most important of things: impregnating the woman you love. Addendum: also the heroine really hoping she gets pregnant fast because that would be the ultimate proof of her love for the hero, even though she already has kids and isn't very involved with them. That is quickly blamed on her ex-husband though; he just didn't want her to be close to her kids, and even after his death she apparently never bothered to change that.
- 2D villains who are also just really stupid and secretly 5 year old boys who're just mad the world doesn't work the way they want it to. To clarify, I don't like this in any genre.
One thing I did like to see was the friendship between this group of women that formed a bond when they all lost their husbands during the Battle of Waterloo. I can't necessarily say I liked the characters because they all felt rather flat, but I like the idea behind it.
Speaking of flat characters, the characterization of Gareth can be summed up as "loves Jane, much strong, want babies", whereas Jane is more "dnw marriage no I do want, my purpose is to please Gareth". I don't feel like I learned anything about either of them, and because the start of their relationship is (probably?) in a different book, I can't say I felt much chemistry either. If you've had the chance to root for them as a side couple in other books, I can see this book being a bit more enjoyable than it was for me.
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