The Reluctant Widow (1946)

This may well end up being spoiler-tastic, so look away now. Although, this being a Heyer Regency Romance, you pretty much know what's going to happen by the end of chapter 2, you just don't know how you're going to get there.
Elinor answers an advertisement for a governess and is pleasantly surprised to be met at the stagecoach by a carriage. The grrom asks if she's the lady that answers the advertisement and she concurs. Only they're talking about different advertisements. And so Elinor finds herself in the company of Ned Carlyon, who would like to marry her to his disreputable cousin Edmund. So begins a rollercoaster ride. Edmund is exactly as unpleasant as he is described, only fortunately for Elinor he turns out to be on the verge of death, so she becomes a wife and the widow in short order, and now owns his property.
From here things, if anything, become less odd with a mystery intruder and a missing memorandum about Wellington's plans for the Peninsular war all thrown into the mix.
The Carlyon family are a fabulous bunch, all real characters who all look up the Ned, the eldest. He's got into the habit of being in charge, so when he and Elinor quarrel, repeatedly, you know exactly what's going to happen at the end. And so it comes about. Delightful. ( )

Regency romance tells of a gentle woman who was forced to become a governess. She gets into the wrong carriage at the train station, which leads to a marriage and widowhood all in one night. But, even better it leads to adventure and romance.

A fun light read! ( )

First published in 1946 this Regency romance tells of a gentle woman, Elinor Rochdale, who was forced to become a governess.

Traveling to her next position she gets into the wrong carriage ...

Taking her not to her employer but to a gentleman's estate the result of this accidental misstep into the wrong carriage is marriage and widowhood all in one night. But, even better it leads to adventure and romance.

This is a favorite of mine as it includes so many fun situations. ( )

Don't tell my family, but I'm pretty sure this is the first Georette Heyer I've actually read, but I'll be reading a lot more in the future. This book was hilarious.
The Romance ? Check
The Historical Aspects ? Check
The Dog ? Check
The Humor ? Check
( )

This is the first Heyer novel that I really did not like. By the end I was rooting for the villain. ( )