What a Widow Wants

November 5, 2018
Jaxon’s uneven third Widow’s Club Regency (after Wedding the Widow) features Fanny Tarkington, recent widow of the brazenly unfaithful Stephen, whose “desire for dalliance” gets disrupted when Matthew Lathbury, her former lover, seeks to claim her now that she’s available. Desiring freedom and fearful that Matthew may prove as unfaithful as Stephen, Fanny repeatedly rejects his proposals, though she happily engages in “sexual congress” with him—as she did during their four-month affair three years into her marriage. Matthew’s faithful adoration and Fanny’s stubborn resistance both feel perplexing, as does his inexplicable abandonment of Fanny when she reveals that her daughter, Emma, is his biological child, something she only realizes after seeing them together. With the notable exceptions of Matthew’s mother and Fanny’s brother-in-law, the supporting characters lack distinguishing characteristics. While slowgoing initially, the story’s pace and suspense pick up when the potential scandal of Emma’s true parentage becoming public presents a genuine obstacle to their marriage, Fanny’s in-laws seek revenge for her infidelity, and Matthew rides to the rescue. But the exciting closing chapters can’t really make up for the lackluster rest of the book. Agent: Kathryn Green, Kathryn Green Literary.

November 15, 2018
Fanny, Lady Stephen Tarkington, is emerging after the required year of mourning, ready to enjoy some flirtations. She is astonished to find Matthew, Lord Lathbury, a former lover, immediately proposing to her yet again. Her marriage to a cheating husband left her wary, and she takes time to let Matthew court her, despite her in-laws' eagerness to be free of responsibility for her and her young daughter. She and Matthew have to reconcile how their past relationship ended before they can embark on a life as husband and wife. The in-laws become more aggressive as they hear that Fanny was involved with Matthew while married to Stephen, and she and her daughter find themselves in serious danger. Fans of Jaxon's unique, fast-paced Widow's Club series, including To Woo a Wicked Widow? (2018), will enjoy revisiting the sexy Harvest Festival and the antics of the other members of the club. Jaxon fans may also enjoy Ella Quinn, and vice versa.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)