by Doreen Roberts
|
| List Price: | $5.50 |
| Average Rating: |  |
| Lowest New Price: | $0.39 |
|
 |
|
No Editorial Reviews yet
Customers who bought this item also bought
Average Customer Review:
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
 Loved it!, 2006-08-12
THE ENGLISH WIFE by Doreen Roberts
August 12, 2006
Rating ****
THE ENGLISH WIFE was yet another enjoyable book from the NEXT series published by Harlequin. A widow, Marjorie Maitland, thinks that her husband had led a double life. In his will, he has left a cottage located in England. This in itself was a shock, and after searching for answers from his lawyer, and looking through her deceased husband's paperwork, she learns that Brandon had known this woman for as long as Marjorie and Brandon had been married. But she is not quite convinced that Brandon was having an affair all these years.
Marjorie, who was never really happy in her marriage to Brandon, knew there were no answers for her in Seattle. She goes to England to find this cottage where that "other" woman is supposedly living rent-free. What Marjorie learns at first confuses her, as it is not what she had expected. But she eventually realizes she now has a family in England, and it changes her life. Marjorie had no intentions of staying in England, but she falls in love with the quaint little village of Miles End, and as she grows to know and love the people who live there, she begins to form attachments.
Marjorie also meets an Englishman who becomes friendly with her, and he unexpectedly invites her out for drinks. Marjorie is afraid to make any serious commitments to anyone so she keeps her distance, confusing Dan as she sends him mixed signals. She doesn't realize it, but she is falling in love with him. But she does not think he feels the same way, knowing he is still mourning a wife he had loved deeply.
The longer Marjorie stays in Miles End, the more confused she becomes about everything, and she keeps postponing her trip back home to Seattle. She feels that Seattle is where her real home is, despite the fact that she has a new family, new friends, and no reason to return to the states.
THE ENGLISH WIFE is a wonderful story about a woman who learns to live again after the death of a husband who showed little love for her during their marriage. It is also about a widow who has no strong ties to her current life, but who finds a new life in a foreign country. The reader will enjoy seeing England through her eyes and experiencing her fear as she moves to a new country. They will feel her courage as she slowly learns to take chances. She is afraid to be hurt again, as she was hurt by Brandon, and it takes a lot to change Marjorie's mind about falling in love again. She has a very difficult time trusting her instincts and letting people inside her heart. Marjorie refuses to be fall for a man who she believes still loves the wife he lost a number of years ago.
The author, who is a native of England, paints the English countryside with picturesque words that detail the simple beauty of a small English village. One will want to venture out and explore this quaint village of Miles End, and will love how it feels to be out in the English rain, or how exciting it could be exploring ancient ruins just as Marjorie and Dan did.
The supporting characters are just as interesting as Marjorie is, and are more than one-dimensional characters. Gillian, the illegitimate daughter of Brandon and Eileen, starts off as a very unhappy and austere woman, whose only goal in her life is to take care of her three young children. But Marjorie changes all that, and with her help, Gillian learns there is more to look forward to than watching her children grow up. And Dan, the Englishman that shows an interest in Marjorie, is a sweetheart who helps Marjorie fall in love with the little village of Miles End, and teaches her that there is life after the death of a spouse.
Marjorie was a frustrating character, because one will feel that surely she couldn't be so afraid of love that she'd make any excuse to run away from it. At times she seemed to be one foolish woman. But despite her faults, the story was entertaining, the writing was highly descriptive, and the subplot involving the sad story of lost love between Brandon and Eileen definitely kept this reader interested. Marjorie's questions are finally answered at the end of the story, allowing her closure and understanding of a man who she felt deep in her heart never truly loved her. THE ENGLISH WIFE is highly recommended. - Courtesy of LoveromancesandMore
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Enchanting, 2006-07-01
This is one of the best books I have read this year. Margie travels to England to find out why her husband, who recently passed away, owned a cottage she never knew about. Also to find out why a woman was living there rent free. Margie discovers more than she bargained for. She not only falls in love with the village. She also falls in love with the people in the village. Gladys is one of my favorite characters she is very wise and understanding. The village is described beautifully, I could imagine myself at the top of the lighthouse looking out. I was so happy for Dan and Margie, I couldnt help but smile. I do love a happy ending.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Wonderful book!!, 2006-05-29
Let me start off by saying this it is not usually the type of book I even consider buying. I only bought the book so I'd have what I'd thought would be a 'light' read over Memorial Day weekend. I am really glad I took a chance and bought it.The book wasn't near as 'light' as I thought it would be. At times I cried and at times I laughed. The author really makes you feel like you know the characters! I actually read this book within 24 hours and was upset halfway through when I realized the book wouldn't last much longer.
The main character is a woman who hasn't had the chance to experience many joys in her life but at 46 gets a chance to live. Her husband dies suddenly and through her grief for a less than loving husband she discovers he had a secret that has altered her life till now, and with alot of consideration, decides it's her life and she must face facts. Its somewhat predictable but nonetheless well worth reading!!
I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, solid, triumph over heartache read!! I for one loved it!!
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
strong character driven tale, 2006-05-25
In Seattle, attorney James Starrett informs Marjorie Maitland that her late spouse fifty-four years old investments consultant Brandon left her a cottage in Miles End, Devon in England. She had no idea that they owned property overseas that he bought three months after their marriage, twenty-seven years ago. The final shockers are an Eileen something or other resides rent free in the cottage and the photo of a strange woman with the note "I'm sorry" on it.
Though one not used the venturing out, Marjorie decides she must know the truth by uncovering the secret that her spouse hid from her in their almost three decades of marriage. The truth is across the ocean in a little cottage where Eileen something or other lives. Marjorie knows what she might learn could devastate her, but England is her destination.
Readers will accompany Marjorie as the audience will want to know what happened and why Brandon hid what he did from his wife. The mystery is clever as it enables the reader to observe a middle age woman forced to put her grief aside because her emotional pull is the truth and its potential affect that her married life was built on a lie. Doreen Roberts provides a strong character driven tale.
Harriet Klausner
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
|
Store Categories
|