The Reluctant Widow - (Regency Romances) by Georgette Heyer (Paperback)

About the Book

In "The Reluctant Widow," Heyer intertwines a suspenseful plot with a sparkling Regency romance. Eleanor Rochdale finds herself married and widowed within 24 hours, and embroiled in an international spy ring.

Book Synopsis

"Lively, amusing...done to a turn!"--Kirkus Reviews

A fateful mistake...

When Elinor Rochdale boards the wrong coach, she ends up not at her prospective employer's home but at the estate of Eustace Cheviot, a dissipated and ruined young man on the verge of death.

A momentous decision...

His cousin, Mr Ned Carlyon, persuades Elinor to marry Eustace as a simple business arrangement. By morning, Elinor is a rich widow, but finds herself embroiled with an international spy ring, housebreakers, uninvited guests, and murder. And Mr Carlyon won't let her leave ...

What readers are saying about The Reluctant Widow

"Delightful and purely entertaining. The plot involves comedy, intrigue, espionage, cloaks and daggers, and things going bump in the night - served with a sauce of witty repartee that is the Heyer hallmark. Unforgettable."

"One of my favorites!"

"A delightfully funny and mysterious romp."

"Reading Georgette Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen." -- Publisher's Weekly

Review Quotes

" I was charmed by her characters and entertained by her wit and engaging plot... The Reluctant Widow is a must-read." -- Traci's Book Blog

" If you haven't read Georgette Heyer or would not normally pick up a historical romance, I strongly encourage you to give The Reluctant Widow a try" -- The Literate Housewife

" It's a very enjoyable tale with Heyer's usual quality prose and historical research enhancing the feel of the story." -- Curled Up with a Good Book

"Heyer did a fantastic job building up the suspense with lots of twists and turns in the plot and even threw in a little comedy for relief." -- Ex Libris

"I enjoyed reading as the story unfolded and we discovered something new with each page. With The Reluctant Widow, Ms. Heyer once again demonstrates her wit and attention to detail with this delightful book." -- Jennifer's Random Musings

"I was hooked from the get-go with The Reluctant Widow... a little bit of mystery, a little bit of farce but a fully, fun, fast read. This is probably my favorite Heyer so far. " -- Book-a-Rama

"I'd highly recommend The Reluctant Widow to any Austen fans, or anyone who enjoys historical fiction. " -- S. Krishna's Books

"If you are looking for good historical fiction with mystery and a dash of romance, pick up a copy of The Reluctant Widow ." -- The Book Worm

"Interesting characters and a well thought out plot made this into a fun read from start to finish." -- Linus' Blanket

"Mystery. Suspense. Great wit. Great characters. Fast-paced... Definitely recommended." -- Becky's Book Reviews

"The Reluctant Widow reminds me much of a classic mystery tale, with the plot moving at an increasingly frantic pace, filled with quirky characters and comic mishaps." -- Book Zombie

"This book was nothing short of pure delight...Heyer was a talented writer, indeed. " -- My Friend Amy

About the Author

The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or private life. She was born in Wimbledon in August 1902. She wrote her first novel, The Black Moth, at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; it was published in 1921 and became an instant success.

Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Heyer's large volume of works included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a barrister, and they had one son, Richard.