Review: Not Quite a Wife Mary Jo Putney

Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

James, Lord Kirkland, owns a shipping fleet, half a London gaming house, and is a ruthlessly effective spymaster. He is seldom self-indulgent. . .except when it comes to the gentle, indomitable beauty who was once his wife.

Laurel Herbert gave James her heart as an innocent young girl--until she saw him perform an act of shocking violence before her very eyes. That night she left her husband, and he let her go without a word of protest.

Now, ten years later, a chance encounter turns passionate, with consequences that cannot be ignored. But as they try to rebuild what was broken, they must face common enemies and a very uncommon love. . ..

Mary Jo Putney has amazing skills when it comes to writing historical romance and this story is proof positive of those skills. She takes a story of innocent young love and turns it in to a grand scale adventure full of emotional turmoil and immense passion. Laurel Herbert is one of the most fascinating heroines I have ever read about, her dedication and hard work made her stand out from the usual heroines of the time but she had just enough self-righteousness to make her less than perfect. Lord Kirkland is the stuff book boyfriends are made of and darned if I didn't fall in love with him, not that I'm surprised by my reaction because this formidable man was so easy to lose my heart to. The supporting characters were beyond agreeable and I look forward to going back and reading each and every one of their stories. And for those who don't already have their own tale I can't wait for them to get one. If you are looking for a beautiful, entertaining historical romance this is a must-read.