Publication: 14th August 2024 – Boldwood Books
Autumn, 1816…
Lady Ashby is grieving the death of her beloved husband, just two years earlier. Although still young and beautiful, Isabella is resolved never to marry again, and plans to leave London, return to her parents’ Yorkshire house, and resign from society before the year is over. But first, she wants one more taste of life…
Isabella has written a list, the contents of which, if discovered, would create a scandal that neither she nor her family would recover from. A list of things she would like to experience, just once more, before she surrenders herself to the life of a widow. And she knows just the man to help her: her friend, handsome and honourable Captain Leo Winterton.
But Captain Winterton has a secret of his own. He is in love with Isabella – and when she makes her most improper proposal to him, he is powerless to resist her, even if she is resolved never to love again. Can he persuade her they are destined to be together? Or will their impropriety be discovered, to the ruin of both?
Lady Isabella Ashby is only twenty years old, but she’s already a widow and, two years later, she is still grieving the death of her husband, whom she loved deeply. She knows she will never love somebody as she loved him and she is resigned to a life alone with her parents in Yorkshire, but, before retiring from society once and for all, she is determined to have one last fun adventure and she makes a list of things she wants to experience. The activities on her list all require the “help” of a man and for that she has chosen the kind, handsome, and noble Captain Leo Winterton. What Isabella doesn’t know is that Captain Winteron has been in love with her for the last two years, so he is very happy to help her with her list, even if he knows that, at the end, he will have to give her up.
I really enjoyed What the Lady Wants. It is swoony, spicy, entertaining, and so romantic. There are a series of misunderstandings, interfering relatives intent on match-making, sexy and steamy scenes, lots of fun and witty banter, and two fantastic protagonists. Isabella is a strong female protagonist who, throughout the novel, goes through a journey of rediscovery and development: her grief for her husband and her conflicted feelings for Leo are relatable and authentic. And Leo is a good man who would do anything for the woman he loves, even if that love is unrequited. Their love story is beautiful, exciting, and very-well written and I loved it from starting to finish!
A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Emma Orchard grew up in Salford and was given tickets to the grown-up library at the age of 11 because she’d read all the children’s books and the librarians were sick of the sight of her. She became obsessed with Georgette Heyer and hasn’t stopped reading her novels since. She studied English Literature at university and went on to work at Mills & Boon and behind the scenes in television and in publishing.
Emma’s first two Regency romances – The Second Lady Silverwood and The Runaway Heiress – were published in 2023. A Duke of One’s Own is published on 22nd April 2024, and What the Lady Wants follows on 14th August.
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