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Broken Vows
234 pages
A classic Regency romp of resurrected husbands, broken promises, and the irresistible pull of a maddeningly charming rake.
What it feels like
Reading this traditional Regency romance feels like stepping into a delightfully dramatic parlor comedy where the stakes are matters of the heart. The pacing is brisk and engaging, driven by the crackling tension between a heroine trying desperately to be sensible and a hero who makes being sensible utterly impossible. The mood balances the genuine angst of past betrayals with the swoony, inevitable pull of a second chance at love. The prose is classic and witty, capturing the formal yet emotionally charged atmosphere of the era. It is a perfect afternoon escape for readers who adore the back-from-the-dead trope, exasperated heroines, and the chaotic charm of an unrepentant rake finally meeting his match in his own wife.
- Mood
- angsty
- swoony
- tension-filled
- Tone
- wry
- dramatic
- romantic
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- second chances · duty versus desire · temptation · forgiveness · marriage dynamics
- The writing
- Classic and slightly formal Regency prose that leans heavily into witty banter and emotional melodrama.
- The arc
- Moves from resigned grief and newfound stability to chaotic temptation and ultimately a hard-won romantic reconciliation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love old-school Regency romances featuring rakish heroes, exasperated heroines, and the back-from-the-dead trope.
Content notes
- past infidelity
- presumed death of a spouse
About the book
When Clarice had wed Julian Rown, she had borne with pride and dignity the outrageous escapades and infuriating affairs of this strikingly handsome, shockingly rakish Viscount. Only when news of his mysterious death at sea was confirmed by His Majesty's Government itself did Clarice feel free to search for a different and finer kind of love than her hot-blooded and unfortunately irresistible husband had offered her.
But just when she had found the contentment she hoped for with the almost excessively honorable John Prescott, Julien returned from his supposed watery grave -- as insufferable and attractive as ever. This time, Clarice vowed, she would not give in to his pleas -- a vow so much easier to make than to keep...
Description from Open Library.
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