REVIEW: Lady Henrietta's Dilemma by Katy Walters

 

Lady Henrietta harbours a secret, so appalling, she cannot tell even her closest friend, the Lady Isabella. As her wedding approaches, it preys on her mind, and she pleads with her fiancé Lord Vaughan Bruges, the Marquess de Courres, to delay the consummation of the marriage. They have a shocking argument, in which Lord Vaughan refuses to declare any love for her, and to her anguish is unwilling to give up his mistress. Henrietta wishes to call off the marriage, but knows it would ruin her family's reputation. However, Lord Vaughan too harbours a secret, one that could break Henrietta's heart, even wreck her life. There is a certain prince, who is determined to have her, married or not, but what is his true title? A romance set in 1815 as the clouds of war gather over Brussels.

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RATING: 3 1/2 Stars

REVIEW: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and in no way shaped by receiving a copy of this book.

This is the second book from this author that I've read. I find her writing style easy to read, however, some of her storylines seem a little over the top to keep the reader engaged. The first book in this series, A Lady's Plight, had a more believable storyline. I found the smaller storylines of her husband "selling" her to be a little over dramatic, and perhaps not realistic. I'm not sure if that was condoned, or even done during this time period, but it just didn't seem to be realistic for me.

Despite the fantasy behind the storylines, I did enjoy the evolution of Lady Henrietta's character. I wasn't quite sure if it was due to the "certain prince", or if it was due to her own growing up, or perhaps a combination of both. By the end of the book, she went from a wilting, terrified mouse to a strong woman in her own right. I was proud of her.

While this book is mostly about Lady Henrietta, we cannot overlook the "other woman", Esther. As much as I wanted to dislike her, I could completely understand her and relate at times. I'm glad she found her own happy ever ending.