By chance!

Mr. West and The Widow (Brazen Beauties #3) by Sophie Barnes  

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A young widow struggling to make ends meet as her estate groans under the debts her dead husband had accrued, and for which she is now responsible.

A survivor of the Egyptian Campaign against Napoleon, West is badly disfigured and hides away from all. Returning home from an inn during a storm he’s forced to detour and seeks shelter at a property that turns out to be inhabited by his fallen comrade Richard’s sister. A woman he and his comrades had looked for for twenty years.

Victoria doesn’t shy away immediately from his injuries but neither is she comfortable, but that’s for her own reasons.

In transpires she needs guidance in estate management and Colin West makes an offer for her to come to his home and learn. With the reassurance of company to act as chaperones, Victoria agrees.

Of course there’s a cad about and Victoria is somewhat shaken at that encounter.

A Beauty and the Beast trope, with sidelines of second chance romance, the story was at times a little stilted. Was that because both leading characters are hesitant, or because the chemistry between them was a tad unsure? 

I’m conflicted. 

A well told tale though not as pleasing to me as Mr. Grier and the Governess.

An Independently Published ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.