I really loved the storyline. The character were fun. I always love when the women are adventurous trouble makers! It's always a bonus when they snag a wealthy titled peer before they even realize they have been snagged!

I wasn't sure about this book at first. There is a lot going on with the main character. Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick is not only a widow, but she has a very demanding father who continues to rule her life. He has threatened to cut her off for good unless she marries the man he has chosen. Of course, he chose the worst possible person, a truly vile man. Georgie agrees because she doesn't feel she has a choice. When she is kidnapped, things just get more complicated.
Fortunately, her brother's best friend, Robin St. Just, finds her and rescues her. There is some confusion about whether or not the kidnapping was a ploy by her brother to get her out of the unwanted marriage. The farcical happenings continue with more people getting involved and misunderstandings abounding.
This book was interesting in that the characters are something else. They both have very strong wills and a desire to see Georgie married to a man she loves. Watching them try to figure everything out became a little tedious and repetitious. There were many moments when I thought the story could have wrapped up, but it just kept going. Not a bad story. It has romance and some adventure in it.

2.5 stars rounded up

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick earned her father's wrath years ago when she married a vicar's son for love rather than the odious earl her father had betrothed her to. But now her beloved husband has been killed and Georgie's options are limited for the next six years until she can claim her inheritance from her mother. Her father has agreed to take her back if she goes through now with the first marriage he originally arranged for her, so Georgie agrees and cherish the last few weeks of freedom she has. Until she and her lady's maid are kidnapped on the way to her father's house. They manage to escape and luckily encounter her brother's friend Robin Kerr, the Marquess of St. Just, in the coastal town of Portsmouth. St. Just knows he must help his friend's sister, even if she despises him, and soon he has them sailing away, though the lady is somewhat less than willing to accept his aide. Rob sails for his home with Georgie's family, kidnappers, and abominable betrothed in pursuit, but he and Georgie grow to form an unlikely bond and soon it seems they'll be strong enough together to take on anyone.

There may be spoilers ahead as we dip into rant territory.
Before I'd even made it to 20% on this book, Georgie had already firmly planted herself as one of the dumbest heroines I've read. She knew her kidnappers were dangerous and that her father couldn't care less about her and she still wanted to go "home" to said father. It amazed me that she'd even consider a place where she apparently suffered at the hands of a cruel father to be home. She displayed no autonomy, despite being a widow and having some options; even lacking money she could've easily secured a position as a paid companion. Her initial vitriol toward Rob also made no sense to me; it was definitely a case of the lady protesting too much, but I just didn't buy it or the obsession with propriety coming from a 24 year old widow. Her brother and maid were also ridiculous in their insistence on propriety and chaperonage and the maid spoke to Georgie in ways no maid would've dared speak to her mistress. This insistence also made Jemmy, Georgie's brother, quite the hypocrite from what I've learned of his and Elizabeth's story, though I haven't read it, and this made me dislike him enough that I really don't want to read it.

Beyond these rather technical issues I had, the storyline had so many pieces and different side characters telling things from their point of view that it became very farcical, rather than having a dramatic effect that actually held my attention. Georgie went from hating Rob (for no discernible reason), accusing him of kidnap after he rescued her and was trying to help her and keep her from running right back to her kidnappers, to her slightly liking him, to her suddenly being madly in love with him. Combined with a play by play of every ludicrous thought Georgie had, and there were many, I just didn't buy it and didn't feel any chemistry between her and Rob. Several phrases were also repeated ad nauseum, such as Georgie's plan to "ring a peal" over some man's head (this was made all the more ridiculous by her total lack of autonomy or gumption), and the many references to Rob as a pirate when it was made clear many times that he was nothing of the sort, ever. In fact, Rob is vilified by both Georgie and her brother, supposedly his best friend, for really no reason.

I found myself skimming this one because I had to DNF a book, especially for review, but I was disappointed. I hoped for improvement but as it wore on, the plot just grew even more far-fetched and nonsensical, with rushed love scenes and ridiculous behavior from Georgie's father, who is somehow magically forgiven in the end. Much of this was just a nonsensical farce to me and didn't really live up to my hopes for it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the story of Georgina and St. Just.
Georgina is a widow, having married the love of her life, a vicar, at the age of 21, without her father's approval.
St Just is the best friend of Georgina's brother. He's a Marquess and a Sailor. He sails his yacht back and forth between Cornwall and Scotland.
On one such trip, he literally runs into Georgina, who is running from kidnappers. He knows he must do something to help her out but his ship is about to leave. It's too dangerous for her to just leave her. So there's only 1 solution. Take her with him. So he kidnaps her, locking her into the state room until they are well ar sea.
And so the adventure begins. I really loved the hero, St. Just. Georgina I like at first. She was strong minded but became a little wimpy towards the end.
I want to thank netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon is the fourth book in the Widow’s Club series. I have enjoyed this series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I believe there will be one more book as there is still an unmarried widow.

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick was going to be forced to marry a man she did not love, however she was able to avoid that marriage and marry her love. Unfortunately not all ends well when he died. As a widow, she had to rely on her family to help her, but her father refused unless she married the man he chose from the past. Only to be kidnapped and then to be kidnapped a second time, maybe. Georgie just doesn’t even know what to think about her brother’s friend Robin Kerr, Lord St. Just. Perhaps he is a pirate and maybe he didn’t kidnap her, but saved her.

Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon was full of twists and turns. Georgie was both cowering and spirited by turns. I liked St. Just and his mother was a hoot. Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon was a good read.

A fast-paced, bouncy and fun romance, "Much Ado About a Widow" is full of kidnappings, escapes, ships, humor, and rapier sharp wit by both the main characters Rob and Georgina. They may not have liked each other much the first time they met, but after a rocky start, this time is different. Both show their true selves and give each other more of a chance- with the end result that they realize they are pretty perfect together. Both have a lively sense of humor and enjoy excitement, and are stubborn enough to ensure they stay together in the face of danger. Georgie's tyrannical father is determined she wed the sleazy alcoholic (but supposedly very rich) Lord Travers and both men chase Georgie and Rob all the way to Cornwall to try and have their way. But neither Georgie nor Rob are the type to give up at the first hurdle, and with a little help from their friends, they'll pull out all the stops to make sure that love triumphs.

I loved how well matched Georgie and Rob were. All of Jaxon's characters were fully formed and practically bubbling with life -except for Georgie's father and Lord Travers who were overbearing and nasty characters. I was a little disappointed that the villains got off so easily, but I am apparently more blood-thirsty than our heroes. This was my first book by Jenna Jaxon, but definitely won't be my last. A fun and enjoyable book from first to last.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I dont read many regency books these days but this one sounded interesting. It was good and there were twists and turns with the characters. learning about each other. Since she has escaped from being kidnapped and then made to go along with her rescuer, they didn't always get along. The ending was a little rushed but the story was decent

3.5 stars

Georgie had her epic love story with her deceased husband Isaac, and has now resigned herself to marrying the odious Lord Travers, the man she jilted several years ago. On the way back to her father's estate, she is kidnapped by a group of men and taken to Portsmouth for some unknown purpose. Georgie uses her wits to escape, running into the arms (literally) of her brother's best friend.

Rob is in Portsmouth to get supplies for his family's tin mining operation, and welcomes Georgie, her maid, and her dog onto his ship set to sail back to his family estate in Cornwall.

From the beginning, there is tension between Georgia and Rob. They have an attraction to one another, but mostly they get on each other's nerves at first. Over the 3 or so days of the voyage, Georgia and Rob become more friendly and develop a relationship. A lot of the tension in their relationship once they have decided to be together has to do with the marriage contract she signed with her father and Lord Travers, but they are determined to get out of it somehow.

I enjoyed seeing the hero and heroine become closer over the voyage, but the chemistry wasn't always believable. The dialogue felt stilted at times, and the advanced copy had several editing issues that will hopefully be taken care of before publication.

I loved this book about Much Ado about a Widow. Georgina was a lot of fun but St. Just is just a swoony hero. I loved him.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the 4th in the Widow´s club series.... but the first one I read. I liked it so much, I went back and read the first 3 books. For the first reading of this book, I did not know Georgie really and Rob. Once I read the other books, the details filled in for me and now, I love them. In the prior books, we learn why her Father is the way he is, her brother´s love match to another widow of the club, and the issues she has when reunited with Rob for her rescue. I don´t expect "realism" when reading historical romances, since none of us actually lived there/then. Besides, where is the fun in that? However, as a widow remarried myself, this series stuck a chord with me. Conflicting emotions shown by the characters rang true for me as Georgie has to learn to trust and accept a second chance. I was so happy to really get to know her and Rob. This was a fun and easy read, and of course included a lunatic for good measure. It also included my personal heroine, Lulu (who we meet at the end of book 3). I am now waiting for volume 5? There are a few stories I´d really like to hear more about!

What a lady is to do when her road is paved with dents and holes ...

This is my first read by this author Mrs Jenna Jaxon, and even if I felt it might have been better to read the other books in this series as it introduced some of the protagonists seen interacting here, it still can be read as a standalone.

While I quite liked St Just from the beginning, I can’t say the same for Lady Georgina.
First, to play the obedient spineless daughter to her abusive father, with her upbringing she could also have sought a paid position, instead she let him sell her to the higher bidder.
Plus what a ninnyhammer she is at time, unable to add two thoughts to her brain, ready to be harmed again because she has a sort of dislike for the man who rescued her.
What surprised me even more was she is described as a spirit young woman, taking matters in hand when here she is painted more as a feather-brained lady, acting first, thinking later. Holding a grudge to St Just when he means only to protect her.

After the turn of events as they progress in the story becomes far fetched, they have no time to breath before a new challenge rises and it appears constant.
As for the romance, it fells short, a few days and they became friends then suddenly they were in love.
I came to like a bit more Georgie by the end but the sequence of events rushes everything around them, it became far from believable.
Why a 3.75 rounded to 4 stars.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Zebra through Netgalley.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Much Ado about a Widow is a nice meaty regency romance. The hero is fun and fierce in equal measure. He’s handsome too, of course. The heroine is a widow whose father is a little too possessive. He didn’t approve of her first husband, whom she ran off with, so he’s bound and determined to match her second match to his original pick. It’s all a bit silly honestly, widows don’t have to remarry, but as her first husband didn’t come from wealth, and she’s been cutoff from her father’s funds, he makes her do his bidding in order or become a cast-off poor relation. There’s a sex scene or two. They’re appropriately delicious, though truncated.

I enjoyed the read and would recommend it to a friend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It took me a while to get through this book. The author goes into too much minutia and the dialog weighs the story down. There is way too much information, the readers don’t need to know every silly thought in Georgie’s head, and oh what a silly woman our heroine is! As a widow I was really annoyed at her simpering. Her maid had more gumption than she did. Several of the events in the story were not plausible and it was like reading an installment of the Perils of Pauline!

I just couldn't raise must enthusiasm for this regency romance. I started off quite liking the widowed Georgina. I applauded her actions in escaping her kidnappers. Eventually I came to like her lapdog Lulu. I particularly liked Rob's mother Lady St. Just.
I could even understand why Georgina might decide to bow to her tyrannical father's wishes.
However once Georgina was rescued by her brother's friend Robin Kerr, Marquess of St. Just, (and that was early in the piece) I felt that the storyline devolved into a farce with the very occasional highlight, such as the way Georgina and Lulu worked their magic to thwart Travers' despicable behaviour. Grr!
Mostly however I found myself flipping through the pages trying to reach the end rather than reading avidly. No being glued to the pages here. There was just too much happening, things became somewhat ridiculous and the promise of the beginning didn't follow through.

A NetGalley ARC

I liked the idea of Rob and Georgie more than the reality, I’m afraid. More time was spent with escapades and accusations than any real amount of romantic development between the two main characters. It felt like potential dramatic themes were picked up and discarded just as quickly. The villain Travers commits some serious, terrifying acts —including attempted rape —but he’s treated like a cartoonish villain more than a real threat.

This historical romance of Ms. Jaxon evokes a myriad of emotions. The reality of how women where treated along with the way of the 'ton' adds bite to this tale of romance.
Widow Georgina Kilpatrick is resigned to her fate, an unwanted marriage, but fate intervenes and disrupts the plans. She, along with her maid and spaniel are kidnapped. We take the roller coaster ride of resignation, then fear and her escape with her. She doesn't trust her rescuer, but ends up finding another lasting love by the end of the tale. She comes into her own as she deals with her 'adventure'.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC and recommend this historical who love an Alpha hero, a competent leading lady and a touch of angst and humor.

Loved this book and will be ordering it to carry in my store. Loved the hero St Just and look forward to more by the author!

Lady Georgina "Georgie" Kirkpatrick is living under her father's thumb. He has arranged a marriage with the most odious man. Georgie long for escape, but be careful what you wish for, and all that. Georgie finds herself the victim of a kidnapping. She flees her captors only to run straight into the arms of Lord St. Just.

Rob, Lord St. Just, doesn't know whether to believe Georgie. Being close friends with Georgie's brother, he must offer Georgie his protection. Rob takes it upon himself to set sail for his home in Cornwall with Georgie in tow. Neither has any idea what they've just got themselves into.

MUCH ADO ABOUT A WIDOW is part of THE WIDOW'S CLUB series by author Jenna Jaxon. There were many things to like in the story even though I found the details leading up a little long-winded. The characters were witty and fun, the plot was good, but I felt the ending was not completely satisfying because it seemed a bit rushed. Still, adventure abounded with Rob all but being a pirate and Georgie his stowaway, LOL. Their story was both sweet and captivating. Fans of Ms. Jaxon will surely enjoy this installment.

This was a fun read. A little silly at times with kidnappings and overbearing families but I definitely liked Rob and Maggie had some sass for a HR heroine. I will need to check out more of these Widows Club stories.

Regency Romance
Lady Georgina is traveling across country to her newly betrothed, a loathsome man by all accounts. Her beloved husband has died and her father has made this new match. And one doesn’t cross her father. Suddenly she is kidnapped but handily escapes into the unsuspecting but game arms of Lord Rob. Like a pirate he whisks her away on his schooner. Father, loathsome fiancé and protective brother are all in pursuit.
The reader will feel less angst and more humor while reading. There is no lack of excitement in this plot from the heroic rescue of Georgina’s pet from the ocean after he’s gone overboard to the many times Rob must outsmart or outfight Georgina’s many attackers and ‘rescuers.’ Georgina is plucky and amusing while Rob is adventurous and sees it all as a great GameStop least at first. Secondary characters are cannily and humorously drawn.
I would recommend this book to my patrons.