Another good historical romance that I enjoyed reading. Great characters, wonderful plot an pace was fast but perfect for the story. I do recommend Virginia and the Wolf.

A historical romance with an independent heroine and a protective, pining hero? Sign me up! I loved the premise of this book and that cover is just stunning. The writing was tight and very good. However the heroine was a bit too stubborn for my taste and the pacing was a bit too slow. Looking forward to future books from this author though!

This is the third book in The Society of Single Ladies series. You do not have to read the first two to understand what is going on. I liked this book but I was very frustrated with Virginia. She was to thick headed and did not listen to reason. Lord Wolverton was a dream. At times I am not sure what he saw in Virginia that kept him so in love.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A sweet and sassy regency romance. Predictable at times but still fun of drama and adventure. A great read.

Virginia Lady Dulverton has inherited a fortune if she builds orphanages and does not remarry for six years. The Earl of Wolverton is pursuing her romantically. As they engage and retreat in Regency England someone is trying to kill them. Why? It lies in the terms of her inheritance and is deadly. Enjoy this mayhem and romance .

Virginia cherishes her independence and her involvement with the Society of Single Ladies.  I am reminded of my corporate networking days when you wanted to have a few friends that you knew as you circulated in the way the single ladies from the society support each other at ton parties. There is however a fly in the ointment in the form of the Earl Of Wolverly who seems to be pursuing Virginia for a property that she refuses to sell but unfortunately has come to the notice of the ton and gossiping tongues are wagging.
The season is almost over and Virginia is determined to be rid of the city and head for her country estate with a quick stop at the property in question but the best laid plans are definitely are in for a rough patch. First the Earl is attacked at her front door and she's forced to render first aid and housing at the risk of exposure and scandal.  Then she's attacked at the posting inn she's putting up at and of all people Wolf (Wolverly) and two of her London servants come to her rescue. Then they're caught in shady circumstances and have to pretend to be an engaged couple. Things couldn't get worse, could they?
I think the lady doth protest too much and sees a lot of plots except the one that she should.  Wolf is an interesting character with a delightful mother.  The two make a good couple notwithstanding the danger, intrigue and adventure that surrounds them.  I will admit that it took me a while to get off the ground with the story but once I actually got going the story caught my interest and kept me intrigued.
As they say follow the money which makes for a very interesting plot line to say the least but all's well that ends well.  Another satisfying chapter for the Single Ladies Society.

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

Virginia and the Wolf, by Lynne Connolly, is available at booksellers on 11-17-2020. This is book 3 in The Society of Single Ladies series. I honestly had a little trouble with this story. There were many archaic words, I like them but there were enough that I had to stop reading to look them up. I'm also not a big fan of of the time period, the 1750's were really uptight. These two characters know how to make romance very difficult. They are a nice couple but things didn't get going fast enough for me. I do like the series. Single ladies banding together for support, help, and to help others. What a nice idea, wish it still went on.

This was an odd book to read. I honestly nearly gave up on it early on, because I was so frustrated with it, and then suddenly it took off and was full of conspiracies and road trips and smugglers and secrets, and became an absolute page turner. Very hard to grade!

My full review will appear on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

Virginia is a wealthy widow who keeps the world at a distance. Francis seeks a business relationship with her, which he hopes will lead to pleasure. She rebuffs him until she learns that he's in danger because of her. Can they rescue each other before it's too late?

I liked Francis right away. Even though he's a bit of a rake, he seemed warm, genuine, and caring. Virginia's coldness toward him—for no other reason than to assert her independence, it seemed to me—seemed unjustified, and I lost patience with her. However, it's a well-written book, and someone with more patience than me might enjoy it more than I did.

Thank, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

First, I can't stand Virginia's ex-husband. Now, that I've got that out of the way... This was my first book in this series. I enjoyed it, and did not feel out of the loop for not having read previous issues in the series. The story mentions The Society of Single Ladies, and therefore combines mystery and little romance. Great combo! Our heroine, Virginia, plans to remain single and independent after the death of her first husband (see my earlier comment). He is reaching from beyond the grave to still make her miserable. The Wolf, Francis, is determined to win her over. Once he's threatened to leave her alone, we are all hooked on what is going on. Great read, and I am happy to discover this series.

Virginia and the Wolf by Lynne Connolly is the third book in the series called The Society of Single Ladies. This novel introduces us to more members of the Single Ladies. Virginia is finally free of her husband. He has left her money and the expectation that she was supposed to accomplish certain things with the money and more importantly to tell no one.

However, she is sought after by single men, for her money. Francis, Earl of Wolverstone has started to show a lot of attention to Virginia, much to her chagrin. Until Francis is hurt, because of her...that is when things change and now Virginia is wanting to protect Francis and he her. They set off to discover why everyone seems to be interested in one specific property. That is when trouble finds them. Between Francis and the Society of Single Ladies, Virginia has a lot of help to figure out what is really happening.

I loved VIrginia and how she didn’t want to share her dead husband’s final words. I thought she was a strong character and was glad about Wolf helping her find her way. Virginia and the Wolf by Lynne Connolly was a fun read.

Hampered from beyond! ________3 1/2

A delectable widow tied up in knots by her late husband, bound to him as surely as if he were still alive. Virginia, Lady Dulverton's husband Ralph had been a much older man than she, a wounded hero. Now he's reaching from beyond the grave to continue to control her as effectively as she'd been controlled before his death. Firstly by her parents, then by her husband--not only in life but also for in death!
Ralph's will meant that her life was to be confined to setting up orphanages. Any future marriage could only be taken after ten years, otherwise she'd loose everything. Virginia is as just as much a captive to the man now as she has been during his lifetime.
As a member of the Society of Single Ladies, Virginia is stubbornly determined to cling to her independence as an oyster clings to a rocky outcrop.
Francis, Earl of Wolverley (Wolf) had loved her from afar since he first caught sight of her as a young debutante. This time he would make her his! First she had to trust him, and that's only one of many hurdles. Francis is a thoughtful and perceptive man. It was very easy to like him.
The action raced along, as did their relationship--eventually! Racey indeed!
There's quite a few dangerous and puzzling corners to turn before Virgina and Wolf find their true bliss.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

After shabby treatment from her parents and her late husband, Virginia, Lady Dulverton, prefers to hold herself aloof and apart from the world around her. There is one man who sees through her façade, the inconveniently attractive Earl of Wolverly. Now widowed, Virginia is finally relishing what little freedom her husband’s will affords her and trying to keep Wolverly at bay. But when his connection to her is made public and appears to put him in danger, Virginia abandons her hopes of keeping him at a distance and tries to help.

Francis Collingwood, the Earl of Wolverly, has built his fortunes to such an extent that he can no longer be ignored, despite the fact that his mother was born a commoner. He’s loved Virginia from afar for years and he won’t let her slip away now. When he is attacked and warned away from her, he becomes more determined than ever to stay by her side.

Frances and Virginia head for their country homes on the Devonshire coast in an effort to determine who is targeting them and for what possible reason. They stumble upon more than they bargained for including an organized smuggling ring and a love worth losing everything for.

I’m really not sure where to begin with this one. I love a hero who’s loved the heroine for years, especially when he’s also protective and determined, so Francis definitely fit the bill. What brought this down for me was the heroine herself. Yes, she was in a sorry situation thanks to her parents and her late first husband, but many of her decisions and her reasoning just didn’t make sense. Virginia was determined to keep her independence, but when it came down to it, thanks to her husband’s will, she had no real independence and was stubbornly turning a blind eye to that fact. She had no problem selfishly asking Francis to wait and rarely considered his feelings, even in situations where she was caring for him when he was injured. Her insistence on doing what she wanted, purely for the sake of having her own way, put them both in danger multiple times and could’ve been avoided if she’d been willing to be honest and work with/listen to Francis sooner. I wound up feeling like Virginia didn’t deserve Francis’ solicitousness, which was frustrating for me because, after her horrible first husband, she absolutely did deserve better, but the hurt she caused Francis and repeatedly so, made it hard to root for her. Francis put her first above all else while Virginia was always thinking of herself first and became annoyed when anyone cared for her welfare, even her servants. I can understand wanting security after an awful experience at the hands of a controlling husband, but Francis had more than proven himself and she still kept jerking him around and was very hot and cold towards him with very little regard for the fact that she was hurting him.

The writing here was good and I enjoyed the mystery, but the pacing felt slow and I wanted more from it since the plot felt a bit discombobulated, especially towards the end. For all of Virginia’s caution in her relationship with Francis and her supposed intelligence, she showed none of that with regards to the plot against them and that was maddening. Overall, I enjoy the concept of this series and hope for more, but this particular addition was rather flat for me.

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

Virginia, Lady Dulverton, feels safer keeping the world at a distance afterall she suffered abuse first from her parents then thinking she’s escaped only to suffer again from her husband. Now a widow, Virginia is wrangling with the terms of her late husband’s will. When she realizes Francis, Earl of Wolverley is in danger because of his connection to her, she feels compelled to help, regardless of the hazard to her own heart. Francis has worked hard to strengthen his inheritance. But he’s also found time to play. Despite his many dalliances, his affections have never been involved. Those belong entirely to a woman he could never have but now she’s widowed. When he’s attacked in the street and told to leave Virginia alone, he decides to do exactly the opposite. With the help of the Society for Single Ladies, they set out to discover who is targeting Virginia, and why. It’s a race that will lead to the Devonshire coast, a smuggling ring, and a love that, however perilous, is worth waging countless battles
This is the third book in the series & is easily read on its own. Another well written, fast paced book with strong characters. I loved Francis who has won society’s respect & is very wealthy through his own efforts & he’s quietened the gossip about his parents who whilst a love match came from very different backgrounds. I liked Virginia but I didn’t love & there were quite a few times when she deserved a good shake. I loved the journet to their HEA, it kept me turning the pages well into the night as I needed to find out how things were resolved. I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Virginia, Lady Dulverton, is a member of the Society for Single Ladies, who finds herself widowed but still suffering for her marriage. When she again meets Francis Collingwood, the Earl of Wolverstone, the feelings that she once had, begin to resurface. Yet when it seems that Francis’ life is in danger for knowing her, she is forced to consider what truly matters.
The historical accuracy of this book provides a realistic sense to the characters actions. Virginia’s behaviour and her response to Francis, understandable given the period in time. Both characters were given greater depth as a result, and the alternating POV, gave greater insight into the emotional baggage. This is a book with plenty of drama and interesting conversations between Virginia and Francis. A great read!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Virginia and the Wolf is the third book in The Society for Single Ladies series by Lynne Connolly. A story with an intrepid bunch of single ladies who solve crimes and find romance. While this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Virginia and the Wolf is well-written, nicely paced, and populated with lovely characters.

Francis Collingwood, the Earl of Wolverley wants to purchase his mother’s childhood home, but the owner Virginia, the widowed Viscountess Dulverton refuses to sell. Francis has long desired Virginia, but when they first met, she was married so he kept his distance and now that she has been widowed for almost four years and shows no signs of wanting to remarry, he wonders if now is the time to woo her. His mind made up, he set out to win Virginia, but it is clear that someone doesn’t want him getting close to her, first he is beaten and warned to stay away – a warning he ignores – and then later when he presses his suit to Virginia and is rejected, a more serious attempt is made to thwart him – an attempt that leaves him bleeding in the street in front of her house.

Virginia can’t sell the property due to the terms of her late husband’s will, but Francis is not the first person who has approached her to buy the property. She plans to set up an orphanage at the manor house in accordance with her late husband’s wishes and decides to go check out the property. She makes plans to leave when Francis comes and presses for her to marry him – she wants to but has a secret – she will lose everything if she marries before the 10-year anniversary of the late Viscount’s death. She will also lose everything if she tells anyone the terms of the will. She rejects his proposal, but when he is injured, she can’t walk away and has him brought into the house and tended.

Francis is sure he is not the target – Virginia is and he insists on traveling with her – something Virginia is not willing to accept – although she plays along. She gives him the slip, but soon regrets her decision when it becomes clear that Francis was right – she is the target. Thankfully Francis arrives and they are able to get away from the would be assassins – but their adventure is far from over!

This was a well written story with a very interesting mystery interwoven with a very sweet romance. Virginia and Francis are a wonderful couple and have a lot of chemistry and a lot keeping them from a HEA. The story is filled with emotion, secrets, smugglers, betrayal, surprises and steamyish love scenes. I did feel like the first half of the book dragged, but once they make it to the manor, the story takes off at lightning speed and doesn’t let up until the final page. This is the third book in the series and there are cameos from former characters, but the book is easily read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.*

I love the title of this story. We have another single lady’s story from the chronicles of The Society of Single Ladies and I found it an enjoyable read. These stories are so different from other stories set in this era. The story has an outside mystery but not a lot of angst (in my opinion) between the hero and heroine. While Virginia is dead set against remarrying for personal reasons that she does not want others to find out about, Francis (aka the Wolf) is trying very hard to woo her. The attraction comes off the page. While the mystery plays, the Virginia and Francis embark on a journey of trust and love.

Will she realize in time where lies the true wealth, not in a bank account but in the heart of someone who loves you ...

I love this series and each new addition to it is a delight to read.
With this crazy year and everything going all around what a pleasure to read about an enduring love, one time and distance did not lessen.
Francis is not the usual peer, despite his title, he had to build his way in society. Shunned because of his mother’s origins being seen as to lowly to be acknowledged, it made him a stronger man than he probably would have been if his circumstances had been different.
His only regret is to have meet Virginia too late, once had been married. Now a widow, he is determined to find a way to change her heart, to show her a second marriage will not be a hardship nor the surrender of her independence.
Yet unknowingly he will have to face more than he expected, not only the will of a woman to keep the freedom provided by her widowhood but also forces determined to keep them apart.
Virginia is a very complex character, between the mask she presents to the world and her inner turmoils, there is an ocean of differences.
She is knows to be the intractable widow, a woman who follows all the rules of decorum, while fending off all potential suitors. She truly believes by following her late husband’s will, she does the right choice, even if it means saying goodbye to all her dreams and any potential family she could have had.
She for so long had been left to fight for herself, she has forgotten what it is to rest on someone’s shoulder, and with her harshly won self-reliance, she has forgotten wealth and status do not always mean happiness and to hold on them for too long, it might imply loneliness is her future, even if it is would be a cozy aloneness.

Now as dire occurrences are closing in on them, she must make choice, decide if the price she had be asked to pay for her freedom is worth its goal. Or if by letting go of what she is hanging on to as it is her lifeline, she will be finally free to be herself, to live wholeheartedly when she is only following society’s and her late husband’s dictates.

There is a third character having a hold on everyone’s destiny, and while he is not physically present, he imprints this story by his schemings and the devious hold he has on Virginia’s destiny.
Ralph, her first spouse, is a monster, manipulating every aspect of his wife’s life, from how she is seen through society’s lenses, to who she is authorized to talk to and how she must conduct herself in his life and his death.
I would have unearthed his body and thrown his bones to the dogs.

5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Francis, the Earl of Wolverstone, has been in love with Virginia, Lady Dulverton for years but she married someone else so he put away his heart. Overly dramatic on my part, perhaps, but....Now, Virginia is widowed although she's still being controlled from beyond the grave by the ornate provisions of her husband's will. Chief among these, by the way, is that she can not remarry for 10 years after his death. She meets Francis again and then he's jumped in the street and warned off her. Why? That's the mystery at the root of this. They join forces to find out who is after Francis, who is trying to sink Virginia, and well, they fall in love. This is told by both of them, which adds to the story. I hadn't read the earlier books but this is fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fun guilty pleasure with likable characters and a zippy plot.