4 Stars!
Loved the middleclass setting, and the espeically that we get the explore the nuance of being a barrister! There is a suprising amount of social commentary as historical romances go, which I really enjoyed. A superb, nicely complex romance! Mina was perfect FMC material.

I love it when a book from a prolific genre manages to surprise me in some way. Here, the surprise comes in the form of an older-than-usual couple in Mina and James; as a person who herself has seen more than forty-twelve years, I find it reassuring to read about fictional older folks who are still sexy and dynamic. For those who prefer the standard twenty-something Regency, there's a relatively pleasing secondary couple in Cynthia and Michael, our protagonists' respective offspring.

Also different is Mina's status as a divorcée. Divorce rarely comes up in historical novels, and when it does, it's rarely done in such a way that the reader understands how horrific the fallout could be for the woman. We see it all in Mina's story, and it can be overwhelming because there really is no way for her to avoid it. The contrast between how women perceived as adulterers and men who keep mistresses are seen is stark and frustrating but no less realistic.

So that's where the book lost a star (maybe just a half star) for me. I wanted our hero to stand by Mina from day one, but he unfortunately is not so noble. Instead, he is a sanctimonious and self-centered asshole for a good part of the book, even after he starts to realize that Mina is not what she seems. His son Michael is hardly better; he professes to love Mina's daughter Cynthia fully, yet he steps back to "think about it" after learning one of her secrets. In real life, yes, the secret is one that would give most people pause, but in Romancelandia, I tend to want my heroes to be steadfast. And can we talk about the ex-husband? I get that he did Mina a solid, but leaving for America with his boo right after the divorce is final and not looking back to ensure that Mina is safe? Not cool.

In spite of this big gripe, I really liked this book. I knew there would be an HEA, but just how we would get there was a mystery. By the time we do get there, James mostly redeems himself in with his Grand Gesture, and then an epilogue set several years down the road gives us a glimpse of how well things turned out.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Trigger warning: rape (historical and off page), sexual assault

Whilemina and James certainly did make this book an entertaining and exciting read. I like that the book reads smoothly. The pace was pretty moderate. All the characters had some quirks about, but that is what made most parts in the book exciting. The romance was a little heated, but it was the steps along the way that was fun. I liked this book a lot.

I liked this story but there was alot going on. Childhood friends married to save the other from scandal but then divorce to save the other from scandal. The daughter new husband dies and she's in love with the son of the man the divorced mother fancies. Lol told you it's alot but I liked it.

London 1818

A journey to find true love and contentment that takes many twist and turns. I would say a second chance at love but although the initial hero and heroine loved each other, it was more as friends.

He had saved her many years ago, when she desperately needed a husband. He was her best friend and made the sacrifice for her. Now after twenty years, she wanted to return the favor and set him free to truly love another.

Unfortunately to do that, she had to put herself in a terrible light so that he would be able to gain a divorce.

She met the man that she felt could be the one, but after he heard of her reputation (which was not true) he could not pursue her.

A few years later, fate steps in and brings them back together. Will this be her real chance at love?
An interesting take I have not encountered before and really enjoyable!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Nine times out of ten, I love books from this author. This is one of those times. The plot is unusual and filled with surprises. Characters are relatable and elicit sympathy.

I had requested this ARC several months ago and since I know I'm more likely to enjoy one of Ms. Barnes' books than not, I didn't feel it necessary to read the overview before starting. As a result, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Reading book like this one is a reminder of just how far women have come, and a warning against allowing anyone to infringe upon or rights.

Mina and George, best friends since childhood, are married, but their marriage is one of convenience and contains no passion. From the beginning, it's clear George married Mina to save her daughter from illegitimacy. Now, Mina wants to repay the favor by divorcing him and allowing him to marry the woman he loves, who is now pregnant. Initially, George refuses, but eventually, he succumbs to her insistence. I hadn't realized just how harrowing an experience it would be for Mina.

Divorce was illegal and the only way to obtain one was to have witnesses in court swear that Mina had been unfaithful to George. This harrowing and humiliating public ordeal drags on for more than two years, during which time James Dale watches the proceedings and develops a disgust for Mina commensurate with the initial attraction he had felt for her the first time they were introduced. Fate intervenes in an unexpected manner to force them to spend time together, during which time James comes to realize he completely misjudged Mina. The only problem is, her reputation is so shredded, it seems beyond repair.

**POTENTIAL SPOILER (but only a little one)**
After the initial challenge of James broadening his mind to see Mina in a new light, and Mina's hesitancy to trust James because he is a barrister and she fears going to jail for perjury, they now face what may be an even bigger obstacle--changing the minds of the ton. Here, James' skill as a barrister works to persuade most of their peers of the unfairness of condemning Mina for her (assumed) behavior, when her husband was guilty of much more. But the key is that James is willing to walk away and experience life as an outcast if it means being with her. Mina learns to trust and value her own happiness (instead of putting everyone else first), while James also learns to trust (that not all women are like his deceased wife) and to recognize how unimportant the acceptance of others actually is when it conflicts with your own happiness.

It's a sweet story with multiple happy endings for multiple characters, including George and his new wife Fiona (and their children), and Cynthia (Mina's daughter) and Michael (James' son). In fact, there's enough here to create additional stories following each of these characters. I would certainly enjoy them.

I really enjoyed this book which added a unique aspect to HR — divorce. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to obtain a divorce back in the 1800’s — it’s crazy what our poor heroine goes through all in the name of love. I am glad all the characters got their HEA! This is a great introduction to a new series!

The setup - a woman about to be divorced and a man who cannot be involved in scandals - was perfect. A great story about not judging by external appearances and such a difference having older characters! Really enjoyed this one!

Sophie Barnes always writes an enjoyable book. This was book was great. It was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

There is A LOT going on in this book. I love Sophie Barnes generally: her characters are sweet, her plots are interesting, and the romance is steamy. This book had more than that going on, to its benefit, and also to my confusion sometimes. Did it need to be so complicated? The father doesn't approve of son's fiancee but is attracted to fiancee's mother and he isn't supposed to be.' Sort of parent-trappy in all the plot twists. The fiancee's mother, the heroine, is divorced from her husband. There was a lot of swearing in court about her being a trollop and floozy--thanks patriarchy. The reason the heroine married her husband is because she was pregnant from being raped by another man. She couldn't tell the truth because (spoiler), her daughter's father was an aristocrat. They married because they were friends who grew up together. When her husband of 20 years fell in love, she offered and forced him to divorce her because she wanted him to marry the woman he loved. Are you still following me?

So after the divorce, the ex-husband left with his new wife for Michigan to build furniture. (I know, this is ridiculous.) The heroine moves to the country and brings her daughter when the hero refuses to allow his son to marry her daughter. The hero takes his son to his parent's estate and they are neighbors to the divorce'. The kids meet and ride off to Gretna Green, and the parents are forced to follow.

The hero is a typical man of this time and storyline: boring, and a rule-follower. This story develops two stories as we read about the the children and the parents. Maybe it's one too many stories. Frankly, I was more interested in the heroine than anyone else. I feel like she could have just had some affairs, and had a great time. No need to do the whole falling in love thing.

I really love this author! This book so absolutely unique and sweet! I also enjoyed the dynamic of 2 romances happening within this book! The mother & daughter. I also can say how much I LOVED that the main couple were older!! We need more of this!! Wilhelmina is our main heroine who was married to her best friend for safety. They weren’t in love so their marriage was comfortable & celibate. George asks Wilhelmina for a divorce bc he’s fallen in love with a different woman. She agrees bc he deserves happiness. Their divorce takes 2 years & George goes to America for a new life. James is our hero who met Wilhelmina at a ball….which he thought she was beautiful & alluring but was married at the time. When he hears of her divorce, James can’t believe she was the center of the scandal and the cause. These two get to finally know one another bc James’s son wants to marry Wilhelmina’s daughter. I loved watching these two find their way to love & HEA. It wasn’t easy but both deserved a second chance at love! Just wonderful!

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

I really enjoy Sophie Barnes' books so I was excited to see a story from a new series.
Wilhelmina is married to her childhood best friend, who came to her rescue in her time of need. To give him the happiness he deserves to be with the women he loves, she must take on the role of adulterous so they can get a divorce which is near impossible in this time.
James is a respectable barrister who meets Wilhelmina one day at a ball where all of her adulterous ways come to light (or so it seems). His past experiences make him a little obsessed with following her story to the courtroom to fuel a deep hatred towards her. Then their respective children force them into a situation that makes him reassess everything he thinks he knows about her.
I really enjoyed this story because it really takes on a different side to relationships of that era. A look at what needs to happen for a divorce to happen and the end result to their reputation. Both Mina and James have such a hard time with believing they deserve love and don't know what to do when that opportunity is thrust at them. I was captivated by this story and I can't wait to see more stories involving James' friends.
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Sophie Barnes for my complimentary eARC copy.

When I see Sophie Barnes as the author, I don't even hesitate. I was rewarded with not 1, but 2 great love stories. The story of a divorcee finding love?? I wasn't sure I would like her but forged ahead anyway. Once I understood her whole story, I just kept cringing and hoping the injustice would finally be overcome by love.

Wilhelmina, our heroine, has just sacrificed herself for her knight-in-shining-armour-best-friend-whom-she-only-loves-as-a-brother husband. She feels she owes it to him after everything and wants to see him happy. Unfortunately, the night of the staged spectable to put the divorce basis in motion, she meets James. Fireworks followed by disaster as she is branded an adulteress right in front of him. Maybe he could have overlooked that had it not been for his own history as a wronged husband. He just couldn't see past his own pain and judgements for a while. Thank goodness for the kids of each, who fall in love. This throws the parents back into each others' company long enough for James to start asking some serious questions about why things don't match up--the horrible gossip and the woman's character he witnesses. Loved this HEA--and I was very relieved to see him step up.

James Dale a barrister will learn that things aren't always what they seem when he is forced to allow Wilhelmina a divorcee with a bad reputation to accompany him to find his son and her daughter who eloped. Close proximity shows James how wrong his feelings were toward her. His attraction to her and feelings for her put him in a quandry. After all she is not someone he should be associated with. A story of misconceptions, yearning for love and being a devoted friend.

Wilhelmina Hewitt loves her husband and will do anything for him, even go through a divorce for him. Yet, on the eve of her downfall, she meets Mr Dale, a man whose company she enjoys. Yet two years later, James Dale still shows her his hatred. When her daughter and his son, decide to elope, both Mina and James must join together to prevent their marriage, realising the scandal that will be forever attached to them. Yet, the more time James spends with Mina, the more he accepts that there is more to the divorcée than meets the eye.
This book has been one of the best reads this year. I loved both love stories with the romance between the two children of Mina and James, being quite sweet. James whilst so caught up in the law, begins to see a side of Mina that conflicts with the image that society has of her. Both main characters are so determined to do what is best, that they almost miss finding their own happy ending. The friendship that begins despite their earlier perceptions of each other, is one that had me captivated. The intensity of their feelings, both of respect and love, leap off the pages of this story. I was so appreciative of the chance to read and review this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Mr. Dale and the Divorcee by Sophie Barnes starts a new series titled The Brazen Beauties and if book one is anything to go by, we will discover some phenomenal women with its continuation. In book one we meet Wilhelmina and George two delightful children who grew up together and were best friends as their fathers were likewise. These two then proceed to lose their fathers together tragically and their bond to each other simply cemented making them as brother and sister, there for one another till a very harrowing bitter end, one find out as the story proceeds.

In regency times men of power take as they please as we discover how and why Wilhelmina finds herself pregnant and George finds himself brokenhearted because the women who are high born don’t marry gentleman’s because of love. What a sad sad time those days were if you asked me. This leaves George to save his best friend by marrying her so her child would not be illegitimate and creates a conundrum when a woman comes along that captures George’s heart. Left with no other solution as divorce was not quite the thing, the two hatch up an elaborate plan that leaves poor Wilhelmina a fallen woman and her dearest George free to finally find love.

Enter widower, Mr. James Dale at a ball whom lays eyes on Wilhelmina and is instantly drawn. But boy is the timing ever wrong as her husband accuses her of adultery and publicly shames her. James is shocked at how he could possibly have gaged her so wrongly for she is but just like his deceased wife, Clara, wicked and heartless. Being a successful barrister James watches the proceedings of the divorce in disgust and perceives himself as dodging a bullet.

A few years pass and James’s son presents him with the woman he wishes to marry asking for his blessing. Imagine James’s horrified reaction when the woman presented to him is none other than Wilhelmina’s daughter. That will simply not do as in James’s mine, the daughter must be like the mother. The story proceeds with Wilhelmina attempting to convince James without divulging her subterfuge to let the young couple be to no avail. James is simply too bitter over his own life experiences and thus he believes he is saving his son from the same disaster. This becomes the main hindrance of their HEA.

I started to really feel for the son and daughter as character because they were not overly judgmental as their parents, but then again, they hadn’t dealt with the deeper issues that had touched their parents’ lives. I was extremely upset at how extreme people treated Wilhelmina, you have to read the book to see what I mean. This in turn made me very upset at how George got away scot free. But I think I will not continue to tell all and let you readers make up your own minds as you enjoy the story. It grabbed my attention enough with Wilhelmina’s strength to have me looking forward to the next book in the series. This review was given on the ARC copy I received from the Publisher via Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.

Who doesn't love a Sophie Barnes novel? I'm fairly certain I've read most of her work and she doesn't disappoint! Her rich description and immersive scenes definitely hold my attention, just as much as the characters she creates and speaks for.

Mina and James, our two main characters are well above the classic regency era ages you normally see, which I loved. Each brought more believable baggage from their past into their scenes, and they seemed to have a better understanding of self, which might have been due in part, to their age which hovered in the 30-40 range. Not generally the norm.

Another normally unseen storyline was included here - Divorce. I was surprised to see this featured as a main topic, but it was definitely interesting to see how that played out in a bygone century. I shouldn't have been surprised to see the utter lack of control that Mina had as she agreed to divorce her husband. He flits off to parts unknown with his pregnant paramour and Mina is left to experience the fall out.

James Dale, barrister, was one of the biggest proponents of this. Believing everything he saw, despite the pair getting a hint of passion from each other before everything came about. It takes a long time for James to step away from his own past with his wife to see Mina outside of the things she had to say in the hearings.

And all of this unfolds when they come together to find their children who have run off together! What a wild ride!

While I loved these characters and how the story ended, it took a little extra effort not to fling this book across the room. It was at times frustrating and depressing how Mina's story unfolded. I love seeing where she ended when the novel finished, but getting there was a true journey of character. For me too maybe! Definitely worth a read to be rewarded at the end.

My opinions are freely given and they are my own.

I loved the character and how their romance developed. Especially loved the ending. I do wish there would have been a few less negative situation (it seemed like they were one after another). Interesting to learn about divorce in that time period. Overall very enjoyable just wish a little les drama. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was different from many of the other books of the regency age because it was about mature love and definitely about second chances. I'm not sure how realistic it is that Mina would have gone ahead with this without better reasons than given however it was perfectly readable if you ignore this and the fact that I don't believe it would be possible in 1818.

I received this from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review given above