Just how do you misplace a husband? That is what Ms. Opal de Petra has done for 7 years. Off to work he went and never came home. For seven years she kept the house, raised the children, and managed to control the finances. A smart women caught in a terrible position. Luckily, he had a shipping business and it stayed profitable with him being misplaced. On the morning she declared him dead, guess who comes walking in the door. Now the real problems become her main concern. Just what to do about his arrival. Personally, I would have liked our hero to have a bit more courage and not be so meek. But that is just my thoughts. The book is interesting and left some entertaining thoughts about his disappearance.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

An unusual plot and storyline that makes it even more interesting to read.

A husband Misplaced by his family, turns up after 7 years , once he’s declared dead and his widow is looking for a lover.

But more is going on here, why did this situation come about at all, where’s he been and why.
Such an enjoyable read , don’t miss this first in an awesome new series from Emily.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Opal de Petras after living alone with her children since her husband Jasper disappeared with no contact years ago, has had him declared dead so that as a widow she can carry on with her life and build a new one without him, only to be shocked when he turns up alive and well. Jasper was the love of her life and she was devastated when he disappeared with no contact!
Jasper disappeared years ago to protect Opal and their children, he had received threats to say that for as long as he was with them, they would be in danger. He wrote her a letter to explain while he went away to investigate to find out who was threatening his family.
Jasper was still madly in love with Opal and on his return expected things to be as he had left them and share his wife’s bed, to engage with his family and meet his youngest child who he had never seen. I love the way each child has their own personality which shines through and the funny moments Jasper tries to deal with them.
A fun passionate read full of steamy moments about a couple who were lost to each other who find each other again and prove that a love as strong as theirs can last a lifetime. A great start to the series, I’m looking forward to the next story.

Thank you Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions on my own.

"The Misplaced Husband" is a first time read by Emily E K. Murdoch, new author to this reader. What can I say? I felt a little disappointed with this read as I anticipated this to be a good read based on the description.

Opal de Petras can finally declare her husband dead after being absent for seven long years. However, on the day of her freedom her missing husband, Jasper waltzes back into her life from the dead and expects her and their three children to acknowledge him to his rightful place. Hmm...I thought the hero was a selfish and pushy prick to assume that things were still good between him and his wife let alone the children. I also thought his reasoning for disappearing was weak and if he loved his family as much as he said he would have stayed and fought to keep them safe. The heroine was right to move on with her life and taking care of her children.

Was there angst between the two....not much but it was way more of that between the heroine and a subcharacter. I truly almost DNF this book because in the end it felt too unrealistic for me...unrealistic for the lame excuse the husband had for why he disappeared. One thing I found interesting and a first was the husband taking on the wife's last name and succession of title being passed down to the daughter instead of the son as you read in most historical regency romances. Just couldn't wrap my head around any male, especially those of the ton relinquishing his titled name and Griffin to a woman, especially a wife when asked. Far fetched🤔

This totally could have been a better and enjoyable read. Not sure about continuing the series but will try another book by this author to redeem her writing style.

The premise of this book ended up being more interesting than the actual book. I felt like there were parts of the story that would have been interesting but were ultimately left unresolved. They may be brought up in future books so I'll hold off on being too critical. I wish we had learned sooner that Jasper had left a note explaining why he was leaving earlier in the book. His confusion over why Opal was so upset with him made him seem like a narcissistic moron and I really did not like him for almost half the book. And if Opal had not had him declared dead how much longer would he have stayed away. He keeps talking about how much he loves and respects his wife so why didn't he tell her about the threatening letters? This missing letter was one of the plot points that I felt never got explained - who took it/what happened to it? Another is the mystery of who wrote the letters - I'm assuming we will learn more about that in a future book. I liked Opal, but was really confused by a lot of her behavior. She is keeping so many secrets from her husband and then rather than talking to him about the woman who comes looking for money from him she automatically thinks he was unfaithful and runs away with the children. After everything they had just gone through why wouldn't she at least confront him about this? And she runs off to her a woman who has pretty much been set up as an enemy to her and who she worries will gossip about her and what is happening with her family. I would have liked more about Jasper reconnecting with the children. The final storyline that ended up going was Mr. Ransome - he says he will come to see Opal but we never hear from or see him again. I'm intrigued by Coral and am curious to see how her own romance story goes.

3.75 Stars
Opal de Petras & Jasper fell in love with at first sight whilst he was visiting Rome. Three children later, misplaces her husband and after seven years with no word is tempted to look elsewhere for love. She is the matriarch of her family and the one responsible for their reputations, she must try to keep the de Petras family respectable. So when on the very day that her husband Jasper is legally declared dead - and she is declared a widow - he suddenly appears back in her life, he has a lot of questions to answer. Jasper de Petras knew there was no option but to abandon his family when the threatening letters started arriving .
The start of what promises to be a long series. I’m a little on the fence with this opener, it does introduce us to the de Petras family where the husband takes the wife’s surname & the eldest daughter is the heir but it also left many unanswered questions, which if I want answering then I've to read more books in the series. The characters were well portrayed I did liked them but didn't love them & thought Opal's reaction towards the end of the book was over the top & out of character. Overall an interesting start to a series that is different, yes I’ll read more as I hate unanswered questions
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

My first book by this author that I didn’t enjoy.

Opal is finally able to declare her missing (or misplaced) husband dead after 7 years. She’s already living the life of a widow, raising their three children and what does he do?? Come back on the day the lawyer signs his death certificate and she’s ready to move on.

After 7 years. I did not like Jasper at all. Selfish and pushy. Big red flag for me.

Opal always hoped he’d come back, but not knowing, the sadness, then being two parents and trying to be strong for 7 years and enduring the judgment of society, should have taken a toll on her during that time 1787-1794….but within a week, she’s smiling at him? Allowing him to disrespect her by judging her that she declared him dead??

Yeah, no. This is not a good start. Sorry, I do not think this series will be for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Quick read! This is the start of a new series, where Opal's missing husband turns up after 7 years. He left to protect against threatening letters, but returns to woo her back. Second chance romance with just the right amount of longing. And I'm curious to see how the rest of the series will unfold.

I just love Emily's books. The unusual characters and other-than-the-norm stories make for very enjoyable reading experiences. This first book in the de Petras Saga series introduces us to Matriarch Opal and her misplaced husband Jasper. Their story is complicated and unusual and yet their enduring love just won't be denied. I can't wait to read oldest daughter Coral's story next.
Thank you Emily E K Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

For me this book didn’t work very well, probably because I had trouble connecting with the characters.
This couple had a problem with communication (I kept wanting to knock their heads together), the hero wasn’t very intelligent, Society and both sets of friends seemed oddly incurious and the reader is left in the dark about a number of things (perhaps to be revealed in a later book).
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So disappointed with this. I was looking forward to reading it when I read the description and it was a complete let down. No realistic reason for Jasper to go missing for 7 years no resolution with solving who was sending the malicious letters didn't warm to either character. I received this book in exchange for an honest review as given above.

A wonderful story to start off a new series, well written and engaging. I enjoyed the romance, second chance love and the characters were well developed. I like how Opal and Jasper needed to find their way back to each other to finally reach their happy ending.

Opal - a strong person and I admired her for several things.
Jasper - though he did not appear to be a strong/ alpha type character, I (think l) liked him.

The story started off awesome but it did not keep my curiosity that high at several points - the mystery piece is yet to be solved - it's ok to cliff hang but at least a bit more details would have satisfied me.

Definitely looking forward to Coral's story and I really hope we get to see more of Jasper and Opal (I would definitely not feel like reading if they off any one of these two characters - the next in series has a name that has me worried in this direction).

Overall - 3.75 stars for a quick interesting read.

The Misplaced Husband by Emily E. K. Murdoch is the first book of the de Petras Saga. Opal has been abandoned by her husband after having three children. She is determined to find love again. Her husband has been declared dead. Things get complicated when he shows up alive. Jasper knew the best thing for him to do was to abandon his family after he started to receive threatening letters. When he discovers he has been declared dead, Jasper returns home in the hopes of winning Opal’s heart once more.

This book is a quick read. Jasper’s situation is very interesting!

She is woman who her husband left her and their children 7 years ago so now that she has finally declair him dead he comes back . What where the reason for his disappearance ? Will she forgive him ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful story that I read straight through! Emily E.K. Murdoch always creates unique storylines with multifaceted characters, a perfect amount of angst, and of course a happily ever after! 😍 This book begins a new series and it appears “The De Petras Saga” is going to have quite a few books, I am looking forward to reading them. This story is set in London, the late 1790’s, at a time when The French Revolution was occurring and some of the fear and situations are mentioned in the story. I will be interested to see if this continues throughout the saga.

I loved the concept of the De Petras family being matriarchal in all ways. That is not something seen in a lot of romance novels and it adds a nice twist. I can’t wait to see how Coral De Petras handles that responsibility as she makes her debut in the next book. 😉

I would have given this story 5 Stars easily; However, I found the last conflict between the H/h to be almost forced into the story and the heroine’s reaction felt OTT. Additionally, the mystery that is central to the plot was left unresolved along with a lot of questions regarding the heroine’s history and family. I am sure the questions will be answered throughout the upcoming books but it kind of leaves the reader hanging at the end of this story.

Overall 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥 and a promising beginning to a new saga.


📚I received an advance review copy from Dragonblade Publishing and this is my freely given unbiased and honest review 📚

The story is good, but I found Jasper seriously unbearable, which got in the way of me enjoying this. Why should anyone swoon over such a selfish man who risks his wife’s and daughter’s reputations so freely?

I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with the characters and the storyline! It started off a bit slow, but once it picked up, I really enjoyed it.

Opal has “misplaced’ her husband Jasper. He actually left her with no warning. After seven years, she declares him dead and, as a widow, decides to move on with her life. He shows up the next day. He apparently left a note, that Opal never got, telling her he was leaving to protect her from threats he got in his mail. Opal has secrets of her own that will come out in future books in this series. I received and ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.