I've really enjoyed the first four books in the Willful Winterbournes series! Each book has a carry over of characters that take us through these love stories. Graham Ashdowne, Marquess of Grantley has been mentally scarred from a childhood trauma and has become a recluse because of it. Mary a widow from a abusive marriage has decided to live her life to the fullest but when she meets the Marquess of Grantley she can't help herself from being drawn to him. Things take a turn when they find themselves betrothed in a pretend engagement. Sandra Sookoo stories are always interesting with flawed characters who manage to grow and yet retain their personalities which captivates you from the beginning until the very end, sizzling passion, scandalous family secrets but with family unity, an unwelcome suitor with nefarious intentions that will keep you reading until the very end.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Just loving those Willful Winterbournes! Graham, a reclusive Marquess and Mary, an independent widow, forge an unlikely friendship that leads to passion and love. They traverse a long road to get to their HEA. Another winner from Ms. Sookoo! DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
Thank you Sandra Sookoo, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Lovely, Historical Romance

As if Graham did not have enough trouble with his stutter, now, scandal knocked at his door. However, there was one widow that might make his life much easier. Mary was not looking for romance, but an affair was quite acceptable. When she was caught in a scandal with Graham, the two pretended to be engaged. They might not have been looking for romance, but love found them, anyway. Mary did not care about Graham's stutter. She worked to help him to gain confidence. Despite his empty coffers, he did not want her money. Could she trust that to be true? He was protecting her from an unwanted suitor, and she was helping him find his voice. Could they accept that harmony they found and make it permanent? I enjoyed this lovely story and would recommend it to lovers of historical romance. I appreciated that it was a romance between two people who found one another later in life, and I loved that Mary accepted Graham despite his stutter when others mocked him.

This is Book 4 of The Willful Winterbournes series. After an abusive marriage, Mary is now a widow. She has no desire to be tied down again, and it just going about enjoying all society has to offer. When an annoying suitor won't accept her rejection and leave her alone, she accepts Graham's protection, which comes about accidentally after they were caught in a compromising situation. Graham himself is dealing with his own family troubles and scandals, after finding out the Marquess of Grantley was not his real father. As Mary and Graham carry out the ruse of a fake engagement, desire and passion begin to ignite between them, and they grow closer and also develop a unique friendship.
This is a sweet and passionate, well-written romance and the story pulled me in right from the start and kept my interest till the end. The characters were well-developed and interesting and I was immediately endeared to them. The story was very entertaining and a wonderful addition to the series. I look forward to reading more!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a continuation of the Willfil Winterbournes series, and I feel that it is absolutely necessary for you to read at least the one short story prior to this one to get some context as to the family drama that unexpected unfolded, and how the characters relate to each other.

Graham Ashdowne, the Marquess of Grantley, his brother, and sister, have suffered witnessing the breakdown in their parent's marriage, and did not understand the loss of their father's affection for the last many years. He inherited an estate that his father appeared to do everything possible in the last few years to ruin, and was now forced to economize, possibly sell some unentailed assets, and consider perhaps having to marry an heiress to save their coffers. He feels stifled by his burdens and unprepared to take on Society because of his own crippling insecurities, including a nervous stutter, lack of confidence and shyness, and his own inexperience with women, despite being in his 40s.

So imagine how he must feel when suddenly the Earl of Ettesmere, Arthur Winterbourne shows up and informs him that he and his siblings are not actually the children of their father, the prior Marquess, but are all actually Winterbourne's by blood. This just contributes more to Graham's sense of being unworthy, and more to his personal burdens as he now deals with the pending scandal, the issues with the estate, and how to inform his brother and sister of what he has discovered, as well as how to navigate his new added family, and Society.

He decides to dip a toe into Society by attending a masquerade one night, and while there, he is targetted by an attractive widow. Mary Pellingham is enjoying her widowhood, after a trying and abusive marriage. She is left with wealth and independence, and enjoys discreet liaisons with no intention of having her freedom taken from her by engaging in another marriage, especially as a husband has far too much power over women at the time. As it is, she has been having to fight off the unwanted courtship of the increasingly persistent and aggressive Lord Middleton. But in the meantime, she has discovered Graham at the masquerade and is hopeful of persuading him into a tryst. Graham is excited and seduced by the lovely and attractive widow, and they have a sensual encounter in a hidden away space at the masquerade. Unfortunately they were overcome by their time together and an imprudent amount of alcohol, and were found in a compromising situation the next morning by their hosts - leading to an announcement of an engagement.

Neither Graham nor Mary intend for the engagement to lead to marriage, but they wanted to prevent further scandal in a short time period, and Mary was intrigued by Graham and liked the idea of introducing Graham to carnality. As they spend time together, they become more than just lovers, and embroiled in each others lives and dramas, including the persistent unwanted attentions of other suitors, which is where the guarding aspect of the title comes into play.

I enjoyed the story, but really it was not the romance of the merry widow Mary and Graham that drew me in, but the continuation of the family drama that draws Graham and his family into the Winterbourne family, and how it impacts him and his siblings. It intrigues and saddens me because of how it affected the Dowager Countess of Ettesmere, Arthur's mother, as they all thought she and her husband had an enduring love, then to find out he was cheating with her good friend for years, fathering her three children. Her heart must be broken, and I want to hear how that plays out, especially with Arthur and other Winterbournes welcoming Graham and his siblings into the Winterbourne family. This is quite the soap opera tale playing out in ebook form.

Don't get me wrong, I like the reverse story line of the experienced and sexually awakened widow enjoying her freedom and finding joy in teaching and building the confidence of the sexually naive, shy, man. That was a fun aspect of the story, and poor Graham obviously needed to find some kind of joy in his life with all the other burdens he had to deal with - let the man at least have some fun in his life!

4.25 stars out of 5

This novel is enchanting and fun. It's exciting to spend time with the heroine and watch as her tale unwinds. This is a great summer read both for fans of historical romance and for romance readers who are looking for great characters who find themselves in unlikely but exciting situations.

Guarding the Widow Pellingham. I simply adored this story. Graham and Mary while they are a marvelous couple, they are also a sensual couple who takes pleasure in their coupling. I loved everything about the book. The fact the the writer put at the forefront of Grahams determination to beat his stutter had me very excited to read the book.
It was Mary that’s the best antidote to Graham accomplishing his fears. This is an entertaining stories with some twist that will take by surprise. I will say this with a section of the book, where Graham was fighting with his adversary. The talking in between or during fisticuffs was awkward to read. I don’t know. It’s the constant sparring words during the fighting, that was off for me.
I enjoyed reading the book. I look forward to reading more books from this writer. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very steamy book. I skipped over the steamy parts so I finished it in less than a day. There is a back story to this story, which is explained but would be better understood if you read the previous books. I always enjoy an underdog story. A main part of this book was overlooking things in other people. In this case it was a speech impediment. Wonderful story line in amongst the steamy parts.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book

A bittersweet tale of acceptance & empowerment!
From the first spark of attraction, bashfully awkward flirting and underlying binding connection, Graham and Mary drew me in. They had me fully invested in wanting them to be together as it became so heartachingly clear how much they needed each other.
Suffering with emotional trauma as a teenager, has manifested into a disabilitating stammer that causes Graham no end of anxiety, distress and has detrimentally crippled his self-worth and confidence to a painfully scarring degree, that you can't help but want to soothe his aches and see him rid the notion he is any less because of it. Mary in all her vibrancy and confidence, seeks joy and happiness where she can, inspite of the demons she carries, as a victim of past abuse, that still haunts her. Together they radiate this perfect blend of vulnerability, fragility and strength, as they so endearingly grow to accept each other wholeheartedly, that you're compelled to follow on their journey as you ache to untangle their fate.
Developing a bittersweet, touching tale about acceptance and the empowerment it grants, that bloomed from the bonds of friendship, shared intimacy and sexual awakening as they ride out the wave of scandal, so enlightening-ly together, on the waves of a fake engagement. Delightfully, nurturing self belief, under a blanket of love infused acceptance, that slowly coaxes them from their protective shells.
In all its raw endearing tenderness, roads of heartaching uncertainty, anxious struggling setbacks, unrelenting harassment and moments of touching victories and the life altering steps taken to overcome their vulnerabilities and insecurities and ultimately be together.
Having jumped into this series at book 4, I will definitely have to hunt out more from the willful, joy seeking, Winterbournes as the warmth, sense of family and deep affection, they emit in waves, is clear to see and I'm sure made for some enticing, scandal infused fun stories in previous books so evident from their comforting presence throughout this quick, charming read. Well written and touchingly insightful romance between two not in the first bloom of youth but refreshingly in their 30s and 40s.

Guarding the Widow Pellingham by Sandra Sookoo is the fourth book in her Willful Winterbournes series. You can read it and enjoy it without having read the preceding works.
The story is about an unusual male protagonist, Graham, who is a titled, broke, stuttering, older virgin and an unusual female protagonist, Mary, who is a wealthy widow who has elevated herself into a higher class and is bold and flirtatious.
A scandal leads them to announce a fake engagement but, over time, their attraction deepens.
I was more intrigued by many of the side characters than the main characters. Graham could be too self-deprecating and mopey and Mary was too anachronistic for my taste. Also, the author reuses several words and phrases repeatedly which I dislike.
Overall, if you are looking for an easy read with a simple plot and steamy scenes, look no further. However, if you want more period accuracy or a dashing hero, continue looking.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story.

An awkward hero, Graham Ashdowne is forced to face his father's destruction of his family's future, but that was the least of his problems. A visitor drops evidence of an even greater scandal on his desk, thereby opening Pandora's box. Obviously, one way to solve his problems is to marry a wealthy heiress, but Graham has too much honor for that and he battles within himself to overcome both his defect as well as his pride. Meeting the outrageous widow Mary Pellingham opens new vistas for him, and whilst he can best serve her by keeping her safe from an unsavory character, Mary sees past the awkwardness and begins to show him how to take his stand in society. Unfortunately, the rejected suitor just will not give up, thus putting all their lives in danger. The novel is well-written, exciting, and suspenseful, but it does come to a good conclusion with both Graham and Mary finding hope for the future. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Graham Ashdowne, the Marquess of Grantley and the widow, Mrs. Mary Pellingham, may seem like an unlikely couple. They covered up a scandal with a fake engagement, but deep down is it really fake? They both carry scars from their past, but are drawn to each other because of them. Only time will tell. A sweet passionate romance of a couple who fight for each other and fall in love.
An open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Guarding the Widow Pellingham by Sandra Sookoo is one of her many books in which she deals with the disability plaguing one of her characters. In this case it is stuttering, brought on by bursting in on his mother, and a man who was not her husband, engaging in athletic sex when he was fifteen. Graham Ashdowne, the Marquis of Grantley was still afflicted by that even as he was in his forty-first year. Not only that, but he was dealing with the near bankruptcy of his estate, due to his father’s carousing and womanizing in the last years of his life. He had thought they loved one another, yet they were killed in a carriage accident as they had been on their way to London to look into the possibility of divorce. A visit from the Earl of Ettesmere put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. Meanwhile he had allowed his brother, Edmund to convince him to attend a masquerade ball. He ended up happy he had come because there he met Mary Pellingham and had the best night of his life . . . until the next morning when they were discovered, somewhat the worse for wear, and Mary explained away the situation by saying they had become betrothed the evening before. Would the scandal of his life ever dissipate?

Sookoo has endowed her hero with many excellent qualities: kindness, loyalty, a penchant for telling the truth. He was also very handsome. Mary had sworn off marriage after her husband, with whom she’d been very much in love, proved to her that being in love and being married were not all they were cracked up to be. She was a well-written character who embodied many of the same characteristics of Grantley, plus self-confidence. The plot was different and interesting. It’s not too often that one’s physical flaws are the main plot points in a book, except for Sookoo’s. The book read beautifully. It’s pacing was excellent, even containing quite a bit of introspection, as it did. I always enjoy Sookoo’s work as I know it will be original and heart-rending. I highly recommend his book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Guarding the Widow Pellingham by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #SandraSookoo #GuardingTheWidowPellingham

The character's in this are somewhat unusual or at least Graham is having a stammer and being a virgin at age 41 are both unusual although linked to a troubled childhood. He was very likeable. It took longer to warm to Mary as she just seemed a bit shallow at first but thinks do improve as we get to know her. No real angst apart from Mary's unwillingness to put herself at a man's mercy again after a violent relationships and a bit of a villain who is after her money and try's to force her to wed. An enjoyable read all round. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Graham Ashdowne, Marquess of Grantley is a shy man with no self confidence. He suffers with a stutter and has stayed away from society. While he is struggling to get the family finances on track he receives a further blow to his confidence.
Merry widow Mary Pellingham is enjoying life without her abusive husband. There are however certain comforts that are difficult to find without causing a scandal.
This historical romance has unusual characters. This is a stand alone read, but part of a series. It is full of scandal and emotion. Family, in all its forms plays a major part in the story.
An enjoyable read.

Graham Ashdowne, Marquess of Grantley stutters. He has avoided Society because of it, but has decided it time to find a wife and produce an heir. Matters are made worse by the poor financial state of the Marquessate and some scandalous family secrets. After years in an abusive marriage, Mary Pellingham is enjoying her widowhood. When Graham and Mary meet, the world changes for both of them. The chemistry between them sizzles. This is a steamy and emotional romance. The story shows acceptance, support, and what it means to be a family, especially a member of the Winterbourne family. A great addition to the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed.

I started this book by really liking the premise, but unfortunately, I didn't connect with Mary.
She was a bit too forward for what I'd expect from a regency romance, but I adored Graham, he was absolutely perfect.

The dialogues were too forced, and everything felt dragged and long. It felt like a 500 pages book, and at a certain point, I was pretty bored.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining book. Good story flow. It is a great story with great chemistry and strong characters. The roles are reversed so we have a male virgin, surprise, surprise and flirtatious widow. Liked this change of roles very much.

I enjoyed this well written story and the steamy romance between Graham and Mary. A virgin Marquess and feisty widow is definitely a page turner. I also liked how they got to know each other and developed a strong bond. This story is not your usual romance, their roles are reversed and unusually it's the man that's the virgin and has a disability/stutter.

The Highwayman and the Flirt:
Whoa, put on the brakes for this is a surprising rip-roaring beginning that will knock your socks off.
The 4th story of the series revolves around Graham and Mary.
Graham a fairly new Marques has more problems than he can deal with at the moment. Finances, learning of a shocking family scandal, plus having a stuttering impediment. Oh my, He needs a wealthy wife.
Just in time an invitation to a masquerade ball arrives. Well, off he goes in his costume and sure enough he spy's a beautiful lady with glorious red hair.
Mary is the very flirtatious widow, and she sees and interesting highwayman and from there we are headed into this emotional romance story that takes us on an intriguing journey of trust, friendships, family members, fears, heartfelt confessions and so much more.
Learning about the characters, and how they conquer their flaws, learning to trust makes this a charming story of two families that come together.
I truly enjoyed the characters and how they supported each other. Lots of humorous banter and desirous attraction.
 ✔Mature Advisory: