Paper Widow
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
When a pampered socialite in post civil war Boston seeks adventure and romance, she finds peril, heartache, and tragedy along with it.
Answering an ad in The Matrimonial News, she secretly marries by proxy, but is widowed before she gets to meet her husband. The fact that she's naive and unskilled in the ways of love when she finally encounters the man of her dreams only adds to her situation.
From the 5 Star award reviews by Reader's Favorite:
Paper Widow is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, Western romance, and suspense subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to its adult content and themes. Penned by author Ailene Frances, this gripping historical romance takes readers on a journey through post-Civil War Boston and the untamed West. The story revolves around Elise, a sheltered socialite seeking adventure and romance, who finds herself in a perilous and heart-wrenching situation. After secretly marrying by proxy, Elise is widowed before she even meets her husband. Her naivety in the matters of love adds to her predicament.
Author Ailene Frances has crafted a captivating story that blends historical accuracy with a romance plot, painting a vivid picture of the hardships and prejudices of the era whilst offering high drama and lots of entertainment value. What makes this historical romance stand out amongst other Westerns is the well-researched historical context and the author's commitment to realistic character development. Elise's transformation from a sheltered woman to a resilient survivor is captivating, and the challenges she faces are both moving and inspiring but also realistic to the time period and attitudes of those around her. Whether you're a fan of historical romance or simply enjoy a well-crafted story with well-drawn characters, there's a special quality to this novel that brings everyone in it to life as though they were your neighbors, keeping you immersed from cover to cover. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Paper Widow as a satisfying and emotionally resonant read for fans of high drama, realistic historical fiction, and powerfully emotive stories everywhere.
Ailene Frances created dramatic plot twists that will definitely keep readers glued to the pages. This novel does not shy away from steamy scenes, peril, action, and tragedies. It skillfully captures the intensity and heartbreak of a love that sweeps you off your feet and clouds your judgment. It also perfectly captures the prejudices women endured after the Civil War. Every hardship Elise faced left me wanting to know more about her life. Fans of historical romance will find Paper Widow a riveting and intense read.
Customer Reviews
I found a character to be completely in awe of!
We meet Elise, apparently carrying water from the creek back to her house. The setting of the beginning of this story really makes me stop and think about how horrible the conditions of her arranged marriage to someone in Boston must have been to her to walk away from a well-off family to nothing. The trials and tribulations that Elise has to endure throughout the book when she goes west, to meet her husband by proxy, is nothing short of things that made me want to weep for her. Watching Elise grow and blossom in front of my eyes was fascinating. What happens with her and Alexander? Who is Alexander for that matter? What happens with her and Nate at a charity ball? When Alexander and Elise hear that Nate is coming home from his Ranch, what happens? What does Alexander realize that Nate does not know? How does Elise handle so many tragic things so stoically? I am in complete awe of this woman. This is definitely a book filled with twists, turns, curves, tunnels, and unsolvable mazes in spots. You need to read it. This is my first book by Ailene Frances and I look forward to more of her works.