Rating: 3.5

Instead of putting up with her abusive husband, Lucinda packs up her bags and leaves in the middle of the night, never to return. I have to say I was very impressed by how brave this woman is, even nowadays it can be really difficult to just leave home without looking back and start a life on your own without help, and Lucinda manages to do this in the 19th century. Bravo.

Soon after that Lucinda gets a second chance at love, and meets Lord Hugo Wanstead, who is very impressive as well. After facing war and dealing with painful injuries and traumas, Hugo finally returns home, and this new tenant of his catches his eye.

This is a cute story about healing and trust. And not only do we have this beautiful couple, but the secondary characters really add to the story and make Lucinda's new town a home. Very lovely people.

Very well written story. I cant wait to read the next book from this author. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley, for this free copy. My opinion is my own.

I delayed reading this book after receiving the free arc from netgalley, I mistakenly thought I’d previously read the author and not found the prior book to my liking. Fortunately, I was incorrect, this book was definitely to my liking. It had an interesting and entertaining couple, with a great romance, and a lot of passion. Our H is a war hero, returning to set his failing estate to rights. Our H is an abused wife who has fled her physically and verbally abusive spouse, adopting an abandoned child along the way. There is an interesting chemistry between the two, though he never wishes to marry (again); and of course, she is not free to marry. Sparks fly, romance ensues, and then the possibility of her exposure looms. There is a nice HEA, and epilogue. I think I’ll have a re-read of the prior book.

There are very few novels that get me as heated as the beginning of this novel. Lucinda’s husband is hands down one the most infuriating antagonist I’ve had the displeasure of being introduced to.

From the very beginning, the author draws the reader in with her dynamic characters and powerful story. Lethridge is a skilled storyteller who know how to play the readers emotions and keep them engaged until the very end.

One of the most engrossing stories I have ever read, I highly recommend it to those looking for historical romance with depth.

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review of this novel after receiving a copy of the ebook via NetGalley.

This historical romance novel features two battered hearts, seeking peace and solitude in the Kent countryside to heal, only to find that it is with each other and amongst the villagers they care about and who care about them that they will find the healing they desperately seek. The writing is crisp and keeps things moving at a brisk pace, and the plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep the novel fresh despite the theme being a favorite among writers the world over. While Lethbridge provides plenty of clues to allow the reader to envision the particular types of abuse and betrayals each of the main characters suffered, I think particularly in the case of Hugo, having a bit more background information on his marriage would help the reader understand their current relationship and how he views issues such as trust, fidelity, etc. Overall, this book was an entertaining read that fans of historical fiction will enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. An enjoyable tale of tortured characters who have to endure many hurdles to get to a suitable ending. Another book to add to your reading list.

This book has a very different heroine. She is for a change not petite, not delicate and not vulnerable. She is Lucinda. Lucinda, a brave young woman who thwarts the societal norms for a good life for herself and refuse to suffer anymore of her husband's cruelties flees from her society life. She finds a quiet spot for her and there she met Lord Hugo. The book picked up the pace in the second half of the novel and I was reluctant to put it down. There were lots of challenges in their love life and still both of them persevered. Its a good book for one time read. However, I think that it could have come out better if the dialogues between the characters were more intriguing and novel.

The Lady Flees Her Lord is my first foray reading an Ann Lethbridge novel.
Lethbridge used some repetitive— to historical romances— plot devices that tidied the story up but left a wanting sense of reality for the reader. Lucinda was an admirable heroine who had a tremendous amount of strength considering she endured abuse regularly. Her hero Hugo, who also sustained his own abuse with invisible scars became the other half of a couple who craved peace and solace. There were numerous inconsistencies left unanswered; such as unexpectedly changing a character’s title from Earl to Viscount, not providing a finite age for the characters, and overall lack of development in the secondary characters who become pivotal in the storyline. Sense of time in The Lady Flees Her Lord was thready; it was not proclaimed when the main character, Hugo, was previously married in numerical dates, nor was there details that would have helped flourish the arc. The initial premise of this novel was good and interesting, however the embroidery of cohesion did not meld. I thought that the scenes with the adopted daughter Sophia kept the story apace with humor. The plot was well-defined, which kept the story bolstered.

I would read this author again, as there is promise in her written word.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars / B-

Ann Lethbridge originally published The Lady Flees Her Lord using the pseudonym Michele Ann Young in 2008. Ms. Lethbridge’s name is familiar to me as one of the authors in the Mills and Boon/Harlequin Historical stable, and having enjoyed other books of hers, I was interested in this, the story of a young woman trapped in abusive marriage who manages to escape and make a new life for herself.

Lucinda, the Countess of Denbigh counted herself fortunate to have married one of the handsomest gentlemen of the ton, but it wasn’t long before she realised that her husband had been more interested in her dowry and generous allowance than in her. He blames her when she fails to conceive, taunts her mercilessly about the fact that she’s not slender and willowy as is the fashion, and insists she diets constantly. He humiliates her at every turn, keeps mistresses, has already squandered her dowry and continues to pester her to provide extra money from her allowance – which she’s using in order to keep the household running. When he tells her they are leaving London in order to attend a house-party given by his disreputable friend, the Duke of Vale, Lucinda is horrified. Vale clearly has designs on her and Denbigh makes no bones about the sort of party it’s going to be, informing her that she is to act as hostess to a group of raffish gentlemen and the ‘ladies’ who are going to be provided for their entertainment.

Fearing for her safety should she attend, Lucinda finally takes the bull by the horns and leaves her London house in dead of night. She has very sensibly channelled some of her allowance into small investments (unbeknownst to Denbigh) and having these as a safety net, sets off for a coaching inn in the City. While waiting for the stage, a beggar woman literally thrusts a child into Lucinda’s arms before running off – leaving Lucinda with a straggly, scrawny little girl who can be little more than two or three years of age. Full of compassion for the child – and unwilling to dump her at the nearest workhouse - Lucinda decides to take her with her into her new life.

Captain Lord Hugo Wanstead sustained a serious leg injury at the battle of Badajoz and has, after several weeks of treatment and recuperation abroad, at last returned to England. He is riding home to The Grange, his estate at Beacon Hill in Kent and is within sight of the house when a little girl darts out from the trees and spooks his horse. He manages to maintain control of the animal as a woman rushes to grab the child, and when he is able to divert his attention from the horse, Hugo notices that the woman, though modestly gowned, is possessed of the sort of curvy figure which is enough to make any man’s mouth water. He immediately dismisses the thought in favour of sternly reminding her that she is trespassing, and the woman promptly introduces herself as Mrs. Graham and informs Hugo that she resides at the Briars at the edge of his estate. Hugo, who has no idea where the Briars is, or why it is home to an unknown woman, bids her a frosty good day and departs.

Upon arriving at The Grange, Hugo is appalled to discover that the estate is a mess; there are hardly any servants in the house, the stables are empty, the number of tenants still living on the estate has dwindled to a mere few … things are in a bad way thanks to his late father’s fondness for the race-track, and Hugo realises he’s got his work cut out if he’s to turn things around. His man of business tentatively suggests that perhaps Hugo might consider marriage as a way to solve his financial problems, but Hugo is vehemently opposed to the idea; one ill-fated marriage was enough and he has no intention of embarking upon another.

After their initially awkward meeting, “Mrs. Graham” (yes, it’s Lucinda) and Hugo find themselves drawn to one another and it’s not long before Hugo has enlisted Lucinda’s help in setting his household to rights. He also hopes that perhaps the voluptuous widow will be amenable to doing more for him than helping with the accounts; it’s been some time since he was attracted to a woman, and Lucinda’s Junoesque proportions set his mind to all sorts of naughty imaginings. But as the reader knows, Lucinda is not a widow, so for her, the decision to go to bed with a man other than her husband is very difficult for her. I know that for some readers, adultery is a no-no, regardless of the circumstances, and in that case, this book will likely not suit. Personally, I can deal with it in certain circumstances, and this is one of them; Lucinda’s confidence has been so broken down by Denbigh’s constant insults – he calls her a fat sow more than once – that I found myself cheering her on, especially as she begins to realise that Hugo really does like the lushness of her figure and the way she looks. They become friends as well as lovers, and as Hugo boosts Lucinda’s confidence, showing her true affection and sexual pleasure, so Lucinda gradually draws him out of his solitary existence. But where Hugo opens up to Lucinda as he has never done with anyone else, telling her about his nightmares, his life in the army and his short, tragic marriage, Lucinda, of necessity, remains guarded, wanting to tell Hugo the truth but afraid he will reject her once he knows it.

Successfully writing a romance based on a deception is a difficult thing to do well, but Ms. Lethbridge does manage to pull it off for the most part. As with the adultery issue, it’s not a plotline that will be enjoyed by everybody, but the author does a very good job of developing the relationship between Hugo and Lucinda, showing their growing emotional connection as well as the passion they inspire in one another. Deception apart, Lucinda is a well-drawn, likeable character; unlike some heroines in her situation, she’s sensible enough to have kept some of her money away from her spendthrift husband and clever enough to invest it wisely. I liked that she wasn’t prepared to just roll over and play dead; when enough was enough, she did something about it and got away.

Hugo is perhaps more of a stereotypical wounded – physically and mentally – hero, who beats himself up with guilt over things completely outside his control and whose reasons for not wanting to re-marry induced eye-rolling in this reader. Ultimately, however, he’s a good, decent man and he and Lucinda are a couple I can envisage together long after the last page has delivered their HEA.

I enjoyed the book, but there were issues with the pacing and some other inconsistencies which have knocked my final grade down somewhat. The first few chapters and the last few are exciting and fairly fast paced, the slower portions that show Hugo and Lucinda getting to know each other are nicely done, but there’s a large chunk in the middle that drags and I found myself skimming some parts, eager for progression. There’s some tension created by Lucinda’s fear that Denbigh will come for her… but he doesn’t, and then at the end, there’s an inexplicable volte face from a character who has been set up as a villain.

The Lady Flees Her Lord is a solid, engaging read that, while flawed, nonetheless earns a recommendation for its unusual premise and sensible, warm and loving heroine.

The Lady Flees Her Lord
by Ann Lethbridge

buy buy buy buy buy!
A gripping tale with many layers. What an absolutely different way of capturing the reader and keeping them totally enthralled! A heroine whom is totally different then the beautiful barbie doll norm. A woman of strength facing challenges that no one should have to face , however, managing and doing a beautiful job of touching your heart at each new challenge and win she faced. A hero that is strong and two very deserving people finding a life of love together. This is not the normal historical but it is one that you will remember. It is a keeper in my view. So buy and sit this one on your keeper shelf when done. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

This was a new to me author and I was happily surprised. I enjoyed Lucinda and Hugo’s story. I am hoping Vale gets a story of his own.

The Runaway Countess falls in love whilst hiding from her husband. Lucinda, Lady Denbigh, is trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage to the odious Lord Denbigh who abuses her both mentally and physically. Finally plucking up the courage to leave, she leaves home in the early hours of the morning, and, whilst waiting for the stage to take her away, unwittingly becomes responsible for a young girl who she names Sophia.
Posing as a widow, she rents a cottage under her new persona as Mrs. Thomas Graham, and settles into the village community hoping no one will uncover her true identity.
Lord Hugo Wanstead, a former Captain in Wellington’s army, haunted by what he witnessed in the siege of Badajoz, returns home to hide himself away whilst he recovers from his wounds, only to find he has gained a new tenant in “Mrs Graham”, and nearly running down young Sophia with his horse the first time they meet.
The story is well written, descriptive and engaging as Hugo and Lucinda fight, and eventually give in to their attraction to one another, although Hugo insists he cannot commit to anyone, and Lucinda isn’t actually free to marry, although, of course, Hugo doesn’t know this.
Naturally, Lucinda’s past comes back to haunt her when Hugo is introduced to Denbigh at a gaming den called The Missing Countess, so named by Denbigh with a portrait of Lucinda hanging in room. Realising he has been deceived, Hugo heads back to confront Lucinda and remove her from his land.
The scenes at the beginning describing Lucinda’s escape from the marital home are pacy and exciting to read, however the plot did seem slightly lacking tension in the middle section as, although Lucinda keeps expecting Denbigh to track her down, there doesn’t seem any danger of this happening until Hugo makes his visit to London, and Denbigh eventually (and inevitably) catches up with Lucinda.
The plot regains its strength after the truth is revealed, and there are some tense, gripping, page turning moments as the plot gathers momentum towards the end, and you really do root for Hugo to forgive Lucinda and for the two of them to have the happy ending they deserve.
A good escapist Regency read not set in a ballroom for a change, with a solid plot and two likeable characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
Driven to despair by her husband’s endless abuse and ridicule, Lucinda, Lady Denbigh, can endure no more. She flees London to take quiet refuge in the countryside, posing as a widow Mrs Graham, she’s found a small cottage to lease on the far reaches of an estate, relieved that she might finally find peace and safety. Her flight was further complicated when a woman asked her to hold achild for a moment never to return so Lucinda has the child she’s wanted.
Hugo Earl of Wanstead is tormented by the physical and emotional scars gained in the Peninsular Wars. With his estate near financial ruin thanks to his father’s mismanagement and his sleep torn by nightmares, he wishes only to be left in solitude. Then he meets the new widowed tenant on his estate, he finds her hauntingly beautiful in body and soul.
A well written even paced book that had well portrayed & likeable characters, my only issue was Lucinda starting an affair whilst claiming to be a widow but she was still married, it seemed contrary to her character. She’s then surprised when Hugo distances himself on learning the truth, after all she’d had time to tell him about her marriage. Other than this I enjoyed the book.

This book was originally published under the author name Michele Ann Young.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This was an enthralling read and it kept me gripped to the end. What a change it made to read of a main character who wasn’t as beautiful and as slim as the usual heroine. However, Lucinda had a beauty all of her own, she was strong and brave and found a kindred spirit in Hugo, Lord Wanstead. There were many obstacles in their hope of a happy ever after, including Lucinda’s despicable husband and Hugo’s insecurity. The main activity takes place in a village setting and there were a number of secondary characters that added to the charm of this book. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ve already purchased another. I received a copy from Netgalley and have voluntarily reviewed. This is my honest review.