“The Make-Believe Widow” by Darcy Burke is Book 4 in the Matchmaking Chronicles – a series of entertaining novellas that usually begin at a matchmaking house party. The stories are stand-alone, and you do not need to read them in order.

Charlotte Dunthorpe is not looking to wed when she attends a house party to visit a friend; also present is widower James Ludlow, Earl of Rotherham, who is looking for a wife. Their mutual attraction is contrary to their stated intentions and leads to interactions filled with funny banter and sexual tension.

I really like the works of Darcy Burke. I’ve read many of her stories, and I like that several are short novels / novellas that still provide back story, character development, a full narrative arc, and a satisfying ending. Could these stories be longer? Possibly, but only because they are fun, and I liked Charlotte and James and could read more about them. I don’t think anything is missing or cut from the author’s novellas, which are great when looking to enjoy a complete read in one evening.

There is something light about this book and may others by the author. There is exploration of class and injustice in “The Make-Believe Widow” but it is undemanding on a reader. I don’t think this is a criticism as I don’t always need weighty social commentary or deep-dives into human psychology in my romance reads.

I strongly recommend Darcy Burke when you want an easy, entertaining historical romance one night.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press, but the review is my own.

The fourth or fifth entry in Ms Burke’s Matchmaking Chronicles, this is my introduction to the author’s work; while I generally prefer reading series in order, I don’t think that makes much of a difference here, as several of the stories seem to take place more or less simultaneously. (See footnote 1)

We are introduced to our main characters right away, with a fair bit of backstory infodumping thrown in, as well as some of that tiresome too-much-detail narration style that seems to be so in vogue currently.

At barely 170 pages, there are the bones of a good story lost in too much clutter and told in too short a format here.

The premise is interesting enough, the exploration of class differences could have worked (he’s an earl, she’s the daughter of an innkeeper–there’s being in trade, then there’s the next thing to being ‘in service’).

If the author had focused on Charlotte’s and Roth’s meeting, their instant infatuation, their honesty with themselves and each other and the conflict of their differing goals, let alone their distant stations in life, and so on, that would have worked–even with the villain in Charlotte’s past rearing his dastardly head later on.

“Surely he shouldn’t be kissing someone he referred to as “Mrs. Dunthorpe.” Nevertheless, he longed to do so.” (Chapter 4, Roth’s point of view)

The banter works, the attraction during the house party works, the sexual encounters are competently written (although I have a few quibbles, more below), and the author’s familiarity with the period comes through in several areas (the obsession with follies, the importance of dancing, some of the games during the house party, and so on).

Unfortunately, on top of some tiresome repetition about Charlotte’s guilt over her pretense, and about Roth’s dead wife, and her lie to him, we also have to hear all about how she rescues destitute young women and trains them for service, so they have a means to support themselves, and also about how Roth champions ‘reform’ causes in the Lords, with the aim of helping the people living ‘in filth’ in London.

Which, okay, having both protagonists being interested in social causes could work–in a longer book, where the mechanics could be explored better. Here, it feels like a modern justification for him (“not like other aristocrats”), and implausible for her; she would need an actual income, not just a once-time sum ten years ago, not just to keep a household with several servants, but to afford to hire more than those she needs in order to spend time training them.

Then, there are two very awkwardly-placed passages in the novel; it makes no sense to get Charlotte’s backstory as internal dialogue in one chapter, only to have the villain show up in the next scene so she gets to repeat it to the hero then. And it definitely does not make sense for them to talk about Charlotte’s ‘mission’ of training housemaids literally as a continuation to the final confrontation with said villain–never mind having the hero, an earl, have a conversation of equals with Charlotte’s housekeeper as part of the proceedings.

And don’t get me started on the epilogue.

Which reminds me that we also have the “loyal servant who is both friend and confidante” trope–for both of them.

While it’s plausible for Charlotte to have developed that kind of friendship with her housekeeper, both because she herself comes from the working class, and because of their work training maidservants, the relationship between Roth and his valet is beyond fantastic. No manservant would talk to his titled employer the way it’s written, and expect to keep his position.

Furthermore, it’s a sad point in a book when I’m more intrigued by the hero’s valet’s backstory than the hero’s gripping over his dead wife’s perfidy.

Finally, my problem with the first sex scene is that Charlotte has had sex with only two men before, and the last time several years prior, but shows zero inhibitions in ways that feel unrealistic for someone who has been celibate for the better part of a decade.

The balance is that the story deserved more space and needed more thorough editing.

The Make-Believe Widow gets a 6.00 out of 10.

* * * *

1 There’s a prequel, “Yule Be My Duke”, listed in the author’s website, scheduled for release later this year; the main characters are the hosts of the house party in this story, who are ‘very much in love’ but start as enemies.

James, Earl of Rotherham, Roth to his friends, had what he thought was a good marriage till his wife tells him on her death bed she never loved him but was forced to wed by her parents. It’s been five years and he wants to find a woman to be mother to his daughters Violet, 9 and Rosamund, 6, a companion for him, and maybe even give him a son. Charlotte Dunthorpe is a widow of ten years. During that time, she has helped train girls to be housemaids and find employment. She is not sure why her friend, Lady Cosford, invited her to the party. She holds secrets that keep her from marrying anybody. Maybe she will enjoy a brief affair. When Roth and Charlotte meet, there is an immediate attraction. Things are going fairly well until a sleazy villain from her past spills her secret. Will this destroy the growing feelings between her and Roth? This is a wonderful story with mystery, secrets, past betrayal for both the hero and heroine, passion, laughter, and a happy ending. An exciting, heartwarming story with great characters.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Even though it’s not quite love at first sight for Charlotte and Roth, the attraction and connection are apparent from the moment they meet. And watching them both trying to and fighting against falling in love made this book read incredibly fast. I loved this pair, and I adored seeing them get the Happy Ever After they deserved. The only thing I’d change, if I could, would be to give the villain of this piece the kind punishment the vengeful side of me cries out for. I may have only just finished reading this book, but I’m already looking forward to seeing what the series brings us next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

Lies, Marriage, Secrets:
In the year 1803 it was well known that house parties were in fashion. There were reasons to go not just for fun but usually an ulterior reason such like finding a husband or with other things in mind.
This is where we meet Charlotte. After many years of living a lie, she wants to seek something new.
This is where she meets James, an Earl who is way above her station. Will that make a difference?
He wants to garner a mother for his daughters without falling in love and Charlotte does not want to get married or disclose her secret.
Sparks fly at their first meeting. The story revolves around how they overcome their past experiences to find a happy ending to this wonderful romance story.
Of course, there is a villain to deal with and a few bumps in the road to overcome. Some unpleasant and a bit scary and some fun situations.
The kitchen scenes were priceless and showed just how charming and wonderful these characters turned out to be.
The epilogue was very rewarding to see how all of the characters' lives had changed.
A very enjoyable story that continues this amazing series.
✔Mature Advisory🌶🌶+

Charlotte and Roth burn up the pages together in this gripping second-chance romance.

I just loved the idea of a house party where men and women got together to either find a partner in marriage or a partner for just right now. Charlotte wanted a diversion for a moment, while Roth wanted something a lot more permanent. Their instant, strong attraction quickly overrode any logic and reason that wanted to drive a wedge between them.

Charlotte had tried to make the best of a situation fraught with heartbreak, secrecy, and fear of discovery. But unless she managed to find a way to overcome this, anything in her life would be temporary. Meeting Roth made her dream of what could be, if her circumstances were different. I liked both characters. Roth was confident, kind, and supportive. In Roth’s presence, Charlotte forgot her feelings of not quite fitting in at the party. She was compassionate, kind, and had a generous heart.

The author captured the sizzling chemistry between them perfectly. Every moment between them were so electrically charged, I basically held my breath whenever they got close to each other. And it’s this experience that tempered some of the scenes at the end that I found a bit too sweet.

The villain’s motivations were a bit vague, other than he was obviously a sad excuse of a human being.

I can highly recommend this book and the series if you like historical romance and second chances. Each book stands well on its own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Charlotte and James story. LOoking for a future , to forget the past and just be happy. Its all in this book. I never realized how many unions really came out of house parties.

This book didn’t work for me, unfortunately. The premise was interesting and there was nothing particularly objectionable about the writing style, but I found myself bored all the way through. The characters had no discernible personalities (the hero was especially bland), I wasn’t feeling the insta-attraction between them, and some of the obstacles to their relationship seemed a bit forced. Charlotte mentioned once that she wasn’t looking to get married and Roth never bothered trying to change her mind? I was more interested in Dyer the valet and kept hoping we’d hear more about his backstory, but no luck. This was my first read by the author and I don’t think I will seek out her work in future based on this experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A really good addition to the matchmaker series. James needs a mother for his two daughters but refuses to fall in love. Charlotte is hiding a secret yet feels herself drawn to James and his girls. This is a quick and enjoyable read, as you expect from Darcy Burke.

This book is very fast paced. It holds interest well and the dialogue is very good for a novella. The reason I only gave it 3 stars is mostly because of the content. Charlotte and Roth never really got to know each other, except physically, so it was hard to imagine them being in love.
I received this ebook from Netgalley. These views are completely my own and I did not receive compensation from any party for leaving this review.

TRIGGER ALERT: Assaults, as well as attempts, insinuations, and threats of **pe
-This is Roth and Charlotte's story. In this story, Lord Sleaford is the villain.
-No mystery, not much suspense, no drama. Lovely love story.
-I was just a bit insulted when Charlotte told Roth to pay the inn even though the owner said not to. First, it's not her money. Second, of course he would never think of not paying!
-I was confused how Sleaford figured the name Mrs. Dunthorpe was false. She could have married in the last 10 years.
-Repeats concerning the hunting lodge where Roth does not hunt. At least 5 times by 75%.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of The Make Believe Widow from Netgalley. Darcy Burke is an exceptional author, and always writes romantic stories that make us believe in that one true love we all have. This is the fourth book in the Matchmaking Chronicles and is about a widower James Ludlow, the Earl of Rotherham who attends a house matchmaking party in the hopes of finding someone to be his wife and mother to his two daughters. Charlotte Dunthorpe is also attending this party. Unfortunately z she is pretending to be a widow, has no wish to marry, but has an immediate attraction to James. Their affair continues as they leave the party but someone from Charlotte's past resurfaces to cause her trouble and wreak havoc on her peaceful existence. I loved the characters portrayed in this story. Their loving kind nature gave me hope for the future. A spectacular love story!

I recently read the book 4 of Darcy Burke’s, Matchmaking Chronicles, The Make-Believe Widow. I was prompted to read this from the premise of a matchmaking house party composed of only widows! All trying their hand at a second chance at love!

Charlotte, Dunthorpe, and James Ludlow, Earl of Rotherham, meet at the widows, matchmaking house party and have an instant connection. He is looking for a new wife and someone to help him with his children, while Charlotte is only there because her friend invited her.

Charlotte is keeping a secret, she is only a make-believe widow, and to marry would bring to light all of her secrets and lies! Too bad James, and a possible future with him is so tempting, but can she trust him to overlook her past?

This book had such a fun premise I love to seeing the widows me to pair up and especially for Charlotte and James is instant connection. Their steamy attraction and amazing chemistry had me rooting for them from the beginning. I was so happy to see James get over his own past, so that he could accept and cherish the gift that Charlotte was to him! This was an HEA It reminded me of why I love romance so much!

The Make-Believe Widow by Darcy Burke is available today!

Thanks to NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for my e-book review copy. Opinions are my own.

#TheMakeBelieveWidow #DarcyBurke

A career officer is called home when he finds out about the death of his older brother. Now he has to take his place and care for his two nieces... plus make sure they are presented to the Ton. What is he to do.

She is just trying to make a success of her millinery shop, but her when she is being shunned due to her father's heir, she ends up meeting him.

A plan is devised and it might just be these two realize they are perfect for each other!

Charlotte Dunthorpe is attending a house party given by a friend, Cecelia Cosford and her husband. At the party she meets widower James Ludlow, the Earl of Rotherham. The people invited to the party are either looking to make another marriage or form a liaison with other like minded people. Charlotte has a secret, she is not who she says she is, so marriage is out of the question for her but she wouldn't mind have a fling with one of the guests if the situation were appropriate. As the house party goes along, she and James are thrown together as the other partygoers connect and they are the only remaining unattached couples. They are attracted to each other but because they want different things, they try to resist their attraction for as long as they can. James needs a wife to help him rear his 2 daughters and Charlotte has convinced herself that she cannot get married as she would have to reveal her secret. This is a short, romantic story which chronicles the love as it develops between James and Charlotte and also how they overcome challenges to Charlotte's past when they are confronted with them. I am never disappointed with anything written by Darcy and I always look forward to her releases.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received from the author/publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Make-Believe Widow is the fourth installment in Darcy Burke’s Matchmaking Chronicles series. It can be read as a standalone, although I do recommend the others in the series.
This story has a fun twist on a few well-known tropes, particularly concerning the widowed heroine archetype, with a spinster instead posing as a widow encountering a widower who is still burned by unrequited love for his late wife. I did find the circumstances at times a little convoluted, but I enjoyed seeing how things played out between James and Charlotte as they first entertain both a physical attraction and possibly convenient, emotion-free union, but things progress to have their hearts involved. Both James and Charlotte are rounded characters who are easy to root for, and I liked that they communicated what they wanted (and didn’t want) in a relationship.
This is another fun installment in the series, and I’d recommend it to readers of historical romance.

This book was a fun light read. It was a bit spicier / more cheeky than I’m used to for historical fiction romance, and I enjoyed that. It was well-paced, and the length felt appropriate for the plot.

If you need a fun beach read or some light reading, this is a good choice.

If you are looking for a sweet story, this will not disappoint you. This book is the story of two people already hurt by others and life and how they cope with their issues while falling in love with each other. Even they way the author deals with the villain at the end is also inconvenient and just easily resolved not matter how awful he behaved.

Sometimes this kind of sweet stories are what you need just to take your mind off more stressful real situations. Save it for those moments!

Just such a lovely book. It is gentle and charming and flows along with small smiles and walks by the river, until suddenly things turn darker. Watching our couple develop feelings and hide them, pushing them way down was a great read. A perfect one for slow afternoon reading on page after page waiting to get to the beautiful epilogue. It doesn’t disappoint.

The Make Believe Widow is the newest novella from the fantastic Darcy Burke. Roth and Charlotte are both attending a house party to meet potential partners or lovers. Roth is in need of a new mom for his girls after the death of his wife. She loved her desperately but found out it was all a lie in the end. Charlotte has been masquerading as a widow for the past few years in order to escape her past. She just wants to engage in a liaison during the party because she's worried her secret would come out if she marries for real. Once they give into their passions they can't get enough of each other and it's hard separate what their head and heart want.

I love Burke's writing. It flows so nicely and it was a fairly low angst book which I am grateful for. I had a hard time with the chemistry on this one. Part of that is probably because of the length of the novella. They didn't have as much time to cultivate their relationship past the lust stage. I love how Roth dealt with the reveal of Charlotte's secret. He got over it fairly quickly. Darcy Burke is consistently a must read. This may not have been my favorite of hers but its still an entertaining and engaging novella.

3.5 Stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Darcy Burke, and Zealous Quill Press for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #TheMakeBelieveWidow #zealousquillpress