Truly a Wife

Miranda is a maarvelous heroine -- strong, intelligent, capable, courageous.... I was a bit disappointed in Daniel; from the other books, I had high expectations of both him and the romance. The 4 stars reflects my slight disappointment that my expectations were not met. I'd been waiting for their story. However, other than that, Lee has written another fine book in the series; it meshes well with Jarrod's book, which occurs almost simulataneously (maybe someday I'll reread them in tandem). It's also very romantic, really. Miranda's love for Daniel is blindingly obvious; it just takes him a little longer to admit to the situation.

For a couple that has been sparring through the other three books, you would think that there would be more word-play and action between the two. However, it goes too quickly that they fall in for each other. Their noble intentions keep being the stumbling block for both, however, which makes it amusing and light. Unlike Jarrod & Sarah's book (Hardly a Husband) which happens at the same time, there is considerable play of the Free Fellows and their missions against France. The mystery behind who shot Daniel in the very beginning of the novel plays throughout and we get our answers in a most satisfactory way. Pick up all of the books for a quick beach weekend read.

Daniel really intrigued me so did Miranda. She had loved him forever and I was so taken how she was willing to do anything to protect him that night after they left the ball. She with his blood all over her beautiful dress and him barely able to walk, from his wound, and he only even came to the ball to protect Miranda from his mother's rath. These Freefellow guys had some pretty strange resolutions about their country and taking a wife and all of them eventually fall victim to true love. Miranda and Daniel were one of the more devoted to each other for a long time. The back drop of these stories is somewhat uninteresting to follow but other than that all of these are great romances!

In 1813, though he hates sailing Daniel is at sea near the French side of the Channel working as an undercover smuggler when shots are fired. Daniel is hit; on English soil he is sewed up, given whiskey to hide the pain and travels by coach to attend his mother's annual ball. Daniel's aide delivers the information they gathered to his partners the Free Fellows League. At the gala, his wound opens up. He dances a waltz with Miranda, who is extremely tall and strong so is able to help him make it to the coach. To protect her from scandal, the intoxicated Daniel convinces Miranda, who loves him, to marry him. They do via his connections before she takes him to property she owns. Miranda tends Daniel's wounds but when he recovers he forgot their marriage. They make love before he leaves to meet with his League friends. Miranda is heartbroken, but refuses to mention their marriage. She leaves him with the papers so that he can choose to acknowledge their nuptials or not. Daniel who fears his love for Miranda ponders how brave his beloved giantess is while wondering who in the Home Office betrayed him on his last mission. Miranda is an intriguing courageous heroine who freshens up the latest Free Fellows League Regency romance as women, not just Miranda, once again prove more than capable doers. The story line is exciting and is character driven, a trademark of this series (see BARELY A BRIDE, MERELY THE GROOM, and HARDLY A HUSBAND). Fans of the series and the sub-genre will appreciate the love story between the magnificent Miranda and the daring (except for his feelings for her) Daniel. Harriet Klausner