Since being widowed two years ago, Kitty Cateril has been trapped in her late husband’s home, where she is expected to mourn forever. Desperate to escape, Kitty will consider any option—even a hasty marriage to a stranger with no intention of abandoning his bachelor ways.

London life suits Beau Braydon, especially his work keeping Britain safe. So when he inherits the title of Viscount Dauntry, he has no intention of resettling on a rural estate. He can’t resist the opportunity to marry a sensible widow who can manage Beauchamp Abbey for him—until he realizes Kitty is more than he bargained for…

Before Kitty and Dauntry can adjust to each other, a threat to the royal family takes them to London. Soon someone is determined to prevent Dauntry from exposing the villain, and secrets in Kitty’s past threaten their growing love…

Click on title below for direct Amazon.com link:                                               The Viscount Needs a Wife (Rogue Series)

Kitty Cateril is the widow of a badly injured war hero, who is now forced to live with her in-laws.  Though Marcus has been gone two years, his mother can’t put away her grief, and expects Kitty to be the same.  Being forced into a perpetual state of mourning has Kitty feeling as if she’s suffocating.  When she receives a letter from a dear friend, advising her that a newly titled lord is seeking a quick marriage of convenience to a sensible woman – one who will run his estate and allow him to lead his own life – she is desperate enough to consider it.  She arranges to visit her friend and meet the gentleman, and see if they are both agreeable to the marriage.

Beau Braydon had no expectations of ever inheriting a title, and he is not happy that he is now Viscount Dauntry.  He dislikes country living, and the estate is home to the deceased Viscount’s harridan of a mother, who resents him, and her granddaughter, who is trying to lure him into marriage.  He wants to find a strong woman to marry quickly, one who can stand up to the dowager and properly run the estate.  Beau wants to get back to town and continue his service to the crown.  He has agreed to meet Kitty, hoping she’s the answer to his problems.

While their first accidental meeting is less than stellar, their second meeting goes much better, and they agree to marry right away.  They both have some doubts, but they’re both also desperate – Beau to get back to town, and Kitty to get away from her smothering mother-in-law.  Immediately after the marriage, Beau is urgently summoned back to town.  He reluctantly takes Kitty with him, in order to avoid scandalous talk of his leaving her right after marrying her.  Their constant company allows them a lot of time to converse and to get to know each other a little better.  They find each other attractive, and are both anxious to consummate the marriage, which they do as soon as they get to town.

THE VISCOUNT NEEDS A WIFE is an unusual story, in that it takes place over a very short amount of time.  Kitty and Beau have no romantic expectations, yet find themselves falling quickly in love, despite the doubts they have.  Beau finds himself confused and suspicious when Kitty is surrounded by adoring soldiers she knew when her husband was alive.  Was she really a dedicated and faithful wife?  Does Beau have a mistress?  This fast paced story takes us through Beau’s assignment for the crown, the mystery of how he inherited the viscountcy, and the truth of Kitty’s first marriage.  While I did find it hard to believe that two such practical people could fall in love so quickly, their sexual attraction, the well written plot, and the stellar solution made this an engaging and enjoyable read from an iconic author whose talents will surely be missed.