Leah George was married to her husband for less than two years when he died in the most embarrassing way - in a carriage with another married woman. Leah knew of her husband's infidelity with his best friend's wife, but was too shocked and mortified to do anything about it or even know what to do. She retreated into herself, and, now that he is dead, she decides to take some risks and live a little, no matter the cost to her sterling reputation. Leah skirts the lines of propriety and then blatantly crosses them with no thought for how society will shun her. When she finds herself out of options and alone, will she find salvation from an unlikely place?

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, is mourning the loss of his wife and his best friend. To make matters worse, it comes to his attention that the two of them were carrying on behind his back, so he does everything he can to avert a scandal and protect his young son from mudslinging and gossip. He makes a bargain with his best friend's widow, Leah, that she, too, will keep the secret, but soon her loneliness drives her to actions that make them the talk of the ton. When the chips are down and everyone has turned against her, will Sebastian find it in his heart to rescue her?

Romancing the Countess is a Regency-era novel of betrayal, grief and healing that comes with finding the will to live again. Leah is fascinating. Repressed by her parents and then her husband, she refuses to take it anymore once she is widowed. Her thirst and zest for life made her quite memorable. Sebastian is a man torn between the anger he feels toward his wife, the interest he has in Leah and the desire to protect his son. He is a bit of a maddening, contradictory puzzle at times, but his character comes together nicely toward the end of the book. The subject matter was interesting, as many women of this time period were, in fact, sheltered to the point of subjugation by their families and had little choice in the arranged marriages of the day. Ashley March did an admirable job of balancing the love story with the very real societal concerns and ostracism Leah faced. Four Angels.

Reviewed by: Michelle B.