Lawson’s Review of The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander
Historical romance reprinted by Avon 26 Feb 08 by Avon (Original Dorchester release Nov ’96)

There’s been a bit of a stir by some people about this book. Yes, it is a reprint. This could be a big deal to some and not to others, but after reading this book I don’t really see what all the excitement is about. But then, I didn’t see what all the excitement was about with Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels either. Maybe it’s just me, but I know when both of these books were originally printed I was generally reading only Julie Garwood (many many times) or Kathleen Woodiwiss (many many times). So what is up with this one? Well . .

It’s not that I don’t like Victoria Alexander. I generally enjoy her books, in fact one of my favorites is The Prince’s Bride. But then she can hit or miss depending on one fact: how independent is her heroine. Is this an important thing to quibble over? I think so. Sabrina Winfield is one of those heroines that you want to like, but deep down you know you can’t.

Sabrina is on a quest for French gold in Egypt to make herself financially solvent and provide her daughter with a dowry. Her daughter is engaged to Erick Harrington, Nicholas Harrington, Earl of Wyldewood’s son and heir. Sabrina had been an adventurous person in a former life, before her return to London some years before. She had been a smuggler (to make money since her husband’s death left her penniless) and Nicholas the determined government agent out to catch her.

Nicholas follows Sabrina and goes with her to Egypt, and their children follow as well, with Nicholas’ sister serving as chaperone. As do three spurned suitors of Sabrina’s. Sabrina had hid her natural exuberance so well that everyone was afraid for her virtue as a serene, well mannered widow. And thus the adventure to Egypt is filled with everyone’s agendas and intrigues.

The fact that Sabrina’s daughter Belinda is afraid for her mother’s virtue is laughable. Even in 1818, widows were allowed a greater measure of latitude and independence in society. But then, Sabrina doesn’t really act like a dignified widow. She’s 36, but she’s stubborn, immature, prideful and rather selfish. Of course now, what woman isn’t all of those things? But the combination in Sabrina comes off as petulant rather than a fiery spirit, no matter what people see in her.

Nicholas has pride as well, but he’s also an honorable rake and takes things rather well for just trying to see to the well being of son’s future mother-in-law. For what he puts up with Sabrina, when he looses his temper he comes across as the more sympathetic party than she does. Though he’s still a man and thinking with other parts of his anatomy rather than his head, or even heart.

Belinda and Erick are cute enough, just young and idealistic, Nicholas’ sister Wynne is nice, if not naive and rather bossy, Sabrina’s former smuggling partners are manly, but overly indulgent to Sabrina’s whims and her fomer suitors are just bumbling idoits.

Why this book was reprinted is something that I don’t particularly understand, as it stands more for the growth of Alexander’s writing talent rather than a classic that people may have missed before this point. But Nicholas is a good hero and that does help save most of the rest of the book from absolute cliche, predictability and annoyance.

Grade: C-

     The perfect wife should be beautiful, trusting, and absolutely agreeable—or so the Earl of Wyldewood thought. But in New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander’s intriguing tale, he finds that marriage is about more than mere appearances . . .

     When the Earl of Wyldewood meets Sabrina Winfield, he thinks he’s found the ideal match. Graceful and genteel, the elegant blonde will look simply exquisite displayed on his arm. And a lady like Sabrina will undoubtedly occupy her time with proper matters, leaving him free to pursue his own pleasures . . .

     But beneath Sabrina’s delicate beauty lies the most infuriatingly stubborn, wildly adventurous woman the earl has ever met. She’s nothing like the perfect wife he had imagined. And before long, all he can think of is quieting her biting wit (with his kisses), putting an end to her outlandish schemes (with his own carefully planned seduction), and doing everything in his power to become the perfect husband.

     Read an excerpt.