Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand

What I love about Carla Kelly's books is how her heroines come from tragedy to strength, accomplishing things that society tells them they can not do, and earning the admiration,respect, and love of even their detractors.A powerful and cunning Lord attempts to force Roxanne, the Vicar's widow to become his mistress. Roxanne does whatever she has to do to protect her daughters, and her virtue to the point of being forced into a "Marraige of convenience" Funny, and uplifting, "Mrs Drew Plays Her Hand" and completely wins against all odds.

I've been re-reading my Carla Kelly books and although "Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand" isn't one of my top ten most memorable books in my Kelly collection - to me, it's still five star worthy.If you're a long time fan of Ms. Kelly's writing, you already know she often writes about down-and-out ladies and this book follows that storyline. Additionally, one of her more common themes is a cool hero type - not a perfect hero - but generally a good, hard working man, who is protective of his lady, more often than not a gent who's served time on behalf of his country, in some of type of military occupation.***Spoilers***Before I proceed with my review, I will give you an idea of some common themes that run through Ms. Kelly's books:One common theme within the storyline of her books that I've noticed is just when things seem to be moving right along toward a marvelous Happily Ever After, then lo and behold, the hero makes the choice to remove himself from the game temporarily for some reason that frustrates me to no end. Examples are:  The Admiral's Penniless Bride  - the hero becomes angry and acts like a total jerk, in  Mrs. McVinnie's London Season  - after proposing to our heroine, the naval captain hero withdraws his proposal because he can't bring himself to leave the navy and to make matters worse, he was planning to return a beautiful little girl named Clare to Portugal because he determined he wasn't the father. This after Clare had lived with his family for months and he seemed truly fond of her - she was an orphan, no less??? The deal with Clare very nearly ruined the book for me. In  The Wedding Ring Quest (Harlequin Historical) , the hero has a serious case of PTSD which causes him to respond to the heroine in a horrid fashion. Needless to say, on some occasions, the main guys in her books have not been written in a manner that gave me a lot of satisfaction.But, here's the deal, there really isn't another writer who can come close to what Carla Kelly offers in writing style, so if you're a fan, you willingly accept your dislikes to go along with your likes. I'm a huge fan and I purchase her books as soon as they come out.In this book, we have the common theme of a young woman, Roxanna Drew, whose former vicar husband was sick for four years before he passed away. She has two beautiful little girls, Helen and Leticia and is shortly going to have to give up the parsonage to the new vicar. Her brother-in-law, Lord Whitcomb, holds the living and he has a most wonderful proposition for the lovely Roxanna - she and the girls are welcome to come and live in his home, but there is a price to pay. Roxanna will warm his bed. Roxanna is scared and sick at the thought, but he is a powerful man and also has the ability to restrict her stipend if she refuses him.While out walking, she comes across a broken down dower house on a neighboring property and makes a deal with the kindly bailiff to allow her to live there - the owner, Fletcher Rand, Lord Winn - has long been absent from his many properties serving in the war and has a very sorry reputation. It seems his wife was not only unfaithful, she was unfaithful with a slew of men, even friends and Lord Winn had the gall to seek a very public divorce which involved her former lovers being brought into the mess and paraded as it were, before the House of Lords. He's not considered good ton, he's not marriage material and even if he were, he has no real desire to get married.But, Lord Winn is checking out his properties and when he comes across his Moreland Park property, who does he find in the dower house on a cold and wintry night? Yep, Roxanna and her little ones. From here on out, we have a lovely romance, Roxanna needs a protector and she has one in Winn. Even though her brother-in-law continues in his nastiness, Winn and Roxanna formulate a plan which involves a horseback ride in freezing weather to the Scotland border resulting in a marriage of convenience. However, Winn didn't count on Roxanna being starved for the marriage bed, so that certainly adds some spice to the game.But... and here we go again, Winn isn't sure what Roxanna wants out of the marriage - after all she loved her previous husband which results in Winn leaving Roxanna, Helen and Leticia - the little sweet daughters he's become attached to, departing Moreland Park to continue checking out his holdings. Then, a letter goes astray, and there's a big misunderstanding which goes on for a few months until the last few pages of the book. This stuff I hate. Still, it's a beautiful love story and it is Carla Kelly, so there you have it.

I have 1500+ books on my kindle and even with all books on my shelves there are a few I'll read over and over. And this is one I reach for often. And my reasons seems to be a turnoff for a number of other readers. A slowly developing love (not lust) story with more maturity than a classic *bodice-ripper", a wounded H afraid to risk love again; a h worn out from nursing a beloved husband through a long fatal illness and a lech of a brother-in-law waiting not so quietly in the wings.I personally enjoy following a romance growing instead of hitting like a thunderbolt. And probably the reasons there are not "drop-in" neighbors: there's a lot of empty space between houses in Yorkshire, which are mostly working farms that do not leave a lot of time for socialization; the h is still in mourning (an important social observance in those days)Fletcher Rand ranks along with Fitzwilliam Catch as a really romantic hero.

I very much enjoyed Ms. Kelly's  The Admiral's Penniless Bride (Harlequin Historical) , so thought I'd try another of her books. Although I did not enjoy Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand as much as the other, it is still a good book. Anyone wishing to read a story about how two people overcome their problems and come to rely and love each other will be pleased.But, for most of the time I was reading it, it just didn't feel...right. My biggest problems with the book is that it had, to me, the feel of a contemporary romance, or perhaps one set in frontier America, and not one based in the early 1800s. The heroine, Roxanna is called "Roxie" while the hero, Fletcher Rand, Marquess of Winn, is called "Fletch." Nearly everyone else is called by a nickname. They spend a great deal of time together, unchaperoned, and seemed over familiar with each other for the times. Also, while I know that she is desperate and has no false sense of superiority, and she wants to show her gratitude for the kindnesses Winn shows in repairing her rental, as in pulling up her baseboards and furnishing it, "Roxie" spends much of her time scraping paint in the Marquess' run-down manor house or tending to its decoration, not tending to her own house and children, who must surely need more attention than her loyal housemaid Meggie can give.She is still in the village, but no one comes to see her or help. I would think that some of her friends of acquaintances would be there to help the wife of their former minister. Instead, she is isolated, nearly alone but for her daughters, the Marquess, and a couple of servants and the bailiff. Since the bailiff is said to have kept the place going, you would think there would be staff about. But, there's very few.We have the stereotypical evil, lecherous brother in law, squabbling and jealous families, and children that are nearly too cute and sweet to be endured. There's lots of sugary moments, angst-driven tears, problems and crises galore, and what should be heart-wrenching events. Somehow, it just didn't strike me that way. But, obviously for others it was a touching story. I must confess, though, that I failed to find the episode involving the pregnant sheep necessary.I did like the fact that Roxanna loved her late husband. I was fearing the author would make him out to be someone horrid so that when Roxanna fell for Winn, it would be her first true experience of love, etc. But, Ms. Kelly did not. Instead, he is beloved by his wife and children, and Winn recognizes that the late Mr. Drew must have been an exceptional man. I also liked the fact that while Winn has fallen for Roxanna, and desires her fervently, he is able to keep his pants buttoned, his hands off her, and doesn't pressure her into his bed. Then again, for someone supposedly in love, Winn takes off and stays away for months, never bothering to find out why their letters stop.I liked the insight we have into both the hero and heroine. Roxanna, to me, seemed not as well-developed as a character. Not sure why. In comparison, Winn seemed much more developed. Nearly all the humor we see, and there's not a great deal, comes from his character.Overall, this is not a bad book, and for some it will be a lovely, enjoyable read. But, to me, it seemed to be a bit too syrupy, predictable, and contrived. I plan to read a couple more of Ms. Kelly's works. Few authors can please everyone, and not everyone enjoys the same thing. A good thing, too!

The characters are real people with real problems. An easy novel to read and enjoy over and over again. On my reread list! Thanks

A very sweet book, with an interesting plot. To take care of her daughters and, at the same time, save herself from her brother-in-law's unwanted advances, Roxie Drew rents a dilapidated dower house in one of Lord Winn's estates. Lord Winn soon feels attracted to the little poor family and goes out of his way for this woman he respects and comes to love and her two adorable little girls.This is a nice reading for someone looking for a sweet and clean story.

Very nice story.

Carla Kelly has a wonderfully descriptive writing style. The story was touching and I came to love all the main characters. The children were a wonderful addition to the love story. All in all, a great book that was a pleasure to read.

It was predictable but not in ways you might think. I liked the twists and turns the novel took. Sweet.