Review Evangeline by Gwen Williams

Title:Evangeline
Author:Gwen Williams
Source :Netgalley
Genre: erotic historical romance
Authors website

Paul Rumsfeld, a lonely, rich, widower, seeks Evangeline's hand in marriage. He is her first real marital prospect, as the entire village considers her damaged goods. Rumors abound about the way Evangeline and her sister Rose Red, serviced the Black Bear who resided at their hearth during one particularly hard, bitter winter. Evangeline did no such thing, but no man pays her court. She accepts Paul's offer to marry him, while trying to ignore the vile gossipmongers' talk in the village that Paul's last four wives died under bizarre-and troubling-circumstances. Is Paul a Bluebeard, or is he an innocent man? Evangeline trusts her husband implicitly, but the rumors are hard to ignore.

They marry and she travels with him to his marvelous villa on the sea. Once there, she is introduced to the household servants, including the grim and reproving Mathilda. Mathilda is a formidable opponent, and it takes all of Evangeline's guile and resources to outmaneuver the imperious maidservant. Evangeline soon finds herself with child, and with the support of the midwife, she begins to exert her will. Out with the restricting corsets and stays! Evangeline has no desire to confine her body to the dictates of fashion. She wants her baby to be healthy and strong, and the only way to do that is to ensure her own comfort. Mathilda is horrified, but cannot bend Evangeline to her will.


At the same time, Evangeline is attempting to breach the citadel that is her husband's broken heart. Paul honestly cannot say how it has come to pass that he is the widower of four deceased wives, each one expiring under odd and distressing circumstances. As a result, he has locked down his heart to any further intimacy. He is half-convinced that Evangeline shall also die, and it would be unbearable if he were to allow her into his heart.

My review:
Rating-

Sexual-

This is a very interesting read, I did enjoy reading most of it. There is murder, betrayal, danger, emotions and some steamy hot sex. I figured out the mystery right off the bat and I found one other thing to be a turn off in the book, it’s a spoiler, so if you don’t want to read this part please skip. After Evangeline has her baby they want to cook her after birth and let her eat it….They tell her this is how cows does it…….. EWW, I have read some historical and never came across a line quite like that and I don’t think I want to read it again, Gross!! Spoiler stop.

Paul has a bad reputation and his wives are dying on him. He goes for wife number 4 hoping Evangeline would be able stay alive and bring him children. I liked how Evangeline and Paul had to learn to love and trust each other. I also really liked how Paul changed his ways in order to keep Evangeline alive no matter what. This is a different read and one I would suggest to any historical romance reader spite the fact comments in first paragraph.