Reviews for The Prodigal Wife

The average rating for The Prodigal Wife based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-03-10 00:00:00 Jason Keesecker It's kind of funny that I have been reading Susan Fox on a short break from my ongoing Betty Neels "read 'em all" mission. (Usually my Betty breaks involve more explicit writers because I miss the sex, so to speak. :-D) Susan Fox is basically the Western-romance version of Betty Neels: instead of massive and taciturn Rich Dutch Doctors, we get massive and taciturn Texas ranchers; the heroines are sexually innocent (sometimes to the "never been kissed" point), usually shy, and frequently downtrodden (Susan Fox almost always has some horrific heroine backstory for added angst). Also like Betty, MoCs are a common trope in SF tales, and while SF, very unlike Betty, does usually make sex an unnegotiable and central part of any MoC agreement, it's mostly fade to black/nonexplicit (but somehow kinda hot for all that--love me a big, bossy, laconic rancher hero). Like Betty, SF has only a few storylines that she recycles, but also like Betty, she manages to make each one compelling. I love her angst! It probably says something about me that I enjoy a misunderstood heroine, and SF plays in that arena like a champ--standout tales like The Bad Penny and The Black Sheep are the tops in the martyred heroine/initially hostile hero trials. Good stuff! But MoCs are really SF's bread and butter--most of her catalog features titles with Wife and Bride in 'em. Usually there's some underlying practical reason the MCs marry--in The Prodigal Wife, it's the heroine's father who arranges the match to save his ranch for his daughter, who goes along with the match because she's secretly in love with our hero but then splits on her wedding day when she overhears something that makes her believe that he's only marrying her for her money, refusing to have anything to do with the forsaken hero for five years. When she finds out years later that her father's ranch was actually on the verge of bankruptcy and only saved by the hero's intervention, and that she's gravely misjudged him, she's regretful and mortified that she's spurned all overtures from her abandoned spouse. She returns unannounced to offer him a divorce and make any amends that she can make for her actions. He is obviously distrustful and angry but insists she can make amends only by giving the marriage a shot, and since she was in love with him years before and is still very attracted to him, she agrees, partly from guilt, to do so. Like most SF heroes, our hero Gabe is outwardly intimidating and stern and inclined to be bossy but a real sweetheart underneath who can temper his autocratic impulses, appreciate it when the often-reticent heroines learn to stand up for themselves, and is a romantic--and lusty!--partner to his soon-besotted wife. He's gentle and patient and forgiving, and does his best to make a fresh start with his runaway bride, and it's sweet and just a little angsty as they both hide their feelings and make their way slowly to an understanding of one another and a willingness to be vulnerable and reveal their mutual love. SF's MoC stories aren't as angsty as her martyred heroine tales or as dependent on Big Misunderstandings, usually--they are more about two relative strangers coming to know and love one another over time. They're sweet and often a little sad (in the best way); unexplicit but with pretty good heat for all that; and really nicely done. I'm a fan, and I only wish SF had written more books because I'm going through her catalog all too fast. TPW is pretty standard but a sweet story with a typically swoon-worthy SF hero and a heroine who grows up in time to realize and appreciate it.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-12-01 00:00:00 Steve Smith "The Prodigal Wife" is the story of Lainey and Gabe. A beautiful second chance romance about love and forgiveness. In a totally new take on abandonment, our heroine returns back after five years of dismissing, rebuffing and punishing the hero after their wedding for something that wasn't his fault. She broke his heart over and over, and now returns to beg for his pardon. Instead of being cruel and mean, the hero is silent and accepting, and makes the heroine understand how she hurt him. Honestly, my heart broke for the hero and the way the heroine behaved with him due to no fault of his. He had a massive heart and I wasn't even mad at the heroine as she was genuinely apologetic. My only grievance is that it wasn't angsty enough- I cried a little only- but I would have loved to see more grovel and passion- and a more detailed HEA. That being said, WONDERFULLY KIND hero. Safe 3.5/5