I have been trying to finish this for a year to no avail. The writing style and character development are not for me.

3.75 Stars

I’ll start off with saying, you could technically read this as a stand alone, BUT you’ll be missing out on background knowledge of the widows prior to remarrying and their friendship. I initially received this book as an arc to review. When I began to read I went back to read the other books in the series so I could understand certain parts of the book that relied on your past knowledge. However, once you get past the first half, the story starts to get good and you don’t necessarily have to read the other books.

With all that said, I did find myself enjoying this particular book buuuut I also had a hard time relating to Jane. Like other books with multiple leading ladies in a series, I’m bound to not connect to one. Jane unfortunately was that for me. The first half of the book seemingly dragged along but after the first accident, the story really picked up pace and read quickly. While it was a bit formulaic in who was behind the chaos, it was still fun to read.

I do look forward to reading other books by this author.

This book concludes the series about a group of war widows, all of whom find a second chance at love. After a year of proposals, Jane, Lady John Tarkington, finally agrees to marry Gareth, Lord Kinellan. She has been reluctant to give up her new found independence, but doesn't want to lose her new lover. The ladies decide to change the name of their group to the Happy Ever Afters. But did Jane wait too long to accept Kinellan's proposal, because dangerous accidents start happening to him. New characters are introduced- maybe for a new series?

I read an ARC provided by the publisher, Kensington, via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

The book was a little entertaining, but it threw me off some. For instance the romance between the main couple was totally skipped over as the two are already in a romantic interlude. Well that just deflated my expectations of a entertaining love story that builds through the story. Both main characters personalities are charming and sweet. I believe that they work very well together in the story.

they had me a plaid. Historical romances are my jam. They are good and bring a bit of romance and loved it. this one was a good one.

THE WIDOW WORE PLAID is the sixth book in The Widow's Club series and, although I haven't read any of the previous books, I would recommend it, even if it's just so you get all the names lined up in your head.

Jane and Gareth have been together for a while and, although Gareth has asked her to marry him numerous times, Jane has always said no for fear of losing her independence. Gareth does everything in his power to soothe those fears and she eventually says yes. Not everyone is happy with that announcement though and their lives are in danger.

Not having read any of the other books, I wonder how much of their getting to know each other was mentioned then because, obviously, there's nothing here. They are already a done deal although Jane is going to stop taking precautions against pregnancy now it's official. Part of me missed that, the build-up, but in other ways, it made this all the more exciting as the story could concentrate on their peril, rather than dancing around each other.

After a slow start, this story builds up to a fitting ending. I would have preferred to have read it as part of a series, simply so I could keep everyone straight and fully understand the relationships that are already formed. Saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it.

THE WIDOW WORE PLAID is the sixth book in Jenna Jaxon’s “Widows' Club” series. I loved this book! Usually in this series, there is a slow burn and evolution of the relationship between the hero and heroine. In THE WIDOW WORE PLAID, the romantic relationship between Jane, Lady John Tarkington and sexy Scotsman Gareth, Lord Kinellan is already mostly established. At the opening of the story, she is staying at his castle in Scotland, along with a party of their friends, and enjoying companionship and torrid trysts. The only point of contention between the two is that Gareth wants to marry Jane, and she is very reluctant to take the plunge again. The romance is front and center in this story, but there’s also danger from a mysterious assassin intent on trying to take Gareth out.

I like stories in which the hero pursues the heroine, but I also like stories in which the couple works together to either build something positive or to fight against a common foe. In THE WIDOW WORE PLAID, I get both. Gareth is actively, though not obnoxiously or too aggressively, pursuing his lady love Jane. At the beginning of this story their love for each other is obvious and they don’t try to deny it. All that remains is for Gareth to convince Jane that marrying him would only enrich her life, without him trying to control her in any way. At the same time Gareth is wooing Jane, some unknown villain is plotting Gareth’s demise. I adore the way Jenna Jaxon can balance the idyllic yet mature love story with the ever-increasing sense of danger. Castle Kinellan is a picturesque backdrop for a romance to bloom, as well as a remote locale for an assassin to stalk his prey. Gareth and Jane’s friends play a huge part in this book. In the first half, they offer well-meaning and teasing advice on their love life, but in the second half of the story, they are determined to find their lost friends and punish the people responsible for their imagined suffering. Besides adding some adventure to the plot, I think Jane and Gareth establish an even tighter bond as they are under attack. Having to rely on each other in such dire circumstances only serves to deepen their feelings for each other.

THE WIDOW WORE PLAID is a satisfyingly steamy Scottish romance with a few blockbuster thrills thrown in. Gareth is my kind of hero – strong, sexy, and a total sweetie. Although Jane has never had to fight for her life before like she does in this story, I like that she’s resourceful and resilient. I look forward to reading Jenna Jaxon’s next book.

While The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jenna Jaxon’s Widows Club series, it’s the first book I’ve read. Occasionally, I felt like there was a bit I might be missing from the earlier books, but it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the tale.

Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Set it in Scotland, and I’m in!

The book has incredibly described settings; whether it’s a ballroom, estate gardens, gowns, or even a rustic forgotten hunting lodge, the author excels at putting the reader in the middle of the scene.

Jane seems to have her life figured out. After losing her husband in the battle of Waterloo, she has settled into widowhood and is quite happy. Love and marriage will only complicate things by taking control of her finances and life out of her hands. However, she begins to question whether she was wrong to discourage the offers of marriage from her lover, Lord Kinellan.

Gareth, Lord Kinellan, is a perfect hero for Jane. He respects her wishes yet knows there is more for them if they acknowledge their love. He sets out to win her over. Along the way, there are murder attempts and mysteries. This book certainly has enough plot to keep you turning page after page.

There were occasional instances that pulled me out of the story, but certainly not enough to take away from my recommendation of The Widow Wore Plaid. I can’t wait to read more from Jenna Jaxon.



I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Battle of Waterloo made them widows, but each has found new happiness. except for Jane, Lady John Tarkington, Lord Kinellan has asked for her hand over and over, but she keeps telling him no. They have been seeing each other for a while. Each of Lord Kinellan's friends have married her widow friends. Lord Kinellan decides to have a gathering for their friends where she finally says yes to marring him but is it too later because someone has it out for Lord Kinellan.

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

This is one Fantastic story! Suspenseful and Gripping! I love when a book grabs you right from the start and takes you on a heart stopping journey as in The Widow Wore Plaid. It's a gripping rollercoaster ride as Jane and Gareth find themselves facing life and situations. With the appearances from characters who you found a special place in your heart for from the previous novels in The Widows Club series. Jenna Jaxon weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, suspicious accidents, and danger. It's a well-written romance that brims with tension-building twists and turns, remarkable emotions, characters that come off the pages and pull you into their emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, sizzling passion, and with one fantastic plot that brings this read together perfectly!

What's a widow to do when she doesn't want to give up her freedom and get remarried?

She definately had feelings for him, but after her first marriage when her husband held control, it was hard to give up her freedom. But in the end, all of her friends in the Widow's Club had remarried and he really was everything she wanted, right?

He had loved her and wanted to marry for several years. It was just convincing her. But just when it seemed it might all work out, it seem villains came out of the woodwork! Could he keep them alive?

It has been awhile since I have read one of Jenna's fantastic stories and this one makes me know I want to read more! A little mystery, suspense, and a winding journey to love, makes this a wonderful addition to this series!

This was enjoyable, but there was something lacking in the central love story that probably would have benefitted from not reading this as a standalone. The two main characters start the story as already sleeping with each other and already in love with each other - great, except that if you haven't read the other books, then you have no semblance of their backstory or much interest in their friends, who fill up a good portion of the plot. The villain could have also used a bit more build up, getting lost in the vast amount of characters that are introduced all at once.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really couldn’t get into this one. I didn’t find the characters appealing, especially the heroine. I have not read the previous books in the series, which may be the problem—perhaps I would have been drawn in by prior knowledge. But this one didn’t work for me.

This is book 6 in the Widows Club series, Jane and Gareth's story.
I enjoyed this story. It was good. But I did have a problem with the heroine. Jane didn't want to get remarried because she didn't want to lose her freedom but she was willing to live with him and to bed him. This was not heard of in regency times. Her attitude toward her children was also disturbing. The book finished better then it started.
3 stars

This is normally the easy read historical romance would like but it just didn't quite make it for me. The couple were already involved before the story started and it felt like most of the angst was forced to make a story. I hadn't read the other books so I perhaps missed out of some of the interaction with the other couple and found it odd how she didn't want anything to do with her children.

I received this book from netgallery in exchange for an honest review as given above

This story kept me turning the pages. The final member of the Widows' Club was unsure whether she wanted out of the club or not. Jane enjoyed the power of her independence, but her heart belonged to another man. I loved how Gareth never gave up on Jane, accepted her reasons for not accepting his proposals, yet loved her in every other way he could. Once she finally made up her mind, Jane was determined so there would be no Widows' Club. Now danger could keep them apart. Jane could be fierce and resourceful, and I loved that she did not care so much about station or situation. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

This is the first Jenna Jaxon book I have every read, and I found it to be very enjoyable, well written, and she is definitely someone I plan on checking out her back list. This novel is the sixth book in the Widow's Club series, and it definitely reads like a book that would have been better read in series order. While overall I found the story to be very enjoyable, I definitely think I would have had a much stronger connection with the hero and heroine and all the supporting character if I had this in order. I did not find the story overall confusing, yes there are lots of characters and yes we enter this romance in the middle of it, but Jenna Jaxon's writing was very accessible and easy to follow when it came to the various players in this series and I am definitely interested in going back to the beginning of this series to get a deeper understanding of all the players and they interconnected nature of this series with the strong female and male friendships that are evident in this story.

We enter this story in the middle of Jane and Gareth's romance, they are already in love at the start of the novel and they have basically been living together for the past few months. Gareth has also proposed marriage three times to Jane previously to the start of this novel. The action of the novel starts with Gareth and Jane's friends coming to Gareth's Scottish estate for a hunting party. While in the company of their friends Gareth realizes that he will still do anything to win Jane's hand and Jane starts to realize that her relationship with Gareth is more important then her freedom as a widow. So Jane finally is able to say yes to Gareth's proposal of marriage. From here the novel is very action driven around murder attempts on Gareth (and Jane's) life, being stranded, working together and care taking.

The romance is very low angst, we know that Jane and Gareth love each other, they never question their love and they stay strong in their relationship. The plot of this novel is definitely action driven, it focuses on the many different characters from past novels and how they intertwine with everyone, while still keeping the majority of the focus on Jane and Gareth's situation. Because Jane and Gareth are already in love and in a physical relationship the steam level of this novel is on a higher level and Jenna Jaxon is able to parcel these scenes throughout the novel from the start. Overall I really enjoyed watching Jane and Gareth work together, they seemed to have a really balanced and understanding relationship, but I do feel like I would have been even more invested in them and their friends if I had started this series at the beginning.

I would recommend this story especially if you are interested in starting a series that appears to be very well interconnected. I think Jenna Jaxon's writing is definitely worth checking out and I am very much looking forward in exploring her backlist.

‘It is a truth rarely acknowledged—at least in public—that a wealthy widow is free to pursue a great many adventures. For two years, Jane has privately enjoyed her independence. Why should she remarry, even when the gentleman proposing is as wonderful as Gareth, Lord Kinellan? She entreats him never to ask her again. But as her Widows' Club friends—now all joyfully remarried—gather at Castle Kinellan, Jane begins to wonder if stubbornness has led her to make a terrible mistake...

Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?’
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3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

The Widow Wore Plaid is the sixth book in Jeanna Jaxon’s The Widow’s Club series and is a historical romance.

I thought the book was a bit slow to start, but once the two main characters came to an understanding the story really started moving forward and the mystery began to unfold. The plot really builds, Early on there is only the uncertainty of their relationship, but then some mysterious and dangerous circumstances are introduced. Then that builds even more to throwing the characters into a real life or death situation, leaving them stranded and unsure of their chances. The level of danger and consequence is quite high for the second half of the book and that really made the book for me. I really enjoyed the book and really the only issue for me was Jane’s character.

I’ll be honest I really did not care for Jane. Although she did grow on me as the story progressed. I was able to look past my annoyance with her to enjoy the book, but I found her quite unlikable. I assume, as the series is titled The Widow’s Club and Jane is one of those Widow’s that we are meant to have prior background knowledge of Jane and be quite familiar with her character over the course of the previous books. Perhaps that is part of the reason I didn’t like her, I wasn’t already familiar with her character and, if I was, perhaps I would have sympathized more. Both her disregard for Gareth’s feelings and her seeming lack of interest in her children(although supposedly this is her first husband’s fault and now she’s too nervous to change the nature of her relationship with her kids). However I will give props where due and she redeemed herself quite a bit in showing such strength during difficult and harrowing situations. But let’s be honest, Gareth deserves far more credit for being able to keep his patience while dealing with her crap.

I think I would definitely read another book by this author and as long as there isn’t another Jane-like character, I’m sure to enjoy it.
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I would like to thank Kensington Books, Zebra for sharing an eARC of The Widow Wore Plaid by Jeanna Jaxon with me. This is an honest review.

I did not care for Jane. I could not believe how she felt about the children, which she left behind at Cranston Park. She may have been confused about her feelings. Gareth had wanted her to bring the children, but she wanted her cake and eat it too. Or that was the way it seemed, but I may have Judged her unfairly. She did love Gareth and he loved her. They were supposed to get married in three days. Most of the guests from the house party had stayed over. Everyone was happy to share their happiness.

There were a lot of elements to this story. Action, hunting {people and animals}. It is scary, and why would someone want to hurt someone at the party? The tale kept you interested and entertained. The characters were enjoyable. The tale moved smoothly. There were surprises all over the place. I would so highly recommend this book.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.