I was immediately impressed with this book based on the writing style. It’s well-worded and well-researched, rich with detail on everything from ships to clothing to Cornwall. I loved all of the characters (especially Harriet, Bertha, Theo, and Mrs. T) and I adored the setting too. As for the plot, it pulled me in so much, I did not want to put the book down!

I was sure this was going to be a five-star read for me, but then the last part of the book felt too rushed and far-fetched relating to Jack’s family. I skipped the sex scene (though I didn’t deduct from my rating for that; closed-door is just my personal preference), which felt like a strange way to conclude the book.*

I still LOVED most of the book; I would have l liked it even better if it was a little longer to make the development feel more natural to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing for the free eARC; I really enjoyed it! I post this review voluntarily with my honest opinions. This review will also be posted on Amazon upon the book’s publication.

*I do understand why the author desired to show how Jack treated Harriet better than her abusive last husband, but it felt out-of-character for a sensible widow in a precarious situation to threaten herself with ruin by sleeping with a man outside of marriage. It felt unrealistic for her to overcome so many years of past sexual trauma so quickly - but I suppose people heal in their own way at their own pace!

This is the fourth book in the Cornish Ladies series. It follows the story of Harriet Penhallow, who is a widow with 2 children. She has to move from Bath to Cornwall and accept the charity of her late husband's aunt. Jack is the captain of The Fly, the only son of Harriet's new neighbor, and a smuggler. One night, when Harriet's son sneaks to the cove where The Fly is, and she follows him. When they hear the crew returning, they hide themselves in The Fly, and before they know it, they are at the sea. The storyline seemed pretty unique. The era represented in the book was good. The language was not for me though. Even with that, I finished it in one sitting. Although I did not particularly enjoy how men are portrayed as superior, I suppose that was a major factor in the past.

Thank you for this arc of The Cornish Widow. The story is about a widow that falls for a smuggler. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from this author.