Historical Romance with fiesty abused widow

Heroine is a widow. Dead husband was abusive.

The main things i remember are I’m sure she has brands/burns or something on her body (her breasts I think?) from abuse from previous husband. She is known for being feisty or a flirtatious widow or saying “scandalous” things at court as if she’s sleeping around etc, but it’s a front. She lets people think she’s promiscuous. I’m sure a remember this point being made in the book which hopefully someone gets.

Hero and Heroine I think know each other. They had previous relationship or romance when younger but now he dislikes her/hates her for marrying/doesn’t know about abusive marriage at first/Possible he came back from war i think and she’s married?? She thought he was dead maybe, or i’ve made that up. I’m sure this is one of the more “well known” historical romance authors but maybe not because I can’t find it anywhere. I think it’s maybe part of a series. And I think previous or future series characters feature in book.

edit: Now i’m thinking of it I think they come together to help another (maybe younger)
couple eloping? To gretna green maybe? *cries*

I've read this. I think you're right and it's one of the more well known authors. Pondering.

>2 welt-kids: Honestly I swear i’ve went through every library and author book list I can think of etc and I can’t figure it out.

And now it’s stuck in my head until i read it. I’m so glad someone else had read it though.

I think I've ruled out Mary Jo Putney and Mary Balogh. Working on Jo Beverly now. Pretty sure it isn't Catherine Coulter or Johanna Lindsay or Julia Quinn.

Thank you so much for the help, it’s so appreciated. I’ve done much the same but i’ve gotten nowhere. Im surprised this one is so hard to find, I had it in my mind it was an obvious author. I’m almost positive it is.

I don't think it is Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, or Julie Garwood. I'm fairly familiar with their work and I don't recognize this plot.

Sabrina Jeffries?

Could it be handmaiden's necklace by Kat Martin?

>6 juels: I think i’m in agreement here. I’ve exhausted my goodreads lists. Which is infuriating because im almost certain that’s how I came across it in the first place.

>8 renniks: No it’s not. I’ll check this one out anyway though i’ve never read it. Thank you

>7 sueelleker: Oh i’ve not checked her yet actually. I’m going to through her list now so thank you.

The Letter by Sandra Owens?

The Desires of a Perfect Lady by Victoria Alexander?

I said I didn't think it was Mary Balogh, but could it be Someone to Trust?

>13 welt-kids: No definitely not this one.She’s definitely not older than him. Ugh I’m totally lost with it now. I’ve read this book twice and it’s going to drive me insane because I cannot figure it out

None of these though I very much appreciate the replies here.

Now i’m thinking of it I think they come together to help another (maybe younger)
couple eloping? To gretna green maybe? Ugh god this is going to be stuck in my head forever.

My searching has found has a few other places where people are asking for a book with this plot...and none of them, have answers! Frustrating!

>16 welt-kids: aw no really? That is incredibly frustrating! I am 100% it exists and can remember tiny snippets but i can’t believe how difficult it is finding it

bumping

Another guess: Forbidden by Jo Beverley

And I know I didn't do the touchstones correctly. But that is the title and author I mean.

Forbidden I think this works; good work tracking it down!

>21 vorkosigan: No not it. But appreciate the book name, I’ll check it out. It’s driving me absolutely crazy now

Bumping.

>23 Lily34: Check this out Lily, Christmas beau by Mary balogh

>24 Bluebelle21: Oh, good guess!

>25 welt-kids: *cries* but it's not the book, right? I will try searching some more.

By your description, I am thinking of a two book series with a heroine by the name of Marrieta Danver. Love's Tender Fury and Love Me, Marrieta by Jennifer Wilde.

In the first book, she is framed for stealing by the jealous wife of her male employer and given a sentence of an Indentured Servant, and goes through a few different owners, most of which all fall in love with her. But, she never forgets "Derek", an aloof introverted plantation owner that eventually sells her and becomes jealous when she marries someone else and eventually gains freedom from her indenture. As your description, the husband was abusive and ends up dying (I believe due to a drama over her, LOL), and Derek cannot forgive her even though he threw her away more than once....but he cannot forget her either.

Marietta is a very fiesty, flirty, beautiful (and red haired) and constantly getting into trouble with her behavior and being a woman that men strongly desire. She does have scars on her breasts from being previously whipped during her indenture from a jealous owner that desired her but resented her beauty.

If this is not the book you are looking for, perhaps a Danielle Steel novel?

Hey, check out Six Degrees of Scandal by Caroline Linden. Though I don't think it's the book you are talking about. Will try searching more

Thanks everyone for the suggestions really appreciate it. I cannot find this book at all. *cries* So frustrating when i can remember little snippets !

Bumping

Okay, the one I have been thinking of is Never Less Than a Lady by Mary Jo Putney. It fits the scars/abusive husband part, but not the scandalous widow part.

Touchstone: Never Less Than a Lady

Here's another guess, it popped up in my Kindle suggestions today: The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe