This past weekend only made it through one book and it wasn't that good. I've enjoyed some of Ms. Justiss past books but this one just fell flat for me.

THE PROPER WIFE
Julia Justiss
7/2001
Rom/H-Regency
HH567

Blurb:
A thrifty, industrious, WHOLESOME bride! Certainly not an exotic aristocrat like Clarissa Beaumont, who set trends and dazzled suitors with equal passion. A more UNSUITABLE wife St. John Sandiford found impossible to imagine! Why then couldn't he get Clarissa out of his mind -- or his heart?

Though Sinjin Sandiford was rightly called "hero," he could sometimes fall short of "gentleman," Lady Beaumont fumed. Why, the cad had refused her help in making an advantageous match -- yet still he managed to stir the most UNSEEMLY feelings within her...!


***Thoughts
I just never felt anything for either Sinjin or Clarissa. Sinjin spent his time in the book grieving the loss of Sarah (THE WEDDING GAMBLE). She had married another in a MOC while Sinjin was away at war and he couldn't get back into time to stop the wedding. Sarah is happily married with children and this all took place over 4 years ago.

Clarissa is about 21 and the bell of the ton, she is beautiful and a bit spoiled by all. But she is very kind hearted, she flirts but doesn't hurt.
Sinjin dislikes her on site and sparks fly when they are together. But the author just didn't give them enough scenes for the sparks to turn to fire and into passion. The seem to fall in love with each from afar....he was with a rich middle class woman when Clarissa realized she had lost him because he was about to ask the other women to marry him in a MOC.
Sinjin was slower, nearly the last chapter.