The Major and the Scandalous Widow - Sarah Mallory (HH #1651 - Oct 2023)

The infamous lady…
He must resist!
 
Major Jack Clifton must fulfill his military friend's dying wish by returning his wedding ring to his widow. But when honorable Jack finds Eloise a year later, she's nothing like the woman that he was told to expect. In fact, the ton view her as utterly scandalous! Yet, Jack quickly learns that Eloise's reputation has been wrongfully imposed on her…and that he has forbidden feelings for the real Eloise!
 
The book opens with the heartbreaking scene of Lord Tony Allyngham receiving a fatal injury during the Battle of Waterloo. He entrusts his friend, Major Jack Clifton, with two keepsakes he wishes to return to his wife. A year later, Jack finally has the chance to fulfill his mission. He is dismayed to find a widow with a scandalous reputation instead of the grieving young woman he expected.
 
Eloise spent her year mourning, then reemerged in Society as a beautiful and wealthy young woman. Though sought after by many, she is not interested in marrying again, only continuing Tony's charitable intentions by setting up a foundling hospital. By her side is her good friend, Alex, who grew up with her and Tony. Their relationship is the subject of speculation and rumor.
 
Jack and Eloise's first meeting did not go well. They encountered each other at a Society event, where Jack saw the flirtatious, care-free façade that Eloise shows in public. He's judgmental and believes the rumors he hears. However, when they meet again for him to deliver Tony's keepsakes, Jack sees a different side of her. He is still unsure what to believe, but he can't deny the sparks of attraction he feels. Eloise also feels something that has been missing from her life.
 
Jack's emotions are torn when it comes to Eloise. He can't deny his growing feelings for her, but he knows she has secrets she won't share. Those secrets become a problem when Eloise finds herself the victim of a blackmailer. I could feel her fear of exposure, her unswerving loyalty to those who would suffer if they were revealed, and her determination to protect those she loves. Jack wants to help but she shuts him out.
 
The blackmail plot introduces a sense of danger as the blackmailer grows more desperate. Eloise's determination to handle everything alone put her in several dangerous situations, making her future increasingly uncertain. The final showdown with the blackmailer was an intense nail-biter of an event with an excellent resolution.
 
The only thing left is for Jack and Eloise to get past the secrets that keep them apart. I figured out the secrets that Eloise was protecting early on and why it was so important to protect them. I loved Alex's part in bringing them together and Jack's ultimate understanding of the truth. The ending was terrific.