The Wife Trap
Grade : C

Tracy Anne Warren's The Husband Trap was a light and charming book. Its sequel, The Wife Trap is light as well, but the charm isn't there. The heroine is the spoiled sister from The Husband Trap, and in my review of that book, I said she'd have to undergo a lot of rehabilitation in order to make her a likable heroine. Well, she didn't change enough to make her someone I could warm up to.

After the scandal she caused in The Husband Trap, Lady Jeannette Rose Brantford's parents finally have had it with her spoiled ways. They send her to Ireland to visit some cousins and stay out of sight till Society forgets and some other scandal comes along to divert gossip. Jeannette is sorry for her transgression, and has mended fences with her sister, but she's still spoiled and thinks mostly of herself. When her carriage gets stuck in a bog, Darragh O'Brien comes along just in time to help Jeannette out of her predicament. He's handsome, charming, and not at all impressed by her airs and graces. Jeannette is disconcerted since she is used to being catered to - not laughed at and called "lass".

Jeannette's cousins are kind but a bit dull, and as she is used to the London round of parties and activities, she becomes bored. However, Jeannette resolves not to be difficult and does her best to get used to country ways and hours. Still, there's one thing driving her crazy - her cousins are in the midst of a building project and work begins at 6:00 am. Since she is used to sleeping till noon, this is very disruptive to her peace of mind and she sets out to scold the workers when she runs right into the architect, Darragh O'Brien.

Darragh is actually the Earl of Mullholland, who became an architect to replenish the family fortune and because he loves the work. He is well respected for his ability, but he doesn't let Jeannette know who he really is, and she thinks he's a simple builder. Darragh is handsome and glib and Jeannette is out of the reach of London gossip that she banters and flirts with him...and he with her. Darragh is quite taken with her prettiness, although he still thinks she is spoiled and snobbish, especially when she tells him that only a duke is good enough for her to marry.

One evening at a party, Jeanette is dressed in her finest and quite the belle, when she sees Darragh dressed in immaculate formal attire. She's disconcerted that such a lower class man is at a party, but this is the country after all and they resume their flirtation. They are caught kissing by her sister and brother in law and since Jeannette can't afford another scandal, Darragh agrees to marry her. But he will not tell her who he really is, and wants to see if she loves him for himself.

The Wife Trap is very light and smoothly written. But there were a few times when I wished it had delved a bit deeper under the surface. Darragh is obviously a Catholic but religion is never mentioned in the book. There are some hints that he has been snubbed by the English because he is Irish, but again this is mentioned only fleetingly. I know this book of the wallpaper history type, but I think it could have been better if some of these problems were treated in more depth.

Darraugh is nice enough - full of Irish charm and a very pleasant man. His reaction when he finds out that Jeannette is not a virgin is a good one. He's surprised, and a bit angry but is willing to put the past behind him and go on from there. It's Jeannette who really bothered me. She goes from sensible and intelligent to foot stomping and hair tossing in the turn of a page. She pulls silly stunts like trying to sneak out the window at her wedding, then she turns around and swears undying love. She is the most changeable heroine I've seen in some time. Although I did believe that at the end her good traits had come to the fore, it took some time for her to get there.

The Wife Trap is competent enough and may please readers who like their romance light. The last book in the series is called The Wedding Trap and it involves a shy, plain woman who falls in love with a very handsome man. I'll be reading it - perhaps it'll be as good as The Husband Trap.

Reviewed by Ellen Micheletti
Grade : C

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : May 7, 2006

Publication Date: 2006

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Ellen Micheletti

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