The Perfect Wife

by Victoria Alexander

Book Overview

The perfect wife should be beautiful, trusting, and absolutely agreeable--or so the Earl of Wyldewood thought. But in New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander's intriguing tale, he finds that marriage is about more than mere appearances . . . When the Earl of Wyldewood meets Sabrina Winfield, he thinks he's found the ideal match. Graceful and genteel, the elegant blonde will look simply exquisite displayed on his arm. And a lady like Sabrina...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061438553
• ISBN13: 9780061438554
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Over the top, trite and shallow

Very disappointing. The story line was weak, too many characters to be paired off at a few days notice, and a nauseatingly over the top style, reminiscent of Barbara Cartland era. Neither of the leading characters were worthy of the title hero/heroine. This was So bad that halfway through I had to skip chunks just to kid myself that I had read it!

LOVE MIXED WITH HIDDEN TREASURE!!!

As I first began reading this book I thought, "Not another stupid smuggler story". Thank goodness that it was way more than that. Love was thrown into a kettle of intrigue, travel, and treasure hunting. A fantastic historical romance that spun my mind into an adventure as I turned each page. I highly recommend this one!

Secrets on a voyage to Egypt

"The Perfect Wife" is a reissue of a book first published in 1996 but fortunately not feeling outdated as some books written in the nineties can. Sabrina Winfield is a widow, a Marchioness and a calm and well-bred woman whose daughter has just become engaged to the son of the Earl of Wyldewood. However Sabrina is very worried as her money has all but gone and she doesn't have enough for a decent dowry for her daughter, Belinda. When she finds a treasure map to some gold that Napoleon hid in Egypt she decides to find the treasure to turn round her own fortune. Belinda is worried about her mother, asks her fiancé Erick to do something about it and he asks his father Nicholas, the Earl of Wyldewood, to speak to Sabrina. Nicholas found Sabrina a fascinating woman when he met her at a ball previously and so goes to talk to her. Rather unexpectedly he finds himself accompanying Sabrina to Egypt, not knowing the real reason she is making the journey, but having decided he wants her as his wife. Their journey to and within Egypt doesn't go quite as planned with various people in hot pursuit, a wedding, jealousy, kidnapping and more and with Sabrina realising that Nicholas is the man who worked for the government in trying to stop a gang of smugglers led by a woman ten years before - and she was that woman. Sabrina and Nicholas both have to come to terms with each other, their histories and their different needs. This was a very enjoyable read, particularly as most of the events took place on a boat travelling to Egypt rather than balls and soirées in London. Sabrina and Nicholas were both good characters although Sabrina's daughter Belinda was rather annoying. There was a minor plot of three men from London following Sabrina and I felt that this was rather spurious and all wrapped up a bit quickly but the overall story, of Sabrina finally flowering into the person and personality she would have been were it not for events in her youth, was well written. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

WONDERFUL and TIMELESS ROMANTIC ADVENTURE!

THE PERFECT WIFE by Victoria Alexander's is a reprint of the author's second novel, first published in 1996. Since that time, Ms. Alexander has gone on to become a highly regarded and much-loved New York Times bestselling author with 27 novels and novellas to her credit. She's a gifted writer and a consummate storyteller whose books have brought great delight to this reader--and thousands of others over the years. I loved this story the first time I read it back in 2002; and with each re-reading, I fall in love with--Nicholas and Sabrina's passionate love story--all over again. In my opinion it's one of those wonderful stories with timeless appeal. *** Lady Sabrina Winfield, the lovely 36 year old Dowager Marchioness of Stanford, has been living quietly though comfortably off of her investments for the last 10 years, but now most of her fortune has been lost due to mishandling by her man of business. Fortunately, her daughter Belinda has fallen in love and become engaged to Erick Harrington, the son and heir of the wealthy and powerful Earl of Wyldewood, Nicholas Harrington. Unfortunately, Sabrina needs to provide a dowry for Belinda equal to their station in life, but has no idea how she can get such a large amount of money when there are very few acceptable ways for a noblewoman--or any woman--to make money. The last time she faced a financial crisis of this degree was right after her husband Jack died leaving her and their little daughter virtually penniless and in debt. But desperate times had called for desperate measures, and in order to make the money they needed to live on Sabrina became the disreputable Lady B--leader of her own band of smugglers. Until, they were almost caught by an agent of the Crown and were forced to disband. Now, after spending years trying to live down the slightly scandalous reputations she and her first husband had, and trying to keep her illicit past hidden; Sabrina has become so serene, proper and respectable that people think she's downright boring. But she must not let anyone discover the daring and bold "real woman" that's carefully concealed behind the façade of helpless femininity...her daughter's future happiness depends on her keeping up the ruse. Sabrina might have considered returning to her old trade, but regrettably, there just wasn't any money in smuggling anymore. However, things are looking up for Sabrina again because she fortuitously learns that just before his death her husband had won a letter in a card game--a treasure map of sorts--that was believed to have detailed directions leading to a fortune in gold (though buried in Egypt). Well, Sabrina had thought her days of adventure were far, far behind her, but now the need for money to secure her daughter's future, AND the irresistible lure of excitement and adventure calls to her... So, what's a truly bold and adventuresome woman to do???... She resolves to find the map, and let nothing--and no one--stand in the way of her traveli

Fun, Funny, Sensual --- Loved it!

I liked the spontaneous way Nicholas was willing to take off on a trip at the last minute to and as yet to be discovered location just to follow Sabrina.The book was witty, fun and carried off an unusual plot for a historical romance. I enjoyed the side characters finding romance, too.As the first reviewer said, I wish the motivation were a little clearer, but the story was so fun to read that I look forward to future books from Victoria Alexander.

She's not the woman he thought he married.

Sabrina has spent the past 10 years as a very proper matron raising a daughter alone. In truth, she is trying to wipe out her scandalous past as a daring smuggler for the sake of her daughter's marriage prospects. Suddenly facing financial reverses at a time when she desperately needs a dowry for her daughter, Sabrina jumps at the chance to go treasure hunting in Egypt. Not understanding what is happening, her daughter Belinda turns to her fiancé for help, and he in turn pleads with his father to intercede.An absentee father, the Earl of Wyldewood has been feeling guilty about his past relationship with his son. The endless pursuit of pleasure has left him somewhat jaded and cynical, and he has thought about remarrying, if for nothing more than to have a chatelaine and hostess for his home. When the sparks fly between the earl and Sabrina, he impulsively decides to ask her to marry him. She seems to be a perfectly proper society matron, and the attraction between them is an added bonus.Unfortunately, she seems to be leaving for an extended trip, and the earl decides to accompany her as a protector. Of course, when their children learn that their parents have taken off together for Egypt, they persuade an aunt to accompany them in hot pursuit. The earl, after all, is a known rake, and certainly cannot be trusted alone with a woman for an extended period.Sabrina impulsively marries the earl on board the ship, then discovers that he has the power to destroy her if he discovers the secret of her smuggler-past. She loves him, but fears that he will reject her when he discovers how very far from proper she truly is. Not being blind or stupid, the earl realizes rather quickly that Sabrina is in reality a very feisty and spirited lady, and he finds himself entranced rather than repelled. Still, there is something she isn't telling him...something in the past she has shared with the handsome American ship captain. And he determines to stick with her until he discovers what it is.I really feel this book would be better if it included a more vivid description of Sabrina's days as a smuggler and her run-in with the earl, then a government agent. As it is, those scenes are vague, and the motivation for the earl's fierce determination to catch her just isn't clear to me. If she had been an agent for the French or some such thing, I could understand his dilemma...but smuggling just isn't in the same league as treason. Other than that, I truly enjoyed the book and would love to find out what happened between Matt and Wynne, since their liaison was not resolved.