"A fine cast puts this romance above the norm"

In 1805 London, a very disappointed General Northcott lectures his daughter Lucinda that she has brought shame to their family name that has been above reproach for over two centuries. He insists she will marry the younger son of an earl instead of the older one whom she loves. Harry Devering not her beloved Malcolm becomes her spouse. For the next decade Lucinda is the paragon of proper behavior, which cannot be said of her husband.

In 1816 Lucinda makes her first social appearance since Harry died in the bed of his mistress over a year ago. Only for her charge Meg would she return to the Ton. However, at Meg's debut, her brother, Sea Captain Garrett Lynch, crashes the gala. Ready to declare the third Anglo- American war, Garrett is side tracked by the beauty and calm of Lucinda. He wants her, but Lucinda will give up love before stepping into any scandal, just ask the odious Malcolm who wants her as his mistress.

Though the story line is somewhat typical of a Regency, Debra Mullins keeps it fresh through the relationships of several of her key characters, especially the lead protagonists. Lucinda's vow to never cause harm to her family name after the way her father looked at her in 1805 battles with her desire to make love with the wild Garrett, whose attitude is damn the torpedoes full speed ahead in his quest. Regency readers will find A NECESSARY HUSBAND a charming read that never steps out of the box.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 25, 2002

Summary

Widow Lucinda Devering has a chance to settle her husband's debts without losing face, as long as she can turn the Duke of Raynewood's American granddaughter into a proper English lady. But the girl's brother has other ideas. Garrett wants nothing to do with England or his estranged grandfather, even though he is the duke's long-lost heir. His mission is to bring his sister home to America and then get back to his shipping business--but she won't go! Determined to save his sister from herself, he stays in England to convince her. While there, he decides to teach the lovely Lucinda a few passionate lessons of his own. But Lucinda needs a husband, not a lover, and so the battle of the sexes begins...