The Widows of Lavender Cottage Series by Jen Geigle Johnson

A young widow learns that nothing is as it once her late husband loved her, mysterious enemies want her dead, and the childhood sweetheart she thought abandoned her has crossed an ocean to save her. Lady Phoebe Smalling has spent two years in enforced isolation, believing her late husband cared nothing for her happiness... moreA young widow learns that nothing is as it once her late husband loved her, mysterious enemies want her dead, and the childhood sweetheart she thought abandoned her has crossed an ocean to save her. Lady Phoebe Smalling has spent two years in enforced isolation, believing her late husband cared nothing for her happiness. But at the death of her husband, when she escapes to the sanctuary of Lavender Cottage in Somerset, she discovers that everything she thought she knew about her marriage was a lie. Robert didn't abandon her—he died protecting her. And the inheritance he left behind is far more dangerous than she ever imagined. Now enemies are closing in, desperate to claim the secrets they believe she possesses. With the help of the remarkable Widows of Somerset—a secret society of independent women with skills far beyond embroidery and tea—Phoebe must navigate a deadly game of deception while uncovering the truth about her husband's mysterious past. But her greatest challenge may be learning to trust again, especially when her childhood love Archie Lytton arrives offering protection, devotion, and everything she's afraid to want. Some treasures are worth dying for. But Phoebe is about to discover that the greatest treasure of all might be worth living for. A tale of second chances, female friendship, and the courage to choose love over fear. less

He's order. She's chaos. But sometimes the most perfect partnerships are built on beautiful contradictions. Lady Marianne Linfield has found perfect sanctuary in her Somerset cottage, surrounded by her beloved menagerie of rescue animals and blissfully free from society's expectations. The last thing she wants is interference from her rigid, proper neighbor—no matter how devastatingly handsome he might be... moreHe's order. She's chaos. But sometimes the most perfect partnerships are built on beautiful contradictions. Lady Marianne Linfield has found perfect sanctuary in her Somerset cottage, surrounded by her beloved menagerie of rescue animals and blissfully free from society's expectations. The last thing she wants is interference from her rigid, proper neighbor—no matter how devastatingly handsome he might be. Lord Henry Alton values order above all else, and his new neighbor's household is the very definition of beautiful chaos. Between the peacock who terrorizes visiting clergymen, the pug who follows him everywhere, and the woman who climbs trees to rescue stranded birds, his carefully controlled world is under constant siege. When family pressure forces Marianne to consider remarriage, Henry appoints himself her advisor in attracting "suitable" suitors. But his plan to help her find the perfect husband backfires spectacularly when he realizes the perfect man for Marianne might be the one person too afraid of losing control to fight for her heart. As they work together to establish Somerset's first foundling orphanage, Marianne and Henry discover that the best partnerships aren't built on compromise—they're built on the courage to love someone exactly as they are. But when the ideal suitor appears and appreciates everything about Marianne that Henry has tried to "improve," will Henry find the strength to risk everything for love? A delightfully chaotic Regency romance about finding love in the most unexpected places—and learning that the best kind of order comes from the heart. less

A young widow not looking for love and a man who is not who he seems. When widow Eliza Tyndale inherits her aunt's Somerset estate, she expects solitude and simple country life. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the charming steward who seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. Julian Brooks is everything she didn't know she wanted—intelligent, compassionate, and unafraid of her independence. But Julian is harboring a secret that could change everything between them... moreA young widow not looking for love and a man who is not who he seems. When widow Eliza Tyndale inherits her aunt's Somerset estate, she expects solitude and simple country life. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the charming steward who seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. Julian Brooks is everything she didn't know she wanted—intelligent, compassionate, and unafraid of her independence. But Julian is harboring a secret that could change everything between them. As their friendship deepens into something more meaningful, Eliza begins to suspect there's more to the quiet steward than meets the eye. When the truth finally emerges at a public assembly, she feels betrayed by the man she thought she knew. Fleeing to the sanctuary of Lavender Cottage and the Secret Society of Young Widows, Eliza must decide whether love is worth the risk of trusting again. Can she forgive the deception that brought them together, or will Julian's secret destroy any chance of a future? As Christmas approaches and the local foundling home needs their help, Eliza and Julian are thrown together in service to others. Working side by side, they rediscover the connection that drew them together—but can they build a future when trust has been shattered? In this charming tale of second chances and chosen family, one woman must learn that sometimes the greatest risk is opening your heart to love again. less