The Perfect Wife

Endearing, funny, charming

This is strictly a romance novel with a small bit of intrigue involved. A gal who fears her "plumpness" and has been ridiculed for years due to her size by smaller cousins. A huge warrior seeking such a woman finds himself wedding a woman less than he had imagined for himself initially. The wedding feast provides entertainment that causes her great distress and him angst - but for very different reasons. She has no clue he is not put off by her curves and he is thoroughly disgusted only with her cousins. They pursue their wedding night only to befall tragedy (a small one but happens none-the-less). This tragedy leaves him unable to consumate their marriage as they had started. Thus the issues grow. She fears his repulsion - he fears consumation until he is well enough to perform. Along the way, travelling back to their new home, the plot thickens. Small issues arise and neither of them is able to voice what they are thinking - each thinking the worst about themselves - rather than the other. She has fallen onto clumsy times and he frets over her not being hardy enough for him. Plots to take her life ensue as do small "accidents" to make her look incompetent. The death attempts have a reader thinking it is one culprit when it is really another. While appearing incompetent she DOES manage to do some right. He falls for her (and she for him) and feels it important to make her self esteem grow to outlast the damage of her cousins. She manages to pull of a feat in the book that brings about some peace in the castle with the villagers and gains confidence. Each, in their own way, is working toward the conclusion that her "accidents and ineptness" are not truely her own - but the makings from someone else. The conclusion is the uncovering of the person who is the one intent on murder and also shows the union in a new light. Good read - I will pick up this writer again.