Leah George was secretly overcome with joy and relief when her husband unexpectedly died in a carriage accident. For over a year, Leah knew that her husband, Ian, was having an affair with Lady Angela Wriothesly, the wife of his best friend, Sebastian. Leah is relieved that she no longer has to ignore her husband's infidelity and then welcome him into her bed. Ian's death finally gives Leah what she has most desired -- her independence. Leah hopes are dashed when she realizes she must put on the façade of a grieving widow. But Leah comes up with a plan to enjoy herself and still fool her family into the believing she is grieving over the husband she despised.

Leah celebrates her husband's death and her new-found freedom by throwing a lavish house party. Leah's invitations raise eyebrows among family and friends. After all, after only four months of widowhood, Leah should still be wearing widow weeds and refraining from participating in any social activities. Leah, however, refuses to mourn the husband who broke her heart any longer than she has to. The happy widow cleverly disguises her much gossiped about house party as a tribute to her husband. No matter how clever Leah thinks she is, her actions stun family and friends, especially Lord Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Writothesly.

Sebastian Madinger had devoted his life to loving his beautiful wife. Upon learning of the carriage accident which took her life, Sebastian also learned that his wife had not been alone on the night of her death. Sebastian's wife, who was supposedly traveling to their country estate to regain her health, was accompanied by Sebastian's best friend, Ian George. Torn between grief and rage, Sebastian is determined to keep Ian and Angela's affair secret for the sake of his son. The Earl of Wriothesly makes a pact with Leah George to keep the affair between their spouses secret. Leah agrees to lie about the reason Ian and Angela were together, but when Sebastian learns about Leah's inappropriate house party, he is furious. When rumors begin to circulate that Ian and Angela were having an affair, Sebastian comes up with a way to put an end to the scandal about his dead wife-- Sebastian must create his own scandal by marrying Leah George.

Readers who love a strong female character will be delighted with ROMANCING THE COUNTESS. I loved how Leah abandoned all concepts of proper etiquette when it came to mourning the death of her husband who never deserved her love. The romance between Leah and Sebastian develops at a slow pace, but readers will love the journey from Leah and Sebastian's stormy beginning to their final realization that lightning can strike twice when it comes to love. ROMANCING THE COUNTESS will more than please Victorian romance fans.