Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the first BOTM for September 2024. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some HTML is ok' for instructions.)


The Heir by Grace Burrowes

Join us in reading this HR that features the theme Surprise reveal!

Synopsis:

AN EARL WHO CAN'T BE BRIBED

Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper...

A LADY WHO CAN'T BE PROTECTED...

Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna's secrets threaten to bring the earl's orderly life crashing down - and he doesn't know how he's going to protect her from the fallout...

Happy reading!

I'm in

I own this, so I may reread if I have time in September.

I read and liked this whole series a few years ago. This is #1 in the series. I might give it a try and see how I like it now.

The Heir is an interesting story. Well worth the read. I also own this book too.

I am a bit conflicted with this one. On one hand I enjoyed it, the story has lots of really good parts, there was quite a bit of humour, I liked Anna and Gayle as a couple, they were loving and sweet, and the relationships around them were nice to read about as the story unfolded. I really enjoyed reading about the three brothers and their relationship, I often giggled through their conversations. However, there were parts of this story that were disjointed or didn't make sense, and there were times where I got quite fed up with it as it was tedious and cumbersome - I was feeling like 'get on with it already'! It was repetitive in many places and some of the storylines kind of didn't make sense. It was too long. The plot was good but maybe not executed well, so diminished it for me.

Overall I decided I liked the book, it was the first time I have read Grace Burrowes. I might read the next book in the series to see if it improves for me.

I finished this book last month, and I enjoyed the story. Luckily, I knew what to expect. This is the 1st book I've read that a Duke is okay with his son marrying a housekeeper as long as she gives him grandchildren. Strange! I still liked it. I read the next book in the series, but it was too similar to this book.

Lauren wrote: "I finished this book last month, and I enjoyed the story. Luckily, I knew what to expect. This is the 1st book I've read that a Duke is okay with his son marrying a housekeeper as long as she gives..."

I'm currently reading the second book " The Soldier", but I really love Grace Burrowes writing and appreciate her insights into country estates and the day to day living. It's all about family and the simple truths of the everyday life of people in this time period.

Maureen, I really like her writing too. The Solider isn't bad. I just wish that changed it up a little so it wasn't so similar to The Heir. I will read the 3rd book, but I'm spacing it out.

I have started a reread of this today. Liking it so far. Looking back at my review I see I read it way back in January 2018 for a BOTM for this group. LOL. I gave 3.5 stars.

It was my first book by this author, but I did go on and read the whole series, which I enjoyed, some books more than others (as with any series). From memory, I was a little disappointed with book 2 (The Soldier). But I must have liked it enough to keep reading the series.

I have since gone on and read quite a few of Grace Burrowes' other HRs. I do like her writing style and her characters in general. Kind of low key stories with likeable characters of integrity. I might go back and look up some of the books I've never gotten around to, after finishing this one. At this stage I don't intend to reread this series, though.

As for The Heir, Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[Pretty dramatic first chapter! The heroine bashes the hero nearly senseless! Ouch! Why didn't she just shout at him to stop or something? It seems a bit OTT to beat him so severely.

Also, when she helps him undress and he doesn't have any underwear on. Oh dear.... Ha ha ha. (hide spoiler)]

I love your spoilers Jan! LOL

Starting my reread tonight.

I am enjoying this less the second time around. I have read and liked many Grace Burrowes books, both historical and contemporary. I think this is supposed to be a comedy, but I am not finding it funny.

Mariana wrote: "I am enjoying this less the second time around. I have read and liked many Grace Burrowes books, both historical and contemporary. I think this is supposed to be a comedy, but I am not finding it f..."

I too am enjoying this less this time around. It feels like pretty slow going. I'm still only up to Chapter 5 (about 1/4 way through).

I don't see any humour in it so far???? I have noticed how obsessed they seem to be with drinking lemonade. LOL.

I do remember enjoying the book (and series!) before, so I guess I will persist.

I read this book probably 3 or 4 years ago. It was my first book by Grace Burrowes and I don't think I have read another one since as a result.

I cannot remember what I did not like about it....but now that you have mentioned lemonade I recall the weird obsession with lemonade.

I was considering giving it another go...hmm

Susan wrote: "I read this book probably 3 or 4 years ago. It was my first book by Grace Burrowes and I don't think I have read another one since as a result."

She is a good writer, with a low-key, gentle style, and characters who are people of integrity. I’ve enjoyed most of the books of hers I’ve read. She’s quite a prolific writer. If you decide not to reread this one, perhaps you might like to try something from one of her other series. Some books I’ve liked: His Lordship's True Lady, Miss Delectable, A Rogue of Her Own.

Agreed. My two favorites I've read by her are The Duke's Disaster and Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight.

I’m slowly progressing. Part way through Chapter 8 now (more than 1/3 way through). It is a little slow moving, but it’s so long since I read it that luckily I’ve forgotten a lot of things. So it’s still holding my interest enough to keep going.
Chapter 6-7-8 (view spoiler)[ I was surprised by Gayle breaking out in chicken pox. Not the typical thing that happens to our hero in a HR. LOL. It feels real enough, though. (hide spoiler)]

But some of the people and events mentioned in this section aren’t familiar to me, and I’m feeling a bit like maybe I should have read some other Burrowes books for background. But this is #1 in a series???? Or maybe it’s just me not paying enough attention LOL.

This is listed as #1 in the long series, but there are two prequel novellas.

Mariana wrote: "This is listed as #1 in the long series, but there are two prequel novellas."

Yeah I've read and liked the prequel novellas ages ago. I remember at least one of them is about the romance of Gayle's parents. Maybe I need to revisit them.

Lauren wrote: "Maureen, I really like her writing too. The Solider isn't bad. I just wish that changed it up a little so it wasn't so similar to The Heir. I will read the 3rd book, but I'm spacing it out."
I appreciate your view. I am actively looking for the 3rd book at used book stores. Happy Reading!

I finished! I gave 3.5 stars again, because I liked it overall, but it dragged a little in parts. The pace of the story started to pick up at about 2/3 through, which was good. I did get a little frustrated at the way the resolution (view spoiler)[dragged out a little, with some miscommunication and a bit too much will-she-won't-she. (hide spoiler)] But in the end, a nice read, with likeable main characters.

In a note at the end, the author says this was her first book. Pretty good for a first novel. She has written many since then, and has become a popular and accomplished author, but this was apparently her first.