Tuesday 2 July 2019

Release Day Spotlight & Review: The Determined Lord Hadleigh by Virginia Heath



The Determined Lord Hadleigh by Virginia Heath

Haunted by Penny Penhurst’s courage on the witness stand, meticulous barrister Lord Hadleigh offers her a housekeeper position at his estate. Despite trying to stay detached, Hadleigh is charmed by her small child and surprised by how much he yearns for this proud woman! Can this he break through his own – and Penny’s – barriers to prove he’s a man she can trust…and love?

I've enjoyed reading all the King's Elite novels and this one is my favourite.

Lord Tristan Hadleigh is a barrister for the Crown. When he sends Viscount Penhurst to the gallows, regrettably, it's his widow who testified against her husband who ends up losing her home after the Crown takes back the guilty man's title and assets. Feeling a sense of responsibility, he tries to aid the former Lady Penhurst, but his thoughtfulness backfires. Determined to get around the stubborn woman's reluctance for his assistance, he thinks up a perfect solution, not realising his idea triggers far more feelings than he ever envisaged.

Penny shed no tears when her abusive husband's murdered in prison before his planned execution. However, the freedom to pick up and rebuild her life with her young son is made more difficult when she loses her former home. Ever the resourceful woman, she has plans to improve her situation despite legitimate concerns from those close to her and especially Lord Hadleigh. When a temporary solution is proposed, she jumps at the offer to work as a housekeeper, but it awakens feelings she didn't know existed. Can she ignore them or should she follow her heart?

This is an achingly tortuous slow burn romance. The author manages to tease out every bit of combustible chemistry between Penny and Tristan- two people battling with mixed personal emotions as well as an attraction to each other. Like the other books in the series, the plot is intriguing although not quite the same fast action.

I especially like a hero's constant battle to do the right by Penny, even when it doesn't quite work as he intends. Lord Hadleigh is an intelligent, thoughtful gentleman but somehow still manages to underestimate situations after considerable contemplation. Penny is a proud woman who never plays the victim, but still harbours doubts about her unexpected attraction to a man when her memories of her marriage are negative.

To sum up, this is the fourth and last book in this King's Elite series. I heartily recommend them all.

***arc generously received courtesy of Harlequin Historical***


When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

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