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Windham #0.5
The Courtship
The first novella to be published by New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes features the foundation story for her bestselling series. This is the tender story of love tested and won, and how Percy Windham, the dashing and brilliant man who was never supposed to become the Duke of Moreland, wooed the amazing lady who became his beloved Duchess.
Percival Windham is a second son, and a cavalry officer acclaimed and respected by his men. He is immensely attractive and distracts himself with the women who seem to throw themselves at him at every turn, until at a country house party, he meets beautiful, retiring Esther Himmelfarb. Esther's wealthier relations are taking shameless advantage of her dependence on them, and only Percy seems to see the striking intelligence beneath her modest demeanor. Percy sees her as the perfect companion and she finds in him the man of her dreams.
Percival Windham is a second son, and a cavalry officer acclaimed and respected by his men. He is immensely attractive and distracts himself with the women who seem to throw themselves at him at every turn, until at a country house party, he meets beautiful, retiring Esther Himmelfarb. Esther's wealthier relations are taking shameless advantage of her dependence on them, and only Percy seems to see the striking intelligence beneath her modest demeanor. Percy sees her as the perfect companion and she finds in him the man of her dreams.
120 pages, ebook
First published November 6, 2012
107 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Grace Burrowes
190 books2,917 followersGrace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 2, 2023
I liked this novella. It's long enough to be able to tell a decent little story. I liked both Percy and Esther, separately and together. And knowing the MCs from having read the whole Windham series already makes it more enjoyable for me. An enjoyable read.
This was a January 2023 BOTM (novella) for Historical Romance Book Club, 'Overlooked heroine'.
This was a January 2023 BOTM (novella) for Historical Romance Book Club, 'Overlooked heroine'.
January 11, 2023
Read: 1/11/23
2.7 stars
This was just an okay read! The romance felt rushed. The h received her first kiss, then two days later, gave away her virginity. Makes no sense in a hr! This is a big reason why I avoid novellas.
Still, (to be fair) as a whole, the story wasn't bad.
Read for BOTM Jan.
2.7 stars
This was just an okay read! The romance felt rushed. The h received her first kiss, then two days later, gave away her virginity. Makes no sense in a hr! This is a big reason why I avoid novellas.
Still, (to be fair) as a whole, the story wasn't bad.
Read for BOTM Jan.
December 29, 2017
A tearfully lovely novella!
February 7, 2017
A cute little introduction to what seems to be a decent historical romance series.
The blurb tells you pretty much everything, there isn't any character growth (it is honestly too short for that). Since I follow the Goodreads ratings, The Courtship falls into an okay category.
The blurb tells you pretty much everything, there isn't any character growth (it is honestly too short for that). Since I follow the Goodreads ratings, The Courtship falls into an okay category.
November 2, 2019
Lovely little story.
December 20, 2012
This was just ridiculous. The story was meandering and pointless and I didn't believe one word of it. There's very little sense of being in a specific time, and it's not helped by jaw-droppingly implausible pre-marital sex. A note at the end making it seem that Burrowes was saving the backstory about this couple that readers had been hoping to get for yet another book didn't make me feel any happier about it.
March 3, 2018
"Are you flirting with me, my lord?"Lovely little novella. I really enjoyed the exchanges between Esther and Percival and the chemistry was sizzling. Still unclear on some things (is she a poor relation or no? why would she be a poor-relation-in-training? if her father's well-off, how would that not be known by the rest of society? etc.).
He set the cup down between them, his lips quirking. "If you have to ask, Miss Himmelfarb, then I'm making a poor job of it, aren't I?"
He hadn't said no.
Regardless, story was very enjoyable.
February 29, 2016
Cute quick book. I liked this author, it's my first book of hers. I will be looking more of her books.
January 19, 2023
I like Grace Burrowes as an author and although this was a short read for me it was just okay. This was a January BOTM read in one of my clubs so I thought I would give it a try as it is a novella.
First, I think a lot of areas in the story seemed a bit rushed and not cohesive. Falling in love too quick, heroine giving up her maidenhead too quick and marriage that took place within 20 day country party...hmmm. Then there was the disagreeable hero's mother that ended up taking a step back from her previously mentioned stand on marriages for her sons. There was a lot of things that was rushed but overall I understood the story plot and of course...its a novella.
First, I think a lot of areas in the story seemed a bit rushed and not cohesive. Falling in love too quick, heroine giving up her maidenhead too quick and marriage that took place within 20 day country party...hmmm. Then there was the disagreeable hero's mother that ended up taking a step back from her previously mentioned stand on marriages for her sons. There was a lot of things that was rushed but overall I understood the story plot and of course...its a novella.
December 16, 2015
I truly enjoyed this quick read about Percy and Esther Windham. This story is about their courtship and eventual betrothal. It takes place at a house party. Esther is little more than a companion/servant having been invited only as a favour to one of her relatives. She is given a shabbly attic room. But Percy, of course, doesn't know this and really doesn't care. He and his brother, Tony, are attending as they have pretty much been given an ultimatum from their Duchess mother to marry quickly and produce heirs. They are both younger sons. However, their elder brother has been married for 10 years and has only managed to beget two daughters. So their mother is anxious.
Having read the first book in this series, it's interesting to see where the personality traits of the Windham sons have come from. Percy and Tony don't speak well of their parents' lack of parenting skills. Now we know why. And the first full book in the series, The Heir, is about Percy and Esther's surviving heir, Gayle. He considers them to be meddling. I know where this comes from now. But we get to see their love too by the end of the book. So I enjoyed seeing how their relationship began. This book and the .6 book in the series, The Duke and His Duchess, gives us a good base to understanding the family dynamics.
Even though I have begun this series in a mixed up order, I now can continue in the proper order. It's a good, solid series based on an imperfect, but loving, family.
Having read the first book in this series, it's interesting to see where the personality traits of the Windham sons have come from. Percy and Tony don't speak well of their parents' lack of parenting skills. Now we know why. And the first full book in the series, The Heir, is about Percy and Esther's surviving heir, Gayle. He considers them to be meddling. I know where this comes from now. But we get to see their love too by the end of the book. So I enjoyed seeing how their relationship began. This book and the .6 book in the series, The Duke and His Duchess, gives us a good base to understanding the family dynamics.
Even though I have begun this series in a mixed up order, I now can continue in the proper order. It's a good, solid series based on an imperfect, but loving, family.
May 31, 2016
3.5 stars / 2 flames. Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.
December 29, 2015
Having read so, so, so much about the Duke and Duchess of Moreland by virtue of having read all the Windham books and nearly everything Burrowes has written (only her most recent releases are unread) I really hoped that their courtship would be something a bit special. It wasn't, sadly. It was fine but I can put it no higher than that.
September 17, 2012
LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!
Review to come soon...
Review to come soon...
August 5, 2022
2.5 STARS
I am delving into the GB world and started with this novella based on her website recommendations. It wasn't bad, but I felt overwhelmed with all the characters/world overload. I am skipping the Novellas for now and moving onto to the first full length novel.
I am delving into the GB world and started with this novella based on her website recommendations. It wasn't bad, but I felt overwhelmed with all the characters/world overload. I am skipping the Novellas for now and moving onto to the first full length novel.
December 10, 2021
Fiquei um pouco triste... Devo dizer que no começo até que gostei da história mais depois de um tempo, eu perdi o interesse, e voltei a ler ontem, para poder finalizar e assim começar outra história no lugar... 🤭🤣
Sorry... Mas é a mais pura verdade..
Happy reading, and until the next reading...
April 14, 2019
Honestly, I'm not even sure what the hell I just read. This is the first book I've picked up by Grace Burrowes and if this is any indication of what I might find in the rest of her books, I'm not sure I want to read any more. A novella is obviously short, it barely gives you enough room to actually get into the story and care about the characters, so, in my opinion it should get to the point; it should stick to what really matters and what the heart of the story truly is. Well, this novella is full of so much nonsense and blabber- which I couldn't care less for, that you hardly get to know the main characters, much less care for their 'romance'. .
Burrow's writing also didn't do it for me. I constantly got lost and had no idea what was going on. I had to go back several times until I just got tired and didn't care anymore. The story just didn't flow. It felt awkward and forced, the charaters were banal and I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.
There were two quotes however that I enjoyed -basically the only bits I liked:
A letter, "My dearest and most precious Esther, after such pleasures as I have known in your company, any parting from you is torture. Rest assured I will return to your tender embrace as soon as I am able. Until we kiss again, my love, you will remain ever uppermost in my thoughts, and I shall remain exclussively and eternally, yours."
And the repsonse: "Say it again, my Lord. Please. More slowly this time, for surely if such a note had found its way to me, I would have read it a thousand times by now."
To wrap up, if the rest of the book had been as captivating and beautiful as these quotes, I would be without a doubt jumping into the next book. But as it wasn't, I'm not.
Burrow's writing also didn't do it for me. I constantly got lost and had no idea what was going on. I had to go back several times until I just got tired and didn't care anymore. The story just didn't flow. It felt awkward and forced, the charaters were banal and I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.
There were two quotes however that I enjoyed -basically the only bits I liked:
A letter, "My dearest and most precious Esther, after such pleasures as I have known in your company, any parting from you is torture. Rest assured I will return to your tender embrace as soon as I am able. Until we kiss again, my love, you will remain ever uppermost in my thoughts, and I shall remain exclussively and eternally, yours."
And the repsonse: "Say it again, my Lord. Please. More slowly this time, for surely if such a note had found its way to me, I would have read it a thousand times by now."
To wrap up, if the rest of the book had been as captivating and beautiful as these quotes, I would be without a doubt jumping into the next book. But as it wasn't, I'm not.
October 28, 2013
3.5 stars
I like Grace Burrowes' writing and was not disappointed in this novella. A lot was packed into such a short story. The spare "Percy" was kind and not pompous even though he's the son of a duke. Esther was humble and realistic about her position as a less fortunate relative. This was a quiet friends to lovers story that's a nice precursor to a new series. My only gripe was that besides from Esther, all the women were betrayed as sniping, malicious, unfeeling snobs. I hate bringing out my girl power flags but I wish that there was at least one other redeemable female in the book. You don't have to make all the other girls horrible to make Ester stand out.
I like Grace Burrowes' writing and was not disappointed in this novella. A lot was packed into such a short story. The spare "Percy" was kind and not pompous even though he's the son of a duke. Esther was humble and realistic about her position as a less fortunate relative. This was a quiet friends to lovers story that's a nice precursor to a new series. My only gripe was that besides from Esther, all the women were betrayed as sniping, malicious, unfeeling snobs. I hate bringing out my girl power flags but I wish that there was at least one other redeemable female in the book. You don't have to make all the other girls horrible to make Ester stand out.
October 3, 2013
2.5 stars (rounded down to 2 stars because the second half of the story made no sense to me)
February 7, 2022
This novella sets the stage for Burrowes' Windham series and provides interesting background.
Read
April 29, 2017It was nice to see how His Grace and Her Grace met.
March 3, 2021
Lovely. I would have read this as a full novel. Though I do still wonder how their relationship unfolded so that he has illegitimate kids in the future. Makes it a little less romantic knowing some of the future.
July 16, 2022
Whoops. This is the awesome public declaration. I confused the novellas. My bad.
Library copy
Library copy
March 29, 2018
Adorable
I absolutely loved this first look at the Duke and Duchess of Moreland. It was sweet and charming and perfect.
I absolutely loved this first look at the Duke and Duchess of Moreland. It was sweet and charming and perfect.
January 23, 2013
Reviewed at Romantic Historical lovers:
REVIEW by Emery
The setting of THE COURTSHIP is the ubiquitous 18th century aristocratic house party, the scene of match-making and midnight trysts. Of the many guests present, and more by default than preference, is the almost-spinster Miss Esther Himmelfarb, who is there mainly to support the matrimonial ambitions of her impoverished cousin Michael. Also on the list more out of obligation than inclination, and decidedly disinclined to place themselves within range of any debutante’s matrimonial sights, are the Windham brothers Anthony and Percival, both younger sons of the Duke of Moreland.
Although he would much prefer to return to the wilds of Canada than satisfy his mother’s demand to produce Windham progeny, Lord Percy is struck at once by Esther’s understated beauty and quiet self-possession. One of my favorite quotes is Percival’s protest to his brother after Anthony notes Percy’s interest in Esther:
“I do not fall in love, Anthony. I fall into bed, or occasionally into linen closets, private boudoirs, secluded bowers, that sort of thing.”
Like the stately minuet, the plot unfolds gracefully and at a leisurely pace, with Ester and Percy coming to an early truce and even seeking one another out to prevent the unwanted attentions of others even as their attraction to one another grows. A quote from another favorite scene:
“You are an impertinent woman.” This did not, unfortunately, sound as if it put him off.
“As compared to you, my lord who are somehow a pertinent man? Or perhaps pertinacious might apply?” That was rude, intended to put the perishing idiot in his place, but it only added approval to the warmth in his gaze. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his lips curved up to reveal perfect, straight white teeth in a dazzling, alarmingly intimate smile.
“We’re going to get on famously, Miss Himmelfarb. I adore impertinent women.”
There is an understated elegance and sophistication to Grace Burrowes’ prose which lends itself well to the Georgian era. I found THE COURTSHIP to be a well-developed and delightful novella written with true wit and style. Highly recommended.
REVIEW by Emery
The setting of THE COURTSHIP is the ubiquitous 18th century aristocratic house party, the scene of match-making and midnight trysts. Of the many guests present, and more by default than preference, is the almost-spinster Miss Esther Himmelfarb, who is there mainly to support the matrimonial ambitions of her impoverished cousin Michael. Also on the list more out of obligation than inclination, and decidedly disinclined to place themselves within range of any debutante’s matrimonial sights, are the Windham brothers Anthony and Percival, both younger sons of the Duke of Moreland.
Although he would much prefer to return to the wilds of Canada than satisfy his mother’s demand to produce Windham progeny, Lord Percy is struck at once by Esther’s understated beauty and quiet self-possession. One of my favorite quotes is Percival’s protest to his brother after Anthony notes Percy’s interest in Esther:
“I do not fall in love, Anthony. I fall into bed, or occasionally into linen closets, private boudoirs, secluded bowers, that sort of thing.”
Like the stately minuet, the plot unfolds gracefully and at a leisurely pace, with Ester and Percy coming to an early truce and even seeking one another out to prevent the unwanted attentions of others even as their attraction to one another grows. A quote from another favorite scene:
“You are an impertinent woman.” This did not, unfortunately, sound as if it put him off.
“As compared to you, my lord who are somehow a pertinent man? Or perhaps pertinacious might apply?” That was rude, intended to put the perishing idiot in his place, but it only added approval to the warmth in his gaze. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his lips curved up to reveal perfect, straight white teeth in a dazzling, alarmingly intimate smile.
“We’re going to get on famously, Miss Himmelfarb. I adore impertinent women.”
There is an understated elegance and sophistication to Grace Burrowes’ prose which lends itself well to the Georgian era. I found THE COURTSHIP to be a well-developed and delightful novella written with true wit and style. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2017
This was ok. I really liked Esther and I did like Percy but there was too much mention of his man-whore past. I was also turned off by the house party where pretty much everyone was shallow, selfish and only interested in sex with whoever happened to be around. Is this supposed to be interesting? Ick, find somewhere else to spend a few weeks. It all just left me with a bad taste.
Note: I'm skipping the sequel to this book where 5 years (and 4 kids) into their marriage
Note: I'm skipping the sequel to this book where 5 years (and 4 kids) into their marriage
August 14, 2016
I really enjoyed this light novella between a "second spare" and an "impoverished relative in training." It's set at a house party with lots of scheming and trysts. There is wondeful dialog and likeable characters. It's a lovely treat for a rainy afternoon.
This is the first book I've tried to read on hoopla and was disappointed when the book suddenly reverted to the cover page and then got "stuck," so to speak. Luckily, I was able to find an ebook copy and finish it.
This is the first book I've tried to read on hoopla and was disappointed when the book suddenly reverted to the cover page and then got "stuck," so to speak. Luckily, I was able to find an ebook copy and finish it.
July 28, 2015
LOVED it! Probably the best novella I have read. We grew so attached to these parents in the Moreland books. It was lovely to see how they met and fell in love. Totally a sentimental tear jerker.
March 30, 2013
This was a prequel novella to the author's Windham series. It was a sweet recounting of the meeting at a house party of Percival Windham and Miss Esther Himmelfarb. Their courtship may of been brief, but the love between these two was beautiful
January 28, 2016
The Courtship
This was a delightful book, although almost too sweet at times, even for me. I enjoy the writing of this author and am looking forward to the rest of this series of family of Windoms.
This was a delightful book, although almost too sweet at times, even for me. I enjoy the writing of this author and am looking forward to the rest of this series of family of Windoms.
October 29, 2022
Lovely short story about the couple who establishes a dynasty. He's a pragmatic man and when he meets the h is shocked when he realises how much he loves her. She's elegant but others see no value in her connection, and try to shame her. I loved their sweet romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews