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The Baron's Honourable Daughter
Bestselling author Lynn Morris weaves an inspirational Regency era romance rich in period detail.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave finds she must take charge of her grieving mother and the vast estate which now belongs to her six-year-old half brother, the new Earl of Maledon. Though capable, Valeria is frustrated to find each day brings a new struggle as she tries to establish her authority with servants, stewards, and solicitors-all men. As a young woman with no blood relation to the earl, they are all too ready to dismiss her.
Much to her chagrin, she must rely on the assistance of her stepfather's distant kinsman, Alastair, Lord Hylton. He is handsome and noble, and Valeria senses under the veneer of his gentlemanly behavior that she never measures up to his expectations of a refined lady. In light of that, accepting his help and feeling under a burden of gratitude to him is almost unbearable. Even when Valeria leaves the country estate for the glittering London Season, where she gets into a series of escapades, Lord Hylton is always there to witness, criticize, and correct her behavior. But if Alastair insists on engaging in a battle of wits and wills with the lively Valeria, she'll stop at nothing to prove that he's met his match.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave finds she must take charge of her grieving mother and the vast estate which now belongs to her six-year-old half brother, the new Earl of Maledon. Though capable, Valeria is frustrated to find each day brings a new struggle as she tries to establish her authority with servants, stewards, and solicitors-all men. As a young woman with no blood relation to the earl, they are all too ready to dismiss her.
Much to her chagrin, she must rely on the assistance of her stepfather's distant kinsman, Alastair, Lord Hylton. He is handsome and noble, and Valeria senses under the veneer of his gentlemanly behavior that she never measures up to his expectations of a refined lady. In light of that, accepting his help and feeling under a burden of gratitude to him is almost unbearable. Even when Valeria leaves the country estate for the glittering London Season, where she gets into a series of escapades, Lord Hylton is always there to witness, criticize, and correct her behavior. But if Alastair insists on engaging in a battle of wits and wills with the lively Valeria, she'll stop at nothing to prove that he's met his match.
361 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
10 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Morris
32 books107 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Lynn Morris (born 1954) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on some of her books.
Series:
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Gilbert Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Gilbert Morris)
* The Creole (with Gilbert Morris)
* Omega (with Gilbert Morris and Alan Morris)
Lynn Morris (born 1954) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on some of her books.
Series:
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Gilbert Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Gilbert Morris)
* The Creole (with Gilbert Morris)
* Omega (with Gilbert Morris and Alan Morris)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 31, 2016
This just really wasn't my cup of tea. It started out interestingly enough, but I didn't feel that it went deeply enough into the characters to make them truly interesting. There are tons and tons of details about the setting, even to the point where the setting is important enough to interrupt the characters mid-conversation to explain (which is really annoying after more than once or twice.) There are a couple of statements that were theologically neutral enough to be easily interpreted the wrong way, and in spots like that I wanted more explanation but didn't get it. Add to that the author's idea that six or seven unrelated phrases strung together can make a sentence, and the reading becomes a chore. This sentence structure is especially annoying in dialogue, where vocal acrobatics would not accomplish a logical rendering of some expressions. (One of my favorite bits of advice to new writers is that they should read the story's dialogue aloud to make sure it sounds like a real conversation.)
And then the characters. Alastair is the most layered, and I liked him best. The mother, who learned to hold up her head after unexpected bad news, was another likeable character. But I absolutely could not see what he liked about Valeria after the beginning. So I became really disenchanted with Valeria by the end of the book.
Oh, well. I always feel sad when I dislike a book so much that I have to give a bad review. :(
And then the characters. Alastair is the most layered, and I liked him best. The mother, who learned to hold up her head after unexpected bad news, was another likeable character. But I absolutely could not see what he liked about Valeria after the beginning. So I became really disenchanted with Valeria by the end of the book.
Oh, well. I always feel sad when I dislike a book so much that I have to give a bad review. :(
January 26, 2016
Valeria Segrave has lived most of her life at her stepfather, the Earl of Maldedon's estate Bellgarde. Until recently, her stepfather and been kind enough, but for the last year or so he has been carrying on like a bachelor and now he has the effrontery to bring a group of his new London friends home, including Lady Jex-Blade who is no lady according to belowstairs gossip. Valeria is angry for her mother, who is a devoted wife and turns a blind eye to her husband's escapades. Valeria is also worried her younger half-brother Saint John will witness something he shouldn't and lose respect for his father. It's up to Valeria to shelter her loved ones and the servants from the upset to the household routine. When the situation becomes intolerable, Valeria's mother urges forgiveness but Valeria can neither forgive nor forget. When the Earl dies suddenly and the will reveals just how little the Earl valued his step-daughter, Valeria vows to remain unwed and to help her little brother manage his estate. Unfortunately as a female in a man's world there is much Valeria can not do and she must rely upon her co-trustee, Lord Hylton, the son of her godmother. Alastair, Lord Hilton, is very proper and reserved. He has no use for the frivolous empty-headed, clinging females he meets in London. He is quite surprised but not displeased by Valeria's independent nature. When they meet again in London, he tries to keep Valeria on the right path but they constantly clash over his strictures on proper behavior. She is the most stubborn, fiery tempered female he has ever met. Valeria thinks Alastair is an old prude but why then can't she stop thinking about him. It's because he's so handsome isn't it? By the time the Season ends, Valeria will learn some important lessons.
I liked parts of this book. The writing style is terrible. The author constantly describes every.single.detail! She tells rather than shows what the characters look like, what they're wearing, the history of the house, the etiquette, etc. etc. It's TOO much! I love a well-researched story and though no one can be Georgette Heyer, that kind of thing can be incorporated into the narrative without dumping information. Huzzah you did your research! Well guess what? So can readers! This is the digital age and if they want to know, they can look it up the same way I did when I first started reading Regency romances. It's supposed to be a Christian romance which isn't really my thing but this one didn't seem too heavy on the Christian content. The family abovestairs and belowstairs must attend morning prayers, the family attends church and there are two passages about forgiveness and a brief prayer. I skipped most of that. The Reading Group guide in the back of the book has questions that relate directly to the Christian content of the book so I suppose the overall theme is Christian but non-Christians can read this book without wanting to bash the characters in the head with a stick.
The plot moves very very slowly because of all the info dumping. The hero isn't introduced until a third of the way through the book and the London section comes late in the story. By then I had almost lost interest. I'm glad I didn't give up on the story though because the London section was worth reading. The romance still moves too slowly and the realization comes almost too late. Readers will short attention spans will lose interest long before then. My advice to the author would be to tighten up the exposition and get to the plot. I had some quibbles with the historical accuracy. I can't see a nurse being promoted to ladies' maid because they have entirely different skills, not to mention the time each job takes up especially with a small child. I also doubt an indoor servant would marry an outdoor servant. There's also TMI about childbirth and did they really do cesarean sections and know what sepsis was in the Georgian era?
The characters are not all that lifelike and memorable. The only one with any sort of dimension is Valeria. She has a very hot temper but she is kind and loving towards her family. I really couldn't stand the way she willfully misjudged the hero (much like a certain literary heroine and hero. I think the author should have set the book in 1813 and not 1811!). I didn't really like Valeria very much. I kept cringing at the mistakes she made (sometimes deliberate mistakes) but at the same time, I felt kind of bad for her because everyone was telling her don't or be careful of your reputation but no one ever explained WHY. Of course that's what makes the plot fun is the constant push-pull between the characters and Valeria's escapades. I can see myself acting just like Valeria in the same situation. I liked Alastair much better than Valeria. He's a good man, an honorable one and tries so hard to help Valeria but she's constantly yelling at him.
The secondary characters are either hit or miss for me. I liked Valeria's little brother Saint John and his best buddy Niall. Their youthful activities lightened up the story a bit. I also liked Elyse, Alastair's sister and her husband Reggie. They're fun and Reggie is the type of sidekick that Georgette Heyer excelled at. I would have liked to see more of them. The secondary character I wanted to slap was Valeria's mother, Regina. She's the type of woman who depends on a man, trusts him and is devoted to him unconditionally. She should have been looking out for her daughter a little better. I also wanted to strangle the Earl of Maledon and Lady Jex-Blade for obvious reasons. However, I did feel a little bad for Lady Jex-Blade because Valeria was so critical about things Lady Jex-Blade couldn't help like not knowing the proper etiquette and yet didn't behave much better in London.
This is an OK Regency novel that would be a lot better if the author tightened up the exposition and cut out most of the factual information dumped into the story.
I liked parts of this book. The writing style is terrible. The author constantly describes every.single.detail! She tells rather than shows what the characters look like, what they're wearing, the history of the house, the etiquette, etc. etc. It's TOO much! I love a well-researched story and though no one can be Georgette Heyer, that kind of thing can be incorporated into the narrative without dumping information. Huzzah you did your research! Well guess what? So can readers! This is the digital age and if they want to know, they can look it up the same way I did when I first started reading Regency romances. It's supposed to be a Christian romance which isn't really my thing but this one didn't seem too heavy on the Christian content. The family abovestairs and belowstairs must attend morning prayers, the family attends church and there are two passages about forgiveness and a brief prayer. I skipped most of that. The Reading Group guide in the back of the book has questions that relate directly to the Christian content of the book so I suppose the overall theme is Christian but non-Christians can read this book without wanting to bash the characters in the head with a stick.
The plot moves very very slowly because of all the info dumping. The hero isn't introduced until a third of the way through the book and the London section comes late in the story. By then I had almost lost interest. I'm glad I didn't give up on the story though because the London section was worth reading. The romance still moves too slowly and the realization comes almost too late. Readers will short attention spans will lose interest long before then. My advice to the author would be to tighten up the exposition and get to the plot. I had some quibbles with the historical accuracy. I can't see a nurse being promoted to ladies' maid because they have entirely different skills, not to mention the time each job takes up especially with a small child. I also doubt an indoor servant would marry an outdoor servant. There's also TMI about childbirth and did they really do cesarean sections and know what sepsis was in the Georgian era?
The characters are not all that lifelike and memorable. The only one with any sort of dimension is Valeria. She has a very hot temper but she is kind and loving towards her family. I really couldn't stand the way she willfully misjudged the hero (much like a certain literary heroine and hero. I think the author should have set the book in 1813 and not 1811!). I didn't really like Valeria very much. I kept cringing at the mistakes she made (sometimes deliberate mistakes) but at the same time, I felt kind of bad for her because everyone was telling her don't or be careful of your reputation but no one ever explained WHY. Of course that's what makes the plot fun is the constant push-pull between the characters and Valeria's escapades. I can see myself acting just like Valeria in the same situation. I liked Alastair much better than Valeria. He's a good man, an honorable one and tries so hard to help Valeria but she's constantly yelling at him.
The secondary characters are either hit or miss for me. I liked Valeria's little brother Saint John and his best buddy Niall. Their youthful activities lightened up the story a bit. I also liked Elyse, Alastair's sister and her husband Reggie. They're fun and Reggie is the type of sidekick that Georgette Heyer excelled at. I would have liked to see more of them. The secondary character I wanted to slap was Valeria's mother, Regina. She's the type of woman who depends on a man, trusts him and is devoted to him unconditionally. She should have been looking out for her daughter a little better. I also wanted to strangle the Earl of Maledon and Lady Jex-Blade for obvious reasons. However, I did feel a little bad for Lady Jex-Blade because Valeria was so critical about things Lady Jex-Blade couldn't help like not knowing the proper etiquette and yet didn't behave much better in London.
This is an OK Regency novel that would be a lot better if the author tightened up the exposition and cut out most of the factual information dumped into the story.
September 2, 2016
I don't think any other author that I have read up until this point has ever dipped me into the historical pool of the era quite like Lynn Morris did in The Baron's Honourable Daughter. 1812 Regency has never been so utterly explained to me before; and at times it was a little heavy handed I'd say; but I still kept reading on and on and decided...I really like this book. I enjoyed the easy pace and the steady flow of the plot. I enjoyed that romance was not always at the helm of the read. It has a interesting humor that is just on the verge and I giggled at many moments. I will read the next one and look into the 2017 release. Something just kept making me turn the page.
June 2, 2014
The Baron’s Honorable Daughter was wonderful! Lynn Morris did not disappoint. It was different than I thought it would be. There were a lot of details historically. Most I did not know and was fascinated in learning about. Did you know that a housekeeper in England in the early 1800’s was always referred to as “Mrs.” regardless of whether or not she was married? Little things such as that were intricately intertwined throughout the book. I have read many books set in England in the early 1800’s but found few of the details mentioned in The Baron’s Honorable Daughter. Lynn Morris has a way of revealing her characters bit by bit throughout the novel. Her writing style is sweet yet simple. Her character development was excellent where the main characters, Valeria and Alistair, were concerned. And some of her character descriptions were absolutely exquisite! I read through some paragraphs again because of the descriptions. Alastair, I believe, was the most complex character.
One thing I noticed was that, though the story was told from two different points of view (Valeria’s and Alistair’s) Valeria’s point of view was used much more heavily. I would have preferred that it would have been more balanced between the two characters. But I can understand why this was done, as more was happening with Valeria than with Alistair. But I would have enjoyed seeing more of Alistair’s internal struggle with himself.
The lesson of the novel was a simple but great one. Valeria let the busyness of life get in the way of her relationship with God (there was more, but that was the gist of it). She let the distraction of worldly pleasures—such as beautiful dresses, the attentions of handsome gentlemen etc.—separate her from what truly mattered, and ended up making a foolish mistake in the end because of it.
The Baron’s Honorable Daughter was truly an enjoyable story. I think I was expecting more…romance, perhaps between Valeria and Alistair. But there were some sweet moments between them that were enjoyable to read. I give The Baron’s Honorable Daughter 4 out of 5 stars.
**I received a free kindle copy of this book from the publishers through Netgalley for my honest opinion, which I have given. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone.**
One thing I noticed was that, though the story was told from two different points of view (Valeria’s and Alistair’s) Valeria’s point of view was used much more heavily. I would have preferred that it would have been more balanced between the two characters. But I can understand why this was done, as more was happening with Valeria than with Alistair. But I would have enjoyed seeing more of Alistair’s internal struggle with himself.
The lesson of the novel was a simple but great one. Valeria let the busyness of life get in the way of her relationship with God (there was more, but that was the gist of it). She let the distraction of worldly pleasures—such as beautiful dresses, the attentions of handsome gentlemen etc.—separate her from what truly mattered, and ended up making a foolish mistake in the end because of it.
The Baron’s Honorable Daughter was truly an enjoyable story. I think I was expecting more…romance, perhaps between Valeria and Alistair. But there were some sweet moments between them that were enjoyable to read. I give The Baron’s Honorable Daughter 4 out of 5 stars.
**I received a free kindle copy of this book from the publishers through Netgalley for my honest opinion, which I have given. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone.**
September 25, 2014
I'll give this 4* as it was good and I cried at all the right places. The author got your really involved and attached to her characters. An interesting point, both good and bad, is that the author at times gives escruiating details. If you are unfamiliar with that era, then some explanations at various points will fill you in and keep you informed. But after awhile, exacting details of various rooms she enters, her dress details, etc get tedious and I started skimming. However, it was a very enjoyable story.
March 30, 2017
Such a great book.
It took me a few chapters to get into it. But the story is brilliant.
It took me a few chapters to get into it. But the story is brilliant.
September 17, 2014
I've read Lynn Morris's Cheney Duvall series and loved it so I knew her penchant for detail. However, it was seriously overdone in this book. Her descriptions of clothes and scenes was so in depth it would bring the story to a standstill. Situations seemed to be repeated and then the end was so abrupt I felt it wasn't true to the story. There was no romantic tension between the leads until he very end and then it was so quick it wasn't believable. I was disappointed in this book.
November 4, 2017
I purchased this book because the blurb promised what I was looking for at the time. I was in the mood for some lively banter, set in the Regency period with a little female rebelliousness tossed in there.
I was not disappointed.
The various settings Valeria moves through in the story brought out different aspects of her independent and opinionated self. Though she is only a young woman, she must carry very adult burdens after the death of her step father.
Her mother���s grief was such that Valeria had to step up as her mothers representative. Each step of the way Valeria had to deal with masculine disrespect, from servants to solicitors, to accomplish even the most necessary of tasks.
As fiercely independent as she is, I was happy to discover her character is not a self centered one and her kindness for others is demonstrated quite often.
Enter Lord Alastair Hylton. Such a diverse character, as I write this I am still trying to figure him out. While among the haute ton he is a bit of a prig. Amongst his family and close friends his quick, dry wit comes bursting through.
He certainly is not a fictional hero that makes me swoon, however he often comes to Valeria’s rescue and is throughout the story,a complete gentleman. And, I respect that.
The Supporting characters really made the story for me. They are such a motley crew it is easy to find someone who is like someone you know in the bunch.
The story read a little choppy, being broken into three parts the way it was and there were also many times when the story went off course into precise detail of clothing, rooms, etiquette etc.
These historical details were well researched and if you like to learn about the little things that made life what it was in the Regency period, these diversions are a grande addition.
If you would prefer not to get in depth with the surrounding details, just skim past them and the story flows well.
I was questioning the romance between Valeria and Alastair for most of the story. Not as much “ Will they or won’t they?” but “Why would they?” I didn’t feel Valaria and Alastair were compatible until closer to the end of the book.
However, I did find myself waiting for Lord Hylton’s tongue - lashing the evening of the masquerade ball and was curious as to how Valeria would respond. This was the get-it-together turning point for me.
Lynn Morris writes dialogue that is fun, edgy, quick, and really brings an interplay between the characters that made this an enjoyable read.
Emotionally, I spent so much time feeling frustrated on behalf of Valeria because she was stonewalled at every turn while trying to do the best she could for her family. I felt angry each time she was chastised for being who she is.
I really had to keep reminding myself of the time frame the story is set in. I believe if Valeria was written in a modern day setting she would be quite a force to be reckoned with.
It was a sweet, yet lively read. Extremely innocent - I actually had to go back through the book to look and see if they kissed. Yup, found it.
I wasn’t familiar with Lynn Morris’s writing before, but I would like to read another title from her. I really loved the research she put into the daily lives that her characters lived, and learned many little things I didn’t know before.
I was not disappointed.
The various settings Valeria moves through in the story brought out different aspects of her independent and opinionated self. Though she is only a young woman, she must carry very adult burdens after the death of her step father.
Her mother���s grief was such that Valeria had to step up as her mothers representative. Each step of the way Valeria had to deal with masculine disrespect, from servants to solicitors, to accomplish even the most necessary of tasks.
As fiercely independent as she is, I was happy to discover her character is not a self centered one and her kindness for others is demonstrated quite often.
Enter Lord Alastair Hylton. Such a diverse character, as I write this I am still trying to figure him out. While among the haute ton he is a bit of a prig. Amongst his family and close friends his quick, dry wit comes bursting through.
He certainly is not a fictional hero that makes me swoon, however he often comes to Valeria’s rescue and is throughout the story,a complete gentleman. And, I respect that.
The Supporting characters really made the story for me. They are such a motley crew it is easy to find someone who is like someone you know in the bunch.
The story read a little choppy, being broken into three parts the way it was and there were also many times when the story went off course into precise detail of clothing, rooms, etiquette etc.
These historical details were well researched and if you like to learn about the little things that made life what it was in the Regency period, these diversions are a grande addition.
If you would prefer not to get in depth with the surrounding details, just skim past them and the story flows well.
I was questioning the romance between Valeria and Alastair for most of the story. Not as much “ Will they or won’t they?” but “Why would they?” I didn’t feel Valaria and Alastair were compatible until closer to the end of the book.
However, I did find myself waiting for Lord Hylton’s tongue - lashing the evening of the masquerade ball and was curious as to how Valeria would respond. This was the get-it-together turning point for me.
Lynn Morris writes dialogue that is fun, edgy, quick, and really brings an interplay between the characters that made this an enjoyable read.
Emotionally, I spent so much time feeling frustrated on behalf of Valeria because she was stonewalled at every turn while trying to do the best she could for her family. I felt angry each time she was chastised for being who she is.
I really had to keep reminding myself of the time frame the story is set in. I believe if Valeria was written in a modern day setting she would be quite a force to be reckoned with.
It was a sweet, yet lively read. Extremely innocent - I actually had to go back through the book to look and see if they kissed. Yup, found it.
I wasn’t familiar with Lynn Morris’s writing before, but I would like to read another title from her. I really loved the research she put into the daily lives that her characters lived, and learned many little things I didn’t know before.
August 3, 2024
Let me start off with what I liked. I really liked Valeria AT FIRST. Up until Part II, especially when she behaved recklessly. When she and Daniel went to the Pantheon party that was one of the very few exciting scenes in this book, the kiss with Daniel was great but it led nowhere. At least have some conflict there. It was honestly very disappointing that Valeria faced no real consequences for her behavior and her being tall, slender, bright and beautiful really made her out to be a Mary sue coupled with the fact that she NEVER gets in trouble.
Ok now my issues with the book. Pacing. It draggged, I was tired of hearing about every piece of clothing Valeria put on and about every single spaces architectural design. No, I don’t care how many columns there are or whether the style is French or Russian.
Next is ridiculous character dynamics. I don’t like how Lynn Morris randomly chose a female antagonist to dislike Valeria for no reason. I’m talking about Adele Everleigh. Adele has NO REASON to dislike Valeria it’s just shoehorned into there, for what? This is just an example of pitting woman each other for no justifiable cause. Also, I hate Lady Jex-Blade but I wish we knew more about her and fleshed her out more so she could be a more worthy antagonist. I’d just rather see complex female relationships or if there is woman on woman crime the make it make sense.
Then finally. It’s all well and good that Alastair and Valeria got together but it was so unconvincing how they fell I love. Makes more sense Valeria would fall in love with Daniel Everleigh. At the end instead of a realization of ‘I’m in love!’ It should be like ‘I think I’ve liked them all this time.’ Alastair and Valeria’s relationship feels forced and underdeveloped. I was just confused when Alastair suddenly proclaimed his love..
Also, how was Alastair not creeped out when he saw all those painting of himself?
Ok now my issues with the book. Pacing. It draggged, I was tired of hearing about every piece of clothing Valeria put on and about every single spaces architectural design. No, I don’t care how many columns there are or whether the style is French or Russian.
Next is ridiculous character dynamics. I don’t like how Lynn Morris randomly chose a female antagonist to dislike Valeria for no reason. I’m talking about Adele Everleigh. Adele has NO REASON to dislike Valeria it’s just shoehorned into there, for what? This is just an example of pitting woman each other for no justifiable cause. Also, I hate Lady Jex-Blade but I wish we knew more about her and fleshed her out more so she could be a more worthy antagonist. I’d just rather see complex female relationships or if there is woman on woman crime the make it make sense.
Then finally. It’s all well and good that Alastair and Valeria got together but it was so unconvincing how they fell I love. Makes more sense Valeria would fall in love with Daniel Everleigh. At the end instead of a realization of ‘I’m in love!’ It should be like ‘I think I’ve liked them all this time.’ Alastair and Valeria’s relationship feels forced and underdeveloped. I was just confused when Alastair suddenly proclaimed his love..
Also, how was Alastair not creeped out when he saw all those painting of himself?
November 13, 2018
Before I started reading this book I was prepared for it be rather wordy in descriptions based on reviewer opinions, but I’ve never been a reader to shy away from a novel for those reasons.
It was in fact descriptive and informative. I truly felt dipped into history! The story really grabbed my attention 100 pages in, and that point I felt invested and enjoyed my time in the life of Miss Valeria Segrave and Lord Hylton.
The trope here is hate to love— one my favorites! I found i was loving the character interactions until the families went to London.
Sadly I missed the main characters closer interactions as once in London they weren’t able to match wit nearly as much as in the mid-beginning of the novel.
My biggest complaint was the lack of resolve in Valeria’s principles. She makes her opinion of marriage very clear: marriage for a woman means 1. Giving her husband all her financial assets. 2. Decorating his drawing room. 3. Producing an heir.
All true of the time period and I applaud the author for creating a character relatable and down right fun, but her ideals vanish toward the end. I understand this to be because she fell in love and saw something different and worthy in Lord Hylton, but for all the wordy descriptions and information given I felt bereft of the details in Valeria’s ideals shifting.
I’ll end this review saying that I did enjoy this novel. It held my attention and made me smile several times. I would recommend to anyone who has the stamina to go into a period piece with the understanding that it picks up pace enough to overcome the wordy aspects, but if you are like me and are attentive to details you may find the mid-ending slightly lacking.
It was in fact descriptive and informative. I truly felt dipped into history! The story really grabbed my attention 100 pages in, and that point I felt invested and enjoyed my time in the life of Miss Valeria Segrave and Lord Hylton.
The trope here is hate to love— one my favorites! I found i was loving the character interactions until the families went to London.
Sadly I missed the main characters closer interactions as once in London they weren’t able to match wit nearly as much as in the mid-beginning of the novel.
My biggest complaint was the lack of resolve in Valeria’s principles. She makes her opinion of marriage very clear: marriage for a woman means 1. Giving her husband all her financial assets. 2. Decorating his drawing room. 3. Producing an heir.
All true of the time period and I applaud the author for creating a character relatable and down right fun, but her ideals vanish toward the end. I understand this to be because she fell in love and saw something different and worthy in Lord Hylton, but for all the wordy descriptions and information given I felt bereft of the details in Valeria’s ideals shifting.
I’ll end this review saying that I did enjoy this novel. It held my attention and made me smile several times. I would recommend to anyone who has the stamina to go into a period piece with the understanding that it picks up pace enough to overcome the wordy aspects, but if you are like me and are attentive to details you may find the mid-ending slightly lacking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2020
I actually almost gave up on this book when I started it. My first time reading this author and to only be a few pages in talking about marital affairs had my red flags going. I skimmed ahead a little and tried to gauge how much this was part of the story. A few things that really bother me are that the back blurb implies a beginning to a story that doesn't really happen till you are 100 pages in which already confuses you as you start the story. I also really dislike marital affairs as a storyline.
I came to enjoy Valeria's story as it progressed and felt the spiritual elements were realistically interwoven. I enjoyed seeing the social etiquette with fresh eyes as Valeria is fairly new to most of it in practice though not in knowledge. The sub characters were well fleshed out and a huge support to the story. I enjoyed the banter and conversations, the pace of the story, the moral conflicts, Valeria's growth as a person, and the wealth of information given in small tidbits as you read the story. You see the time period with a lot of detail but in digestible amounts.
I felt a similarity to Pride & Prejudice/Emma about esteem lost/desired, acquaintances who become more, etc.
I came to enjoy Valeria's story as it progressed and felt the spiritual elements were realistically interwoven. I enjoyed seeing the social etiquette with fresh eyes as Valeria is fairly new to most of it in practice though not in knowledge. The sub characters were well fleshed out and a huge support to the story. I enjoyed the banter and conversations, the pace of the story, the moral conflicts, Valeria's growth as a person, and the wealth of information given in small tidbits as you read the story. You see the time period with a lot of detail but in digestible amounts.
I felt a similarity to Pride & Prejudice/Emma about esteem lost/desired, acquaintances who become more, etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2017
This is the most detailed regency period book I have ever read. The beginning chapter almost put me off however, as it opens with the depraved earl and his companions who have just descended upon the estate and the rest of the family. Their carrying ons are a little scandalous and after the third reference to "breasts" I was wondering if it was going to be any good. Thankfully that was the end of the bad company and the rest of the book is fine. There are TONS of details throughout the whole book describing the rules and regulations, the settings and even the clothes. Some get tedious and you skim over how so and so was dressed but many I found quite interesting in the historical sense. Ive read of Hyde Park in London in many books but never had it described so that i could picture it so well! The story of fiery, impetuous Valeria was very entertaining as she goes through her first season and coming into her own as they say. I would've liked a little more romance or maybe seen a little more of his thoughts (there are some but more of hers) but over all i liked their story even if it does end a little too quickly.
August 7, 2025
Valeria Seagrave is a headstrong young woman who has never been introduced into society. As a young lady, her stepfather has kept her in the country with his family while he went to town to conduct business. Upon his passing, it becomes apparent that part of his business was to behave in less than honorable ways. As Valeria begins making decisions to try to keep things together, she realizes that she needs a man's assistance to gain respect in her new role. The man who comes to her aid is Alastair, Lord Hylton, a distant kinsman of her dead stepfather. Lord Hylton challenges, exhilarates, and frustrates Valeria depending on the situation - and he experiences the same feelings in dealing with her. Iron sharpens iron....which makes this an entertaining read.
July 25, 2020
This story took way too long to get to the point. Valeria is an extremely silly girl. When the story started I thought she was fairly level headed but that changed when Alistair entered the story. I don't see to much honorable in her behavior until the last three chapters. A better title for this book would have been The Baron's Arrogant and Silly Daughter". The idea that a young woman, during this time in history, wouldn't have been raised to know how to behave like a lady is reducluse. The last three chapters redeemed this story from a one star rating. Alistair was a stronger character and more of the story should have been told from his point of view.
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars
I loved the main relationship - you can actually see why they like each other.
The first half that dealt with a lot of interesting issues and a unique look on a heroine was a lot better than the second half which was all about husband hunting. Also, I really didn't like that they didn't readdress a lot of the heroine's legitimate concerns about marriage later because LOVE. Also the ending, I found was a bit rushed.
I loved the main relationship - you can actually see why they like each other.
The first half that dealt with a lot of interesting issues and a unique look on a heroine was a lot better than the second half which was all about husband hunting. Also, I really didn't like that they didn't readdress a lot of the heroine's legitimate concerns about marriage later because LOVE. Also the ending, I found was a bit rushed.
June 5, 2018
This one was a bit harder for me to really like. The characters didn't really get developed so that I would care about them finding each other. I really didn't know anything more about Alastair (main male lead) at the end than I did at the beginning. The main female lead (Valeria) has moments where she almost feels more than a flat character, but the story just doesn't feel completed.
August 6, 2021
Such a satisfying read!!! I loved the character development! The heroine makes some choices that really made me dislike her, but by the end, I loved her again. It’s not often that an author can make me love, hate, then love again, but when they do they become a favorite of mine. Definitely reading more of her books.
February 6, 2017
When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave must take charge of her 6 yr old brother & mother - with the help of distant step cousin Alastair Hylton. In early 1800 England - times are very different - -
October 6, 2024
This was a cute read. Something that made the book a little difficult to get through though was the extensive description about almost every detail. I felt like this distracted from the story. After all the detail to the rest of the book, the ending was a little rushed.
October 31, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want it to end!
December 26, 2017
3.5 stars
October 19, 2021
Silly teenage fare. Rather pithy, readable for the result which seemed rushed in the last chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2022
Enjoyed this book.
May 26, 2023
Entertaining story with lots of details/textures which was fun!
June 15, 2024
So so slow. Almost too much detail at times
July 10, 2022
The heroine is not likable at all. If the author was trying for young and fresh Elizabeth Bennet she failed miserably. The book ends with a wedding. Shocker. After everything else and all the ups and downs it was kind of anti-climactic and I don’t feel that many of the plot threads were resolved.
July 8, 2014
Valeria Segrave is a rather outspoken, headstrong young lady who desires to do well in the eyes of her mother, Regina. She has dealt with the death of her father at an early age and now has lost her step-father. She and his closest male relative, Lord Hylton, or Alastair, begin handling the estate matters until her half-brother, St. John, is old enough to take over. Valeria, a free spirit, and Alastair, a strict rule follower, must learn how to work together and communicate for the good of the estate. When Valeria and her family go to London in order for her to have a season, she must learn how to follow the strict guidelines or risk being shunned by Polite Society. Alastair is also in town, along with his mother, and together they help to guide Valeria in the correct way, against her wishes. But when a dashing rake leads Valeria into a compromising situation, she must learn a valuable life lesson and understand that repentance and forgiveness hold the key to her happiness. As Valeria reconnects with God, she also realizes that she may be falling in love with Alastair, but will the choices she’s made so far keep him from seeing her as a suitable wife?
A thought-provoking novel by Lynn Morris. This novel is divided into three parts. Part One consists of the time from when Valeria discovers her step-father’s immorality and her resentment towards him to the time they learn of his untimely demise. During this time, Valeria begins her fall away from God as she invites hatred into her heart and begins to push God away. In Part Two we see that Valeria is struggling internally with having not forgiven her stepfather before his death and her outward struggle to allow Alastair to help with items regarding the estate. She continues her descent into a more worldly life-style as she begins to concern herself with people’s opinions of her and continuing to have a pessimistic view on the world. She resents Alastair for all the help he provides instead of being thankful and gracious. During this time, we get to meet other characters that add depth and some humor to the story. During Part Three, we see Valeria become so consumed with the London way of life that she falls deeply into the life of sin and almost ruins her life and her family’s good name. At the end, Alastair helps Valeria to see that she is being selfish and very unchristian like and she begins the soul-searching process before finally seeing that she needs to repent and forgive all those who have wronged her in order to have a chance at true happiness.
I felt that overall, this was a decent novel, even though it is not my typical read. I found that Mrs. Morris prefers to give a lot of descriptions about fabrics, lace, outfits, textures, etc. While I am not a huge fan of this type of prose, I can respect that she did an excellent job with the details. She also provided an abundance of historical details into her writing, such that, someone who is new to historical fiction would be able to understand what was happening and why these events were important. The relationship between Alastair and Valeria was quite unique, as they spend most of their time at odds with each other and only acknowledged their feelings towards the very end of the book. There is not a lot of emotional attachment between these two and I never became very involved with their characters. I did however, enjoy the relationship between St. John, Regina, and Valeria and their ability to overcome tragedy and depend on one another and God to help them find their way. Alastair’s character was very steady throughout while Valeria went through several changes, as mentioned above. There is a Reader’s Group Guide at the back of the novel, and after reading the questions, I found that this book would be great for a Christian book club reading. A well-written and thoroughly planned book that is sure to make you think about your faith walk. Received for an honest review.
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: None
Reviewed by: AprilP
Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
A thought-provoking novel by Lynn Morris. This novel is divided into three parts. Part One consists of the time from when Valeria discovers her step-father’s immorality and her resentment towards him to the time they learn of his untimely demise. During this time, Valeria begins her fall away from God as she invites hatred into her heart and begins to push God away. In Part Two we see that Valeria is struggling internally with having not forgiven her stepfather before his death and her outward struggle to allow Alastair to help with items regarding the estate. She continues her descent into a more worldly life-style as she begins to concern herself with people’s opinions of her and continuing to have a pessimistic view on the world. She resents Alastair for all the help he provides instead of being thankful and gracious. During this time, we get to meet other characters that add depth and some humor to the story. During Part Three, we see Valeria become so consumed with the London way of life that she falls deeply into the life of sin and almost ruins her life and her family’s good name. At the end, Alastair helps Valeria to see that she is being selfish and very unchristian like and she begins the soul-searching process before finally seeing that she needs to repent and forgive all those who have wronged her in order to have a chance at true happiness.
I felt that overall, this was a decent novel, even though it is not my typical read. I found that Mrs. Morris prefers to give a lot of descriptions about fabrics, lace, outfits, textures, etc. While I am not a huge fan of this type of prose, I can respect that she did an excellent job with the details. She also provided an abundance of historical details into her writing, such that, someone who is new to historical fiction would be able to understand what was happening and why these events were important. The relationship between Alastair and Valeria was quite unique, as they spend most of their time at odds with each other and only acknowledged their feelings towards the very end of the book. There is not a lot of emotional attachment between these two and I never became very involved with their characters. I did however, enjoy the relationship between St. John, Regina, and Valeria and their ability to overcome tragedy and depend on one another and God to help them find their way. Alastair’s character was very steady throughout while Valeria went through several changes, as mentioned above. There is a Reader’s Group Guide at the back of the novel, and after reading the questions, I found that this book would be great for a Christian book club reading. A well-written and thoroughly planned book that is sure to make you think about your faith walk. Received for an honest review.
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: None
Reviewed by: AprilP
Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
August 18, 2014
Lynn Morris in her new book, “The Baron’s Honourable Daughter” published by FaithWords brings us into the life of Valeria Segrave.
From the back cover: Bestselling author Lynn Morris weaves an inspirational Regency era romance rich in period detail.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave finds she must take charge of her grieving mother and the vast estate which now belongs to her six-year-old half-brother, the new Earl of Maledon. Though capable, Valeria is frustrated to find each day brings a new struggle as she tries to establish her authority with servants, stewards, and solicitors-all men. As a young woman with no blood relation to the earl, they are all too ready to dismiss her.
Much to her chagrin, she must rely on the assistance of her stepfather’s distant kinsman, Alastair, Lord Hylton. He is handsome and noble, and Valeria senses under the veneer of his gentlemanly behavior that she never measures up to his expectations of a refined lady. In light of that, accepting his help and feeling under a burden of gratitude to him is almost unbearable. Even when Valeria leaves the country estate for the glittering London Season, where she gets into a series of escapades, Lord Hylton is always there to witness, criticize, and correct her behavior. But if Alastair insists on engaging in a battle of wits and wills with the lively Valeria, she’ll stop at nothing to prove that he’s met his match.
It’s not easy to run an estate, male or female, no matter the time period. Yet in 1800 England a woman running an estate things are not going to go well. Add in that Valeria is only the step-daughter of the late Earl and not even the heir, her young step-brother is, and the scene is set for tension and friction. Valeria is an extremely complex young woman who has to grow up in a hurry and learn many things that most women in her time didn’t have to deal with, that was for the men to handle. Alastair is a lot of fun. Of course he already knows how to run an estate and helps Valeria, not only in the running of her estate, but also in the social graces. This book is about bitterness, unforgiveness and how, if not dealt with, these emotions can lead to devastating results. These are wonderful characters that live and breathe on the pages and you care deeply for them. This book does not disappoint at all.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from FaithWords. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Bestselling author Lynn Morris weaves an inspirational Regency era romance rich in period detail.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, Valeria Segrave finds she must take charge of her grieving mother and the vast estate which now belongs to her six-year-old half-brother, the new Earl of Maledon. Though capable, Valeria is frustrated to find each day brings a new struggle as she tries to establish her authority with servants, stewards, and solicitors-all men. As a young woman with no blood relation to the earl, they are all too ready to dismiss her.
Much to her chagrin, she must rely on the assistance of her stepfather’s distant kinsman, Alastair, Lord Hylton. He is handsome and noble, and Valeria senses under the veneer of his gentlemanly behavior that she never measures up to his expectations of a refined lady. In light of that, accepting his help and feeling under a burden of gratitude to him is almost unbearable. Even when Valeria leaves the country estate for the glittering London Season, where she gets into a series of escapades, Lord Hylton is always there to witness, criticize, and correct her behavior. But if Alastair insists on engaging in a battle of wits and wills with the lively Valeria, she’ll stop at nothing to prove that he’s met his match.
It’s not easy to run an estate, male or female, no matter the time period. Yet in 1800 England a woman running an estate things are not going to go well. Add in that Valeria is only the step-daughter of the late Earl and not even the heir, her young step-brother is, and the scene is set for tension and friction. Valeria is an extremely complex young woman who has to grow up in a hurry and learn many things that most women in her time didn’t have to deal with, that was for the men to handle. Alastair is a lot of fun. Of course he already knows how to run an estate and helps Valeria, not only in the running of her estate, but also in the social graces. This book is about bitterness, unforgiveness and how, if not dealt with, these emotions can lead to devastating results. These are wonderful characters that live and breathe on the pages and you care deeply for them. This book does not disappoint at all.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from FaithWords. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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