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Lonely Lords #11
Worth: Lord of Reckoning
Consummate man of business and rake at large, Worth Kettering repairs to his country estate to sort out his familial situation, trusting the ever efficient (though as yet unmet) housekeeper, Jacaranda Wyeth, will provide his family a pleasant summer retreat. To his surprise, his household is manage by a quick-witted, violet-eyed Amazon who’s his match in many regards.
As Jacaranda and Worth become enamored, the family she’s kept hidden from him, the financial clients Worth feels singularly protective of, and the ragged state of affairs between Worth and his estranged older brother, Hessian, all conspire to keep Worth and Jacaranda apart. Worth must choose between love and profit, and Jacaranda must decide between loyalty to her family and the love of a man who values her above all others.
As Jacaranda and Worth become enamored, the family she’s kept hidden from him, the financial clients Worth feels singularly protective of, and the ragged state of affairs between Worth and his estranged older brother, Hessian, all conspire to keep Worth and Jacaranda apart. Worth must choose between love and profit, and Jacaranda must decide between loyalty to her family and the love of a man who values her above all others.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2014
321 people are currently reading
1426 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 139 reviews
March 31, 2015
26 March 2015
What do I know? I detested this book, and now it's nominated for a RITA. Well, congratulations, Grace Burrowes. She was nominated last year for Darius: Lord of Pleasures, which was excellent.
October 2014
If a series goes on long enough, there is bound to be a stinker, and for me Worth: Lord of Reckoning was where I finally lost patience. I adore Grace Burrowes' writing, and most of her books have been four or five stars in my opinion.
This book, however, is rolling on retreads. A perfect man. A beautiful housekeeper with deep, dark secrets. A sexual relationship between the two that does not involve "going all the way." The heroine's irrational refusal to marry the hero. The always present tea tray. The absent family from whom the heroine and hero are estranged. Burrowes has written this all before and done it better.
Worth Kettering has appeared as the consummate man of business in several of Burrowes' earlier books. He was always intriguing, and he deserved a better book than this one.
I have read all of Grace Burrowes' books and enjoyed most of them, so she's allowed this one bomb. It has fairly high reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, though, so don't listen to me.
What do I know? I detested this book, and now it's nominated for a RITA. Well, congratulations, Grace Burrowes. She was nominated last year for Darius: Lord of Pleasures, which was excellent.
October 2014
If a series goes on long enough, there is bound to be a stinker, and for me Worth: Lord of Reckoning was where I finally lost patience. I adore Grace Burrowes' writing, and most of her books have been four or five stars in my opinion.
This book, however, is rolling on retreads. A perfect man. A beautiful housekeeper with deep, dark secrets. A sexual relationship between the two that does not involve "going all the way." The heroine's irrational refusal to marry the hero. The always present tea tray. The absent family from whom the heroine and hero are estranged. Burrowes has written this all before and done it better.
Worth Kettering has appeared as the consummate man of business in several of Burrowes' earlier books. He was always intriguing, and he deserved a better book than this one.
I have read all of Grace Burrowes' books and enjoyed most of them, so she's allowed this one bomb. It has fairly high reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, though, so don't listen to me.
January 14, 2015
Grace Burrowes' "Worth, Lord of Reckoning" (#11 in the Lonely Lords series)
Finally decided to give this book 2.5 stars. I mostly enjoyed it on the first reading, but I gave up halfway through the book the second time because the story is just not that interesting to slog through it a second time. There is beautiful writing as always with Grace Burrowes, but the parts don't add up to a great whole.
The story is about Worth, the estranged younger brother of an earl. Worth is trained as a lawyer and has made a fortune investing the money of his clients. Worth has a country estate where he is heading at the start of the story, although he hasn't been there in over 5 years. He's expecting to meet a middle-aged housekeeper there, but is shocked to discover that she is young, beautiful and extremely capable - the heroine Jacaranda. The setup is pretty good, but the book drags on too long, with too many descriptions of tea trays, tea cakes, shortbread and how everyone smells, without enough interesting things in the plot to make reading the whole thing worthwhile, although there were plenty of subplots. I think the book could have been shorter by about 100 pages.
Also a few things bothered me throughout the book:
1. Jacaranda has been working as the housekeeper of Worth's country estate for 5 years, since she was 21. She is also the eldest daughter of an earl whose family thinks (by the standards of that time) that she has no business working outside her home. But the author never once explains how Jacaranda has ended up in this position! The reasons why Jacaranda decided to do this are clear by the end of the book, but the mechanics of how she accomplished it are never explained. In 1816, an upper-class unmarried woman of age 21 could not just go out into the road and flag a taxi to take her to the nearest bus terminal! Also, how did she get the job? She had no references and no employment history - a housekeeper would not be hired just because she wants the job, especially a woman as young as Jacaranda, and housekeeper is not exactly an entry-level position in a large house.
2. Jacaranda is described as a "magnificent specimen of femininity" by the hero's brother, and all the men in the neighbourhood think so too, but apparently the men of the "ton" in London thought that she was too plain and too tall, and she didn't "take". Doesn't make sense.
3. The name of the hero's brother! Why on earth did the author choose to name him "Hessian"? A Hessian is a style of boot, or an inhabitant or soldier of the German state of Hesse. So naming someone "Hessian" is like naming your child "Arizonan" or "Hawaiian" - ridiculous, right? Especially when it appears that the brother has no connection whatsoever to the state of Hesse. And in the 21st century, at least according to the Urban Dictionary, calling someone a "Hessian" is pretty close to an insult.
4. Jacaranda worries a lot about her "dishonesty" towards her employer. This is completely overblown - she's not dishonest at all, she's merely omitted a few pertinent facts from her biography. But the constant teasers about how bad she is, how disappointed Worth will be when he finds out the truth, the constant interruptions just when she's about the reveal the "truth" are really annoying, especially when her "untruth" is finally revealed to be quite small in the general scheme of things.
Finally decided to give this book 2.5 stars. I mostly enjoyed it on the first reading, but I gave up halfway through the book the second time because the story is just not that interesting to slog through it a second time. There is beautiful writing as always with Grace Burrowes, but the parts don't add up to a great whole.
The story is about Worth, the estranged younger brother of an earl. Worth is trained as a lawyer and has made a fortune investing the money of his clients. Worth has a country estate where he is heading at the start of the story, although he hasn't been there in over 5 years. He's expecting to meet a middle-aged housekeeper there, but is shocked to discover that she is young, beautiful and extremely capable - the heroine Jacaranda. The setup is pretty good, but the book drags on too long, with too many descriptions of tea trays, tea cakes, shortbread and how everyone smells, without enough interesting things in the plot to make reading the whole thing worthwhile, although there were plenty of subplots. I think the book could have been shorter by about 100 pages.
Also a few things bothered me throughout the book:
1. Jacaranda has been working as the housekeeper of Worth's country estate for 5 years, since she was 21. She is also the eldest daughter of an earl whose family thinks (by the standards of that time) that she has no business working outside her home. But the author never once explains how Jacaranda has ended up in this position! The reasons why Jacaranda decided to do this are clear by the end of the book, but the mechanics of how she accomplished it are never explained. In 1816, an upper-class unmarried woman of age 21 could not just go out into the road and flag a taxi to take her to the nearest bus terminal! Also, how did she get the job? She had no references and no employment history - a housekeeper would not be hired just because she wants the job, especially a woman as young as Jacaranda, and housekeeper is not exactly an entry-level position in a large house.
2. Jacaranda is described as a "magnificent specimen of femininity" by the hero's brother, and all the men in the neighbourhood think so too, but apparently the men of the "ton" in London thought that she was too plain and too tall, and she didn't "take". Doesn't make sense.
3. The name of the hero's brother! Why on earth did the author choose to name him "Hessian"? A Hessian is a style of boot, or an inhabitant or soldier of the German state of Hesse. So naming someone "Hessian" is like naming your child "Arizonan" or "Hawaiian" - ridiculous, right? Especially when it appears that the brother has no connection whatsoever to the state of Hesse. And in the 21st century, at least according to the Urban Dictionary, calling someone a "Hessian" is pretty close to an insult.
4. Jacaranda worries a lot about her "dishonesty" towards her employer. This is completely overblown - she's not dishonest at all, she's merely omitted a few pertinent facts from her biography. But the constant teasers about how bad she is, how disappointed Worth will be when he finds out the truth, the constant interruptions just when she's about the reveal the "truth" are really annoying, especially when her "untruth" is finally revealed to be quite small in the general scheme of things.
January 30, 2021
I had yet to read this book, but every time Worth or Jacaranda’s name appeared in other stories by Grace Burrowes, I knew I must read their story. Just finished it, and it was absolutely wonderful! I’m captivated by all of her characters, and what a treat this was! Beautiful 💛💛💛💛💛
Now, I must re-read “His Lordship’s True Lady”, Hessian and Lily’s book. (Worth Kettering’s older brother)
Now, I must re-read “His Lordship’s True Lady”, Hessian and Lily’s book. (Worth Kettering’s older brother)
December 17, 2021
Worth's womenfolk and family reconciliation are the only redeeming element to this book. It was already derivative of almost all of Burrowes' other romances, which is bad enough, but then you have Jacaranda who never, not once, does any of the heavy lifting, or takes any of the risks, in her relationships.
When she's offered opportunities to be vulnerable, to broach uncomfortable truths, to open wounds so they can heal, she instead chooses, to use Burrowes' own words, "to dodge and cringe and tiptoe around the past." If anything ever gets solved, or resolved, it's due entirely to the efforts of the people around her. And even then, she mostly says whatever she has to in order to avoid further conflict.
Romances, to me, are often about the growth the characters experience on their journey to finding happiness together. Worth grows. His family grows. Even Jacaranda's family grows a tiny fraction—gotta say, given their selfishness, I'm not looking forward to Burrowes' series on their love stories, ugh—but Jacaranda? Not at all. She gets to her happy ending because other people drag her to it, all the while graciously overlooking her inability to discuss difficult subjects with any degree of honesty, bravery, or clear-eyed directness.
When she's offered opportunities to be vulnerable, to broach uncomfortable truths, to open wounds so they can heal, she instead chooses, to use Burrowes' own words, "to dodge and cringe and tiptoe around the past." If anything ever gets solved, or resolved, it's due entirely to the efforts of the people around her. And even then, she mostly says whatever she has to in order to avoid further conflict.
Romances, to me, are often about the growth the characters experience on their journey to finding happiness together. Worth grows. His family grows. Even Jacaranda's family grows a tiny fraction—gotta say, given their selfishness, I'm not looking forward to Burrowes' series on their love stories, ugh—but Jacaranda? Not at all. She gets to her happy ending because other people drag her to it, all the while graciously overlooking her inability to discuss difficult subjects with any degree of honesty, bravery, or clear-eyed directness.
March 6, 2016
I am afraid I found myself bored, and nitpicking. So I will nitpick.
First the name Jacaranda, really? Who would name their kid that, and then? And then I saw what it meant. Really?
Also, Worth's brother Hessian, really?
She is, mid 20s. She got the job as a housekeeper to a rich man, without ever having worked a day in her life. Even I could not get that job and I have worked. I also have a hard time believing her family would have let her go. The whole deal was so weird.
But hey, that did not matter. What mattered was the dullness. They talked, they talked and I grew bored. I still read it, cos I like her books, but this one was lacking. He wanted to marry her, she pulled away, and I never understood why. Sigh.
Not one of her best.
First the name Jacaranda, really? Who would name their kid that, and then? And then I saw what it meant. Really?
Also, Worth's brother Hessian, really?
She is, mid 20s. She got the job as a housekeeper to a rich man, without ever having worked a day in her life. Even I could not get that job and I have worked. I also have a hard time believing her family would have let her go. The whole deal was so weird.
But hey, that did not matter. What mattered was the dullness. They talked, they talked and I grew bored. I still read it, cos I like her books, but this one was lacking. He wanted to marry her, she pulled away, and I never understood why. Sigh.
Not one of her best.
October 13, 2015
I'm starting to get bored of these books. They're all so similar.
July 6, 2021
Sometimes, you want to DNF a book but are just far enough into it that you feel obligated to force your way through. That was this book for me, and I regret it.
The characters are all forgettable with the exception of their fantastical names (see: the heroine and her siblings are all named after plants or trees). Everyone is an amorphous blob prone to capricious actions, nonsensical decisions, and even conflicting character descriptions (is Jacaranda a prime specimen of feminity or an unfashionably tall giantess? I do not know because apparently the author does not either). Even the dialogue was not safe from these strange about-faces. There were so many weird transitions in conversations that I felt like my book was missing pages.
Nothing quite makes sense in this book. Decade long family feuds are resolved in five minute conversations. Side plots are dropped like a drunk college student's inhibitions. And don't even get me started on the heroine's repeated rejections of the hero's proposals of marriage. One of my biggest pet peeves in historical romance is a heroine who rejects a proposal for ridiculous dimwitted reasons.
This was just not an enjoyable book. I do not recommend it.
The characters are all forgettable with the exception of their fantastical names (see: the heroine and her siblings are all named after plants or trees). Everyone is an amorphous blob prone to capricious actions, nonsensical decisions, and even conflicting character descriptions (is Jacaranda a prime specimen of feminity or an unfashionably tall giantess? I do not know because apparently the author does not either). Even the dialogue was not safe from these strange about-faces. There were so many weird transitions in conversations that I felt like my book was missing pages.
Nothing quite makes sense in this book. Decade long family feuds are resolved in five minute conversations. Side plots are dropped like a drunk college student's inhibitions. And don't even get me started on the heroine's repeated rejections of the hero's proposals of marriage. One of my biggest pet peeves in historical romance is a heroine who rejects a proposal for ridiculous dimwitted reasons.
This was just not an enjoyable book. I do not recommend it.
September 5, 2014
What wonderful men Burrowes has conjured up in some of the latter 'Lonely Lords' books. Such warm, generous, understanding and patient men who love more than themselves and their position in life but also have a basic decency about them. These men don't grab at the women they 'know' they are going to marry and stamp their possessive attentions upon them, they soothe, stroke, comfort and respectfully allow women they admire to express their own sexuality at times of their choosing. Hurrah for leading men who are just as emotionally connected to other people in their family orbit as their intended brides, and for stories that reward the reader in terms of families repaired and priorities recognised. I am a huge fan of these men (but especially Douglas, Trenton and Worth), and of all of Burrowes' books.
December 6, 2014
General question: I'm looking at Grace Burrowes's publication history, and how the hell does she churn out 10+ books a year? jfc I couldn't even finish ten chapters of fanfiction a year at my most prolific.
Also, I previously made a comment about Burrowes apparently having some kind of weird virginity kink, based on reading four other novels in this series. I am happy to say that neither of those situations (option 1: married/widowed lady who is miraculously a virgin or option 2: non-virgin whose previous lover is dead) appeared in this novel. Thanks for trying something different this time, Ms Burrowes (well, I say "trying something different," but considering I skipped five or so volumes to go from the previous book I read to this one, for all I know it's appeared already in like three of them).
Also, I previously made a comment about Burrowes apparently having some kind of weird virginity kink, based on reading four other novels in this series. I am happy to say that neither of those situations (option 1: married/widowed lady who is miraculously a virgin or option 2: non-virgin whose previous lover is dead) appeared in this novel. Thanks for trying something different this time, Ms Burrowes (well, I say "trying something different," but considering I skipped five or so volumes to go from the previous book I read to this one, for all I know it's appeared already in like three of them).
October 6, 2025
Where we first meet the Dorning family. A super introduction to them. Worth is such a lovely chap.
Mrs Jacaranda Width has been housekeeper at Trystings for five years since she left her family home in Dorset. In that time she's never met the house owner, but now he's coming with his half sister, niece and their companions.
It doesn't take long before Jacaranda admits to herself she's very attracted to Worth, but she has secrets she can't tell him, that stop her acting on that attraction. Worth is a solicitor, an investment advisor and younger brother to an earl. He's recently taken in his niece after his sister died, and just learnt he has a half sister too, both are living with him. When he meets his housekeeper, he realised there's a strong attraction, but she won't marry him, and he fears losing her.
I hope Yolanda gets her own book.
Mrs Jacaranda Width has been housekeeper at Trystings for five years since she left her family home in Dorset. In that time she's never met the house owner, but now he's coming with his half sister, niece and their companions.
It doesn't take long before Jacaranda admits to herself she's very attracted to Worth, but she has secrets she can't tell him, that stop her acting on that attraction. Worth is a solicitor, an investment advisor and younger brother to an earl. He's recently taken in his niece after his sister died, and just learnt he has a half sister too, both are living with him. When he meets his housekeeper, he realised there's a strong attraction, but she won't marry him, and he fears losing her.
I hope Yolanda gets her own book.
August 9, 2016
I'm a long-time Grace Burrowes fan, and have been enjoying her "Lonely Lords" series.
Worth, long estranged from his family, arrives at his country estate with Yolanda, his half-sister, after she leaves school. He discovers his housekeeper, Mrs. Jacaranda Wyeth, isn't quite as he imagined her. She and Worth find themselves deeply attracted to each other, but as with many Burrowes' heroines, Jacaranda has a Dark Secret.
It is so sweet to read along as Worth and Jacaranda fall in love. They're so devoted to each other, and to finding the best in each other. However, I was never sure why her Dark Secret was such a big deal, or why she was so reluctant to explain it to Worth.
But you're really happy when these two get their HEA.
Worth, long estranged from his family, arrives at his country estate with Yolanda, his half-sister, after she leaves school. He discovers his housekeeper, Mrs. Jacaranda Wyeth, isn't quite as he imagined her. She and Worth find themselves deeply attracted to each other, but as with many Burrowes' heroines, Jacaranda has a Dark Secret.
It is so sweet to read along as Worth and Jacaranda fall in love. They're so devoted to each other, and to finding the best in each other. However, I was never sure why her Dark Secret was such a big deal, or why she was so reluctant to explain it to Worth.
But you're really happy when these two get their HEA.
August 27, 2018
Boring. This story had no conflict except that Jacaranda didn't want to marry Worth for reasons that still elude me.
December 10, 2020
Should be read before the True Gentlemen series.
February 27, 2023
This book is a prime example of how a reader can love the way a writer writes but abhor what they have written. I love the way Grace Burrowes writes. I detested this book. The main characters were unpleasant, their thoughts and actions were reprehensible, and the story made no sense. That’s the short version.
If you want more details: within an hour or so of meeting his housekeeper, the “hero,” Worth Kettering, had entered her private rooms and pulled her onto his lap. Within a day or two, he’s crawling into her bed naked, easily overcoming her “token” resistance. He is literally the boss from hell. Even worse, Jacaranda (the aforementioned housekeeper), says no but really means I-want-you-big-daddy. In fact, she ends up groping his crotch when accompanying him on a visit to a tenant farm. THEN, because all that isn’t heinous enough, after rejecting Worth’s proposals to become his mistress and then his wife, she decides to satisfy her sexual curiosity by playing with him before leaving him forever. If a guy did that in a romance novel, he’d be the despicable villain. She’s leaving him forever, by the way, the whole darn book but doesn’t share that piece of information with him. She also doesn’t tell him that she’s the daughter of an earl because she’s afraid he might refuse to dally with her if he knew. So who’s the sexual predator here? Throw a dart.
At least twice he tells her something and then wonders what the words he’s just spoken mean. He’s right to wonder—they make no sense. She thinks “I love you, I love you,” and two paragraphs later refuses his marriage proposal because “they don’t really know each other and are just friends.” Muddled, messy, incomprehensible.
Some additional business about a stepmother with a nervous condition and a selfish streak a mile wide, sibling betrayals, raspberry jam, and seven Dorning brothers with muddy boots add some interest but isn’t enough to counterbalance the utter nonsense embroiling the main characters.
Even if you love Grace Burrowes, and I frequently do, give this one a pass. “Worth” is worthless…and offensive.
If you want more details: within an hour or so of meeting his housekeeper, the “hero,” Worth Kettering, had entered her private rooms and pulled her onto his lap. Within a day or two, he’s crawling into her bed naked, easily overcoming her “token” resistance. He is literally the boss from hell. Even worse, Jacaranda (the aforementioned housekeeper), says no but really means I-want-you-big-daddy. In fact, she ends up groping his crotch when accompanying him on a visit to a tenant farm. THEN, because all that isn’t heinous enough, after rejecting Worth’s proposals to become his mistress and then his wife, she decides to satisfy her sexual curiosity by playing with him before leaving him forever. If a guy did that in a romance novel, he’d be the despicable villain. She’s leaving him forever, by the way, the whole darn book but doesn’t share that piece of information with him. She also doesn’t tell him that she’s the daughter of an earl because she’s afraid he might refuse to dally with her if he knew. So who’s the sexual predator here? Throw a dart.
At least twice he tells her something and then wonders what the words he’s just spoken mean. He’s right to wonder—they make no sense. She thinks “I love you, I love you,” and two paragraphs later refuses his marriage proposal because “they don’t really know each other and are just friends.” Muddled, messy, incomprehensible.
Some additional business about a stepmother with a nervous condition and a selfish streak a mile wide, sibling betrayals, raspberry jam, and seven Dorning brothers with muddy boots add some interest but isn’t enough to counterbalance the utter nonsense embroiling the main characters.
Even if you love Grace Burrowes, and I frequently do, give this one a pass. “Worth” is worthless…and offensive.
May 28, 2014
I will admit that for some reason I had a hard time getting hooked on this book immediately, however I stuck with it and was very quickly enthralled. I ended up absolutely loving the story, the characters.. the entire book.
Jacaranda is a very strong, independent woman with a soft spot for her demanding family. Worth is a strong, successful, determined man with a soft spot for his extended family. Jacaranda has worked for years as housekeeper for what she thinks is an aging solicitor. Worth, who has been away from his estate since before Jacaranda started, returns to find that his efficient housekeeper is anything but the elderly matron he expected. When the two meet.. sparks fly! Literally, I think I saw sparks when these two are together.
There many story lines in the book that involve other characters and affect Jacaranda and Worth. Each is interesting in their own right and add to the overall drama of the book. The side characters are intriguing as well. There is Worth's older, estranged brother, Hess; their two young female relations, Avery and Yolanda; Jacaranda's troubled eldest brother, Grey, their passel, or should I say "forest" ;), of brothers, an estranged sister and a manipulating step-mama. I want to read stories about many of these people!
Jacaranda and Worth's feelings grow in a sweet and respectful manner. I like how Ms. Burrows can write a "love scene" that is both extremely hot and tender and sensitive at the same time. I liked that neither individual was "in control". They were both thrown off by these burgeoning and uncontrollable feelings.
After a lot of twists and turns as well as ups and downs, there are satisfactory conclusions to many of the story lines. The ending was tender and "sigh worthy".
Epilogue Whore Alert: There is no formal epilogue per se, however, there is a nice epilogue type paragraph at the end of the last chapter. It was better than nothing!
Jacaranda is a very strong, independent woman with a soft spot for her demanding family. Worth is a strong, successful, determined man with a soft spot for his extended family. Jacaranda has worked for years as housekeeper for what she thinks is an aging solicitor. Worth, who has been away from his estate since before Jacaranda started, returns to find that his efficient housekeeper is anything but the elderly matron he expected. When the two meet.. sparks fly! Literally, I think I saw sparks when these two are together.
There many story lines in the book that involve other characters and affect Jacaranda and Worth. Each is interesting in their own right and add to the overall drama of the book. The side characters are intriguing as well. There is Worth's older, estranged brother, Hess; their two young female relations, Avery and Yolanda; Jacaranda's troubled eldest brother, Grey, their passel, or should I say "forest" ;), of brothers, an estranged sister and a manipulating step-mama. I want to read stories about many of these people!
Jacaranda and Worth's feelings grow in a sweet and respectful manner. I like how Ms. Burrows can write a "love scene" that is both extremely hot and tender and sensitive at the same time. I liked that neither individual was "in control". They were both thrown off by these burgeoning and uncontrollable feelings.
After a lot of twists and turns as well as ups and downs, there are satisfactory conclusions to many of the story lines. The ending was tender and "sigh worthy".
Epilogue Whore Alert: There is no formal epilogue per se, however, there is a nice epilogue type paragraph at the end of the last chapter. It was better than nothing!
June 18, 2016
Those of you that read my reviews know that 5 star ratings are rare. I save them for books that I feel are really outstanding. I have loved all of the Grace Burrowes books I have read -- some definitely more than others. Sometimes my favorites are not the ones that everyone else loves, but I do like her style of writing and the depth of the characters. All of this being said, I LOVED this one! It was recently named a finalist for the RITA Award and I know that the judges got it right. Any book that makes me both laugh and cry is a winner with me.
Jacaranda works as a housekeeper (we know she shouldn't be one, but we don't know why) for an absentee wealthy solicitor. Worth Kettering discovers an illegitimate half-sister and needs to return to his home after a five-year absence. Burrowes' plot specialty is placing the hero and heroine in close proximity to each other on a daily basis. This allows her to show the budding relationship developing through small, everyday situations (which is how I think real relationships actually develop). We see Jacaranda and Worth develop more than a simple relationship; they develop intimacy in the purest meaning of the word -- emotionally, sexually, and more.
One thing that set this book apart from a lot of Burrowes' other books was the humor. I don't usually think of her as a particularly funny writer, but this book was just charmingly funny. Cute and clever. PLUS I sobbed through several parts, especially the ending. A VERY satisfying book.
Jacaranda works as a housekeeper (we know she shouldn't be one, but we don't know why) for an absentee wealthy solicitor. Worth Kettering discovers an illegitimate half-sister and needs to return to his home after a five-year absence. Burrowes' plot specialty is placing the hero and heroine in close proximity to each other on a daily basis. This allows her to show the budding relationship developing through small, everyday situations (which is how I think real relationships actually develop). We see Jacaranda and Worth develop more than a simple relationship; they develop intimacy in the purest meaning of the word -- emotionally, sexually, and more.
One thing that set this book apart from a lot of Burrowes' other books was the humor. I don't usually think of her as a particularly funny writer, but this book was just charmingly funny. Cute and clever. PLUS I sobbed through several parts, especially the ending. A VERY satisfying book.
May 16, 2016
3.5 stars.
"Worth Kettering was kind.
The realization disconcerted Jacaranda, because it required her to admit she'd been hell-bent on finding fault with him. He'd handed her down from the gig, bowed over her hand as if they'd been on a social outing, then winked at her and left her in peace."
I'm not an expert on master-of-the-house/housekeeper relations of the time period, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Not really, but I have read a sufficient amount of Regency romance to note the discrepancy of a housekeeper dressing down her employer like Jacaranda does. As far as the "kind" part of it, from what I understand, servants would normally be terrified of being dismissed (although we are given reason to believe that Jacaranda doesn't really need her job) if an employer took physical liberties with them like Worth does with his housekeeper. Not to mention that an honorable gentleman would not socialize or mess around with the household staff.
""I do not paw women, not any women, ever. If you must know, I handle investments for my opera dancers, you fire-breathing little besom."
And then he kissed her."
And then there's that, another of many contradictions.
Implausibilities and a lengthy, sometimes plodding plot aside, the whole romance thing was done fairly well, with a few decently written love scenes. This one's better than the average for its genre, but not much more.
"Worth Kettering was kind.
The realization disconcerted Jacaranda, because it required her to admit she'd been hell-bent on finding fault with him. He'd handed her down from the gig, bowed over her hand as if they'd been on a social outing, then winked at her and left her in peace."
I'm not an expert on master-of-the-house/housekeeper relations of the time period, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Not really, but I have read a sufficient amount of Regency romance to note the discrepancy of a housekeeper dressing down her employer like Jacaranda does. As far as the "kind" part of it, from what I understand, servants would normally be terrified of being dismissed (although we are given reason to believe that Jacaranda doesn't really need her job) if an employer took physical liberties with them like Worth does with his housekeeper. Not to mention that an honorable gentleman would not socialize or mess around with the household staff.
""I do not paw women, not any women, ever. If you must know, I handle investments for my opera dancers, you fire-breathing little besom."
And then he kissed her."
And then there's that, another of many contradictions.
Implausibilities and a lengthy, sometimes plodding plot aside, the whole romance thing was done fairly well, with a few decently written love scenes. This one's better than the average for its genre, but not much more.
March 27, 2023
When the hero goes to take his surprise half-sister to his estate and figure out what to do with her, he discovers his efficient housekeeper is not a cozy, plump middle-aged lady, but young and pretty. And that's pretty much the story. The heroine is basically hiding out from her family, because she has a pazillion unruly brothers and doesn't like being taken for granted by them. However, stepmom is also going crazy, and writing threatening letters to get the heroine to come home and take over. It's a good read. I liked it.
April 15, 2015
I tried this one because it was free. It had intelligent prose, and some of the descriptions and banter were nice (I especially loved the descriptions of Jacaranda's herd of brothers), but for the most part this one was pretty forgettable. No deep drama or angst, nothing really gripping about it, and for me the sex scenes weren't especially sexy. And while the hero Worth was undeniably appealing, he was also a total Mary Sue. Overall, not bad -- just ehh.
July 11, 2015
Worth Lord of Reckoning is a fantastic read by Grace Burrowes. I loved the characters in this book. Worth and Jacaranda's story is well written and has plenty of humor and drama. I've enjoyed every Grace Burrowes book that I've read so far and look forward to my next read from this talented author. Worth: Lord of Reckoning is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
July 30, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I liked both MCs and that's a feat. I also found the secondary characters well developed to their ages and roles they played. These books are stand alone books but the characters are reoccurring in the following books. I am looking forward to meet more of the lonely lords.
April 4, 2015
This one is FREE right now (always check)
Another lonely lord to love. Ms. Burrowes has a whole stable of them, and they are all different.
Full review coming shortly.
Another lonely lord to love. Ms. Burrowes has a whole stable of them, and they are all different.
Full review coming shortly.
May 12, 2014
These Lost Lord's books are like candy! And Worth Reverence Kettering was one of the sweetest heros. I can't wait for the next one and I sure hope we see his brother's book in the future.
November 1, 2023
So I'm on a Grace Burrowes bender and I switched it up from the current series (Mischief in Mayfair) to head into the wayback machine, because Worth always seems interesting on page in these other, more modern books. And WOW was I happy I did, this era of GB is hot hot HAWT, very sassy, funny, irreverent, and uber tender. Oh my goodness these two are wild together and I was here for every single second. I love a good secret-identity and we have one here, with Jacaranda hiding the fact that she's an earl's daughter and shouldn't be a housekeeper.
There is the requisite meet cute and this one is adorable and funny: a tumble into a moonlit lake, followed by Worth trying to take charge and Jacaranda having none of it. The bickering, the chemistry, gah!
This book had me hooting and hollering, they are SO hot for each other and he’s such a bellowing specimen of manly persistence, it’s so fun! If you aren't into domineering, mouthy, towering heroes maybe skip this one out, but he was so perfect for me.
All Jacaranda has ever wanted and never gotten was to be loved and cherished and taken care of and here is this huge loud hunk of man taking her in his big warm capable hands, I couldn’t get enough 🥹😩 Like most GB books, each lead has a broken part of them that mirrors the other's same issue and that's also the case here, with cheating/abandonment issues for both.
Worth is a former rake and watching him realize how he's inevitably hurt previous lovers while his own heart is getting stomped is so rewarding. Almost as good as a grovel.
This is my fave GB by a mile and in my top faves of all time. This book is SO sexy, SO funny, SO tender. ach! Worth is just bananas for Jacaranda and is basically around the bend for her the entire book. The secondary story lines don't take the focus away from these two, which made me very very happy. The sheer amount of cuddling, smooching, slow burning, and midnight creeping around, just had me all aflutter. My ONLY complaint is her belief that he could never want to marry her because she's an earl's daughter? like ...?! HOW this would be "worse" than just a regular cit housekeeper is beyond me? I kept thinking she must have a secret baby stashed somewhere but nope, it's just the fact that her dad was an earl so he must not want her. This plot point was beyond stupid but I was having too much fun watching these two argue as they spooned in bed and sniffed each other's hair, it really took nothing away from the book for me.
There is a lot of body positivity in this book as Jacaranda is tall and there's a lot of her (he refers to her brothers as sylvan, which I just LOVED) and since Worth is a huge strapping man, he wants a woman that physically matches that, and I loved that as well.
The proposal scene was perfect and funny and made me tear up and I was a little disappointed there wasn't an epilogue. But this book was a perfect perfect five stars for me. ❤️
There is the requisite meet cute and this one is adorable and funny: a tumble into a moonlit lake, followed by Worth trying to take charge and Jacaranda having none of it. The bickering, the chemistry, gah!
This book had me hooting and hollering, they are SO hot for each other and he’s such a bellowing specimen of manly persistence, it’s so fun! If you aren't into domineering, mouthy, towering heroes maybe skip this one out, but he was so perfect for me.
All Jacaranda has ever wanted and never gotten was to be loved and cherished and taken care of and here is this huge loud hunk of man taking her in his big warm capable hands, I couldn’t get enough 🥹😩 Like most GB books, each lead has a broken part of them that mirrors the other's same issue and that's also the case here, with cheating/abandonment issues for both.
Worth is a former rake and watching him realize how he's inevitably hurt previous lovers while his own heart is getting stomped is so rewarding. Almost as good as a grovel.
This is my fave GB by a mile and in my top faves of all time. This book is SO sexy, SO funny, SO tender. ach! Worth is just bananas for Jacaranda and is basically around the bend for her the entire book. The secondary story lines don't take the focus away from these two, which made me very very happy. The sheer amount of cuddling, smooching, slow burning, and midnight creeping around, just had me all aflutter. My ONLY complaint is her belief that he could never want to marry her because she's an earl's daughter? like ...?! HOW this would be "worse" than just a regular cit housekeeper is beyond me? I kept thinking she must have a secret baby stashed somewhere but nope, it's just the fact that her dad was an earl so he must not want her. This plot point was beyond stupid but I was having too much fun watching these two argue as they spooned in bed and sniffed each other's hair, it really took nothing away from the book for me.
There is a lot of body positivity in this book as Jacaranda is tall and there's a lot of her (he refers to her brothers as sylvan, which I just LOVED) and since Worth is a huge strapping man, he wants a woman that physically matches that, and I loved that as well.
The proposal scene was perfect and funny and made me tear up and I was a little disappointed there wasn't an epilogue. But this book was a perfect perfect five stars for me. ❤️
October 14, 2023
I enjoyed it. I liked Worth a lot. Ah, his banter, and his thought processes, so much fun.
But I shouldn't have.
Because there is so much wrong here. He prides himself on not "pawing" women. But he does, all the time, "paw" Jacaranda, pretty much from the time he meets her. Who is his housekeeper, over whom he is in a strong position of power, and who says no. A lot. Oh sure, she doesn't mean it, and now and then she says yes, and she's also not just a normal housekeeper and therefore the power dynamics are not what they seem -- but Worth doesn't actually know that. All his pawing is excused by the author because Jacaranda's no doesn't really mean no overall. That really sticks in my feminist craw. Just for a moment imagine her no was a definite no, how skeevy would Worth's behaviour be! I know that this form of dubcon is seductive; the "good girl" must say no, but secretly wants to be overpowered so she can enjoy her pleasures guilt-free. But that's such a pernicious trope because it carries over into reality. It still does today, though fortunately less so. And people who miss this in reality love this sort of escapist trash. Your kink is ok, really, it is; this is fiction after all -- but I am not comfortable with it, and I don't really like it even in my fiction.
The whole cavorting with each other is very anachronistic even without those undertones, though at least they only once willy-nilly risk pregnancy. (Dear Ms Burrowes -- during this historical period they didn't understand how the menstrual cycle works; they thought the menses were like estrus, which explains why so much family planning even by educated people didn't at all work. Worth would have had no idea of when Jacaranda's actual fertile days were.)
Jacaranda is described as a strong woman, and indeed, the way she acts as a housekeeper is strong and determined, even somewhat overstepping her bounds. Unfortunately she also oversteps her bounds in treating Worth, ostensibly her employer, in anachronistically direct and rude ways at times. Which he doesn't mind since he's besotted. A normal employer would mind. Other servnats would mind. But when it comes to her relationships, she isn't strong; she is beyond weak. She does no work at all; she drags her feet all the way, and only at the very end develops a spine. Not just about Worth, but about her family whom she allegedly loves and misses. She wastes all her energy on guilt and martyrdom, and there's pretty much no character growth on her part, until again, the very last pages. I much prefer character development throughout a book rather than have it plop out at the very last moment. Would have served her right if Worth had moved on, she certainly didn't give him any real encouragement.
But I shouldn't have.
Because there is so much wrong here. He prides himself on not "pawing" women. But he does, all the time, "paw" Jacaranda, pretty much from the time he meets her. Who is his housekeeper, over whom he is in a strong position of power, and who says no. A lot. Oh sure, she doesn't mean it, and now and then she says yes, and she's also not just a normal housekeeper and therefore the power dynamics are not what they seem -- but Worth doesn't actually know that. All his pawing is excused by the author because Jacaranda's no doesn't really mean no overall. That really sticks in my feminist craw. Just for a moment imagine her no was a definite no, how skeevy would Worth's behaviour be! I know that this form of dubcon is seductive; the "good girl" must say no, but secretly wants to be overpowered so she can enjoy her pleasures guilt-free. But that's such a pernicious trope because it carries over into reality. It still does today, though fortunately less so. And people who miss this in reality love this sort of escapist trash. Your kink is ok, really, it is; this is fiction after all -- but I am not comfortable with it, and I don't really like it even in my fiction.
The whole cavorting with each other is very anachronistic even without those undertones, though at least they only once willy-nilly risk pregnancy. (Dear Ms Burrowes -- during this historical period they didn't understand how the menstrual cycle works; they thought the menses were like estrus, which explains why so much family planning even by educated people didn't at all work. Worth would have had no idea of when Jacaranda's actual fertile days were.)
Jacaranda is described as a strong woman, and indeed, the way she acts as a housekeeper is strong and determined, even somewhat overstepping her bounds. Unfortunately she also oversteps her bounds in treating Worth, ostensibly her employer, in anachronistically direct and rude ways at times. Which he doesn't mind since he's besotted. A normal employer would mind. Other servnats would mind. But when it comes to her relationships, she isn't strong; she is beyond weak. She does no work at all; she drags her feet all the way, and only at the very end develops a spine. Not just about Worth, but about her family whom she allegedly loves and misses. She wastes all her energy on guilt and martyrdom, and there's pretty much no character growth on her part, until again, the very last pages. I much prefer character development throughout a book rather than have it plop out at the very last moment. Would have served her right if Worth had moved on, she certainly didn't give him any real encouragement.
October 9, 2024
I know I'm supposed to love Worth, but I just found him too mercenary and controlling, even when he began to understand that "money can't buy me love." I liked Jacaranda, but she was a little grim for a wildly passionate siren. I enjoy how Burrowes assigns each of her mcs a. fragrance--lavender, or cedar, or sandalwood. Also, the importance of horses. I believe she was once a lawyer, so her portrait of Worth and his legal mind was believable. The plot with the needy brothers and the evil step mother was less believable--and less enjoyable. When Jacaranda finally comes to organize the house party, it's all over quickly. We don't even know if any of the brothers found brides. I think one or two of them should have joined the army, or become vicars or tutors, or music teachers. The two betrayals of the main characters were a little unbelievable, too. The brother and sister are let off the hook a little too easily. The two orphans were a little underdeveloped, but Burrowes likes a crowded plot.
September 10, 2017
Worth is the 11th in the Lonely Lord's series. We have met him in several of these and the Windhams as a trusted advisor. The man knows how to make money. In this book he falls in love, and of course she has a secret she will not tell him. Jacaranda has been his housekeeper of his country home, though he had never met her. When they finally meet, they are both surprised. He has brought home is illigetimatr sister who he has also just met, and his orphaned niece. This family has a lot of secrets. After much anguish on everyone,s parts (except the adorable niece-thrrr is a precocious child in every story it seems) there is a happy ending.
November 30, 2020
I very much enjoyed this book. It also made me feel good, anyone at this time wants to feel good. This virus is beyond trying. The characters were so life-like but gentle and loving. Of both their family and friends. It just sort of swept you off your feet. It was very difficult to put the story down. It was an easy read and well thought out. It was romantic, exciting and the healing of old wounds was great. I highly recommend this wonderful novel to almost everyone it is a little risque.
I received this ARC free from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I received this ARC free from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
October 20, 2017
Such a delightful book! Though it had some moments that made me tear up, I spent a lot of time laughing at the conversations between Worth and Jacaranda. I totally adored Worth and enjoyed his relationship with his niece, sister and brother. And his horse Goliath. Though there wasn't any really big "reveal" or mystery, Ms. Burrowes had me totally captivated and immersed in the story. I know I'm going to miss these Lonely Lords when I'm finished!
October 10, 2018
Every book is a gem. I have been spending 2018 reading the Burrowes' Book Shelf in the order the author now suggests. Not always in strict chronological order, but for one who discovered her book later than sooner, it makes for a very logical story line.
Worth has been mentioned in several other books, It was nice to see him and Jacaranda find their own happily ever after. Not to mention meeting all of Jack's brothers.
Worth has been mentioned in several other books, It was nice to see him and Jacaranda find their own happily ever after. Not to mention meeting all of Jack's brothers.
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