New Zealand Inheritance

Heatherleigh #1

by Essie Summers

Roberta was sure that Muir Buchanan's interest in her arose only from the fact that she was to inherit Heatherleigh, her grandfather's New Zealand farm, as Muir had always wanted Heatherleigh for himself. This was unfortunate, as against her better judgment she found herself falling more and more deeply in love with him.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Fiction, Harlequin Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Essie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.

Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.

Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.

She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.

Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ The last time Roberta had been on her grandfather's New Zealand farm was 13 years ago when she was a girl of twelve. She and her cousin George spent a glorious month at Heatherleigh, a time in her life Roberta had always treasured. Her grandfather, Grandy, is now 80, and he's survived a mild stroke and though whole again, Roberta is well aware of how he's aged. She hadn't expected the warm hearted welcome she received from all except Muir, the man who used to work the farm all those years ago. Muir's purchased the farm adjacent and over the years has managed his own farm while still helping out at Heatherleigh. From part of a conversation she overhears between Grandy and Muir, she thinks Muir has secured himself Heatherleigh through her. This shakes her beliefs of him and hurts her heart that has already fallen in love with him. She decides to play along when he courts her and plans to shoot him down when he proposes. His proposal includes a declaration of his love, and Roberta coolly rejects him. As the days pass, the tension between them is evident but life continues on. An accident sends Roberta to hospital with a badly smashed foot, this seems to shake everyone up and slowly Roberta comes to see that Muir does truly love her and what she overheard she misunderstood.

This is Ms. Summers very first Harlequin Mills and Boon release, originally published in 1957. This is a lovely romance and I didn't find it all that dated. Roberta is a headstrong young woman who prefers to stand on her own two feet. She could easily live off her grandfather but choses to keep up her job as an advertising illustrator. Muir is a proud man with no family ties of his own and he's worked hard to better himself. He believes Roberta came back to Heatherleigh to secure her inheritance before Grandy dies but soon realizes that Roberta's only wish is to look after the old man. I really enjoyed reading Roberta and Muir's journey to HEA

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely seek out more of her work.

She definitely brings to life the countryside beauty and her love of nature is apparent. She weaves a great "yarn" and the depth of her characters was very strong. My only negative was I felt a little distanced from the protagonists. She also jumped from scene to scene and I sometimes felt lost and had to flip backwards to catch up.

This was frustrating, but forgiving to a first time writer. (I believe this was her first published book) Overall, a very different and entertaining story.

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story and have read it a couple of times. The hero, Muir Buchanan is wonderful. A poor shepherd when he meets the heroine Roberta when she is twelve and he is twenty, he spends the next thirteen years making something of himself so he could fit into her world. Not just financially but also culturally, learning to play the piano and studying to further his education by night while working on the farm by day. *swoons*

Roberta has travelled the world with her artist father and only now is coming home to Heatherleigh, her grandfather's home and the place she loves most in the world. Her fondness for Muir and her cousin George takes a blow when she realises that neither of them are the same as she remembered them from so long ago.

Sly words from George and some overheard conversations convince Roberta that Muir is only interested in her for the sake of becoming master of Heatherleigh. She decides to play along, going on dates and spending time with Muir, but when it comes time to leave him flat...it doesn't turn out as she expects.

This is the first Essie Summers book and one of the things I like is that you get to meet her characters in other books.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

My enjoyment of the writing and the happily-ever-after warred with my dislike of Roberta's game-playing... but overall I enjoyed this more than not.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the author's first book and less polished than her later works. Still there was the family connection with her grandfather, the misunderstanding between her and the hero, and New Zealand as the setting. But we really didn't see a strong connection between Roberta and Muir until near the end, and the New Zealand descriptions lack the depth of the author's later books. Though not one of the author's best, it was still a good story with likeable characters and a satisfying happy ending. For having been published in 1957, Roberta is wonderfully independent, with a good-paying job, a car, and a sense that she can make her own way in the world. This all seems pretty normal for those of us reading today, but was likely unusual in the 1950's.

[E.M. Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is good but the editing is mediocre.

I have always thought that Essie Summers was one of the best romance writers. She also puts in her love of New Zealand so well that you feel that you are there.
The editing of this e-book is only mediocre tho and the cover picture is dreadful. If you can get the print books they are much more enjoyable.

[Myrna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice!

The h returns to her grandfather's grand ranch to find their used-to-be shepherd in charge.

Roberta is certain that Muir is after her inheritance when he starts paying her attention.

8-year age gap. The last time they met, the h was 12 to the H's 20.

He's done a lot of learning to become her match. Respect!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet romance in which misunderstandings get in the way of happiness for Roberta and Muir. Roberta has finally returned to the New Zealand estate of her grandfather where she spent a never-to-be-forgotten month thirteen years ago. She was only twelve at the time, and together with a distant cousin and her grandfather's young shepherd, she explored the area, setting down roots that eventually drew her back.