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That Despicable Rogue
A lady's mission of revenge…
Lady Hannah Steers has three reasons to loathe and despise Ross Jameson. He's a scandalous libertine, he stole her home and he was responsible for the death of her brother!
Determined to expose Ross for the rogue he is, Hannah dons a disguise and infiltrates his home as his new housekeeper. Unfortunately, this scoundrel proves himself to be the epitome of temptation and, instead of building a case against him, Hannah finds herself in a position she never expected…falling head over heels in love with him!
Lady Hannah Steers has three reasons to loathe and despise Ross Jameson. He's a scandalous libertine, he stole her home and he was responsible for the death of her brother!
Determined to expose Ross for the rogue he is, Hannah dons a disguise and infiltrates his home as his new housekeeper. Unfortunately, this scoundrel proves himself to be the epitome of temptation and, instead of building a case against him, Hannah finds herself in a position she never expected…falling head over heels in love with him!
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2016
15 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Heath
135 books1,192 followersWhen Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021
If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 1, 2017
I wavered a bit over the final grade, between 4 and 4.5 stars, but plumped for 4.5 (B+) because, in spite of some criticisms, I enjoyed the book a lot.
Virginia Heath registered on my radar when her début novel came out in the Spring of 2016, but I didn’t manage to get around to reading it. I did, however, pick up her next book, Her Enemy at the Altar, and enjoyed it very much – on the strength of that one book, I decided I had a new author to follow by virtue of the fact that Ms. Heath’s writing is accomplished, her characterisation is strong and she has a knack for humour and good dialogue. I finally got around to reading That Despicable Rogue and was pleased to discover that it’s every bit as well-written as her other books, and that had I not known in advance that it was her first published novel, I would never have discerned that from reading it, as it’s a very confident piece of work.
Seven years before the story begins, and in the wake of an unpleasant scandal, Lady Hannah Steers was banished from London and sent to live with her two aunts in Yorkshire by her brother, the Earl of Runcorn. At the time, he promised he would recall her to London once the gossip had died down, but somehow that never happened, and Hannah has remained in Yorkshire, her life a never-ending stream of monotony so dull that it’s almost debilitating.
Several years later, Hannah learns that her brother is dead. Having lost his entire fortune and the family home at the gaming tables, he then proceeded to blow his brains out and has left his sister with nothing. She hears that his opponent was one Ross Jameson, a man whose name appears regularly in the scandal sheets which gleefully report his exploits with women and any number of other unsavoury facts about his debauched existence. He’s a self-made man, which means he is looked down on by the great and the good, but his immense wealth cannot be ignored and he is admitted – if not welcomed – almost everywhere. Hannah is sure that a man of his reputation cannot possibly have beaten her brother fairly, and is convinced he must have cheated – but she has no way to prove it. Until, that is, she learns that, over a year since he won the place, Jameson is going to open up Barchester Hall, meaning that he will need to recruit more staff. Hannah has remained in touch with the cook, and with her help, secures the position of housekeeper, intending to use her access to all areas of the house to search through Jameson’s papers to see if she can find evidence to support her theory that he cheated her brother.
Ross Jameson has worked incredibly hard to achieve success and to make something of himself. The son of a criminal, Ross grew up in abject poverty alongside his mother and younger sister, who both suffered at the hands of his father, a gambler and drunkard. Determined to protect them both, Ross did what needed to be done when he had to, and since establishing himself in business, has taken good care of the ladies in his life, setting them up with a comfortable establishment in the country. He is opening up Barchester Hall now because it’s close to London and he knows his sister will soon want to come to town to enjoy the season.
Ross finds his new housekeeper a bit baffling – she’s the one woman he doesn’t seem able to charm with a smile or a quip – but she’s efficient and he is impressed with the improvements and alterations she suggests. And there’s something about her that makes him want to break through the barrier of frostiness she is so determined to maintain.
While she wants to continue to believe all the salacious gossip printed about Ross and is determined to prove him the worst kind of villain, Hannah can’t ignore the evidence of kindness and good-nature with which she is presented every day, or the inconvenient stirrings of attraction she is beginning to feel for him. She stubbornly tries to maintain her belief in his underhandedness, but knows she’s fighting a losing battle. Ross is an honourable, kind-hearted man who is fiercely protective of those he cares for – and Hannah is falling a little (or a lot) more in love every day.
The set-up is a fairly familiar one, but Ms. Heath puts a fresh spin on this well-used trope by her pleasantly different portrayal of Ross as a charming, funny, level-headed, all-round decent bloke rather than the sort of darkly brooding, ruthless bastard that is a much more frequent character-type found in this sort of story. Not to say he isn’t ruthless in his business dealings – he’d have to be to have made a fortune considering where he started out – but he’s clearly a very different man to the one Hannah had expected, given everything she’d read about him in the scandal sheets. In addition to the romance, there’s a nicely developed secondary plotline in which Ross suspects that Hannah might be a spy working for the East India Company, one of his main business rivals; and a look at the effects and intrusiveness of gossip – something not limited to the 21st century – as we discover why Ross is so steadfast in his determination never to respond to the accusations that are regularly thrown at him in the press.
The central characters are both very well-rounded, with Ross definitely being the star of the show. He’s pulled himself out of the gutter through sheer determination and hard work, but hasn’t become overly hard or cynical; and although Hannah is a little harder to like because she insists on hanging on to her poor opinions of Ross for longer than she probably should, it does make sense in the context of the story and her character.
There are plenty of sparks between Ross and Hannah, and I really liked the way his gently teasing manner – he nicknames her “Prim” – and his willingness to listen to her and take her ideas seriously are shown to be instrumental in the progress of the friendship that develops between them. The romance grows out of that friendship as they begin to understand more about each other and there’s a real sense of warmth and affection to all aspects of their relationship. In fact, the only thing I can really find to criticise in the book is the false note which is struck towards the end, when Hannah takes a highly improbable course of action following Ross’s discovery of her true identity.
But all in all, That Despicable Rogue is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I’d definitely recommend to others. In my Best of 2016 post at All About Romance, I mentioned that I’d discovered some very good new authors during the course of the year; K.C Bateman and Cat Sebastian were two, and Virginia Heath is another. Harlequin Historical has some of the best writers of historical romance around on its roster and Ms. Heath is definitely one of their strongest recent finds.
Virginia Heath registered on my radar when her début novel came out in the Spring of 2016, but I didn’t manage to get around to reading it. I did, however, pick up her next book, Her Enemy at the Altar, and enjoyed it very much – on the strength of that one book, I decided I had a new author to follow by virtue of the fact that Ms. Heath’s writing is accomplished, her characterisation is strong and she has a knack for humour and good dialogue. I finally got around to reading That Despicable Rogue and was pleased to discover that it’s every bit as well-written as her other books, and that had I not known in advance that it was her first published novel, I would never have discerned that from reading it, as it’s a very confident piece of work.
Seven years before the story begins, and in the wake of an unpleasant scandal, Lady Hannah Steers was banished from London and sent to live with her two aunts in Yorkshire by her brother, the Earl of Runcorn. At the time, he promised he would recall her to London once the gossip had died down, but somehow that never happened, and Hannah has remained in Yorkshire, her life a never-ending stream of monotony so dull that it’s almost debilitating.
Several years later, Hannah learns that her brother is dead. Having lost his entire fortune and the family home at the gaming tables, he then proceeded to blow his brains out and has left his sister with nothing. She hears that his opponent was one Ross Jameson, a man whose name appears regularly in the scandal sheets which gleefully report his exploits with women and any number of other unsavoury facts about his debauched existence. He’s a self-made man, which means he is looked down on by the great and the good, but his immense wealth cannot be ignored and he is admitted – if not welcomed – almost everywhere. Hannah is sure that a man of his reputation cannot possibly have beaten her brother fairly, and is convinced he must have cheated – but she has no way to prove it. Until, that is, she learns that, over a year since he won the place, Jameson is going to open up Barchester Hall, meaning that he will need to recruit more staff. Hannah has remained in touch with the cook, and with her help, secures the position of housekeeper, intending to use her access to all areas of the house to search through Jameson’s papers to see if she can find evidence to support her theory that he cheated her brother.
Ross Jameson has worked incredibly hard to achieve success and to make something of himself. The son of a criminal, Ross grew up in abject poverty alongside his mother and younger sister, who both suffered at the hands of his father, a gambler and drunkard. Determined to protect them both, Ross did what needed to be done when he had to, and since establishing himself in business, has taken good care of the ladies in his life, setting them up with a comfortable establishment in the country. He is opening up Barchester Hall now because it’s close to London and he knows his sister will soon want to come to town to enjoy the season.
Ross finds his new housekeeper a bit baffling – she’s the one woman he doesn’t seem able to charm with a smile or a quip – but she’s efficient and he is impressed with the improvements and alterations she suggests. And there’s something about her that makes him want to break through the barrier of frostiness she is so determined to maintain.
While she wants to continue to believe all the salacious gossip printed about Ross and is determined to prove him the worst kind of villain, Hannah can’t ignore the evidence of kindness and good-nature with which she is presented every day, or the inconvenient stirrings of attraction she is beginning to feel for him. She stubbornly tries to maintain her belief in his underhandedness, but knows she’s fighting a losing battle. Ross is an honourable, kind-hearted man who is fiercely protective of those he cares for – and Hannah is falling a little (or a lot) more in love every day.
The set-up is a fairly familiar one, but Ms. Heath puts a fresh spin on this well-used trope by her pleasantly different portrayal of Ross as a charming, funny, level-headed, all-round decent bloke rather than the sort of darkly brooding, ruthless bastard that is a much more frequent character-type found in this sort of story. Not to say he isn’t ruthless in his business dealings – he’d have to be to have made a fortune considering where he started out – but he’s clearly a very different man to the one Hannah had expected, given everything she’d read about him in the scandal sheets. In addition to the romance, there’s a nicely developed secondary plotline in which Ross suspects that Hannah might be a spy working for the East India Company, one of his main business rivals; and a look at the effects and intrusiveness of gossip – something not limited to the 21st century – as we discover why Ross is so steadfast in his determination never to respond to the accusations that are regularly thrown at him in the press.
The central characters are both very well-rounded, with Ross definitely being the star of the show. He’s pulled himself out of the gutter through sheer determination and hard work, but hasn’t become overly hard or cynical; and although Hannah is a little harder to like because she insists on hanging on to her poor opinions of Ross for longer than she probably should, it does make sense in the context of the story and her character.
There are plenty of sparks between Ross and Hannah, and I really liked the way his gently teasing manner – he nicknames her “Prim” – and his willingness to listen to her and take her ideas seriously are shown to be instrumental in the progress of the friendship that develops between them. The romance grows out of that friendship as they begin to understand more about each other and there’s a real sense of warmth and affection to all aspects of their relationship. In fact, the only thing I can really find to criticise in the book is the false note which is struck towards the end, when Hannah takes a highly improbable course of action following Ross’s discovery of her true identity.
But all in all, That Despicable Rogue is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I’d definitely recommend to others. In my Best of 2016 post at All About Romance, I mentioned that I’d discovered some very good new authors during the course of the year; K.C Bateman and Cat Sebastian were two, and Virginia Heath is another. Harlequin Historical has some of the best writers of historical romance around on its roster and Ms. Heath is definitely one of their strongest recent finds.
January 30, 2017
After reading Virginia Heath's A Discerning Gentleman's Guide and absolutely loving it, I added everything from Heath's short backlist to my pile (she is a relatively new author which is impressive because her ability to create layered characters is superb).
That Despicable Rogue is Heath's debut novel and one I greatly enjoyed, though not as much as A Discerning Gentleman's Guide. In this novel, the heroine, Hannah pretends to be a housekeeper for the hero, Ross, so she can gather dirt on him in order to avenge her brother's death. Things are dark and messy at the beginning of the book where Ross ends up winning the deed to a house in a card game and the losing man commits suicide at the club. The book then picks up almost a year later when Hannah forges some references and leans on her old friend to get her hired as a housekeeper for her ancestral home, the same home that she believe Ross stole from her brother and caused him to kill himself.
As a reader, we know some truths, but for the most part, things are revealed to us in layers, much as Ross and Hannah learn more about each other. This complex layering of the characters was also present in Heath's other book and if this ability to create fully-fleshed, flawed characters is a trademark of hers, then consider me an auto-buy fan of hers forever.
This story mostly takes place in the ancestral home as Hannah helps Ross restore the place while still conducting her furtive search for his "dark secrets." As her quest for dirt continues to fail and she only sees Ross' kindness, fairness, and humor, she begins to doubt her preconceived notions and slowly opens up to him. I loved Ross from the get-go, but Hannah was harder to like. She clung to her assumptions to the bitter end and even slept with Ross without telling him the truth. Her persistent lying is what kept this book from being a full 5 stars. Additionally, the ending is really dramatic and over the top which jarred with the slower pace of the rest of the book. Despite these quibbles, this is still an excellent read. Heath does a great job building a character-driven story and I appreciate how well she has her characters explain themselves. Even when they do stupid things, I still understand why, and that is awesome.
I look forward to my next book by Heath. I am so pumped she has several releases slotted for 2017.
That Despicable Rogue is Heath's debut novel and one I greatly enjoyed, though not as much as A Discerning Gentleman's Guide. In this novel, the heroine, Hannah pretends to be a housekeeper for the hero, Ross, so she can gather dirt on him in order to avenge her brother's death. Things are dark and messy at the beginning of the book where Ross ends up winning the deed to a house in a card game and the losing man commits suicide at the club. The book then picks up almost a year later when Hannah forges some references and leans on her old friend to get her hired as a housekeeper for her ancestral home, the same home that she believe Ross stole from her brother and caused him to kill himself.
As a reader, we know some truths, but for the most part, things are revealed to us in layers, much as Ross and Hannah learn more about each other. This complex layering of the characters was also present in Heath's other book and if this ability to create fully-fleshed, flawed characters is a trademark of hers, then consider me an auto-buy fan of hers forever.
This story mostly takes place in the ancestral home as Hannah helps Ross restore the place while still conducting her furtive search for his "dark secrets." As her quest for dirt continues to fail and she only sees Ross' kindness, fairness, and humor, she begins to doubt her preconceived notions and slowly opens up to him. I loved Ross from the get-go, but Hannah was harder to like. She clung to her assumptions to the bitter end and even slept with Ross without telling him the truth. Her persistent lying is what kept this book from being a full 5 stars. Additionally, the ending is really dramatic and over the top which jarred with the slower pace of the rest of the book. Despite these quibbles, this is still an excellent read. Heath does a great job building a character-driven story and I appreciate how well she has her characters explain themselves. Even when they do stupid things, I still understand why, and that is awesome.
I look forward to my next book by Heath. I am so pumped she has several releases slotted for 2017.
August 2, 2017
It was a pleasant story with solid writing, nice MC's and some misunderstandings. (She did all the running in the end, and he played the offended BF.) Not one for my keeper shelf but an easy enough way to spend an afternoon.
December 12, 2023
Jaukiai praleistas laikas su knyga pasinėrus į XIX a. pradžios Anglijos gyvenimą. Tiek visko pripainiota, visokių paslapčių ir nutylėjimų, kurių fone vystosi meilės istorija. O ar apsimetinėjant ir nutylint tiesą santykiai gali klostytis sėkmingai?
December 10, 2017
I wonder if there was a sale on purple waistcoats or if they're reusing them for this author's covers.
Anywho, this book had its moments, but the steam ran out about two thirds of the way through. I liked the setup and the initial tension between the characters. But the heroine went on believing every bad thing about the hero, even though she herself witnessed his saintly behaviour day in and day out. It's especially galling since she of all people should know what it's like to be tainted with lies and rumours that are untrue.
But the writing was good. I like this author.
Anywho, this book had its moments, but the steam ran out about two thirds of the way through. I liked the setup and the initial tension between the characters. But the heroine went on believing every bad thing about the hero, even though she herself witnessed his saintly behaviour day in and day out. It's especially galling since she of all people should know what it's like to be tainted with lies and rumours that are untrue.
But the writing was good. I like this author.
June 4, 2016
A light romance that has an undercover heroine trying to win back her family home. Cute and easy read - maybe a little slow at times.
Review coming
Review coming
dnf
April 2, 2018Maybe I have become pickier lately but the moment the hero kissed our heroine, while still thinking she was his housekeeper, I said NOPE. Especially since she clearly said NO. I don't care how charming he is and that she enjoyed it in the end. It feels wrong, even if it was normal in that time..
June 10, 2020
4 stars. Cute, sweet, well-written. Exactly what you will think will happen based on the description, and such a lovely trip through the details and story.
January 2, 2024
Loved the open mindedness of FMC Hannah but at the same time I hated how frequently the characters jump to conclusions.
May 16, 2016
Lady Hannah Steers is on a mission! She is pretty sure that the man who now owns her family home, is responsible for her brother's death and he must be a terrible person! She passes herself off as a housekeeper to gain access to the home and to her target. She must find a way to get him charged with something. Anything really, as long as she can then buy back her home.
Mr. Ross Jameson is doing his best to put down some roots. He comes from the streets and has made himself one of the richest and most successful businessmen in London . but he would like to have his sister and mother with him. Just not London, it is too dangerous for a young woman to live there, so he decides to make over a house he won in a card game.
I really loved this story! Lady Hannah is a stick in the mud for a housekeeper! The interaction between her and Mr. Jameson is hilarious! I liked that he enjoyed poking fun at her. Since he was not born to the aristocracy, he feels no compunction in pushing her buttons until she cracks. He even calls her "Prim" since she is always so prim and proper! He knows she is lying, but he thinks she is maybe a spy for The East India Company, who is his direct business rival.
The writing is fun and light. It was a fast read, but I will add this to my re-read list! Great characters always bring me back. I'm going to look for more by this author as well!
I received copy of this title for my honest review from The Romance Review
Mr. Ross Jameson is doing his best to put down some roots. He comes from the streets and has made himself one of the richest and most successful businessmen in London . but he would like to have his sister and mother with him. Just not London, it is too dangerous for a young woman to live there, so he decides to make over a house he won in a card game.
I really loved this story! Lady Hannah is a stick in the mud for a housekeeper! The interaction between her and Mr. Jameson is hilarious! I liked that he enjoyed poking fun at her. Since he was not born to the aristocracy, he feels no compunction in pushing her buttons until she cracks. He even calls her "Prim" since she is always so prim and proper! He knows she is lying, but he thinks she is maybe a spy for The East India Company, who is his direct business rival.
The writing is fun and light. It was a fast read, but I will add this to my re-read list! Great characters always bring me back. I'm going to look for more by this author as well!
I received copy of this title for my honest review from The Romance Review
January 18, 2018
There was a lot to like about this book, and a lot to dislike.
Ross Jameson is a bit of a rogue, very charming, flirtatious, and all too clever by half. He was good fun, and his cocksure attitude and ungentlemanly behaviour was really fun to read. I delighted in his trying to rattle Lady Hannah, in her disguise as Mrs Preston - or as he dubbed, Prim. Lady Hannah though, took a while to warm to. I had to place myself in her shoes: would I react the same way she did on being told unpleasant truths? Yes.
Nevertheless, for someone who was quite sharp (she'd have to be if she could pick up on how Ross liked his tea and what things he needed to be able to distract himself from work), Lady Hannah didn't assess what she saw with what she knew. It bothered me that the both of them could argue with each another and know what it was like to not be believed, and then not give the other space to disclose things with each other. It was so true to life, it annoyed me!
There were a couple of other things too, but I'm too tired to figure them out presently. It was a good read, but there were a few choices taken that kinda threw me.
Ross Jameson is a bit of a rogue, very charming, flirtatious, and all too clever by half. He was good fun, and his cocksure attitude and ungentlemanly behaviour was really fun to read. I delighted in his trying to rattle Lady Hannah, in her disguise as Mrs Preston - or as he dubbed, Prim. Lady Hannah though, took a while to warm to. I had to place myself in her shoes: would I react the same way she did on being told unpleasant truths? Yes.
Nevertheless, for someone who was quite sharp (she'd have to be if she could pick up on how Ross liked his tea and what things he needed to be able to distract himself from work), Lady Hannah didn't assess what she saw with what she knew. It bothered me that the both of them could argue with each another and know what it was like to not be believed, and then not give the other space to disclose things with each other. It was so true to life, it annoyed me!
There were a couple of other things too, but I'm too tired to figure them out presently. It was a good read, but there were a few choices taken that kinda threw me.
May 19, 2016
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the hero is fascinating, and it was interesting to watch the heroine fall in love with him in spite of herself. She was a bit foolish, but that was necessary for the narrative. The plot is different than your typical historical, as the heroine pretends to be a housekeeper to get revenge on the hero. It was a quick read, and I definitely recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the hero is fascinating, and it was interesting to watch the heroine fall in love with him in spite of herself. She was a bit foolish, but that was necessary for the narrative. The plot is different than your typical historical, as the heroine pretends to be a housekeeper to get revenge on the hero. It was a quick read, and I definitely recommend it.
May 5, 2016
I won this book from a goodreads giveaway and I am sure glad I did! I devoured this book in one sitting! The Despicable Rogue is filled with such passionate characters that you can't help but fall in love with them. The story line has many twists and turns that just kept making me turn the page to find out what happened next! I would highly recommend this book for those who love a good passionate historical romance.
May 13, 2016
That Despicable Rogue by Virgina Heath is a regency story that is a love story but an adventure as well. It is well written with attention to details. It goes into how life was for a woman that is born into the upper society and how she felt about things that happen. This story grasp your attention and keeps you involved from start to finish. Looking forward to reading more by Virgina Heath.
July 10, 2019
I bought this book as part of a bundle which included Her Enemy At The Altar.
I wish the h could have been less judgemental. Other than that, I think this was an okay read, good for light reading and to pass the time without too much angst.
Unfortunately I left off writing a review immediately after finishing this book and can't remember much of the details to write a more comprehensive review. But the sentiment remains 3 stars.
I wish the h could have been less judgemental. Other than that, I think this was an okay read, good for light reading and to pass the time without too much angst.
Unfortunately I left off writing a review immediately after finishing this book and can't remember much of the details to write a more comprehensive review. But the sentiment remains 3 stars.
November 5, 2020
Fun, but...
This is the first time I have felt a little uncomfortable with any of Heath's books. Normally her heroes are unfailingly respectful, and ALWAYS listen when the heroine says "no" or "stop"--even when it appears to him or to the reader that in fact she does not want him to stop--not so with this hero. Compared to other authors, the rapiness factor in this book was mild, but it was enough to put me off.
This is the first time I have felt a little uncomfortable with any of Heath's books. Normally her heroes are unfailingly respectful, and ALWAYS listen when the heroine says "no" or "stop"--even when it appears to him or to the reader that in fact she does not want him to stop--not so with this hero. Compared to other authors, the rapiness factor in this book was mild, but it was enough to put me off.
May 19, 2016
Extremely enjoyable and well written book, with a likable heroine and hero and just enough spice to keep things interesting. Was well paced and had enough twists and depth to keep the reader hooked and hoping for a happy ending. I highly recommend the book for any one who is a historical puff, or anyone who just wants a good fun read.
June 6, 2016
A friend recommended this book. It is by a new author and I will admit I was a bit dubious because of that- however, I loved every second of it. Hannah and Ross are two delightful characters, their banter is witty, and the story is fast-paced. I absolutely loved the ending...
March 20, 2017
Literally just finished reading this again completely adore this book definitely found another author among many that I utterly love reading, the romance the fun, the cheekiness of the Rogue in question. Brilliant thank you Virginia xx
April 28, 2016
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
May 4, 2016
An enjoyable read.
July 21, 2017
An excellent debut by Heath.
Ross Jameson started with nothing. Born in the gutters, he and his family scraped by for years, but due to his skill with numbers and investments, he is now an extremely wealthy man. One night, he gambles with the Earl of Runcorn who puts up his ancestral home, Barchester Hall during their play. Runcorn loses, and, facing total ruin, he shoots himself. A year later, Ross decides to move into Barchester Hall with his mother and sister but needs to renovate it and hire staff first. His new housekeeper is one Hannah Preston aka Lady Hannah Steers aka Runcorn's sister.
Hannah does not like Ross. She blames him for ruining her brother and is bound and determined to see Ross ruined and her home restored. Years ago, she was at the center of a massive, but fake, scandal, and was banished to the countryside to live with her spinster aunts. With the death of her brother and the loss of her home, Hannah feels like she has lost absolutely everything and needs to get something back.
This is a classic enemies to lovers story. Hannah hates Ross to begin with because he is, in her eyes, the reason for all of her troubles. If she can get one over on him, everything will be fine again. Ross in turn doesn't like Hannah because she hates him for no reason, but is also attracted to her and wants to make her like him. I enjoyed them slowly changing their opinions of one another, and I always like a story where the hero does more of the chasing than the heroine. The sexual tension and the sexual scenes were also very good.
Ross was a great hero in every way. He's a wonderful partner for Hannah, and a caring man in general who is always willing to help someone. I loved his dialogue; he was very witty and funny, definitely a real charmer. I also enjoyed Hannah. Heath did a good job of making her prickly towards Ross while also showing her good heart around other people. She definitely grew over the course of the novel and realized that so much of what she thought was a lie.
This was definitely a strong first novel by Virginia Heath, and I recommend this and her other books, all of which I have enjoyed.
Ross Jameson started with nothing. Born in the gutters, he and his family scraped by for years, but due to his skill with numbers and investments, he is now an extremely wealthy man. One night, he gambles with the Earl of Runcorn who puts up his ancestral home, Barchester Hall during their play. Runcorn loses, and, facing total ruin, he shoots himself. A year later, Ross decides to move into Barchester Hall with his mother and sister but needs to renovate it and hire staff first. His new housekeeper is one Hannah Preston aka Lady Hannah Steers aka Runcorn's sister.
Hannah does not like Ross. She blames him for ruining her brother and is bound and determined to see Ross ruined and her home restored. Years ago, she was at the center of a massive, but fake, scandal, and was banished to the countryside to live with her spinster aunts. With the death of her brother and the loss of her home, Hannah feels like she has lost absolutely everything and needs to get something back.
This is a classic enemies to lovers story. Hannah hates Ross to begin with because he is, in her eyes, the reason for all of her troubles. If she can get one over on him, everything will be fine again. Ross in turn doesn't like Hannah because she hates him for no reason, but is also attracted to her and wants to make her like him. I enjoyed them slowly changing their opinions of one another, and I always like a story where the hero does more of the chasing than the heroine. The sexual tension and the sexual scenes were also very good.
Ross was a great hero in every way. He's a wonderful partner for Hannah, and a caring man in general who is always willing to help someone. I loved his dialogue; he was very witty and funny, definitely a real charmer. I also enjoyed Hannah. Heath did a good job of making her prickly towards Ross while also showing her good heart around other people. She definitely grew over the course of the novel and realized that so much of what she thought was a lie.
This was definitely a strong first novel by Virginia Heath, and I recommend this and her other books, all of which I have enjoyed.
September 21, 2022
Very promising story of a woman completely betrayed by her brother who seeks vengeance on the man who won their home in a card game. Both Ross and Hannah are interesting, likeable characters. Ross is a self made man in a social hierarchy that only respects his money. Hannah is forever shamed by a fiancée who publicly jilted her. The supporting characters are wonderful, Reggie the rescued former prizefighter, Ross’s business partner, the Captain, and Cook, the devoted supporter of Lady Hannah.
What kept the story from being as satisfying as it could have been were the places where the plot seemed a bit out. Lady Hannah swimming in the nude made me feel she was reckless. The fact that she never considered the impact of her lying to Ross was annoying. I mean, who would trust such a woman? She never seemed to struggle with her prejudices and actions, only on getting (repeatedly) caught. She doesn’t seem very bright. The fact that Ross could forgive her publicly in spite of all made me cringe a bit. She does seem ruthless to him, if kind to Reggie. But the structure of a good story is there.
What kept the story from being as satisfying as it could have been were the places where the plot seemed a bit out. Lady Hannah swimming in the nude made me feel she was reckless. The fact that she never considered the impact of her lying to Ross was annoying. I mean, who would trust such a woman? She never seemed to struggle with her prejudices and actions, only on getting (repeatedly) caught. She doesn’t seem very bright. The fact that Ross could forgive her publicly in spite of all made me cringe a bit. She does seem ruthless to him, if kind to Reggie. But the structure of a good story is there.
January 7, 2022
It would have been a four star read if Hannah had not been so thick-headed until the end. She had proof time and again that Ross was a kind-hearted man, yet she continued to believe that he could still be a cad and she deceived him until the end. If you decide to read this story, you will see that Hannah not only witnesses his kindness, but is told by numerous people, yet she continues to lie and scheme. Badly done Hannah, badly done.
Hannah aside, this was a good story and the writing was engaging. This is the third novel I have read by Heath, and I look forward to reading more of her works.
Hannah aside, this was a good story and the writing was engaging. This is the third novel I have read by Heath, and I look forward to reading more of her works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2020
Extremely well written and interesting Historical romance/drama. The Historical details were nicely done and I felt I was back there with the characters. A very pleasant read with a slow burn romance and a couple of steamy scenes. There were several side characters, but the story itself was mostly centred on the H/h. Ross grew up on the streets of London and is a self made business man, Hannah is the outcast sister of an earl who lands a job as Ross's housekeeper. I'll be reading more from this author.
June 4, 2017
I just want to say, I love good guys. Like, why do we always need brooding assholes to be our heroes? What's wrong with a hero just being a good person? I loved Ross. I want one of him for my own.
Would probably have given it 5 stars, but the end didn't totally work for me, and I REALLY wanted an epilogue. (It drives me crazy when they don't have one!)
Would probably have given it 5 stars, but the end didn't totally work for me, and I REALLY wanted an epilogue. (It drives me crazy when they don't have one!)
July 10, 2017
This book has it all. A likeable heroine, a gorgeous hero and a pace that will keep you reading and putting off everything else. The conversations that bounce back and forth between the hero and heroine are filled with humour and emotion. Ross is more of a gentlemen than most of the ton and as such it was a great twist.
September 26, 2019
This book was really good. I loved the characters, and I loved the story. It was a little predictable, but let's be honest...some of our favorites can tend to be predictable. I will still read this book again because the characters are so easy to relate to and to love. It definitely will get at least one more read from me!
~HelplessRomantic
~HelplessRomantic
October 11, 2021
Heart warming emotional story and lovely writing ,so bad that the end was rushed and the h character exaggerated ...she makes the same mistakes on and on and keeps apologising...too repetitive that it became unbelievable for the story.
December 21, 2021
Intrigos, kerštas, nepasitikėjimas ir meilė. Knyga tokia, kokios ir buvo galima tikėtis, lengva, greit perskaitoma ir manau greit pamirštama, bet mane žavi tokios istorinės detalės, kurios įpintos į tokias lengvas meilės istorijas. Senas dvaras, pūstos suknelės, ledi ir džentelmenai.. :)
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