The Last Heiress

The Friarsgate Inheritance #4

by Bertrice Small

The "reigning queen of romance, New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small concludes her acclaimed saga of Rosamund Bolton and her daughters with this tale of passion, intrigue, and seduction set against the glorious backdrop of King Henry's court....

Elizabeth Meredith, the youngest daughter of Rosamund Bolton, is nothing like her sensible sisters. Impatient with fancy manners, the young beauty has shunned the royal court in favor of a quiet life at Friarsgate. But to protect the future of the land she loves, she must venture into the court of King Henry VIII to find a suitable husband.

Elizabeth soon scandalizes the court by forging a friendship with Anne Boleyn and flirting with Flynn Stewart, bastard brother to King James V of Scotland. But, as she has always known, her fate lies back at Friarsgate, where a weakness for Scots sends her into the strong arms of Baen MacColl. Yet Elizabeth's greatest passion is for her lands, and Baen's loyalties may lie elsewhere. Can Elizabeth and Baen overcome the barriers threatening to separate them? And can Elizabeth, by following her heart, still protect Friarsgate?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Scotland, M F Romance, Audiobook

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.

Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.

Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love this particular author's voice, style, and detail to try and bring you right into the story. I also enjoyed how it showed everyone's thoughts; although, I did not like that it skips around too much on who is thinking what. On several occasions I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs once I realized it switched. I wasn't a fan of how moody all of the women seem to be, where the men where so understanding and calm. The overall charactors' loyalty to their families and land was comforting and the history of that time period was fun and refreshing. This is a novel that someday I may enjoy reading again in the future.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

the last book in the friarsgate series. Did not disapoint.

[Vanessa Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good beach read. A little more stock than Danielle Steel, but just as light. I enjoyed the comnnections to the Tudor period and Anne Boleyn.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. It is the last book in the series. Read the whole series and you will enjoy it.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth is most like her mother, a strong. self assured and confident woman. I enjoyed the beginning of the book more than the end. Also Elizabeth threw a 2 month tantrum that ended in seconds, that felt out of character. A large part of the story is focused on the court and Anne Boleyn. I enjoyed Friarsgate more and wished there was more of that.

[Sharon A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out with such promise, the story of an English heiress and her hunt for a husband. The pheripheral storyline of King Henry and Anne Boleyn had no bearing except to make the story about 150 pages too long.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

I enjoyed reading the last heiresses. It kept my attention and was easy to read. Good romance as well would recommend

[AND 1515 · Rating 5 out of 5]

By and1515
Bertrice Small...


She was the youngest of Rosamund's daughters and most of the time she dependable, reasonable, and the most level headed of them all.
But now she was told she needed a husband however she totally found the idea repulsive a man would try to take over.
And besides she and her older sister didn't get along they were total opposites and she rubbed her the wrong way.
While she never wanted to leave her home but to be honest her time at court was well worth it.
However she wasn't sad when she left either.
Baen MacColl had journed to Friarsgate for their famous sheep not the Heiress.
However he couldn't help but notice just how stunning it's master truly was.
He was his father's oldest son his wooden colt but never his heir; he had nothing to offer he lived under his father's banner and have him his unwavering loyalty.
A moment of sheer madness that's what it had to be to act so out of character for her.
But seriously he left she'd honestly thought after all their loving together that he would choose her.
But no he kept spouting nonsense about how his father deserved his loyalty.
Of all the stupid things her family could do was to drag that fool all the way back just because he left a little something behind.
Baen knew the lass was anything but happy to see him again however there was no choice.
Even signing the contract confirming get role as the one and only true master over her land did little to ease her ire.
However when push meets shove will he finally be able to say the words his dear Elizabeth needs to be able to forgive him.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Elizabeth Meredith & Baen McColl. Elizabeth is the heiress of Friarsgate & she is 22 and in need of a husband. Everyone decides this can only happen at court, despite that not working for her older sister (Philippa) So against her her will Elizabeth is hauled off to the court of Henry VIII which is in the midst of his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Before she leaves she meets Baen, but he isn't really suitable because he is the bastard son of a Highlander. He knows this, she knows this so they part.
Elizabeth spends a month at court & becomes close friends with Anne Boleyn. Then she heads back home having not made any attempt to find a husband because the men she's met are not what she is looking for. She needs a countryman who will work alongside her & let her stay in charge. She goes back to Friarsgate & Baen comes back into her life. Relationship drama ensues but Baen has the fairly unique distinction of being the only man in Elizabeth's live.
Small likes to kill off her heroes. They die in battle, from falling off horses or out of apple trees, are stabbed by former lovers, catch sweating sickness, etc etc. It never does to get attached to the first Small hero because very likely there will be a second or even a third. In the case of Skye O'Malley there was a fourth and a fifth. However, this is actually true to the period.
As always there were wonderful descriptions of the setting, the clothes and the food.

[Colette · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Heiress was a good, quick read but left much to be desired. While it had been awhile since I read the other three books in this series, I felt like the plot was mainly a an updates on what other family members were doing now, and oh yea, there's supposed to be a romance in here somewhere thrown in. The point I'm trying to make is that there was so much focus on previous storylines that the two main characters never really blossomed, and one never got really care if they got together or not.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really used to like Bertrice Small books, but the last few that I read have been really kind of disappointing. There has been nothing overly wrong with them, they are all the historically accurate smut that they claim to be, but there has not been anything gripping about them. The romances has been bland and the story lines have been boring. I don't know if her writing has been getting worse as time goes on or if I just read all of her good books first, but I am not really enjoying them anymore.

[Linette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really, really good!! Elizabeth is such a head-strong character. But, I got so mad at her when she refused to forgive Baen for leaving her!! I got very irritated
It was such fun to read another beautifully written book by Bertrice Small. A great finish to The Friarsgate Inheritance series. I loved, loved it!!

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of the Friarsgate Inheritance series, I found this book almost "lacking" in depth and detail as her first three of the series. That being said, I still enjoyed it, but it almost felt like the author just wanted to get the story done and move on to other work. But don't miss reading it, still a good read!

[Trudi Jorda · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK-- I admit it-- I did not finish this book!I did read over 100 pages and found this to be boring as all get out-- Not one of her better efforts! Strong intelligent woman who is afraid of life-- at least of the normal variety. Won't waste time on spoilers cause I would not reccomend this book-- and I tried on 3 different occasions.

[Judith Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Heiress

The last Bolton of Friarsgate didn't want to go to court or get married. All she wanted to do was to take care of her lands and her people. However her mother stated that she must marry and have a child to protect the Inheritance. So to court she went and had no luck at all. Her fate and future lay on the Scots side of the border with a Scots Highlander.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bertrice Small is very good at what she does, and that is writing romance novels in an historical setting. Was it great fiction? No. Was it a great read? Yeah! I sat by the pool and devoured it in a day.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book prior to any other in the series.

For my full review see my blog:
http://babblingboutbooks.blogspot.ca/2012/05/review-last-heiress.html

[Vivian Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done with this book and I liked reading it!Baen is now in my imagination.My peeve with this book was the authors' need to retell the full account of a tale over and over again through out the book. Love this story , read it for yourself!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tudor era romance with sizzle. This is the final book in the Friarsgate series. I liked the first and this one best. I liked the different view of Anne Boylin and the lifestyle of the borderlands during that time period.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a lot of repetition in this novel. Not Ms. Small's best.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bertrice Small's books are always good reads. She is rather redundant in "setting the stage", but she does incorporate actual historical people and events.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit predictable but still an enjoyable read

[*~VAMPKISS~* Angel of the night · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was ok but it dont beat the first book there is alot about reputation in this book and family history but it was a good book and good ending

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. But why do all the women feel the need to man hate on their true love before finding out they really love them, lol.

[Mahal Mo Ü · Rating 4 out of 5]

:)

[Chapell Sears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite heroine of the series. I love the writing and the characters. Great job, Mrs. Small!

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at page 214. Absolutely nothing happened in this book. I couldn't finish it was almost impossible to force my eyes to stay on the page.

[Amily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very descriptive.

[Greyland Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I liked how this series ended. My favorite books were first and this one. The other two were okay and we got flash backs from The Kadin .

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review pending!