A Warriner to Protect Her

The Wild Warriners #1

by Virginia Heath

An heiress in distress and an earl in disgrace...

When heiress Violet Dunston escapes from an abduction, she finds an unlikely protector in Jack Warriner--a member of one of England's most infamous families. Ensconced with mysterious Jack behind his manor's walls, soon escape is the last thing on Letty's mind!

Jack may be an earl, but his father's exploits have left him with nothing to offer except a tarnished name. He's turned his back on the ton, but with Letty tempting him day and night, he finds himself contemplating the unthinkable--a society marriage!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Harlequin

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2017

About the author

When 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

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have much to say about this book. Abducted heiress that was being forced into an unwanted marriage. Poor but proud Jack who finds and helps Letty hide until her 21 birthday and she can inherit her fortune. Skimmed a bit. Likable side characters that are well fleshed out.

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently read and enjoyed Her Enemy at the Altar, I was keen to read more of Virginia Heath’s books. I have a fondness for family orientated books and so I was delighted to discover that her new Wild Warriners series features four brothers. Jack, the eldest, is a proud man used to hard work and being in control; Jamie, a former soldier, has been left both physically and emotionally scarred; Joe, whose dream is to be a doctor; roguish Jacob, the youngest, who has a penchant for the ladies and reading society gossip columns. A Warriner to Protect Her is Jack’s story.

…history is peppered with infamous, and decidedly slippery, Warriners.

Jack’s father, The Earl of Markham, only compounded that reputation by being a violent, morally corrupt, drunken, vile scoundrel, who never paid his debts. On his death, the twenty-year-old Jack inherits a crumbling manor house, a run-down estate, crippling debts, a tarnished title, and a family reputation further debased by his father’s dishonourable behaviour. During the seven years since his father’s death, Jack assumed responsibility for raising his three younger brothers and, virtually penniless, they have been forced to work the land themselves, just earning enough money to keep a roof over their heads. Jack’s attempts to rebuild the family’s reputation among the locals have met with little success and he fears that, even if they had the money to pay their wages, none of the villagers would ever trust a Warriner.

20-year-old Violet (Letty) Dunston is the darling of society, both beautiful and wealthy…a diamond of the first water. Her parents were killed in a carriage accident three years earlier, and the huge fortune the Dunston family made as tea importers was left in trust until she reaches her 21st birthday in just over a month’s time. After her parents’ death, her uncle became her legal guardian and, although she has never been very close to her him, she always believed he had her best interests at heart, only to discover just how wrong she was. Her uncle is determined to marry her off to the odious Earl of Bainbridge, a gambler and a man old enough to her grandfather. The two men then intend to share her fortune and will go to any lengths to ensure Letty complies with their plans. When she refuses Bainbridge’s marriage proposal, Letty finds herself drugged, bound, gagged and in a carriage on the way to Gretna Green. Knowing that they will not hesitate to kill her once they get what they want, Letty makes a daring escape…

Instinct made her curl into a ball before she hit the ground, to protect her head and her limbs. Still the impact was sheer agony, pushing all of the air out of her lungs and blinding her with pain. Sharp stones embedded themselves in her skin as she rolled; muddy water shot up her nose and seeped through her closed eyelids, stinging them mercilessly.

Ms. Heath certainly captured my attention from the very start with Letty’s dramatic escape from the Earl of Bainbridge and my fondness for unconventional first meetings between the hero and heroine was more than satisfied.

Almost like a ghost, the woman appeared out of the trees. Her skin eerily pale in the flimsy moonlight, hair and thin dress plastered to her body, eyes as wide as saucers as she stared back at him. Then she fled, wet skirts and a pronounced limp hampering her progress.

Of course, Jack’s innate sense of responsibility comes to the fore; he rescues Letty, takes her home and, with Joe’s help, he nurses her back to health. On learning her story, he vows to protect her until it’s time for Letty to return to London to take control of her inheritance.

Although Jack and Letty share a strong attraction, they also have misconceptions about each other. Jack believes that an ‘incomparable’, like Letty, used to beautiful clothes, balls and parties, would never be interested in a country farmer with nothing to offer but a neglected manor house and a family name steeped in notoriety.

Letty had queues of eager, solvent suitors and would never look twice at a humble Warriner for anything more than necessary protection. She was so far out of his league he would need a stepladder to reach her. Perhaps twenty stepladders.

Jack’s overbearing attitude convinces Letty that he sees her as nothing more than a charming, vapid society lady, but this is not who she truly is. Since losing her parents at the age of seventeen, she has effectively been alone in the world, but all society sees is the self-assured heiress, not the lonely, unhappy girl beneath that façade.

“Everybody believes I live this charmed existence. It never occurs to them that I am lonely or that Violet Dunston is a character I play in public. Nobody wants to see the reality of who I actually am. "

Her inheritance will give Letty the independence she longs for; a means of escaping her present life and helping those less fortunate than herself.

When she inadvertently insults Jack, Letty is determined to show him that she is not simply a frivolous, spoiled heiress. So, she toils, cleaning and polishing the neglected rooms and learning how to cook decent meals for the brothers. Now, at this point, I was willing to suspend disbelief and accept that Letty could become both a proficient housekeeper and accomplished cook in such a short space of time, mainly because of how she describes her first effort at cooking –

Far from being in a sea of thick, delicious sauce, her fowl à la Braise was now floating in a stagnant pond in the middle of a heatwave.

and the deliciously sensuous ‘chandelier incident’.

I enjoyed seeing their misconceptions gradually dispelled. Letty sees Jack’s strength, determination and self-sacrifice in not abandoning his brothers, while Jack recognises Letty’s courage, resilience, kindness and how her presence has made Markham Hall a real home.

Ms. Heath successfully builds the sexual tension throughout story,and it is only on their journey to London that Jack and Letty finally make love, in a scene that is both tender and sensual.

I adore the Warriner brothers and the love they share is evident to see. They are fiercely loyal and protective of each other and, when danger threatens, they will always be there for each other, as the villains find out to their cost.

“Did the fools not realise? When you mess with one Warriner, you mess with us all.”

I love how Letty captures the hearts of the brothers, especially Jamie. I have a soft spot for troubled heroes and was immediately drawn to Jamie and it is lovely to see the rapport between Letty and this normally taciturn man, and I also enjoyed the way Jamie teases Jack about Lettie. Obviously, I am looking forward to reading Jamie’s story in A Warriner to Rescue Her.

MY VERDICT: A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER is a delightful, witty, entertaining and romantic story and a great start to what promises to be an excellent series. Highly recommended.

Wild Warriners series so far (click on the link for more details):

https://www.goodreads.com/series/1952...


**I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review**


This review was first published on my Rakes and Rascals blog:

https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A Warriner to Protect Her is the first book in Virginia Heath’s new Wild Warriners series which features an impoverished earl and his three younger brothers.  This one is a well-written story and the romance is nicely done; Ms. Heath has the knack of creating strong chemistry between her romantic couples and both central characters are attractive and engaging.  I had a couple of niggles along the way, but nothing that seriously impacted on my enjoyment of the book, which is an entertaining and satisfying read.

Violet Dunston is heiress to the massive fortune amassed by her father in the tea trade, hence her being nicknamed  ‘The Tea Heiress’. Having lost her parents in a tragic accident some years earlier, she was taken in by her uncle, who was appointed her guardian, and has lived in the spotlight of London society, her fortune making her a great prize on the marriage mart.  On her twenty-first birthday, she will come into full possession of her considerable inheritance – an inheritance her uncle wants to get his hands on. He has been trying to persuade her to marry a crony of his, the Earl of Bainbridge, who is old enough to be her father and then some, but she refuses adamantly; and with four weeks to go until her birthday, Bainbridge kidnaps her with the intention of marrying her at Gretna Green and then doing away with her after he’s got control of her money.

Violet – Letty – is, fortunately, not one to give up easily, and manages to escape and elude her captors, running deep into the woods and then stumbling out and in front of a man on horseback before she passes out.

On his way back from the local inn late one night, a slightly inebriated Jack – who is, in fact, the Earl of Markham, but who has no use for his title - is startled when a bedraggled young woman darts into the path of his horse.  She’s in a bad way; her hands are bound and she’s bruised and shaking with the cold, so Jack takes her up in front of him and takes her back to Markham Manor where he quickly marshalls his brothers into service.  His youngest brother, Joe, is the next best thing to a physician they have; he wants to study medicine but Jack cannot afford to send him to university, so instead Joe reads every medical text he can get his hands on.  Between the four of them, they tend to the young woman’s injuries and look after her assiduously for the next few days while her life hangs in the balance.

When Letty starts to recover, she is confused and naturally wary of the fact that she is in a strange house and that she doesn’t know the men who have been taking care of her, so she is selective about what she tells them.  But as she comes to realise that they mean her no harm – and are not in league with her uncle – she tells them the truth; that she needs to stay hidden until her birthday.  Jack and his brothers swear to protect her until she can safely return to London.

Thanks to the underhand dealings and debauched lifestyle of their late father, grandfather and other predecessors, the Warriners are widely disliked and not trusted; even though Jack, Jamie, Jacob and Joe (yes, I admit I rolled my eyes a bit at all the ‘J’ names) are working hard to keep an admittedly ramshackle roof over their heads and support themselves by their labours, old wounds run deep and the local villagers refuse to do business with them.

Jack is proud, reliable and hard-working, which makes him a little unusual in the ranks of historical romance heroes; he’s an earl who does backbreaking work and doesn’t mind getting more than his hands dirty and his boots wet when it comes to rescuing stupid sheep from the mire.  He can’t afford to become distracted by someone like Letty, no matter how lovely she may be.  She’s a diamond of the first water and certainly not for the likes of him… yet he can’t help being fascinated by her.

Jack isn’t like any other man Letty has ever met.  She is well aware that society regards her as a pretty face and a large pile of money rather than an actual person, and the longer she spends holed up with Jack and his brothers, the more of a disconnect she feels between herself - the real Letty - and Violet, the darling of society.  She doesn’t want one of the many gentlemen falling over themselves to charm Violet out of her money, she wants to be Letty, a real person who can live a real life and use her wealth to do some good in the world.  She’s strongly drawn to Jack, to this honourable, kind man who has been a more or less a father to his younger brothers and works tirelessly to provide stability for them.  She senses he is attracted to her, too, but is confused by his blow hot/blow cold attitude; one minute he’s kissing her passionately and the next he’s avoiding her.  Letty knows what she wants, and what she wants is Jack – but he keeps her at a distance, insisting that an impoverished country farmer with nothing but a dilapidated house and a family name steeped in infamy is not good enough for her and is secretly worried that any relationship between them would sour, as happened with his parents.

I’m not a fan of the “I am not worthy!” trope in romance, which is one of the niggles I mentioned at the beginning of this review.  Even if there are good reasons a relationship isn’t a good idea, I still find it somewhat patronising when one character tells another that they don’t know their own mind.  Another niggle is the way in which Letty, who probably doesn’t know one end of a feather duster from another, suddenly becomes a domestic goddess (although not in the kitchen to start with) cleaning all the long-neglected, dusty nooks and crannies with gusto, moving heavy furniture and generally  doing a Snow White on her four not-dwarves.

Those things apart, however, A Warriner to Protect Her is another thoroughly enjoyable historical romance from this talented author.  She keeps the romantic and sexual tension between Letty and Jack simmering along nicely, and the other real highlight of the book is the relationship between the four brothers, who are clearly devoted to one another.  I particularly liked the rather enigmatic Jamie (whose book is up next), a former soldier and spy who was injured in the war and whose gruff manner hides a kind and, I suspect, romantic, soul.  Their close-knit, protectiveness is perfectly summed up by the author: When you mess with one Warriner, you mess with us all.

It’s a great start to the series, and I’m looking forward to more.

[Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is a combination of promising tropes that, unfortunately, fell flat for lack of polish and authorly sophistication.

A Warriner to Protect Her begins with Letty running through the forests of Nottinghamshire, on the run from her murderous uncle. She encounters the Warriner brothers, who are the Regency equivalent of Snow White's Seven Dwarves. With only a month until her majority (and therefore her freedom), Letty camps out in the Warriner's Tudor manor and cooks and cleans for them, amazing them all with her perfection.

Letty, obviously, is kind of a Mary Sue. She's the most beautiful woman in England and she's fabulously wealthy and also an orphan. Her "secret pain" is that in spite of her social importance, she's lonely and has no friends or family—she's therefore really entranced by the four Warriner brothers and their bond. Letty comes across initially as very needy and clueless—she demands special pastries and complains about the disrepair of the house, etc. She's completely unaware that the Warriners have no money for servants or luxury food items, and she acts like a real ass about it until she figures it out. Then she single-handedly cleans the entire house and learns how to cook in a matter of days! And then if you didn't have enough evidence about how much of a Mary Sue she is, Letty also magically tames an evil black horse named Satan.

Jack Warriner, on the other hand, is pretty standard romance novel fare. He's the eldest of the four brothers, and has a lot of responsibility in keeping them all alive. Their feckless father ran up outrageous debts and ruined the family's reputation in the county, so Jack has to work hard to make more money to keep everything running. Not really sure how realistic it is to see an earl plowing fields and shearing sheep, but okay. Also, Jack is resentful that his mother "abandoned" him when she "selfishly" committed suicide after dealing with his father's abuse for nearly two decades. There was a lot of shaming of the mother, and I really didn't care for it—maybe modern authors/readers should have compassion on women of the 18th century, who had little agency and could do little if their husband turned out to be a cruel alcoholic? Anyway.

This all leads to Jack's tragic backstory and his great Man Pain. Jack is convinced he's doomed to die alone because Warriner DNA is cursed, and all he'll ever be is an abusive alcoholic who abuses women and lies to his creditors. Logic, thy name is NOT Jack Warriner. Like, literally, the whole reason Jack refuses to be with Letty is because he feels he has to stay celibate to atone for his parents' fucked-up marriage? Okayyy.

Beyond that, I don't think Virginia Heath is very good at writing in the historical context. The dialogue was very snappy and modern. Letty describes Jack as "swoon-worthy" and when being defiant, she tells him to "Deal with it!" It all felt very jarring. I do understand that what passes as "historically accurate" to the modern reader's ear might not actually be historically accurate, but nevertheless, it is important to cater to reader's expectations to a certain degree. And I have a hard time remembering it's a historical novel if there is zero world-building, and the Mary Sue heroine says things are "blush-worthy". Like...no.

I also think that Heath, like many romance novelists, struggles with what third person limited actually is. Too often, the narration in A Warriner to Protect Her jumps from POV to POV within one scene in a very clunky and technically incorrect manner. It's a thing known to writers as "head-hopping" and it's a sign of a sloppy writing/editing. After writing several books, Heath should have learned to be consistent with character POV within a single scene; at the very least, a skilled editor should have caught it. It's an easy fix. Just don't do it.

But, at the end of the day, Letty and Jack conquer her evil uncle's machinations (he wanted her fortune for himself, obviously), and they ride off happily ever after to beget several more Warriners at their musty Tudor home in the forest. Meanwhile, the sequel-bait brothers loom ominously, and Virginia Heath gets to write three more books so that mission No Warriner Left Behind is accomplished. Hooray!

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[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

New 2025 Review!
I decided this year I was going to have a re-read of one of my favourite series, it was no question that the wonderful, Wild Warriners were going to have a second outing. Good heavens, I had forgotten just how bloody fantastic these books are, and rather surprisingly, I see them in a completely different light than I did in 2017/18, though my love and adoration of the Warriners hasn't dimmed with time; it's intensified.🥰

I didn’t quite ‘see’ how great a hero Jack was the first time around. I think I was blinded by my absolute adoration of Jamie. The second I set eyes on him, I was well and truly hooked like a fish on the line. So, yes, Jack was slightly pushed aside because of my fixation with the captivating Captain Warriner.

But now I am reading this with older (not sure about wiser, that's still up for debate) eyes I now see his complexities, his incredibly character and not just the sexy-as-hell sheep farmer with a nice arse (though he still has a nice arse and well defined arms, and a lovely sculptured chest, and beautiful, beautiful eyes...sigh!). Plus, I adore his wit, the rakish, roguish charm, the devilish seduction

‘Brace yourself, Letty. You are about to be thoroughly ravished.’

Growls!!!🔥

He and Letty are a glorious couple, though I did feel like bashing their heads together, “stop messing about and admit your feelings, you dozy buggers”. This time around, I did see their relationship in a completely different light, and I love what I see. Their story is one full of angst, drama, humour, misunderstandings and a passionate, sensual romance… not to mention a stubborn as hell bloke who can’t seem to see what’s before his eyes.

Jack is great, he’s not just a well-defined arse and well sculptured chest (even though they are very, very nice too), he is so much more than that. He’s determined to lift the tainted reputation, to prove everyone wrong, those who think him and his beautiful brothers are the devils incarnate or scum of the earth, those who wrongly judge them before getting to know the brothers. He wants to prove them all wrong! Jack isn’t naive; he knows that prejudice runs deep, and he understands why, but he and his brothers are cut from a different cloth than his ancestors.

I related to Jack far more than I ever did before, never getting anything on the never, never (anyone remember that term? Basically buy now pay later), always paying for things up front, and if you can’t afford it you don’t get it, hearing the word no on a daily basis  – yup, I know all that well. Jack has got brilliant mindset, he's very down to earth, he won’t even use his title, he is hardworking, relatable and genuine, he is a normal guy just trying to make a living!

“Jack had never asked for hand-outs, and he never would. He toiled and suffered and paid his own debts and stood proudly in front of those who judged him.”

Letty, again, I saw her differently, too. Gone is the brattish heiress, and now I see her for the incredibly likeable and down-to-earth woman she is. I think I was blinded by my own bias, and I’m not sure why I took against Letty all those years ago, but hey,  there you go! Again there is so much of Letty’s characters that resonated with me far more than before; unable to follow a recipe and when you do to all goes belly up, burning basics and serving black/uncooked dinners – yup, again that rings true (and yes I have done just that!) and I loved her sense of humour, which really was borderline perverse and constant thinking about Jacks arse and bulging bits really made me giggle!

“Back, his broad shoulders, the muscles in his arms and his delightfully firm bottom were all studied far more than was really necessary because, it went without saying, they would be seared on her memory forever"

Mine too, Letty, Mine too!!😜

There are so many great one-liners in this, far too many to mention, the brothers all make their voices heard,  but I do love this one, which came from Jamie when he was giving Jack a good old talking to.

“‘That explains it, then. You gave her a show of your raw manliness—women like a bit of the untamed savage in their men. Displays of half-naked brute strength have a tendency to make females swoon. “

As always, whenever I read a Virginia Heath book, I hooted with laughter, and there was some very undignified snorting. I have said it from day one, but I'm going to say it again: she really is the queen of the Regency rom-com. The tongue-in-cheek wit, the banter are second to none. I loved every second, every page, even more than I did in 2017. I loved the chemistry, the passion, the will-they-wont-they, the drama and the finale….phew, I’d forgotten about that…

Just. Too. Good!!

It’s just perfect, and now I'm off to reacquaint myself with my beloved Jamie…..swoon!!


--------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Review!
Jack is a classic HR hero; masculinity personified. Tempting and tantalising, Proud and immensely stubborn. But the real thing that I like about Jack is that he is very real, he is hard-working, reliable and the most decent man there is. He is trying to repair his tarnished family name, trying to rebuilt his broken manor and trying to do his best for his brothers and then along comes beautiful Letty to add to his never-ending list of problems. Bless him! Poor Jack has the with the weight of the world on those broad shoulders. On first sight he see her as a beautiful, defenceless spoilt brat who doesn’t know the meaning of hard work, a selfish irritating do-gooder; who not only has brought a heap of trouble on his head, but she is insulting towards him and his home. Even after he takes her in to keep her safe. But he soon realised that this heiress may not be all that he thought her to be as she begins putting his run down manor back to rights. He see’s her kindness and her strength and he is hugely susceptible to those dazzling green eyes. Even though he still at times thinks of her as a pain in the arse.

My word! the brothers are just delicious! Surly and proud Jack. Gruff, wounded war hero; Jamie (who I have to say, I adore) sturdy and intelligent; Doctor Joe and rakishly charming; Jacob. These four are a group not be trifled with, and what ever you preference there is a brother for every one. Like me, I can guarantee that you will fall in love with at least one. The relationship between them is so beautifully written, they just gel w together. They are super loyal and protective of one another. It is a joy getting to know them as brother’s and as individuals, getting to know each brother’s characteristics.

I cannot say enough good thing’s about it. The story is fast paced and keeps you gripped from that first page, it keeps you teetering on the edge of your seat as you read wondering where earth this is going to take you next. It really does have all the ingredients for a classic a love story with fabulously complicated characters which is all wrapped up with that wonderful Heath wit that we have come to know and love. I can see this being read and loved for years to come. I must warn you though you will never look at a sheep farmer in the same way again ..

[Skaistė Girtienė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguojanti pradžia, su pagrobimu, gabenimu slapčia susituokti ir pasisavinti turtus, gal net nužudyti paveldėtoją. Sėkmingas pabėgimas ir dar sėkmingesnis patekimas į vieno iš Vorinerių rankas. Na, ir šito pavojaus, paieškų, grasinimų fone vystosi meilės istorija. Nekantrauju griebtis knygos apie kitą iš brolių Vorinerių.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A solid story with an exciting start and finish and some lovely character development in between. I did enjoy it and look forward to the stories of the other Warriner brothers.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virginia Hearth is turning out to be one of my new favorite authors. Her stories are solid, fun, light and interesting and really enjoyable to read.
Jack Warriner is an Earl whose family name was tossed on the mud by his ancestors (cheaters, thieves, gamblers, womanizers).
He has to pay for his supplies and even for his beer in advance, he has to travel to a distant town to find someone willing to make business with him and he lives in an old manor with his three brothers and no servants.
One night he finds a woman freezing in the woods with her hands tied and almost dead. He takes her in and ends up finding out she is a tea heiress that was kidnapped by her uncle and his friend with the intention to drag her to Gretna Green, marry her to the friend (an old and bad guy) and take away her inheritance.
She managed to run away from them and needed to stay safe for a few weeks until she turned 21 and became the rightful owner of her money.
They are so very different and still had so much in common inside.
Violet (Letty) and Jack develop this great friendship and slowly things turn into love.
Sweet story of love, pride, honor and friendship.
The brothers are also so sweet! Can’t wait to read their HEA’s too.

[Lisa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its characters. I immediately purchased the other two books in this series to continue reading about this family. (fourth book available May 2018)

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER could be described in one word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

A month short of her majority, 4 January 1814, Letty is given to the Earl of Bainsbridge by her greedy uncle. Letty is bound and gagged, and the carriage is bound for Gretna Green. Letty had been drugged, but wakes up and tries to find a way to escape, and finds it. The Earl is asleep and Letty throws herself outside in the rain and mud and runs for her life. The awful men will not get her inheritance if she can help it. Jack Warriner has drunk too much in an attempt to drown in woes. The family estate is in debt, Markham Manor is decrepit; it’s been seven years since the Warriner patriarch died, and nothing seems to be improving. Riding back home on horseback, Jack sees Letty, who is terrified and so exhausted that she faints. Jack takes her home, she needs immediate care; she is bruised, chilled to the bone to a point that he fears for her life. It’s a good thing that one of Jack’s younger brothers is proficient in medicine, even though Joe cannot attend university that year, money being too scarce. Letty, Violet Dunston the Tea Heiress as she is commonly known, feels that she can trust the brothers to a point, but does not say everything, and Jack understands even if she senses her slight deception. They must find out what is really going on, and brother Jamie – who was a soldier in the war – is the man to do that.

I was immersed in the story from the very first pages, as Ms. Heath creates a climate of tension, and I immediately felt for Letty. The descriptions are crystal clear, and so splendid that I saw everything as if I were on the premises. PROTECT is one of the smoothest introductions to a series I have ever read: it felt so organic, given the context that the brothers should work together, which gave the author the opportunity to tell us about them without burdening the narrative. Jack is the head of the household, has been for years, he finds it hard to delegate, while Letty is spoiled and unknowingly selfish, and it is a thing of beauty to watch Virginia Heath navigate those waters, while maintaining a delicate balance and creating such splendid interactions between the Letty and Jack, and the other brothers as well. I laughed myself silly at reading Jack’s internal conflict; Letty drives him crazy with her demands and with lust, all the while needing to protect her. Letty tries so hard to please Jack, thinking he doesn’t like her; she nearly works as hard as he does. And I thought it was wonderful that Jack is a working man, as are his brothers; he’s a farmer and he is exhausted. And has those stupid sheep, which are truly wonderful in every sort of way.

The writing is spectacular, so gorgeous, so in tune with the era, I was nearly swooning! The story is fast-paced, there is not one single superfluous sentence; it’s dynamic, witty, intelligent, and so very romantic in a real way. I adored Letty and Jack, and Joe and Jamie, and Jacob. There is action that will take your breath away, and Letty’s plight is superbly resolved. A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER has to be the most dazzling, brilliant, extraordinary debut to a series ever. I thought it was a perfect book, absolutely flawless,I loved it, and I will love it forever. Absolutely magnificent!


I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a disappointment because I really enjoyed Virigina Heath’s Miss Bradshaw’s Bought Betrothal. While I liked Letty, I found it hard to like Jack.

I felt like Jack was too focused on his parents’ failure of a marriage and allowed it to affect the relationship between him and Letty. He used it as an excuse to stay away from Letty because she was “like his mother”. He constantly thinks Letty will leave him at the end of everything and does not allow her to get close.

Yet when Letty asks why he’s doing this to her, he did not truly tell her about his parents’ marriage and his real reasons—which he only did tell her in the last few chapters. Because of his need to avoid Letty, his personality came off to me as hot and cold, one moment he was caring and protective of her, another moment he was saying mean words to her because he thinks she’s a weak woman and because he’s angry.

As for Letty, I liked her well enough. She had lots of courage and backbone, surviving a kidnapping, learning to clean and cook, and finding someone who loved her for who she was.

This book had a lot of inner thinking for Letty and Jack. While it was a good way of showing us how their thoughts led to their actions, it was too much. I would have preferred more bonding and relationship building between Letty and Jack, which was lacking in this book. It would have been nice if we saw if the warriner brothers’ family reputation became better, their crops selling for more etc. I liked Jack’s brothers.

[Diane Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed this story, it wasn't quite as good as the other Warriner books. There just seemed to be a lot of thinking and wondering going on when I would rather have had more action and dialogue. Jack was a yummy hero, but so clueless about his emotions! Still, another good book by Virginia Heath.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I adore all the Warriners!

Jack is my favourite though. The eldest, and the one who holds the family together, Jack is the knight in shining armour and he’s about to protect this lady from the dragons that want to use her for her money.

Though I enjoyed all the stories, this opener is the best.

Highly recommend this series!

[Gwessie Tee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the privilege and honour to read this wonderful story, and beginning of what I am sure will be an amazing series. Utterly brilliant adored this book very much, ticks all of the boxes for me definitely romance, action,adventure cheekiness truly adore it. Thank you Virginia xxxx

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tea Heiress Violet Dunston escapes from an abduction, she finds an unlikely protector in Jack Warriner--a member of one of England's most infamous families. Ensconced with mysterious Jack behind his Markham manor's walls, soon escape is the last thing on Letty's mind!
I love it when I’m drawn into a book from the first page & then enthralled all the way through which is exactly what this captivating riveting read did. The story flowed so well, Letty has just over a month to wait until she reaches her majority & her fortune becomes hers but her Uncle & an aging Earl have other plans for her. I loved Letty from the start, strong, determined & endearing. Her culinary endeavours had me laughing out loud & the bread dough certainly had a pounding. Then there's Jack, Oh my! What a hero, loyal, caring & gorgeous. Together sparks fly not only from their attraction but every time they come into contact. A brilliant start to the series & I’m now going to start the second book

[Skirmantė Rugsėjis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buvau pasiilgusi istorinio meilės romano ir mačiau pagyrų visai serijai, kurią sudaro keturios knygos, tad paėmiau pirmą ir nutariau pamėginti. Pabaigusi nemanau, kad tuoj pat norėčiau imti sekančią.
Visų pirma, nesuprantu autorės sumanymo pavadinti brolius vardais, kurie skamba panašiai. Džozefas, Džeikobas, Džeimis, Džonas... Kai aprašinėjamos scenos kur visi jie kartu tampa neįmanoma susigaudyti, nes vyrai neturi užtektinai išskirtinių bruožų, aprašomi "tokios pat nuostabios akys, tik labiau suraukti antakiai..." kas iš esmės niekuo nepadeda ir tik vėliau įsiskaičius šiaip ne taip imi atskirti kuris yra kuris.
Skyrių pradžios "Liko trisdešimt dienų ir kelios valandos...", "liko dvidešimt aštuonios dienos..." irgi vertė raukytis, turbūt turėjo įnešti kažkokios intrigos ir paslapties, bet kadangi ilgą laiką buvo niekaip neaiškinama, rodėsi nesusiję su tekstu ir kažkaip "iš oro".
Siužetas įprastinis, mergina tekinama per prievartą, bėganti nuo pagrobėjo ir vyras atsitiktinai ją išvydęs, tapęs gelbėtoju ir galiausiai pamilęs. Nieko naujo ar negirdėto, pasakojama istoriniame fone, nors dėl vartojamos kalbos galima ginčytis, man kai kur dvelkė visai moderniais dialogais.
Romantika įsibėgėja pamažu, pirmo bučinio tenka laukti apie pusę knygos, tad netiks greitos erotikos mėgėjoms, bet ieškančioms lėto ir klasikinio meilės romano turėtų būti pats tas. Man asmeniškai trūko intrigos, nuotykių ir ugnelės tarp veikėjų bei jų savitumo.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way how Ms. Heath craftily adds nuance to the setting and the characters, putting my mind to the task of picturing every scene bursting to life. I could feel carriages bump along uneven roads and even the tightness of a gag on one particular character... There is deftness to the writing that drew me into the story. The stark emotion and the craziness of a wrinkled villain all added depth and emotion to the plot which is as absorbing as much as it is intense. The heroine is forced to marry a dreadful, old tard. Thankfully she escapes the wrinkled, old man's carriage only to be rescued by a drunken hero who wins my heart instantly with his sense of humour. Jack is used to having his own way. Now, with a woman in his life he has become somewhat tamed. Overall, A Warriner to Protect Her is captivating as much as it is engrossing—it’s an all out satisfying read!

Highly Recommended
4.5 Stars

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - lovely story, review to follow at RHR

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Romantic, sweet and spicy. I'm absolutely in love with Virginia's characters and writing. Jack and Letty's story is perfection. Up next, A Warriner to Rescue Her.

[Sharon A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, and I'll probably read the rest in the series.

[SidneyKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s About Time

Finally, after a long spell of disappointing books, I found some, which made me smile. I have previously whined about Ms. Heath’s spy series, The King’s Elite, but I also kept hearing good things about her Wild Warriner series. Everywhere I turned; it was a love fest for the Warriner brothers. So I thought why don’t I check out these books and see what all the hubbub is about. And, I did.

Imagine my surprise and delight when this series turned out not to be about bumbling spies, but four charming brothers: Jack, Jamie, Joe, and Jake Warriner, and the women strong enough to take them on.

Let us begin with Warriner number 1, Jack, the Earl of Markham. There is a continuing thread in all four books about how poor the Warriner brothers are, and how much the people in the nearby village dislike them. It seems as if the previous generations of Warriners were all wastrels. They never honored any of their debts; they were wild, uncaring brutes. The people of the village have loonnnnng memories and small hearts.

The story begins one evening with a slightly drunk Jack meandering his way home pondering his poor state of affairs. Wait a minute! What’s that? Can it be a bound and gagged woman? It’s dark! It is a forest! What is going on? Well, Jack is no dummy. He knows it unusual for a woman to be wearing a gag. He can recognize a damsel in distress when he sees her. It must mean something for a trussed up woman to be wandering the road. Enter our heroine Violet Dunston aka Letty.

Letty is an heiress. She has been kidnapped by the ev-i-l Earl of Banbridge, who happens to be in cahoots with her uncle. When the story opens, Letty is in a carriage plotting ways to escape. I was fond of this Letty. Sure, she may be in trouble, but her brain is thinking. She is not a heroine in need of a rescuer, well, she is, but she isn’t waiting around for one. Her brain is busy, she is formulating ways to escape, and she does. I liked that she did it on her own. Anyway, she stumbles through the night right into Jack’s arms, and then she faints. I was pleased with Letty’s escaping on her own.

When Letty wakes up, she finds herself surrounded by four handsome men. They look kind; maybe they will help her. She seeks their aid in hiding from her uncle until she turns 21, which is only a few weeks away. After much grumbling on Jack’s part, he agrees.

Then Letty turns into someone I did not like too much. Her character becomes a spoiled rich girl who does not seem to notice how impoverished the Warriner brothers are. She expects servants to wait on her, feed her, and tidy up after her. Eventually she and Jack come to blows over her demands. Then she turns into a person who tries to help the brothers by cleaning, and cooking. Usually her attempts at helping are disasters. All of the brothers except Jack put up with her catastrophes. Whenever Jack and she are together, the sparks fly. Eventually they become friends, but then the I-don’t-need-your-money-Jack shows up. He changes into a grumpy-Gus in the middle of the story, but then he saves a drowning lamb, he is wearing a wet shirt, and all is right with the world.

During the middle part of the story, the writing becomes a little choppy, but eventually the story becomes a little bit more cohesive. Ms. Heath’s writing is wonderful in the scenes where the brothers are together. Their chemistry was great, and they seemed as if they were a real, loving family.

Overall, A Warriner to Protect Her was an enjoyable book, even with the few bumps in the road. It was a delightful beginning to a series, and I was looking forward to continuing the saga.

[Rose Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: http://wp.me/p3QRh4-xh

A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER opens with a bang, as heiress, Violet (Letty) Dunston, is bound and gagged and being whisked off to Gretna Green. Her kidnapper is an elderly earl, who is in cahoots with her sleazy uncle, and plans to force her into marriage so he can control her sizable fortune. When the earl falls asleep, and the area they are traveling is wooded, Letty opts to take a chance and leaps from the carriage. Though battered from her fall, Letty takes to the woods and manages to elude her captors.

After a rare evening out, Jack Warriner is heading home when he encounters Letty, who by this time is panicked and nearly frozen. When she collapses, Jack takes her to his home, where he and his three brothers do their best to revive her. Though there was some doubt, Letty does regain consciousness and begins to recover. She obviously doesn't know her rescuers, and is initially very cagey about what she reveals, not sure if they are trustworthy. Eventually, the Warriner brothers learn the truth, and vow to protect Letty, and hide her in their home for the remaining month until she turns twenty-one and gains control of her fortune.

Jack is an honorable man. He has spent his adult life raising his younger brothers when his parents died, and has worked tirelessly to erase the stain his dissolute father left on the family name. He also labors to restore their farm, while they live on a shoestring budget. Jack is actually an earl, but he doesn't use the title. The work consumes him, and it's an uphill battle, as it seems that their business contacts still remember the father's misdeeds instead of Jack's current honesty and integrity. This situation has made Jack a very serious man, one with a lot of pride and determination. He's not about to let a misguided attraction to a wealthy society girl distract him, or lead him to have false hopes.

After some initial awkward moments, when Letty wants a maid to attend her, then requests that the cook serve different meals, then suggests that the housemaids aren't adequately cleaning, she realizes that there are no servants and that she has wounded Jack's pride greatly. She then takes on the household tasks herself - cleaning, and even learning how to cook. Letty begins to feel very at home at Markham Manor, and wonders if she might have a permanent place there. She's also very attracted to Jack, but confused by his hot and cold manner.

After my initial doubts about Letty, I came to see that she was solid gold inside. She's down to earth and not wrapped up in society's phoniness. She's hardworking and caring and passionate, and a perfect match for Jack, if he can just be convinced. Jack is so beaten down by the burdens he carries, but he doesn't give up. He's leery of relationships, based on what he saw in his parents' marriage, and his pride recoils from the image of himself being thought a fortune hunter. A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER is an enjoyable and romantic read with great characters. I'm looking forward to the upcoming stories about the remaining three brothers, as I already fell a bit in love with them - well, two of them. (I'm reserving judgment on that charming lothario until we're better acquainted.) Virginia Heath has written a terrific introduction to this new series, and I'm happy to recommend it.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in author Virginia Heath's series The Wild Warriners based on the four Warriner brothers. I am so glad I finally got around to reading this because this book was absolutely perfect and I loved it! What a fantastic start to what I expect to be an excellent series!

Jack Warriner is the eldest of the brothers and the one who takes everything upon his shoulders. He's a proud man and one who is used to being in charge and doing things his own way. He's been trying for the last seven years since his father's death to repair the damage to the family name, the estate and the finances. When he comes across heiress Violet (Letty) Dunstan in the middle of the night escaping from her kidnappers, the last thing he needs is another responsibility...

Letty was an interesting heroine and it didn't take long to see she had much more going for her than just beauty and money. She was a strong and resilient woman but yet lonely... the more I got to know her the more I liked her. She was the perfect heroine for Jack even though he felt he wasn't good enough for her.

With kidnappers, four handsome brothers and Virginia Heath's wit and mastery at weaving a captivating and entertaining story, I was hooked from the very first page! I highly recommend this story and am looking forward to getting to know all the Warriner brothers!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book about the Warriner brothers and I loved it. Violet (Letty) Dunston is an heiress about to come into a lot of money. Her uncle, and guardian, plans to marry her off to the Earl of Bainbridge, an old friend who will then control her inheritance. Bainbridge heads to Gretna Green with Letty gagged and hands tied. She watches for the old Earl to fall asleep and a deserted part of the road and then hurls herself from the carriage and runs into the woods.

Returning home Jack Warriner sees a girl running in the woods and rescues her. As she has collapsed he has no idea who she is but knows she needs help. Luckily, his younger brother, Joe, reads medical books in the hope of one day being a doctor so he knows what to do. Letty asks to stay hidden with the four brothers until her 21st birthday when she inherits a lot of money. They are willing to protect her, but Jack’s feelings for her are quite different than the others. Jack may be an Earl, but he’s an impoverished one and tries to ignore his feeling for Letty.

I won’t ruin this wonderful story by telling you more. Of course, there is a HEA and 3 more brothers waiting for their HEAs.

[Caitlyn Callery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virginia Heath is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. In fact, if her name's on the cover, I'll buy the book. This story did not disappoint.

All the ingredients are there for a cracking story. We have the penniless lord with a rotten reputation, a heroine in trouble, a villain who won't give up and admit his plot didn't work. There's suspense a-plenty, but time for romance, too.

The book has an authentic feel, a lot of detail that brings the time and place to life. The details are used to further the story, and nothing seems superfluous or there just because. The writing is tight, the dialogue natural and the characters are all necessary. No walk on parts in this novel.

It's a very visual story. I could see the characters as if they were on film, which certainly helped bring it to life.

In fact, I can't think of a single thing about it that I disliked. Looking forward to the next one.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack was not a very strong hero. He was filled with insecurities. He was young when he had to take over for the family when he delinquent father died. He's filling the shoes with his effort to reconstruct the family estate but he needs to stop with the negative self-talk.

The heroine had her own situation which she attacked with moxie. After she acknowledged to herself that she was attracted to Jack she proceeded to dump emotional manure on herself which was in contrast to the gal who got herself free from kidnappers. I got vertigo with her back and forth.

Overall, too much inner dialogue going over, and over, the same ideas like the reader has forgotten what's already been shared. I kept reading but I started to skip large sections of the poor me, loves me not, I don't deserve, protestations by both of them. Listening to them was depressing.

[Sometime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Letty is a bit immature and spoiled but has enough self awareness to grow up and move forward. She is tough and has a heart of gold. Jack is proud, stubborn, sexy and sweet. His hot/cold "I'm not worthy" behavior got on my nerves but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book.

The highlight of the book is the relationship between the 4 brothers. Letty fell in love with their family bond. They are a great bunch and I can't wait to read all of their books.

This book is 100% safe.

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really sweet book. I loved both of the main characters and the Warriner brothers.

[Jéssica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 2nd Virgina's book and I'm in love. I love how she writes and how the characters are relatable even those it's a Regency Romance. I know I would love her books and now I'm proud to say that she's one of my favorite authors too.

The book starts with Violet 'Letty' Dunston in a carriage after being abducted. And if you read the book (which I hope you do), if you haven't already, you will find out why and how she was abducted. So there she was, abducted by an evil man - The Earl of Bainbridge - and on their way to Gretna Green.

It's then that something happens that makes me immediately love her, she's plotting how she could get away... And once she did escape, she kept running.

It's raining - a lot - and Jack was returning home when he finds Letty. He helps her and we met his younger brothers, Joe, Jamie and Jacob, and... there goes Jéssica falling in love with characters and getting all excited because she will read about them in their on books...

Anyway, Letty stays in the manor recovering and hiding from the bad guys and things happen. We learn more about the brothers, we learn more about Letty, and the bad guys don't give up and are still looking for her. Meanwhile in the manor, Letty realizes some things about herself and the Warriners.

And, of course, you get Virginia's sense of humor, something I'm discovering in her books. I love that she adds that touch of humor because it makes me laugh and it makes the story have enough light intertwine with the darkness that is the drama and mystery/suspense in the book. The not knowing when or if the bad guys will find her and the brothers funny moments and quotes, like this one:

If you ask me, there are not enough feathers in food. They are wasted in pillows. (Jacob, page 174)

Another thing I loved about the book was the count down in the beginning of ever chapter and how Virginia did it made it so perfect and it made me curious because I never know how many days would went by and I never know how she would write it. Here are two examples:

1st December 1813. One moth, three days and approximately eighteen hours remaining... (Chapter 1, page 7)

Twenty-four days and thirteen hours to go, give or take a few minutes... (Chapter Ten, page 144)

The books is full of fantastic moments and it's an amazing love story. It's about two people finding each other by chance and falling in love.

It's also a book about family. I loved all the brothers and I can't wait to get to Jamie's book because I'm really curious to know what's going on inside is mind. But I'm also curious to know how Joe's and Jacob's life is going to go.

So yes! I do recommend this book. It's an amazing start of a series. But I have to warn you, you may fall in love with the characters too.

That been said, there is no doubt in my mind that this is a 5* read.

[Cece]

I finished A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER in December 2018 and here's the entry I made in my reading journal for it:

I loved the socioeconomic clash in A WARRINER TO PROTECT HER. The heroine cannot imagine that the hero's family wouldn't be able to afford servants so she insults them terribly when she tells them the cooking is bad, the house is dirty, etc. and that she can help because it's clear the staff haven't been properly supervised. She thinks she's stepping into a familiar and necessary role, but her privileged assumptions have actually led her to offend the family. I thought that element of the conflict said so much about the divide between the heroine and the hero. She's too privileged to know what's going on, but at her core, she does mean well.

I thought the scene where the heroine makes her announcement that she'll manage their "help" was well done -- I was embarrassed for/with her and sympathetic to both the hero and heroine simultaneously.

Then, there's the hero's wounded pride and complicated feelings when she rebounds to a more realistic, but no less generous, act of service -- she cleans the house, tries to decorate it, and attempts to cook. He's confused by this too -- assuming that he knows what's best for her and that she "deserves" to be pampered.

I enjoyed how Heath centered the conflict between the couple on an inability to accurately "see" the other. The heroine is caught beneath a ton of self-doubt and insecurity about her worth (understandably so, she's always been celebrated for her wealth, beauty, & youth -- all superficial exterior qualifications) so she cannot see past his rejections to understand that his behavior is also motivated by self-doubt and insecurity. Similarly, he cannot see past the facade of her life as an heiress to understand that she yearns for him and the deeper connections to work, home & family that he represents.

I think that this was a terrific road block for this pair, but it also wore thin...especially as the responsibilities for emotional understanding fell on the heroine's shoulders (she's the first to figure out that his actions and words do not match, and more importantly, why) even as he continued to ignore the content of her increasingly direct words and kept insisting he knew what was best for her -- namely, to avoid and reject him. At some point, this becomes deeply patronizing and, kudos to the author, the heroine eventually calls him out on this. For me, the damage had already been done.

Fundamentally, how can anyone claim to love someone they don't listen to? The heroine fully understands the conflict in their relationship and found the agency to reach out and embrace him (sexually as well) and yet, he continues to demean her choice (him) and patronize her by speaking for her. She confronts him, but it was a little too much & a little too late.

Grade: B+.