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An Unpracticed Heart
Charlotte Claridge lives a life dictated by her stepmother's whims. Sent to live with one family member and then another, she finally arrives in Scotland, on the doorstep of a crumbling estate abandoned by its owner. With her aunt, she spends her days mending curtains and peeling potatoes, a quiet existence that changes with the appearance of a carriage bearing a coat of arms.
From out of the carriage falls Lord Hartley Cowden, Baron Aldburgh. Drunk, unconscious, and bleeding, Charlotte and her aunt carry him into his ancestral home. As he recovers in Charlotte's care, Hartley confesses to a crime that nearly sent him spiralling towards his grave. But can she entrust him with her own secrets while coaxing him back from the dead?
From out of the carriage falls Lord Hartley Cowden, Baron Aldburgh. Drunk, unconscious, and bleeding, Charlotte and her aunt carry him into his ancestral home. As he recovers in Charlotte's care, Hartley confesses to a crime that nearly sent him spiralling towards his grave. But can she entrust him with her own secrets while coaxing him back from the dead?
210 pages, ebook
First published October 22, 2017
86 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Quenby Olson
26 books372 followersQuenby Olson lives in Central Pennsylvania where she spends most of her time writing, glaring at baskets of unfolded laundry, and chasing the cat off the kitchen counters. She lives with her husband and five children, who do nothing to dampen her love of classical ballet, geeky crochet, and staying up late to watch old episodes of Doctor Who.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 7, 2021
Quenby Olson has a unique voice. This was probably one of her more traditional HRs. However, having said that it still stands out with an H who struggles not only with the bottle but also I suspect depression/bi polar disorder. It is even hinted that he has always been like this (only it's exacerbated by alcohol). My favorite is still her "The Bride Price." One where the "common working man" comes out the winner (but not in the fairytale ending sort of way you come to expect in most HRs). Highly rec'd if you want a taste of Ms. Olson's style of storytelling.
February 9, 2020
Interesting plot
This story about a young woman sent to live on Scotland with her great-aunt by a disgruntled and vapid stepmother is really quite good.
After arriving at the estate where her great-aunt is the head housekeeper, Charlotte meets the lord of the manor at his worst when he visits his Scotland estate unannounced. A relationship develops between the two, not necessarily what you'd expect though. The plot is rather original. The characters are well described and developed.
There are a few surprises along the way. And the writing is good with no drag or dead spots.
I would recommend to readers of historical romance.
This story about a young woman sent to live on Scotland with her great-aunt by a disgruntled and vapid stepmother is really quite good.
After arriving at the estate where her great-aunt is the head housekeeper, Charlotte meets the lord of the manor at his worst when he visits his Scotland estate unannounced. A relationship develops between the two, not necessarily what you'd expect though. The plot is rather original. The characters are well described and developed.
There are a few surprises along the way. And the writing is good with no drag or dead spots.
I would recommend to readers of historical romance.
March 25, 2018
I had a few little quibbles with this book, but in the end they weren't enough to keep me from giving it 5 stars. It checked all my boxes. I love tortured, recovering heroes, and I really loved Hartley. His struggles seemed exceptionally believable, and -something which I was VERY grateful for in a romance about a recovering rake - he was not a jerk.
There are parts where the action slows and there's a lot of description, and I will admit to skimming Ch. 1, but if you like a good injured-and-broken hero story, this one is really excellent.
There are parts where the action slows and there's a lot of description, and I will admit to skimming Ch. 1, but if you like a good injured-and-broken hero story, this one is really excellent.
February 4, 2022
A Fine Story
I enjoyed the story for the most part but there was far too much angst-filled ruminating. Those passages would have been better filled with character development, for example.
I do recommend giving it a reading though.
Note to all authors: the daughter of a Marquess is entitled ‘Lady’ not ‘Miss’. While she is happy to be Miss Claridge whilst remaining incognito, the family retainers, and others who knew her position in society would have called her Lady Charlotte.
I enjoyed the story for the most part but there was far too much angst-filled ruminating. Those passages would have been better filled with character development, for example.
I do recommend giving it a reading though.
Note to all authors: the daughter of a Marquess is entitled ‘Lady’ not ‘Miss’. While she is happy to be Miss Claridge whilst remaining incognito, the family retainers, and others who knew her position in society would have called her Lady Charlotte.
June 24, 2018
I always enjoy Quenby Olson's prose and her ability to create a setting and mood that is real and memorable. In An Unpracticed Heart, she does a good job of making a rather unlikable fellow (in the beginning) very likable.
I was half expecting another obstacle to stand in the path of Charlotte and Lord Cowden's romance in the last quarter of the book, but nothing materialized. The ending is, however, still satisfying.
Fans of historical, regency romance will like this book!
I was half expecting another obstacle to stand in the path of Charlotte and Lord Cowden's romance in the last quarter of the book, but nothing materialized. The ending is, however, still satisfying.
Fans of historical, regency romance will like this book!
August 10, 2018
Overall I liked this book. The relationship development between Charlotte and Hartley was great. It wasn't rushed or forced, it has a natural progression. Hartley has some real inner demons that he is struggling with, and Charlotte is able to ground him and help him see that he can overcome. The plot was good, reminds me of a Cinderella type story.
Romance - Pretty Clean (mild innuendo) 🔥
Language - Mild
Violence - Mild
Romance - Pretty Clean (mild innuendo) 🔥
Language - Mild
Violence - Mild
March 16, 2018
Feels unfinished
Good character development, but the whole story feels unfinished, like there should be more. More background, more character insight, and definitely more of what happened after they left London; it was just left out!
Good character development, but the whole story feels unfinished, like there should be more. More background, more character insight, and definitely more of what happened after they left London; it was just left out!
November 27, 2020
The first half was very good, the second half lost me. But the ending was again very good and satisfying!
October 24, 2020
4.5 stars, very good story!! This was a nice story, a bit different from the majority of romances I've read. Found it on KU.
The main characters seem defeated by their lives' circumstances at the beginning. Charlotte, a gentleman's daughter, living in the wilds of Scotland, cast off by her stepmother as some nuisance. She is like a servant in practice, living with a distant aunt that works as a castle's housekeeper. She works for her keeping but gets no money from her labour.
Lord Hartley is running away from his past and addictions, he is an alcoholic with a dark past and an endless list of mistakes (or sins, as he refers to them). Ends up in his old family house in Scotland, where he has not put a foot since he was a child. He is dropped off totally drunk and in a pool of sick, unable to wake up, on Charlotte's feet.
And that's where the story begins.
I don't want to spoil it too much, but as the story progresses, there is palpable tension between these two. Charlotte helps Hartley to come back to health and to life, quite literally. As she helps him, she starts falling for him, and he starts feeling something similar for her, but her self-esteem has been so eroded over time by her step-mother that she does not permit herself to hope that something serious might come out of it.
As the story progresses, and through helping him, she grows stronger as well, and more daring. His health improves and also his mental state,
So at first, the reader might see weakness in both characters, but they grow together with the story, Hartley becomes physically strong again and is more successful in keeping darkness at bay, and Charlotte becomes strong in her self confidence and esteem. In summary an interesting story of loss, love, rediscovery and healing. I personally think it'll resonate with people who have gone through depression, or people who have cared for relatives (especially partners) with depression. I think both characters have differing degrees. Even if it is more noticeable in Hartley, Charlotte is also battling her own demons, and through helping him, she starts healing as well. It is in summary, a story from darkness to light, a story of hope.
I just discounted half a star because there were some editing mistakes, some missing words and the like. I don't remember any misspellings from the top of my head, and in general is well edited, just few missing words. I also thought it was a bit slow at the beginning, but it is a great story. Recommended!! I will definitely read some more from this author.
The main characters seem defeated by their lives' circumstances at the beginning. Charlotte, a gentleman's daughter, living in the wilds of Scotland, cast off by her stepmother as some nuisance. She is like a servant in practice, living with a distant aunt that works as a castle's housekeeper. She works for her keeping but gets no money from her labour.
Lord Hartley is running away from his past and addictions, he is an alcoholic with a dark past and an endless list of mistakes (or sins, as he refers to them). Ends up in his old family house in Scotland, where he has not put a foot since he was a child. He is dropped off totally drunk and in a pool of sick, unable to wake up, on Charlotte's feet.
And that's where the story begins.
I don't want to spoil it too much, but as the story progresses, there is palpable tension between these two. Charlotte helps Hartley to come back to health and to life, quite literally. As she helps him, she starts falling for him, and he starts feeling something similar for her, but her self-esteem has been so eroded over time by her step-mother that she does not permit herself to hope that something serious might come out of it.
As the story progresses, and through helping him, she grows stronger as well, and more daring. His health improves and also his mental state,
So at first, the reader might see weakness in both characters, but they grow together with the story, Hartley becomes physically strong again and is more successful in keeping darkness at bay, and Charlotte becomes strong in her self confidence and esteem. In summary an interesting story of loss, love, rediscovery and healing. I personally think it'll resonate with people who have gone through depression, or people who have cared for relatives (especially partners) with depression. I think both characters have differing degrees. Even if it is more noticeable in Hartley, Charlotte is also battling her own demons, and through helping him, she starts healing as well. It is in summary, a story from darkness to light, a story of hope.
I just discounted half a star because there were some editing mistakes, some missing words and the like. I don't remember any misspellings from the top of my head, and in general is well edited, just few missing words. I also thought it was a bit slow at the beginning, but it is a great story. Recommended!! I will definitely read some more from this author.
January 12, 2019
I agree with the reviewer who said that the story seems unfinished. Would it have been too hard for the author to put an additional chapter between the last and the epilogue?
SPOILER
I would have given 5 stars if we would have been treated to a trip to Gretna or some sort of wedding night!
SPOILER
I would have given 5 stars if we would have been treated to a trip to Gretna or some sort of wedding night!
April 1, 2019
Excellent Writing!!!
I am absolutely in love with this writers form of writing. She is extremely descriptive- when reading I feel that I am there watching the scenes play out!
Her books are a must read!
I am absolutely in love with this writers form of writing. She is extremely descriptive- when reading I feel that I am there watching the scenes play out!
Her books are a must read!
April 24, 2018
Nicely done
Loved the characters,well developed storytelling about issues dealing with emotional and mental abuse. Charlotte and Hartley are a wonderful couple.
Loved the characters,well developed storytelling about issues dealing with emotional and mental abuse. Charlotte and Hartley are a wonderful couple.
December 31, 2018
Sweet read
I enjoyed the characters and plot. Good read there were a few error. Could have been better. I will read other books by this author.
I enjoyed the characters and plot. Good read there were a few error. Could have been better. I will read other books by this author.
November 26, 2021
Horrible book cover. Slow paced and hero is not so endearing.
September 23, 2024
Boring but well written.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews