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The Way to a Lord's Heart #2
A Lord Apart
Family secrets, an unlikely alliance―and a love neither expected...
After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is struggling to unravel a web of chaotic family records. He is astonished to learn his father's will contains a mysterious legacy: a house left to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about the beautiful Penelope Pendleton and he's not sure he wants to...until she turns out to be a whiz at all those nasty tasks involved in estate administration...
Penelope has no idea why Rose Cottage was left to her. But it's a godsend after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. She had planned to stay out of Viscount Whitfield's way, not grow ever closer to him. But when they discover how entwined their families really are, Daniel and Penelope must collaborate to avoid a scandal that reaches much higher than they could have guessed...
After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is struggling to unravel a web of chaotic family records. He is astonished to learn his father's will contains a mysterious legacy: a house left to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about the beautiful Penelope Pendleton and he's not sure he wants to...until she turns out to be a whiz at all those nasty tasks involved in estate administration...
Penelope has no idea why Rose Cottage was left to her. But it's a godsend after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. She had planned to stay out of Viscount Whitfield's way, not grow ever closer to him. But when they discover how entwined their families really are, Daniel and Penelope must collaborate to avoid a scandal that reaches much higher than they could have guessed...
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 26, 2019
185 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Jane Ashford
52 books401 followersJane Ashford has written historical and contemporary romances. Her books have been published in England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, Denmark, Russia, and Latvia, Croatia and Slovenia as well as the U.S. She was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Her latest book, Lost Time, is romantic suspense with a touch of magic.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
Her website is https://www.janeashford.com/ and her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JaneAshfordW... If you'd like to subscribe to Jane's monthly newsletter go to www.eepurl.com/cd-O7r and sign up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 13, 2023
This was WAAAYYY better than the first book in the series. If you have read and enjoyed other Jane Ashford books but were underwhelmed by #1, I recommend you give this a try. I now definitely plan to read the next one.
There is a mystery that is intriguing. Both the H/h are likable. The romance is sensual.
There is a mystery that is intriguing. Both the H/h are likable. The romance is sensual.
May 1, 2020
Review of the audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor.
I am giving this 3.5 stars, rounded up, because Rosalyn Landor adds something to every book she narrates.
This series focuses on four young gentlemen, and each is suffering from severe grief. They are brought together by the older Lord Macklin because he thinks he can help them. Lord Macklin appears in each book, but other than that the stories are not related, and each many be read as a standalone.
Although both main characters are suffering, this is a sweet, relatively low-angst story, without insta-love (or even insta-lust). The hero and heroine are mostly likable, but neither is perfect so there is a bit of brangling. There is also an underlying mystery.
Thus far, I have enjoyed both books that I have read in this series, and I plan to read the rest.
I am giving this 3.5 stars, rounded up, because Rosalyn Landor adds something to every book she narrates.
This series focuses on four young gentlemen, and each is suffering from severe grief. They are brought together by the older Lord Macklin because he thinks he can help them. Lord Macklin appears in each book, but other than that the stories are not related, and each many be read as a standalone.
Although both main characters are suffering, this is a sweet, relatively low-angst story, without insta-love (or even insta-lust). The hero and heroine are mostly likable, but neither is perfect so there is a bit of brangling. There is also an underlying mystery.
Thus far, I have enjoyed both books that I have read in this series, and I plan to read the rest.
March 27, 2019
What's a Lord to do?
A bit of a conundrum and then some. Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin is still pursuing his aim of helping others to deal with death and the loss that represents. He wanders in and out of the story like a benevolent fairy god father. As he explains to his current array of guests, “Grief is insidious, almost palpable, and as variable as humankind ... No one can understand who hasn’t experienced a sudden loss. A black coat and a few platitudes are nothing.”
This time Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield is the person he turns his attention towards. Daniel has had a solitary upbringing due to his parents always being abroad so frequently. And now with their deaths the abandoned inner child and the adult Daniel feel that disconnect keenly.
In attempting to taking over the reins of his earldom, a puzzling question is why Rose Cottage been left to a complete stranger, one Penelope Pendleton. When Daniel meets her it is obvious that she's a woman with a genteel background. Yet here she is learning to make bread and manage a cottage without the requisite servants. Daniel is determined to find out all he can. Macklin's assistance is given. Although sometimes Macklin's helpful enquiries don't bring the outcome desired. More like, they just add to the tension as the story develops. I love his assistant Tom and am expecting more interesting developments of his character.
Penelope it appears is daughter of a peer and sister to a traitor, a Luddite who according to Penelope "was murdered ... at the Peterloo." Then "her brother Philip was posthumously convicted of treason and stripped of his title and estates. [Their] home went to the government."
Penelope was homeless until Daniel's parent's will was read. She had spent the past year being interrogated by the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth's agents. A devasting experience! This surprise inheritance of Rose Cottage gave Penelope a place to flee to.
However interaction with the viscount and the search through Daniel's mother's papers bring something even more sinister to light. As does the arrival of Sidmouth's agents demanding those papers and threatening Penelope. One of those agents interrogated her. Penelope is fearful. Who would not be?
Daniel puts in place a plan!
There were amusing parts. The dogs and the goat interactions are the loveliest of whimsies. The novel is a very busy place with all sorts of things happening off center stage but the story flowed well with enough romance and intrigue to hit a nicely balanced note.
A NetGalley ARC
A bit of a conundrum and then some. Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin is still pursuing his aim of helping others to deal with death and the loss that represents. He wanders in and out of the story like a benevolent fairy god father. As he explains to his current array of guests, “Grief is insidious, almost palpable, and as variable as humankind ... No one can understand who hasn’t experienced a sudden loss. A black coat and a few platitudes are nothing.”
This time Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield is the person he turns his attention towards. Daniel has had a solitary upbringing due to his parents always being abroad so frequently. And now with their deaths the abandoned inner child and the adult Daniel feel that disconnect keenly.
In attempting to taking over the reins of his earldom, a puzzling question is why Rose Cottage been left to a complete stranger, one Penelope Pendleton. When Daniel meets her it is obvious that she's a woman with a genteel background. Yet here she is learning to make bread and manage a cottage without the requisite servants. Daniel is determined to find out all he can. Macklin's assistance is given. Although sometimes Macklin's helpful enquiries don't bring the outcome desired. More like, they just add to the tension as the story develops. I love his assistant Tom and am expecting more interesting developments of his character.
Penelope it appears is daughter of a peer and sister to a traitor, a Luddite who according to Penelope "was murdered ... at the Peterloo." Then "her brother Philip was posthumously convicted of treason and stripped of his title and estates. [Their] home went to the government."
Penelope was homeless until Daniel's parent's will was read. She had spent the past year being interrogated by the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth's agents. A devasting experience! This surprise inheritance of Rose Cottage gave Penelope a place to flee to.
However interaction with the viscount and the search through Daniel's mother's papers bring something even more sinister to light. As does the arrival of Sidmouth's agents demanding those papers and threatening Penelope. One of those agents interrogated her. Penelope is fearful. Who would not be?
Daniel puts in place a plan!
There were amusing parts. The dogs and the goat interactions are the loveliest of whimsies. The novel is a very busy place with all sorts of things happening off center stage but the story flowed well with enough romance and intrigue to hit a nicely balanced note.
A NetGalley ARC
May 15, 2019
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, is completely tied in knots since his parents' death, as he is struggling to decipher rather confusing family records. As he begins to research, he discovers that his father's will contained a mysterious legacy, which included leaving a house to someone he never heard of. Well, Daniel meets her, and her name is Penelope Pendleton. He is not sure at first that he wants to deal with her, but then when he discovers her amazing talent at deciphering the confusing codes, and when she helps him sort out estate business, he changes his mind.
Penelope is hesitant to help Daniel, as she has no idea why the house was willed to her. As it turns out, due to her brother's poor behavior, her family was disgraced and she would have been without a home. So Penelope does her best to assist Daniel, and in so doing, realizes that she is rather drawn to him. It doesn't take Penelope and Daniel long to discover that there was indeed a connection between their families and they both become very excited while working together.
Along with the intrigue facing them, there is a slight element of danger, but readers are treated with a bit of humor, and of course, romance, thus balancing this excellent story by Jane Ashford. I look forward to the next third book in the series, To Cross a Marquess, which will be released in August.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Penelope is hesitant to help Daniel, as she has no idea why the house was willed to her. As it turns out, due to her brother's poor behavior, her family was disgraced and she would have been without a home. So Penelope does her best to assist Daniel, and in so doing, realizes that she is rather drawn to him. It doesn't take Penelope and Daniel long to discover that there was indeed a connection between their families and they both become very excited while working together.
Along with the intrigue facing them, there is a slight element of danger, but readers are treated with a bit of humor, and of course, romance, thus balancing this excellent story by Jane Ashford. I look forward to the next third book in the series, To Cross a Marquess, which will be released in August.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 4, 2019
Though this is the second in a series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, since there’s only one character really in common with the first book. There’s some intriguing themes explored here about the different types of abuse a person can suffer; Daniel, while never physically abused and always receiving food and shelter, was completely ignored and unloved by his only relatives, his parents. Now they’re gone and he’s inherited a viscountcy he’s utterly unprepared to manage. Stranger still, part of his legacy has been left to a complete stranger, and neither he nor Penelope Pendleton have any idea why she’s been willed Rose Cottage.
For Penelope, the inheritance is a lifeline. Running afoul of the government because of her brother’s seditious activities and left penniless after his death, she’s grateful just to have a home. She and Daniel become wary friends first before the relationship gradually becomes more.
There were some really poignant moments as Daniel in particular had to unpack his feelings about his parents, and some revelations uncovered which changed some of the things he felt about his parents but ultimately didn’t negate the way he was actually treated, a point which was emphasized and really struck a chord with me - you might feel you have good reasons for doing something, but your reasons don’t really matter all that much to the person who got hurt by your actions. And in the end, we don’t always get closure. Sometimes, all we can do it move forward, vowing to be better than those who came before and learn from their mistakes, and that’s the path Penelope and Daniel ultimately have to take.
This is no fairy tale, despite the requisite happy ending. It’s a story of two people with difficult pasts finding in each other both comfort and a path forward. All of this leads to a story which feels very real and honest, despite the historical setting, and I have no hesitation at all in giving it five stars and recommending it as a thoroughly engrossing read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
For Penelope, the inheritance is a lifeline. Running afoul of the government because of her brother’s seditious activities and left penniless after his death, she’s grateful just to have a home. She and Daniel become wary friends first before the relationship gradually becomes more.
There were some really poignant moments as Daniel in particular had to unpack his feelings about his parents, and some revelations uncovered which changed some of the things he felt about his parents but ultimately didn’t negate the way he was actually treated, a point which was emphasized and really struck a chord with me - you might feel you have good reasons for doing something, but your reasons don’t really matter all that much to the person who got hurt by your actions. And in the end, we don’t always get closure. Sometimes, all we can do it move forward, vowing to be better than those who came before and learn from their mistakes, and that’s the path Penelope and Daniel ultimately have to take.
This is no fairy tale, despite the requisite happy ending. It’s a story of two people with difficult pasts finding in each other both comfort and a path forward. All of this leads to a story which feels very real and honest, despite the historical setting, and I have no hesitation at all in giving it five stars and recommending it as a thoroughly engrossing read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
February 20, 2019
This is the second book in this series, I have not read the first book but wish I had not that I was lost or that this can not be read as a standalone, I just like to start from the beginning. We meet Daniel Firth(Viscount Whitfield) he finds out that his father willed Rose Cottage to someone, who and why did he do that. Then we meet Penelope Pendleton who is the one that Rose Cottage was willed to, and it happens just when she needs it, but why was it left to her. Penelope and Daniel team up to find the answers on the reason but as they are locating those answers they also find trouble, why? WEll my friends you need to read, I did enjoy it but it was a little slower than I am used to and tend to like.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
March 27, 2019
This second book in Ms. Ashford’s The Way to a Lord’s Heart series was as enjoyable as the first one, although you really can read it as a stand alone.
I found Daniel and Penelope very compelling characters and their romance was believable, albeit a bit slow for my taste. It's the machinations of Earl of Macklin that had me grin while he went about his business of matchmaking.
The plot was intriguing and pace was steady, and I do recommend this book and the series as well.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
I found Daniel and Penelope very compelling characters and their romance was believable, albeit a bit slow for my taste. It's the machinations of Earl of Macklin that had me grin while he went about his business of matchmaking.
The plot was intriguing and pace was steady, and I do recommend this book and the series as well.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
April 10, 2020
A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford is the second book in the series of The Way to a Lord’s Heart. The series is based on an older gentleman, Arthur Shelton, Earl of Macklin is determined to help young men dealing with loss of family. He is a secondary character in all the stories in this series.
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield is struggling with all the information overload with taking over his new seat. Daniel’s parents were always on the move and paid no attention to taking care of their land and people. With their death, Daniel is overwhelmed with everything. Their papers for years and years and years are in piles everywhere. He is overwhelmed, but mostly he is curious. One of his father’s choices was to leave a cottage to Penelope Pendleton. Neither Daniel or Penelope know why, but for Penelope it is a life saver.
Daniel needs help. Penelope is willing to help. Daniel does not want to damage her reputation, but is falling in love with her. She does not want to drag Daniel into the ruin of her life, but she too is falling in love with him.
What a wonderful story! I really found this story had great characters, a nice little mystery and Arthur Shelton who seems to always be there. A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford is a fun, historical fiction read!
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield is struggling with all the information overload with taking over his new seat. Daniel’s parents were always on the move and paid no attention to taking care of their land and people. With their death, Daniel is overwhelmed with everything. Their papers for years and years and years are in piles everywhere. He is overwhelmed, but mostly he is curious. One of his father’s choices was to leave a cottage to Penelope Pendleton. Neither Daniel or Penelope know why, but for Penelope it is a life saver.
Daniel needs help. Penelope is willing to help. Daniel does not want to damage her reputation, but is falling in love with her. She does not want to drag Daniel into the ruin of her life, but she too is falling in love with him.
What a wonderful story! I really found this story had great characters, a nice little mystery and Arthur Shelton who seems to always be there. A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford is a fun, historical fiction read!
November 3, 2021
Two stars is generous.
It's not the worst HR I've ever read, but it just might be the most boring. I cannot recall the last time I was so bored reading a romance novel.
Daniel and Penelope are fine people but utterly bland and forgettable. Their interest in each other is flimsy and, honestly? felt like 8th grade. They just read like two adolescents who had crushes on each other.
Also: Daniel seems stupid. Truly. Like he has some intellectual disability. It wasn't his inability to organize, that's not the thing, it was more like he could NOT put one and one together and intuit what was going on in most situations. He seemed genuinely confused by Penelope's strategic thinking. It occurred to me that at some point in the future (maybe sooner rather than later), Penelope is going to get tired of her dumb husband.
The mix of mystery was not well done -- it was oddly plotted and ultimately meh.
It was all over the place, actually. Very uneven and disjointed. Do not recommend. Better books are out there.
It's not the worst HR I've ever read, but it just might be the most boring. I cannot recall the last time I was so bored reading a romance novel.
Daniel and Penelope are fine people but utterly bland and forgettable. Their interest in each other is flimsy and, honestly? felt like 8th grade. They just read like two adolescents who had crushes on each other.
Also: Daniel seems stupid. Truly. Like he has some intellectual disability. It wasn't his inability to organize, that's not the thing, it was more like he could NOT put one and one together and intuit what was going on in most situations. He seemed genuinely confused by Penelope's strategic thinking. It occurred to me that at some point in the future (maybe sooner rather than later), Penelope is going to get tired of her dumb husband.
The mix of mystery was not well done -- it was oddly plotted and ultimately meh.
It was all over the place, actually. Very uneven and disjointed. Do not recommend. Better books are out there.
July 25, 2021
2.5 A Lord Apart wasn't terrible, but wasn't super interesting either. In fact, I mostly thought the story was boring. No real conflict happens. Nothing steamy happens. The situation of the heroine is confusing at best. Hers was clearly supposed to be the main conflict, but her situation is told in one brief moment of past reflection and never really brought up again. Then there is the secondary plot of the Daniel's mother, which seems out of place and irrelevant other than to give 2 characters a motive to continue to harass Penelope further. But even the 'harassment' was bland. Nothing got me emotionally invested. The book focuses on the mundane- getting the H/h together despite having little chemistry, talking about Penelope's 'situation' ..and then the story just.. ends. Everything is neatly resolved off screen and the two live happily ever after... I guess.
January 16, 2019
I think Daniel gets quite shocked with his girl's boldness, the nan doesn't know what to do, “did you like it?” she asked. Daniel groped for words. One didn’t speak to young ladies about such matters. It wasn’t done. They would be scandalized and offended." I liked this book, I liked Daniel. It was an enjoyable read.
December 26, 2020
This is the second book in the "Way to a Lord's Heart" series. I loved Daniel and Penelope's story. They were very cute together. I loved how Daniel made Penelope feel better about the "scandal" in her life. Their fall into love was seamless and really sweet. I highly recommend this one and can't wait to dive into the next one.
June 15, 2024
Very slow paced historical romance.
The male main character is a nice guy left with an estate to get in order after his parents die on one of their many travels.
The female main character is a nice woman who had some family issues and is starting over.
She’s good at organizing things and he very much needs a secretary. There are a few sparks of romance but mostly the whole thing is about paperwork and politics.
There’s a vaguely happy conclusion with the feeling the characters just found useful things to do and wandered off.
Minimal violence. Vague sex scenes. Mild language. Family drama, grief, some bullying
The male main character is a nice guy left with an estate to get in order after his parents die on one of their many travels.
The female main character is a nice woman who had some family issues and is starting over.
She’s good at organizing things and he very much needs a secretary. There are a few sparks of romance but mostly the whole thing is about paperwork and politics.
There’s a vaguely happy conclusion with the feeling the characters just found useful things to do and wandered off.
Minimal violence. Vague sex scenes. Mild language. Family drama, grief, some bullying
January 14, 2019
This historical romance was a nice and quick read. I liked how detailed it was. Though the characters were a bit flat and the romance lacked chemistry.
I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 17, 2019
This is the second instalment in The Way to a Lord’s Heart series by Ashford. I was not aware of this when reading this book, and I could feel the connection to a series intertwined in the tale.
A Lord Apart begins interestingly enough with an impromptu grief counselling session care of the Earl of Macklin. He has gathered a group of grieving bachelors together for dinner and in the end strikes up a friendship with each of them. This appears to be the connection that will tie the series together…
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield has lost his estranged parents and now while trying to pick up the pieces and repair the family holdings he discovers that his parents have severed the dowager house and willed it to an unknown woman. Will she have more answers about his mysterious and distant parents or will she only be another problem left to him to resolve?
Penelope Pendleton has lost her father and now her brother. Unexpectedly she receives word that she has inherited Rose Cottage, the answer to all her troubles. Will the nosey Viscount next door unravel her past and take away this much needed fresh start?
I enjoyed Ashford’s characters and the mystery that they work together to save in this story. I would have preferred the love scenes to be more passionate due the the build-up and feelings expressed between the characters before they come together. This was a nice read but lacked the passion that it foreshadows.
A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford was released March 26, 2019.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Lord Apart begins interestingly enough with an impromptu grief counselling session care of the Earl of Macklin. He has gathered a group of grieving bachelors together for dinner and in the end strikes up a friendship with each of them. This appears to be the connection that will tie the series together…
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield has lost his estranged parents and now while trying to pick up the pieces and repair the family holdings he discovers that his parents have severed the dowager house and willed it to an unknown woman. Will she have more answers about his mysterious and distant parents or will she only be another problem left to him to resolve?
Penelope Pendleton has lost her father and now her brother. Unexpectedly she receives word that she has inherited Rose Cottage, the answer to all her troubles. Will the nosey Viscount next door unravel her past and take away this much needed fresh start?
I enjoyed Ashford’s characters and the mystery that they work together to save in this story. I would have preferred the love scenes to be more passionate due the the build-up and feelings expressed between the characters before they come together. This was a nice read but lacked the passion that it foreshadows.
A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford was released March 26, 2019.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 17, 2019
I loved this second book in Ms. Ashford’s The Way to a Lord’s Heart series. I found it just as enjoyable as the first. This story tells a tale of romance, but the hero and heroine are not the typical characters found in historical romances. The heroine doesn’t want to be rescued and the hero doesn’t see himself as such.
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, unexpectedly came into his title when his parents were killed in a shipwreck returning to India. Although, Daniel didn’t have a good or remotely caring relationship with his parents, he still finds that he misses them. They traveled constantly and he rarely saw them for more than a few days. As he takes over the duties as Viscount, Daniel realizes how much of a mess everything is and hates spending time trying to organize the multitude of papers that are scattered all over the house. He would much rather spend his time figuring out why Rose Cottage, a small house on his property, was left to a woman he had never heard of.
Penelope Pendleton was thrilled when she was told that she inherited Rose Cottage. Her benefactor wanted to remain anonymous and with the way her life had been turned upside down in the last year, Penelope didn’t question. She moved what was left of her prior life to this new home in search of peace. She brought a maid and an old family retainer. She just wanted to be left in quiet while she tried to figure out who left her this timely gift.
Penelope and Daniel each have their secrets. They both know the meaning of grief and what grief can do. They mourn for different reasons. Wanting to learn the secret of Rose Cottage while finding themselves attracted to each other adds layers to this romantic story. The more they dig through the papers at the estate, the more they learn about secrets that have been kept for years by both their families.
Those who read the first book will be pleased to learn that the Earl of Macklin is continuing to do his best to help young men of the Ton who are grieving while doing a little matchmaking on the side. He continues to help in the background. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book, this one can definitely stand on its own.
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, unexpectedly came into his title when his parents were killed in a shipwreck returning to India. Although, Daniel didn’t have a good or remotely caring relationship with his parents, he still finds that he misses them. They traveled constantly and he rarely saw them for more than a few days. As he takes over the duties as Viscount, Daniel realizes how much of a mess everything is and hates spending time trying to organize the multitude of papers that are scattered all over the house. He would much rather spend his time figuring out why Rose Cottage, a small house on his property, was left to a woman he had never heard of.
Penelope Pendleton was thrilled when she was told that she inherited Rose Cottage. Her benefactor wanted to remain anonymous and with the way her life had been turned upside down in the last year, Penelope didn’t question. She moved what was left of her prior life to this new home in search of peace. She brought a maid and an old family retainer. She just wanted to be left in quiet while she tried to figure out who left her this timely gift.
Penelope and Daniel each have their secrets. They both know the meaning of grief and what grief can do. They mourn for different reasons. Wanting to learn the secret of Rose Cottage while finding themselves attracted to each other adds layers to this romantic story. The more they dig through the papers at the estate, the more they learn about secrets that have been kept for years by both their families.
Those who read the first book will be pleased to learn that the Earl of Macklin is continuing to do his best to help young men of the Ton who are grieving while doing a little matchmaking on the side. He continues to help in the background. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book, this one can definitely stand on its own.
March 10, 2019
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, feels unprepared to put the estate in order after the untimely death of his aloof parents. All his life he has felt marginalized by his parents who traveled the world and the piles of paperwork they left behind gives him no insight into why they were always absent during his childhood. When he finds that Rose Cottage on the estate has a new owner, Miss Penelope Pendleton, he's even more confused. Who is this woman and how did she come to own a cottage on his estate. When he meets Penelope, there's something about her that soothes his soul. They embark on a journey together to organize stacks and stacks of paperwork trying to find out why Penelope was left the cottage.
I enjoy Miss Ashford's books, but I was on the fence about this one. Most of the book is Daniel and Penelope sorting through hundreds of years of paperwork. It was rather boring until they stumble upon evidence that his parents may not be what they seemed. The slow build-up of their romance was sweet, but I didn't really feel a connection. The Foreign Office agents added intrigue to the storyline although it was wrapped up very quickly.
I'll certainly read the next book from Ms. Ashford, but I'm hoping there's more than stuffy and dusty paperwork at the center of the story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to leave a review.
I enjoy Miss Ashford's books, but I was on the fence about this one. Most of the book is Daniel and Penelope sorting through hundreds of years of paperwork. It was rather boring until they stumble upon evidence that his parents may not be what they seemed. The slow build-up of their romance was sweet, but I didn't really feel a connection. The Foreign Office agents added intrigue to the storyline although it was wrapped up very quickly.
I'll certainly read the next book from Ms. Ashford, but I'm hoping there's more than stuffy and dusty paperwork at the center of the story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review and was not obligated to leave a review.
August 5, 2019
In this second novel of Ashford’s series, The Way to a Lord’s Heart, Penelope Pendleton has just come into a small inheritance as the new owner of Rose Cottage. However, she has come into her legacy under mysterious circumstances. Penelope is determined to discover her silent benefactor, but to her surprise, her search leads her straight into the vast nearby estate of the young Viscount, Daniel Frith. Daniel’s intrigued at the young woman who can work her way around an estate’s administrative papers with ease, but may be shocked at how closely are their families linked together. Upper crust British actress Rosalyn Landor narrates this Regency romance with elegant ease. Penelope’s quiet tones provide a nice contrast to Daniel’s gruff aristocratic voice in Landor’s performance. She provides amusing Cockney and Manchester accents for Penelope’s maid and other servants surrounding Frithgard Hall that add flair to the tale. Landor’s attempt at portraying sinister government agents fell slightly flat, but as Penelope and Daniel grapple with their abusive pasts, Landor’s narration dives deep with unusual depth of emotion. Her vocal range from classic British jovial to brightly aristocratic make her an ideal Regency romance narrator. Recommended for romance fans of all flavors.
March 31, 2019
Overall an enjoyable historical romance, but not as good as other books I have read in the genre.
I liked the relationship that developed between Daniel and Penelope throughout. I also enjoyed the side characters. If you prefer slow burn romances, you'll like this. Also, it's worth noting that there is pretty much zero smut in this. All of the "sexy" scenes are "fade to black" for the most part, so if you like smutty historical romances, I would look elsewhere.
I found it a little odd that the main conflict of the book was solved literally 2 pages before the end and the resolution was very instant. I expected the main characters to have to come up with and execute a detailed plan, but instead a friend of theirs just magically solved everything. It was just a bit too convenient.
I liked the relationship that developed between Daniel and Penelope throughout. I also enjoyed the side characters. If you prefer slow burn romances, you'll like this. Also, it's worth noting that there is pretty much zero smut in this. All of the "sexy" scenes are "fade to black" for the most part, so if you like smutty historical romances, I would look elsewhere.
I found it a little odd that the main conflict of the book was solved literally 2 pages before the end and the resolution was very instant. I expected the main characters to have to come up with and execute a detailed plan, but instead a friend of theirs just magically solved everything. It was just a bit too convenient.
April 11, 2023
I bought this book in Victoria, BC, because wherever I go, I try to patronize a book store or library book sale. I did not have my trusty notebook with me, so I bought a new book without realizing it was the 2d in a series, but on reading a synopsis of the first book, I think that is fine.
Historically this book takes place in 1819 right after the Peterloo massacre. This is important because the heroines brother is killed there and then charged as a traitor. She is quite ruined, but fortunately she has inherited a house. Viscount Whitfield is surprised as he had no idea his father left it to her. Several mysteries ensue and are satisfactorily solved. I have only read 1 other Ashford book, but will be on the lookout for more.
Historically this book takes place in 1819 right after the Peterloo massacre. This is important because the heroines brother is killed there and then charged as a traitor. She is quite ruined, but fortunately she has inherited a house. Viscount Whitfield is surprised as he had no idea his father left it to her. Several mysteries ensue and are satisfactorily solved. I have only read 1 other Ashford book, but will be on the lookout for more.
April 3, 2019
A very enjoyable series. This was a nice addition to it. While reading, I had some flat moments where the story felt like it needed more energy and life. Later it felt like I read it too quickly so I reread it again. All in all I must say I am intrigued by the series and the books I have read so far. It has suspense, some passion, a little silliness and sometimes mystery. With this many levels in the book it engages me as the reader. I had to give it four stars because of the lack of energy at times but all in all I will be looking to continue reading this series. It is a good read. I was given a ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards, Anna
September 24, 2020
Setting: Derbyshire, England Regarding the date...see below
Genre: historical romance
Penelope Pendleton has inherited Rose Cottage, a property previously connected (but un-entailed) to Frithgerd Hall, the ancestral estate of the Viscounts Whitfield. The present Viscount, Daniel Frith, wants to know why his father willed her the property. That is news to her — the bequest was anonymous. So they start off with this in common — wanting to know why Rose Cottage had been left to her, and why anonymously. Daniel is happy to have Penelope help him find the answer in the mountain of disarranged paper in the estate office. Seriously disarranged. Piles and piles worth of paper chaos into which Daniel is making no inroads toward organization. When Penelope sees the disarray, her eyes light up. This is the kind of thing she loves to do, what she did in her old life. So as they begin their search for an answer to the why of her inheritance, Penelope begins to endear herself to Daniel with her organizational skills. She is a little slower, but her affection for him grows over the short course of the book.
Both main characters have emotional issues. It is clear to the reader from the beginning, and slowly revealed to Penelope, that Daniel feels both an anxious kind of love and resentment for his parents. From the time he was a baby they spent most of their time off on their world travels. Even when they were home, they gave him little attention. Though he was the heir, his father didn’t even see to the training Daniel would need to oversee his responsibilities. Penelope is more reticent about her background . It isn’t until Daniel’s friend Lord Macklin sends inquiries that Penelope confesses where she is from — Lancashire; who her parents were — the late Sir Jared Pendleton, Baronet; and who her brother was — the late Sir Philip Pendleton, Sir Jared’s heir. And, oh yeah, Philip was posthumously convicted of treason for his involvement in the Luddite movement. Even as their regard for one another grows while they search for clues to why Rose Cottage was left to Penelope, she worries that any deeper association with her will ruin Daniel socially.
The basic plot of the story is fine, if average. The writing itself is correct. Daniel is an interesting study of an adult effectively abandoned as a child, and Penelope certainly would have PTSD given her treatment by the men from the Home Office. But they rarely leave the realm of the doldrums. The only humor is provided by secondary characters. However, even with all that, it’s a pleasant enough read, except...
Okay, here are the issues I had with this book.
1. Penelope identifies her brother as a Luddite, but does not define it correctly. She describes him as having a fascination for the workings of the coal mine on their estate, and “he used to visit the new factories in Manchester. Mechanical things always fascinated him”. Luddites were not of the landed class. Luddites were stockingers and other textile craftsmen who vandalized textile mills as acts of protest. The Luddite movement was a rather violent, labor-focused rebellion in northern England from 1811-16. So the problem with identifying Philip as a Luddite is that he wasn’t a craftsman in the textile trade. Then... it got worse. She said, in relation to Philip’s Luddite activity, that he was “murdered at the Peterloo massacre.” And Daniel clarifies, “Peterloo? The Luddite riot in Manchester?” Noooooooo! [I’m pretty sure I would be happier reading poorly-researched historical novels if I didn’t have a shallow, but broad knowledge of history. Even English history.] The Peterloo Massacre occurred on August 16, 1819 when some 60,000 unarmed men, women, and children gathered at St. Peter’s Field, Manchester to hear the radical Reformer orator Henry Hunt speak. The focus was on Parliamentary reform and for manhood suffrage (only 11% of England’s adult male population had the vote). So, to recap: Philip would not have been a Luddite because he was gentry, not a textile worker. The Luddite rebellion ended in 1816 with quick trials, convictions, and hanging of traitors and transportation of those guilty of lesser crimes. Those gathered at St. Peter’s Field were radical Reformers. Not Luddites. It also wasn’t a riot. It was an attack by yeomanry and regular army cavalry on a peaceful assembly. About 18 died and 400-700 were injured. While some radical reformers were tried and convicted of sedition, there were no traitors.
Is that enough history? Yes, I had to look up the details (and almost fell down the rabbit hole of English history), but I already knew the one had nothing to do with the other. And look how much we learned from just a couple of hours on Google!
You know, poor research by some authors in the genre is one of the reasons romance has a bad reputation.
Okay, moving on...
2. The reason for the bequest is finally revealed! Yeah, so they find the contents of Lady Whitfield’s desk which includes her correspondence. Penelope recognizes her own mother’s handwriting on some of the letters. But wait. Why do they also find letters from Lady Whitfield to Penelope’s mother? Wouldn’t those have stayed with the recipient/her surviving family? It would have been just as easy for the plot to have Penelope remembering correspondence among her mother’s personal effects she had kept.. Would have made more sense than both sides of a correspondence being in the possession of one of the participants?
3. As for the bequest... Serena, Lady Whitfield insists that the cottage be left to the daughter of her dearest friend. But it must be an anonymous inheritance. Serena said so in one of her letters. Really? Then the first thing Daniel asks Penelope is why his father willed Rose Cottage to her.
4. And that’s another thing. Someone born into the nobility or upper class in the late 1700s could Conceivably live into their 60s, maybe even their 80s. If Daniel’s parents had not met an untimely end, there was a chance Penelope would not have inherited it until she was a grandmother.
The audio performance by Rosalyn Landor is, as usual, quite excellent. She made it so enjoyable I was able to stick with the book not once, but twice!
Will I read the next entry in this series? Perhaps. If I can get an electronic copy from the library, or maybe if it’s available in the audible Escape programs I’ll borrow it.
Genre: historical romance
Penelope Pendleton has inherited Rose Cottage, a property previously connected (but un-entailed) to Frithgerd Hall, the ancestral estate of the Viscounts Whitfield. The present Viscount, Daniel Frith, wants to know why his father willed her the property. That is news to her — the bequest was anonymous. So they start off with this in common — wanting to know why Rose Cottage had been left to her, and why anonymously. Daniel is happy to have Penelope help him find the answer in the mountain of disarranged paper in the estate office. Seriously disarranged. Piles and piles worth of paper chaos into which Daniel is making no inroads toward organization. When Penelope sees the disarray, her eyes light up. This is the kind of thing she loves to do, what she did in her old life. So as they begin their search for an answer to the why of her inheritance, Penelope begins to endear herself to Daniel with her organizational skills. She is a little slower, but her affection for him grows over the short course of the book.
Both main characters have emotional issues. It is clear to the reader from the beginning, and slowly revealed to Penelope, that Daniel feels both an anxious kind of love and resentment for his parents. From the time he was a baby they spent most of their time off on their world travels. Even when they were home, they gave him little attention. Though he was the heir, his father didn’t even see to the training Daniel would need to oversee his responsibilities. Penelope is more reticent about her background . It isn’t until Daniel’s friend Lord Macklin sends inquiries that Penelope confesses where she is from — Lancashire; who her parents were — the late Sir Jared Pendleton, Baronet; and who her brother was — the late Sir Philip Pendleton, Sir Jared’s heir. And, oh yeah, Philip was posthumously convicted of treason for his involvement in the Luddite movement. Even as their regard for one another grows while they search for clues to why Rose Cottage was left to Penelope, she worries that any deeper association with her will ruin Daniel socially.
The basic plot of the story is fine, if average. The writing itself is correct. Daniel is an interesting study of an adult effectively abandoned as a child, and Penelope certainly would have PTSD given her treatment by the men from the Home Office. But they rarely leave the realm of the doldrums. The only humor is provided by secondary characters. However, even with all that, it’s a pleasant enough read, except...
Okay, here are the issues I had with this book.
1. Penelope identifies her brother as a Luddite, but does not define it correctly. She describes him as having a fascination for the workings of the coal mine on their estate, and “he used to visit the new factories in Manchester. Mechanical things always fascinated him”. Luddites were not of the landed class. Luddites were stockingers and other textile craftsmen who vandalized textile mills as acts of protest. The Luddite movement was a rather violent, labor-focused rebellion in northern England from 1811-16. So the problem with identifying Philip as a Luddite is that he wasn’t a craftsman in the textile trade. Then... it got worse. She said, in relation to Philip’s Luddite activity, that he was “murdered at the Peterloo massacre.” And Daniel clarifies, “Peterloo? The Luddite riot in Manchester?” Noooooooo! [I’m pretty sure I would be happier reading poorly-researched historical novels if I didn’t have a shallow, but broad knowledge of history. Even English history.] The Peterloo Massacre occurred on August 16, 1819 when some 60,000 unarmed men, women, and children gathered at St. Peter’s Field, Manchester to hear the radical Reformer orator Henry Hunt speak. The focus was on Parliamentary reform and for manhood suffrage (only 11% of England’s adult male population had the vote). So, to recap: Philip would not have been a Luddite because he was gentry, not a textile worker. The Luddite rebellion ended in 1816 with quick trials, convictions, and hanging of traitors and transportation of those guilty of lesser crimes. Those gathered at St. Peter’s Field were radical Reformers. Not Luddites. It also wasn’t a riot. It was an attack by yeomanry and regular army cavalry on a peaceful assembly. About 18 died and 400-700 were injured. While some radical reformers were tried and convicted of sedition, there were no traitors.
Is that enough history? Yes, I had to look up the details (and almost fell down the rabbit hole of English history), but I already knew the one had nothing to do with the other. And look how much we learned from just a couple of hours on Google!
You know, poor research by some authors in the genre is one of the reasons romance has a bad reputation.
Okay, moving on...
2. The reason for the bequest is finally revealed! Yeah, so they find the contents of Lady Whitfield’s desk which includes her correspondence. Penelope recognizes her own mother’s handwriting on some of the letters. But wait. Why do they also find letters from Lady Whitfield to Penelope’s mother? Wouldn’t those have stayed with the recipient/her surviving family? It would have been just as easy for the plot to have Penelope remembering correspondence among her mother’s personal effects she had kept.. Would have made more sense than both sides of a correspondence being in the possession of one of the participants?
3. As for the bequest... Serena, Lady Whitfield insists that the cottage be left to the daughter of her dearest friend. But it must be an anonymous inheritance. Serena said so in one of her letters. Really? Then the first thing Daniel asks Penelope is why his father willed Rose Cottage to her.
4. And that’s another thing. Someone born into the nobility or upper class in the late 1700s could Conceivably live into their 60s, maybe even their 80s. If Daniel’s parents had not met an untimely end, there was a chance Penelope would not have inherited it until she was a grandmother.
The audio performance by Rosalyn Landor is, as usual, quite excellent. She made it so enjoyable I was able to stick with the book not once, but twice!
Will I read the next entry in this series? Perhaps. If I can get an electronic copy from the library, or maybe if it’s available in the audible Escape programs I’ll borrow it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
A LORD APART brings us an intriguing mystery of why a stranger has been bequeathed a cottage on Viscount Whitfield’s property… and a few other surprises as well. This is the second story in Ms. Ashford’s The Way To a Lord’s Heart series, and although there are a few connections (one if not true matchmaking gentleman, then at least a romantic instigator) nothing that would leave a reader lost or wondering what is going on. I am a reader who needs to start at the beginning of any series, but if you aren’t then you’ll find an enjoyable romance… and might be a bit tempted to go back for the first story.
The surprising inheritance of Rose Cottage couldn’t have happened at a better moment for Penelope. Due to her brother’s actions, she is facing not only danger but having to leave her former life behind. She has no idea of who gave or why they gifted her this new home, yet she is grateful beyond words for the safe haven.
Daniel’s parents were killed in a shipwreck leaving him a new title, a stranger living on his estate, a house full of unorganized paperwork and more than a few mysteries to unravel – the main one being who in the world is Penelope and why was she given Rose Cottage.
In trying to figure out why she now occupies Rose Cottage, Daniel discovers that Penelope once helped her father manage his estates and she is, in fact, quite good with paper organizing. As they work their way through untold years of dusty, old papers they begin to acknowledge an attraction between them… as well as some more than curious facts starting to appear in those old papers. Now it’s up to this couple to face down danger together, solve a few mysteries and fall in love along the way.
I enjoyed my time with A LORD APART. It’s not a fast-paced romance, while there are dangers and several mysteries to be untangled it certainly is a slower story than I’m used to from Ms. Ashford. That does not mean that it’s not an enjoyable read, it definitely is, simply a pace that I wasn’t expecting. Both Daniel and Penelope have to face family issues, ones that even to this day affect their lives. Their falling in love was a simmering romance, one that has its own pace and destination. My heart broke for them both, in different ways, and their blossoming love is also helping to heal those parts of their pasts that haunt them. If you enjoy Historical Romance, then I would not hesitate to recommend this story or this series. You’ll discover an interesting couple, some intriguing mysteries to solve and a love worth waiting for.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
A LORD APART brings us an intriguing mystery of why a stranger has been bequeathed a cottage on Viscount Whitfield’s property… and a few other surprises as well. This is the second story in Ms. Ashford’s The Way To a Lord’s Heart series, and although there are a few connections (one if not true matchmaking gentleman, then at least a romantic instigator) nothing that would leave a reader lost or wondering what is going on. I am a reader who needs to start at the beginning of any series, but if you aren’t then you’ll find an enjoyable romance… and might be a bit tempted to go back for the first story.
The surprising inheritance of Rose Cottage couldn’t have happened at a better moment for Penelope. Due to her brother’s actions, she is facing not only danger but having to leave her former life behind. She has no idea of who gave or why they gifted her this new home, yet she is grateful beyond words for the safe haven.
Daniel’s parents were killed in a shipwreck leaving him a new title, a stranger living on his estate, a house full of unorganized paperwork and more than a few mysteries to unravel – the main one being who in the world is Penelope and why was she given Rose Cottage.
In trying to figure out why she now occupies Rose Cottage, Daniel discovers that Penelope once helped her father manage his estates and she is, in fact, quite good with paper organizing. As they work their way through untold years of dusty, old papers they begin to acknowledge an attraction between them… as well as some more than curious facts starting to appear in those old papers. Now it’s up to this couple to face down danger together, solve a few mysteries and fall in love along the way.
I enjoyed my time with A LORD APART. It’s not a fast-paced romance, while there are dangers and several mysteries to be untangled it certainly is a slower story than I’m used to from Ms. Ashford. That does not mean that it’s not an enjoyable read, it definitely is, simply a pace that I wasn’t expecting. Both Daniel and Penelope have to face family issues, ones that even to this day affect their lives. Their falling in love was a simmering romance, one that has its own pace and destination. My heart broke for them both, in different ways, and their blossoming love is also helping to heal those parts of their pasts that haunt them. If you enjoy Historical Romance, then I would not hesitate to recommend this story or this series. You’ll discover an interesting couple, some intriguing mysteries to solve and a love worth waiting for.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
July 8, 2023
An easy read that was enjoyable and then quickly forgettable.
Daniel, Viscount Whitfield has recently ascended the title after the deaths of his parents in a shipwreck. He was never close to them, as his parents travelled abroad for much of his life while he stayed in England. The estate's paperwork is in complete disarray, with literally century's worth of documents scattered throughout the house.
In the late Viscount's will Rose cottage (a small building on the fringe of the estate) has been bequeathed anonymously to Penelope Pendleton.
Rose Cottage is a godsend for Penelope, who is all alone in the world, after the deaths of her parents and brother. Unfortunately her brother was a hotheaded reformer who was posthumously found guilty of treason. Penelope's family home and her brother's baronetcy were reverted to the crown, despite Penelope's innocence of all crimes. She has a small stipend from her late mother's estate, which is enough for her and her two retainers yo live frugally in her new home.
Daniel is determined to figure out why his father left Penelope Rose cottage, despite their having never met. Daniel and Penelope form a friendship which is strengthened when he invites her to help him organise the chaos of the estate records. Penelope is keen to help. She loved doing the books at her father's estate and has been feeling aimless since her brother's death.
The two MC's were sweet with each other and the proximity romance trope is well handled. There was a small amount of external conflict from government officials from Penelope's past, but barely enough to cause real issues.
This book contains very mildly descriptive love scenes.
Daniel, Viscount Whitfield has recently ascended the title after the deaths of his parents in a shipwreck. He was never close to them, as his parents travelled abroad for much of his life while he stayed in England. The estate's paperwork is in complete disarray, with literally century's worth of documents scattered throughout the house.
In the late Viscount's will Rose cottage (a small building on the fringe of the estate) has been bequeathed anonymously to Penelope Pendleton.
Rose Cottage is a godsend for Penelope, who is all alone in the world, after the deaths of her parents and brother. Unfortunately her brother was a hotheaded reformer who was posthumously found guilty of treason. Penelope's family home and her brother's baronetcy were reverted to the crown, despite Penelope's innocence of all crimes. She has a small stipend from her late mother's estate, which is enough for her and her two retainers yo live frugally in her new home.
Daniel is determined to figure out why his father left Penelope Rose cottage, despite their having never met. Daniel and Penelope form a friendship which is strengthened when he invites her to help him organise the chaos of the estate records. Penelope is keen to help. She loved doing the books at her father's estate and has been feeling aimless since her brother's death.
The two MC's were sweet with each other and the proximity romance trope is well handled. There was a small amount of external conflict from government officials from Penelope's past, but barely enough to cause real issues.
This book contains very mildly descriptive love scenes.
March 26, 2019
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, age 27, recently lost his parents when their ship went down in a storm. The couple had loved to travel, exploring new places, and that’s how they spent most of their lives.
Since becoming the Viscount and owner of the family estate, Frithgerd, Daniel has been overwhelmed with the mess of papers piled up in no sort of order. It appears that the estate manager also left some time ago. After spending days trying to sort through the papers, Daniel becomes more and more frustrated.
Penelope Pendleton, age 23, is riding in a coach with her maid, Kitty, when she is overtaken by a coughing fit. The smoky factory air of Manchester has irritated her lungs for a long time now, and she hopes the clean air of Yorkshire will help her. Her destination is Rose Cottage, a small cottage on Daniel’s estate. When he meets her, they both realize they don’t know why his father left her the cottage. It has been uninhabited for some time so Daniel insists on sending people to clean it for her.
As Daniel and Penelope get to know one another, he confides that he has a mess of papers to sort and she volunteers to help him as this is something she has done before and she is quite good at it. They are hoping that they also find out why his father left Rose Cottage to her. She confides that after her parents died, her brother was suspected of being a Luddite before his death which resulted in her losing her home. Now, she is very grateful to have received the gift of Rose Cottage.
In sorting the papers, they find some journals that could have some devastating repercussions if they got in the wrong hands. Will they be able to find out the meaning of these journals? Will their togetherness lead to something more?
I have read many books by Jane Ashford. Some of them have been confusing so readers must pay very close attention to what they are reading. The author adds quite a few subplots which all come together in the end to made for a great read. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Since becoming the Viscount and owner of the family estate, Frithgerd, Daniel has been overwhelmed with the mess of papers piled up in no sort of order. It appears that the estate manager also left some time ago. After spending days trying to sort through the papers, Daniel becomes more and more frustrated.
Penelope Pendleton, age 23, is riding in a coach with her maid, Kitty, when she is overtaken by a coughing fit. The smoky factory air of Manchester has irritated her lungs for a long time now, and she hopes the clean air of Yorkshire will help her. Her destination is Rose Cottage, a small cottage on Daniel’s estate. When he meets her, they both realize they don’t know why his father left her the cottage. It has been uninhabited for some time so Daniel insists on sending people to clean it for her.
As Daniel and Penelope get to know one another, he confides that he has a mess of papers to sort and she volunteers to help him as this is something she has done before and she is quite good at it. They are hoping that they also find out why his father left Rose Cottage to her. She confides that after her parents died, her brother was suspected of being a Luddite before his death which resulted in her losing her home. Now, she is very grateful to have received the gift of Rose Cottage.
In sorting the papers, they find some journals that could have some devastating repercussions if they got in the wrong hands. Will they be able to find out the meaning of these journals? Will their togetherness lead to something more?
I have read many books by Jane Ashford. Some of them have been confusing so readers must pay very close attention to what they are reading. The author adds quite a few subplots which all come together in the end to made for a great read. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 28, 2019
Daniel Frith, Viscount Whitfield, did not have a great relationship with his parents. They were always off on some grand adventure leaving him behind. When their boat sinks off the coast of India, they also leave behind centuries of paperwork. With nothing organized, Daniel is losing his mind. Furthermore, he can't figure out why Penelope Pendleton would have been left the Rose House.
Penelope doesn't know either but she is entirely grateful. The life she is leaving behind is chaotic and not by her choice. She's just hoping she can settle quietly in the country and lead a life where people don't know her or connect her to her brother. But she does miss managing her family's household. And since Daniel has some management needs of his own...
I didn't love the resolution of the men who were following Penelope. It was wrapped up too quickly and didn't give the satisfaction of actually seeing the end of it. Penelope and David's relationship is sort of the same way. A nice slow burn through most of the book and then wraps up too quickly.
Penelope doesn't know either but she is entirely grateful. The life she is leaving behind is chaotic and not by her choice. She's just hoping she can settle quietly in the country and lead a life where people don't know her or connect her to her brother. But she does miss managing her family's household. And since Daniel has some management needs of his own...
I didn't love the resolution of the men who were following Penelope. It was wrapped up too quickly and didn't give the satisfaction of actually seeing the end of it. Penelope and David's relationship is sort of the same way. A nice slow burn through most of the book and then wraps up too quickly.
April 2, 2019
I received a copy of A Lord Apart by Jane Ashford from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I have read Jane Ashford a few times and she is always a hit or miss. This is the second in her The Way to a Lord's Heart series but can be read as a standalone since I have not read the first book in the series.
After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith is struggling to unravel the family paperwork. He is surprised however, to find out that his father has left a house to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about Penelope Pendleton and is unsure if he even wants to; until he realizes she is wonderful at organization.
After a year of chaos, Penelope has no idea why she was given Rose Cottage by a complete stranger. But, it's a godsend after he brother disgraces her family by his reckless actions. Now struggling to get use to this new life, Penelope tries to maintain a detached air around Daniel. But that proves difficult and the laws of attraction pulls them both towards one another.
I loved the description of the book but the writing left something wanting. Both Daniel and Penelope felt only about 3/4 developed as if something was missing. The story and plot were all very predictable and I never figured out some of the secondary characters. #ALordApart #NetGalley
After his parents' sudden death, Daniel Frith is struggling to unravel the family paperwork. He is surprised however, to find out that his father has left a house to a complete stranger. He knows nothing about Penelope Pendleton and is unsure if he even wants to; until he realizes she is wonderful at organization.
After a year of chaos, Penelope has no idea why she was given Rose Cottage by a complete stranger. But, it's a godsend after he brother disgraces her family by his reckless actions. Now struggling to get use to this new life, Penelope tries to maintain a detached air around Daniel. But that proves difficult and the laws of attraction pulls them both towards one another.
I loved the description of the book but the writing left something wanting. Both Daniel and Penelope felt only about 3/4 developed as if something was missing. The story and plot were all very predictable and I never figured out some of the secondary characters. #ALordApart #NetGalley
June 16, 2019
Daniel Frith is the new Viscount Whitfield after his parent's sudden death. He has discovered that his father has left a house to a complete stranger.
Penelope Pendelton is relieved to discover that she has inherited Rose Cottage. She is almost destitute after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. Penelope wants to stay out of the way of Viscount Whitfield, yet they are drawn together as they discover how entwined their families are.
I enjoyed reading this novel. Penelope had to be a strong woman due to losing her house after her brother's disgrace. Daniel is just lost. His parents have died and he is realizing that he never knew his absent parents. I liked how the story flowed with added humor due to dogs and goats.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!
Penelope Pendelton is relieved to discover that she has inherited Rose Cottage. She is almost destitute after her brother's reckless actions disgraced her family. Penelope wants to stay out of the way of Viscount Whitfield, yet they are drawn together as they discover how entwined their families are.
I enjoyed reading this novel. Penelope had to be a strong woman due to losing her house after her brother's disgrace. Daniel is just lost. His parents have died and he is realizing that he never knew his absent parents. I liked how the story flowed with added humor due to dogs and goats.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!
January 23, 2019
A sweet romantic historical, with a bit of intrigue. This is the second book in The Way to a Lord's Heart series.
Daniel Frith, aka Viscount Whitfield has a mystery on his hands. Who has his father willed the Rose Cottage to...and why?
The fact Penelope Pendleton was willed the Rose Cottage was a blessing in the hell her life had become, At no fault of her own. She'd like to know why, but she has no clue.
Searching for answers together, they not only find them... but also trouble. It's followed Penelope here and they now have to find a way to end her persecution.
Ms. Ashford's descriptions and characters make for a very enjoyable read.
I was granted an ARC from NetGalley to peruse and loved this tale.
Daniel Frith, aka Viscount Whitfield has a mystery on his hands. Who has his father willed the Rose Cottage to...and why?
The fact Penelope Pendleton was willed the Rose Cottage was a blessing in the hell her life had become, At no fault of her own. She'd like to know why, but she has no clue.
Searching for answers together, they not only find them... but also trouble. It's followed Penelope here and they now have to find a way to end her persecution.
Ms. Ashford's descriptions and characters make for a very enjoyable read.
I was granted an ARC from NetGalley to peruse and loved this tale.
June 24, 2019
Daniel Firth, Viscount Whitfield is dealing with the sudden death of his parents who he wasn't very close to, the mess of paper work that was left behind and the mystery of why Rose Cottage was willed to someone he doesn't know. Penelope Pendleton is grateful for the anonymous bequest that was left to her as now that her father & brother are dead and her brother was labeled a traitor she was left with nothing. As Daniel and Penelope deal with the hurts in their lives and search for the answers they will become friends and possible more. Enjoyable second installment of the series. Looking forward to book 3
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