Truly Beloved

True Gentlemen #11

by Grace Burrowes

Fabianus Haviland, Viscount Penweather, did not journey to the wilds of Dorsetshire in the dead of winter to engage in yet another dalliance with yet another lonely widow. Being a trifle lonely himself—only a trifle—he's looking for a fresh start in fresh surrounds.

Fabianus has always enjoyed the company of sensible women, though, and Lady Daisy is very sensible. Her ladyship doesn't mince words regarding disappointing marital experiences, is ferociously devoted to her children, and has an immediate rapport with Penweather's small daughter. When Daisy's happiness is threatened by her in-laws, Penweather is honor-bound to intervene. Soon Daisy will have to choose, between her children and the man who makes her dream once again of the kind of happily ever after she'd thought could never be hers.

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

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2021

About the author

Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.

It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.

While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")

Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)

To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.

Reviews

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

A signature Burrowes read with a delicious man ready to be supportive and wise, not authoritarian. A man who knows the meaning of consent. A lovely widow who is about to be scammed by her dreadful brother in law. A delightful group of children, and those Dorning men and their women.

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book at all. The two main characters were supposed to be so crazy about each other and yet I never understood that relationship, since there was never any depth to the development of it. I realize this author is the queen of conversation but the dialogue becomes so ponderous and unrealistic I could barely get through it. No one had any guts to stand up to the so-called villain until the last chapter, and since it was before the big reveal and he rolled over and was defeated without the big reveal, why wasn’t it done long before. What was with all her brothers? I’ve read all their stories and they’re all so wonderful, and they couldn’t figure out a way to eliminate this piece of shit? And then the hero, his constant blathering of women’s rights? Not even believable in this day and age let alone during this period. I think the thing that disappointed me the most was the authors trashing of all of the brothers. She has written all of these books about how wonderful and strong and powerful and then they can’t do anything to help their sister. I thought the whole book was poorly conceived. And if I could figure out where the item was why did it take her until the last to figure it out and then all at once? The location comes to her miraculously, and that it’s never explained. Why didn’t it come to her back in the first chapter when I had already figured it out? Just stupid.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The H is attracted to the widowed h from their first meeting. Of course he has a history to share, and her situation is tenuous at best. There's an evil uncle, a missing will, so many children to manage and a mystery to solve. The writing style suited the slow reveal of how this couple had to work for their HEA.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed it but there were some serious problems = 2.5* rounded up because the nice bits were lovely. (but a reader who has not read any previous books would probably enjoy more)

Fabianus, Viscount Penwether is visiting the Dorning's while he looks into purchasing some local property as he wants a fresh start with his young daughter. In his past he spent a lot of time with widows. Sometimes as lovers, sometimes as friends. Now he is a widower himself. Daisy is the youngest of the Dorning family and a widow with three kids at 25(ish?). So when they meet they are able to talk quite bluntly about loss and grief. This was all very cerebral and full of mutual respect. In fact Fabianus is a big believer in widows being able to manage their lives themselves. This naturally appeals to the modern female reader. While it was lovely and made me respect him it also was the source of one of my main issues. It went wayyyyy too far. At the end he even scolds his host, and her older brother, about how to talk to his wife. There was no point to it and it was utterly unbelievable.

A bigger issue for me was that it was a lot of telling not showing. The much of the final denouement takes place off page. In fact several events are only spoken of after. And I still have no idea why Daisy was suddenly able to locate the required paperwork. I'm sure every reader knew where it was from moment 1. And after suffering through all her searching and worrying it would have been nice to have been included in the ah-ha moment.

And finally her family. Fabianus and Daisy are both irritated with them for being dithering idiots who can't seem to talk to her about her very real problems arising from her husband's death. One brother knows she could lose her children and doesn't tell her for weeks and weeks. The others are just as ineffective. I did think that it was not an unreasonable portrayal of how women could be ignored and treated like property, even by those men that love her. But these men were all heroes in their own books. They are supposed to be true gentlemen. We as readers have come to love them. And now we can not help but think less of them. I truly wonder why Burrowes went with this.

I will, of course, read the next book.

[R. Beach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love Grace Burrowes books and this one wasn't an exception to that rule. However, let me just say that when I have developed a fictional relationship with such a family as the Dornings it makes it difficult for me to believe that the men in this family would allow such a situation as what Daisy was going through to exist. Number one on any of those brothers minds when it came to the future safety of their sisters and their children would be what would happen if their husbands were to predecease them. The fact that Grey did not demand to have in his possession a copy of the will was a bit far-fetched for me to believe. I understand that this was the main antagonistic plot point but the lack of action and concern these men displayed put me right there with Fabianus in his regard of their self-centeredness and laziness when it came to their own family members. I wouldn't want anything to do with any of them if this were truly the case. Just my opinion on this. BUT otherwise this was a sweet love story that built quickly for Daisy and Fabianus. The children being present also was a lovely addition. AND I have to admit it was nice to have a story that wasn't riddled with mental illness issues. Not that they aren't a good plot device but the last few books have been quite heavy with them.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Daisy and Fabianus and their children. I loved Burrowes’ unfolding of Eric Fromm’s true character and her insight into the complexity of grief. However, after journeying through eight novels (I include Jonathan Tresham’s) with the Dorning family with enormous enjoyment, this novel made many of their number sink precipitously in my enjoyment of them. They came off as inept and callous too much of the time. Did no one ever hear of private inquiry agents? When Daisy and her children are threatened by an old will putting Eric’s dastardly older half brother in control of his family and estate, the brothers, without Fabianus’ goading would have just thrown up their hands. Despite obvious clues dropped frequently, i.e. McVeigh’s ties to Portsmouth, no one explored them. Characters repeatedly said things that didn’t add up but no one followed through. The clues were red flags waving, but the characters remained blind and strangely incurious.

On a personal note, in this time where so much malice, venal greed and selfishness is hiding under the skirt of self-righteousness I had to take a long break halfway through this novel, as I did the most recent Rags-to-Riches novel, because I just couldn’t face one more nasty bully, even on the page and knowing all would be well in the end.

[Louie Halfacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dependable

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure of the Dorning clan and would gladly recommend it to all. Very early on I knew where the latest will was located when the picture "Montagu and Friend" was mentioned with the words to take the picture before the Bible. Also it took way to long before anyone though about a newer will.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was hard to read but beautiful

[MichelleH H · Rating 5 out of 5]

MA-rather warm.
Truly Beloved brings together two people who are at slightly different stages of widowhood and widowerhood. Both recovering from challenging marriages, and each responsible for children and the challenges children suffering from losing one of their parents present. Add in a venal, greedy, villainous Uncle, a missing will, suspected spies in one or more households, a lawyer behaving unlawfully....

Our wonderful, swoon-worthy Hero, and our brave, intelligent, kind, and brilliantly wonderful mama to three children Heroine give each other what the other lacks. Isn't that the best scenario for any good relationship, but especially a burgeoning love affair and hopefully a marriage. What Daisy Dorning Fromm gives to Fabianus Haviland, Viscount Penweather is guidance by example in dealing with her own children and Penweather's child, patiently and realistically, cleverly and humously. She's not aware of how strong she appears, her strength is innate and also born of love and of enduring a challenging mother first and a challenging marriage second. In addition as things progress, she gives Penweather her love, but she's holding back fearing his attentions are temporary and her situation with the 'original will' and the stated guardian of her children. Penweather gives Lady Daisy the gifts of choice, acknowledgement and validity of her opinions (both things she has never experienced before from her parents, husband, or duffus brothers,) comfort, support, and love. But Penweather holds back too, believing her need of his comfort and devotion will only last through her mourning period while she is feeling the loss and challenges of early widowhood.

This is a typical trope of Burrowes', the attraction and ensuing devotion between two individuals that have untold difficulties to overcome to such a hopeless degree as to be impossible, before being together. I never get tired of it. Each situation in each of her novels is unique, and I never feel I'm reading the same story again. I imagine this comes from her day job in family law. Work for years in one profession and how many different, but related to that profession, situations will you observe again and again? There is in every story of Burrowes' a point reached, usually early on, when I get a heaviness of heart, a mood I go through knowing big trouble is coming. And I endure that willingly, gobbing up the heartbreaking inner dialog that goes with the actual dialog shared, and the character insights, the philosophy of life's situations. I'm a slow, savoring kind of reader so I catch things that could easily be lost to the speed reader. But her writing is what makes her such a favorite reread, because I catch things I'd forgotten or revisit things that touched me previously. There is a HEA, of course, all the more held dear because of finding it after such difficult circumstances.

Grace Burrowes is an auto buy for me. I'm always breathlessly awaiting the next story, which in this case is the last brother of the large Dorning family. Although for me it is a lot of fun watching the other family members pop in and out of the currently read story depending on need, this book Truly Beloved could be considered a stand-alone. Daisy's character barely showed up once in a different series. If you haven't read Burrowes I highly recommend her, and you could start with this one.

[Brandi Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to learn that Daisy was getting her own book when none of the other stories in the series indicated anything was amiss in her marriage.  Therefore, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  However, this entire series has been wonderful, every word, every moment so I knew I would not be disappointed.  There is a certain peace that comes with this series as the hero and heroine learn each other and fall in love.  It is not filled with angst and upheaval despite the passion and conflict they experience.  It makes you want to stay a bit longer, linger a bit, and get to know everyone better.  Then, at the end of the book, you are glad for the visit.  Truly Beloved is a perfect romantic read that will leaving you sighing with pleasure.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of stressful moments in Truly Beloved and feelings of anger towards Casriel. It's always interesting to see previous heroes from other characters' perspectives. Daisy telling off Casriel in the early chapters and Walter at the end were definitely highlights. The latter was a long time coming and I definitely cheered. Kind of a spoiler: I'm glad Eric wasn't a complete ass, but he was mostly one. I would love for Burrowes to write one story where the heroine's first marriage is a good one. Maybe she has and I've forgotten because of all of the bad ones.

[Kate_Nagy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good: I've never read a true clunker by this author (I've liked everything she's done, to a greater or lesser degree), and reading this book is like falling into a warm blanket with a pot of hot chocolate on a chilly day. In addition, Burrowes is more pointed and explicit about the very real down-side of being a woman in Regency England than is quite typical for the genre. I enjoyed that. I also appreciated her attempt to bring some complexity to poor dead Eric, a man who obviously contained multitudes (to say the least).

The not-so-good: I'll be repeating what many of my fellow reviewers have said, but Daisy's supposedly capable, caring, and protective family members were strangely passive throughout this entire novel. McVeigh is threatening to take Daisy's children -- their own family members -- away from her, and they're like "Wow, that sucks! Wish there were something we could do!" Why isn't Casriel calling a family council to brainstorm suggestions? Why NOT bring Sycamore in? (Miss me with the whole "He'll just whoop McVeigh's ass if we do" excuse. A) so what, and B) Sycamore runs a high-end gaming hell. He knows people who know people. He's a RESOURCE, gosh darn it.) If nothing else, they could have taken advantage of Worth's supposedly supernatural financial abilities and thrown some money at McVeigh to make him fade away.

Overall, it's a fun read but not one of Burrowes' standouts.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had decided that I was through with all those ridiculous Dornings; I made an exception for Daisy....

A widowed Daisy Fromm (née Dorning) is trying to find a way forward for herself and her three children following the death of her ne’er-do-well husband Eric. Despite his assurances to the contrary, it appears that his will left control of the entire estate and the children to his brother Walter, who can’t wait to take over. Enter Fabianus Penweather (!!), a Dorning family acquaintance and widower, who gets drawn into Daisy’s efforts to keep her little family together. As Daisy and Fabianus try to uncover Walter’s nefarious motives, they fall hard for each other, but Daisy knows she will do whatever it takes to stay with her children. Is there a future for them???

In many ways this story is more about Daisy and Fabianus coming to terms with their previous marriages than it is about their present. Daisy had endured her marriage to Eric - while he wasn’t abusive, he was mostly emotionally absent, but she discovers there was more to him than she’d given credit for, and learns to grieve for what could have been. Fabianus’s marriage had also been empty, and, like Daisy, he must confront his feelings of guilt and anger at his dead wife.

It’s Grace Burrowes, so the writing is exceptional. If I had to quibble, I’d say that the whole sub-plot with Walter seemed a little strange and contrived.

But it’s a sweet romance.

[Lynne m lent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well told story about the courage to love and protect

Our story begins after the unexpected death of the squire, Lady Daisy's husband of eight years. Her home, the Grange is near to her brother, the Earl. Enter VIscount Penweather and the devious brother in law, older brother of Lady Daisy's deceased husband.
Grace Burrowes writes about children with much understanding and humor.
Lady Daisy's children are by turns wise, innocent and funny. Most parents will wish that they had some of Lady Daisy's lovely parenting and management
skills.
The characters are well developed, and relationships change and grow. Characters from previous books about the Dorn family are a welcome part of the story.
I appreciate the character's insights and the strength that they gain through challenges and interactions with siblings,
play, spouses, lovers, and friends. The scenes that include sex are tasteful and loving.
The setting is described so clearly that I think I could recognize the houses and the counties that the author writes about.
Ms Burrowes is so skilled a eriter, that I often reread her books and save some of the meaningful quotes to look back on.
I highly recommend this satisfying and memorable book.

[Seema · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the most boring book that I have read of Grace Burrowes. All her books follow a pattern. This one with its innumerable dialogues and blathering drove me bananas. The plot was obvious and even though I tried to sympathize with the poor widow and widower it was nearly impossible. It felt like the story started in the first 100 pages or so and finished in the last 100 pages. In between was literally fillers. Three to four sexual encounters of a few pages at least. Some ranting about women's rights. A woman who gets pregnant even though her lover couldn’t get his wife of two years pregnant. Heroes of other books turn into dumb idiots in this one. Overall I just tried to find out how the villain was going to get his just desserts. That happened suddenly in a couple of pages towards the end.

[Becool · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are 2 very generous stars.
The idea of the story was good, the execution, not so much. I found the romance tepid and it didn’t make any sense to me, what evs, i skimmed it. I did like Daisy, but I wasn’t crazy about Fabianus (part of it had to do with his name) all the men in Daisy’s life were pretty useless, which didn’t make sense (again) assuming they were rocking hero’s in their own books (which i have not read, but one can assume).
I figured out what’s as going on early, that’s fine, but it hurt so much that no one else did. Honestly! Every thing was pointing to Portsmouth!
Why didn’t Eric give Cas a copy of the updated will, if he didn’t trust anyone?
Surprisingly, the children were not too bad.

[Beachreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ran out of books to read, so I downloaded four electronic books from different genres from Overdrive to my Kindle: romance, mystery, and a historical fiction.

I haven't read much romance in recent years because the books I did try were disappointing. Most of them ended up In the DNF category. But this is a fast read with good characters and a few interesting secrets. The plot is an often used trope--husband dies, widow is at the mercy of male relatives. There are some contrived scenes and the final confrontation between the widow and the male relative were underwhelming and unrealistic.

2.5 stars rounded up.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The romance was in the background fully supported by the events surrounding Daisy and her swain. I can't type his name, it's awful. Daisy's loving family was so respectful of her that she was left to work things out for herself. If not for her swain she'd have drowned in stress. Her swain, however, was respectful AND helpful. I must add that the stress of the threat of having her children taken from her really got to me. I had to stop reading for awhile.

I may add more to this review after I let it simmer overnight.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Fabianus and Daisy's story.

Absolutely love Fabianus and Daisy's love for.
Great adventure. Daisy is dealing with her husband's death and raising her three children.
Daisy's brother in law Walter is determined to steal her house and raise her children to control their inheritance.
A race against time to fill the real will to protect her family.
Daisy and Fabianus search the house with the help of Daisy's family they find the will.
They discovered love and friendship along the way.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite of Burrowes' books, as neither Daisy nor Fabianus appealed to me in previous books.
Burrowes is a dependable author, her style immediately apparent. My main beef with this book with all her brothers wits at her disposal no one was able to find out what the villain was doing? And as many reviewers have stated, the plot point was obvious. I did like the children, especially Pandora and I did enjoy the epilogue. I of course will continue to read Burrowes and have already downloaded the next book.

[Janet Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories by this author are addictive but not for the faint of heart since while the villains are often personified, the true villain is often a hopeless circumstance with no easy escape no matter how many loved ones surround. I often have to stop to breathe and, dare I admit it, check the second to last chapter to be sure it comes right. I do this knowing it always will, but I do it nonetheless. Looking forward to Sycamore’s story

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book in an Outstanding Series 💙💙💙💙💙
The True Gentlemen series by Grace Burrowes is one of the best, from the engaging characters to the warm and gentle stories, and even the rich and beautiful covers. This reader always anxiously awaits the next new release, and this one does not disappoint. Adored Daisy and Penweather, and the children being a big part of the story were simply wonderful.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in this series. Lovely to see Daisy finally be happy, to find Erik wasn't quite the cad he'd been depicted right from when we first met him. Yes he had an unattractive side, but he did love Daisy and the children deep down.
Liked our hero Fabianus, seems to understand being widowed and emotions around it, great to see him building a relationship with his daughter.
As always good to catch up with characters we've met before.

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rounding up a bit.

This romance has several enjoyable elements -- in particular, the main characters and their children. The villain is utterly detestable, despite the eventual explanation of his motivations. It takes a very long time for anyone to take a definitive stand against him, and while that delay is not altogether implausible, I didn't see it as inevitable either. His eventual comeuppance is satisfying.

[Anne Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the writing of Grace Burrowes. I am so pleased there are more in this series. The interesting ways the hero and heroine interact with sweet touches and words before they even know they will eventually be together. I have read at least 10 of Grace’s books and now that I have a kindle I don’t need to go searching at used book stores . These two damaged souls came together and a mystery solved also and the bad guy received his just rewards.

[Anne Egger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked it, I wasn't a fan of Daisy, because how she treated her sister. Daisy was the youngest daughter of a large family, she desperately wanted attention. She got from Eric, who was not a good husband. But I do like Penweather, I do think he will be a good father and husband.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly loved

This story is so touching. A widow and widower meet. But circumstances surrounding them are in turmoil. Our H and H are the most caring people. I don't want to spoil even a drop of this story, just curl up and read it. Your heart will hurt, and be filled with such joy. Ms. Burrowes is a genius.

[Robin Warren-busigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful romance.

I loved the characters in this story. Not only were they realistic, with fears and foibles, but they were enjoyable to figure out how they would handle the situations. I found myself glued to the story, not wanting to put it down, just because I kept wanting to see what would happen next. I thought it was one of her best yet.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Daisy's children

The youngest sister of the Dornings is widowed with 3 children, and is surprised when her husband's half brother keeps showing up at her home. Her brother the Earl of Casriel is also concerned along with his guest Viscount Penweather who find out that there's shady dealings with her husband's will. Excellent addition to the series.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a reliably enjoyable read.

I have found this entire series a lovely experience. The various characters are engaging. The dialog entertaining and the behavior is consistently intelligent and without excessive false tension, angst or drama. This was a lovely book to enjoy on a dark winter evening.