The Last True Gentleman

True Gentlemen #12

by Grace Burrowes

Sycamore Dorning has watched one sibling after another succumb to the blandishments of wedded bliss, while he has grown wealthy and—deuce take it—lonely. He loves the ladies generally, though he waits in vain for the woman who can love him back in all his contrary, stubborn, outspoken glory.

Jeanette, Marchioness of Tavistock, endured six years of wedded purgatory before earning the independence of widowhood. She's admittedly attracted to Sycamore. He's refreshingly blunt, unconventional, and loyal to those he cares about. When trouble stalks her, she turns to Sycamore for help, because she would trust him with her life. But will she trust him with her heart?

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

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 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

[MichelleH H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to this book for ages. Now that I've read it I'm crying for more Dorning siblings to read about. I have simply adored this family. From the time we first met Sycamore (Cam) Dorning in 'Will's True Wish,' we've watched him, the youngest brother from a large tribe of siblings, as a very young man getting into mischief--many of it well-meaning mischief--to an older young man trying find his way as an adult and fighting for the chance to 'make good.' Making good came hard without the family finances to go to school, and trying to overcome the opinions of older siblings with memories of his youthful misdemeanors. Isn't that often the way it is for the baby in the family? I like to read between the lines and reread those paragraphs I'm sure are saying more than they are on face value. So I know Sycamore has had huge potential and a huge heart.

As with all Burrowes' stories, Sycamore and his love, Lady Jeanette, Marchioness Tavistock have tremendous obstacles to overcome before even a hint of an HEA can be thought of. Very dangerous, complicated, red-herring filled, heart-rending obstacles.

I love Burrowes' style of writing, including: The mood set early on, with potential great love but potential heartbreak on the agenda. The inner dialogue always guts me. The mystery is challenging even though some villains are obvious and meant to be, the big mystery comes as a surprise at the end. But along the way I'm adoring the hero more and more, fighting for the heroine to overcome and hoping the 'good guys' aren't 'bad guys' in disguise. Oh there are so many villains in this story. And we don't know if some of them are just petty, greedy social villains, or the deadly life-threatening kind.

In The Last True Gentleman, Sycamore Dorning is approached by Lady Jeanette for help. They met previously at a house party, and unbeknownst to them they formed positive opinions of each other. What Lady Jeanette asks of him is pretty surprising and I'm not going to spoil that. Mr Dorning comes to some conclusions of his own rather quickly, and though he has already agreed to help he's gung-ho to go the extra 50 miles. Maybe a little too quickly for the Marchioness. Her list of problems is an arm long and she has no one to confide in. Her nightmare of a marriage squared that for her. That nightmare hasn't let up since his 'timely' death several years before, it just gets worse. What a prize he was. As the story progresses, she has only Sycamore to trust but doing so potentially puts them both in great danger. Her necessarily inability to trust keeps Cam from helping as much as his heart is increasingly wanting to do. How does one go on? They both make mistakes. Typically our frustration with the characters comes from not knowing all the information yet. I'm willing to go along for the ride.

I highly recommend this book. I know it can be read as a stand alone, but one would miss so much if you didn't start at the beginning of the series or at least the beginning of the Dornings's first appearance in the True Gentlemen series, in Will's True Wish....sigh. Grace Burrowes is an auto buy for me. But in this instance I received and ARC with a request for an honest review. These are my opinions alone, if you can't tell by my artless gushing.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will have to change this from Kindle to Kobo when it finally is loaded but I received an early copy. I am going to miss the Dorning boys. I have waited a long time for Sycamore's story since first really meeting him in his brother Will's book. I'm glad Ash made an appearance also.

I was not looking forward to another widow as a heroine. I know the sex is easier to explain but...well, I don't have a better solution because virgin stories have their own sticking points. I liked her though. She was loyal and intelligent and the reality of the lack of control a woman had over their own life is appalling. I have decided that all girls need to be taught self-defense. Unfortunately patrimony is ingrained, deeply ingrained. I have to say thank you to the author for highlighting this because change won't happen if it isn't discussed.

Back to Sycamore. He grew into a wonderful man. As the last born, he had his own mountains to climb and he didn't shirk from the challenge. The family dynamics is lovingly laid out. The romance was not passionate but loving and respectful. I think this was necessary due to Jeanette's experience.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sycamore Dorning! Sigh! Wonderful!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of the Dorning brood.

Sad to see the last book in this family so I'm hoping they reappear in others down the road. Hint hint Grace.
Sycamore deserved a great story and Got one. Jeanette needs Sycamore and he needed her.He has had feelings for her since a certain house party and she comes to him looking for lessons. In knife throwing. Interesting.
We also discovered some great new characters to enjoy. Bought both books in New series.

[Dianna Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say it isn't so!

I loved this book. I loved the entire series and I am broke hearted it is over. I have found Ms. Burrowes writing to be necessary to my mental health. This entire series was a thorough joy to read and I am anxiously awaiting her next series. If you love historical romance as I do then check out Grace Burrowes' web site immediately. To date there is nothing she has written I haven't devoured.

[Meimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost didn’t want to finish this book. I kept hoping for a good comeback in the story but the conflicts just kept getting boring and ridiculous. Sorry but I didn’t enjoy this in particular.

[Hanah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not the most exciting story but it was a good story and well-written. I liked Sycamore and his humorous thoughts. Jeanette was just ok to me but I guess the circumstances of her life made her who she was. Overall it was an easy read and enjoyable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t know why but I just stalled out at 13%.

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the hero was in love with her. I didn't like how he hasn't done anything about it.

They talked and got to know each other and fell in love.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sycamore and Jeanette (& her stepson Trevor! Really?? That is the least Recency sounding name out. But perhaps the author had run out of names by this point!)

I liked it and read the whole thing (high praise from me!) - it didn’t get unbelievably slow in the middle & as all the other brothers weren’t that involved it was possible to keep up with who was who.

Like the 1st chapter of the next book tacked on the end - Miss Something (I can’t remember the exact name - I would never have as be picked it up from the cover picture and name!)

[R. Beach · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book until about 85% and then all of a sudden this heroine who is supposed to love Sycamore just decides that it's OK to marry Jerome her cousin-in-law in order to save the whole family. Jeanette doesn't go to Sycamore, she doesn't rely on Sycamore. There's no love there at all. I finished reading the book but I was very very very disappointed in this unnecessary and stupid plot twist. She made her own problems because she chose to shoulder the weight of all of it and not include him in helping to resolve her situation. This ending was subpar. The punishment meted out to Viola and Beardsley and even Jerome was ridiculous.

If you love someone you include them in your lives she didn't love him, he was just a person to scratch her itch. Very disappointed.

[Disco · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so angry - I had such high hopes for this book after reading the earlier book with Jeannette in it and reading the preview for this one, but unfortunately she ended up being stupid and cowardly. What a disappointment.

[Mskychick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet and gentle romance was just the panacea I needed this week!

[Seema · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in this series tells the story of Sycamore the youngest brother of the Dorning family who falls in love with the Marchioness of Tavistock who is a widow. She is scarred by a terrible marriage and is being targeted by some villains. It was a decent story with some twists at the end. Most Grace Burrowes stories are fairly predictable like eating your favorite chocolate.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jeanette, Marchioness of Tavistock, approaches Sycamore Dorning with a most unusual request, he immediately sees past her immediate need to comprehend that she has bigger problems plaguing her. But, Jeanette, who lived through marriage at 17 to a cruel and heartless man, is unwilling to trust Sycamore beyond that one issue. As a gentleman and the youngest of the Dorning siblings, he is used to being overseen and interfered with by all and sundry, and wants to protect Jeanette at all costs. Getting her to accept that help, and, ultimately, his love, are the challenge. Ms. Burrowes can be counted on to weave a story around fully fleshed out characters, who act in a manner appropriate for the era, and speak in a way that won’t jar the reader out of the time frame the story comfortably inhabits. In addition, the language and word choice of Ms. Burrowes is so beautifully creative that I find myself rereading passages simply to enjoy the ride! This is a standalone, but I highly recommend ordering all of the True Gentlemen series because you will fall in love with the Dornings, as I did. This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good series and I'm a little sad to say goodbye to the Dornings, though I'm guessing we'll get glimpses of them in the future, much like the Windhams, etc.
Sycamore Dorning is the youngest male of the large Dorning family. He runs a gaming hall and is very popular, but has been fascinated with Jeanette, the widowed Marchioness of Tavistock, since they both attended a house party together. Jeanette, like most of these ladies who had a bad marriage, has no intention of remarrying, but there's something about Sycamore that intrigues her.
So she asks him to show her how to throw a knife.
Not the usual flirtation method but it works lol. Ms. Burrowes is a wonderful author, able to get to the heart of her characters. She delves into both Sycamore and Jeanette's background to flesh out fully why they act the way they do. The secondary characters are great (lots of Dornings naturally) but I especially liked Trevor, Jeanette's stepson and the current Marquis of Tavistock, and Orion, Jeanette's brother. It looks like Orion is in the next series, but I hope to see Trevor again (I am crossing my fingers for a possible future bride for him once she's out of school).
A fitting ending to a great series.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last in a long series of books about the large family of Dorning siblings, all given botanical names by their naturalist father. From Jacaranda to Oak to Sycamore, each family member finds a careerto support him/herself away from the family seat, except of course the Earl of Casriel, the oldest, but cash-strapped brother. Sycamore, called Cam by his siblings, is the baby of the family and has always felt diminished by his loving family because of his order of birth. He has made a success of an elegant gambling house in London but can't get past the feeling that his family still thinks he needs supervision. Enter a lady in need of help defending herself against an unknown stalker. You can imagine where the tale goes from there. Dialogue, character development and glimpses into the lives of characters from previous books are all delightful and the solution to Lady Jeanette's feeling of menace is satisfying.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sycamore Dorning, we've waited so long for your story, and as the youngest sibling you were always going to be the last one to marry, you needed and deserved a wonderful strong lady. Boy did you get her, a lady a bit downtrodden, bullied by her late husband, always doing as a lady should, until she met a couple of Dorning brothers at a house party, who showed her the respect she should have. When she felt threatened she went to you Sycamore to ask for help.
This book bubbles along as we get to know our key players Sycamore, Nettie, and Nettie's stepson Trevor, and the intricacies of her family. Strange things are happening, Trevor is attacked twice, Nettie nearly dies, and there's a dramatic showdown amongst the family.
We briefly meet all of the Dornings again, including the newest generation, maybe they will be the next Dorning books? We can only hope.

[Melissa Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beloved to the last sibling.

I've read this final book in the series 3 times since publication. Every novel in this long journey has found me deeper in thrall to All Things Dorning. Their mannered speaking style, the way they both do and don't understand one another, their EYES. Cam is indeed the "best for last" his parent claimed. His emotional journey is compelling and his gentle yet strong way with Jeanette is swoonworthy. Jeanette herself is a thoughtful take on the young woman unhappily married to an asshole older man trope. Repotting ferns as a metaphor for allowing space for love is Dorning-like to the end. Love this series! I'm excited to see where we go with the companion series forthcoming.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heroine asks the hero to teach her how to throw knives as a means of self-preservation. He's always liked her, and now is intrigued. Also concerned, because she's worried about her safety. He's the youngest in a very large family, known for causing trouble, mostly as a way to get anyone to notice him. He's now running a gambling club in London for the family. She's the widow of a nasty marquess, and has had the raising of his son, turning him into a kind, conscientious young man of 18, who seems to be following the bad habits of a slightly older cousin. And something weird has been going on. She met the hero months ago at a house party and is aware that he is knowledgeable in the use of knives as weapons. It's a good story. I liked it a lot.

[Kelley Granzow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Doring family

I am never disappointed in any book by Grace Burrowed. I love her characters, always some mystery to solve and some wooing to be done. She makes family important, the ups and downs, the betrayal and acceptance.

Ready for the next adventure

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Ending to this Amazing Series 📚❤️📚
Sycamore and and his lady, Jeanette, are the perfect ending to the True Gentlemen series but.... I hope this is not the last we see of the Dornings (I loved them all). What a hero we have in Sycamore! You don’t want to miss their journey. Wonderfully romantic with amazing characters and storylines.

I can’t wait for Sir Orion Goddard (Jeanette’s brother) and Miss Ann Pearson in “Miss Delectable”, the beginning of Grace Burrowes’ new series, Mischief in Mayfair!

[MELISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done again

As always, Ms Burrowes masterfully creates delectable characters full of wit, intelligence, determination and honor (and bad guys, too, who are not so honorable). Completing this series of the Dornings had me sighing and smiling but not sad since I can read all the books again if I so choose and I get to look forward to knowing Goddard, brother of the now recent Mrs Jeannette Dorning.

[Susan Sieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome book!

I enjoyed this book as I did all the others in the series. Sycamore and Jeanette's story had a lot of excitement, intrigue, and romance. The wanting to learn knife throwing is something that would be interesting to try. I am hoping we to hear from the Dornings in the future, I will miss them. I highly recommend this book! 👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last True Gentleman was a nice close to the True Gentleman series and final book for the Dorning family. I think the suspense was well done and I liked Jeanette and Cam as a couple. I do wish Jeanette had had more of a role in the final boss battle, and I was quite disappointed with how she had opted to handle her situation. I kind of understood it, but at the same time, not really.

[MARIE MARUCCI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, Sycamore gets his own story and what a storyline.

It was impressive the way Jeanette tried to fight her own battles, but was willing to accept help, as needed.

I was pleased with the maturity that Trevor began to show -- but what a shock to learn about the circumstances of his and Jerome's birth.

Thank goodness Beardsley got his in the end. What a totally despicable person!!!

[Pj Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last True Gentleman

I've enjoyed every book by Grace Burrowes and today needed to disappear into a happy family tale of adventure of strength in pursuit of true love. One of this authors many talents. Thank you again

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sycamore (Cam) Dorning didn't make a huge impression on me in the earlier True Gentlemen books, but I liked him very much once he took center stage. I also liked the complexities that emerged as to who was what degree of a villain.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had the facility with words that this author has. This book was good from the beginning to the end. It doesn't hurt that I've read almost all of this author's books so that I was acquainted with all of the characters. I'm looking forward to the story after this one about Orion.

[lenie myburgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

An absolutely delightful read. What is exceptional is the wonderful way in which the author handles language. This book has an interesting plot. I am quite prepared to read it a second time.