Miss Desirable

Mischief in Mayfair #4

by Grace Burrowes

Miss Catherine Fairchild spent much of her life haring about the globe with her diplomat parents, though she grasped at a young age that as a legitimate by-blow, her social standing among Polite Society would be marginal at best. Now she's lost both parents and is settled back in London, where she learns that not only is she an heiress, but that the family title can be preserved through the female line.

Miss Dubious has become Miss Desirable, though Catherine has no plans to marry--or so she claims. Even if she were to admit to some loneliness, the last place she'd turn for companionship would be one of Mayfair's fawning fortune hunters. The one person she can trust to treat her honestly is Monsieur Xavier Fournier, a plainspoken émigré who also has no intention of putting his foot in parson's mousetrap... Or so he claims.

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

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2022

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 5 out of 5]

Another delightful romance from Burrowes. Where does she find these men who are so well managed by their wives? But first of course they must be married. Not an easy task when taking Catherine and Fournier into account. Swoonworthy!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mourning and off balance after the death of her mother, Catherine Fairchild lives a quiet life, away from a society which treated her cruelly due to her irregular origins. A serious error in judgement as a young woman complicates her life and exposes her to a threat of blackmail. Yet when she unexpectedly becomes an heiress, the fortune hunters begin to notice her.

A chance meeting with French émigré wine merchant, Xavier Fournier, finds Catherine enjoying an honest, honorable relationship for the first time in her life. However, neither is interested in marriage. Or are they?

As is always the case, Ms. Burrowes writes intriguing, well rounded characters who converse in dialog appropriate to the time period, and behave with morals and customs suited to the period. She also weaves in interactions with family members who we have met in previous books. While each book is a standalone story, I highly recommend reading the entire series as they are all wonderful! This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Cheryl McTyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and it has to be one of my favorites in this series so far. Don't get me wrong, I've loved them all but this one was wonderful. It was so good from start to finish. Visits from past characters, subtle reminders who they were and what role they played. It was like seeing old friends and being back in that exact moment with them in their story. A clean read with implied intimacies. The humor and love between the characters shines through, the progression of their love.

It can be read as a stand alone, but so much more enjoyable to be read from the beginning of this series. You won't regret reading this book, or any Grace Burrows book for that matter.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!
This one rates a 5+
Absolutely wonderful story true to Grace Burrowes’ amazing style of creating unforgettable stories with beautiful and lovable characters we crave from this author. A Must Read!!!

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so happy-making. Burrowes delights me most when writing about good people with difficult histories who never learned to accept or ask for help. The scenes which must be foiled and are with the help of friends and family.

Library copy

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's London a few years after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. Xavier Fournier is an émigré, having first left France as a youth during the Reign of Terror, then, after having returned to Napoleon's France, travelling back and forth as he established his vineyard and lucrative sales of the wine in London, smuggling a goodly part of that time, of course. In France he owns a chateau, vineyards, and the title of comte. In England, he's socially tolerated not accepted and certainly not by the upper crust though they all bought and drank his wine. He looks after the elderly and children of the émigré community in London. He's handsome, charming, witty, and excels with a rapier.

Catherine is the result of her lady mother's indiscretion with a nobleman not her husband belonging to a prominent family known for unusually colored eyes, which Catherine inherited. She's never actually been accepted into society, and spent her life abroad with her parents on their various diplomatic posts. Now in London where she's in the final weeks of isolating deep mourning after her mother's death, alone as her father had died perviously,
Catherine has gone on miserably rainy early spring day to purchase some claret from Cahors and ends up in Fournier's shop. Instantly attracted to her, Fournier is extremely curious as to why a lady in mourning of the upper classes, esepcially one with eyes identifying her as a member of a specific prominent family, would come to buy her own wine, not sent the butler or a footman.

And that's where this romance begins, with curiousity, instant attraction and two lonely people on the outer edges of social acceptance. Then an indiscretion in Catherine's past comes knocking one day, leading to danger to her , their blossoming romance, and realization of future dreams and happiness.

One of the things I liked best about this particular romance is how very french the author has made Xavier. I have a bit of a book crush on Xavier! Though I think my crush on the mastiff named Caesar and the horse named Bertoldt - and a teddy bear named Beartoldt -- might almost surpass that crush.

Burrowes is one of my favorite historical romance writers, and a prolific one. This is one of the books in her Mischief in Mayfair series, each of which centers on an uncommon young and maybe not so young lady of the aristocracy who is forging her own path, usually out of some necessity, not expecting to marry. Many of the secondary characters and romantic partners come from families and characters not just introduced in this series but also in other ones. It doesn't really matter as you can read each of them on their own. But fair warning as that will leave you yearning to read the book telling the story of one of the secondary couples you encounter.

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rounding up.

A thoroughly satisfying romance, with two main characters I enjoyed cheering on, a delightful child (though we meet her rather late in the book), and a wonderful comeuppance for the villain.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine is in mourning for both her parents, and to an extent, her heritage (papa encouraged mama to have an affair so they may have a child), her past (an affair as a teen with a good-for-nothing scoundrel), and her lack of acceptance in London society ( as her parentage is obvious to all due to unusual eye colour). In contradiction to society's opinions around mourning, she escapes her house to visit a wine merchant. Her unusual wine selection causes Xavier Fournier to pay her more attention than he usually would to a female customer, as does the fact she's alone. When she removes her veil, he immediately knows her family - the Dornings.

When her teenage mistake starts visiting her and trying to blackmail her into a marriage she turns to Fournier for help. He involves not only the other people from this Mischief in the Mayfair series but the whole Dorning family too.

I've enjoyed this series but this book is the best so far, bringing back so many familiar faces lifts this book above the others. I don't remember meeting Catherine in Ash's book so of course, I'll now go back and reread it. I suspect I'll end up reading all the Dorning books again, then the Haddonfield's books and Worth's brother's book too. Good writing always leads me to it.

All in all a triumph, can't wait for the next installment, trying to remember where we've met the Earl of Tremont before. More books to read maybe?

[MichelleH H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5*+ Hero in the brave swoon-worthy department (as usual.)

I know my first observation sounds like ‘nothing new here to consider’ but that is so far from the truth. Because I cannot overstate just how awesome this Hero is. The story starts out mysteriously from the first couple of paragraphs. Who does our Heroine want to murder with a poison no one will detect in the most unusual wine she shops for, on her own (not done by any lady of standing in society,) and in full mourning, including a dark veil to obscure her identity.

The story proceeds from there in a slow buildup until little by little we learn her secrets. Not from her though, in the beginning. We have overreaching and/or spying betraying loose lipped servants to thank for that, along with a despicably slimy villain rising up from the heroine’s past. Burrowes does despicable really well. Catherine Fairchild has been dealt a blow in the fact that she has a most recognizable trait that obviously indicates her illegitimate birth. And now both of her loving protective parents are gone with no champion to shield her. Until that is, Xavier Fournier an emigre London wine merchant becomes increasingly intrigued by her.

With both claiming no desire to marry anyone, their romantic relationship comes very slowly but soon friendship is offered by both. And that friendship means quite a lot to both parties to whom that trust has never existed before. They each trust the other enough to share their histories of loss and grief, foolishness and betrayal. Catherine’s comes a little more slowly because she has a secret yet to be protected.

I love Grace Burrowes, I will always love and highly recommend her stories. This book four could easily be read as a standalone novel but would be enjoyed much more if read in book order. I highly recommend any of her series. I can only name a favorite when I’m reading them, because they then are my favorites.

[Moey17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & simple, enjoyed the chemistry of the leads! Burrowes never disappoints!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heroine's parents were married when she was born, but because of the distinctive color of her eyes, it's "obvious" she's not her father's daughter. He loves anyway, and as a diplomat's daughter, she's raised in his various postings abroad. Now her parents have died and society has learned she's not only an heiress in terms of money, but that the family title can pass through the female line. So fortune hunters will be sniffing round. In the meantime, there's this very charming French wine merchant who thinks she's ordered a particular red wine to use in poisoning someone. And since he's acquainted with one of her biological half-brothers, whom he thinks should be looking out for the heroine, he informs him so. And the story is off and running. There is a mean, self-important villain, the raft of half-siblings, and a sweet romance with a sexy, clever, charming hero. I liked the story a lot. Good read.

Merged review:

The heroine is the daughter of a diplomat who recently died, and a mother who died not long afterward. She's also inherited a tidy sum of money. I read this one before because I recall the first chapter very well. She has gone to buy wine from a French wine merchant (who also owns vineyards in France and makes his own wines), looking for a deep red wine that he doesn't think she will like. Fournier the wine merchant has appeared in Burrowes's books before and here he is the hero. But I'm not sure he's ever given a first name. He's always just Fournier, even in the love scenes. Anyway, because the wine is so dark and so unsuited to her, he thinks, he assumes she is intending to murder someone, and offers his advice on how not to do it, and his support in solving whatever her problem is. Turns out, he is friends with her only remaining family, the Dornings, who are the legitimate children of the earl who was most probably her parent, but not her mother's husband. They are willing to recognize the relationship. But there is a snake in the grass. It's a good read-- sweet, a bit spicy, and with a good dollop of suspense. I liked it a lot.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

****Spoilers****

If you have read the Grace Burrowes canon, which I almost entirely have, this plot will seem like an old friend. An irritating, sad, tired old friend. Enough already! The names have been changed, but here we have the same old chestnut: evil suitor blackmails heroine into giving up true love to marry him so he can grab her money. We have the same infuriating result: between a bad choice—public ruination—and a worse choice—marrying a vile, lying, cheating, cruel, debt-encumbered scumbag (who will inevitably cause public ruination somewhere down the line)—the heroine again goes with THE WORST CHOICE, the choice that spells utter misery as the wife of a villain every day for the rest of her life. The difference here is that the man she loves tells her it’s the worst choice and she agrees—stating that the evil suitor will bankrupt her and give her the pox—but agrees to it anyway. For the sake of her child. Because, ya know, every kid needs a profligate, pox-ridden father who plans to park them with another family in the country to raise. Terrific choice, Mom.

Grrrrr. I’d rather read about a heroine with some sense.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier Fournier meets Catherine Fairchild in this spinoff to the Dorning books. Catherine is a Dorning by blood and numerous members of the family make appearances here. I'll be honest, I love Ms. Burrowes's works but lately, they seem to be following an obvious formula, so the first two-thirds dragged for me, but the ending was unique and quite funny.
Catherine and Xavier are a nice couple and the villain is suitably villainous, so four and a half stars.

[Izzie (semi-hiatus) McFussy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read. Grace Burrowes has a unique style. Her characters display capability, civility, and restraint no matter what the situation. I was eager to read Fournier’s story. Catherine was a perfect match for him. While the low angst drama was predictable, the villain was the guy you love to hate—always a delicious plus. Characters from previous books in the series are well represented. The final chapter tied everything together in a big, glorious bow. Can’t wait for Miss Dauntless.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Read

This is really only a 2.5 at best. I found it very wordy and slow going. It was obvious what the answer to the problem was and why it took them so long to figure it out was never explained. Not one of her better books but I do love this author and will continue to buy them as long as she writes them.

[Mskychick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

[Mum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow it didn’t seem that society was on the same page as the book’s promoters. It was a good book, just not quite as advertised.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the series tells a complete story and could stand alone. This is my first in the Mischief in Mayfair series, but I didn't really notice that I missed anything. However, I also noticed many characters from other GB books, especially from the True Gentlemen series.

This book is a page turner thanks to several mysteries about both Catherine and Fournier that are revealed slowly through the first 2/3rds or so of the book. The tension of Catherine's plight is not fully understood until most of that background is revealed. Personally, I still think it was exaggerated in her head until the final threat becomes apparent. Until Armbruster makes that move, it really wasn't expected. From that point begins the unveiling of Fournier's counteroffensive which is well played and included at least one brilliant surprise.

Catherine's self-deprecation gets a little old and for me reduced my admiration for her a little. Fournier certainly would have fitted in the True Gentlemen series.

Mature themes: there is more than one mildly explicit sex scene. There is some war related violence and pillaging briefly described with somewhat disturbing implications.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burrowes is one of my favorite authors, but in this latest installment of her ‘Mischief in Mayfair’ series, it seems as if she’s phoning it in….

Catherine Fairchild’s parentage already raises eyebrows, and worse, she has a secret. Should that secret become known, it would mean her delicate grasp on the fringes of Society would disappear. But…Catherine Fairchild is now an heiress, and so becomes the prey of the ne’er-do-well who ruined her years before. Enter Xavier Fournier, French emigre and vintner, who sees the courageous and defiant women beneath the subdued and suppressed mask that Catherine wears. They fall hard for each other. But Catherine fears exposure, and Fournier must forge a plan to save Catherine that will free her from a lifetime of fear.

It’s a sweet romance, but it involves loads of the annoying Dorning family stepping up to help Catherine save herself. I can’t keep track of them, and don’t try.

Fournier is wonderful - he’s experienced deep loss as well, and it’s nice for him and Catherine to finally get the HEA they deserve.

[Merle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xavier Fournier is a stranger in England, even though he has lived and worked there for years. He is French in a country that regularly wars against Frabce, and never quite trusts even those who make their k8ving in England. Fournier is a knowledgeable winemaker, an expert in selling wines and has much more strength than even the Dornings give him credit for. He has developed an affection for Miss Caroline Fairchild, especially since he is concerned about some wine she seeks to purchase. Delving deeper, he finds that her relatives may have done too good a job in letting her mourn and find her way alone. Of course, this will be repaired by many, many visits from the many Dornings in the area. Meanwhile, the lady has trouble from another quarter, but the small astreet urchins kept and paid by Goddard earn their coins by passing on Intel to Dorning, Goddard, Fournier, and Caroline. It's a close thing, but family and love triumph.

[Martha Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in all of Grace Burrowes'books, I fell in love with the main characters instantly and I "fell into the story" with no hesitation! I swooned over the French Hero--(what's not to swoon about??) and felt so very glad that Catherine found her extra courage to follow the leadership of the man she fell in love and trust with in this story!
Catherine really had a lucky escape that seemed a tragedy at the time. I can't imagine being married to such a "small" man as the villain!
Ms. Burrowes got the whole Dorning family into this free for all and they all had a glorious time that was late in coming but true and a huge blessing for Catherine. They enfolded her into their tight knit family and made up for lost time.

The end of the novel was such a wonderful ending that I won't even give a glimpse but I will say it was perfect and absolutely satisfying ! BRAVO Ms. Burrowes!!! AND ENCORE!!!

[Lizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful humor, realism, characters and plot

As always, I enjoy how Grace Burrowes dresses realism with humor. For example, "His watchful dark gaze and exorbitant price pronounced him to be a citizen of the great state of unprincipled ambition..."
I love how wonderfully she develops her characters, nuance by nuance. (I'll provide an example when I review book 5.) Her descriptions of characters from all walks of life ring true. The main characters and the people in their lives are varied, interesting and believable. Their conversations reveal their personalities, building the projects, relationships and story. I enjoy getting to know many of her characters, both adult and children. Familial and intimate relationships are heartwarming. She leaves me happy, smiling and strengthed for living when each book ends. I also learn much about that period in Britain. What else could one ask for?

[MELISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more can I say about Grace Burrows and her exacting, charming, tension producing and inspiring way of writing her characters and developing her plots? Well, simply put, I adore her just as I have adored all her books I have read and many reread. Happily for me, Ms. Burrows brought Xavier true love as he deserves love and admiration so much. No summary here as excellent summaries and reviews already exist. Thank you for continuing to bring us all those Dornings over the years (and their spouses, of course) and adding Xavier and Catherine to their loving embrace (and my extreme pleasure). One last note: I enjoy anticipating how very cleverly Ms. Burrows brings the bad person/s to his/her/their just "punishment" in each of the Dornings' novels.

[Susan Sieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read!

I enjoyed reading about Xavier and Catherine, how they met to how they fell in love. She goes to visit a winemaker and meets a very nice frenchman, they become friends and then her extended family shows up to support her and to acknowledge her as one of theirs. She was misused as a young woman by a not so nice person. I'm glad in the end they got their HEA. I highly recommend this book! 👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤

[Kimberley Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Addition to the Series

Miss Desirable may be my favorite of this series. I was not expecting Fournier’s character to take the path he did based on his appearances in the previous books. I was pleasantly surprised. Catherine is a very likable character for me. I enjoyed their story very much, and the handling of the villain at the end was very fun. Miss Desirable was a much-needed lighter escape for a few hours for me.

[Kathleen Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mischief Takes the Honors

A book best enjoyed by those who have read Ms Burrowes’ sequence of novels about the adorning families’ many sons and daughters, but even if you picked this novel for the love of the flowers on Miss Desirable’s hat, Ms Burrowes will hold you at sword point until the resolution of the Grand Spectacle at the end in the true Georgette Heyer tradition! Don’t miss it!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I am enthralled with the vocabulary and wit of Burrowes’s characters. Her words flow effortlessly with little innuendos peppered throughout. I read this book after I read Miss Dauntless. I enjoyed this book so much more. Catherine and Xavier are wonderful and the whole Dorning family reappear as great supports!

[BM Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed

Perhaps because I picked a novel to read in the middle of a series, I found confusion with the multiple characters. At times, I thought conversation and writing disjointed and innocuous, a tad boring, almost as if trying to fill space. Always disgusted with detailed sex scenes and those enamored by the pornography.

Overall, a decent storyline.

[Angeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to the rest in this series, a cozy easy read. Burrowes has a habit of plopping the reader right into the middle of a story and tossing around related characters from other series. I did not especially enjoy that approach with this book, there were so many family trees and titles to recollect that I had a hard time really enjoying the story until at least half way through.

[Melissa Kapow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost hated it, and that's saying a lot for a GB. Maybe I'm just not into frenchmen? I couldn't get into caring about these two and their first kiss is OFF PAGE WHYYYYYYYYYY.

I really wanted to love this one and I stuck around for some little doses of Alasdhair and Sycamore Dorning but I just really wasn't feeling these two, 2.5 stars.