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The Way of the Heart
SHE NEEDED A HUSBAND
Clever, independent Jane Fitzsimmons' true passion is to run her father's ship building empire. And yet, to claim this dream, she must first marry. Five suitable candidates are vying for her large dowry, but only one challenges her wits and stirs her blood: Phillip Wessington, a devilishly handsome widower and renowned scoundrel who agrees to a marriage in name only. But soon, awakening desires turn this union of convenience into a passionate battle between hearts too proud to admit their ardor.
HE VOWED TO WIN HER LOVE
Phillip, the eighth earl of Rosewood, had one pressing need: a wife's fortune without the bother of a wife. But Jane was a bother--for she was getting under his skin with her fiery spirit and the sensual fire that glowed in her eyes. Confounded by a tenderness he cannot yet admit, he soon realizes that his own selfishness and intractable will have created a rift between them that may be too deep to heal. Can Phillip reclaim the heart of the woman he has come to cherish...so they both may surrender to a love neither can deny?
Clever, independent Jane Fitzsimmons' true passion is to run her father's ship building empire. And yet, to claim this dream, she must first marry. Five suitable candidates are vying for her large dowry, but only one challenges her wits and stirs her blood: Phillip Wessington, a devilishly handsome widower and renowned scoundrel who agrees to a marriage in name only. But soon, awakening desires turn this union of convenience into a passionate battle between hearts too proud to admit their ardor.
HE VOWED TO WIN HER LOVE
Phillip, the eighth earl of Rosewood, had one pressing need: a wife's fortune without the bother of a wife. But Jane was a bother--for she was getting under his skin with her fiery spirit and the sensual fire that glowed in her eyes. Confounded by a tenderness he cannot yet admit, he soon realizes that his own selfishness and intractable will have created a rift between them that may be too deep to heal. Can Phillip reclaim the heart of the woman he has come to cherish...so they both may surrender to a love neither can deny?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Holt
92 books396 followersCHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author who has published seventy novels.
She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.
Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.
She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.
She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.
Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.
She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 18, 2025
This book delivered something I hadn't experienced in a while - a solid angsty punch. I even teared up a few times...rare with my inured overindulged-with-alphaholes self.
So it gets most of the stars – solidly. One less for the (big) trigger.
Does it have problems with the story, the characterization? Yes, it does. It also has many, many triggers. Some adding to the angst, the train wrecky feel, some that are simply unforgivable and leave you with a nasty aftertaste.
No real review. Just few *Spoilers and Triggers*
So with all this what remains to like and enjoy?
*The incredibly sweet and sexy chemistry between the h/H - after a while.
*The super angst, as I said.
*Believable redemption.
*And what he did on his daughter’s behalf? Nothing less would have been acceptable after his cruel neglect. I liked how the author did it.
*Lovable secondary characters. (Even if sweetly and oddly enough for the period, all their friends are maids and valets and such)
I dnf-ed another book by this author as it seemed like a fluffy historical smut but this one has depth and growth by characters (especially the H, if you buy it! – I did.) and a well executed plotline - fairly predictable but a good, hooking one.
**Warning: Not for everyone!**
So it gets most of the stars – solidly. One less for the (big) trigger.
Does it have problems with the story, the characterization? Yes, it does. It also has many, many triggers. Some adding to the angst, the train wrecky feel, some that are simply unforgivable and leave you with a nasty aftertaste.
No real review. Just few *Spoilers and Triggers*
So with all this what remains to like and enjoy?
*The incredibly sweet and sexy chemistry between the h/H - after a while.
*The super angst, as I said.
*Believable redemption.
*And what he did on his daughter’s behalf? Nothing less would have been acceptable after his cruel neglect. I liked how the author did it.
*Lovable secondary characters. (Even if sweetly and oddly enough for the period, all their friends are maids and valets and such)
I dnf-ed another book by this author as it seemed like a fluffy historical smut but this one has depth and growth by characters (especially the H, if you buy it! – I did.) and a well executed plotline - fairly predictable but a good, hooking one.
**Warning: Not for everyone!**
July 23, 2016
How wonderful to read a romance novel in which the profligate hero spent 3/4 of the book planning to sell his eleven year old daughter to a pedophile, said no one ever.
Only Prince can properly communicate my disgust.
Only Prince can properly communicate my disgust.
April 30, 2017
All three stars are actually bullets, okay? Hero of this novel is such an ass that, decades after reading this, I had to join the Goodreads group "What Was the Name of that Book" so I could find it and publicly hate on it.
I mean, seriously, I have never forgotten the sheer meanness of the wedding night, and the bonus humiliation when the heroine has to ask her cheating fortune-hunter groom to borrow HER coach and use some of HER money so she can leave his asshole-ness. Two questions: Why didn't she keep shooting him until he got the message? Why do we read and reread romance novels about abusive men?
I mean, seriously, I have never forgotten the sheer meanness of the wedding night, and the bonus humiliation when the heroine has to ask her cheating fortune-hunter groom to borrow HER coach and use some of HER money so she can leave his asshole-ness. Two questions: Why didn't she keep shooting him until he got the message? Why do we read and reread romance novels about abusive men?
July 23, 2024
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this. The hero was a despicable rake at first but he changed. He won me over *shrugs*
Note to Self: throw this one in the reread pile.
Cheater hero (physical cheating after getting married)
Read on Open Library
I enjoyed this. The hero was a despicable rake at first but he changed. He won me over *shrugs*
Note to Self: throw this one in the reread pile.
Cheater hero (physical cheating after getting married)
Read on Open Library
May 29, 2021
Why do I keep doing this to myself??
Another staple on any cheating husband book list.
A completely dissipated Earl is on the verge of complete ruin, a crappy shipbuilding father wants to get rid of his overly intelligent daughter and the daughter who has no idea why daddy really wants her gone.
He’s a pig, his mistress is a pig and they would be very well matched if either of them were super rich. He’s considering marrying his 11 year daughter from a previous to a known pedophile. He couldn’t care less as he doesn’t believe she’s his daughter. Nice guy right? He has moments of guilt but not enough to make him human.
The heroine has so much promise, she’s smart, she hold her own—even takes him down verbally, but as soon as he tries to seduce her she’s putty in his hands. She’s putty until their wedding night when he decides that he doesn’t want his virgin wife to fall in love with him, at the advice of his mistress, he decides to basically uses rape to consummate their marriage...
Well, he gets his way, his wife not only hates him, she leaves the morning after their wedding night, right after she catches him in making love to his mistress... again, nice guy, right? She does throw the OW out before she leaves.
Now, he’s starting to get a conscience, he’s feeling guilty. Truths come out he tracks down his wife, realizes he wants his wife and seduces her again, again she’s putty in his hands. He never apologizes, never grovels, but does realizes his daughter is actually his. He throws the pedophile out and to not come back.
And peace reigns until they are invited to a wedding, and there are plot twists and turns.
1⭐️ story, 2nd ⭐️ for her few verbal set downs of the hero and OW and his killing the pedophile.
Another staple on any cheating husband book list.
A completely dissipated Earl is on the verge of complete ruin, a crappy shipbuilding father wants to get rid of his overly intelligent daughter and the daughter who has no idea why daddy really wants her gone.
He’s a pig, his mistress is a pig and they would be very well matched if either of them were super rich. He’s considering marrying his 11 year daughter from a previous to a known pedophile. He couldn’t care less as he doesn’t believe she’s his daughter. Nice guy right? He has moments of guilt but not enough to make him human.
The heroine has so much promise, she’s smart, she hold her own—even takes him down verbally, but as soon as he tries to seduce her she’s putty in his hands. She’s putty until their wedding night when he decides that he doesn’t want his virgin wife to fall in love with him, at the advice of his mistress, he decides to basically uses rape to consummate their marriage...
Well, he gets his way, his wife not only hates him, she leaves the morning after their wedding night, right after she catches him in making love to his mistress... again, nice guy, right? She does throw the OW out before she leaves.
Now, he’s starting to get a conscience, he’s feeling guilty. Truths come out he tracks down his wife, realizes he wants his wife and seduces her again, again she’s putty in his hands. He never apologizes, never grovels, but does realizes his daughter is actually his. He throws the pedophile out and to not come back.
And peace reigns until they are invited to a wedding, and there are plot twists and turns.
1⭐️ story, 2nd ⭐️ for her few verbal set downs of the hero and OW and his killing the pedophile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2013
At some point a few years ago I wound up with a few books by Cheryl Holt, and her writing drove me mad. A rash of exclamation points seemed to plague every page, and although I'm not a great history buff, I've read enough historical novels to know when something seems totally anachronistic. I had pretty much sworn off her books, and then a while back was trying to find a second book to mooch and chose this one. I'm actually very glad I did, because this has redeemed Holt to me. What is a bit disturbing is that this seems to be one of her earlier books and it's sad to think her writing got worse.
There were no ill-placed exclamation points in this and it read smoothly. The fact that the heroine asks the servants to call her by her first name - and they do so without flinching - and then the Earl considers his butler to be his one true friend - did not seem in any way credible for the times, but I am generally amenable to setting aside certain things if the story holds up otherwise.
With that anachronism aside, the rest of the story made for a good read.
There were no ill-placed exclamation points in this and it read smoothly. The fact that the heroine asks the servants to call her by her first name - and they do so without flinching - and then the Earl considers his butler to be his one true friend - did not seem in any way credible for the times, but I am generally amenable to setting aside certain things if the story holds up otherwise.
With that anachronism aside, the rest of the story made for a good read.
November 22, 2012
This book was a very typical historical romance, and did manage to bring out many emotions. However, too many of those emotions were the opposite of what I think the author was hoping for.
I hated the last few chapters. I hate when an intelligent woman makes really stupid judgments that are completely out of character. [spoiler]So, in the beginning, when she dislikes the "hero", she's so upset by him schtupping Margaret that she launches into a huge tirade and tries to shoot him, but, after falling in love with him for reals, and seeing him merely kiss this woman that she has ZERO reasons to be jealous of anymore, she just runs off? No discussion? No arguments even? Right.[/spoiler] I despise this treatment of a heroine in a book.
I hated the last few chapters. I hate when an intelligent woman makes really stupid judgments that are completely out of character. [spoiler]So, in the beginning, when she dislikes the "hero", she's so upset by him schtupping Margaret that she launches into a huge tirade and tries to shoot him, but, after falling in love with him for reals, and seeing him merely kiss this woman that she has ZERO reasons to be jealous of anymore, she just runs off? No discussion? No arguments even? Right.[/spoiler] I despise this treatment of a heroine in a book.
March 27, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. The hero was disgusting at the beginning with what he did to the heroine during their wedding night and the morning after. I loved how she retaliated lool!
But I liked how he was able to redeem himself. Slowly he became a better husband and he tried to become a better father to Emily once he realised she truly was his daughter with the birthmark.
Now what happened at the end was not really due to him being a jerk but due to him being stupid! You don't need to go to your mistress room to tell her it is over when you know how sneaky she is.
Anyway, that rushed and idiotic ending turned me off, otherwise it would have been a 5 stars. But still, it was a great read
But I liked how he was able to redeem himself. Slowly he became a better husband and he tried to become a better father to Emily once he realised she truly was his daughter with the birthmark.
Now what happened at the end was not really due to him being a jerk but due to him being stupid! You don't need to go to your mistress room to tell her it is over when you know how sneaky she is.
Anyway, that rushed and idiotic ending turned me off, otherwise it would have been a 5 stars. But still, it was a great read
October 9, 2010
I really enjoyed the characters, their growth and struggles to find peace, love, and acceptance. There is a little twist in the heartstrings as each overcomes their insecurities to find hope and joy once again. It was so good I read it twice!
June 25, 2019
X. OH, but what a beautiful, disturbing, train-wreck this book was! Unabashedly gritty and chocked full of WTF moments!
*I can see why the upset over the positively disgusting male lead in this story....only the reader begs to hope that at the ass end of the tale he finally found redemption. Jane though, WHAT an absolute unswerving badass. Much better woman than I, to forgive and offer love; to the piggy Philip.
*shocked by the attempted pedophilia in this book? me too. Horrified actually. Thankfully, it is not something that is written into these types of novels commonly. However, it needs to be addressed and I harbor no resentment for Holt writing about this. I feel the phantom that haunted the whole story has told of the LACK of respect & rights women had during this time period. In truth, women and daughters were held as little more than property for the male of the family to deal with as he wished. There were quite a few instances in this book that Holt was driving home the injustice of women (injustices to many of her characters in this book) during this time period. The flashback Jane had about her uncle, not too mention Emily’s ENTIRE story and hell even the disliked Margaret; were particularly disturbing.
*I can see why the upset over the positively disgusting male lead in this story....only the reader begs to hope that at the ass end of the tale he finally found redemption. Jane though, WHAT an absolute unswerving badass. Much better woman than I, to forgive and offer love; to the piggy Philip.
*shocked by the attempted pedophilia in this book? me too. Horrified actually. Thankfully, it is not something that is written into these types of novels commonly. However, it needs to be addressed and I harbor no resentment for Holt writing about this. I feel the phantom that haunted the whole story has told of the LACK of respect & rights women had during this time period. In truth, women and daughters were held as little more than property for the male of the family to deal with as he wished. There were quite a few instances in this book that Holt was driving home the injustice of women (injustices to many of her characters in this book) during this time period. The flashback Jane had about her uncle, not too mention Emily’s ENTIRE story and hell even the disliked Margaret; were particularly disturbing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
Jane Fitzsimmon has been raised in her father's shipyard and wants to run it after her father. She's been the brains behind it for years. She also think she's in love with her brother-in-law. When her father finds that out, he ships her off to London to marry one of the candidates a lawyer has picked out for her. The only one who catches her attention is widowed and broke Phillip Wessington, 8th Earl of Rosewood. However, they violently disagree on first contact. After reviewing the other they decide this is a tolerable match after all and marry. A midnight rendezvous with his mistress on his wedding night is uncovered by Jane though, and all hopes of a real marriage are dashed. Jane retreats to Rosewood where she starts to improve things at the estate and with her stepdaughter. When her father is dying, Phillip goes to tell Jane and things start to more smoothly. A threat to Emily completes the reconciliation. Interesting, well done - R
November 7, 2020
This was one of the 1st books I read growing up. Looking back it was completely an inappropriate book for a pre teen but I remember finding this book in my one of my older sisters bookshelf and not being able to put it down.
I remember the turmoil I felt during the lows, the butterflies in my stomach during the highs. I remember not understanding a lot of the content but I got the general gist of it & I fell in love with reading after that.
I moved onto more age appropriate books after this (which was a given seeing as back then I could only access books through our school library) & for years I searched for this book title. So desperate, that I joined a Facebook group to find this and luckily the members came through!
This book awakened my passion for reading and I owe it all to Cheryl Holt. For that I give this book a 5 stars.
I remember the turmoil I felt during the lows, the butterflies in my stomach during the highs. I remember not understanding a lot of the content but I got the general gist of it & I fell in love with reading after that.
I moved onto more age appropriate books after this (which was a given seeing as back then I could only access books through our school library) & for years I searched for this book title. So desperate, that I joined a Facebook group to find this and luckily the members came through!
This book awakened my passion for reading and I owe it all to Cheryl Holt. For that I give this book a 5 stars.
July 30, 2011
Enjoyed it. Was hard to put down at times. You could kinda tell it was an older book (don't know how to describe it. You just know) Anyway, I liked it because it was a theme I enjoy, horrible-to-loving husbands. And Phillip was way, way horrible. Would like to have seen the hero grovel more though.
May 11, 2008
Great
July 16, 2010
Normally love this author but male lead in this bokk was just too much of an ass
August 9, 2021
While this book did keep me reading ... I kept putting it down often and it took me a few days to finish -mostly because I didn't feel like the characters were developed enough -I didn't feel the love either and not because of the heroes actions but because of the writing . The heroes actions didn't bother me in the least ...it's reading about a sexual encounter with a 12 year old CHILD that threw me off and made me want to scrub my brain with Clorox after reading it ! I have read hundreds of books and NEVER encountered one where a child was molested/sexually abused ! I still can't get the descriptions of it out of my head...I can't understand why this Author spun this sick little tale into her book -how disgusting! I will never pick up another one of her books again!
April 23, 2025
😭🙌🏽 A little bit of everything that I liked. This book did not shy away from cheating or scandalous taboos! Cheryl Holt went for it. I was surprised and cheered on the blatant cheating but also true nerve of Jane! She stood up on business! And Philip, a true dissolute rake! He was charming when he wanted to be.
Charming enemies to lovers meetcute. Very sensual scenes but not a lot of them. Angst. I love the little jealousies particularly with Richard. Felt for the heroine, she was so capable and should have been treated as the heir, but for her dad’s sexism.
Not safe for cheating btw. Reminds me of Mary Spencer’s The Coming Home Place.
Charming enemies to lovers meetcute. Very sensual scenes but not a lot of them. Angst. I love the little jealousies particularly with Richard. Felt for the heroine, she was so capable and should have been treated as the heir, but for her dad’s sexism.
Not safe for cheating btw. Reminds me of Mary Spencer’s The Coming Home Place.
May 22, 2020
Enjoyed this book very much.
I get bored with books that are all roses and romance. Give me the angst and heartbreak.
I was able to engage in the story from the start. There is cheating so people who hate infidelity should not read. Don't read this story. Loved the heroine; She can be tough, protective, etc.
I get bored with books that are all roses and romance. Give me the angst and heartbreak.
I was able to engage in the story from the start. There is cheating so people who hate infidelity should not read. Don't read this story. Loved the heroine; She can be tough, protective, etc.
September 4, 2019
One of my favorite books. I read it for the first time years ago, and hooked me into historical romances. This book is not for everyone. There are triggers, and it’s not your common historical romance. I love how H does total redemption.
January 30, 2018
Rated 3.5
January 23, 2025
What a page-turner; I couldn’t put this down.
Could he have grovelled more? Yes, absolutely. Did it impact my enjoyment with the overall plots? Not really. I loved this one & will read again.
Could he have grovelled more? Yes, absolutely. Did it impact my enjoyment with the overall plots? Not really. I loved this one & will read again.
June 16, 2008
Meh. Seriously, just meh. The beginning was really good and it had a lot of potential, but it just never had any type of climax or anything. The book should have ended around the 300 page mark, but it seems like the editor demanded an extra 75 pages, so they were just kinda tacked on without much thought to the content. I wish there had been some kind of real conflict about Shipworks, but nothing really happened there either.
April 27, 2013
A wonderful story.... a rake, a smart heroine.... a hateful mistress...a loathsome villian, a sad child.... you got it all from this one. The villians in this book were definately VILLIANS, the mistress......the angst of the story especially one scene where the heroine soon after her wedding comes into a scene that is heartbreaking...however this heroine is not a sobbing victim...she shows her mettle in this scene and you wanna give her a high five... definately a really good read...
June 22, 2014
Good book. Still kinda hated Phillip, the hero, because it took him way too long to realize the man who wanted to buy his daughter for marriage was a pedophile. He also did a lot of horrendous and stupid things. I hated Jane, the heroine, at the beginning of the book because she was having a non sexual affair with her sister's husband. She saw the error of her ways and redeemed herself in my opinion. Would have like to read more about Emily and baby Mary though.
June 8, 2011
Marriage arrangement for money.
May 4, 2013
Something to read when you are traveling by plane or train you are out of magazines.
July 1, 2013
I did not like the characters much so the book was not interesting for me. The quick change in the male characters was especially not realistic at all.
September 7, 2014
This started off poorly, but I ended up enthralled with the novel and its characters. The redemption of the disappointing parts was tight and it was well-written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews