Hareton Hall

Richard and Rose #6

by Lynne Connolly

Secrets can destroy you—and the one you love most.

Richard and Rose, Book 6
As Richard returns with Rose to her childhood home of Darkwater for two weddings, romance is in the air—but so it trouble. It begins with Rose's stolen watch. Tensions rise when they learn their old adversaries, the Drurys, have taken a house nearby. A series of attacks on those they love, plus a rise in smuggling activity, only add to the threat of violence.

Then illness strikes at the worst possible time, threatening everyone in the district—especially the children. Questions abound: Was the infection deliberate? Is someone striking at Richard through Rose, or are their enemies targeting Rose for information she possesses?

Richard calls on his resources, public and private, to counter an enemy that threatens to destroy his beloved Rose. Rose is no helpless victim, however, and refuses to let anyone—even Richard—take away her independence. She finds ways to fight that aren't in his armoury. Whether he likes it or not…

Warning: When Richard uses a topaz necklace to give Rose hot shivers, it might give you ideas, so keep a man handy to experiment on. But you can't have Richard.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2010

About the author

I was born in Leicester, England, and lived in our cobbler’s shop with my parents and sister. It was an old house and most definitely haunted, but I didn’t find out until I left that my great uncle had hung himself in the living room! But I think our ghost might have been older than that. It was built on the site of the old Roman cemetery, and the land had been constantly inhabited, being in the centre of town. Then, when the council bought the house from us to build a road, my grandfather retired and my father went and worked for the Post Office. My mother was a sample machinist; that is, she worked with designers on the prototypes (models or samples) of garments. So I was very well dressed! We bought a relatively modern house in the country, and my mother was blissfully happy. It’s all very well living in a large old house, but it’s a dreadful task to keep it clean and warm!

My mother's side of the family are Romany gypsies, although sadly we haven't any of the old trailers that are so astonishingly beautiful. I was taught to read the Tarot cards, and I usually use two packs; the Rider pack for simple readings and the Crowley Thoth pack for the complex stuff.
I've always had an interest in the paranormal and it's been a delight to be able to put some of this into my novels.

Reviews

[TinaNoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard and Rose return to Rose's hometown to attend two weddings. One of of Rose's old beau Tom and the other is Rose's younger sister Lizzie.

On the way there, they are held up by a highwayman and Rose has a unique and valuable watch stolen. Safe but shaken, they contiunue to Hareton Hall, the new home of Rose's brother who had recently inherited an Earldom.

As their visit continues it becomes increasingly apparent that someone is out to hurt Rose. And as in their previous visit, they notice the violence in the neighborhood has increased because of the thriving smuggling concern.

I have to say that this is the weakest book of the R&R series so far. Because R&R are a happily and devotedly in love couple, any conflict has to come externally. So far Connolly has done a bang up job of creating mysteries for R&R to solve that make great use of Richard's formidable skills while continuing the lovely love story between the two protagonists. But this one was paper thin. I figured out not only who the villain was right away but also why he was targeting Rose -- well at least why he theoretically would be so interested in R&R.

I am also kind sick of Julia and Steve. They need to be murdered or something.

The strength of the book continues to be the evolving relationship b/t R&R and how they continue to grow ever more deeply in love with each other.

I actually enjoyed the fact that Gervase fell in love and I kinda had a suspicion from a previous book that this might occur. I wish she had spent a little more time on Gervase, but since the books are told in Rose's first person POV, I guess we couldn't get too deeply into Gervase's relationship.

I have have to admit that given what a total hardcore badass Richard is, I was disappointed that he didn't burst that little pimple that dared to threaten Rose. But I guess I can understand why Connolly chose to have Richard spare him.

Recommended for die hard R&R fans.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose’s favorite sister is getting married, and so is her best friend. Richard and Rose return to Rose’s childhood home HARETON HALL. A lot has changed since she last seen it. She’s married now, a member of the peerage and a mother. Her brother, now a member of the peerage himself has renovated the hall and it looks little like what she remembers from her childhood. Now as she tries to reacclimatize with her neighbors and her new status as a mother, weird things keep happening. She and Richards arch enemies have rented a home in the neighborhood, a thief has entered the neighborhood, a rival smuggler gang has appeared on scene and the two fractions are feuding, and her other sister has a suitor. Is he all that he appears to be? It’s up to Richard and Rose to use their connections to find out. If they’ll live through it, because it appears that someone wants Rose dead.

Ms. Connolly is an excellent writer who writes with great historical detail. It’s a given when you pick up on of Ms. Connolly’s books that it won’t be a waste of your time. Having said that, I can’t help but think this series (which I have read each installment so that should tell you something there as I don’t always do that) or at least this installment in this series seems to have lost its edge.

I do not know if I would be feeling the same way if I hadn’t read all the other books, but for me at least it’s lost some of the wonder that drew me to the awesome love story between Rose and Richard. The first three books in the series are some of my favorites. I actually wish I had print copies of them instead of just e-book versions.

Because it’s a given that Ms. Connolly is an awesome writer (well at least to me she is), I’m just going to talk about what I didn’t like about the book. And highly recommend that if you haven’t read the series that you do so immediately.

At this point Richard and Rose have been married for two years and have a daughter who is several months old. They’re relationship is as strong as ever and I enjoyed catching up and seeing what they’ve been up to since the last book. What frequently pulled me out of the story was how Rose mentioned things she’s mentioned in the last several books. By this I mean, she’s constantly talks about how she used to be a wallflower, that if it wasn’t for Richard her life would have been so different and the girls who made her life miserable would’ve continued to do so. That now she’s a peer and she’s gotten good at being a lady. All this is fine, but she does it a lot and she did it a lot in the previous installments, so it got old for me personally.

Another thing that I thought was a throw away was who the villain was. It could’ve been just me, but I kinda figured it out right away. I don’t know if it’s because I was looking for this person everywhere since I had read the previous installments and it appeared this was the only loose end that needed to be tied up in the series. I wish more drama and action would’ve been added between one of the main characters and this person. Yes, I know I’m being absurdly vague, but to expound on the topic will be full of spoilers and I really hope that if you haven’t begun reading this series that you do so, if anything to see what a great historical writer Ms. Connolly is.

Bottom line is that I love her writing, but I didn’t love this book. Of course, I will still rush out and get the next installment in the series, but I won’t be rushing to get it the minute it comes out.

[Shadow Jubilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - 3 stars

[RNDK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread.

[Miz Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

The product warning states we can’t have Richard, but every time I read a Richard and Rose book, I want him. There’s something about his devotion to Rose, after years of sleeping with many women, that I find endearing—that she “tamed” him, or, closer to the truth, love does indeed conquer all. Their affection for one another runs deep, and I love that about these two. It isn’t gushing or overly obvious—it’s the small touches Ms. Connelly adds to her books that make it quite clear Richard will never stray again.


When a highwayman stops Richard and Rose’s carriage and steals the watch Gervase (Richard’s twin brother) gave her, a one-of-a-kind piece that is easily recognised, the plot started to thicken. Especially when the man didn’t take her wedding ring. Something odd was afoot… Later, when a man named Sir John has the watch, I naturally assumed he’d bought it in a pawn shop, but Sir John isn’t who he at first appears. When the reveal came as to who he really was, I was pleasantly shocked and also felt sorry for Richard. There was no way Richard would have known or recognised Sir John—for reasons explained in previous books—due to other people in his life keeping a secret from him. Sir John is hurt and angry, which is totally understandable, but he doesn’t have all the facts as to why Richard wasn’t in his life. Poor Richard, because he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place with Sir John, possibly torn between wanting to know him for who he is/was, but at the same time disliking him for who he is now and what he’s done.


Barbara, who married Rose’s oldest friend Tom, comes down with smallpox. I felt very sad for her—she became marked on her face, but Tom’s devotion to her shines through, and he loves her just the same, if not more. There is also a chapter book you can read of Barbara and Tom's wedding.


Rose sends her daughter away to keep her safe from infection, and I felt for her here because she’s devoted to her child. Their separation is less painful because Rose has other things that fill her mind: Sir John; the fact that those God-awful “menaces” are back on the scene (Steven and Julia—argh! Detest them!); a house catching fire that the menaces have rented (I’ll be totally honest here and wished the pair of them would get trapped inside. Isn’t that mean? But this is how much Ms. Connelly has me hating them!).


As with all Richard and Rose books, the plot is thick and well woven (well written too), all coming together in a lovely shiny bow at the end. I loved the smuggling aspect in this one—loved it in a previous book too—and the pair’s inexhaustible quest to always seek the truth and bring the baddies to justice keeps me riveted to the page.


Once again, another superb instalment from Ms. Connelly. Hareton Hall will have you gripped, reading until way past bedtime in order to work out who is up to no good and how R&R will thwart them. Honestly, these books are just the best thing since sliced bread. Roll on the next one!

[Estara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Richard was too lenient on the baddie and there was too much emphasis on “Richard is so private, but he shows off his emotions for me” – at this point in their marriage I expect them to change somewhat anyway – so it would simply make more sense to me if the reason for his being so clearly in love with her is that he no longer cares that other people see his emotions regarding her. That he has grown comfortable with it.

I liked Rose’s continuing development into a grand dame, and the heartbreaking disease amidst the introduction of her former best friend’s courtship and marriage (which was the most romantic bit for me). I also continue to enjoy Richard and Rose’s interplay.

I agree that we didn’t seem to need the Drurys in this book, the smuggling sub-plot would have been enough.

And I was MAJORLY annoyed when Rose got herself caught by the villain at the end even though having been warned by Richard not to go out without guards.

[Stevie Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, though this wasn't my favourite installment. Having already been warned that one of the secondary couples gets wrapped up a little too much off-stage as it were, I still found myself wishing we'd seen more of their relationship (although I liked what we got of them). The mystery plot felt a little too convoluted, although I was pleased to see one set of bad guys come back (I'm a Poldark fan, how can I not warm to smugglers as a side-plot?). Lovely description of how the hall has been modernised in there as well.

[ReadKnitHoard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old neighborhood, old friends, old enemies, new enemies.

I absolutely loathe that cover. It's all wrong! Wrong, I say! It should contain a building!!!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always look forward to the next Richard and Rose book.

[Madelynne Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just didn't grab me in the same way as some of the earlier books in the series. Still, a satisfying tale though.