✩✩✩✩
Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, Duke of Harndon, that a heart is a
decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his
fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to
Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable
society.
Ten years later, fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved—and the succession. He faces the prospect of marrying with the greatest reluctance—until he sees beguiling Lady Anna Marlowe across a ballroom one night.
Anna, far from being the bright-eyed innocent Luke takes her for, is no more a stranger to the shadows of a painful past than he is. But for her, marriage cannot so easily solve what is wrong in her life—not when a tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey, where Luke and Anna must learn to trust in each other or risk any chance they may have for a happy future.
Genre: historical romance
Ten years later, fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved—and the succession. He faces the prospect of marrying with the greatest reluctance—until he sees beguiling Lady Anna Marlowe across a ballroom one night.
Anna, far from being the bright-eyed innocent Luke takes her for, is no more a stranger to the shadows of a painful past than he is. But for her, marriage cannot so easily solve what is wrong in her life—not when a tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey, where Luke and Anna must learn to trust in each other or risk any chance they may have for a happy future.
Genre: historical romance
Publication date: July 2015
Mature content: yes
Review: I love reading historical romance novels and Mary Balogh rarely disappoints. The plots are very cleverly weaved, the characters are well developed and while there is always a happy ending. it's not obvious or simple to get there. Mary Balogh's books feel real, as if she's describing real people and not fictional characters.
With Heartless, however, I found the plot to be very slow moving in places. And I never really managed to connect with Lucas as the main male character. I think this was partly due to the descriptions of how he dressed and wore his hair and makeup - and yes, I know those accurately portray the historical period, but I couldn't control my reaction. And another part was the fact that, at least in the beginning of the book, he seems to prefer to run away from problems (and go back to having fun in Paris) instead of facing them head on.
My rants above are the reason I couldn't bring myself to rate it with more than four stars, even if it's still a great historical romance.
Happy readings,
My rants above are the reason I couldn't bring myself to rate it with more than four stars, even if it's still a great historical romance.
Happy readings,
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