The Honorable Heir

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

EAKES, LAURIE ALICE
THE HONORABLE HEIR

An American heiress and widow of a rakish English earl, Catherine has returned to New York high society determined to make amends for the scandal she caused when she crossed the Atlantic to elope with her best friend's suitor and win the title of Lady Bisterne. But a ruined reputation isn't the only thing that's followed her home: Lord Tristram Wolfe, the rightful heir to the Bisterne estate, has vowed to track down his family's stolen jewels -- gems he's certain Catherine stole.

Catherine has more to think about than charming, handsome Tristram and his accusations, even if he's beginning to change her mind about never returning to England. Back at her family's Tuxedo Park estate, she resolves to restore her honor by earning the forgiveness of her best friend and protecting her younger sister from other fortune-seeking Englishmen with dubious titles, all while abiding by the etiquette of the Gilded Age.

Yet when Tristram's quest takes a dangerous turn, she must decided whether to follow the rules or save her accuser's life.

My Review:

Eep!  Eeep! Eeeeeep! I'm in a dithering frenzy of reading bliss! This might be an American Gilded Age historical romance but it has all the feels of a Regency. Societal rules and expectations. Cutting dialogue. The thrilling glance across a crowded ballroom. The occasional breaching of class rules. The battling of wills between familial expectations and following ones heart. Just...eep, eeep, eeeeep!!!

Excuse my hyperventilating state while I wax poetic over Tristram. A misunderstood hero wrestling demons from his past. Estranged from his father, desperate to prove his worth on an impossible quest: retrieve the stolen jewels and expose the thief. Such noble turmoil! He's so haughty and condemning in the beginning as all the evidence points to Catherine but the more he gets to know her, the harder it is to hold onto his condemnation of her character.

Catherine has learned from the foolish mistake she made in her youth. She's paid a high price for her folly and now she only wants to make amends. She's got a grit and spirit that complement her gentle, nurturing nature. But she's not about to let Tristram get the upper hand. Cue the sparks and rapier wit!

Sublimely divine!!!!!

(I listened to the audible version which made the read all the more exciting courtesy of narrator Saskia Maarleveld.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Honorable Heir, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 1 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!