I’ll repeat what I tweeted a few days ago … “Virginia Heath, where have you been all my life?” There’s nothing more satisfying to a reader than to find a great new author. I’ve loved the length and ethos of Harlequin Historicals, but haven’t found a glom-worthy, auto-buy author among them. I am cautiously, optimistically saying Heath may be “it”. The final book in her King’s Elite series, The Determined Lord Hadleigh, had me in thrall the past few days with engaging characters, a slow-moving, slow-burning romance, and an ease and smoothness to the writing that we rarely see in romance, sadly. (I didn’t even mind that I came to the series at the end, even though I was sorry to have missed the previous books.) I was captivated from the opening scene: dramatic and “tell me more” compelling as it was.

At the Old Bailey, Crown Prosecutor Lord Tristan Hadleigh is arguing for Viscount Penhurst’s conviction for treason. In the courtroom, his soon-to-be widow, Lady Penhurst, aka Penelope/ “Penny”, née Ridley, twisting handkerchiefs, avoiding journalists, and following every word, regretting the law doesn’t allow her to testify against her vile husband. Like England, Penny suffered much at Penhurst’s hand, used for her fortune, derided for her inferior birth, abused physically, and abandoned once she conceived Penhurst’s heir.

The composed, thorough, meticulous Lord Hadleigh, even arguing his case brilliantly, is consumed by guilt over the fate of Lady Penhurst and her son, the adorable toddler Freddie. The crown has stripped the family of Penhurst’s estate and left them penniless. The beautiful, pale anxious soon-to-be traitor’s widow tugs at Tristan’s heart and conscience. With the help of Penny’s friend, Clarissa, and her husband Seb, Tristan’s friend and co-crown-pursuer of treasonous aristos (all laid out in the first three series books), Tristan contrives to ensure Penny and her son have a safe place to live and plenty of food and comfort. But Tristan’s charitable ruses are discovered and Penny’s reaction is surprisingly feisty and angry.

The trial that brings Tristan and Penny together conjures emotional turmoil. Tristan’s interest in Penny isn’t only due to her beauty and his attraction, but to the memories of his abused mother, whom he couldn’t save. For Penny, being free of her husband, even penurious, offers a new lease on life and she sets about looking for employment in the country, where Freddie can grow up without his father’s shameful taint. Though Penny too is attracted to the interfering Lord Hadleigh, her discovery of how he’s contrived to help her financially sets her into a fit of temper, borne of a woman who never wants to be manipulated, or controlled, not even to be protected, or cared for … not without her consent, or will. This makes for delicious banter when Penny confronts Tristan and the lovely eating of humble pie on his part. This type of exchange sets the tone of their exchanges, even while they grow in affection and friendship.

To mitigate his rescue of the unwilling damsel, Tristan offers Penny work as the housekeeper of his Sussex estate, especially because this is where he will plan and prepare witnesses for the remainder of these ongoing trials of treason and intrigue. Penny’s knowledge of the case and discretion, along with her organizing and managing abilities, makes her the perfect choice, restores him in her good graces, and ensures she continues to have a safe place for her and Freddie. Tristan has proudly managed it all … again. Except being with Penny in the house he’s avoided for the ten years since his mother’s death brings Tristan to an emotional crisis, just as being capable, safe, and happy give Penny the strength to accompany him on his painful emotional journey into the past.

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is very much a novel about a man’s emotional resurrection, even while it’s about a woman’s physical one. Not content with building a romance on mutual respect, attraction, laughter, and love, Heath also engages us with the historical circumstances of women’s lives, how the law failed to protect them and how their marriages became nightmares of neglect and abuse, with no recourse to the law. It’s still a romance, though, and imbued with life, love, and laughter. A mere snippet may convince you, dear reader, to give Heath a try. As Tristan’s high-handedness melts before Penny’s assertiveness, and as Penny recognizes Tristan’s qualities of generosity, respect, and understanding, the novel gains in emotional intensity, mitigated by delightful humour. When Tristan shows a warmer, charming side to Penny, for example, she has to admit his attractiveness: “Damn him and his well-fitting breeches and perfect cups of tea!” Could a man be more attractive to a woman than one with sturdy thighs and tea-making abilities? I think not. In a nutshell, while Lord Hadleigh is light on action, Heath manages a world of conversation and emotion in a domestic setting … that well, no pun intended, had me on the edge of my comfortable seat, with the requisite cuppa for company. My ever-stalwart reading companion, Miss Austen, concurs when I say that, in The Determined Lord Hadleigh, we find “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Virginia Heath’s The Determined Lord Hadleigh is published by Harlequin Books. It was released on July 1st and may be found at your preferred vendors. I received an e-ARC from Harlequin Books, via Netgalley.

This was an excellent conclusion to the King's Elite series. "The Boss" is in custody and it is up to Lord Hadleigh as Crown Prosecutor to build a watertight case for conviction. Hadleigh is well known for his meticulous and thorough preparations, and his unemotional prosecutions. The book opens at the trial of Lord Penhurst, who was captured in the first book of the series. Lady Penny Penhurst is on the witness stand, and Hadleigh can't help being moved by her courage. Haunted by what she endured both before and after her husband's capture, Hadleigh takes steps to help her secretly.

Penny endured three years of hell at the hands of her physically and mentally abusive husband. With her husband's estates and funds confiscated by the Crown, Penny is left with nothing but her determination to start a new life. It is harder than she expected, but she intends to stand on her own two feet. When she finds out that Hadleigh has been helping her on the sly, she is furious and reads him the riot act.

I loved the development of the relationship between Hadleigh and Penny. Overall, it is an emotional rollercoaster with both of them having to face the demons of their pasts before they can move on to a happy future. Hadleigh is a fixer. He is compelled to right wrongs when he sees them, which is why he is so outstanding as a prosecutor. He is consumed by guilt over what happened to Penny and feels partially responsible for it. Partly driven by his feelings of not having been able to help his mother, it helped him to know that he was helping someone who suffered as she had. Penny was furious at his interference. Having been controlled and manipulated by one man, she was not going to allow another one any control over her life. I loved the way she laid out her objections in a manner that Hadleigh could understand, and how it opened his eyes to the consequences of his actions.

But Hadleigh still isn't able to let go of his need to help. The perfect solution falls into his hands when he offers his country estate as a place to prepare witnesses for the upcoming trial. The house was closed for a decade, so he offers the job of housekeeper to Penny. This gives her the employment she craves and Hadleigh the satisfaction of helping her. But there are also consequences to his actions. Hadleigh avoided the house for years because of the memories he associates with it, memories he is now forced to confront. I ached for him as those memories frequently overwhelmed him.

The interactions between Penny and Hadleigh were fantastic. Penny refuses to be a victim and has no trouble standing up to Hadleigh when she feels that he oversteps. Hadleigh isn't a man who feels he is always right and can see the error of his ways when they are pointed out to him. It takes him a while to realize that there is more to his need to help Penny than just reparations for the past. I liked seeing them slowly get to know each other. There were some heartwarming scenes of Hadleigh with Penny's son, as she sees a different side to him. There were also some intensely emotional scenes, such as when she breaks through the walls he erected around his memories of his mother. At the same time, the attraction between them continues to grow. Penny is reluctant to trust herself after her disaster of a marriage, while Hadleigh is ready to have it all. I loved his understanding of her feelings and his willingness to be patient while she works through them. The epilogue was fantastic and perfect for this series. I loved seeing the extended length of time passed and where they all are in their lives.

The secondary characters were all people from the earlier books. I loved Clarissa and Seb's support of Penny and laughed out loud when Seb confronted Hadleigh over his clandestine efforts to help Penny. Seb is caught between a rock and a hard place as he wants to help Penny but also understands Hadleigh's actions. When the action moved to the country house, I loved seeing Jessamine again. The instant friendship between her and Penny was great, helped along by their shared experiences. The Dowager Lady Flint and Harriet were both a riot with their uncensored comments and advice. Flint, Gray, and Seb were all willing participants in giving Hadleigh a hard time over his relationship with Penny.

This final book in Virginia Heath’s enjoyable King’s Elite series shifts focus somewhat and concerns itself mostly with the aftermath of the unmasking and apprehension (in the previous book) of The Boss, the head of a widespread and dangerous smuggling ring that was channeling funds to Napoléon and his supporters with a view to restoring him to power. The Determined Lord Hadleigh rounds the series out nicely and follows a thoroughly engaging central couple on their sometimes rocky path to happiness.

The eponymous gentleman describes himself as an honorary member of the team of crack government spies knows as the King’s Elite, which is fair enough, as unlike them, he’s not an agent working for the Crown, but rather is the man whose job it is to prosecute and help convict those they apprehend. He’s a brilliant barrister, a fair and honourable man, and a friend of the other members of the group – and now it’s his turn to step into the limelight. Hadleigh appeared briefly in the other books in the series, and now it’s up to him to make sure the Crown’s case against the Boss is watertight. When the novel opens, he is in the midst of the trial of Viscount Penshurst, one of the Boss’ closest associates, and is questioning his current witness, the young Lady Penshurst, whose honesty and quiet dignity in the face of the nasty gossip and blatant scorn of the public impresses him and whose story strikes a chord deep inside him. Hadleigh sees many similarities between the life the viscountess describes and that endured by his mother, who was abused and then killed by his father a decade earlier – and he still carries the guilt that he didn’t do enough to protect her. That guilt engenders a protectiveness made all the stronger when he learns that the viscount’s title, wealth and estates have been transferred back to the crown, meaning his innocent wife and son will be left with nothing.

After the trial and her husband’s death in prison, Lady Penshurst changes her name and takes lodgings in Cheapside with her not-quite-two-year-old son, Freddie. Her closest friend Clarissa – who is married to Seb Leatham (The Mysterious Lord Millcroft) – has offered to house them both for as long as Penny wants, but Penny is insistent that she wants to stand on her own two feet. After three years trapped in an abusive marriage with a man who wanted to control her every move, she’s determined to slough off the easily cowed, powerless and subservient woman she became during those years and to find herself again, to take back control of her life. So when she discovers that someone has been helping her out behind the scenes, paying bills and rent, she’s furious. Her first thought is that Clarissa has gone behind her back and asked Seb to do it, but when Clarissa assures her that she values their friendship too much to go against her express wishes, Penny believes her. Worried that perhaps one of her late husband’s associates has done it as a way of intimidating her, Penny asks Clarissa to find out what she can about her mysterious benefactor.

Hadleigh has tried continually – and fruitlessly – to forget about Lady Penshurst, but no matter how many times he tells himself she’s not his problem, he feels the need to do something to help her. So he’s bewildered when confronted by an annoyed Seb Leatham reaming him out for doing just that – until he learns that his actions may have unintentionally caused the lady some distress. An awkward apology follows, and he promises not to attempt to interfere again. But then an opportunity presents itself whereby Hadleigh can help Penny while at the same time enabling her to be independent, and in spite of his own misgivings, he has to take it. In preparing for the Boss’ trial, he will need to consult and work with his star witness – Jessamine, Lady Flint – frequently, but with some members of the gang still at large, her husband is naturally reluctant to have her travel to London. Hadleigh’s family home is just outside London, in Essex, so he suggests to thehead of the King’s Elite that Lady Flint be housed there until the trial. With government approval, Hadleigh offers Penny a position as temporary housekeeper, explaining that he’s not paying her wages, and that she will in fact be doing him and the government a big favour by agreeing to take the post.

Even though Hadleigh has no intention of spending much time at the house – which holds too many unhappy memories for him – he nonetheless finds himself going there more often than he originally intended, seeking out Penny, talking with her and enjoying her company. And as they start getting to know each other, Penny begins to see past the controlled, somewhat aloof Hadleigh, to the complex, thoughtful and charming man he truly is, and to allow herself to enjoy feeling desired and desirable.

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is a fabulous character-driven piece that works as both a beautifully developed romance and a clever character study as Ms. Heath takes a good, long look at what drives Penny and Hadleigh to act the way they do. Penny isn’t afraid of her attraction to Hadleigh – in fact she welcomes it, and I loved that she wasn’t prepared to allow the misery she endured during her marriage prevent her from moving forward with her life. I admired her strength and determination not to allow herself to be seen as a victim:

“… that is not the way I see myself. It is such a small part of who I am, yet it appears to be the version of myself others are most content with accepting… Maybe I should have it written on my forehead to make it easier for people to decide how to view me? Poor, downtrodden Penny ! Rather that, than as that brave woman who spoke out in the dock. “

Penny is also extremely perceptive, and it doesn’t take her long to work out why Hadleigh so dislikes the house and why he acted as he did towards her. His character growth is substantial as – with Penny’s help – he is able to face and conquer his demons and accept that he can’t save everyone, and that a person is the sum of many parts.

“… simply because the cap fits, a person shouldn’t be expected to always wear it when the world is joyously filled with different hates and we, as individuals, have the right to choose, try them on for size and discard them as the mood takes us.”

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is a ‘quiet’ book about two emotionally bruised people learning to come to terms with tragedy and move forward together. For my money, it’s the best and strongest book of the King’s Elite series, and although it could be read as a standalone, I’d advise reading at least book three (The Disgraceful Lord Gray) first. Virginia Heath’s writing is as warm, witty and insightful as ever, and she continues to be one of the best authors of historical romance around. I’m looking forward to whatever she comes up with next.

Grade: A- / 4.5 stars

Penny is devastated and trying to start over. Tristan feels guilty about her brokenness and wants to protect her. Both are stubborn and independent and find themselves at odds with each other. When they have to spend more time together they realize they have a lot in common that will make for a great relationship. A well written story that shows the plight of women and children who little recourse against their husbands and fathers.

3.5 stars

When Tristian, Viscount Hadleigh prosecutes the traitor Viscount Penhurst, he is amazed by the spirit of the man's wife, she testifies in court as to her knowledge of husband's misdeeds, even knowing the truth with cost her and her young son everything.

Months later, Penelope, the former Viscountess Penhurst learns that someone is paying her bills, she is not happy, after being married to Lord Penhurst and suffering emotional, mental and physical abuse at his hands, it is important to Pen to be independent. She tells Hadleigh in no uncertain terms to stop trying to help her, but when he offers her a job that will earn her enough to be settled for a good long while, she accepts.

Hadleigh doesn't know what possessed him to offer Pen a job at his home - a place he hasn't visited in 10 years and a place he would gladly never visit again. But something about Pen calls to him and his protective nature. He is no stranger to domestic violence and still blames himself for his mother's death.

This story was nothing like the previous books in the series and while it wraps up the series nicely, it was a dramatic change from the tone of the other books in the series as it is much more emotional and much slower paced. I didn't dislike the story, but I will admit to being bored and had hoped for a little bit more of punch to end the series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

A lovely, fun story! When Virginia Heath is in her groove the writing is breezy and clever. She totally got in the groove on this one. Hadleigh is a somewhat rigid, but brilliant barrister, tasked with the trials that will put an end to the smuggling ring whose story has run through the King's Elite series. Penny was married to Lord Penhurst, one of the key players in the ring. Hadleigh's strong sense of justice causes him to try to help her and her small son after she is left destitute and alone. But Penny is fighting to establish herself as a finally independent woman.

Clever dialogue, interesting situations, and the re-emergence of characters we already know make this book a joy to read. Plus, the epilogue pulls everyone together with a hilarious ending. Terrific writing! I can't wait to see what new series she does next!

ARC provided by Netgalley

Viscount Penhurst has finally been caught and is standing trial in London. His estate has been confiscated and Lady Penhurst, Penny, is a witness for the crown. The accommodations for her and her young son, Freddie, in Cheapside are not ideal, but she can’t afford more. She sells a piece of her jewelry every month to pay the rent. Her best friend, Clarissa Leatham, wanted to help financially but she wouldn’t let her.

Lord Hadleigh is the prosecutor and Penny was his best witness. He worries about her safety and has a Bow Street Runner keeping an eye on her. Hadleigh tries to help by paying her rent for several months and has recovered her pawned jewelry. She is angry with him and decides to find work away from London.

Hadleigh offers Lord Fennimore, commander of the King’s Elite, his spacious estate in Essex to protect their witnesses while the trial against the smugglers continues. It would also let him hire Penny to be the housekeeper and have Freddie with her. Penny agrees to be his housekeeper during the trial and preparation. Jessamine and Flint will live at the house while they prepare for the trial. Penny can help Jess as she also had to testify at a trial. She also helps Hadleigh on how to approach the wives of the men on trial.

There is so much going on in this wonderful book and I will not spoil the other things that come to life during the stay at his estate. I highly recommend this book. Virginia Heath has become an automatic buy for me.

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is the final book in Virginia Heath’s King’s Elite series. While it was not my favorite out off all of them I really did enjoy it. It pulls together all of the final pieces to the overall story line. Penny, Lady Penhurst has lost everything. Her husband, who isn’t really a great loss since he was part of the smuggling ring and a traitor to his country, her title, her home. She made such an impression on Tristan, Lord Hadleigh, that he feels guilty for everything that has befallen her. Hadleigh opens his long deserted country home that will be used for a headquarters while he puts together his prosecution of Viscountess Gislingham, the leader of the ring, and invites Penny to become the housekeeper so that he can keep her close. They both have a lot to overcome to finally trust each other enough to fall in love. Penny, her previous, abusive marriage and Hadleigh his earlier childhood. I liked that this book brought characters from the other books into the story. I can’t wait to see what Virginia Heath has in store for her next series.

As there is an overarching plotline running through this series, there are spoilers for the earlier books in this review.

This final book in Virginia Heath’s enjoyable King’s Elite series shifts focus somewhat and concerns itself mostly with the aftermath of the unmasking and apprehension (in the previous book) of The Boss, the head of a widespread and dangerous smuggling ring that was channeling funds to Napoléon and his supporters with a view to restoring him to power. The Determined Lord Hadleigh rounds the series out nicely and follows a thoroughly engaging central couple on their sometimes rocky path to happiness.

The eponymous gentleman describes himself as an honorary member of the team of crack government spies knows as the King’s Elite, which is fair enough, as unlike them, he’s not an agent working for the Crown, but rather is the man whose job it is to prosecute and help convict those they apprehend.  He’s a brilliant barrister, a fair and honourable man, and a friend of the other members of the group - and now it’s his turn to step into the limelight. Hadleigh appeared briefly in the other books in the series, and now it’s up to him to make sure the Crown’s case against the Boss is watertight.  When the novel opens, he is in the midst of the trial of Viscount Penshurst, one of the Boss’ closest associates, and is questioning his current witness, the young Lady Penshurst, whose honesty and quiet dignity in the face of the nasty gossip and blatant scorn of the public impresses him and whose story strikes a chord deep inside him.  Hadleigh sees many similarities between the life the viscountess describes and that endured by his mother, who was abused and then killed by his father a decade earlier - and he still carries the guilt that he didn’t do enough to protect her.  That guilt engenders a protectiveness made all the stronger when he learns that the viscount’s title, wealth and estates have been transferred back to the crown, meaning his innocent wife and son will be left with nothing.

After the trial and her husband’s death in prison, Lady Penshurst changes her name and takes lodgings in Cheapside with her not-quite-two-year-old son, Freddie.  Her closest friend Clarissa – who is married to Seb Leatham (The Mysterious Lord Millcroft) – has offered to house them both for as long as Penny wants, but Penny is insistent that she wants to stand on her own two feet.  After three years trapped in an abusive marriage with a man who wanted to control her every move, she’s determined to slough off the easily cowed, powerless and subservient woman she became during those years and to find herself again, to take back control of her life.  So when she discovers that someone has been helping her out behind the scenes, paying bills and rent, she’s furious.  Her first thought is that Clarissa has gone behind her back and asked Seb to do it, but when Clarissa assures her that she values their friendship too much to go against her express wishes, Penny believes her.  Worried that perhaps one of her late husband’s associates has done it as a way of intimidating her, Penny asks Clarissa to find out what she can about her mysterious benefactor.

Hadleigh has tried continually – and fruitlessly – to forget about Lady Penshurst, but no matter how many times he tells himself she’s not his problem, he feels the need to do something to help her.  So he’s bewildered when confronted by an annoyed Seb Leatham reaming him out for doing just that – until he learns that his actions may have unintentionally caused the lady some distress.  An awkward apology follows, and he promises not to attempt to interfere again.  But then an opportunity presents itself whereby Hadleigh can help Penny while at the same time enabling her to be independent, and in spite of his own misgivings, he has to take it.  In preparing for the Boss’ trial, he will need to consult and work with his star witness – Jessamine, Lady Flint – frequently, but with some members of the gang still at large, her husband is naturally reluctant to have her travel to London.  Hadleigh’s family home is just outside London, in Essex, so he suggests to thehead of the King’s Elite that Lady Flint be housed there until the trial.  With government approval, Hadleigh offers Penny a position as temporary housekeeper, explaining that he’s not paying her wages, and that she will in fact be doing him and the government a big favour by agreeing to take the post.

Even though Hadleigh has no intention of spending much time at the house - which holds too many unhappy memories for him - he nonetheless finds himself going there more often than he originally intended, seeking out Penny, talking with her and enjoying her company.  And as they start getting to know each other, Penny begins to see past the controlled, somewhat aloof Hadleigh, to the complex, thoughtful and charming man he truly is, and to allow herself to enjoy feeling desired and desirable.

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is a fabulous character-driven piece that works as both a beautifully developed romance and a clever character study as Ms. Heath takes a good, long look at what drives Penny and Hadleigh to act the way they do.  Penny isn’t afraid of her attraction to Hadleigh – in fact she welcomes it, and I loved that she wasn’t prepared to allow the misery she endured during her marriage prevent her from moving forward with her life.  I admired her strength and determination not to allow herself to be seen as a victim:

“… that is not the way I see myself.  It is such a small part of who I am, yet it appears to be the version of myself others are most content with accepting… Maybe I should have it written on my forehead to make it easier for people to decide how to view me? Poor, downtrodden Penny !  Rather that, than as that brave woman who spoke out in the dock. “

Penny is also extremely perceptive, and it doesn’t take her long to work out why Hadleigh so dislikes the house and why he acted as he did towards her. His character growth is substantial as – with Penny’s help - he is able to face and conquer his demons and accept that he can’t save everyone, and that a person is the sum of many parts.

“… simply because the cap fits, a person shouldn’t be expected to always wear it when the world is joyously filled with different hates and we, as individuals, have the right to choose, try them on for size and discard them as the mood takes us.”

The Determined Lord Hadleigh is a ‘quiet’ book about two emotionally bruised people learning to come to terms with tragedy and move forward together.  For my money, it’s the best and strongest book of the King’s Elite series, and although it could be read as a standalone, I’d advise reading at least book three (The Disgraceful Lord Gray) first. Virginia Heath’s writing is as warm, witty and insightful as ever, and she continues to be one of the best authors of historical romance around.  I’m looking forward to whatever she comes up with next.

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Excellent storytelling, especially regarding the heroine's agency and the hero's need to both control and protect..I recommend Heath to every historical reader, and this title will be no exception.