It’s as simple as this - Aaron has won me over. This gentleman has won my heart, and Hunter has brought a delightful read to my bookshelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book featuring Aaron and Sophia was my favorite of the series! There are complex dynamics with Aaron's family relationships and his subsequent place in society which have greatly influenced his outlook and personality. Sophia has a dream and even though the opportunity to ride for Aaron isn't what either of them had in mind, she couldn't pass up a job that allowed her and her brother leave the circus. Aaron has so many layers- difficult to read his emotions, stalwart, not quick to smile- so it was gratifying to be able to read from his perspective. Sophia creates quite a stir in Newmarket, upsetting the traditions and social mores when she is hired to ride as a jockey in official races. She also challenges Aaron in ways he's not prepared for, and I loved how their attraction and chemistry grew throughout the book. Sophia's brother Jonas plays an important role, and I loved his humor and support of Sophia. Aaron's friends take Sophia under their wing and even though she faces difficulty with her work, she finds a new family in Newmarket.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

A fun, lighthearted, clean romance. A great book to read for a little escape. Well written and keeps your attentions.

I am really loving this series by Kristi Ann Hunter. She is an auto-buy author to me, and she writes this genre well with both humor and all the serious elements needed to make a fully rounded plot that makes for an un-put-downable book. Absolutely fantastic.

Winning the Gentleman is a regency romance novel written by Kristi Ann Hunter. It is book two in the Hearts on the Heath series, but it is not necessary to have read book one in order to enjoy this one.

Summary: Stable manager Aaron Whitworth is desperate. His boss has challenged another horse owner to a race, but Aaron doesn’t have a jockey. He needs to find one NOW. But a case of mistaken identity leads him to hire Sophia Fitzroy-a woman.

Will his reputation survive having a woman jockey, or should he cut his losses and decline to race leaving his boss’ honor in shambles? He’s stuck, and he doesn’t know what to do.

Sophia Fitzroy knows she essentially tricked Aaron into hiring her, but she knows horses, and knows she can race. Well, she has never raced before, but she’s desperate for a new life for herself and her injured brother, and is determined to prove she can do it. But is it worth the jeers and abuse she suffers at the hands of the other horse owners? Only time will tell……

My Thoughts: I liked the premise of this book quite a lot. There was a very unique angle to the story with Sophia and her brother, and all they had been through. You could really understand why Sophia felt the need to go for the desperate gamble of horse racing to find a better life for themselves.

What I didn’t care for in the story, was the constant reference to Aaron’s parentage. I get that he was an illegitimate son, but it kept coming up ad nauseum. In my opinion, it just took up too much room in the story. And, if Aaron was really that messed up by his legitimacy, there is no way he would have been able to fall in love with someone and have it work out because of his major insecurities. So, that just fell flat for me too.

It was a little sad, because I usually really enjoy this author’s books-she’s one of my favorites. But this book just didn’t quite hit the mark for me because of all the focus on the one topic. I just wanted to enjoy the other parts of the story!

I do thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.

Hunter does it again -- an interesting storyline, lots of historical details without overwhelming the reader, strong character development, and descriptive narrative, and faith elements that aren't preachy.

I grew up behind a parimutuel horse racing track, and while I never went to the races, Daddy would take me to a break in the shrubs so I could watch the horses run. From January to April, Oaklawn Park ran thoroughbred races, while the rest of the town geared up for the influx of people coming to watch the horses run, and to place their bets on which horse was the best. Traffic was a nightmare unless you knew shortcuts or back ways to get around town. But this is the world of modern horse racing. So when I saw that this book was about horse racing, I decided to pick it up and see how romance and horses blended together.

Aaron Whittaker was watching the circus performer ride on the back of the most beautiful horse he'd ever seen. She looked like a faerie standing on the back of her horse and he was intrigued. Then he saw a young red-headed man working with the horse after the show and made inquiries to hire him to train the horses and to be the jockey for the stables he managed. When an "agent" for the trainer negotiates the contract between Aaron and the trainer, she makes him write it out and sign it, so that it is binding. The issue is that Sophie is the trainer, and Jonas is the caretaker for the horses. Aaron essentially got a "pig in a poke." He thought he was getting Jonas, but in actuality he got Sophie. She was the one who trained the horses, and rode them.

I enjoyed this book, the primary characters were multi-dimensional with secrets that could have destroyed them, but they determined not to let the secrets interfere. There are a plethora of minor characters who all only add to the color of the plot. This is not my first Kristi Ann Hunter book to read and I am sure it will not be my last. It is a four-star book with plenty to offer for enjoyment.

Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

1- I love horses
2- I love Regency
3- I thought i would love this one. I love the first one. But this one... i have some issues with.

Sophia grated on my nerves. Headstrong and stubborn I can take. Annoying and stupid not so much. She never seemed to shut up. As a character trait, she would not be my best friend and I would avoid her if she ever crossed my path. She talked herself into circles and I did not find it endearing. This is definitely my opinion, in that the author could've made her more likeable, but it could just be that i didn't like her.

Aaron, mister stoic, while her direct opposite, was more charming than her constant talkitiveness. Also, Sophie's lies were really stupid at the beginning. Why not tell Aaron about her brother? it was entirely pointless. Better to come clean up front rather than lie and mistrust.

Oh-- and let's talk about the horse races. Let's talk about the anti-build up and the lack of details in a horse race. 'The race started..." Um... just no. Passive voice all the way, which is probably hypocritical of me since this review is written in lots of passive voice. But as a horse love, and one that has read ALL of Walter Farley books, you can't just say ' the race started' with a horse race. No. There has to be build up, details, and the rush of excitement as your horse prances under you, the anticipation of the wind beating in your heart, the slowing of your breath as you wait for the gun to go in three... two... one... The horse leapt under my hand, the powerful legs churning the ground. Dirt flies, horses bumping together, and I'm trapped in the middle with no way out".

For a book based on horse racing, the lack of emphasis on the actual RACING is appalling. It's almost like writing a war book and the battles happen in a paragraph or less. 'We started shooting at the enemy. We died. They died. After a full day of fighting we were all dead but me." Like i get not writing the details on all of the races. But not one single race was in full anticipatory detail and the racing is important.

That's what bothered me the most, over the characters. This is a writing choice that I feel left much to be desired.

3.5 stars.

This book has a different storyline than most that I’ve read set in this time period.

Sophia Fitzroy loves horses and is an excellent horse trainer/rider, but this was not an accepted role for ladies in the year 1817. Aaron Whitworth desperately needs a jockey for an important upcoming race. He sees Sophia ride, but at the time he hires her, is not aware that she’s a woman. However, they come to an agreement that Sophia will ride in the race. That decision leads to difficult, turbulent times for both Sophia and Aaron. Their relationship had moved from friendship to romance, but several obstacles still stood in the way of their happiness.

Sophia and Aaron both find themselves being judged by society because they were not in the right “class” and deemed by society as being “less than”. I loved the way Aaron’s friends, who moved in the highest levels of society, refused to accept that classification for both Sophia and Aaron and counted them as equals and friends. It’s an interesting story that has a theme of grace and faith.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

What a fun adventure I felt that I was on while reading this one. To have a woman come on the scene to race this man’s horses was well played out. I really enjoyed watching her devotion to her brother and concern for him. She’s a woman of integrity that comes out of the background of working for the circus. If she can hold onto her horse through the stunts she has to pull in the program for the circus, she can hold on through a race. This is the second book in a series by this author. I’ve read both of them and really enjoyed them.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on CBD, B&N

I loved this book! I wasn't too keen on Vying for the Viscount but this book reminded me again why I love Kristi Ann Hunter's books so much. I loved Aaron and Sophia's contrasting personalities and thought it added a nice aspect to the story. I really loved the setting and the theme of friendship throughout the story. Can't wait for book three!

This was my first book by Kristi Ann Hunter. I had reservations about reading a book that was part of a series without starting at the beginning, but this was the book available so I jumped in. I did feel like I was missing some information occasionally and had trouble keeping track of the secondary characters, but I am most upset that I missed the development of Aaron that surely must have happened in the previous novels. I absolutely adored this story and I feel like I missed part of it so, while I am glad I didn't put off reading it any longer, I am simultaneously upset to think I might have missed some of it.

I loved both Aaron and Sophia, but it was Aaron who most spoke to me. The author did an excellent job of pulling me in and making me feel the anguish that he lived with daily as he struggled to find his place in the world. While it could have been trite, it felt real, I felt his pain. I didn't blame him or roll my eyes when he inevitably pushed Sophia away, but hurt along with him.

I am not generally a reader who wants to go on an emotional rollercoaster when I read a book, but this one was enjoyable. The characters, including the supporting cast, brought humor, romance, excitement, sadness, trauma, and a dozen other emotions often within the same chapter. They were supportive and steadfast, the kind of people you want to spend your time with. I look forward to reading the rest of the series both those that came before and those still to come.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Winning the Gentleman was such a fun book to read! I loved both of the main characters, Aaron and Sophia. They were such a good match. The historical aspect of the rarity of a woman horse racing also contributed to the fun of the book. If you enjoy historical romantic fiction, then you should read this book.

I enjoyed this book. While I wonder at how historically accurate part of it where, I fell in love with the characters as they had to work together towards a common goal.

I enjoyed this second installment in Kristi Ann Hunter's new series. There were a few of the normal issues with American terms and mannerisms imported into 19th century Britain. The one which stood out the most her was the way the characters ate: with only a fork in the American manner, instead of using a knife and fork, as would have been the norm in polite British society at this time.

However, that was my only real niggle with the story. Otherwise, it was a great story with an unsual setting. I liked the Irish heroine, and the walk on roles by the protaganists of previous stories by this author.

Thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read a galley of this title. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed herein are my own

*Warnings*
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.


Stars: 4

Synopsis: Aaron Whitworth needs a jockey. Sophia Fitzroy needs a job. It ought to be a perfect fit...but a bit of deception and a whole lot of trouble argue otherwise.

Favorite Quote: “It’s grass. You can’t eat it. Might as well have fun on it.” And… “Because that meddlesome woman thinks true love will make you run after her. She doesn’t understand love doesn’t demand what it wants. Instead it will sacrifice itself to the give the other person what they need.”


I never really know what to think about Kristi Ann Hunter’s novels. Some are quite spectacular—like A Noble Masquerade—while others are mediocre—like Vying for the Viscount—and others yet are sorely disappointing—like A Pursuit of Home.

In the end, I walk away marveling over some aspects and shaking my head at others.

The same applies to Winning the Gentleman.

The foremost marvel, since I shall begin on a positive note, is Aaron Whitworth. From the very first moment I read his infamous line, “My name is Aaron Whitworth, and I’m illegitimate,” in A Defense of Honor, I just knew this man needed a story. (May I also note that I read ADOH not long after its release, so it’s plausible that I had the idea before Hunter did? I may not? Oh, well, never mind then. A thousand pardons, all.)

So naturally I was insanely excited to hear that my lovely Ari (yes, I’ve given him a nickname) was finally getting his story! I’ve been vying for this book (see what I did there?) since word first came out about it, and now that I’ve at long last read it, I am very pleased with the portrayal of Aaron’s character.

Granted, I do not remember him being so serious in ADOH, but it has been a couple years since I read that book, so no doubt my memories are askew.

Whatever the case, Aaron’s stoicism came through loud and clear. His oftentimes emotionless demeanor, frowning thoughts, and nervous little-boy heart poured forth from every word of this novel, in such a clear, arresting manner that I could almost hear Aaron speak. It’s not often that such occurs, but when it does? Oh, the heights it take the story too!

No doubt Aaron was the best part of this book. From the transparency of his portrayal to the overall adorable wonderfulness of his character, he truly shined—which made my heart so happy, since I do so love Aaron and since it’s rare that Hunter ever has such a firm grasp on her characters.

Sophia, on the other hand? Eh. I’m not entirely certain what to think of her. By this point, I’ve come to the conclusion that I either (1) don’t like heroines much at all or (2) just plain ignore them because the heroes are so amazing. Or a mixture of both at times, I suppose. So, yes, Sophia wasn’t as defined as Aaron. She also hasn’t been around for four books, so there’s that. The only part of her personality that came through was her talkativeness, and most of that was show through, well, her exuberant dialogues.

Let me say this, though: what readers don’t realize is how blooming difficult it is to write talkative characters. Trust me, I’ve tried, and it’s extremely hard. It requires a honed focus on the balance and emotion of each scene. Not only do we have to measure each beat according to the tone of the scene, but we’re also impressed upon to write realistic dialogue. That’s difficult enough without throwing in a Chatty Cathy. Once you have a talkative character, your perfect balance is disrupted. Now you must focus on capturing the emotion of the overall scene and the separate emotion (usually nervousness or exasperation) of the talkative character. Then you have to ensure that everything they’re saying is (1) flowing correctly, (2) making sense enough for the reader to understand, (3) long enough to capture their talkativeness, (4) short enough to keep the reader’s attention, and (5) not entirely pointless.

This is exactly why I either don’t write talkative characters or they all end up being not-so-talkative.

On that note, quiet characters are just as hard, since the author always has a point they want made, reaction they want to include, or an emotion they want to capture that simply cannot be captured by an all but mute character. Therefore, Hunter’s mastery of Aaron’s quietness and Sophia’s talkativeness was apparent. She did them both so well. Only once have I ever read the dialogue of a chatty character and heard every nuance of their voice, and that was with Rosemary Gresham in A Name Unknown. (Was she even labeled as talkative? I can’t remember. All I know was that she was, and perfectly so. It takes a truly consummate author to bring readers to conclusions about characters without stating them outright, you know.)

And there was your writing lesson for today. Take it to heart, dear readers, for the next time you stumble upon an unusually chatty or quiet character, and know that the author took special care to ensure their personality and tendencies came through clearly.

Now, where was I?

Oh, yes. My marvels.

My second marvel was how well Hunter handled the horses. I’m not a full-out horse-lover, since I’m rarely around them, but I’ve always admired them from afar (and the comfort of my couch as I watch John Wayne and Heartland). So getting these special glimpses of horsemanship, horse training, and horse races in not only this book but also the entire series has been a splendid experience.

Speaking of splendid experiences, may I just say that I greatly enjoy the almost Austen-esque setting the Heath is? Unlike most Regencies set during a London Season, Hunter took pointers from Jane Austen and set her story in the countryside, during a long span of months, and highlighted the everyday aspects of life away from London. It’s always so refreshing to see a different setting.

Now, for my head-shakers. Sigh. I’m almost never completely satisfied with a book—makes you wonder why I haven’t become an editor or how I’ve managed to publish my own books.

Kristi Ann Hunter is one of those fluctuating authors. Now, I don’t mean an evolving author, like Karen Witemeyer or Laura Frantz, whose books have only gotten better (although their first ones will always been some of my favorites). I don’t even mean an author with multiple voices, like Roseanna M. White.

I mean just what I said—an author who fluctuates. Let me explain: Hunter’s first series, Hawthorne House, was fun and light. Her prose didn’t stand out, but it was well-balanced, and every single book was a unique romantic adventure.

Her second series, Haven Manor, wasn’t as adventurous or romantic. Rather, it was almost poetic. Boring at times, yes, but her prose had morphed into something lovely and deep—kind of like Austen’s—that kept you reading even if the story and characters were lacking.

Then comes Hearts on the Heath (man, this woman likes hs). It keeps with the gentler, slower stories of Haven Manor, but all of a sudden her prose is back to the simplicity of Hawthorne House. Rather than taking the best from both series—HM’s gorgeous prose and HH’s intriguing stories and endearing characters—she drew the lacking aspects into a series of its own.

I digress. There are good things to Hearts of the Heath in and of itself. The setting is lovely. The characters are unique and more defined than HM’s characters (although not as much as the Hawthornes). The writing is balanced and even, and the stories are almost like classical escapism.

And maybe that’s your style, in which case, Hearts on the Hearth is perfect for you! Me personally? I like my stories a little more scintillating and a lot more romantic.

Honestly, I would just like to see more consistency in Hunter’s writing, or at least a difference in her voice. I appreciate authors who have a different voice or tone for each series or genre they write in, but when nearly every book is on a different spectrum, I’m not sure what to think of the author.

All in all, what matters is how much I enjoyed Winning the Gentleman…or, better yet, if it lived up to all of my hopes and dreams for Aaron’s story.

And the answer?

It did. I mean, I would’ve liked him to say “My name is Aaron Whitworth, and I’m illegitimate” a couple more times, but I’m not broken up over that. His character was so intense, and that was awesome to see, since very few of Hunter’s characters have possessed his same strength.

And I enjoyed this book. I really did. It was so…promising. (And I say that because my fingers are crossed in the hopes that Aaron’s half-brother gets the next story!!!! Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?)

A redemptive tale of finding the strength and grace to be just who you are, right where you are. I love when hard circumstances come together for good. Sophia has had a hard time of getting by since the death of her parents. All she wants is to work with horses and teach others to ride well. Aaron knows what it is like to be shunned and deal with being invited but never really welcomed. I love the friendship that develops between these two unlikely souls and then ensuing romance that blossoms. It was fun to read about a female jockey during this time period and some of the potential fallout. It held my interest partly because the subject matter has not been overdone and I was curious where it would go. That being said, it is Kristi Hunter and the woman knows how to write captivating stories that hold your attention from the first to the last. Characters are well developed; story lines are consistent and move along at just the right pace. The return of previously known characters was an added bonus. Highly recommended. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Winning the Gentleman is a good book by Kristi Ann Hunter set in early 19th century England when everyone was referred to by their titles and the use of first names was not greatly used. At first, I had a hard time following because it had been a while since I had read a period piece. Once I made a list of each person’s full names and titles, then I could follow along much easier.
The author had done her research as far as life in that era. Her character Sophia Fitzroy is a delightful young maiden with a twin brother. She has learned how to cope with little to no money and the circumstances that life brings her. She jumps at the opportunity to earn a month’s wages at the proposal that Aaron Whitworth puts forth even if it is far-fetched for that period, a woman jockey. Sophia does love horses and working with them as does Aaron. How they learn to cope with the rules of society are lessons learned throughout the book.
I do recommend this regency book and it proved to be a wonderful read, once I was able to keep the characters identified.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #WinningTheGentleman #KristiAnnHunter

Aaron and Sophia's story is one tinged with sadness for the things they have lost. And, yet, it is still infused with hope and a touch of humor.

If you have read Vying for the Viscount, you may recall Aaron as Hudson's stable manager. Despite being the older son of a Lord, Aaron's illegitimate birth relegated him to the role of a Nobody. And even worse, his father held him up as an example of the consequences of sin to his heir. Crazy, isn't it? I greatly admired Aaron's strong work ethic and how he always acted like a gentleman despite the way others felt about him. Honor was his greatest asset and he wore it well.

Sophia was a lovely sprite of a woman who, along with her twin, had been struggling to survive after the death of their parents. Her skills with horses, both as a trainer and a rider, were incredible! When Sophia had hope of a job, even though it meant racing horses, something she had never done before, she didn't give up. Her love and care for her twin were very sweet and touched my heart. Quite the opposite of Aaron, she had a propensity of babbling when she was nervous which could be quite humorous!

I enjoyed the horse racing aspects quite a bit. Hearing about how the horses were trained on the heath and how there were even rules about who could train when. It was quite interesting.

While the second book of the Hearts on the Heath series, this story could stand alone and also tied together characters from several other series by Kristi Ann Hunter. I know this after having fallen in love with Trent and Adelaide. I had a feeling their story had been told already and after a brief search, I found they are featured in An Uncommon Courtship from the Hawthorne House series.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong faith element, I recommend reading Winning the Gentleman's Heart.

"She doesn't understand love doesn't demand what it wants. Instead it will sacrifice itself to give the other person what they need."

What a true pleasure it has been to burrow into Aaron Whitworth's life and get to know this gentleman of few words but honorable, loyal, dependable, and admirable heart. Kristi Ann Hunter's recreation of the Newmarket society that revolves around horses and racing is realistic, stunning, and quite wonderful. Sophia is a delightfully unique woman in the Regency era England looking for a place in the world where stability, love, and acceptance will embrace her. Their conversations are witty, clever, and fun and their romance is incredibly sweet and innocent. There are even some surprises thrown into the plot that deepen Aaron's character and make him more lovable. I loved catching up with Aaron's aristocratic friends who cross over from the author's previous series (Trent/Adelaide from Hawthorne House, Graham/Kit from Haven Manor) as well as Oliver/Rebecca from Vying for the Viscount. The banter, camaraderie, respect, and love the friends share add to the heart-warming environment that Aaron tries to ignore and escape but can't.

If you enjoy historical romance, you will absolutely love this book and series. I can't wait for the next book!
I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.