Historical romance with an interesting story and some very good characters. A little more depth to both the characters and story than most .

I enjoyed this book, a regency romance with a twist. It deals with societies mistreatment of both women and children, whilst still retaining the mystery of a kidnapping and the social and moral issues of the period. The main characters however were difficult to like at times but the overall storyline made up for it.

I wanted to love this story but I didn't like the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Ruby Heart didn't keep my interest at all. It's slow. Very slow. And just not all that interesting.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with this egalley in exchange for an honest review.

In The Ruby Heart by Janet Louise Roberts, when Lesley Dalrymple hears about her six-year old nephew being abused under the guardianship of her uncle and aunt, she seeks the help of fellow god-parent and London's well-known rake- Burke Penhallow. Although, she despises men and refuses to marry, the only way of saving her nephew is through marriage with Burke Penhallow. I like the plot and themes, but I did not like the narration.

The plot was good Regency romance, especially with villainous relatives, gossiping Londoners, and good protagonists like Lesley and Burke. First of all, I like the villains that are so overbearing, so the protagonists are always confronting them, instead of just falling in love. Second of all, this story highlights a lot of social issues of the Regency era such as poverty, child labor, and child abuse. It focuses the light on the lower class of London society, instead of solely focusing on the gentry. Third of all, the protagonists are likable Lesley with her disdain for men and feminism and Burke with his caring nature and handsome looks. I like how theirs is not an instant love, especially with hurdles along the way, but Lesley remains the greatest hurdle. I know jealousy is an important step in realizing love, but it does not fit with her character.

Nonetheless, the narration rushes a lot. First, some important moments require a detailed confrontation, but the author breezes past them. On the other hand, some things are just happening too fast, which does not enhance the development of characters or relations. Second, this kind of narration does not help me connect with the romance of the story; when Lesley and Burke had their moments, they felt out of place. Maybe, if their romance developed at a slower pace, it would feel more right. If you like short Regency romances, then you should check out The Ruby Heart by Janet Louise Roberts.

I enjoyed this story—it was full of intrigue and unexpected twists. I especially liked the focus on righting the wrongs of child abuse and child labor.

I wish there had been more substance to the romance. For a Bluestocking, Lesley wasn't very smart in how she handled Burke. If she had wanted to keep control of her own money, she should have negotiated for that in her marriage contract. Instead, she blamed Burke for her situation. Instead of fighting for what she wanted, she mostly sulked for the middle 50% of the novel.

Burke, for his part, was high-handed at times while also hiding his affection for her. Of course she was cold and distant. He didn't give her reason to be otherwise. But in the end, they both showed their true colors and came together to fight for their future. Ultimately, I found the book worth reading.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

"The Ruby Heart" was penned some forty years ago by Janet Louise Roberts; I do not know if she used the pen name Rebecca Danton back then. Apparently her novels are just now available in e-book format.

Embarking on a marriage of convenience to rescue 6-year-old Sandy Dalrymple from his physically abusive uncle and his unpleasant wife, his Aunt Lesley and godfather Burke Penhallow quickly hit predictable snags. Bluestocking Lesley and rake Burke are supremely ill-suited.

Now I believe people can change. Without giving spoilers, Burke has a few *duh* moments, one in particular, and afterwards he says he should have seen this coming. Oh really, do you think so?! Let's not forget Lesley, who near the end of the book, has a massive TSTL moment. Bluestockings are supposed to be smarter than that. The very real problems of child abuse, orphanages and child labor are addressed. The ruby heart of the title plays a pivotal role in the book.

Sadly, the characters didn't resonate with me. While there are no graphic sex scenes, I cannot classify this novel as completely clean. 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed this book, it was obvious from the start where it was going, as with all romance novels, but the journey was very enjoyable. I found the main character very annoying, she was determined to hate Burke for no reason and was acting like a petulant child for most of the book, and the aunt and uncle's behaviour infuriating, though this did make a good story. I would recommend this book and will look out for others by this author