https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C5J6VU8WI9DO/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

The heroine has a secret crush but is resigned to never marry. The hero is an arrogant man who doesn’t want to remarry but must find someone to refine his daughter. They get married due to circumstances they are caught in. I felt sorry for the heroine as she was always being put down and hurt. It was story of heartache, but finally a HEA.

4.5 Stars
Plain, prim, and thirty, Dorothea Hart is resigned to the life of a spinster aunt. But she yearns for a family of her own, and is hopelessly attracted to the ‘Mighty Oak’—a prizefighter renowned for his prowess who stirs previously unknown passions in her. Widower Griffin Oake made his fortune in the ring but he can’t buy respectability, or a footing in society for his daughter Rowena. After a disastrous first marriage, he has no wish to wed again, but is looking to employ a genteel woman to chaperone the rebellious teenager preferably the plainest, dullest woman in London. When Dorothea is publicly compromised, she’s pushed into a marriage of convenience with the object of her infatuation. Exiled to the country, with a husband who avoids her, and a stepdaughter determined to defy her.
This is the fourth book in the series & is easily read on its own. A lovely addition to the series it flowed very well & the characters had depth. I love Thea who only wanted to be loved & thought of herself as the unloved, spinster aunt not realising how invaluable & loved she was to her family. I also love Griffin who constantly, whilst meaning well, said the wrong thing. I loved how their relationship developed & grew through the misunderstandings. Rowena was a delight & Thea’s handling of her was a highlight of the book. There was the mystery surrounding Griffn’s first wife & as with all secrets it had the possibility of tearing the family apart especially if the villain had his way. I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I just finished reading this book and I enjoyed it very much. The story of a women who thought she was to spend her life alone and a man who wanted to be left alone was very easy and pleasant to read. I will be reading more of the authors books.

Did I stay up until 2am finishing this book, why yes, yes I did.

This is the fourth book in the Hart series, and can easily be read as a stand alone. I have not read any of the earlier books and completely was with the story the whole time. Warning though, it will make you want to go back and read the earlier books in the series. I love how strong Thea is, though she is the 'old spinster' of the family she still very much has a backbone. The many socially odd / embarrassing situations that Thea and Griffin find themselves in throughout the book had me stepping away from the book because I was so embarrassed for them. How Griffin and then Thea love and treasure Rowea made my heart so happy, definitely a highlight of the book is the blossoming relationship between them.

A wonderful read all the way through with very little lag within the story.

Griffith likes his freedom and won't be shackled to anyone again but he needs someone to help his daughter. Rowena is the perfect doting aunt but secretly longs for more. More meaning a strong, irresistibly handsome prize fighter. She secretly dream of those strong as wrapped around her. Never imagining she would actually met the man, she files away those dreams and continued life. Only at her 30th birthday party something goes horribly wrong and she finds herself engage to the man of her dreams. Only he won't allow his heart to open. Will they only live this life of a convient marriage? Or can Griffith open his heart to his wife.
I found this as compelling and interesting and really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Already knowing the rest of the Harts. It was a delight to finally see Aunt Rowena finally get her chance at romance after being looked over and treated so awful. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Prizefighter's Hart by Emily Royal beings back characters we have read about before and focuses on the "spinster" sister, Dorothea who had been "too old" by the time Dexter made his fortune and could pay more attention to his family. She was the auntie every child loved. Griffin Oake is a prizefighter. Such a good one, he has amassed a great deal of wealth. He is at dinner with Sir Dexter and his wife, because Dexter wants his business. When Griffin meets Major Devon Hart, he greets him as a friend, not focusing on Devon's scarred face, but rather on the man. Dorothea, who had been in lust with him since the first time she had seen him, was impressed. So was Major Hart, noticing his sister's interest, invited the man to her birthday party. At that time something happened, too convoluted to try to describe, and Griffin and Dorothea ended up betrothed. Neither was particularly happy, but Griffin at least had a woman who could train his daughter, Rowena, in the ways of a lady. The marriage had a rough start, so did Dorothea's time as a stepmother.

This was a definite reluctant suitor trope, which took some different twists and turns. Griffin was a little slow on the uptake, but her did eventually notice how much better life was with Dorothea in it. Dorothea continued to dream of love and never find it. This whole series has been a little different with very little of it having to do with the ton, but rather with people who had to be accepted because they were wealthy and successful. Both of these people are excellent characters with plenty of baggage, especially Griffin. He has been hurt and he wants to save his daughter from that hurt. He doesn't recognize that he is hurting Dorothea, until he does. It was quite a wonderful read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Prizefighter's Hart by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #theprizefightershart

Prizefighter gains a wife—the wife gains?______ 3.5

Marriage of convenience trope is given a good run for its money is this Hart series contribution. Dorothea Hart has been the backstop for her siblings and families forever. Too old to come out when that might have happened she’s been relegated to spinster aunt / sometime chaperone / carer of small children / problem solving hostess for her brother the Duke and his wife. All very well but really those brothers needed their heads knocked together. The backstory here is rather sad
Griffon Oake, widower and prizefighter is looking for a chaperone / governess for his wild child daughter from his first marriage. Someone who will lend him respectability, preferably mild and unobtrusive. Someone to help his daughter eventually make her way through society’s traps for the unwary.
What he doesn’t know is that Thea has a guilty secret—him.
Still Thea wasn’t looking towards marriage, that was beyond her, until a situation arises when both find themselves with their feet placed firmly on the rung of matrimony.
There’s a long way to go before the problems are ironed out in this “convenient” relationship!
I liked Thea, Griff needed lessons in listening—and then some!

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book but I don't think it lives up to the potential on the book blurb.
Thea is the spinster aunt to her brothers and sisters children.
Griffin never wants to marry again after the way his first wife behaved. But he does need someone to guide his daughter.
When they are caught in a compromising situation they are forced to wed.
Thea was a doormat. Everyone walked right over her.
Griffin's daughter was so annoying.
Griffin was one dementional.
Thea and Griffin didn't spend anytime together so other than lust there wasn't anything there.
This book just didn't work for me.

The Prizefighter's Hart is an enticing marriage of convenience between a spinster and a prizefighter, both are headstrong and both start on a wonderful journey of trust, love and what a true family mean. Griffin and Thea make for an exciting and at times steamy regency romance. Another well written story by Emily Royal.

Wounded hearts find healing and redemption in this romantic drama. I love the main characters, Dorothea with all her longings and needs, still manages to put other people before herself, and Griffin who guards and protects those he loves. Despite the manner in which their marriage of convenience originated, Thea and Griffin are perfect for one another. Adding Griffin's troubled daughter, Rowena, and the rest of the Harts to the mix certainly livens up the plot. Whilst Thea is stubborn at times and cannot see beyond an implied injustice, Griffin is hot-headed and explodes before seeing reason. Together their first few weeks as man and wife are full of bumps in the road. When the truth about Griffin's late wife emerges, it comes with so much anguish that I felt my emotions being torn. Fortunately, the novel, which is a standalone, comes to a very successful and happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift from Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Theo has lived a sheltered life as the one who sacrifices for the family. In exchange for not having a season, not being taught the finer arts and not being encouraged to find her beauty, she has reached the rounded age of thirty without the three things she wants the most: a household of her own, a husband and children of her own. As a stabilizing influence while her brother grew their prospects as a banker and earned a knighthood, Dorothea is always the aunt/basically servant and never the mother.

She does however have HEATED desires… namely for a prizefighter by the name of Oak/Griffin, a man, who unbeknownst to her, is seeking a lady to guide his 14 year old daughter, and a banker for all of the money he has made by fighting and owning inns. He finds both of these with the Harts. However, this does not mean things will go smoothly.

An indiscretion at Theo’s birthday party FINALLY gives her a shot at what she has always dreamt about… but there a few things standing in her way, namely:
- Louise, the ex-wife, the reason Griffin believes and insists ‘all women are harlots’;
- Griffin being a jackass;
- Rowena being adverse to change, strange people and wanting her father’s love;
- Past issues that won’t stay down;
- The attraction they both fight/avoid in VERY bizarre and awkward ways…
- And the secrets regarding Louise that threaten into 85% of the book.

If you like your heroes brutish and fumbling and your women naive and sheltered, this may be for you.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. The tale was not bad. I did feel that some of the characters were 1 dimensional and so the book was, IMHO, not as good as it could have been. There were some good bits but they just didn't seem to bring the story together.

Miss Dorothea Hart has fallen into the role of spinster aunt. Since her brother made his fortune and moved the family to London, he concentrated on finding husbands for his more marriageable sisters. Dorothea was already considered on the shelf. None of that stops her tender heart wishing for a loving family of her own.

Widower Griffin Oake has literally fought his way to wealth. Now he can afford to give his rebellious daughter the life he wants her to have. His problem is to find a real lady to work for a savage like him.

This is an exciting historical romance filled with repressed passions. Both our lead characters hide their true selves behind a hard shell. The world of bare knuckle fights holds many risks for all involved. Respectable society looks down on anyone who is different.

Although this is part of a series which should be read in order, each book can be read on it's own.

A fascinating story.

I got to say I was pretty anxious to get his book because I wanted to know how Dorothea would conquer some independence from her controlling brother. And I was a little disappointed because I wanted to keep not liking Dex but Emily Royal redeemed him a little.

Here we have the spinster aunt that always longed to marry and have her own family but was fated to take care of other people's families. Dorothea is not the usual heroine I like to read, but her longing was so painfully writing and so palpable that I couldn't help but wanting her to have what she wanted. She was an all-out character and gave herself completely even if she got nothing back. But she was so lovable that the other characters, Oake and Rowe, just had to love her. She was patient and never gave up even when society and her brother did.

Oake on the other hand, to me, is ranked pretty close to Dex. I liked him but sometimes he was so against women, so single-minded that women were all whores that got a little tiring of how he thought about women. What I did like was that he defended Thea when needed and that in the end was what won me over. His daughter was also a nice addition to the story and a good character that helped the story along, and I was never tired of her but amused instead.

Overall, it was a nice story and a good ending to the Hart siblings. 3.5 stars.

Emily Royal’s “The Prizefighter's Hart” is book 4 in the Headstrong Harts Series. Emily Royal tackles some deep subjects with finesse and grace, rendering an extraordinary story.

The characters are real, flawed and well written. There are aspects of the story that are intense and disturbed me but I couldn’t stop reading. I had to see if Thea could turn her circumstances around.

Dorothea Hart had resigned herself to the life of a spinster. She’s spent a lifetime longing for a family of her own to love and care for. Told she was too old and not pretty enough her whole life, she seemed to accept her fate. But then being caught in a compromising position she end up marrying Griffin, the object of her dreams. She has always admired Griffin and hoped for the best as she finds herself in a marriage of convenience with him.

Griffin Oake, known as the "Mighty Oak is widower who made his fortune in the ring. Try as he might, he’s made a good bit of money and wise investments but he can’t buy respectability nor gain standing in society for his daughter. He has no wish to marry again, after a disastrous marriage he mistrust all women. After being caught in a compromising position he married Thea. He cared for his daughter Rowena and wanted her to have a place in society. He married Thea hoping she could turn his wild daughter into a lady of society.

I didn’t like Griffin at first at all and couldn’t see what Thea saw in him. He was rude, arrogant, distant and even threatened bodily harm to both Thea and Rowena. He was an angry and wounded man by his first wife’s betrayal. He did love his daughter and want a better life for her. He seems overwrought by his feelings for Thea. But he does come to realize her worth as a woman and a wife. Thea was kind and wonderfully patient with Rowena. At times she showed the strength to overcome her circumstances. She was determined to have her dream become a reality and found the strength and courage to change things.

This was an exceptionally well written, emotional story filled with a mystery, suspense, lies, tragic circumstances, grit, honor, longing, patience and love. The romance and this relationship with Rowena and Griffin were both a slow burn. Thea had such a beautiful, forgiving heart. The dialogue was great and worked well with this story. I couldn’t put it down and even found compassion for Griffin! A beautiful love story two wounded souls. The epilogue was excellent!

Thank you so much Ms. Royal for such an intriguing, engrossing and beautiful love story.

Iloved the overall story and writing style. It hooked me in from the beginning and honestly, I couldn't put it down. The dynamic between the Hart siblings was very interesting. I didn't really like Dexter, he was a bore and had a hard time believing he had HEA of his own. As for the main characters, for the first half of the book I didn't really care for Griffin, I grew to like him a little bit towards the end. He did end up redeeming himself with his love for Rowena, his daughter. The only thing that bothered me about Dorothea was her constant woe-is-me attitude. I really wish she had grown out of that but she stuck with it till her "HEA." There were moments that she was amazing like standing up to the housekeeper, being patient with Rowena, and even giving a set down to some of their society members.

This is probably the best of the Hart stories so far. Dorothea has watched her siblings find love and marry and has resolved herself to being the maiden aunt. She has always admired widower Griffin “Mighty Oak” Oake the prizefighter and when she is publicly compromised she finds herself in a marriage of convenience with him. However, things do not go quite as she hopes as she finds he avoids her and his daughter defies her at every turn. Then she starts to suspect his first wife’s death was not an accident. How she navigates the rocky voyage to happiness along a road strewn with twists, turns and surprises will keep you engrossed from page one.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Outstanding reading, very much loved this book, the characters are awesome and have solid chemistry and such wonderful passion that’s flows through the chapters.

Your going to adore Griffin, a real gentle giant I thought, Thea is his soulmate and they fit so well.
It’s very possible that this is my favourite of the series.

It holds your attention from the first page and is never lacking in pace and details.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Spinster Dorothea, has always admired prizefighter Griffin. She also longs for a family of her own. When caught in a compromising position she finds herself married to the man. Both think they are not good enough for each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

Will he left his past destroy his future …

How funny the mood can be. After a dark alien romance, I would have thought my choice would go for he next book to read toward a rom-com to alleviate the atmosphere, yet my heart decided for an other option.
This book, because this one was calling me since the first in this series.

Damn, the whole clique of men in this is to be bashed on the head. Thea had been her whole life repeatedly told she was too old, too that or not enough pretty or not enough that. And as time passed by, now she is only expected to be the aunt who takes care of her siblings offspring and give a hand when needed.
Worse, she believes everything and never truly fought back their assertions.
She has simply buried her dreams and finds little rewards in the crumbs she is left to enjoy.

Griffin is no Prince Charming, he is rude, full of himself and worse jaded and bitter. Through his one experience with matrimony, he labeled nearly all women, whores.
Why he believes Thea to be so desperate, she would marry the uncouth brute he is, he keeps seeing hidden agenda in her every act and rejects everyone of her attempts to come closer.
He does not deserve her as he pushes her away again and again.
Sure he has his reasons but had he been less proud, he would have avoided so much pain and hurt by explaining how tragic his first marriage had been.
While in fact, by staying mute, he fueled the doubts around him. Even more as he is no words master and pushes back his wife with his rough words.

The author once more delivers a beautiful tale of two damaged stubborn beings, one jaded with secrets bitterness and the other with only squashed dreams and hopes. She has no mercy with her characters, they are flawed, they make mistakes, he hurts her more than one time, all the while she stands against him when he needs her. But in the grand scheme of life, they always find a way toward the other.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.