Title: Something in the Heir
Author: Suzanne Enoch
Genre: fiction
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.

Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.

As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.

This just barely managed to keep my attention invested enough to keep reading. Solid writing and likable—if sometimes oblivious main characters—made it a decent read, it just felt very predictable to me. The kids were funny, but I enjoyed their slang the most. A decent read, but not an outstanding one. Probably just not a good fit for me right now.

Suzanne Enoch is from California. Something in the Heir is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Laughed! I loved this! 🤣

Emmaline and William Pershing go to all sorts of lengths to keep their home, including borrowing two children from the ‘Stone Jug’ (St Stephen’s Orphanage) to be their children. Rose and George (to be known at the party as Flora and Malcolm)
Emmaline’s grandfather, the duke, had a ridiculous codicil to his heirs having the use of the family home Winnover Hall.
Well Emmie Hervey grew up here and when she got wind of her cousin Penelope’s forthcoming nuptials she decidly wasn’t letting her dratted cousin Penelope move in.
So she married her best friend Will Pershing and as time moved on, unknown to Will, sort of invented a family to keep the house. It’s now eight years later and they have to attend her grandfathers seventieth birthday party—and time for Emmaline to confess all to Will.
All’s going well at the party but! Well, after a situation that involved eggs being thrown and the birthday cake sort of collapsing, she had to confess about her made up family to the Duke.
Taking up the orphans was diabolical, and just so endearing. George and Rose are pure gold.
Then there’s James Fletcher turning up! Now he’s a bad egg!
The road to hell is paved with good intentions and Emmaline keeps falling into situations that Will supports with quiet, good humour. What a Darling! If only Will and Emmie could take their marriage beyond the “convenience” stage!
So all the ingredients for a wild, improbable ride with the funniest of children and an endearing couple along with their rather delightful servants—all trying to keep their home together!
I laughed and chortled my way through this hilarious story.

A St Martin’s Press Invitation ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was a lighthearted, enjoyable book that I couldn't put down!. I loved all the characters, George and Rose, the butler, Hannah and Tom, Emmie and Will, etc. There was lots of humor throughout which I massively enjoyed. This was a clean book, and I wouldn't be afraid to recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted, clean book.

The premise of the book, borrowing orphans to pretend to be their kids so they can keep the house, was not something I've read before. It was nice to read something new (even if I could guess the ending- I'd be sad if it was different though!). I really felt for the poor kids, so I'm glad they got a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the read!

This is my very first Suzanne Enoch and it will certainly not be my last. Historical romance plots are the very best in their crazy set ups and this one is one of my new favorite set ups.

What a terrific fun plot!
Well, this was definitely a entertaining read! LOL….it was cheesy, quirky and funny while being just a bit “ridiculous.” Talk about chaos! With that said, I LOVED Something in the Heir! There was something sweet and wholesome about the story.
I do wish the ending would have been different. The ending just seemed a bit rushed. I needed a epilogue to finish it off perfectly for me. I’m a sucker for a good epilogue :)
If you are in the mood for a light, entertaining read…..you need to read Something in the Heir! I’m still smiling and giggling about some of the shenanigans the characters got up to.
This is the first book I have read by Suzanne Enoch. I loved her writing style and look forward to reading more from her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was... boring. There were some redeeming points, but not enough to justify me finishing the book.

My biggest point of feedback is that these characters are too flat at the beginning. There isn't enough there to get over the time break, where they supposedly lived together for 8 years, only to then get into the rest of the story.

It was a miss for me - but I hope other people enjoy!

This is a really interesting take on marriage of convenience because the couple's marriage occurs before chapter one begins eight years later. So in some ways, it is more reminiscent of marriage in trouble. But truly, it's just unique.

Emmeline and Will must have an heir in the first five years of their marriage to keep their home. So she lies about having kids. And suddenly, she needs to be able to show off the children.

The plot took a large amount of suspension of disbelief, particularly in the beginning. But if you can get past how ludicrous the premise is, then it becomes quite a fun story.

The characters, the Pershings and also the children and all their staff, are so interesting. And I found myself rooting for a happy ending while half believing it wasn't possible. I got so caught up in the story and could not put it down. The focus was more on the antics and intrigued than on the romance. I found it quite fun.

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up

George and Rose take the cake🍰: cute shenanigans😊

Five year-old Rose and her protective eight year-old brother George, the children in this story, are far and away the best characters. Their antics, fears and pleasures make the plot work as their charm is irresistible. The warming relationship between Emmeline and William, the wealthy couple that temporarily takes them in, remains very low key, no real details, so I would not classify the story as a romance. It's a situational dilemma where the solution ends up totally transforming all of the principal characters' lives in ways they never expected. The conclusion surprised me.

Emmeline and William are quite odd in their behavior in their repeated insistence that the children cannot remain in their home long-term. As the children got more lovable with each revelation of their past and their fears for the future, I got more and more frustrated at the adults' selfish actions. It's a good thing that George and Rose were so central to the story. I had to keep reading to learn what they would do next and where they ultimately landed.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for giving me this ARC, and this does not influence my review. This was a great read! The POV was 3rd omniscient (which I hated personally), and this was a historical regency romance novel featuring the tropes: guy falls first, fake marriage, slow burn romance, one-sided love.
To be honest I wish the synopsis depicted that the book was not going to be focusing much on the romance aspect, and I wish it did. But howeverrrrr, the children were HILARIOUS and so mischievous, I feel like the author had some real-life quotes written in there! The children were miniature criminals in the making, and sooo cute, saying (and doing) the most unexpected things 👀. I fell in love with the little rascals myself. All in all, the author knows how to write and this book was an enjoyable read. I will be reading more from this author!

This book was a fun sweet story to read. George and Rose two orphans who find themselves "loaned out" to Emmeline and Will are adorable! Why were they loaned out? Emmeline and Will must have children to keep the inherited estate so years ago Emmeline told a little lie about the couple having children. Now her Grandfather wants to meet his grandchildren! The scheming that ensues is a funny read! This book was not my favorite read ever but was an enjoyable read.

Thank You to St. Martins and Net Galley for the ARC copy of this book provided for review.

This book was disappointing to me. I could not connect with the story or the characters, the writing was just okay and I thought the whole book was very predictable.

This book was a lot of fun! I’d say fairly standard for a clean historical romance with great humor.

Obviously the romance is the main plot-line, but the children made the story. I immediately loved George and Rose so, so much. “The whore’s bird” is my new favorite insult. I learned all kinds of colorful language. I was cracking up through so many of their interactions.

The whole situation surrounding the adoption was.. skeptical. Ick, even. You can guess the ending pretty early on. You know what the HEA is going to be, but that didn’t make me feel better about some of the middle parts. Plus it all wrapped up so quickly that it left me a little disappointed.

That being said, I enjoyed this overall. I liked the premise and the writing. Lots of fun banter. I was left wanting more, but that didn’t ruin it. 3.5~ ⭐️

Crazy plot aside, I really wanted to see where this potential disaster was going.

Emmeline and William got married because he was a little bit in love with her and she wanted to keep her childhood home. Her grandfather’s stipulations for the house included children, which the two failed to produce. After 8 amicable, boring years together, their partnership and their home might be in danger because Emmeline had lied to her grandfather. And now, in the run-up to her grandfather’s birthday celebrations, Will and Emmeline have to come up with two real children or face the consequences.

First off, this isn’t a romance, though it does have a happy ending. It’s about breathing new life into their stale marriage and daily lives. About recognizing the love you already have and opening your heart to new people and experiences.

Emmeline married Will for selfish reasons and for eight years she ran their marriage and their lives the way she wanted it. Until this crazy scheme opened her eyes to the true treasure she had in Will. Emmeline went through a big transformation, whereas Will always had that compassion in him, he just let Emmeline take over, probably because it was easier that way.

The author explained well enough how they had come to this point in their marriage. Will and Emmeline were in a rut so deep, they couldn’t even see over the sides.

Rose and George were very sweet, an interesting combination of eager and cynical. Their concerns for their own futures really got to me. James was an annoying, and maybe unnecessary, addition to an already complicated storyline.

This book might not be for everyone, but at the very least you can appreciate the writing style where words, thoughts, and actions flowed seamlessly to create an enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emmeline asks her friend Will to marry her so she can keep the house she loves and he can have a partner that will help advance his career and they have a very firm partnership but a very cold marriage for 8 years. Then one day a letter arrives from her grandfather inviting them and the children she's invented(also to keep the house) to his birthday and she has to explain to Will what she's done.
They borrow 2 children from an orphanage and everything goes exactly as you'd expect it to. I really enjoy this authors work but this was kind of a disappointing book for me because so much of it revolved around the children(not something I enjoy) with very little interaction between the MC's. I knew how this was going to go from the minute I read about the lie, every plot point from beginning to end. The kids were entertaining though which is why this book gets 3 stars because the adults were so stiff for the first half of the story, even calling each other Mr/Mrs Pershing(not in an affectionate way), I just didn't feel anything for them. I do think this story from the kids POV would have been fantastic though.

Very unique and fun! Such an interesting way to write a historical romance and i loved it. I was expecting a little more romance but it was still very sweet

First, I have read lots of Suzanne’s books and loved them. This is a different type of story and it just was not for me. It dragged a bit and I started skimming. I hate that because I love her writing style.

Outlandish yet delightful, Something in the Heir provided a comedic escape that was greatly needed. Emmeline discovers that if she doesn't marry, she will lose her ancestral home per her grandfather the Duke of Welshire's rules. Thus begins the plotting and the scheming. She enlists her best friend Will to form a partnership; she will help him establish a political career, and he will aid in claiming her estate.

Fast forward 8 years to an invitation for the Duke's birthday, and he demands to meet the children Emmeline and Will "never" had. Will discovers that his partner has imagined children and even described them in detail to her family. In order for them to maintain ownership of the estate, they must proffer their imaginary children at the celebration. This leads to the pair borrowing children from an orphanage, and one can imagine the trials and tribulations that will follow.

Suzanne Enoch has a way with words! Tears will be shed not only from laughter but from sentimentality. Readers will fall in love and hate with the myriad of characters that fit like a puzzle piece into the story. There are not too little and not too many, just right. I highly recommend this tale to lift your spirits to new heights.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Oh I loved this story even though there were no open bedroom door scenes. It's a partnership marriage with two childhood friends helping each other with their life goals. Then you add a big lie and events change causing the marriage to become more day to day interaction to soften the lie. Two orphan siblings who are loveable but cause so much chaos are added to the household and you have the perfect mix to open up hearts to more. I adored everything about this story.

Emmeline Pershing is three weeks into her debut season when her mother informs her she'd better find a husband fast as they are moving out of the family home and relocating to Bath. Emmie's beloved home Winnover Hall belongs to her Grandfather Malcolm, Duke of Welshire. The provisions of possession are they the couple who resides there must produce a child within the first five years or it goes to another of his progeny. Emmie's cousin Penelope came out last year, was engaged last week, and is all set to move into the house. Emmie wants to stay so she proposes to her friend William Pershing. She'll help him with his political career if he'll marry her to keep her home. It's ideally located for the socializing that can help with his political negotiations.

William is in love with his friend and she is unaware of it. It appears she doesn't feel the same way and he finally decides he has to help her even if his affections are one sided. They end up running in parallel circles with only short meetings a few times a week. Then her reclusive Grandfather decides to throw a 70th birthday celebration and demands everyone attend so he can survey his legacy. It seems Emmie made up two children in letters to her family when they produced no children after trying for 7 months. After brainstorming they decide to borrow two orphan siblings from an orphanage, to pretend to be their children for the party. What they get are George 8, and Rose 5, Fletcher who grew up on the streets of London. They are very independent, resourceful, intelligent and sticky fingered! The children decide to go along with the plan through the party and even though the Pershings have promised to find them a good home. instead they know adults are not to be trusted so they've decided to run off on their own. Their little thefts are how they will fund their adventure. Each step of the way Will and Emmie must depend on the other to get through the havoc that occurs and they find they like depending on each other.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Suzanne Enoch for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Something in the Heir coming out September 20, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed their perfectly planned marriage of convenience for eight years. Emmeline treats it as a business deal, even though she has grown up with William. Meanwhile, William has longed for more from his adorable wife. However, he is content with her skills which have advanced him in his career.

The Duke of Welshire, Emmeline’s grandfather invites them to his birthday celebration. He requests they bring their two children. William is shocked to find out his wife has invented two heirs. With Emmeline’s quick thinking and scheming, she arranges to borrow two orphans in exchange for a considerable donation to the church orphanage. George, age 8, and Rose, 5 are perhaps the two most misbehaved orphans in England. 

As the chaos ensues, their professional arrangement takes some intimate turns as well. Can this insane plan actually bring Emmeline and William their happily ever after?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I loved it! The imaginary children reminded me of Adelaide writing home to her mother about getting married and having children in Guys and Dolls. It’s a fun plot! I love marriages of convenience. It was a little slow to get into, but I really loved the plot with the children. It was pretty chaotic, but definitely well done. I did think the birthday party would happen a little sooner in the book. I was hoping there’d be more time where they’d have to pretend to be their children with the Duke. It seemed a little rushed and wrapped up at the end, but overall, I loved the book! I would classify this as a clean romance.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance fun!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 ⭐️‘S

I requested this book because I thought the premise sounded fun, but honestly I do have mixed feelings about this one. Everything was fine for the first half of the book and I was really enjoying it. The children, George and Rose, were adorable and so fun. I liked all the mischief they got themselves in and I just adored them, but I had issues…

▪️I disliked that James was introduced into the story line at 50%. I felt that was quite late to introduce a new character, especially one that alters the existing story line. He’s not a likable character (he isn’t intended to be) and I understand he was added in for additional drama, but I didn’t think the book needed his sorry presence. He dragged down the story and I didn’t like his violent side.

▪️The romance portion that’s supposed to be in this book was so very minimal. It was none existent actually. I was hoping for so much more! I understand it was a clean romance, but I wish the author focused on Emmie and Will more. The story of the children overshadowed the romance completely. I’m not even sure that I would consider this a romance book.

▪️They waited too long to tell these poor kids what would become of them. The children suffered having the whole situation drag on so long, especially making them think they were being handed off to another family and not loved enough. It all happened a little too late for my liking.

I really did enjoy several parts of this book, and it wasn’t horrible by any means. It just seemed to veer off once James was added into the mix. I still suggest you give it a try …It had a unique story line. Thank you to @netgalley for an ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.