Wonderful addition to the Ashmead Heirs series. Caroline creates wonderful stories and characters. Although Duke David is a "stick-in-the-mud", he has reason for being as he is. On the opposite end of the spectrum is neighbor, and widow, Lady Delia, who is a free spirit and believes in letting her three children, be children. David, however, does not want his wards to associate with Delias' children as they keep getting into one scrape after another. He feels they are a bad influence.
Thank you Caroline Warfield, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

She Is His Opposite and Exactly What He Needs

You have surely heard the expression “a stiff upper lip,” but methinks the earl’s upper lip is much too stiff. You can’t blame the poor fellow. Raised in cruelty, he vowed not to be anything like his father. There is too much on his shoulder, and he only knows how to manage things much too seriously. When Lady Delia with her devil-may-care attitude and rambunctious children arrives, she turns the world on his ear. Surely, she is absolutely the wrong woman for him, but is she? He inflicts hurt before he sees the light. Can the lady forgive the sometimes insensitive, and far too serious earl? Stranger things have happened when love is involved. If you like historical romance with some 19th century politics, and where opposites must find a way to meet in the middle, you might enjoy this story.

The upright earl and the not so upright lady

David, the Earl of Clarion, is the legitimate son who tries not to repeat his late father's mistakes. For this, he leads a life full of rules for himself and his children. All this order will be shaken with the arrival of a new neighbor, Lady Delia Fitzwallace, a widow, mother of three, who lived part of her childhood outside England, comes from a family without the title of nobility and has other very different opinions of how to live life.
Despite the differences in upbringing, the children of the two families quickly form a bond and the interactions between them and their parents, with their discoveries, disagreements and small adventures, will gradually bring together such different adults.
Even with an initial attraction, differences in temperament and behavior and the reluctance of both parties to start a romantic relationship are obstacles. Delia, who has already had an arranged marriage, fears losing the freedom she gained from being a widow, in addition to worrying about her children's future. David lives a life of obligations and when he is pressured to marry, he thinks of an arranged marriage that would further his political aspirations and Delia lacks many of the characteristics he considered ideal for this.
A story without major villains where the relationship between parents and children stands out, leading to a novel built little by little that keeps the reader's attention until the end.

I enjoyed reading The Upright Son by Caroline Warfield. The story is one novel in The Ashmead Heirs series.

David, the Earl of Clarion has inherited an estate that is not thriving and the dependents in his charge. He has also taken guardianship of his niece and nephew and has brought them to the country estate. He is politically ambitious and is sought for Parliament.

Lady Delia Fitzwallace and her three children rent a cottage on the Earl’s estate grounds. She is very unconventional and enjoys the countryside much more that city life. Her children are carefree and she encourages them, much to the dismay of David. He would rather they not mingle as childhood friends because he is trying to raise them as he was raised in the peerage.

I found this novel to be humorous at times and very engaging. The lighthearted banter between Lady Delia and Earl David was good to read. The two are so different that it is a quandary of whom will change whom.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Finding out that this father has left nearly all of the estate to his illegitimate children, leaving only David with the title of Earl of Clarion, was a shock to say the least. Looking for the many unknown siblings, and recovering the estate from the edge of ruin, while also raising his children and grieving his late wife, David is about done in. So when a handsome widow, and her own children, move into the dower house to help offset some of the costs, David does everything he can to avoid Lady Delia Fitzwallace, but the children have other plans. While David's own children are being raised to be perfect society kids, seen but not heard, Delia has other plans for hers, and wants them to be free to explore, and have a childhood. They are very different parents, with different ideals, but together, they bring the best - and worst - out of each other. As David's shell starts to crack, and he drops some of the pressure and tension he's had these past years, can he allow himself to find love again?

I'm going to admit, that in previous books, I wasn't that keen on David. He was always in the background, and was a little too much of a stick in the mud for my liking, but reading his story, and finding out more about him, it really helps the reader to understand him. He had had a hard upbringing with his narcissistic parents, and never was allowed the chance to have fun, or be anything other than the heir, and then earl. So meeting Delia, and seeing how people can be carefree, and allow their children to be children, and not hide in the nursery or schoolroom everyday, was refreshing. I really liked Delia, and all of the children, from the first time we met them. She was like a breath of fresh air, and someone that David needed completely. Honestly, they brought out the best in each other, and though their relationship was not without it's difficulties, it was right for them. A great ending to the series!

I am so glad I got to read The Upright Son as an ARC. This is a slow burn romance with witty banter and entertaining situations. Caroline Warfield has written a story filled with heartfelt emotions, with a great cast of characters that will hold your attention as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you into their story, visits from characters who you found a special place in your heart from the previous The Ashmead Heirs series, were opposites attract and with one enjoyable plot. With setting descriptions and action sequences that are wonderfully vivid that brings the story to life and brings this read together perfectly!

This is the fourth and final installment of the Ashmead Heirs and my second book of the series. David is the new Duke of Clarion and is left to clean up the mess left by his father. He also has his siblings' support, but with all this headache and responsibility he has become a stuffy and uptight person. Meeting Delia turns his world upside down, as she is a carefree and free-spirited widow, enjoying her children and her freedom. Their developing relationship was a delight to follow as these two opposites fell in love. The challenge is that they don't believe they belong together.
This was a wonderfully well-written story that captured my attention from the start and held my interest till the end. A great way to wrap up the series. I believe the author is also planning a spin-off series, and you can be sure I will be following it!
A lovely story I am happy to have had the opportunity to read. I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Hello! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I really liked the Upright Son. I loved David's and Delia's characters right away and loved their interactions and romance. Their meet-cute was well done. This book felt a tad formulaic in parts just because I know I have read other books with male aristocrats who are uptight, always wanting to do what is right, and, then shed some of this for the woman they love. However, the difference is all the way in which the author writes, tells the story, presents dialogue and highlights the characters. I think Caroline Warfield.does.an excellent job with all. Thank you! :)

Oh, how I loved this final book in Caroline Warfield’s The Ashmead Heirs series! David Caufield refuses to be anything like his philandering father. What does this mean…he’s a stuffy, staid, very proper Earl of Clarion. This also leaves him as the one to pick up the pieces of the mess his father left; but most of all it leaves him lonely. Enter the delightful Lady Delia Fitzwallace who is totally David’s opposite. Of course, you know what they say, opposites attract. And the antics that Caroline puts these two through are not to be missed.

The Upright Son by Caroline Warfield is another of the Ashmead Heirs series. This is an interesting series as the old earl was prolific in the creation of children, most of whom not by his wife. There have been stories of two half-brothers and one half-sister up to this point and now we get to the story of the current Earl of Clarion, David Caulfield. David is a widower and father of two children, and determined not to be his father. He spends most of his time on London in Parliament. He has left the estate alone in the hands of his brother-in-law, Levi Benson, who has begun to bring it around to being a paying enterprise after years of neglect. David trusts Eli above all others. On his property is the dower house in which his sister, Madelyn used to live before her marriage to Brynn Morgan. She had been a duchess but she preferred Mrs. Morgan. Many people thought that odd. David had recently returned to the estate early from the christening celebration of Maddy’s child. All the love and affection had been too much for him. While out riding he came across a woman and her two children. All of them were soaking wet from trying to collect frogspawn to take home to try to hatch. He was amazed when she introduced herself as Lady Delia Fitzwallace, who was the widowed daughter-in-law of the Duke of Awbery, a disapproving man who believed he had power over Delia. He had assumed her to be the wife of one of his tenants, given the state she was in.

Delia and David fought, mostly because he was so stuck on propriety, or his version of it. Their children, each of whom had two, became fast friends, and forced them together until they forged a friendship. It became more but each was too stubborn to act on it. David wanted to be home secretary. He was a reformer and had definite ideas about what reforms were needed. Delia knew he need a political wife, one who could enhance his career with her personality, contacts, and skills. He seemingly agreed with her, although much of his reluctance was based on the fact she’d said she’d never remarry. They were both complicated and well-written characters in a Regency novel that had more depth than they generally have. It was a good plot with plenty of interaction with other characters, some we have met before, some that we probably will see again. All very likable.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Upright Son by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #carolinewarfield #theuprightson

Finally a happy ending for David! After all the turmoil of finding his half-siblings, righting the wrongs of his dastardly sire, David deserved to find happiness more than any other. Noble, honest and loyal, David has stood by his family despite gossip and a lack of society acceptance. He never allowed his quest to fail. After his father slighted every one of his bastard children, David sought out each one to put things to right. In the end, he has built a beautiful family of misfits that can only bring him joy. But he is still alone. Then enters a beautiful widow tenant who takes his breath away. Despite fighting his own desires, the more he gets to know her the more his heart seeks her. Delia, is selfless, loyal and full of life. She can’t help but bring joy to every situation. Though fighting her own attractions to the Earl. She believes she can’t be right for him. She is a society outcast, who is too unrestrained for society’s acceptance.
This story is full of delightful characters, ones we’ve grown to love throughout the Ashmead stories as well as some wonderful new ones. The shenanigans of the Fitzwallace/Ashmead children do not fail to bring a smile and chuckle. The familial teasing between siblings is pure joy. And the matchmaking endeavours of the Marchioness are so sly, you almost miss them. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Ashmead stories and David’s in particular was long-awaited and every bit worth it. A pure delight!

The Upright Son has a very likable heroine, and the hero isn't bad either. That being said, there are way too many characters in this book and I could not keep them straight! Too many kids, too many adults, too many snobs... servants... perhaps this was a major contribution to me not really liking this book as much as I wanted to. I like the premise! I love kids! But it was too wrapped up in kids activities, and then a house party that had too much going on, none of it really interesting. This book is part of a series which I have not read before, and it is probably best to read those books before this one, because you need everything that you can get to make sense of the story. This book has a good story, it just doesn't have a lot of focus that is interesting and unfortunately I was a little bored with it.

An excellent end to this series. Lady Delia, a widow with 3 children leases the Dower house at the Earl of Clarion's country estate. When he moves back to the state with his 2 children he becomes acquainted with her. Her parenting and easy approach to life conflict with his more rigid ones. The interaction between the 2 and their children makes for a wonderful story. I gave the book 5 stars.
It is the end story in the series and can be read as a stand-alone. Can't wait to see what the next series Ms. Warfield writes.

The late Earl of Clarion's will was meant to throw his debauchery into the faces of his children and to bring hatred and division between them. If he had known how his misdeeds brought his multitude of children together, he would turn in his grave for all eternity. David, the responsible and caring new Duke of Clarion had a major headache sorting out the terms of the will, and clearing up the mess left behind by his father. Fortunately, his man of business has been a miracle worker, and whilst he still stands behind David helping him to keep control of the finances, he has also won the love and support of his siblings. However, through it all, David has developed a rigid spine and stiff upper lip, leaving him bent out of shape when he discovers Lady Delia Fitzwallace cavorting in the river with her children, looking for frogs' spawn. This incredibly well-written novel has so many facets, each of which drew me in and had me staying up late into the night to finish the book. The historical and political background to the story is factual, whilst the awkward relationship that springs up between Delia and David moves from antagonism to well-earned respect and onto love, bringing wit, humor, and romance together, even in the face of the disparagement and disapproval of members of the tonn. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This was the second book in the series that I have read (I came in late with book 3) and I'm glad that I had at least read that one other book. Although it's not completely necessary, having some idea of what has been going on with this family is helpful in better understanding David. Delia is a great leading lady - I loved the scenes where she stood up to David when he was blaming her and her kids for something. The fact that she has survived her vile former father-in-law shows how strong she is (especially in a time when women had very little power). I also really liked the ways Delia and David's kids took to one another. And thank goodness for David's female family members who gave him just the right amount of a nudge to get him to open up a little and accept that maybe Delia was the perfect person for him. The backdrop of the political happenings at this time in history added just the right amount of drama.

David, the Earl of Clarion has made sure he is a totally different type of man than his father, he always does what is right. The family, under his care have come together and are happy with their lives. Our hero is active in parliament and is being persuaded to run for office. That brings even more responsibilities.

Widowed Lady Delia Fitzwallis is enjoying her new life in the countryside with her children. Away from the pressure from her former in-laws and even from her well meaning but over protective brother.

This is a historical romance that gives us lots of insight into the politics of the time. The complicated family relationships we have learned about in the previous books in the series mean you will enjoy this better if you have read them but each book can be read separately. All the characters are lots of fun and very loveable.

Great fun.

David and Delia’s story is delightful finale to the Ashmead Heirs series. Both are widowed with children. David is a stern serious man. He is working to reverse the damage his father did to the estate. Delia has moved to the country and is living in the Clarion dower house with her children. While David and Delia resist the attraction that is growing between them, the children are becoming fast friends. Maybe the adults can take a hint from the children. This is a wonderful story of two people who slowly turn loose of the past and open their minds and hearts to love. We get to catch up with the characters from the other Ashmead stories and meet a few new ones. An interesting and entertaining story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This was a very nicely written story that perfectly wrapped up the series which has been a delight. A slow burn romance of a couple who at first don't believe they should be together as they are such opposite's. Not my favourite out of the four as the romance was a little too low key for me but still a good read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book

David Caulfield, Earl of Clarion, is very proper in his behavior. Lady Delia Fitzwallace shocks him with her easy, free spirit behavior. What he needs is to loosen up and enjoy life. With Delia living in the Clarion dower house it gives their children the opportunity to interact with each other. David is a slow learner to relax, but is attracted to Delia. Foremost is his interest in the politics of the country. His family and close friends encourage him to run for home secretary. What better way to sway politicians to his side than to have a house party. Underlying the party he is looking for a wife. But his heart is looking at Delia. Can love conquer Delia's heart and change her mind?
A slow burn romance of a couple who at first don't believe they should be together.
Heat level 2
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

The Earl of Clarion has a new tenant in the Dowager House. It has been rented for five years. As he finds out a widow and her children have been living there. The Earl finds his life full of responsibility, his children, tenants, and England. Left with picking up the pieces of a struggling estate he has little time for anything else. Until his son discovers the children living in the house. Widowed Lady Delia Fitzwallace lives there with her children that are full of life and adventure. Anything scientific brings the children together and the adventures begin. What a wonderful plot, interesting characters and a page turning read.