The Unforgettable Hero is a historical romance novella and part of Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides series. I have previously read and reviewed two of the books in this series (The Untamed Earl and The Legendary Lord) which I enjoyed. This novella gives you a small peak into this world which I found enjoyable and easy to read.

The Unforgettable Hero focuses on Adam Hunt and Cecelia Harcourt. Cecelia has an accident and develops amnesia. She believes that she is a character from her book and that Adam is her intended. Adam and his family agree to go along with this charade until they can figure out who exactly Cecelia is and where she belongs. This leads to a combination of sweet and hilarious moments between the characters.

There is an immediate attraction between Cecelia and Adam which is complicated by the circumstances at hand. Given that this is a novella, there wasn’t as much time to explore this attraction as I would have liked. Everything moved along quickly which helped with the connections but also made it feel like I didn’t fully know these characters. As a reader who enjoys character driven stories, this was a disappointment for me. Yet, I still enjoyed the story because of it’s quick pace and slight humor.

Although the characters were not fully fleshed out, The Unforgettable Hero is easy to follow and understand. It was the perfect thing for an afternoon read that leaves you in a good mood. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romances and is looking for a quick pick me up.

This book was a quick nice read not much to it but was enjoyable for a nice nights read. I did like the characters and the book had a touch of whimsy to it.

Cecilia Harcourt, the orphaned daughter of the younger brother of a viscount, is desperate to see the novel she has written published. Its publication offers her the only way to escape marriage to her repulsive cousin Percy and also a means to provide medical care for her younger sister. Her maternal uncle and aunt are determined on the marriage in order to claim her small dowry. Cece, as her sister affectionately calls her, is discouraged and worried when the publisher rejects her manuscript, not on the grounds that it is poorly written but because publishing romance is a risk he is not willing to take. But before she can return home to share the bad news with her sister, Cecilia is the victim of a hit-and-run carriage driver.

Lieutenant Adam Hunt, recently discharged from the army, is on his way to the home of his oldest brother, military hero Derek Hunt, Duke of Claringdon (hero of The Unexpected Duchess, Playful Brides #1) when he sees the accident. Adam is determined to let his brother know he resents interference in his life and to refuse the money the duke is determined to give him, but that plan takes a back seat to the need to help Cecilia. That help becomes more complicated when the blow to the head Cecilia receives results in amnesia. The doctor assures Adam and the duke and duchess that the memory loss will likely prove temporary, but when her memory returns Cecilia believes she is Lady Magnolia and Adam is the heroic Duke of Loveridge, the lead characters in her rejected novel. What follows is a delightful romp, part farce and part melodrama, that takes some of the most cherished tropes of historical romance—villainous relatives, amnesia, mistaken identity, interrupted wedding, to name a few—and gives them a twist that will leave the reader smiling.

This novella that falls between the fourth and fifth novels in Bowman’s Playful Brides series was great fun to read. When the story opened with “And they lived happily ever after,” I expected clever humor, and the story delivered exactly what I expected. My reaction might have been different had I not anticipated the author’s promise of playfulness to be fulfilled. But I did, and it was, and I enjoyed the humor and the wit. The novella should have particularly strong appeal for readers steeped in the conventions of the genre who should enjoy the gentle send-up.
Reviewed by Janga for The Romance Dish

You gotta love an Amnesia novel! This one was a cute, fun read. Yes you have to take into account this is fiction and somethings wouldn't necessarily happen in real life. (going to a ball after being struck in the head by a coach?) But all in all it was sweet story.

I always enjoy Valerie's books and this was an enjoyable read. My only complaint is it was too short..

This is an interesting historical romance with a heroine who badly wants to sell a book to escape an arranged marriage and provide medical care for her sister. After an accident, she is left with amnesia and is taken in and cared for by Adam. In her muddled mind, he transforms into the hero from her book. This super short novella was interesting and I enjoyed the characters.