Lorraine Heath

Lorraine Heath begins an exciting new series with a breathtaking romance about a young woman who must marry a titled gentleman to obtain her inheritance and the usuitable man she begins to fall madly in love with She is desperate to wed a duke… Lady Kathryn Lambert must marry a titled gentleman to claim her inheritance and has finally gained the attention of a duke. Yet she is unable to forget the scandalous second son who aided in her achievement—or his betrayal. He wants what he can never possess… Lord Griffith Stanwick is tormented by the bitter truth that as a “spare,” he will never be able to give Kathryn what she yearns to possess. But when his father is found guilty of treason, Griff detours into the dark and dangerous corners of London, haunted by memories of the woman lost to him forever. Love not to be denied… As the duke’s courtship intensifies, Kathryn discovers Griff has become a man to be reckoned with. When old passions flare and new desires ignite, she must decide if sacrificing her legacy is worth a lifetime shared with the scoundrel of her heart.

Scoundrel of My Heart

Lorraine Heath begins an exciting new series with a breathtaking romance about a young woman who must marry a titled gentleman to obtain her inheritance and the usuitable man she begins to fall madly in love with She is desperate to wed a duke... Lady Kathryn Lambert must marry a titled gentleman to claim her inheritance and has finally gained the attention of a duke. Yet she is unable to forget the scandalous second son who aided in her achievement--or his betrayal. He wants what he can never possess... Lord Griffith Stanwick is tormented by the bitter truth that as a "spare," he will never be able to give Kathryn what she yearns to possess. But when his father is found guilty of treason, Griff detours into the dark and dangerous corners of London, haunted by memories of the woman lost to him forever. Love not to be denied... As the duke's courtship intensifies, Kathryn discovers Griff has become a man to be reckoned with. When old passions flare and new desires ignite, she must decide if sacrificing her legacy is worth a lifetime shared with the scoundrel of her heart.

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance


How often, in our world, do we have the opportunity to explore the possibilities without the sense of being constantly on display?


First Impressions
I will be honest in that after the more recent series from this author, I wasn’t too eager to pick up this book. They just didn’t leave such a big impression as she normally has in the past. But then after hearing some great recommendations of this book, I just knew that I had to grab it up and I am HAPPY that I did pick this one up here because it was superb in so many ways. I definitely couldn’t get enough of this book and I READ it so fast. Like under two hours, it just swept me away and I just wanted more of it. It definitely was a delightful mix of everything that I wanted in a historical and more. I don’t know how to quite explain this book but I will say that it definitely left an impression and I am thrilled that I was able to grab this one up and take a chance on this one here. If you have enjoyed this author in the past, then you definitely need to grab this one up here. It is so delightful in so many ways. And it is connected somewhat to the Trewlove books, which was a fun twist.


Or perhaps only with the foolishness of a man who was just coming to realize he possessed a heart. She was like the sun coaxing a bud into opening. 


Summary
Lord Griffith Stanwick is the “spare” and has always felt like he was considered useless by his father. He goes day to day in his life living the life as many second sons in the Ton do, not really cultivating his dreams or realizing what he is capable of. But there is one woman that has always held his heart and she has no idea of the depths of his feelings for her. Lady Kathryn Lambert has heart eyes set on a Duke. She is entering close to the deadline where she must marry a titled lord in order to gain her inheritance which has tremendous sentimental value to her. A country cottage out by the coast. She knows that she will have to marry, so why not a Duke if she can catch his eye. When the Duke claims a challenge to have every prospective woman who seeks his handwrite a letter of her attributes, he claims he received a letter from Kathryn, but she knows that she didn’t send him one. But after a sensual embrace, she shared with the one man she least expected…..Lord Griffith Stanwich, a man who is the brother to her best friend, she wonders what she will have to decide on. But then the worst happens for Griffith and his family, his father has claimed a traitor, and Griffith and his siblings are carted off to the tower but then released when it proved that they are innocent. But they lost everything, and now it’s been a year later, and he is striving to reclaim a dream that he has kept hidden. A dream to build a place where the less fortunate children of members of the ton, or successful gentleman and women that gather with no judgment and enjoy each other’s company. And during this venture, Griffith and Kathryn reconnect. There is only one problem, Kathryn is about to be engaged to the Duke. Now Kathryn will have to decide which holds more value to her …..her inheritance or the man who has captured her heart…..

But Griff was learning that the truth didn’t bring peace. It brought only misery.




What I Liked
There were so many aspects of this story that I truly enjoyed. I will admit that I couldn’t seem to get enough of this one here. I mean I read this one in under two hours and I rarely read a book that fast. I mean I am a fast reader but it rarely happens that quick. But I couldn’t seem to flip the pages fast enough, which for a modern historical, is a miraculous feat that is for sure. I really loved the depths of emotion that are revealed throughout this story here. There is such devotion that Griffith has to Kathryn, and seeing the lengths he goes to just to see that she is happy and settled in life, was simply BEAUTIFUL. He is so devoted to her in such a selfless way. I have such a fondness for unrequited love and I don’t see this trope as much as I used to, but I really admired the way the story unraveled in its intricate but simple manner. Lorraine Heath truly worked her magic with this one here. My heart broke for these siblings who have lost so much. I guess I had forgotten what had happened to them since the sister marries one of the Trewlove’s. And to be honest it was the ending that truly finalized this story for me and is the factor in which decided the higher rating. For most of the story I really felt like it was a solid rating of 4, but after this poignant ending, I just knew it had to be a 4.5 because it was so much more than a 4 for me although not quite a 5. I simply loved so many parts of this book that just captured my heart completely.

A year ago, I might have believed that it was all lies, but now I know the truth of it. There is no man in all of Christendom who would serve better as my husband.




What I Struggled With
There really isn’t that much that I struggled with, I mean there were parts in the story that stilted at times with the pacing, or there was a lack of depth in some parts while the majority of the story had so much of it.

Overall View
I found myself in love with Scoundrel Of My Heart, its a romance that will capture your heart and attention from the get-go. It’s a tale of redemption, growth, and embracing your dreams….captivating in every moment!


With her, nothing about his birth or his past mattered. All that mattered was their love.

Arianna M

My brain was pouring out of my ears so I needed something light. This was perfect for that! I didn't like the beginning, but the writing gets better soon and I have to say, I enjoyed both the plot and the characters. I wasn't too much of a fan of the usual "oh I didn't REALISE I was antagonising this person because I want their attention any way I can get it" (boring) but it quickly changes into them lowering their weapons and that's when I started enjoying the book.
I have to say, I didn't ~particularly enjoy the ending because it was so cheeeeesy but the middle? the middle is solid. I really like the way these two people fell in love.

danielle bush

I didn't think I could love any of Lorraine Heaths characters as much as the Trewloves but Griffin Stanwick has changed my mind. 

Griffin is a second son, the spare.. and as such isn't expected to do anything with his life.. Lady Kathryn Lambert needs to get married to a titled man by her 25th birthday, which is coming up, in order to retain the inheritance her grandmother left her.. 

Kathryn thinks that Griffin is a reprobate, who cares for nothing and spends his days drinking, gambling, and womanizing.. When she decides that she might want to marry the Duke of Kingsland, she asks Griffin to figure out what Kinsgston wants in a wife.. Griffin has always had feelings for Kathryn, but as a second son he knows he will never have a chance with her, and when he realizes why she has to marry a titled lord he decideds that he wants to help her get what she wants.. and that is the Duke of Kingsland... or is it? 

The more time they spend together, the harder they fall for each other.. When news of Griffins father being tried for treason comes out, Griffin and his family dissappear from the ton.. When Kathryn tracks him down after almost a year of not seeing him, the feelings she has for him resurface.. Griffin also still has feelings for Kathryn but he had to do some things while he was gone.. things that make him believe that even if she could marry a second son, he definitely didn't deserve her now.. 

I loved Kathryn and Griffin together.. they both grow so much as people but still love each other for exactly who they are.. They are an amazing couple with wonderful chemistry and I Loved this book, and highly recommend this book, and anyother book by Lorraine Heath.. and I can't wait for more books in this series!!

Alexis 

4/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!** 

I loved this book. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the characters. Honestly, Griff was such a cinnamon roll. I loved him. The chemistry between our two main characters was on point. I loved the romance, it was honestly everything I could've wanted. I will also admit that one of the side characters (the duke) I really enjoyed, especially as we got closer to the end of the book. He seemed to intrigue me more and more and I really ended up liking him overall as a character. Overall I had a great time, It was easy to read, swoony and kept my complete attention. I would highly recommend giving it a read!

b.andherbooks

I often struggle to answer the question about what I find "romantic" but dear readers, this book is so fucking romantic. I'm such trash for the "we only have tonight" moment where all that love and angst is poured into truly epic love making, and wow does it deliver in this romance. I absolutely adored Griff, and he's a pining sweet bebe who I will fight for.

I didn't realize how connected Scoundrel of My Heart would be to the Trewlove series, but I didn't feel to lost not having read those books. I did a live tweet of this read under #bHeath21 if you are so inclined to look that up.

As usual Heath pulls of a pretty impossible situation into an epic HEA and I loved the ride, even if Kathryn wanting to live in her cottage by the sea was a bit of a silly reason to NOT MARRY GRIFF IMMEDIATELY.

Also, super glad to see The Duke (man who wanted letters from women to pick his wife from, oh dear) will be getting his HEA next. Loved that Heath didn't make him into a villain, he, he just wasn't right for Kathryn.

And oh gosh, that ending?! The letter as a present!? Swoon.

Lacey

I have heard such fantastic things about Lorraine Heath and her historical romances, and I finally got the chance to read her for the first time, starting with the first book in her newest Once Upon a Dukedom series, Scoundrel of My Heart. It apparently is a spinoff of a book from her previous series, but even though I didn’t read Beauty Tempts the Beast, I had no problem starting with this spinoff. But I do want to go back and read the original series now!

Kathryn is a lady who must marry a titled gentleman in order to inherit her grandmother’s beloved cottage. Her best friend’s brother Griffith is unfortunately untitled and a second son. She asks him for help on how to woo a certain Duke into offering her marriage, and this is how she and Griff get close and start to develop feelings for each other. But having read the blurb, I was pretty much waiting on the edge of my seat for the other shoe to drop for these two. And it certainly does. Griff’s family has been ruined and stripped of all their titles. This happens right when the two of them are on the cusp of something more too, which adds so much excitement and intensity.

One year later, Griff has made a comeback in terms of money and reputation (sort of). He’s now the owner of a popular, exclusive club that caters to the “unwanted” or “undesirables” in London high society. And Griff and Kathryn still want each other, even knowing they can’t be together. Griff decides to continue playing matchmaker for Kathryn against his own jealous wishes. And now Kathryn is torn between her duty and her heart.

This was a solid historical romance read that was equal parts passionate and endearing. These characters go through so many ups and downs, so many emotions, and I was rooting for them every step of the way. If you love lots of longing in your romances, there is plenty of it here. I also loved the idea of Griff’s club being open exclusively to untitled men, wallflowers, spinsters, and the like. I would love if we get even more of this club in future Once Upon a Dukedom books. Speaking of which, I am now dying for the Duke’s book and Griff’s brother Marcus’ book! I enjoyed Lorraine Heath’s writing so much here and can’t wait to devour her backlist.

Scoundrel of My Heart

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