The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister, #2)

by Courtney Milan

Miss Jane Fairfield can't do anything right. When she's in company, she always says the wrong thing--and rather too much of it. No matter how costly they are, her gowns always seem to fall on the unfortunate side of fashion. Even her immense dowry can't save her from being an object of derision.

And that's precisely what she wants. She'll do anything, even risk humiliation, if it means she can stay unmarried and keep her sister safe.

Mr. Oliver Marshall has to do everything right. He's the bastard son of a duke, raised in humble circumstances--and he intends to give voice and power to the common people. If he makes one false step, he'll never get the chance to accomplish anything. He doesn't need to come to the rescue of the wrong woman. He certainly doesn't need to fall in love with her. But there's something about Jane he can't resist...even if it means the ruin of them both.

• ISBN10: 1937248291
• ISBN13: 9781937248291
• Publish Date: 18 July 2013 (first published 15 July 2013)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Courtney Milan
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 274
• Language: English

Reviews

[Linda]

The Heiress Effect was fantastic! I loved Minnie and her flashy dresses, and the reason why she bought those dresses to start with. She was deliciously outrageous, and she played at being gauche so well, she almost started believing it herself.
Oliver was great in this book, as well, and to see him so confused about his feelings made me save a soft spot in my heart for him.

[nitzan_schwarz]

YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW AND MORE ON MY BLOG

Whenever I am in need of a historical that will go deep and deal with difficult issues, I pick one of Milan's novels. She is one of those very rare authors that are unafraid to examine the unfairness of Victorian times and the position they often put women in, and she does so beautifully through mature and beautiful relationships that celebrate women, and men, and the love between them.

The Heiress Effect is no different. In it, Milan explores what a woman might do when she is put in a position where her marriage will leave her sister to harm, and what a woman who has money can afford to do in those times where women were supposed to be breathing decorations to highlight a man's success.

As always, Jane is a pristine example of Milan's heroines - smart, funny and unconventional. Jane always puts herself last, and I loved her outrageous fashion style and unwavering loyalty to her sister. In the end, it is Jane who is the strongest and bravest character in this novel. Far braver than Oliver.

But that doesn't mean I didn't like Oliver, because I adored him. Conflicted between his dreams and the way Jane could hinder them if he gives in to their attraction, but also unable not to appreciate the clever girl and her methods. His weary humor blended well with Jane's, and there wasn't anyone happier in the room when he finally said a metaphorical "screw it" to the world!

Together, these two had mad chemistry and their banter was just delightful to read. They fit, in a way that makes it natural for them to end up together. I never doubted, you guys!

The one side character that I just have to mention is Emily, Jane's sister. Emily does not know fear, and she is not going to let society and their ridiculous (yet well meaning) deeming of her "un-whole" just because she has some non life threatening seizures stop her from living life, no matter how hard they might try. And what a life she chooses to live... filled with love (to the beautiful Anjan, no less) and laughter and spunk! Rock on, girl!


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Original Thoughts
(show spoiler)[God, this series is SO good.

It tackles subjects that are out of the ordinary for historicals in such a beautiful manner.

In this one, I simply adored Oliver and Jane. I loved Jane's outrageous fashion style and her unwavering loyalty to her sister. I loved Oliver's weary humor and how, in the end, it was actually Jane who was the braver of the two. I loved their chemistry and their banter and how they fit.

I loved Emily and how strong and wonderful she was when all society had to tell her was that, just because some non-life-threatening-fits she was not "whole", and I loved Anjan. His scene with Titus? So. Good!] (hide spoiler)

[Amanda]

This book is difficult to review. Not because of the book itself, but because the emotions it creates hurt. This is the second time I've read The Heiress Effect, and I think I loved it more this time around (and yes, even with the hurt). Probably because the "I love you, but..." line. (Which is all I'll say for now because reasons.

Jane is a unique character in that she embraces her outcast-ish-ness and purposely wears awful dresses and acts in socially unacceptable ways. She befriends women precisely because they're not really friends to her. And Jane has her reasons. (And her reasons have her own story, which I also appreciated!)

When Jane meets Oliver, she finds someone she can't turn off. Because Oliver understands what it means to be an outcast, and he's spent most of his life trying to overcome it. Both Jane and Oliver have a lot in common that way, but how they deal with it is what makes their relationship so complicated (and also why it's painful to read). He's determined to be nice to her, and the more he sees and interacts with her, the more he realizes how much she's hiding.

All the EMOTIONS are worth it in the end, though. Plus, Courtney Milan sets up the next romance between Sebastian and Violet, and I can't wait to reread it. (And maybe actually review it this time.)